Diegetic: Moonlight (2016)

The use of this diegetic close-up in ‘Moonlight’ highlights Chiron’s stirring emotions in this scene. The lack of bold colours or distractions in the background forces the audience to focus on Chiron’s facial expressions during this dramatic moment. The blood on his face from a previous altercation is also brought to the audiences’ attention with the use of this diegesis.

Intra-diegetic: Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003)

In this infamous scene of the Deadly Viper Squad, the camera is placed in the POV of a violently injured Beatrix, after her attempted murder at the hands of the four. This dramatic use of diegesis allows the viewers to better understand how vulnerable and violated beatrix would be feeling, the low angle of this shot also adds to this sense of vulnerability. This shot may act as a precursor to the acts within Kill Bill, as Beatrix sets off on a course for bloody revenge.

Extra-diegetic: Come and See (1985)

In ‘Come and See’, extra-diegetic shots are used effectively throughout the movie to better achieve the film’s purpose: to persuade against war. These stark looks directly down the lens shatters the 4th wall, further adding realism and verity to the character Florya and the scenes of war that take place around him. Without these extra-diegetic shots, it may be easy for viewers to dismiss the events portrayed in this movie as ‘just another fictional war movie’. However, these shots add compassion between viewer and character, causing the horrendous acts of war to have an even deeper emotional effect on viewers.

Cinematography is the art and craft of making motion pictures by capturing a story visually. In technical terms, cinematography is the art and the science of recording light either electronically onto an image sensor or chemically onto film.

Taken from the Greek for “writing with movement,” cinematography is the creation of images you see on screen. A series of shots that form a cohesive narrative. Cinematography composes each shot, considering, where everything in frame demands attention.

Critical Score: 6.8/10

A memorable scene for me would be the final chase sequence between Deckard and Roy Batty. I believe it summarises one of the key themes of the movie, humans vs. replicants, whilst also adding to the idea of replicants being children in terms of their social consciousness. Roy almost treats the chase as a game of hide and seek, not taking Deckard’s threat seriously.

Mise-en-scène refers to all of the elements that comprise a single shot; that includes, but is not limited to, the actors, setting, props, costumes, and lighting. The director of a play or film is called the metteur-en-scène—literally, “one who puts on the stage.”

The formula of box office hits: in the top 10 of last years highest grossing movies, all of them are produced and distributed by a conglomerate company. This shows how dominating these companies are over the film industry and how easily they can produce high-grossing films.

5 out of the top 10 movies are superhero movies (all of them being apart of the Marvel cinematic universe); the long-existing fanbases for marvel movies allows almost all of their films to perform exceptionally well.

Art Film	Mainstream Film	Historically Significant Film
once upon a time in the west	A Bugs Life	Battleship Potemkin
Fitzcarraldo	The Shape of Water	The Seventh Samurai
Alphaville	The Breakfast Club	Schindler’s List
A Clockwork Orange	The Wizard of Oz	2001: a space odyssey
Mulholland Drive	Love Simon	Blade Runner

Knowledgeable: film theory requires knowledge to learn and understand.

Risk-Takers: especially in the producing aspect of this course, risks will need to be taken to enhance a media product and keep it original.

Balanced: your ability to produce media products and to answer questions on the theory side of film must be balanced.

Caring: especially when working with a team, you must respect everyone’s creative opinions, even if they differ from your own.

Principled: in many aspects of film, you may come across political messages or meanings. Stick to your principles and know what is right.

Inquirers: to be curious and want to find out more about the theory of film or about film pieces (e.g hidden meanings).

Reflective: being able to comment on a piece of work you have written or produced or offering constructive criticism to benefit others.

Thinkers: must be free-thinking and able to understand meanings of film aimed towards the viewer.

Open-Minded: being flexible to new ideas and ways of producing projects.

Communicators: to feedback to members of a group about the additions to a shared project.

In ‘The Godfather’, mise-en-scene is sometimes used to express the impact of a certain scene on the overall narrative of the movie. For example, in this scene, the godfather is shot by a rival gang member. The birds eye view shot highlights the movie’s setting in New York (classic New York sidewalk and drain), this reinforces the affect in which the Godfather getting shot will have on the streets of New York. The visceral imagery of the fresh oranges spilt over the street floor may reflect the disruption in order/ formality that the shooting may cause for the Corleone family.


In this scene, Coppola uses mise-en-scene to develop the characterisation of all the characters involved, however, most importantly the Godfather. The lighting within this scene is quite dim, casting shadows over much of the room. This causes the characters to come across as sombre and serious, as the lighting also offers an almost judging and suspicious undertone. The furniture used within this scene demonstrates the opulent lifestyle in which the Godfather lives. In addition, the placement of the characters within this scene insights into the workings of the Corleone family; the Godfather is placed in the centre of the screen, highlighting his importance above the others. He is also the only character facing the camera, furthering the idea that he has the most power over that scene. Lastly, the costumes used within this scene (extremely smart suits) adds to the sombre tone, with an almost complete lack of colour except for the Godfather’s rose attached to the lapel of his suit. This rose may connotate love and passion for his family, above his dark personality (or black suit).