Discuss how people are represented in the extract. (20)

The character that the audience hear at the beginning of the clip is not shown on screen but the audience understands that he is the antagonist as he provokes the beginning of the battle. His character has an accent and as the UK flag is shown on the protagonist's ship, the audience knows that the other character must be the enemy as he doesn't sound British. All of the pirates on the protagonist's side have a British accent meaning that the audience support them more than the opposition. All of the pirates are male which matches the stereotypical image of pirates both when they were around and the image depicted of them in films and books. The costume of the characters also match a form of the stereotypical image of pirates. They are all dressed in clothing that resembles rags, this is the more rugged stereotype of them. Quite often pirates are represented in dramatic clothing with feathers, extravagant hats, hooks and eye patches which isn't depicted in this particular film here. In this film the representation is a more realistic approach that looks more like what they would have actually worn and looked like. Matching the common image of them, the pirates aren't represented as young men with a fresh appearance, they are all of an older age range and have a more rugged image with long hair and dirty skin.

Explain how each of the following is used to create effects that fit the action adventure genre: soundtrack, camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene.

Soundtrack
At the beginning of the clip there is diegetic sound, the protagonist shouts a command and another pirate shouts it back as a short art of dialogue signifying the beginning of the battle. The background sound is quieter for the dialogue so that the audience can hear what they are saying, this is commonly done in films as the background noise in reality would be louder than the dialogue. Throughout this clip, the main form of sound is synchronous sound. The main sound is shouting from the pirates and the sound of the cannons being shot, these are the main sources of sound that you would expect to her when a battle is taking place. All of the sounds help to create the overall effect of the battle and build the tension as it gets louder and louder and more cannons are shot. About midway through the scene, the film score is brought in behind the synchronous sound. The film score is at first dramatic to match the tone of the battle, the synchronous sound and the film score fade out at the same time replaced by silence, the film score is then re-introduced but has more of a sad and emotional tone to it. The turn in the music is followed by one of the ships sinking, the change may be used to signify to the audience that something bad is about to happen to change the tone of the sequence. After the ship has sank the film score is removed and the previous tension returns, this ensures that the audience are engrossed and don't focus on the sinking of the other ship.


Camerawork
In this clip a series of different shots are used to create a successful action sequence, the different shots show the audience different aspects of the scene that they wouldn't see if the camera stayed in the same place. Near to the beginning of the scene the Director uses an establishing shot showing the two ships that are fighting each other in the battle, this is used to set the scene for the audience so that they understand the setting. Later on in the scene, this camera shot is used again showing the same two boats but this time there is a thick cloud of smoke. This shot is used to show a contrast to the image that was shown before as they are now in the depths of the battle and the audience can fully understand the extent of the fighting without being in the depths of it. The Director uses a point-of-view shot from the perspective of one of the pirates stood behind the protagonist at the beginning of the clip. Although the pirate isn't necessarily a main character, the shot allows the audience to see the protagonist who appears to be calm despite the chaos that is unfolding in front of him. The camera shot allows the audience to gain a further understanding of the character as they can understand that he is taking charge by watching over the other pirates.


Editing
During this action sequence the main editing technique used is cross-cutting, this is used to show action happening at the same time in two different locations. An example of this in the clip is when the audience sees both what is happening on deck and below deck where the cannons are being loaded and shot. This editing technique allows the audience to understand that everybody is taking part and see everything that is going on behind the scenes of the battle. The audience is also able to see the action taking part on the opposing ship to see what is happening on their part. Another important and commonly used editing technique, fast-paced editing, is used in this action scene as well. This technique is effective at building tension as it cuts between different camera shots quickly, it is fast enough but allows the audience to see a large amount of the scene. Continuity editing is used throughout the scene to maintain the illusion of continuous action to ensure that the audience remain focused on the scene and don't lose interest. This will be done when moving between different camera shots, the audience don't notice that the camera shots are different which is what makes it effective but keeps them hooked with a steady flow.

Mise-en-scene
The lighting for the scene is grey, dark and murky as a reflection of the tone for the action sequence while also matching the setting of the scene at sea. Set at sea, the setting is established from the beginning of the clip to help give the audience context. Unlike most action sequences, this sequence doesn't include physical fighting between the protagonist and the antagonist and instead they are fighting each other from their ships. The costume for the pirates matches the stereotypical image of what is expected of pirates and what has been created in films and books. Nearly all of the pirates are wearing hats and all of them are wearing murky green/brown clothing that look like rags. The props help to give the audience more of an understanding about the film. An example of this is when the pirates move a UK flag up the flag post, this helps the audience to understand that they are the side that they should support as they are representing the country in the battle. Spacing and blocking of the different characters gives an indication about their power. The protagonist is placed high up and stood away from everybody else, this suggests that he has the most power and is an independent character. The rest of the pirates are stood lower than him and crowded together, this shows that they are more of a collective and don't have much power at all compared to the protagonist.

Explain two ways the characters and/or events in the extract fit the action adventure genre. (Master and Commander)

In this scene an intense action sequence unfolds between two opposing ships,  there is a battle taking part in the clip. The theme of war and fighting is a common theme found in the action adventure genre. There is also a significant use of weapons during the sequence, the key weapon used in this scene is cannons, this shows that they are willing to cause harm to other people as they are using a deadly weapon or as a defence to protect themselves. All of the characters in this scene are pirates, known for their fighting and battles with each other, this is a convention of classic action-adventure films and books. The underlying theme of this film has a slightly more historical context than other action adventure films, e.g. The Amazing Spiderman, that have more fantasy themes displayed throughout. This again is another classic convention of action-adventure films and books from years ago when there was a focus and interest in books about pirates set in the classic fictional world of storybook adventures. The protagonist is the pirate shown at the beginning of the clip, he is positioned higher than the others and watching over them as the chaos plays out, this communicates to the audience that he is of a high position, maybe the person in charge, and different from the rest of the pirates because if he was like them then he would be amongst the chaos and taking part just like them from the beginning of the clip. A common convention of action-adventure films is the use of a protagonist, they have the qualities that allow them to take charge in difficult situations while remaining calm, they are normally intelligent and have a high level of tolerance when in tough situations or in danger. The other pirates in the clip are also a key convention of the genre as although they may not have a key part in the storyline they are helping the protagonist to achieve his goal of defeating the opposition, in this clip the other pirates are helping by firing the cannons at the enemy in order to win the battle.

3) Discuss the ways in which people are represented in the extract. (Hurt Locker)

In this clip there are a series of different stereotypes used when representing the different characters. The first key stereotype is the gender of the soldiers, all of the soldiers are male. Gender stereotypes have become a big issue in recent years and there is a push for females to be accepted in roles that were previously considered to be a 'man's job'. Despite the changes in reality there is still the issue of sexism and the media tends to follow the idea of stereotypes in different forms. In this clip there isn't a female soldier present, this is promoting the stereotype that soldiers are male. Also another use of the gender stereotype is the use of a male protagonist. For years the protagonist in films was always a male that held strong, confident and boastful qualities, this is a classic use of gender stereotypes. Recently, a number of films have created a female protagonist or in some cases a strong female sidekick. However, in this film the sidekick is male as well and the only females present in this clip are extras with no spoken dialogue. Another stereotype in this clip is the terrorist stereotype. This has developed over many years but key events in recent history have linked particular people to the terrorist label. The suicide bomber in this clip is of a different race and speaks a foreign language to the soldiers, this is a part of the criteria that comes with this stereotype. Terrorist stereotypes are upsetting and offensive as the media places the label on a certain group of people that is unfair and not necessarily true. Stereotypes can be dangerous but it is something that the media chooses to emphasise in different forms.

2) Explain how soundtrack, editing, mise en scene and camerawork is used to create effects.

Soundtrack 
The main form of sound for this clip is diegetic sound, through forms of dialogue between the characters. Dialogue is an important part of this scene and needs to be focused on. One of the main characters in this particular scene, the suicide bomber, is foreign and needs a translator to converse with the protagonist. The audience needs to understand that what the character has to say is important and therefore must be focused on to get the points across. There is different volumes of dialogue used by the different characters to portray their state of mind. An example of this is the suicide member shouting at a high volume to portray his frantic state, in contrast to this the protagonist and his sidekick have a conversation at the beginning of the clip in a low volume indicating a private and quiet conversation with a calm and collected tone. Throughout the clip there is no use of any non-diegetic sound to keep the focus on the dialogue. There is synchronous sound in the background of the scene of shouting between soldiers that can't properly be understood, the crackling of radio and at the end the sound of the explosion. This use of sound is used to portray a classic military scene and to help set the setting of the scene for the audience.

Editing
The Director uses jump cuts when showing the soldiers talking while watching the suicide bomber, this editing technique allows the audience to understand that despite their conversations the soldiers and main characters maintain a focus on the bomber. The use of different angles is more effective than placing the camera directly in front of them as it helps to portray a focus on a particular object and gives them the understanding that despite their initial calm and collected tone they know that something dangerous could happen. Continuity editing is used throughout the clip to maintain high levels of tension as the audience waits for what is going to happen. This editing technique provides a smooth finish allowing the flow to remain constant while still showing different aspects of the scene.

Mise en scene
The setting of this clip is quite empty and basic, there is buildings around the main square where the scene is filmed but other than that there is just boulders and sand. The overall colour of the setting is bland and pale possibly to portray the mood and atmosphere of the scene, this is also the common colour scheme of most war scenes and is in keeping with the reality of war. The lighting is all natural light as the scene is filmed outside and any extra light could portray a more futuristic/unrealistic setting and take away from the reality of the scene.  When conversing the protagonist and sidekick are in close proximity to one another suggesting that their conversation is private and they possibly don't want others to hear, appearing close could also be connoting their close friendship. When the soldiers are stood watching the suicide bomber the large space between them clearly portrays their feelings towards him, it signifies their caution and their understanding of the danger that surrounds him. The costume is fitting with the roles of the characters, they are all soldiers and are wearing military uniform. Midway through the clip the protagonist puts on a helmet which the audience learns is extra protection against the bomb if it detonates close to him and again is a common military clothing item.

Camerawork
Throughout this clip the main camera method is the use of handheld camera, this creates a shaky effect for the audience making them feel as if they are there. A handheld camera also has a more realistic effect and helps to create the nervous feeling and tension felt by the characters as the scene before them plays out. There are a number of occasions where establishing shots are used, at one point early on in the clip this is done to give a wider perspective of the setting for the audience to help set the scene to improve their understanding of what is going on. An establishing shot is also used to show the distance between the soldiers and the suicide bomber to connote the distance that needs to be there to keep the characters safe, this helps the audience to see the danger of the situation. There are a number of zoom ins to focus the audience's attention on to particular things in the scene rather than providing them with a wider outlook. There are some cases where zoom ins are used to provide a clearer view of the soldiers expressions to connote their feelings and emotions at that particular part of the scene as the tension increases.

1) Explain two ways the characters and/or events fit the action adventure genre - Hurt Locker clip

In this clip there is a clear protagonist and sidekick to match the action adventure genre. The audience is made aware of who the protagonist is because as soon as he enters the scene he starts giving orders to the soldiers. A common view on the protagonists in action adventure films is a sense of respect, from both the audience and the other characters. Here, respect is shown when the soldiers obey all of the orders that he gives them. The audience understands that the protagonist has everyone's best interests at heart and does what he can to protect other characters, a usual trait of protagonists in this genre, as he delivers orders to fellow soldiers in order to save their lives from the bomb and attempts to save the suicide bomber from being blown up. The sidekick communicates with the protagonist the most, signifying the close bond that is common between a protagonist and his sidekick. The sidekick is also a soldier and helps the protagonist to deliver his orders and helps him put on his protective suit holding the role of an assistant. There is a common theme of sacrifice in action adventure films and there are a number of examples in this clip. First, we see the sidekick willing to sacrifice his life to stay with the protagonist who is assisting the suicide bomber as he fears that something could happen to his friend and the protagonist sacrifices his own safety by attempting to save the suicide bomber with minutes to spare.

In this clip there are soldiers and the use of weapons which are common elements of films in the action adventure genre. The soldiers are wearing military gear which connotes to the audience that the characters are in a time of war, the audience understands that war comes with action and death. Every action adventure film has at least one action sequence in order to fit with the genre and nearly every sequence results in death. In most action adventure film deaths, the character that dies is normally the antagonist meaning that the audience wants them to die. However, in this particular death it's different to what is normally expected of the genre, there is a death but the audience is given a brief account on the man which allows the audience to feel sympathy towards his character.

Explain how each of the following is used to create effects: soundtrack, editing, mise-en-scene and camerawork.

Camerawork
The Director uses different camera techniques to create an effect on the audience during the action sequence. When the main character and the other soldiers are in the aircraft, a point of view shot is used to show the main character's perspective. This camera shot allows the audience to feel like they are in the character's position and they can therefore see what the soldiers think of the protagonist based on their facial expressions. Dolly zoom moves down the aircraft to build up suspense for the audience in the lead up to the action sequence by emphasising the amount of soldiers that are on the aircraft. Before the main character drops from the aircraft the Director uses shallow focus on the protagonist's gun, this is steadier than the previous camera movements to draw attention to the gun so that the audience can understand that this signifies his entrance to the battle. Throughout the whole sequence the Director uses a hand-held camera to create a shaky effect, making the audience feel like they are a part of the action by involving them in the shaky experience of a natural action sequence, which connotes the chaos of the battle.


Editing
Different editing techniques have to be used to create a successful action sequence. Shot-reverse-shot is one of the techniques used by the Director in the aircraft, the audience is able to see the perspective of another character as well as the main character. This allows them to see the outward appearance of the protagonist and how others view perceive him. The Director uses used a common technique used in action sequences, fast-paced editing, to create the effect that the action is taking place quickly in a chaotic atmosphere. Fast-paced editing builds the tension for the audience because something is always going on and a lot of action is taking place in the background creating the chaotic atmosphere of the sequence. In action-adventure films, Computer generated imagery is a favourite and in this sequence the technique is used for the monsters and spaceships to connote to the audience the genre of the film while also adding to the fantasy element of the film by creating monsters that look realistic.


Sound
In the action sequence, sound is an important feature needed to make it successful by achieving a high level of tension that can build to a climax. Synchronous sound is present throughout the sequence to match the chaotic and tense atmosphere that is playing on-screen. The audience expects to hear the sounds in the background, e.g. explosions, but the noise level is increased to add to the tension for the audience by placing them in the depths of the action. There is a section of diegetic sound where the protagonist and the main female character (his sidekick) exchange dialogue. This section helps to break away from the action temporarily to draw the audience's focus to their conversation. Synchronous sound is still present in the background so that the audience understands that the intense action is still going on.


Mise-en-scene
Different elements of Mise-en-scene are used to fit the fantasy and futuristic themes flowing through the action-adventure genre. The costumes in this sequence is futuristic armour that is worn by the soldiers, this matches the fantasy element of the genre and helps to create the illusion of a battle scene. The armour is robotic and impacts on the way that the soldiers walk, making them and their movements look robotic. Throughout this sequence the main props are the soldiers weapons, all of the soldiers have guns which signifies that the characters are in the depths of a battle and they are prepared to kill, hinting at what may play out in the action sequence.