Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Homework 2 BLK - Film-Making Conventions and Cultural Codes


I chose a scene from near the beginning of Disney Pixar's Up showing Carl's morning routine. It is a family movie so the themes have to be portrayed quite clearly.

Film-Making Conventions

  • CU of alarm clock and side table – we can guess whose room this might be before seeing him
  • LS room to establish the setting
  • Extremely slow pace to reflect his age - 27 seconds on stairlift, long pause before getting out of bed
  • PAN following him getting out of bed – we know we’ll be following him in the movie
  • Organisation within the frame (lots of sharp angles, nothing out-of-place, in patterns) reflects his structured and repetitive daily routine
  • HA, Carl's POV breakfast on table
  • Frame within a frame – he’s trapped, nowhere to go in life, no purpose anymore
  • CU – we can see his (lack of) emotion
  • CUTS used – not in a fast paced way because action in the shots is slow
  • In the shot when retrieving his hat he slowly creeps into the frame
  • A ELS at the end shows the surroundings and puts his life into perspective to the rest of the world
  • Orchestral music, used for comedic effect when door doesn't open 

Cultural Codes
  • Dull, grey, pale colours - makes him seem old, meaningless and alone
  • Glasses, walking stick, stair-lift, pills, cracking of back, hearing aid – signify old age and weakening
  • blue&white striped pyjamas very stereotypical 'old man' pyjamas
  • Early morning – 6 o'clock alarm
  • Bran - bland and dull
  • Cleaning & organisation ( bird ornament and table layout) – lack of things to do, killing time
  • Amount of locks – unsafe, vunerable, keeps to himself
  • All links to a stereotypical grumpy old man



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