Learner Response
WWW:
- you've got some good points in every answer but now need to work on your technique to reach the higher levels.
EBI:
- one reason you are stuck on level 2 is the lack of organisation and clarity. You need to be using paragraphs to organise your points.
- You also need more focus on the question: use the wording from the question to make sure you are answering it.
LR: re-write you mise-en-scene answer on your blog, making it a level 4 answer.
Mise-en-scene
What does the mise-en-scene suggest about the characters and events from the film? (12 marks)
The facial expressions used in the scene suggests there has been a brutal fight and some of the battlers are just breathing and others have lost their lives. Keaton, who lays on the floor, looks to be in serious pain as his movement is very slow paced (lighting cigarette slowly). Also, the fact that he isn't standing implies he isn't in power of the situation and if anyone was to pass by, they would be able to report him to the police because he lays in the middle of a ship which is going to explode or they could kill him. Therefore, Keaton is vulnerable to an attack because of his injured body. In addition, once the mystery man approaches Keaton, he seems nervous when the lighter was pulled out probably because he isn't sure what he is going to do with it. Alternatively, he could have be scared the mystery man might use it as a weapon against him. Furthermore, the positioning of Keaton would infer that he is inferior to the man because he is looking up to him so now is in that vulnerable dilemma the audience foreshadowed. The facial expression of the mystery man is never shown because his face isn't revealed. This would make an audience want to know who Keaton is talking to (because they have built an emotional connection- hence close ups). It adds to the tension and symbolises a sense of crime and gangster life as it is a mystery (who is the man and why is he doing this?).
The lighting used in this scene is low key lighting which adds to the lifelessness of the characters and scene. The low key lighting has allowed some of the excess light to be eliminated to add special effects which are unnatural. It creates the effect called Chairoscuro which means dramatic shadows are constructed from lights being placed specifically. Low key lighting suggests the narrative is about criminals and assassins. Also, back light is when the light comes from behind the characters which means shadows are formed in front of the Keaton and it also means we aren't able to see the mystery man's face. This lighting adds to the genre of crime and mystery because darkness symbolises vulnerability and death.
The props in the scene suggest the characters are ruthless because they are deadly which adds to the gangster genre. The mystery man holds a gun towards Keaton's face which further emphasises his heartlessness act/behaviour. When the mystery man pulls out the pistol, the audience would imply that he is going to do something malevolent (murder). The way the mystery man holds the gun -to the side- suggests that his style is unique to others and is probably familiar with holding/shooting guns. In addition, the audience could infer that Keaton killed the corpse on the floor of the ship because he is the only person we see in the beginning of the scene. At this point, the audience would begin to use clues in the scene (props) to imply the sort of film they are about to watch and the dead body would symbolise danger and death. Furthermore, the cigarette that Keaton smokes implies he is either nervous or composed. This is because there would be no other reasons for smoking in a serious situation like the one he is in.
