How Does Film Form Create Meaning And Generate Response
Submitted by cerireed on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
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How Does Film Form Create Meaning And Generate Response
How does film form create meaning and generate response in this film extract?
The Blues Brothers: Directed by John Landis.
The film thus far has established that Jake Blues (John Belushi) has just been released from Joliet State Penitentiary. We are unaware of his crime. He is collected from jail by his brother Elwood (Dan Ackroyd) in an ex-police car. We learn that Elwood has chosen that particular car for its ability as a getaway vehicle and are therefore led to believe that the brothers may not be law-abiding citizens. The viewer is at this point unaware of whether Jake and Elwood Blues are the protagonists or the antagonists within the film.
The extract begins with a medium shot, high angle, establishing shot, the mise-en-scene is that of an austere building on which is displayed a cross. The sign on the building informs the audience that this building is that of St Helen of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage.' There are children of different cultures, wearing brightly coloured clothing, playing happily together in front of the building. The audience are therefore informed that this is a Catholic orphanage, and are led to believe that it is a good place for the orphaned children to be. However, the presence of the non - diegetic soundtrack of She caught the Katy' which provides continuity of sound from the previous scene, implies something quite different. The lyrics of the song Hard headed women' can be heard distinctly, and give the audience some insight of what is to come. The camera remains static, as the car enters the frame, and comes to a halt with the front wing central to the shot. The words To serve and protect' although somewhat battered are clearly visible to the viewer. This could be perceived as a subliminal message to the viewer, as we later find out that the Blues Brothers are on a mission from God' to save the orphanage where they were brought up.
Cut to close up two shot of Elwood...
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