5 Key Elements of Film Form

1 – Cinematography = Lighting and camerawork

Low key/high contrast lighting = low light source to shroud character in mystery

High key lighting = even high lighting over the frame to convey certain moods such as peace or serenity.

Camerawork and shot length = (ELS, LS, MS, CU, ECU) Used to show varying levels of emotion or set the scene.

2 – Sound = All noise that can be heard

Diagetic = Sound that the characters can hear. Source of sound is usually seen on screen.

Non – Diagetic = Only heard by the audience. Often associated with the score of music for that film.

Score = The music. Usually non-diagetic sound. An integral part of the film and often the most important sound in the shot.

Dialogue = Words spoken by characters. Almost always diagetic, but there are exceptions such as narration. Used to provide exposition and backstory to events and show interactions between characters.

3 – Mise en scene “Placing on stage” = Props and costume, everything that can be seen on screen.

Costume = Shows era and can often be used to show the current situation of a character.

Setting = The set. Also often shows era. Important for wide shots (LS, ELS). Helps to draw viewer into the world of the film.

Actors = The actors portraying the characters and where they can be found on screen. This shows their relationship to the background and to other characters.

4 – Editing = Post shooting. The process of editing together the shots and making the story coherent and chronological.

Interesting example of editing = Christopher Nolan’s “Memento”. A story which is told to you in the complete wrong order. Excellent film and a favourite of mine.

Editing is particularly important because often even with many shoots the director can not achieve their exact vision. Post production allows them to still dictate what they want done and create a perfect execution.

5 – Performance = The way the actor delivers the role. Integral for creating an ideal image of a character.

Often considered to be part of the Mise en scene. Important because when an actor properly takes control of their character and delivers an exceptional Performance it can breathe life into the character and make them much more believable for the audience.

The adventures of a young girl in a war torn Spain as she discovers how she ties in to the mysterious “underworld”.

Characters:

Ofelia – A young girl with a troubled family and entanglement with the underworld. She is confused, curious and a bookworm.

Carmen – Ofelia’s mother. Pregnant with a boy and married to Vidal, the military commander.

Vidal – The commander. Proud and selfish. Uses harsh methods to achieve his goals.

Mercedes – Head servant of Vidal. Cares deeply for Ofelia. Is secretly helping her brother and the Spanish resistance.

Faun – Mysterious creature who tasks Ofelia with difficult errands for her to prove her worthiness.

Doctor Ferreiro – Devoted and skilled doctor who helps the wounded on both sides of the Civil War.

Director:

Guillermo Del Toro both directed and wrote Pans Labyrinth. He was fascinated by the Spanish Civil War, shown in his previous work The Devils Backbone. He wanted to make a film that showed a more sinister side to a fairy tale world. Pans Labyrinth was an attempt to mix a fantasy world with gruesome violence and disturbing imagery.

During the years of 1936-1939 the Spanish Civil War took place. This was due to an imbalance between the Republicans and Nationalists.

The Republicans, led by General Azana, were based in Seville, Cadiz, Burgos and Saragossa. They recieved help from Stalin’s Russia but their military strength was dwarfed by the Nationalists.

The Nationalists were led by Generals Sanjarjo and Franc. They had the full support of both Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy, making them a formidable enemy. They were much more professional and regimented.

Due to the fact that the Nationalists had the upper hand, they quickly began to control large areas of Spain. They held the advantage for 1936 and some of ’37, however, the massively important Battle of Guadalajara was won by the Republicans. It shifted the balance and showed the Republicans could pull on top even with inferior military strength.

In 1938 it all flipped back the other way. The Nationalists held a strong lead, pulling a victory in Catalonia.

The Spanish Civil War was majorly important because it occured just prior to World War Two, the largest war in history. It is thought that there were upwards of 1 million casualties in the Spanish Civil War. It was unfortunately a rather one sided conflict from the beginning but remains one of the largest and most brutal civil wars in history.

Evaluation of the Voight Kampff test Scene

When we first see the room, the camera is positioned high above the interview table. The interviewer is looking up at the window which is providing a small amount of light into the dark and dingy room. He stands proud, shoulders wide apart. In addition, he is smoking. This shows his power and dominance in the situation.

Contrastingly, Leon enters hunched over. He looks distant and confused, like a child. This reinforces for the viewer his ignorance and powerlessness. Leon does not strike the viewer as strong or capable of violence, which is a deliberate attempt to lure the audience into a false sense of security.

As the scene progresses, we see the technology used in this universe. It creates an aura of dystopian future for the viewer. When Leon begins to be questioned he appears relaxed and tense at the same time. This puts us on edge as to how he will react to the questioning.

There is no music, only the sounds of the electrical equipment. However, once Leon is asked about flipping over the tortoise we begin to hear a heartbeat, suggesting a build up in tension in the atmosphere. Leons eyes also widen as the camera performs close up shots on him. All of this helps to establish a mood of uncertainty and tension.

One thing that can be observed about Ridley Scott’s use of lighting is that is it very artistic and complex. Scott uses lighting to create shapes and to zone areas of the frame as light or dark; good or evil.

As the scene reaches its conclusion, we feel as if the tension has been alleviated when the interviewer leans back in his chair and the heartbeat in the background stops. This is so that the ending has a larger shock factor.

We feel sympathetic and afraid of Leon at the same time. The scene shows that he is dangerous and unstable and cannot be contained. This sets up the rest of the film because we feel scared for Decard against replicants such as Leon.