2. Stuart Hall’s theory
Stuart Hall's theory of coding and decoding
is the idea that a director sends a message
out through his films to the audience. He
codes his film with a meaning through the
use of mise-en-scene, sound, editing and
camerawork, and allows the audience to
watch the film and code/decode it
themselves.
3. Camera shots
The camera shots in this short thriller film are rather interesting as it is all filmed in
one single shot, with no cuts or different scenes. The director may have wanted this so
it makes the audience feel as if they were really there because of how the camera
walks around the car and manages to get good shots with no cutting. Some of the good
shots in the short film includes the mid – close up shot of her looking down the long
road realising there is no where to hide and no one to help her from this mysterious
man who has stopped next to her on this very long and dull road. Also, this mid – shot
of the man from behind the girl, finally revealing the man with the truck helps give
the audience a feeling of the she feels in the shot, how the man is shown to be taller
and larger in this shot can mean that she’s feeling intimidated and scared. This can
prove the theory of Stuart hall as the audience decodes the meaning of these shots
giving a better experience for the viewers while watching this film.
4. editing
I feel like there isn’t a lot of editing in this short film compared to what you
would normally expect in a thriller film, this may be because they filmed it
all on one shot to help improve the experience for the audience while
watching this film (as mentioned in the last slide). The director may have
wanted minimal editing done to the short film because it may help keep it
realistic and make the viewers feel ‘in the moment’, again, to enhance the
viewing experience. This helps prove Stuart hall’s theory as the director has
purposely limited editing in this film for a reason to help the audience enjoy
this film.
5. Mise-en-scene
The mise-en-scene in this short thriller film really helps the audience
understand what is happening and where this lady has come from. The
blue shirt looks like a prison uniform connotating that maybe she has
broken out of prison, and the blood on her shoulder can mean she has been
in some trouble with someone else and could be running from someone.
The lighting in a similar shot is important because it can show she is tired
and maybe confused telling the audience how she is feeling. The location
of this scene is also something for the audience to decode as it gives more
information about this story and adds on to the fact that she could be
running from someone. The mans truck, his clothes is another aspect for
the audience to decode and figure out where he is from and what his
intentions are to do with this girl. This again proves Stuart Hall’s theory as
the mise-en-scene in this film can tell a lot to the audience if they can
decode it.
6. Sound
The non-diagetic music in the back ground is soothing and sounds like a silent
humming making the audience feel relaxed which is significant because it
doesn’t make you expect what happens at the end of the film. And the non-
diagetic sound effects make the scene tense, for example when the man
reaches for the door, there’s a loud swoosh sound which keeps the audience
interested in this film. This again proves Stuart Hall’s theory as the sound
non-diagetic sounds in this short thriller film help the audience decode the
story of this film.
7. Conclusion
Overall, this short thriller film can prove Stuart Hall’s theory that the director
can send a message through the use of camera shots, editing, mise-en-scene
and sound for the audience to decode making it a greater experience to
watch the film and to have a clear narrative.
