1) Elements of Mise-en Scene
Mise-en-Scene is a term described to the production and design of the film or everything in sight that appears within the camera and in the midst of a scene, usually including lighting, costumes, props, actors and settings.
Focus on a central character/actor. How would you describe his or her acting style in the film? Does the style seem compatible with the story? With the genre?
Throughout the film, Reese Witherspoon played as an overachieving, bright, eager and childish student. Her acting style was somewhat fake, exaggerated and unrealistic but despite that, her acting style was compatible with the story and the genre since with her over-the-top acting, it increased the comedic affect within the film.
2)Elements of Cinematography
Examine one or two shots in which camera movements – tracks, pans, zooms, or others – are important. Why is a moving frame of a single shot used here instead a series of shots? How does that movement comment on what is happening in the shot?
I noticed two camera movements which were constantly used throughout the film. Firstly, zooms were important within this film since it increased the importance of the object that was being zoomed on and it caused the audience to focus upon the object. Secondly, pans were important because the audience easily followed the object, focusing on the object, knowing what was occuring within the scenes. I believe that a moving frame of a single shot is used more often compared to a series of shots because it increases the simplicity of the film, not causing confusion for the audience. It also increases the attention and importance of the object. We can also see the object in one single perspective instead of multiple perspectives, thus, not confusing where the object is going, why and etcetera.
Look for a pattern of compositional distances int he film or sequence. Do there seem to be a large number of long shots? Close-up? Some other pattern? Describe one such pattern and explain how it reinforces one or more themes of the film.
There seemed to be a large number of still shots and freezes. In each still shot, it was stopped/frozen at one character and the film would revolve around the character for a short period of time as the character would narrarate with voice-overs. It was a pattern which was maintained and constant throughout the film. It had somehow kept the story of each character, the personal emotions and thoughts of each character, clear within the film and the narraration would always belong to one of the four main characters in the film.
3)Voices, Music, And SOund Effects
To what extent do sound effects add to the film’s sense of realism? Can you locate an example which sound effects are rpimarily responsible for creating a particular impression of location, action or mood?
Sound effects add to the film’s sense of realism by supporting the mood or the vibe of the films and to support certain effects of the scenes. Sound effects were especially important during the scene in which Tracy Flick was on the floor and glaring at the posters because the sound effects, the background music, supported the wild and crazy mood the actress/character felt and it supported the actions she did, which clarified the wildness of her actions. Also, the wildness of her actions were supported by the song since the melody was somewhat the song of wilderness.
It isn’t really that way Reece Witherspoon (Tracy Flick) was acting unrealistically. She wanted to express how big she really wanted to because she is a very popular student and an overachieving senior. I think friends are very capable of her and the camera was always at her focus meaning the camera follows her lead. She leads in almost on everything, but there are times when people wanted to change or ripped decisions at the end. Like I said, the camera is revolved around her with all the narrations put into it.
Great work Stephanie,
I like your analysis of Witherspoon’s acting here; the role didn’t reallycall for what we might call a ‘naturalistic’ treatment. Well observed.