Semiotics part 3

Film analysis

3 easy steps to
analyse motion
pictures
 Looking for signs in motion
pictures
What did we learn in the last lesson?
What 4 elements should we consider when looking for
signs in motion pictures?

Remember the clip from Tales of Terror from

Tokyo (2004)
 elements to
analyse
Mise-en-scene
Sound
Camerawork
Editing
The Director is choosing these styles to give specific
meanings and enforce the audience to feel a certain
way while watching the movie.
Varying No one shot has a single purpose

emotions How does a close up shot create different

moods?
 How to analyse
NOTICE
just say what you see - a simple observation (is the camera moving? what is
the character doing? what are they wearing? what sound is there?, what is the
lighting showing? etc

CONSIDER THE CONTEXT

What is actually happening , or already happened in the scene or overall
narrative

APPLY MEANING
How is the Director trying to convey a message, idea or meaning through the
lens, what he/she trying to make you feel?
 Analyse
Pay attention to the Mise-en-scene and
the action between the characters

Watch the opening scene to Stanley Kubrick's Eyes

Wide Shut (1999) and consider the 3 steps:

Notice: write down what you see?

Consider the context: make a note of what is
actually happening?
Apply meaning: what is Kubrick wanting us to think
about the characters?
 Analyse ERT
AL
LER
OI
SP
This time pay particular attention
to camera work and lighting
Watch this scene from Frank Darabont's creation of
Steven King's Shawshank Redemption (1994)
and consider the 3 steps:

Notice: write down what you see?

Consider the context: make a note of what is
actually happening?
Apply meaning: what is Darabont wanting us to feel
throughout the scene
 Analyse
LEST GO BACK TO KUBRICK
Watch this scene from Stanley Kubrick's 2001 Space
Odyssey (1968)
This time consider that this movie was made in the
ate 60's and is set in the future

Notice: write down what you see?

Consider the context: make a note of what is
actually happening?
Apply meaning: what is Kubrick wanting us to
think about the lifestyle and environment?
 wo
rk
in
pa
irs
Bringing it all together
Watch this short film; Judie Feenstra's The Clue
(2016)
Notice: write down what you see?
Consider the context: make a note of what is actually
happening?
Apply meaning: what is Feenstra wanting us to understand
about the character through the film?
think about the mise-en-scène (for example; clothing,
decorations and props), editing pace, colours throughout,
camera angles, sound sand music etc

From last week's workshops

Narrative theory - is it inear/Non-linear? - can you apply
Todorov's theory of equilibrium and is it possible to add Propp's
characters (metaphorically in some cases?)
 Add to your website...
Page: Visual Workshops
Title: Semiotics Part Three
Explain the 3 steps to analyse motion pictures
What 4 elements should we always consider?
Give examples of analysis from the 3 films; 2001
Space Odyssey (1968), Eyes Wide Shut (1999) &
Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Discuss your analysis of The Clue (2016) include
narrative theory

Use screenshots to support the work and

illustrate your points