Task 5: Camera
Discuss the use of camera including shot type and movement in Deja Vu. How does it contribute to the audience’s understanding of the text?
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Communication Theories
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on March 10th, 2009 at 11:50 am
The camera can be a hidden element or a technique to create an effect. The images we see form the ‘Snow White’ Machine are very erratic, fast and can move almost instantaneously. This gives the impression of hidden video secretly watching the people without there knowledge. The fast moving camera images without lag also show that it is a highly advanced piece of technology. The explosion sequence is taken from multiple angles, one from a helicopter circling the blast giving the audience a sense of scale and perspective of the blast.good Another angle is taken from bellow and this shows us the people trying to escape the flames, without the underwater shots we wouldn’t know if some survived, or where they had gone, this gives us a unrealistic shot as a bi-stander would not see this but it adds extra information to the story.excellent In the opening sequence we she jump shots this is when the cameras angle does not change by more than 30 degrees, this clearly defines a change in the shot.good This is used purposely to show the refocus of snow white followed by the sound of a camera shutter and a slight flash give us a realist interpretation of surveillance equipment. In one section near the end when Doug is racing to stop the antagonist from killing the female lead, we are shown a long shot while tracking that zooms into a close-up of his face while still tracking, this allows us to see the speed he is travelling and then the desperation on his face the more we zoom in.greate work Tom! good examples
on March 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
In the opening sequence, the camera isuses a variation of panning, jump cutsthis is editing and slightly un-sturdy shots showing sailors and families boarding the fairy. These are used to give the viewer a clear view of the area and events. As the fairyferry explodes, the camera changes to multiple short shots containing many different angles of the explosion from both above and below the water. This enforces the feeling of chaos and builds the impact of the explosion for the audience. good
In the car chase sequence, the camera consists mostly of tracking shots of vehicles and close ups of Doug. The camera shots switch between day and night to give the audience a scene of the confusion that Doug is feeling while wearing the goggles.good The use of fast tracking shots enhance the speed of the vehicle and get the audience’s hearts pumping faster and keep the scene exiting. The close ups on Doug show his concentration and struggle to drive with the disadvantaged vision of the goggles.good Sam you have done very well identifying two sequences and explained how the camera techniques engage the audience
on March 17th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
The camera work of Déjà Vu reflects the conventions of action/ drama/ crime scene genres. yay
In the opening sequencevery good the movement of the camera is quite jittery or shaky at times, and incorporates some fast movement when panning things. Close ups of feet as people are walking, suggest to the audience that there are a lot of people,good while close ups of people’s happy facial expressions help to suggest that it is a joyous occasion- a celebration. Aerial shots of the ferry and the harbour provide information about the location of the event and are used to compare the before and after of the explosion.wonderful A zoom from a mid shot to a close up is used when the little girl drops her doll, which can emphasise the girl’s loss and devastation, foreshadowing what is to come.yay When the man is walking through the car park trying to identify the car with the radio, a tracking shot is used from behind some parked cars, which allows the audience to feel like they are there, watching him.excellent An extreme long shot is used to show a figure standing on the bridge, which we later learn is the bomber. The inclusion of this shot can begin to raise questions in the audience’s mind. yes
During the explosion there is a combination of aerial shots as well as underwater shots. This illustrates the action while allowing the audience to feel as if they are there. The camera moves in an out of the water, just like the people that are being flung from the ferry into the water (use of sound adds to the effect). right
In the car chase sequence, the camera work is again very jittery, most likely filmed using a handheld camera? (I forget the name of that thing… do you know what I mean?yes probably a hand- held camera on the operator’s shoulder/ not a steadycam because then it would appear very smooth ) and often quickly zooms slightly in and then out, adding to the confusion and action of the scene. goodBecause the scene involves Doug wearing goggles that let him see into the past, a significant amount of camera work uses POV shots.wonderful Tracking shots are also frequently used as a means of allowing the audience to feel like they are right there with the protagonist. Among this sequence close ups are used to emphasise Doug’s facial expressions and therefore emotions.fantastic
In the time machine sequence a range of shots are used. A long shot shows the ‘scientist’? shutting the door of the time machine, so that we have an idea of where it is and then a mid shot of Doug inside reveals to us the interior of the machine. We see that it is a cramped space. Mid shots are generally used when we see the scientist preparing, as well as a close up of his hands, which tilts up to his face. The flashes we see of Doug include a bigextreme close up on his eyes, a close up of his face and then a big close up on his lips. The latter close up is significant as he says ‘God willing’. As the camera is focused on his mouth, it emphasises the importance of his comment, as well as suggesting that he is afraid of what he is about to experience.yay Once the machine starts up there is a montage of blurred, ghosting, fast motion shots, with extreme closeups of his eye included. This enables the audience to understand that he is travelling back in time and contributes to feelings of confusion.Wow! Lucy, again, you have answered the question in a very detailed and intelligent way. Virtual Lindt chocolate Easter bunny for you
on March 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
The use of camera in the film Deja vu is a strong production element that contributes to the non-stop action packed film. The camera is used as a surveillance type technique to make the audience and the characters feel that they are watching the explosion, the people, the main girl lead (Claire) and the bad guy, as if the characters didn’t know that they were being watched.good point, but what types of shots would have been used to create the surveillance feel? When Doug and the FBI team were watching Claire with the ’snow white’ technology, the audience felt like they were watching her using surveillance film. Using the close-ups in that footage, the audience also felt that they were actually viewing real surveillance footage as the shots were personal and invasive.
Having used this type of story/production element the audience understand more about what and how they use to get to the end result.
Good Andrea, this would have been ok for a short response, however, you needed to use more technical language on camera, eg. shot type/ movement etc.
on March 21st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
In Deja Vu we see alot of fast paced editing of a variety of camera shots. The frequent amounts of close-ups refer to the actors emotions playing forth and capture for the audience a characters feeling at a particular time.good For example in the closing sequence when Claire believes she has lost Doug, a close-up of her face reveals her anguish and sadness.good example Close ups are also used to determine Dougs role as a character in the opening sequence and introduces the audience to his character. The use of tracking and crane shots establishes the scene as the ferry.good The fast paced editing refers back the theme of surveillance also incorporating a wide range of camera angles as well.right The variation of shots after the bomb, involving above the water and below the water allows for the audiences perspective on the magnitude of the bomb, and the almost peace and calm of under the water. The audience can see the survivors swimming away and can confirm some people still living.right The dialogue between characters generally remains on a mid shot with the camera jumping quickly from face to face. The camera work allows the audiencedirector to convey time, emotion and disequilibrium evolving from the “bomb”. or audience to ‘understand’ time…. etc Good work Kaz
on March 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Tony Scottexcellent uses the production technique of camera to receiveno create? a more emotive response form audiences. In déjà vu the camera adds a lot to the way the audience are made to feel in scenes. Fast pans are used in intense action scenes to create a sense of tension for the audience this causes an element of confusion for the audience as they feel things are going too quickly for them to keep up with.good The frequent use of close ups on important objects like, Claire’s house keys, Claire’s photo and Claire’s number and Claire’s earring help include the audience in the investigation, it also allows the audience to get a good view of the item so they remember when it reappears later on in the film.very good The close up of the clocks towards the end of déjà vu are very important as they help us to feel nervous for Doug and Claire as time slowly runs out. Tony Scott uses close ups regularly on the face at moments of intense character dialogue to give the audience a more intimate moment with the characters it lets us look deep into the character so we can read there expression and emotion contained in the face. yep This is also the case when we get an extreme close up of Doug’s eyes,when? this is a regular technique that helps us really understand what he is experiencing. Slow motion or an ‘over cranked camera- when the camera is over cranked it records more than 24 frames per sec, this give the appearance of things happening slowly is used commonly in déjà vu its effect is that it slows down quick moments to give the audience a better understanding, it allows the audience to submerge themselves in the moment, such as the explosion. During this opening scene slow motion combined with music, gives us a feeling of impending downdoom? as we get an uneasy feeling watching all these solders it causes a more shocking reaction as it really lets us take on the innocence of all the ferry passengers.good Slow motionagain it should be ‘over- cranked’ because the question is asking about camera techniques is again used when Claire is being doused with gasoline as it makes this experience for the audience more horrific and traumatic.right This slow motion mixed with the normal motioncamera speed of Doug in the ambulance trying to save her expands the scene longer so the audience feels it is a race between Doug and the terrorist causing more tension. wonderfulTony Scott also uses the POV techniques this is used to tricknot really trick, more involve the audience into making them think they’re included in the action, it is especially effective during Claire’s near death experience when we get to see the event though a sack which Claire wears on her head.good example It is also used when Doug is investigating the terrorist’s hide out to create suspense. Tony Scott utilises the effect of zoom, he uses this technique during important conversation between characters such as when Doug is told Larry is dead, when the terrorists details are found this slight zoom in when key statements are said give more of an impact to the characters lines.great observation Two key scene in déjà vu where camera is used to heighten the situation is the chase scene and the explosion scene though the perspective of snow white. During the chase scene Doug rushes to catch an image of the terrorists face, this chase scene is shot using many shaky camera movements and fast zooms in and out to stress to the audience the speed that Doug is travelling. It also provokes the audience to feel anxious and scared for Doug as he rushes dangerously.right Tony Scott also almost divides the screen in two as on the left we view the video footage provided by Doug’s goggles, This combined with numerous tracking shots of Doug’s vehicle is used to make the audience imagine that they two are competing in the chase and are just as distorted and confused as Doug. The explosion scene during the beginning of déjà vu is a scene that introduces the audience to the technology of snow white. The Snow white system adds a sinister senses of mystery juxtaposing déjà vu’s genredo you mean action genre?, pans are use in conjunction with slow motion and the contrast of fast motion together with zooms, and blurs (as snow white changes direction) to communicate the audience are watching the family’s and troops boarding the ferry via some sort of surveillance system.right Many aerial shots also establish the setting. Once the car bomb has gone off we view the catastrophe by various tilted camera angles to create a sense of chaos and imperfection. 360 degreeAreal shots of this exploding ferry offer a striking and shocking image to the audience allowing a stronger connection to the main problem in the storylinefilm.Wonderful again Nick, well done!
on March 26th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Tony Scott excellentuses camera techniques to engage his audience to feel like they are a part of the action- packed film, Déjà Vu. In an action sequenceHe nevernot ‘never’ perhaps ‘rarely’? has a steady shot, each one is slightly shaky, in a zoom, tracking or panning.
Slow motion‘over cranking’ see Nicholas’ response for my explanation is used to create an expansion of time?, worry and fear in a scene, for example, when Doug is driving in the ambulance to save Claire. Slow motion is used when the bad guy is pouring gasoline over her body, ready to set her alight. Doug is in naturalisticnormal camera speed speed, adding to the emotions of the scene.very good
Close ups help the audience to see the facial expressions such as concern, anger, and fear. These help the audience connect with the characters.example?
Aerial/ helicopter gives a sense of truth and devastation to the explosion. These circle the ferry to show the scale and size very goodin which the ferry has exploded under.
Underwater shots angles?show the audience that some people survived. They are connected with the minor actors and actresses involved in the accident. The sound (or rather, lack of) from these shots help with the confusion, and the audience wonders if there are any survivors.
Jump cuts is editing are used during the opening and closing sequences of Déjà Vu. These show happy and excited faces, ready for boarding the ferry with their families. This gives the audience a sense of security but also suspense of what is going to happen next. Good Kat, you probably needed examples of movement and camera angles to really beef up this answer. Otherwise very good
on April 15th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
In Déjà Vu the camera shots have been used to create excitement/happyness, shocking moments and to produce suspense for the audience. The opening sequence is produced with crane shots, showing the audience the amount of people from a high angle boarding the ferry. Tracking shots are used as people begin to walk towards and board the ferry. Numerous close-up shots were used in the opening sequence to gain a better view on the various emotions of people.
Once the bomb explodes on the ferry, a helicopter type shot circled the incident showing the cause and effect of the explosion. Multiple shots were used all in different angles which were both above and below water. These shots show the audience how much damage was delt toards the ferry and the populaion.
A ‘Point of View’ shot was used in the chase scene where Doug had to wear goggles so he can see into the past. This makes the audience feel like they are in Doug’s position. A fast tracking shot was also used in this scene along the cars. This made Doug’s car look like it was going really fast, which then produces suspense for the audience as there are alot of fast moving shots.Great use of technical language Nathy Wathy. Well done!
on May 7th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Tony scott uses different camera techiniques to create effective scenes. in the car chasing scene tony uses tracking shot to make the audience feel like they are also in the movie as he was driving. as soon as doug put on the googles he was sort of confused with what was goin on. as the car was moving tony scott uses some fast trackin shots in order to make the audience feel and see how fast these scene is going. as soon as doug puts on the google, theres a bit of confusion going on as doug can see 2 things at once. tony makes it seem like there is a competition going on as doug is using the google to view what happened back in the past.
in the explosion scene, an aerial shot was taken during the time of the explosion, giving the audience a sense of chaos and gives the audience of sense of what excatly is going on. there were also multiple shots taken during the explosion.
some of the shots were taken underwater and this scene to show that some that people survived, as claire was one of the people who were underwater..