Scene / Sequence Analysis Art

Video

Introduction: Individual shots in film—medium close-ups, close-ups,

establishing shots, high/low angle, eye-level, etc.—contain meaning according to
how objects and characters are arranged within the frame (composition), what
lens the filmmaker uses, and where the camera is placed in relation to the
characters and objects. More importantly, films convey meaning according to
how these shots are edited together. Editing is the process by which individual
shots are sequenced together. Often in films a series of shots relating to one
location or one plot point are referred to as a scene or sequence. One shot
alone has meaning, but when it is placed before or after another shot in editing,
a completely new meaning is created

Objectives: The goal of this exercise is to gain and show a deeper

understanding of two things: how individual shots are photographed and then
edited together to create meaning in a specific scene or sequence within the
larger context of an entire feature length film.

Method: Part I. Choose a sequence or scene (usually 2 or 3 minutes long)

relevant to your project and transcribe each shot in a similar way as the example
below.

Directions:

1st paragraph: THE FILM -- in this paragraph, you must · identify the title of the
movie, the director, and the year it was made · summarize the story told in the
film in a few sentences and include character names with Actors’ names in
parenthesis (Brackets)

In the shot-by-shot analysis you will be recording the shot number (sequentially),
the shot type / angle etc and if applicable any camera movement, and a
description of the action.

Example:

The Third Man Dir. Carol Reed 1949

An out of work pulp fiction novelist, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton),
arrives in a post war Vienna divided into sectors by the victorious
allies, and where a shortage of supplies has lead to a flourishing black
market. He arrives at the invitation of an ex-school friend, Harry Lime
(Orson Welles), who has offered him a job, only to discover that Lime
has recently died in a peculiar traffic accident. From talking to Lime's
friends and associates Martins soon notices that some of the stories
are inconsistent, and determines to discover what really happened to
Harry Lime.

1
Clip URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeJVNQ4ngfo

In this scene Holly Martins discovers Harry Lime is still alive and Lime
makes his famous and dramatic entrance.

Shot 1: Long Shot Shot 2: Medium Shot 3: Shot 1 in

Shot 4: Medium Long
Vienna Ext. Night. Shot, Canted Angle Medium Shot,
Shot, Straight Angle
Holly Martins Vienna Ext. Night. Straight
Vienna Ext.angle
Night.Ext.
Holly
walking away from Dark doorway of Night.
hears a Cat cry Martins
Holly and turns
shot in distance. building back
to look at the doorway

You should now choose a scene from a film or moving image work that
relates to the Project ‘Sense of Place’ and specifically to your film.

Some films that deal with location are Ratcatcher, This Is England, Sweet
Sixteen or Fish Tank as a guide.