37) FILM HISTORY SECTION A - THE SILENT ERA. (TASK TWO)
Take 3 scenes from 'The Gold Rush' (1925) and analyse the micro elements of
film form, identifying how these elements construct meaning.
The three scenes I have chosen are as follows:
The Dance Scene:
At the start of the scene, different cuts are used as text is used to tell the audience of the conversation between Charlie and the woman. As this is a silent film, these cuts are important as they make the audience more aware of the storyline. However after that, the scene is essentially filmed in one long shot, and shown in perspective of the audience. The perspective is filmed as if someone in the room is watching them, making it appear life like to the audience and easy to watch and understand. The angle of the shot isn't moved too much as it doesn't need to be; the audience wouldn't constantly adjust their position to see the subjects if they were in the room, and to make it more lifelike this action is basically unnecessary.
Props
There are not really many props used in this scene, apart from the rope Charlie uses to tie his trousers around his waist. This prop is quite important for the scene as this solely creates the humour in the scene and creates a whole new metaphor for his clumsiness and disorganisation.
Location
It is set in a formal location which is very contrasting to the rest of the film which the majority is spent outside or in Charlie's house - almost more neutral locations.
Sound
The only sound in this scene is non-diegetic, just like the rest of the film as it is a silent film. The main music used is the dancing music - this is much more elegant than the usual non-diegetic music used throughout the film to show the contrast of the location in this scene.
Editing
The scene is edited in a linear order. The camera angles are able to allow the viewers to see everything in the scene and understand the occurring events.
Lighting
The lighting doesn't change throughout this scene, perhaps to show the viewers how real their hunger is. There is no dramatic lighting effects which could take away the reality of the scene.
The Shoe Scene:
In this scene, the camera shot is adjusted and focused on whatever the main subject of the scene is at that time. For example, the first shot of the scene is focused on both Charlie and Big Jim as it shows the two distressed as they are so hungry; it acts as the foundations for this scene almost. The next shot straight after that is on Charlie, cooking his shoe. This is what the audience most focus on, as it is what the storyline is based on for the next 3 minutes or so; it is important in explaining what is happening. In terms of perspective, it is again filmed as if the audience are in the room, therefore shots aren't changed constantly as that is unrealistic as to what the audience would really see.
Props
A shoe, a boiling pot and plates are used in this scene; Charlie results in cooking his shoe for him and Big Jim to eat, which represents how hungry they both are. Without the props this scene wouldn't be as effective because they are the building blocks of this part of the film; they create a humoured effect.
Location
This scene is based in the kitchen and doesn't involve the alternation between different settings. This scene is only relevant for the setting of the kitchen as it involves cooking, even if it is only a shoe.
Sound
The only sound in this scene is non-diegetic, just like the rest of the film as it is a silent film. The intensity and speed of the music throughout the spend has clearly depended itself upon the activity of the scene; if a comical effect is intended, the music will appear more high pitched and maybe slightly faster.
Editing
The scene is edited in a linear order. The camera angles are able to allow the viewers to see everything in the scene and understand the occurring events.
Lighting
Again, the lighting doesn't change throughout this scene, perhaps to show the viewers how real their hunger is. There is no dramatic lighting effects which could take away the reality of the scene.
The Chicken Scene:
There are a lot more cuts of shots in this scene in comparison to my other two chosen scenes. This is probably because it is quite an unusual scene and it attempts to show surprise as it is shot. A lot of the shots alternate from Charlie as the chicken (Big Jim's hallucination due to Hunger) to Big Jim's surprise on his face; this highlights to the audience that it is Big Jim's perspective and therefore explains the element of surprise. Also, it can't be explained as the audiences point of view as it is Big Jim's hallucination and it can only be explained from his perspective.
Props
A knife, a gun and an axe are used in this scene; Big Jim attempts to kill Charlie with all of these items because Jim hallucinates that Charlie is a chicken, because he is so hungry. Charlie notices and hides the knife that was on the table. Big Jim then got a gun with the intention to kill the chicken that he thought Charlie was, however then came to realize that he was hallucinating. He then realized that he was so desperate that he didn't care about hallucinating and wanted to kill Charlie anyway, that's when he went back outside to get the gun, however then went to the axe. The props play an important part in this scene as they are used to represent the violence which Big Jim intends to inflict onto Charlie.
Location
This scene is shot both inside and outside. The chase between Charlie and Jim takes place in both locations; this could be showing the extreme hunger in which Jim is feeling as he feels to chase Charlie through the house and outside. Outside, Charlie buries the gun in the snow and Big Jim realises he is hallucinating.
Sound
The sound within this silent film is all non diegetic as there is music added over the top; no sound is given by the actors as this is a silent film. The music is added for dramatic effect; it is used to represent the mood of the scene, therefore, making it parallel sound, for example, when Big Jim starts chasing Charlie the music becomes high pitched and fast paced therefore showing the rush that Jim was feeling when he thought that finally he can have some food. As well as this, the fast paced music can also be used to show how panicked Charlie was as he didn't know why Jim was chasing him with a knife.
Editing
The scene is edited in a linear order. The camera angles are showing alternative angles from other people's perspectives allowing the audience to understand the story better. For example, when Charlie turns into a chicken it shows how Big Jim is seeing him as obviously he doesn't literally turn into a chicken. It is showing everything from Big Jims perspective which allows the viewers to understand how hungry he actually is.
Lighting
Again, the lighting doesn't change throughout this scene, perhaps to show the viewers how real Big Jim thinks Charlie turning into a chicken is. There is no dramatic lighting effects which could take away the reality of the scene.
The three scenes I have chosen are as follows:
The Dance Scene:
The Shoe Scene:
The Chicken Scene:
The relevant micro-elements of film are as follows:
* Mise-En-Scene - Costume, Make-up, Props and Location
* Editing
* Sound - Diegetic and Non-Diegetic
* Camera Angle and Movement
The Dance Scene:
Camera Angle and Movement;
At the start of the scene, different cuts are used as text is used to tell the audience of the conversation between Charlie and the woman. As this is a silent film, these cuts are important as they make the audience more aware of the storyline. However after that, the scene is essentially filmed in one long shot, and shown in perspective of the audience. The perspective is filmed as if someone in the room is watching them, making it appear life like to the audience and easy to watch and understand. The angle of the shot isn't moved too much as it doesn't need to be; the audience wouldn't constantly adjust their position to see the subjects if they were in the room, and to make it more lifelike this action is basically unnecessary.
Props
There are not really many props used in this scene, apart from the rope Charlie uses to tie his trousers around his waist. This prop is quite important for the scene as this solely creates the humour in the scene and creates a whole new metaphor for his clumsiness and disorganisation.
Location
It is set in a formal location which is very contrasting to the rest of the film which the majority is spent outside or in Charlie's house - almost more neutral locations.
Sound
The only sound in this scene is non-diegetic, just like the rest of the film as it is a silent film. The main music used is the dancing music - this is much more elegant than the usual non-diegetic music used throughout the film to show the contrast of the location in this scene.
Editing
The scene is edited in a linear order. The camera angles are able to allow the viewers to see everything in the scene and understand the occurring events.
Lighting
The lighting doesn't change throughout this scene, perhaps to show the viewers how real their hunger is. There is no dramatic lighting effects which could take away the reality of the scene.
The Shoe Scene:
Camera Angle and Movement;
In this scene, the camera shot is adjusted and focused on whatever the main subject of the scene is at that time. For example, the first shot of the scene is focused on both Charlie and Big Jim as it shows the two distressed as they are so hungry; it acts as the foundations for this scene almost. The next shot straight after that is on Charlie, cooking his shoe. This is what the audience most focus on, as it is what the storyline is based on for the next 3 minutes or so; it is important in explaining what is happening. In terms of perspective, it is again filmed as if the audience are in the room, therefore shots aren't changed constantly as that is unrealistic as to what the audience would really see.
Props
A shoe, a boiling pot and plates are used in this scene; Charlie results in cooking his shoe for him and Big Jim to eat, which represents how hungry they both are. Without the props this scene wouldn't be as effective because they are the building blocks of this part of the film; they create a humoured effect.
Location
This scene is based in the kitchen and doesn't involve the alternation between different settings. This scene is only relevant for the setting of the kitchen as it involves cooking, even if it is only a shoe.
Sound
The only sound in this scene is non-diegetic, just like the rest of the film as it is a silent film. The intensity and speed of the music throughout the spend has clearly depended itself upon the activity of the scene; if a comical effect is intended, the music will appear more high pitched and maybe slightly faster.
Editing
The scene is edited in a linear order. The camera angles are able to allow the viewers to see everything in the scene and understand the occurring events.
Lighting
Again, the lighting doesn't change throughout this scene, perhaps to show the viewers how real their hunger is. There is no dramatic lighting effects which could take away the reality of the scene.
The Chicken Scene:
Camera Angle and Movement;
There are a lot more cuts of shots in this scene in comparison to my other two chosen scenes. This is probably because it is quite an unusual scene and it attempts to show surprise as it is shot. A lot of the shots alternate from Charlie as the chicken (Big Jim's hallucination due to Hunger) to Big Jim's surprise on his face; this highlights to the audience that it is Big Jim's perspective and therefore explains the element of surprise. Also, it can't be explained as the audiences point of view as it is Big Jim's hallucination and it can only be explained from his perspective.
Props
A knife, a gun and an axe are used in this scene; Big Jim attempts to kill Charlie with all of these items because Jim hallucinates that Charlie is a chicken, because he is so hungry. Charlie notices and hides the knife that was on the table. Big Jim then got a gun with the intention to kill the chicken that he thought Charlie was, however then came to realize that he was hallucinating. He then realized that he was so desperate that he didn't care about hallucinating and wanted to kill Charlie anyway, that's when he went back outside to get the gun, however then went to the axe. The props play an important part in this scene as they are used to represent the violence which Big Jim intends to inflict onto Charlie.
Location
This scene is shot both inside and outside. The chase between Charlie and Jim takes place in both locations; this could be showing the extreme hunger in which Jim is feeling as he feels to chase Charlie through the house and outside. Outside, Charlie buries the gun in the snow and Big Jim realises he is hallucinating.
Sound
The sound within this silent film is all non diegetic as there is music added over the top; no sound is given by the actors as this is a silent film. The music is added for dramatic effect; it is used to represent the mood of the scene, therefore, making it parallel sound, for example, when Big Jim starts chasing Charlie the music becomes high pitched and fast paced therefore showing the rush that Jim was feeling when he thought that finally he can have some food. As well as this, the fast paced music can also be used to show how panicked Charlie was as he didn't know why Jim was chasing him with a knife.
Editing
The scene is edited in a linear order. The camera angles are showing alternative angles from other people's perspectives allowing the audience to understand the story better. For example, when Charlie turns into a chicken it shows how Big Jim is seeing him as obviously he doesn't literally turn into a chicken. It is showing everything from Big Jims perspective which allows the viewers to understand how hungry he actually is.
Lighting
Again, the lighting doesn't change throughout this scene, perhaps to show the viewers how real Big Jim thinks Charlie turning into a chicken is. There is no dramatic lighting effects which could take away the reality of the scene.
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