The scene analyzes the use of micro elements like cinematography, performance, mise-en-scene, editing, and sound in the Gandalf vs. Saruman scene from The Fellowship of the Ring. It provides a detailed shot-by-shot breakdown, noting how elements like camera angles, lighting, costume design, music, and dialogue are used to develop characterizations and create tension. The analysis highlights how these elements show Saruman as powerful yet sinister versus Gandalf's weaker but good-natured persona, and build to their climactic battle over the ring and their allegiances.

1. FM1: Analysis of a film extract of your choice
An analysis of the use of micro elements in the Gandalf Vs Saurman scene of Lord Of
The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (1999 Dir. Peter Jackson)
For a film to have some depth and to create meaning among an audience it is vital that
it uses a wide range of film making micro elements in order for it to be successful. In the
right directors hands there tools can generate a wide range of emotions suited to your
film. These five micro elements are: Cinematography, this is camera placement and
movement e.g. camera angles. There is also performance, mise en scene, editing and
finally sound. In this essay I am going to be looking at all these micro elements in the
Gandalf Vs Sauruman scene of Fellowship of the Ring.
In this scene Gandalf is in Sauruman’s castle discussing the future of the ring. The scene
begins with a tracking shot through the main room and into Saruman’s office, this shot
almost incorporates the audience and bring them into the setting, it also establishes the
characters location relative to their environment so the audience knows where they are
positioned. As we track in we can already hear Saruman’s voice as he talks to Gandalf, a
digetic sound effect has been added to his voice to make it a lot deeper and mysterious,
at this point the audience does not know much about this character and this adds to his
enigma. As he informs Gandalf about Sauron regaining his strength a quiet peace of
symphonic music is added to add emphasis to how important this is and in effect makes
the audience want to listen to what he has to say. From a mid shot we can see the
bright white clothing he has on, white being a common convention of peace, innocence
and light but, is juxteraposed his dark raspy voice, creates a dilemma among the
audience as we do not know for definite whether he is good or not.

2. He has very long straight white hair and long beard that has a black line on it. The black
could show that this character may be evil. From this mid shot we can see that
Saruman’s office is extremely cluttered which suggests he is untidy but, to look at we

3. can see that he takes a lot of pride in his appearance. His hair and beard are very
straight and his clothes are clean and look expensive. Again juxtaposing these creates
more wonder about this character. Another juxtaposition is the very low lighting in his
castle would made people thing he likes the dark, and has purposely isolated himself
from others but, he is wearing a really bright colour, suggesting he likes to stand out
from the crowd, be centre of attention and very noticeable. His expensive clothing is a
symbol of his rank and power in the wizard world. Cluttered books suggest that he is
very old but, also very wise also, very dedicated to his skill and is a powerful student of
magic. We then cut to a wide, over the shoulder shot of Saruman. This gives us a clear
view of the two of them and the other side of Sauruman’s office. We can see Gandalf
wearing similar robes to Sauruman but his are grey which may show his inferiority. His
hair is grey and extremely dirty and messy as is his beard, this shows that he doesn’t
care about his looks unlike Saruman. When Gandalf its almost like a whisper even
though there is nobody around. Saruman is sitting on a jagged-edged throne, reflecting
him as potentially dangerous. The camera moves in closer to Sarumans face as he talks
about Sauron, this creates the effect that this has a lot of importance and adds more
drama to the scene. We then see a POV shot of Sauruman looking up at Gandalf, usually
looking up would make the person (here Gandalf) looks more powerful and dominant
but, we can tell from Sarurman’s powerful voice and his vanity that he is not intimidated
in the slightest by Gandalf. Gandalf is portrayed to be a lot weaker and less powerful
than Saruman. A cut back to the close up of Sarurman’s face can see how strong he
looks compared to Gandalf.

4. As Saruman speaks we cut back and forth between the two each cut to Gandalf sees
him clutching his staff and bringing it further into his chest, what Saron is saying is
clearly making Gandalf feel afraid and so he is being very protective and defensive.
Gandalf is almost going into a defense mode and getting ready to attack or defend
himself.

5. The camera cuts to a crane angled shot that informs the audience something a bit
strange is going to occur. We are brought into the main room in Sarumans castle, the
room in which the scene started in and tracked out of. A mid shot shows Saruman and
Gandalf; in the middle is a table with a cloth over it. It being in the middle of the shot we
can assume that it is very important. The contents is covered by a large black sheet,
from this choice of colour we can assume that the contents is not going to be good. The
sheet is wiped of and again a crane angled shot is used to track into a large black ball on
the table. Again with it being black the colour associated with death and evil it tells us
whatever it is it isn’t good. Once again we zoom out of the ball with a crane angle shot
and track around the two character. The use of these crane angled shots creates a
mysterious and magical feeling and tells us, the audience something’s about to occur.
The camera remains in a tilt, over the shoulder shot as Gandalf talks to Saruman and
tells him that this may not be a good idea. The camera then follows his hand as it brings
the black sheet to cover the ball. As soon as his hand touches the ball a large fiery, black
eye appears. Although it is only a flash and appears for about a second it is very
obviously evil and confirms suspicions of something big is going to happen. The eye
represented the two being watched by someone much more powerful then themselves.
We see a close up of Gandalf’s face as he realizes he is in danger. Saruman moves
around the room and sits on another throne; by this we can tell that he feels a lot better
and more powerful than Gandalf. Thrones are for kings and people who command

6. power, Saruman wants Gandalf to be looked at and treated as a king. As Saruman
speaks to Gandalf about the plot to capture the ring his face is completely blank, he
shows no emotion. This shows his determination to capture the ring, like he will do
anything it takes to get it. The camera then zooms into Sarumans face as he says “We
will find the ring... and kill he who carries it". All throughout the film the audience has
grew an emotional connection with the four who carry the ring especially Frodo,
zooming in as he says this shows his sincerity and his seriousness. The camera then cuts
to another close up of Gandalf as he realizes he must save Frodo. Behind Gandalf are
two giant doors as he turns as runs towards them Saruman uses his powers to slam
them shut. We see close ups of both their faces, Gandalf is panicking but, Saruman still
remains very calm. We then get a cut to Gandalf going to other doors; again Saruman
uses his powers to slam them shut. This happened several times until all doors are
closed. Saruman’s face is still completely blank as he tells Gandalf about him siding with
Saron, he then asks Gandalf to join him. Gandalf immediately denies his offer. We get
an extreme close up of only Saruman’s eyes to emphasis his anger to the audience.
Here his emotion completely changes.
He lifts up his staff and troughs Gandalf, pinning him up on a wall. A low angled shot
from the opposite side of the room shows us Gandalf with Saruman moving closer
towards him. A close up then follows Gandalf as he is released and falls to the floor. For

7. a brief moment Saruman is looking down on him before the camera cuts to a close up of
Gandalf, he raises his staff and knocks Saruman back. Sound effects have been added as
the staffs swing to make it more magical, powerful and realistic. The camera then cuts
between close ups of their faces as they both fight. An operatic symphony is played in
the background this is to show the important of this battle of good vs. evil. Gandalf
smashes Saruman through two giant doors but, Saruman stand up we see a close up of
his clenched hand as he pulls Gandalf’s staff away, a close up tracking shot shows the
staff change hands. We then see Saruman holding the two staffs, Sarumans staff is very
cold, metallic and mechanical reflecting his evilness it is also longer than Gandalf’s this
means that he is more powerful. Gandalf’s staff is much more natural, it’s made out of
wood, and this reflects his free flowing, one with nature personality. A tracking shot
follows Saruman as he holds the two staffs at Gandalf. We cut between the two until
Saruman casts Gandalf up towards the castle prison. The camera follows Gandalf as he
spirals up, when he reaches the top the scene ends.
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