1. Walking alone
Cinematography
Close up/midshots are used to keep track of the character’s emotions as he is introduced
into I the scene and helps to develop it. this scene of him walking alone is really effective
with the close ups of his reactions and general feelings with walking alone as it helps to
show the contrast in change of emotion as the short film develops further. By using this
shot, it is really presenting his emotions and reactions in a very personal and realistic to the
scene.
Mid Shot, not close up of his face, to show him walking down the street. This shows to the
audience how lonely he really is, there seems to be no atmosphere around him and
everything seems still, leaving himpresented in a venerable state.
mid shot to close up, of both the young boy and weird dancing man, shots the contrast in
the young boy’s reaction in his face, and the weird man’s body language contrasting
together helping to create the tension, of a typical horror film.
Sound
The short film itself hold very little narrative dialogue between the two-character presented.
The main focus of the sound is the weird dancing man’s feet and the pattern they make,
which is an effect sound effect to the narrative, while around them there is no initial sound,
which itself create a tension in the scene, of the unknown. In this scene, all you hear is the
diegetic sound of the man walking and the quite atmosphere around him, creating a very
quiet and calmscene.
Editing
The editing cuts between midshots/ close-ups of the young boy walking and his facial
expressions, and everything he sees his reaction and emotions to the surroundings. He is
made to stand out by being the only one present in the opening scene, and is portrayed
firstly very neutral and naïve. The editing is simple, but develops as it evolves.
Mise-En-Scene
The dark street presents the entail build to the scene, where the street lamps are the only
light to the scene, showing how the main protagonists vulnerability.
Things being represented in 2AM, is danger at night, and that other people are dangerous,
who may be deemed as weird. You have this set idea of it being dangerous at night walking
alone is dangerous.
Finally, the whole scene being on a dark street following a housing estate, show how there
is so many people I the homes, yet he is so lonely and can’t reach for help.
2. Messages and values
The suggestive messages and values of 2AM are hard to accumulate, due to it being a short
movie, however in this scene the message could be suggested to be don’t walk alone at
night, and avoid dark lonely situations.
All Together
The scene uses different techniques to build up the scene, without dialogue, and does so
though its effective use of the sound and editing, and mise-en-scene. All these factor helps
achieve the image of the young boy being alone though the typical iconographies expected
of a horror. The sound of the non-diegetic sound and close up shots, with the mise-en-
scene of its being a dark street with nobody around.
Thinking you’re safe
Cinematography
Close-ups of the young boy’s face contrasting to the cut scene of the ‘dancing man’ re
appearing after he believes that he is safe and has got away from the situation, from the
man following him/chasing him.
Sound
The sound is mainly non-diegetic the viewers can hear it but not the characters, the
background music is dramatic and loud helping to create the tension without the dialog
within the scene. While there are elements of dialogue its mainly the footsteps, and
breathing of the main character.
Editing
The editing follows a seemingly simple rhythm in the editing, of a mixture of close ups then
a midshot and maybe a few long shots, and this is consistent throughout. The editing of the
close-up at the end of the scene, I would argue is the most effective, as it presents the
audience with a jump scare, as they think everything is good and the equilibrium is stable,
where at the end the ‘dancing man’ appears again when you think he is safe and has gone
away.
3. Mise En Scene
The first install thing you notice in the scene is the ‘dancing man’s face’, which is quite
alarming as it completely contrasts with the scene which is alert and scary but his face is
happy and smiling almost overly happy, which then become a threat. You see all the houses
around yet, but feel the scene of him being lonely and helpless, even though there must be
people in the houses.
Messages and Values
The main message which is reflected is, the message to not walk alone at night, and to not
think everything is safe and fine before judging the whole situation.
All together
This scene follows the different techniques, and the use of cinematography, sound editing
and Mise-En-Scene really portrays the simple yet effective story line of a young boy feeling
chases, by an odd man who dances creepily towards him.
