We found this editing task extremely difficult to do because we had a little amount of successful clips to use because of a mistake during the filming process so we had to make do with the clips that we had.
Rough cut:
We found the rough cut rather easy to do because we only had to find the correct order the clips went in. The only thing we struggled on in this task was following the 180˚ rule when the rule is applied to three actors. At one shot we broke the 180˚ rule, so to fix it we had to add shots that we didn't intend to use in our plan, in order to follow the 180˚ rule. (We added a clip of Manisha looking at the camera because she was on the 180 line, then we crossed the line.) Also, we had to avoid jump cuts. To do this we also had to add extra clips so the flow was maintained.
Fine Cut:
We found this process moderately easy, although making everything flow was quite difficult- especially with the clips we had. We used the precision editor to avoid jump cuts and to maintain flow.
In this essay I'm going to be writing about the different representations presented within this opening scene and how the chicken is used as a metaphor.
The scene opens with the sound of what seems to be the sound of a knife sharpening. The shot is an extreme close up. This connotes fear and danger. The shots at the beginning of the scene almost look like that they're from the chicken's POV. (They are at the chicken's eye level and everything is a close up shot. Also, whenever a human is presented on the screen the camera is at a low angle. This seems like the camera is at the chickens POV and the camera looking up at the humans could connote the human's power over the chicken. Also, the camera cuts and movements are fast and jerky which mimics the erratic head movements of a chicken.) This is effective because the audience will be able to see the world from the chicken's perspective which will allow the audience to empathize with the chicken. Also, these shots will make the chicken seem like the protagonist because the chicken seems like the central character. Also, at the beginning of the scene, there are shots of dancing and music while the chickens are getting chopped up and cooked. These two images contrast completely because the dancing and music connote celebration and fun, whereas the chickens being killed and the iconography used while the chicken is being killed (blood, knives ect) connote fear and death. These two ideas juxtapose each other and this use of juxtaposition makes the chickens being slaughtered looks even worse.
The film City of God is set in the slums of Brazil where life is difficult and there is a lot of danger and gang culture. Trigger-happy and blood thirsty people hang around in these areas, you can tell this because everyone seems to carry around a gun with them, also it's obvious that they're blood thirsty and take pleasure in other people's/ creature's expenses because when the chicken breaks free, a gang of people chase after it and shoot at it for fun. This shows that the slums are dangerous and not a safe place to be in.
'In the City of God, if you run away, they get you, and if you stay, they get you too.'
The metaphor that the chicken is trying to represent is the feeling of isolation and feeling of being trapped. The chicken is used to represent fear and danger and this can be compared to the photographer character in the scene. They can both be compared to each other because they're both trying to escape from the slums in different ways. The photographer is trying to capture a good photo of the gangs in the slums so he can show the picture to publishers to make money which he will use to escape the slums. Where as the chicken is trying to escape so he won't be eaten. These two characters are in similar circumstances because the ways in which they are going to escape could potentially kill them. (The chicken may end up being shot or run over while escaping and the photographer could be caught taking photos of the gangs and he could be killed by them. The photographer is putting his neck on the line and the chicken is also -literally- putting his neck on the line.) The quote stated above pretty much sums up what this metaphor is trying to say. Basically, you can stay there and die, or you can die trying to escape.
Another way in which the chicken could be seen as a metaphor is the fact that chickens can't fly, even though the chicken shown was trying desperately to do so, so he could escape. This is another metaphor to show that escape is difficult. This is also the reason why I think the animal they chose was a chicken because the chicken has meaning behind it. Where as if they had chosen a pig for example the meaning wouldn't have gotten across as effectively.
[In what appears to be a small, empty, white-washed room with large mirrors on all of the walls (the mirrors are reflective windows, like the ones you'd have in an interrogation room. The lighting is high key due to the naked bulb situated in the centre of the ceiling of the room shining a bright yellow tinged light which gives the room a dirty and grimey feel to it. In the room, the only furniture present is a small plain white plastic table which adds a synthetic and plastic/fake feeling to the rest of the room. Positioned by the table are two flimsy matching chairs which are positioned facing opposite eachother on either end of the table.]
[On one of these chairs is sat MAN1. He is sat alone in the room for the time being looking bored and vacant as his eyes half heartedly scan the dull room. His body language is open, but he still gives the impression of being uninterested].
[On one wall of the room there is a single plain wooden door which MAN2 enters through].
[Camera is focused on MAN1 to begin with. The pace of the cuts showing different angles of MAN1 is slow so are the short panning shots. This reflects the mood of this character.]
[The sound of nearing footsteps can be heard (Diegetic sound).]
[Cut to a CU shot of MAN1 reacting to the sound of the footsteps.]
[Footsteps are getting louder/ closer. Camera cuts to a low shot of the door.]
[The footsteps suddenly stop and the door is swung open to reveal MAN2. (The low angle shot shows MAN2's authority).]
[Quick cut to an ECU of MAN2's facial expression which is angry yet determined.]
[Cut back to previous low angle shot to show MAN2 angrily striding over towards the table.]
[ECU of MAN2's hands as he reaches the table and slams his hands down onto it.]
[Cut to over the shoulder shot (POV of MAN2) looking down on MAN1 who is sat down. Again, this connotes MAN2's authority. This shot also allows the audience to see MAN1's facial epression which is slightly shocked, however it's obvious he is trying to hide any weakness away from MAN2.]
[While this shot is happening MAN2 speaks.]
MAN2: [barking] I know it was you!
[Cut to ECU of MAN2's face showing his anger.]
[Cuts back to previous over the shoulder shot.]
MAN1: [cooly] I have no idea what you mean.
[Cuts to an over the shoulder shot from MAN1's perspective.]
(180 degree rule)
MAN2: [temper rising, body language tightens] Don't play dumb with me! I know it was you!
[Cuts back to over the shoulder shot with MAN2.]
MAN1: I said, I have no idea what you're talking about.
[Camera cuts to a medium shot, focusing on MAN2 as he says his line.]
MAN2: [gritting teeth] I'll deal with you later.
[Cuts to a POV shot from MAN1's POV as he watches MAN2 angrily stomp off out of the open door and slams the door shut behind him.]
THE END <3
I found the workshops quite useful for revision purposes as I knew most of what was mentioned during the workshops already.
In the first workshop I didn't really learn a lot because I'm quite familiar with using Photoshop, but I did learn a few little techniques and shortcuts on Photoshop that I was unaware of before hand.
In the second workshop I didn't learn a lot but it was useful for revision purposes ( And it was a lot of fun and good to use iMovie again!)
One thing I did learn was the 30 degree rule. (The 30 degree rule is a guideline that says that the camera should move at least 30 degrees between shots of the same subject in a scene. This avoids jump cuts).
My target for A level Media:
The overall grade that I'd like to achieve at the end of AS Media is an A.
To achieve an A I must:
- Use a wide range of media vocabulary and explain any relevant points I've mentioned in detail.
- I must remember to talk about the basic aspects of the ideas behind things. (Such as: Genre, character etc)
