Micro Elements

and Camera Shots

BY WILLIAM DILLING

Camera Shots

Extreme long shot

A extreme long shot gives us an
idea on location and the
surrounding area, By looking at this
image we can see that the film is
starting at night time and in a built
up area of a large American city.

Long Shot
A long shot can describe an area in
more detail, holding the same sort of
purpose as a extreme long shot, we
learn more about the surrounding area.
In this image we can see that is set in
America and that it is based in the 80s
we can tell this by the type of clothing
the woman who is running is wearing
and also by the truck driving away. We
can tell from this image that the
director wants us to focus on the house
as it is the most in shot, we can also tell
that this is the place where this
particular scene is about to start.

Close Up
Close up shots allow us to see
in detail the actor/ in this case
the actress face in detail, this
shot tells us that the character
is happy but at the same time
extremely tired or dopey, we
can see by the lipstick, eyeliner
and headband that she was
planning on a fun day/night out
and about with friends or a
partner.

Extreme Close Up
Extreme close ups allow for us to see
in extreme detail what the
actor/actress is doing for example in
this photo snorting crack cocaine, we
can also tell from this image the girl
who is snorting it. Extreme close ups
usually still make it clear which
character is being shown by giving
away certain traits in this case her
bright read nails and blond hair.

Mid-shot
Mid-shots display usually the torso
of a character and up, they also
give the possibility to show more
than one character and allow the
viewer to partially if not fully the
location. We can tell from this
image that the character is in the
bath and that it is his birthday, we
can also learn from mid-shots the
main character of a scene, this is
character who is mostly given the
spotlight for example the one in the
bath is the primary character and
the secondary characters are in the
mirror.

Medium Close Up
Medium close up shots are used
mostly in conversation but in this
scene we can see that it is used to
show the emotional state of
Detective Riggs and what he is
doing (Loading a gun)this would not
work in a close up as you would not
see the gun and it would be
pointless in a mid-shot as you would
see more than you would need to
removing the emotion that needs to
be captivated.

Medium Long Shot

Medium long shots are used to
display mass characters at once,
this type of shot can also be used
when a character is moving ( the
same as a standard long shot) In
this scene we see a group of police
officers all in convocation, no other
shot could captivate all the
characters in the same way, this
medium long shot includes all of
the characters and shows facial
expressions.

Over The Shoulder Shot

This type of shot is mostly used
when one character is talking to
another it is also used as a way of
showing a character is being
watched for example a
stalker/hitman is watching upon
their pray. In this shot we see a
convocation between detective
Riggs and Detective Murtaugh, the
person who is talking at this
moment is Riggs and the camera is
focusing on Murtaugh who is
listening,

Camera Movement

Panning Shot
A Pan is used to sweep an area (From
left to right or from right to left) for
example in this shot the camera Is
panning the beach most pans either
capture the area or end on where the
next scene will be set. This shot is also
classed as a tracking shot as it is
tracking the dogs movement.

Tracking Shot
A tracking shot is used to track a
moving object or person for example in
this shot the camera is tracking a
falling body, tracking shots are used to
enhance the feel of the scene and on
the hole they move where you would
look if you were at the scene.

Cut
A cut is when one clip jumps to another
without a transition effect, this type of
editing is often done when a mistake is
made or the directors want to reduce
the films running time.

Zoom
A zoom is used to pinpoint in on a
location that we have scene from afar,
in this scene we can see that the
camera is being zoomed into an
apartment, the place that could be
beginning of the story.

Pace

Lethal Weapon starts off slow paced to build up on tension and the characters
story's and then drops you straight into fast paced action crime, comedy
thriller. It follows the linear and Hollywood narrative theory meaning that the
film goes chronologically (Linear), also we can tell what will happen by the end
(The hero will succeed) (Hollywood)

Tilt
A tilt is often used when the
director is attempting to put
you in the eyes of a character.
In this case our character is
looking over a balcony.

Performance
From the beginning of Lethal Weapon we can tell the genre is crime and thriller this
is expressed by the woman (Amanda Huntsacker) who is on drugs jumping out of
one of the top floors of an apartment building, we can link this to crime as we know
police will be involved and we can link it to thriller for the unknown aspect of the
death we know it was a cause of mainly drugs but if it was only that then the film
would end before beginning.
By the 2nd 3rd scene it is clear that Lethal Weapon also has strong comedy aspects
in the scripting weather it be Murtaugh thinking his new partner is a law breaker or
even the fact that Riggs jumps willingly of a building with a suicidal man it is clear
comedy is involved.
Moving on to the Action aspect this genre is known to be their from the first scene it
isnt until Joshua one of the main villains starts shooting freely around the streets
and at funerals that we are truly confirmed on the element being their.

Diegetic Sound and Non-Diegetic

Diegetic
This type of sound is noise that can be heard by the characters not
just the viewer, sounds like this can be gunshots, car crashes ,
blazing fires, explosions , trains , waterfalls, characters talking at
the location i.e. busy streets.
Non-Diegetic
Non-Diegetic sounds are noise's that cant be heard by the
characters only by the viewers sounds like this consist of caned
laughter, narration or over music.

Mise-en-scene
Props; Guns, Cars, Bullets, glasses, Cake, Lamps, Tables, Beds, Curtains.
Costumes; Suit, Jeans, Shoes, Shirt, Dress.
Sets; Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, office, streets, nightclub, bar, garage,
trailer, beach.
Actors; Detective Murtaugh, Detective Riggs ,Joshua , The General,
Michael Huntsaker, Dixie.
Lighting; Colour Tempratures, Silhouetting to enhance the mood,