Video of Monarch of the Glen :
Monarch Of the Glen: Re-write Essay
We can clearly see that we are shown the representation of age in the form of binary opposites in this clip of 'Monarch of the Glen'. This is divided into the catergories of young and old, which are demonstrated by the character, Amy, and the other characters which all appear to be of an older age group, mainly shown by Amy's headmaster and the other characters in the scenes.
From the first scene of this clip, we are given an insight into the surroundings of the settings. The characters are shown to be in a rural countryside environment, with many characters of an older generation. The use of mise-en-scene makes it clear that the men are of a mature age due to the clothes and aged features about them. Many have dark grey beards with grey hair, whilst wearing suitable clothes for the countryside environment. That of which being waterproof coats,hats and boots or hard shoes. This allows them to look comfortable and stereotypical to the setting of this scene. The tools that they carry show that they are hard working, and this may resemble there "aged" look due to the stresses of a working lifestyle.
In comparison to what these workers are wearing, the audience may then be alarmed at the presence of Amy. When Amy is first introduced to the scene, she is wearing a bright yellow jumper with jewelery and white trainers. Along with another young man (supposably aged in his late-teens) who appears to be in a hooded jumper and jeans with a t-shirt. These two characters almost instantly seem out of place in this setting of the country-side. As before hand we had only seen elder workers dressed correctly for this environment. This bright yellow jumper particularly singles Amy out from anyone else, as the colour seems almost too colourful compared to what the elder people are wearing. The colour yellow may represent her age as young and fresh, where as the colours of the other workers clothes resemble aged and boring. All of which are opposites which relate to young and old aspects of people.
Another way in which age is shown is by use of camera shots. During the scene of the car crash, there is a medium shot involving the use of steadycam camera movements between four characters, all of different ages. Four characters are used in one particular shot are placed in a certain position which shows meaning to the way they have been set to stand. Paul, a middle aged man around 30-40 appears to be the main dominant character out of the three. This is because of his height and placement in this shot. He is the tallest and is most forward. Behind him, at a much lower level, is the young man from an earlier shot, aged around late teens/early adulthood. Followed by Amy who is at the lowest level, in the comfort of a young/middle-aged woman who almost directly behind Paul. The way this has been put together forms a sort of hiearachy of age and demonstrates how much power and dominance comes with it. Paul being at the front, shows how the middle-aged working class has the main amount authority, giving us the impression he is not affraid or intimidated by Amy's headmaster (who is placed singuarly behind his car). The younger mans position shows that he is second in rank to Paul with the amount of authority he has. He appears to be in securing posistion infront of Amy, whilst also still near Paul to remain in some small authoritive manor. Behind them reamins Amy and the woman. Amy is hugged by this woman, which shows that Amy does not feel at ease to talk or face up to the headmaster and lets Paul do the talking for her. As her true age (16) is realised here, it is clearly made visible that she is the youngest due to the camera shot becoming a close-up on Amy's face. This shows her facial expression to be concerned and worried about the situation she is in, which is why she relies on her older peers to support her.
Editing is also used in this clip in a way which represents age. The scene that clearly shows this is when Amy is being scoulded at by Paul. A shot reverse shot is used (over the shoulder shot) is highly used and defined with both characters. As Amy talks the camera is directed at her from a low angle with the view of Pauls shoulder. We cannot see his face as this makes Amy seem small and more vulnerable. While Paul talks, we can only see the back of Amy's head whilst Paul is in mid-shot. This editing shot reverse shot demonstrates age because it makes Amy appear very small and insignificant compared to Paul who shows his high status and roll as an older person. We as an audience feel how it must be like to be in Amy's position having to look up toward Paul to comfront him. Another scene where editing is used is in Amy's bedroom. A series of pans are used to show us items in Amy's bedroom as she views them. In the first pan, the camera is focused on teddybears,magazines and pjamas. Whilst the second pan is from Amy to her mirror. Who we see is looking at some pictures. These items all show Amy's true age, as we would consider bears and magazines to young children. The bears and pjamas almost portray that Amy acts even younger than 16, so shows that she has an innocent side to her teenage age. We begin to sympathise with her when we see the photo as it shows what she is having to leave behind. In the countryside she has matured, where as now as she is about to leave her bedroom, she goes back to reality of the age she is at.
Sound is a key factor that changes the atmosphere from one scene to another in this clip. A sound bridge edit is used between the scene above, to an establishing shot of the countryside and a rainbow. The music non-digetic and is jolly which fits with the country style theme and the way that the workers scurry around bussily. They seem happy and content with what they are doing and the music resembles this. However as we move to the scene of Amy in her bedroom, the music turns into a slow playing flute in a sad and mellow tune. This makes the atmosphere turn from happy to sad, and whilst Amy looks over items in her room such as pictures, we begin to feel sympathy for her. She has tried to mature by helping and working with Paul, yet has been turned away to go back to school. Although running away from school may make Amy appear foolish, she demonstrates that she is helpful by giving Paul a hand. She also seems caring as she leaves gifts for two girls on her bed. The innocence of the room mixed with the non-digetic music continues to make the audience feel sorry for Amy as we see her as just a young teenager with no-where to go and who has been sent away by the dominating older person, Paul.
25/09/2012
Camera Shots: Below is a link to my work which demonstrates different camera shots
In the clip above, we see a large amount of different camera shots. The use of this creates a manic and busy atmosphere within the audience and suits the scenes well as they are supposedly scary for many characters in this clip.
The first camera shot we see is a medium long shot of the boy with his mum. The fact that we are viewing them as if onlookers through the park gates gives the impression we as an audience are spying on the two characters or may feel threatened to be closer to them. Looking at them with the park gates in the way, creates a sense of wanting to feel proctected by something (such as the fencing used as a divison between us and the characters) or could resemble trying to keep something out. Which generally means it is not welcomed or perhaps not nice, even dangerous if we consider the large dog they have.
This form of camera shot continues as the boy and his mum walk with the dog. When we are shown two other male characters, we see them in a medium shot and with the camera being more steady. Compared to the first camera shot in the first scene, this appears to be less fearful of the two male characters as we can see them clearly and not through a barrier. Thus making them seem more welcoming.
However when we go back to the mum and her son with the dog, the camera goes back to being further away in a medium shot, before panning downwards to get a shot of the dog. As the camera pans, we can see the woman struggling to control the dogs strength as she tugs on the lead whilst showing a frustrated facial expression. This enables the audience to get an idea that the dog is powerful and could be considered dangerous. The fact that we can see the dog is in a harness and a heavy metal chain in the shot, also makes the audience believe the dog could be hard to control and has a lot of strength.
The use of a shot-reverse-shot between three characters is also used in this clip. We can see that when the boy holding the dog goes towards the two boys, we see a medium shot of the dog acting agressive as it is barking and tugging at the leash. We then switch to see the two boys rection in a medium close up, which shows there facial expressions as worried and concerned. The final shot reverse shot is of the boy holding the dog looking angry and irritated, before going back to the two boys. These shots enable the audience to see each characters individual fcial expression whilst also enabling them to see what each one is looking at in the current scene. (Such as the two boys looking at the dog).
Above is my group video of using different camera shots.
Below is a clip from waterloo road:
In this clip we see a lot of typical tv drama shots. However there are two main different shots that are used consistantly throughout the scene. These include a conbination of a high and low angle shot and a shot reverse shot. The high and low angle shots are used to represent the people in this scene. The two girls taking drugs are viewed from a high angle shot, so we as an audience look as if we are looking down on them. Seeing as they are taking drugs, many people may look down on them in society as drugs are illegal. So they girls may be viewed as immautre for wanting to take them. We are shown them in a high angle shot to resemble what we would think of them.For example, Sam (who is the one viewing down upon them, seems to be more mature for not taking drugs, so looks down upon the other two because of there immaturity and we as an audience view her from a low angle shot, looking upwards towards her. This may resemble the audience thinking of her as a higher role model to the girls and being in a higher status on screen shows her power over the other two, and that she is more responsible.
The next shot is a long continuous use of shot reverse shots. These are commonly used for tv dramas when usually two characters are having a conversation. In this case there are three characters, but the shot reverse shot is still used between the three of them (two characters are generally used per shot revserse shot). This is useful because during the conversation we are able to see who is talking and then the reaction of what the other persons response is. We can see the expressions of the actors whilst they are talking so we can tell what emotion they may be portraying in the scene along with there dialouge. It helps to create a more real life atmosphere.
My own version :
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