Film Studies A Level

-Costume includes all costume, makeup and hairstyle -There is a wide range of possible things that costume can signify: national identity, class allegiance, sub-group affiliation, gender position, emotional and psychological status etc... -They encourage the audience to make assumptions about the genre of the film; if the characters wear stetsons, the audience may assume from the beginning that the film that it is a Western film. -Semiotic approaches can also be considered eg; if a character wears a top hat, it could signify arrogance and structure of class exploitation, as the spectator will naturally make assumptions that they are upper class. Hitchcock: His costumes were "eye-catchers", that dangerously distract the spectator from the key tasks of following the narrative and characterisation. .

The basic main two types of lighting are low key and high key. Each of these can be used in a semiotic way- To signify particular meanings High Key: -Even diffusion (spread) -Low (little) contrast between bright and dark -Evokes a sense of clarity and optimism - Can also create so much brightness across a scene that it becomes monotonous, producing a feeling of nausea, example at base of page Low Key: -Higher contrast between bright and dark - The shadow and bright don't blend together -Typically induces feelings of moral ambiguity, anxiety, and terror - It can also have different, more positive effects such as romantic charisma, nostalgia and mystery Hitchcock: Concern has been expressed about his blatant promotion of lighting Gerald Millerson in the book "Lighting for Television and Film" holds the perception that when lighting is subtle, that it is more natural- we can deduce he held the opinion that ideal film lighting is invisible .

Performance analysis: Looking closely at what a technique, such as: stance, facial expression, or delivery of dialogue, says about the onscreen character and how it makes them come across; bear in mind that although it may come across to you in one way, that different spectators pay interpret the same performance differently. We then have to take this information of how the character comes across and develop this understanding to analyse how this portrayal conveys messages and values and how it contributes to the ideologies conveyed by the film. Consider how performance is used to align (give support to) the spectator and how this position of alignment (agreement/alliance) relates to spectator interpretation of narrative. How to structure a point about performance: Identify the theme/representation/meaning Identify the technique they use eg: stance/facial expression Identify how they come across as a result of this and link back to why ...

Either,
1. (a) With close reference to the two films you have studied, explore how either performance or mise-en-scène create meaning.     [40] What the question means: how does it create meaning means: How does it get its message across to the audience, NOT WHAT DOES IT MEAN How to go about it: In each paragraph you will say what the message is and how the element is used to portray it. Write mini essay on both, half /half. Details about colour, props and performance in both films intro: brief outline of what both films are, and their overall key messages paras: key message of the film and how it does that Plan:  City of God Use of element :  In the  mise en scene, the colouring changes from the 1960s onwards, from a warm gold, to to a dull grey wash.   Message : The director depicts significant concern for how slums in rio have become more hostile since the 1960s through the  mise en scene .  Connecting the directo...