This document analyzes lighting, location, costume, props, movement, sound, cinematography, and editing techniques used in a scene from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It notes that the lighting helps make the villain seem ominous and the battle clear. Locations look modern to provide visual contrast. Costumes follow the convention of villains in black and heroes in white. Sound effects and music build atmosphere. Camera movements keep pace with the intense battle action. Editing techniques build suspense by cutting away at climactic moments.

1. Star Wars: The Force
Awakens
Micro Analysis

2. Lighting
• The lighting changes multiple times
throughout the scene. In the flashback
scene the lighting changes quickly
between light and dark and in the
battle the lighting is brighter.
• In the flashback scene the lighting
helps to make the villain appear more
ominous to the audience and in the
battle scene the lighting helps the
audience to see the battle clearly. By
lighting the battel clearly the audience
are aware of the action and know
everything that is happening within
the scene.

3. Location
• Although the context is very
futuristic the location remains
very grounded and modern.
• For example, the forest and the
battle fields all look modern and
not very futuristic. This helps to
add a contrast within the scene
between the futuristic elements
and the non futuristic elements
and also helps the audience to
understand the geography of the
scene. By using locations the
audience can understand they can
understand the geography of the
scene more easily therefore they
connect more with it.

4. Costume
• The costumes follow a common
convention of the villain being
dressed in black and the hero
being dressed in white
• Kylo Ren dresses in black while Rey
dresses in white which creates a
contrast and presents Kylo Ren as
the bad character and Rey as the
good one.

5. Props
• Blasters
• Lightsaber
• Batton

6. Movement of actors
• The movement of certain characters during the battle scene helps to
show which character has the upper hand in the fight.
• When Finn fights the storm trooper he is flung back with every blow
he lands on the trooper with his Lightsaber. This clearly shows the
audience who is winning the confrontation and also that Finn is not a
trained fighter or Jedi.

7. Sound
• The scene uses many futuristic and electronic sounds effects. The
sound of the blasters, lightsabres and space crafts are all very
futuristic which fits the scene and helps to add a depth to the sound
design.
• The non diegetic soundtrack changes many times throughout the
scene. The music helps build atmosphere within the basement scene
and also emphasises the harsh jump to the flashbacks.

8. Cinematography
• There is a lot of camera movement within the scene.
• Dolly, Steadicam, jib/crane shots and pans are all used within the
scene.
• In the battle scene the camera rarely stays. It always moves with the
action which helps to create the feeling of speed and intensity but
also helps the battle to flow from one character and one situation to
another.

9. Editing
• The editing within the scene helps to build suspense and tension
within the audience.
• For example during the confrontation between Kylo Ren and Rey the
scene cuts away at the moment Kylo threatens Rey with his
Lightsaber. By cutting away at this moment the audience are left on
edge and are also left thinking about what is happening and what
might happen. This mixed with the direction of the battle scene helps
to build suspense and tension as the audience are left to imagine
what is happening.