Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Settings & Props
In a mineral cave, with shinning quartz stone on wall
Costume, Hair & Make Up
Wearing their pyjamas with dirts. A scar mark on Mr Fox right side of his face after being slapped.
Facial Expressions & Body Language
Mr Fox teared up after being slapped, and Mrs Fox shows her impatient to Mr Fox by snapping his face, and start tearing eyes while she is complaining.
Lighting and Colour
Soft light with yellowish and warm color, light direction comes from bottom.
Positioning of characters/objects within the frame
It is a two shot to show only the main characters to face each other, none of other characters are included in this scene of their private conversation.
What role does the shot choice (Cinematography) play in the scene
Using close up shot is a way to let audience to have physical proximity with Mr and Mrs Fox’s facial expression. And it externalizes both character’s inner world, the immature of Mr. Fox, and the disappointment of Mrs Fox.
Anomalisa (2016)
Firstly, the two main character situated in the centre of the frame, composition is quite symmetrical and balance. As their facial expression demonstrate their anxiety and frustration, it depicts both character resonate their emotion to each other equally.
Moreover, it is a high-angle shot for showing the two main characters lying on the bed. The camera looks down on them and it points visual cues make audience get a sense of vulnerability and powerlessness for the characters.
Also, creating a warm and harmony household environment through the use of soft, orangish lighting. Every details in the empty space of the room is in focus which underscore a scene for audience to take a visual rest.
Regarding of costume, the characters are wearing outfit for outdoor instead of pyjama, the female one even seems to cross her arm as a symbiotic meaning of protecting herself, demonstrating the unease atmosphere. It communicates with audience their uncomfortable about the place they are staying.
Rebecca (1940)
Duration: 31:04 – 34.07 in link
Can you describe the relationship between the characters?
How do we know what the relationship is?
Can you describe how the mise-en-scene works together to tell us what the relationship is?
This scene illustrates some kinds of conflicts between the relationship of Mrs. Danvers and Rebecca. Audience is able to anticipates their collisions with the scene as below.
Mrs. Danvers leads the camera movement once she appeared in the scene, camera continues to follow though Mrs. Danvers until she was placed in the centre. It demonstrates that she owns her the dominant position in this scene.
Mrs. Danvers shows her arrogant attitude to Rebecca as her face was placed at the top area of the frame and then looks down to Rebecca, even she is a maid and Rebecca supposes to be a guest.
This situation aggravated by camera focus on Mrs. Danvers with a narrow depth of field when she moves from foreground to background, and let Rebecca out of focus. It guides audience’s attention to respond to the focused subject. Therefore, Mrs. Danvers still obtains the attention and be the dominating character.
It is equally important to take a glance at the fact that Mrs. Danvers takes up the right hand side of the whole scene. A certain distance remained, even they stay around in the room or walk in the corridor. In this way, protagonist (Rebecca) stays at the left, contradicting to the antagonist (Mrs. Danvers) remains on the right side.
The Breadwinner (2017)
What type of shot is it?
Middle shot
What is the camera angle?
Low angle shot
Where is the character located in the frame?
Centre of the frame
What is she wearing?
Yellowish clothing with red bright color burqa, a type of headwear
What is the depth-of-field?
Deep depth of field, large area in frame is in focus
Describe the colour palette?
Mainly yellowish and brownish color, low saturation for background.
But, high contrast color, redish, yellowish greenish for the main character.
Describe the lighting?
Hard lighting with harsh and deep shadow