Mock 1 preparation

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 director's message to the element: Say what each colour represents, and the connotations, say how this is a representation of the message that the director wants to portray.


Use of element: In the mise en scene, guns are used as props throughout the film.
 Message: The director raises the issue of how life in a slum leads to unescapable subjection to violence and crime through the mise en scene.
Connecting the director's message to the element: The constant appearance of guns act as a constant reminder that violence that is considered accepted in society, due to the connotations of a gun (injury, death...). This altogether portrays the director's negative view towards them.
Use of element: In performance in mise en scene, the runts provoke emotions from the audience with their tearful, screwed up facial expressions and blubbering delivery of lines
Message: Awareness must be raised of how children are atrociously abused in slums
Connecting the director's message to the element: The distressing image will create will be vividly memorable to the audience and evoke feeling similar to the point of view of the director, that can clearly be depicted in the mise en scene of this scene

Use of element: Navy blue colour shown in the mise en scene, in the scene of the assault on knockout Ned, his girlfriend and his family
Message: The raped that occurs in slums is shameful
Connecting the director's message to the element: Dark colours can be associated with disguise or the idea of attempting to hide things, which could represent how the west as a society are trying to neglect , give no thought to and ignore the horrors that occur in slums

Pan's Labyrinth

Use of element: 
In the mise en scene, as part of Performance, in the rabbit hunters scene, the character of Vidal is performed with a bold stance of, extreme good posture and holding his head high to an oppressive and dominant extent. This was combined in the actor's performance with an intense stare, to emphasise his oppressive, unlikeable personality. The concentration in the fixed stare being so intense and unescapable
Message: The director expresses a negative attitude towards fascism, in the mise en scene.
Connecting the Director's message to the element: 
Through performance, vidal's character, who represents the fascist regime, is portrayed as unlikeable and evil to the audience, who may feel inclined to take a dislike to Vidal and accordingly fascism.

Use  of element: In the mise en scene, the perceivable colour in the Pale man scene is predominantly red
Message:
The director again portrays negativity towards, and disproval of the fascist movement through the mise en scene.

Connecting the Director's message to the element:
Red is a colour symbolic of all three, blood, violence and hell. From these connotations, the audience will feel inclined to associate the fascist movement with the pale man; this provides a chilling and deeply disturbing portrayal of this seemingly monstrous movement, fascism.

Use of element: In the mise en scene,  in the colour, dull wash of grey is used in the scene where Vidal threatens Mercedes with torture instruments
Message:  The director represents the male gender as cold and distant

Connecting the Director's message to the element: The grey colour has dismal connotations and enforces an emotional distance between Vidal and the audience. This cuts the audience off from Vidal's emotions; portraying him as unattached and cold blooded.

Use of element:
In the mise en scene, as part of performance in the scene wherein Vidal implies that Mercedes stole his key, he has an accusatory facial expression with narrowed eyes. 
Message: The director makes the point that Franco's intolerance for diversity evoked paranoia, especially in fascists 
Connecting the Director's message to the element: The director portrays the character of Vidal as overly suspicious here, the character of Vidal representing the fascist movement and the paranoia that the franco's intolerance for worship of any other religion other than catholicism


Or

(b) With close reference to the two films you have studied, explore how either editing or sound create meaning.       [40]