Camerawork: Blog Task

 1) Three camera shots:

- The opening medium shot clearly shows the woman holding up her ID. This already sets the scene for the action coming after it and conveys the fact that she has a high authority, and is a very important person. It also implies to the audience that she is looked up to as a person.

- The long shot at 0:52 establishes the setting the woman is sitting in, inside her house facing a number of screens. This perhaps indicates to the audience that what she does is to remain unknown by others including people of the public, and that she may have a secret identity or alter ego given the out of place computer screens in spite of the somewhat regular setting. This helps the audience understand the character a bit more and have an insight in both of her lives, the one known by everyone and the one that is kept a secret.

- The two shot at 3:52 portrays two characters frantically speaking into a phone, with shocked or worried expressions on both their faces. From this, the audience can infer that they are trying to send a message back, which signals to the audience that the man may be the doctor that the other characters were trying to contact the whole time. Like many two shots, it also includes a medium close-up that focuses on the characters' faces which makes the audience understand the situation and the seriousness of the scene, following the quick movements and concerned facial expressions which enhances a certain level of mystery.

2) Camera angles:

The action going on within this scene is portrayed clearly by the many camera angles used throughout. One of these angles in particular, the high angle at 3:31 of the character gazing up at the rapid surge of electricity shooting up the building, communicates to the audience that the machine being used is very powerful in comparison to the people which creates a contrasting effect; with the machine being much more dominant. The character has a stunned look on his face, as if he is amazed about what he has just accomplished by activating it, and that he is shocked by what he or what the machine is capable of. This is then followed by an establishing shot of power signals being sent to space, which further emphasizes the pivotal role of the machine, and its importance in this particular scene. It causes the audience to feel astonished by this, making them fully immersed within the quick pace of the show.

3) Mise-en-scene:

The lab setting distinctly highlights the fact that this is a sci-fi show which communicates to the audience that the characters are all apart of a community that is intent on saving or protecting the world. It also implies that they are all quick-witted people, with high intelligence, seeing as how all their tech is very advanced. It shows the audience that they are a group of sharp-minded people who are much ahead of our time. The different costumes worn by these characters are mostly regular, every-day clothes. This is perhaps so that they blend in more with the real world rather than standing out, especially if it is supposed to be a secret organization. The clothes such as the t-shirts, jeans, suits and cardigans create a sense of normality to these characters despite the extraordinary amount of knowledge they possess and their purpose.

Extension [Stranger Things]:

The opening establishing shot of the dark lab already sets a mysterious tone to the scene. This would be perceived by the audience as sci-fi, as labs are usually seen in more scientific based shows for being the place where most authentic things are made- like cures for example. It also connotates to horror, given the way it focuses on an eerie and dismal setting to open with and the fact that it looks completely deserted. The high angles shown at both 1:37 and 8:07 suggests that both these characters are vulnerable and completely inferior to the audibly large creature that is heard before both victims met their somewhat demise. It maybe implies that they have nowhere to escape or run to and are completely helpless in that situation, which shows the audience that the creature has a much more powerful hold on the victims, and makes them worried for what may happen to the characters.