Big close-up: As this shot is so close it gives the audience a distinct focal point to look at. She is breaking the 4^th wall (looking straight into the camera) which makes the audience feel she is talking to us. I think the director purposely did tis shot as a big close-up because it makes see the character in a deeper way/level. As the shot is close up, we can see every emotion very vividly. Just looking into her eyes, you can see the panic or the unstable mentality. 

Long Shot: This shot shows Chiron at the train station alone. The way he is shat in the middles with the whole of the city landscape behind him helps to signify he’s extremely lonely. I think the director has purposely done this to help this audience feel sympathy for him as he’s solitary. As an audience member myself, watching this scene showed me that there is the whole world, but Chiron still ends up alone.  

Extreme long shot: This scene shows the area where Juan sells the drugs. The shot helps the audience consume all the different details about this location. It helps us see it’s run down and a quiet area; this signals that it could be a very dodgy area that is very unsafe.  

Camera Angles-Moonlight 

High Angle: This a shot taken of Chiron walking home from school. This high camera angle can direct the audience’s attention to the vulnerability he is in. It also makes him seem powerless with the shot, even though he is the only one in the frame he is alone which calls out he is alone. This is also followed on throughout the film as there are many other scenes where’s we see Chiron alone.  

Low Angle: This low angle shows little looking up at Juan. The camera angle lets us see his whole face and reaction. As a viewer this angle could also signify that he is ‘little’ even though they are both sitting down the angle can help represent that his name signifies his height.  

Eye-line Angle: An eye line angle helps us see the image in the frame at a ’natural’ position. In this case and in this scene, Black and Kevin are having a conversation. This angle can let the audience clearly see the two characters talking.  

Camera Movements 

Pan Right: This scene is when Chiron (black) is talking to his mum in her garden. The way the camera slowly focuses makes the viewer feel they are watching this scene from the background. It also clearly shows how closed off the characters in the location.  

Pan Left: This scene is when Chiron is walking home from school and the camera instantly moves to Paula (his mum) and puts the focus onto her.  

Track in- Track out: In this scene the camera slowly tracks onto little when he is in the field with his friends. The camera shows that he is feeling disconnected with his friends as it shows the viewer he is left out/alone even when he’s with his friends.  

Cinematography: moonlight 

Extreme close up, this shot affects viewers as it makes the scene feel more intimate and as if we are there as the subject is shown so close. Additionally, the use of this close-up shot makes this scene more emotive as we feel the character is speaking to us as an audience directly which establishes emotional links between the audience and character leading them to feel more invested into the film. The close shot also draws the audiences’ attention. 

This long shot reflects how small Chiro is compared to Quan also showing how small he feels compared to others around him. The small size of Chiro shown in this shot also connotates innocence and is child-like causing the audience to feel sympathetic towards him. 

Close ups give comparison to long shots, as well as making the characters appear smaller reflecting how small Chiro and Kevin feel compared to everyone else in their society. This also causes the audience to be more observant as there is more to look at compared to a long shot.  

Camera angles 

This low angle makes young Chiro appear larger while opposed to reality where he is very small also making him look vulnerable.  

High angles are taken when the camera is looking down on the actors and setting while being above. They make the scene more dramatic as well as making the characters appear smaller and more venerable, which can show the audience how the characters feel in this scene. 

Birds eye shots are taken directly above the character, they affect the audience by giving them a clear view of Chiro as well as highlighting his changes from adolescence. 

Camera movements 

In this shot the camera pans down. The effect of this is that it highlights the extend of Chiros injury’s and his mother’s drug addiction causing the audience to feel sympathetic towards Chiro and additionally helps us to build an emotional connection to the film. 

The camera moves to the right in this shot and transfers from an image of the cleaner cleaning the floor and then Chiro sleeping rough in the station. This camera movement reflects the emptiness of the train station telling the audience how everyone has gone home after their work, but Chiro is unable too also highlighting his bad home life again making the audience feel sympathetic.  

Here the camera is freely tracking Quan and Chiro. The effect of this is it makes the scene more immersive and makes the audience feel like they are there, not just watching them on a screen. It also adds an element of peace and tranquillity.

Medium long shot (MLS): I think this camera shot was used to create tension as the shots after this one keep getting closer and closer to the actor to create a sense of suspense for the audience as they’re awaiting to see what happens next or how close the camera is going to get to the character before something happens. 

Big close-up (BCU): I believe that this camera shot was very powerful especially at this point in the film as the camera is very close to the actor’s face making the audience feel as if they’re almost there, interacting with the characters themselves which creates a bond with the audience which is very important especially because of all the heavy social issues discussed and brought up.  

Long shot (LS): I think this shot was used to present the character to the audience fully, meaning that the viewer can see all different elements of the character such as his outfit, movements etc. Making the viewer connect with Chiron as we can see and almost feel what he is seeing and feeling. This also creates almost an anticipating shot as we don’t know what he is planning on doing until it happens in the next scene.  

Camera Shot Types/Distances 

This is a BCU shot (big close up shot) 

I think the director did this to make the audience feel as if they are seeing directly from Chiron’s point of view, which helps them feel more emotionally involved as you can see the exact emotions that run through his mother’s face. It feels like she is talking directly to you, the viewer. The shot that was also used out of nowhere during the middle of the film, and the vivid change was successful in really making the audience feel like they had to truly focus and listen to the words she has to say. It’s emotionally fantastic and compelling.  

This is a long shot (LS) and also a back shot.  

The use of these shots really ties in with the coming-of-age genre as it seems like a reflective scene, with the characters back to the camera as he overlooks the sea. It not only adds depth and is a visually beautiful shot, but it creates an emotional impact without the audience even having to see Chiron’s facial expressions. The audience feel like they are seeing from afar as Chiron progresses through his life and learns lessons, making the audience feel connected to him.  

This is an MCU shot (Medium close-up) 

This shot is used in this particular scene so that both the character and the background can be seen with an equal presence, which is important because we need to see the emotions that Chiron is feeling after this very tense moment but we also need to see the setting that he is sitting in: the school office/nurse environment, which can highlight Chiron’s vulnerability.  

Camera Angles  

There are two examples of camera angles in this picture: on the top there is a lower angle, and on the bottom, there is a higher angle. Despite this being two different examples, they work together in the same scene to create a significant meaning- it not only shows the power-imbalance between mother and son but in the higher angle when Chiron is staring back at his mother, we can feel a sense of a little fear and alienation. It feels as if Chiron is completely disassociating while his mother screams and belittles him. 

This is a low camera angle.  

The director’s choice of using this angle in this particular shot is helpful to portray to the audience Juan’s disdain for Chiron’s mother as he looks down at her. It also makes her character seem a lot more inferior to his.  

These are eye-level shots. 

Used within the same scene, this type of angle while Chiron and Kevin stare at each other feels intimate. It feels, to the viewers, as if we are looking deeply into these characters as their emotions clearly run through their faces- Chiron’s perseverance mixed with Kevin’s guilt/fear. This can make the audience feel sympathy for them both. It also demonstrates how they are both fully focused on each other, as they sort of communicate silently.   

Camera Movements  

In this scene the camera freely tracks the characters. 

This scene was filmed from a half-submerged perspective. The camera freely moves around Chiron and Juan while it dips and splashes in the water. This makes it feel as if we aren’t just watching the scene but actively participating in it; it feels intimate and it feels like we are there due to the tracking of the camera. Additionally, it is amidst a highly emotional and pivotal moment where Chiron is starting to finally trust this adult as he battles internal conflicts, and the waves that bounce through the camera are a direct portrayal of that journey.  

In this screen the camera slowly pans to the right. 

This is used so that the area where Chiron and his mother sit can slowly come into focus as we feel like an outsider to this private conversation. It sets up the location and shows how isolated the characters are.  

In this scene the camera tracks out. 

After his bully pushes him, the camera slowly starts to track out, in sync with the other students as they walk forwards, as Chiron stays back and starts to disappear from the frame. It’s a visual metaphor for the way Chiron is being treated at school, and in life in general, that tells the audience the conflict inside of him.  

Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, 2016)

Critical Score:  7/10   I think this was a beautiful film that touched upon a lot of deep and thought-provoking topics. I felt like the three actors throughout the film (showcasing the different stages of Chiron’s life) did a really good job at making the character feel like the same one, and each actor portrayed a different stage of Chiron’s life in a slightly different yet impactful way. The colouring of the movie was also so nice.

Memorable Scene:   For me a memorable scene was the fight scene between Kevin and Chiron. Before any violence happens, there’s a shot where the camera tracks Terrell as he circles Chiron menacingly, and then right after it centres on Kevin as he is being peer-pressured into punching Chiron. It’s an impactful scene, and it uses a lot of interesting shots to portray the deep feelings on the characters’ faces.

CU – Close up shot 

This affects the viewer by making us feel connected to Chiron, the proximity can also create an unease. This was done because the director wants the audience to feel how the character feels, the betrayal and anxiety. 

TS – Two shot 

This scene makes the viewer feel calm, the shot captures both characters in the scene, showing their interactions from an invisible 3^rd point of view (us), conveying the fact that they’re in their own world, confiding with each other about their sexuality. 

MLS – medium long shot 

The framing and distance of this shot makes the viewer feel like a spectator, watching Chiron take care of himself as his mother is incapable of it due to drug addiction, making this scene still and harsh. 

Birds eye angle 

This angle choice is designed to convey Chiron’s point of view after running away from a group of boys, hiding out in an empty apartment (?), peering out through the cracks in the window. This helps the viewer understand Chiron’s need to hide himself from threats, this is a common and important theme throughout the film. 

Eye level angle 

Using the eye level angle allows the scene to feel intimate for the viewer, this is because this angle is how we usually perceive others around us every day, giving this scene good verisimilitude as it feels realistic. 

Low angle 

The low angle is effective in this scene particularly because of how Juan feels towards Paula (Chiron’s mother), it’s intense and uncomfortable. For context, Juan is a drug dealer and is selling to Paula, yet Juan is conflicted as he also cares for her son, Chiron, hence why the low angle successfully conveys the discomfort.

Arch Shot 

In this opening scene, the arch shot was smartly utilised to portray the intense environment to the viewer as well as showcasing the environment in an efficient way. It gives the audience an immediate introduction to the world the film is set in, a real one, and how the Miami drug scene is so prevalent out in broad daylight. 

Pan Left 

This scene starts with Chiron walking home, but then suddenly whips to the left to show his mother rushing towards him in an erratic fashion. This builds suspense for the audience as we don’t know what she’s going to do, especially since up until this point she has proven to be unpredictable. 

Ped Up 

In this montage of Kevin cooking for Chiron, it moves from his hands plating up the meal to his face, consistently drawing our attention back to him. This keeps the audience intrigued into what he’s making, what he’s potentially thinking/feeling whilst cooking. 

Shot Distances

CU – (Close Up)

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about close ups as it shows the claustrophobic and suffocating feeling that Chiron has when being bombarded by his addict mother. Chiron is subject from a young age to substance abuse through his mother and this scenes close focus on Chiron’s mothers desperate and deluded facial expressions helps to illustrate how Chiron feels about his mother and her issue.

LS – (Long Shot)

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about long shots as it shows how Chiron is helpless in his situation. As his bullies leave the scene on the left, Chiron tries to subtly make himself big and intimidating, but as the shot type is so wide, it shows that Chiron is out of his field here, and that he is a lot more vulnerable than he would want to be.

M/CU – (Middle to Close Up) 

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about middle to close up’s as it shows the audience what Chiron’s situation is, and how it’s framed so personally with the waves washing over the camera makes the audience feel as if we are with Chiron in this moment, but also understand his feeling of being drowned out and lost in his own life, being neglected by his mother and bullied by his fellow students. 

Shot Angles

High Angle 

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about high angles because it shows the intimate relationship between Chiron and Kevin. This is a moment of calm in the film, with the characters relaxing on the beach smoking a blunt. This calm is subtly broken by both Chiron and Kevin looking directly into the camera from this high angle, creating a sense of compromise and vulnerability. 

Eye Level Shot 

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about eye level shots because it shows Kevin’s initial reaction to see a grown-up Chiron. This prolonged and level shot with Kevin staring directly into the camera puts us in Chiron’s shoes and lets us feel how Chiron feels when Kevin sees him again for the first time since they were teenagers, and with the contexts we have of their relationship, we can accurately match Chiron’s emotions as an audience. This allows us to really envelop ourselves in these characters dynamics. 

Low Angle 

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about low angles because it also puts us in Chiron’s shoes, but this time it’s so that the audience can connect with the pain he’s being subject to, both physically and mentally. We’re shown Chiron’s bullies kicking him and beating him up from his perspective and we get to understand that his struggle is a direct cause of Kevin succumbing to peer pressure and we as an audience can connect that this is both a betrayal and a humiliation for Chiron. This allows us to connect with Chiron even more, as we get to feel his pain through the camera angle. 

Shot Movement

Handheld Cam 

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about handheld camera shots as the disorientating and wobbly shakes that the track has makes us as an audience understand the feeling of being an addict and being under the influence. As Chiron’s mother tries to get Chiron to unlock the house, the camera follows her towards the house with an uneven distance from the camera and her, and an unpredictable shake with each movement, making the audience feel disconnected and confused during the scene. This helps us empathise and understand Chiron’s situation with his mother and her drug problem. 

Tracking Shot 

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about tracking shots as this extended following shot of Chiron’s journey to his classroom, where he inevitably attacks Terrel with a chair, allows us to visualise Chiron’s emotional process as he approaches his revenge towards his bullies. In moments throughout the fast-paced track, we see Chiron slow down and take a beat to reconsider his intentions, before he starts pushing ahead again, sealing his fate. This long track creates impact by showing us how motivated Chiron is to regain control in his life. 

Camera Pan 

I’ve chosen this shot to talk about camera pans as it shows us the relationship between Chiron and Juan. As Juan speaks to Chiron, the camera pans diagonally towards Chiron who is staring up at him with focus, showing how he admires Juan as a pseudo-father figure in his life, and how Juan is the only person that Chiron has to look up to in his life, as his mother neglects his well-being frequently across the movie. The pan also helps to tell the audience about how Juan feels in this scene, as he is not focusing on Chiron. This shows Juan’s hesitation to help and nurture Chiron as he knows about his home and personal situation, and knows that even now he’s overstepping a boundary. 

I decided to give this film an 8/10 because I thought it was a powerful film which delt with serious social issues such as drug usage and addiction, discrimination, bullying and sexuality. I feel like this film was great at showcasing what all those issues really look like, giving the film a deeper sense of verisimilitude and creating an emotional bond with the audience. The 3 different actors who played Chiron at different stages in his life felt very connected with one another, giving the audience the impression that it was the same person all the way throughout the movie. 

Memorable scene: the most memorable scene in my opinion was the very last scene of the movie where young Chiron is on the same Miami beach as teenager and adult Chiron were also at. This for me was memorable as it symbolizes a “full-circle moment” meaning something symbolic in the movie takes place usually at the end or beginning of a movie which then has an important correlation with something leading to the same point in the movie. I think this was great as it made the audience much more interested in the overall plot as it is left up to the viewer to make their own assumptions and theories about the movie, hence why it is at its peak interest point.

Moonlight Shot Distances:

This scene has a wide aspect ratio to show the entire hallway, and the subject in the shot continues to retreat into the hallway. It begins as a close up before she backs away and the shot becomes a long shot as she walks into the next room. Additionally, this shot is first person from the perspective of Chiron, and makes the viewer feel as if they are in the room with Chiron’s mother.

This medium close up shot of the main character, Chiron as he looks towards the camera, as if he is breaking the 4^th wall. I think this gives an insight into how Chiron’s feelings in this scene – hurt as his mother is looking ill and sickly from her substance abuse.

 I like how this long shot of Chiron comes at the end of the film, with him looking out over the sea. I think that while an abrupt ending, it’s fitting for the end of a drama/slice of life style of film.

Moonlight Camera Angles:

I like this low shot of Chiron’s mother as she scolds him for not coming home that night. It makes the viewer feels as if they are in Chiron’s perspective and makes them feel more connected to the character as it is about his life.

This scene is also shot at a low angle, but it is from water height, so some of the waves come in the shot which I think makes this a really effective shot. Having the camera move with the waves gives the effect of the viewer being in the scene and swimming with Chiron.

This high angle over Chiron almost gives the viewer a sense of superiority over him, as he is low on the ground and almost cowering away from the teacher attempting to help him. However, I also think that this makes us feel sympathy for him.

Moonlight Camera Movement:

The camera pans from right to left in this scene to follow the movement of Chiron’s mother. This allows the viewer to see the entirety of her face as she scolds her son.

The camera zooms in on the children in this scene as they are dancing. The movement is slow to focus on them dancing, which I feel almost acts as a happy scene to interrupt the dark storyline, though it is still focused on Chiron and his friend Kevin.

The camera in this scene tracks Juan as he gets closer to Chiron’s mother in the car. This gives the effect that the viewer is in the scene with him, as it isn’t revealed where he is going until he confronts her in the car.

Moonlight 

shot distances-  

Close up  

I have chosen this image of Chiron in a close up shot, this shot is powerful and a pivotal point in the film as it signifies the switch within charactar and adds suspense and shock for the next scene as the contrast of his facial expressions in this clip are sad and defeated, opposing the next scene when he is full of rage preparing to smash the chair over Terrel’s head. 

Medium long shot 

I have chosen this image for mls as in the scenes placement in the film is impactful and crucial to show how much Chiron has grown and changed from him being a young vulnerable little boy confused and lonely, to the ending of Chiron and Kevin happy creating a full circle moment for Chiron’s character.  

Big Close Up  

This scene is so impactful as it is so heartbreaking for Chiron, he an easy character to sympathize with and feel sorry for. Its difficult to see how upsetting Chiron mothers’ addiction really affects him. The venerability in this scene is visible from both actors which i believe makes it so powerful as you can see and even feel the upset, they are both going through.  

Angles- 

Shoulder level angle 

This shot being shoulder level with chiron and kevin highlights their mutual respect for one and other, it also follows them while they walk making you feel a part of the conversation. 

High angleThis is a high angle shot representing how small little really is, it also shows the conditions he was living in whilst also caring for himself creating sympathy for his character. 

Waist level angel 

This shot being at waist level for littles pov indicates how small he was compared to his mother literally and figuratively. 

Camera movement- 

In this scene the camera follows little swimming in the sea, the camera moves up and down as if you’re also swimming with them. 

In this scene the camera follows behind Chirone fastly paced this represents and shows the anger he feels after being beaten up by his classmates. 

 In this scene the camera calmly follows Chirone through an empty street. This represents how he felt lost and did not know what to do at this point in the movie.