CIE Media Studies :​ ​Preliminary Task :​ ​Framing and Setting by Eden Chiam

Have a look at the cinematic shots below. Identify the mise-en-scene and comment on how each has
been framed to create a particular mis-en-scene.

1.

This image displays several technical codes and visual codes; some technical features include the

camera focus on the man and the location blurred out and also the black cinematic bars in which

frame the moving image and suggests that the film is professional and cinematic.

The camera focus allow the character to be emphasised and the audience to concentrate on the

man; however, the camera angle used is a fusion of long shot, wide shot and medium shot; it is a

medium shot of the man, but, because the background of the railway station evidently takes most of

the frame, the end of the railway makes the shot look like a wide shot or a long shot. Because of the

wide/long shot affect, the audience’s eyes are drawn to the end of the railway creating an enigma

code making the audience curious if that is where the man will go. The use of lighting creates a

dawning atmosphere and suggests the movie is set early morning; this is through the mix of low key

lighting (dark) and high key lighting (towards the end of the railway). The colour pallet used also
creates a warm atmosphere as the light looks warmer rather than cool; the warm lights coming from

the end of the railway connotes hope for the man if he goes that way.

The character’s​ costume​​ includes a ​dull hoodie and a blue bag​​ which is not at all extravagant; this

allows the audience to assume his ​class​​ and assume that he is not very rich. From this shot, the

audience can’t see much of his ​face​​ and so are not able to assume his​ personality type ​or if he is the

main character or not. ​Visual codes​​ include, the railway tracks, the rocks, the sign posts and opening

at the end of the building that tell us that the film is set in a railway station. Seeing that there is no

one around it could mean that the character is in the railway station early and therefore is eager to

go; seeing also that he is travelling alone suggests that he doesn't have much company on a normal

basis which also gets the audience optimistic of seeing this man meet new people.

2.

Technical codes:

- Long shot: enhances horizontal lines, e.g, the wires that make the gate, the hill (in the

background), the road (greyish line behind the character), the edge of the field (the
 character is walking on) and suggests that the character has a long way to walk if he keeps

walking in that direction.

- Wide shot: same as above

- Eye level angle: creates a point of view feel, (if the camera moves along with the character)

feels as if the audience is moving with the character.

- (However, it looks like the man is walking on the edge of a cliff or hill) In this case, we can

see this as a drone or crane shot.

- Lighting: natural lighting used creates verisimilitude and makes the film’s realism feel like the

real world.

- Vignette edit used (shadows around the edge of the frame) to create emphasis on the

character. Also darkens the image and so connotes depression or sadness.

- Colour Pallet: looks as if nature’s colours (greens from the field and blues from the sky) are

faded and the editor unsaturated the colours of the image. This creates dullness and

blandness, which could again connote sadness, depression and that this character’s life is

dull (not exciting).

Visual codes:

- a high fence is seen with bars - height is emphasised because the audience compare’s the

character’s height to the height of the fence. Connotes isolation, distrust and restriction.

- Body language: Character is looking down with shrugged shoulders and hands in pockets

shows closed off and introverted personality. Also connotes sadness and depression. COuld

be seen as a follow shot (shot of the consequence of an action) as his sadness is the

consequence of something that has happened.

- No buildings: suggests rural setting instead of city. Promotes connotation of isolation and

nature. Lack of city buildings or signs suggests peacefulness and quietness.

 - Costume: Outfit of character includes blue jeans and a white/beige trench coat, this

enhances the low saturated frame and also blends in with the colour theme of the frame.

These colours are not bright and the outfit is not fancy; this suggests the character’s

personality as humble or introverted as the audience would think that this character chooses

his own clothes in the movie.

3.

Technical Codes:

- Low angle: This angle emphasises whites in character’s eyes which makes the charcter look

very scary. Low angle also shows that character has more power or status. This angle could

also suggest a that this shot is a point of view shot and the audience can guess that the shot
 is from the point of view of a child looking up at the man as he shouts at the child. This

connotes child abuse and allows the audience to empathize the ‘child’.

- Close- up shot: Allows the audience to have a clear view of the character’s facial features

which could ultimately give the audience clues to who the character is.

- Deep shadows in the edges of the frame: perhaps this is the use of a ‘vignette edit’ to pull

the audience’s focus on the character’s face and emphasise it. This also enhances the low

key lighting and makes the frame look more dark and horror-like.

- Low key lighting: Technical code that fits well with the other codes in the frame. Enhances

dramatic facial expression, makes the frame look more dark and scary which connotes fear.

- Only mostly top of the face lit: Allows audience to focus on the eyes; eyes look straight at

the camera so a direct mode of address is developped allows the audience to feel vulnerable

as the character seems to be shouting straight at the audience.

Visual Codes:

- red in lips and mouth: the colour red seen on the character’s lips and mouth is similar to the

colour of blood. Blood is a convention of the horror genre so makes the frame look more

scary.

- Whites of eyes: Directors conventionally show the whites of the eyes for characters who are

supposed to be scary or is the villain in this case since he looks very scary due to facial

appearance the audience can already assume that this character is the ‘villain’.

- Stubble: This shows that the character is not well groomed which suggests that he is no

upper classmen and maybe poor. This further more makes seem more like not the hero

because normally the hero is perfect and is well groomed and admired.

- Grey hair: Shows that the character is of a mature age makes him more look like he is not

well groomed
 - Blank background: doesn’t show setting so audience has no idea where this character is and

cannot make further assumptions. Furthermore, this could be deliberate so that the

audience focuses solely on the character and his emotion and facial expression by getting rid

of any distractions like a background/ setting

4.

Technical codes:

- high angle: Allows for a wide view of the city behind batman also showing that Batman is

standing on a high place which connotes power, making batman look like a ruler

(king/leader) of this specific place.

- Medium shot: Allows the audience to see both batman and the view behind him. Draws

attention to his body as well.

- low key lighting: Conventional for superhero movies especially during an active part of the

plot. Also shows the audience that the scene is set at night

- Lighting on Batman: Light from out of the frame (can be assumed to be moonlight or city

lights) emphasises batman and makes him the centre of attention. The light also shines on
 batman’s body and creates shadows to make his muscles look better and make him look

more fit.

- Artificial lights: seen as the city lights in the background, makes the city look ‘alive’ and

normal (like usual cities are).

Visual Codes:

- familiar character Batman: He can be recognized through his iconic costume: mask, cape and

bodysuit. However one thing that is dissimilar is the batman logo on his chest normally it is

not seen in this.

- physique: Batman’s body suit is assumed to be extremely body fit where the audience can

see his abs, biceps, chest, etc. This is stereotypical for movie protagonists so much so a

superhero movie protagonist. This also allows for the female gaze theory

- City behind: In the frame, the audience can see many black skyscrapers with lights coming

from windows to show that the city is ‘alive’. The city behind doesn’t have any particular

famous landmarks that anyone would know to guess the setting so the location in which this

city is in is unknown to the audience.

- Broken lights: On the building next to Batman there seems to be letters that are lit to spell a

word however it is evident that some letters are not lit and are broken. This suggests that

the city is not well maintained; lower class city.

5.

Technical codes:

- eye level angle: increases experiential level as the audience will feel engaged to the frame,

like they are in the in it too. Also this angle allows a good view of the car and the helicopter.

- wide shot: Allows the audience not only to see the car and the helicopter but also the setting

and the cars behind. Gives the audience a good view.

- High key lighting: Naturalistic especially in this setting where it is outdoors.

- Vignette: (shadows on the edges of the frame) allows the audience to concentrate on the

action.

Visual codes:

- Car: is a space gray colour that is shiny and smooth- typical of a sport car. Looks modern

suggests modern time period setting.

 - Smoke/ dust/ sand flying around the car: makes the still image look more alive as the flying

dust is the consequence of the strong wind from the helicopter. Also could show that the car

is driving very fast. Adds life to frame.

- Setting: Set in an area with lots of cliffs; audience can assume that this frame is set in a

desert. It is a typical and conventional car racing place.

- Cars behind: looks similar to the car in the front. Plot line emerges, can be assumed that a

race/ battle between the cars and the helicopter is happening and the helicopter trapped

this car from getting to the ‘safe’ zone (where the other cars are). Though the background

cars don’t look as modern and cool as this car; suggests that this car is better/

stronger/cooler than the other cars. Could also suggest isolation as the car is alone whereas

the other cars are together which means that it or the driver in the car is in danger.

- Road: wide road shows purpose in the cars being there; allows audience to be imaginitive

and guess why the cars and helicopter are there.

- Purple/blue light coming from the car’s exhaust piper: Colours look very modern; suggests

that the car is modern itself and high tech. In contrast to the helicopter, the car looks more

high tech and cool; this makes the audience assume that the car is more powerful than the

helicopter.

- Helicopter: Propellers are blurry suggests that this shot was caught in action; this adds life

and motion to the frame. The nose of the helicopter is pointing downwards onto the road;

We can assume that the helicopter is about to crash.

6.
Technical Codes:

- wide shot: shows a lot of the setting and therefore emphasises it to the audience. Creates an

effect similar to what an establishing shot would do.

- eye level angle: Engages audience as this makes the shot like a point of view shot for the

audience - makes them feel like they are in the frame too.

- Colour palette: Aesthetically pleasing colour palette: warm toned and slightly lower in

saturation. Warmness of frame connotes joy and happiness and as we see a character sitting

and not much things going on it also feels peaceful.

- High key lighting: Enhances the peaceful and happiness connotation. Suggests home and

enhances the connotations of peacefulness.

Visual Codes:

- Dirty road: Suggests lower class area; also suggests that the character/characters in the

frame are probably not the richest.

- Chinese characters printed on the sign: suggests location with Chinese as the main language,

ie, Hong Kong, China.

- Buildings: Does not conform to stereotypical look of a modern place with skyscrapers.

Suggests location to be set in more of a provincial place. Takes away the usual busyness of

normal cities and connotes peacefulness and home.

- Wires: messy and tangled emphasises that the setting is low maintained area.

- Red lantern: Suggests chinese culture and tradition and again suggests that the setting

locates in a place that has chinese as the main language

- Character: Sitting down in a relaxed body position and reading newspaper connotes

peacefulness. There is also a noticeably lack of people which reinforces the connotation of

peacefulness, slow paced and laid back atmosphere.

- Fed-Ex sign: Familiar brand audience can recognize as it is widely recognized. Engages

audience.

- Closed shops: suggests the reason why the atmosphere is so peaceful.