Research into Cinematography - Miss Miller

In this blog I will be researching Cinematography within a film, Cinematography is the art of making motion pictures, this includes the manipulation of the camera lens, camera frame, scale and the movement. Without cinematography the audience would not be able to see what is happening within a scene. I will be analysing the film Sin City for features of Cinematography. The film Sin City uses several different cinematic conventions to create certain effects.

The film uses close ups during some scenes, one scene this shot is used is when Shellie is confronting Jackie and only her face can be seen, close ups can be used to show someones facial expressions and to exert their emotions upon the audience. The shot shows several things about the character, the cuts and blood on her face can show that she has been the victim of some sort of physical abuse, or got into a fight. The closeness of the shot can also show that although she is confronting Jackie she is very worried, the constant twitches and worried look in her eye are a good contradictory to her confidence. Close ups signify the importance towards a certain object or character and the audience will be fixated on this point of interest, the audience may also be able to relate with the character as she is showcasing her emotions.

The film also uses high angles for effect, for example when the camera is above an injured Shellie, this shot is a very common convention within the thriller genre, this camera angle is used to make someone, usually a victim look more timid and small. In this shot it can make Shellie, (a blonde and attractive female which is the two common features of a victim in a thriller) look even more feeble, on the contrary it can also make the male antagonist look more dominant as the shot is also in a point of view angle and Shellie is under her stating that the antagonist is bigger and more prevailing. Thriller films often use close ups to make someone look smaller and to show the audience that this character is significantly weaker than someone else.

The film also uses mid shots for effect, for example when the gang are talking to Shellie and their bodies and their holstered weapons, this shot can show the confidence of the gang members and the weapons and that they mean business, the gang members are relaxed in Shellie's apartment we can see this by their body language, another scene mid shot is used is when Clive is grappling Jackie with a knife pointed towards him, the use of this shot is to show that Clive is in complete control of Jackie and that he is the dominant one, we can also see that Jackie is very worried from his body language. Mid shots are used frequently in thrillers to showcase body language or to put focus on to a characters clothes or appearance.            

The film also uses a two person shot for effect, for example when Clive is staring at Jackie from afar plotting to grab and threaten him, this shot creates tension within the audience as they can predict something is going to happen. The two shot in this scene can also be seen when Shellie is being spoken to by one of the other gang members Thriller films use this often when a killer or antagonist is behind a victim and are creeping up on them, this is creates suspense and the sense of anticipation within the audience.