Short clip - Essay

Grace Watson
10 February 2020
Media Studies
Short Clip - Essay

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This short clip from the piece ‘Public Enemies’, represents a police/crime drama. This is revealed through the costumes worn by the policemen who are dressed in smart, blue uniforms. Their clothing evokes a sense of there being something that needs to be solved, a crime that has been committed. The old lady’s words of “If Pointer had been dealt with properly by the authorities, our daughter would still be alive today,” imply that ‘Pointer’ has done something wrong. The word “authorities” could refer to the police pictured in the shot through the camera, and once again proves this clip to be a police/crime drama which always entails some sort of authority and a crime that been committed (in this case it appears to be a murder). The word “daughter” implies that the lady speaking is a mother who has lost her daughter. 

The very next shot after the old lady has shared her deep words of grief is a close-up shot of a young girl. This almost encourages the viewer to question who that girl is, and ponder a significant relationship between the two. Perhaps she is actually the daughter being spoken of. This creates a sense of something needing to be solved. What is that girl’s role/position...

Significant effect has been created through camera work and sound within this film. The opening shot is a sort of establishing shot, revealing a forest. It sets the scene. There is ample greenery of all the plants and leaves which could resemble flowers laid on a grave, which relates to the next scene at the funeral/memorial. Perhaps this is the location of the death. The mirror shot introduces the first character, a middle-aged/old man who appears worried (frown lines). His worry could stir up angst in the viewer.

The effective camera work is then supported and emphasised by the diegetic sound of the radio. Because of the silence of the man who isn’t saying or doing anything significant other than driving at the moment, the viewer almost feels a sense of needing to listen to what the radio is saying. This luirs in the viewer, encouraging active viewing.

The hand-held shot of the man turning off the radio makes the viewer feel as if they are literally sitting in the backseat, watching him turn it off. The reflection of leaves and greenery off the car, along with the close-up shots of the brown leaves (only ones to be seen) evoke a sense of strangeness. In this massive forest filled with luscious greenery, it is ironic for there to be such brown leaves... perhaps this relates to the strangeness and uncertainty created by the girls screaming for help, and the mans lack of action. This screaming of “Please help, please!” evokes worry in the viewer who may begin questioning what on earth is happening. The girl sounds worried, and the close-up camera shot of the tree, and it’s dense branches and leaves suggests that maybe she is actually located inside the tree or lost inside the forest!? The brown leaves could perhaps resemble her closeness to death, brown being a colour associated with a lack of freshness (life).

In the next scene, a close-up shot of a professional camera is presented. It is also a point-of-view-shot of the photographer. This shot does two things. Firstly, it reveals the policemen, who introduce that aspect of authority, typical in a police/crime drama. Secondly, it reveals the face of a girl who appears devastated. All is still unclear and the viewer is still sort of unsure of what is happening. The diegetic sound effect of the camera snapping as it takes photographs also adds to the question being evoked and confusing feel in the viewer. It’s such a loud snapping sound, in contrast to the quiet, dull and sad tone/sound of everyone around. This implies that the death of “Sandra” must be a significant case, hence there needing to be a panel of photographers and videographers capturing what is said.

The hand-held shot with a camera movement that almost follows the girl around the old lady’s shoulder, known as a track, mimics what one would do when trying to see someone more clearly. This is effective in actually encouraging the viewer to become interested in that girl and her role. It highlights that she must have some sort of significance that the photographer, and essentially the viewer, would feel the need to look further, following her with the eye. Close-ups of her face reveal her deep sense of devastation, implied by her crying, which provides connotations with sadness and worry. The close-up shot of her crying could also be described as a reaction shot, as it reveals how she feels as the older couple speak of a death, it’s as if this is her reaction to their words. Something is not right.

Mise-en-scène has also been used to significantly create effect. In the scene with the parents giving their speech, they are standing in front, with a young girl behind them, over their shoulder. This positioning implies that perhaps that girl is their “Sandra” or knows something about her or the situation that they don’t, hence her treacherous tears.

The lighting of the clip is almost dull and dim, which matches the mood of the characters who are all sad, confused and disappointed. They are in mourning. The almost black-and-white sense of lighting, especially in the scene of the memorial, mimics how the characters are experiencing this feeling of grief in darkness.

There are two settings depicted at this point. The initial setting is a forest (revealed by the establishing shot and numerous close-ups of the leaves and greenery). A forest can be thought of as a peaceful haven full of bursting life and ecosystems. However, in this clip, it’s almost in complete contrast. The screaming coming from the trees (signifier) sparks a sense of strangeness and questioning (signified). The trees are actually blocking the viewer from seeing what is happening beyond them; where the screaming is coming from which unsettles and unnerves the viewer; having the opposite effect than peace. This is a period of disequilibrium, where there is a sense of insecurity. Screams can be heard, but the person screaming is nowhere to be seen.

Under the technical element of editing, effect is created through an ironic contrast which is revealed. The first shot is quite slow, the car being filmed is driving slowly and the whole atmosphere seems calm. The transition to the next shot of the man inside the car is then quick and snappy. This is an ironic contrast which occurs throughout the clip. What’s being filmed will be relatively slow paced, such as the slow car or mellow memorial, however the transitions are quick, and hence interrupt that slowness, peace. This could be related to how the viewer begins to feel, it’s as if the slowness and sadness generates uncomfortableness and question, where the viewer tries to understand what is happening, where the screaming is coming from, who has died, who the crying lady is etc. Of course, continuity editing highlights the sense of reality, with time progressing as the car drives in and through the forest and the driver then hears someone screaming. It chronologically makes sense, and so in that sense the viewer is comfortable.

Throughout the clip, the media representation of age in a society is conveyed. There is an old couple speaking at the memorial in contrast to the young lady standing behind them. This is highlighted by the medium shot of the two of them speaking, with the young lady pictured behind. Often in society, the older citizens are generalised as being caring, gentle, loving. This is put across in this clip. The old couple seem heart broken with the loss of their daughter - they are caring of each other, consoling each other as they speak. This is revealed specifically when the old lady comforts her husband as he battles to speak through his tears. They are kind and consoling and therefore abide by that generalisation in society.

In contrast, the young lady could seem less concerned because she leaves the memorial. However, she does seem emotionally affected, detected in her tears, and so one questions whether she knows something that the old couple do not know and perhaps feels guilty. 

The idea of gender is discussed. Often in society is it believed that ‘men don’t cry’. That they are strong and brave and can withstand anything. This clip contradicts that cliché, with the old man completely devastated, and not trying to hide it. He is openly crying, expressing his emotion. This is effective in emphasising how devastated he is, so much so that that he is not worried about what people may think of him, or whether they thing that he is weak. It’s as if the director wishes to portray that it is okay for men to cry, that crying does not make them less of a man. On the other hand, women are often depicted as being more submissive, more vulnerable and emotional, and more likely to cry, however in this clip the old lady seems more stable, being able to hold back her tears, take over and speak with a voice that sounds strong, and here, it’s as if the director wishes to point out that women, too, are brave. Just as a man crying and a women seeming more strong than a man in the situation may seem unusual, the actual plot of the clip is too, unusual. Where is the girl who was screaming? Was that Sandra? Who is Pointer?  The themes of family and love are highlighted. Mourning a loved one.