2. Décor
During the shot there is various objects like lamp shades
and child's dolls that are scattered around the room; this
could emphasize that the couple have just moved in to
their new house. This could also say that these are future
props to be used later in the film. The décor helps to give
the film a more realistic feel and scare the viewer more
than if it were not to be included.
3. Props
In this scene we can see a paintbrush being used by one
of the characters painting a child’s room, this shows that
she is just an ordinary woman and therefore making it
believable and their paranormal experience unexpected.
The blue paint may suggest that she is expecting a baby
boy quite soon.
A prop can provide additional information about the
character itself or the action taking place.
4. Costume
The character is dressed normally suggesting that she is not of the
wealthy background. She is not formally dressed suggesting that she is
a stay-at-home wife and looking after her child. Her posture suggests
that she is not impressed about something maybe the fact she has had
a disturbance, anyone could relate to this because she is an ordinary
woman who is stressed out and therefore making it appealing to the
audience and much more frightening.
5. Figure expression
The women featured In this film, her body language is showing
that she is happy and cheerful and that she is overjoyed with
conceiving a baby boy. This shows that the paranormal events
are very much not expected by the family. It almost gives a
sense of security to the viewer showing that this could have a
happy outcome. A characters figure expression can help show
emotion in a scene as well as help make it feel real.
6. Setting
The picture above shows the first setting in “Paranormal Activity 3”, it is
a close up of a nursery located in Carlsbad, CA. This screen shot shows
that the nursery is being newly assembled I can infer this by the plastic
sheets covering the cot and the blue masking tape covering the skirting
boards suggesting that it is also being painted.
7. Close up:
The close up of the character shows their facial expressions
and emotions in detail. Characters are often given a close ups
when they are introduced as a way of indicating their
importance. In this particular case the character is In disbelief
from her husbands teasing.
8. Extreme close up:
Extreme close up is a tight zoom that shows only the detail
of the subject of importance is seen to the viewer. They can
also help add a dramatic effect to a shot. We can see that
these video tapes play a relevant importance to the plot of
the film.
9. Medium Shot
Medium shot is used for a scene so you can see what kind
of expressions they are using it is also used to show an
expression of body language. For instance both characters
seem to be happy about the unborn child Kristi (left) is
debating about what the child will be called.
10. Long Shot
Long shot shows the whole character and its usually intended to
place it in some relation to its surroundings. This scene we can see
how cluttered the new house is, this shows that the family has just
moved in making it more believable and relatable to the viewer.
11. Extreme long shot
An extreme long shot is generally used to set a scene or establishing a
shot. There's not much detail in a long shot, it is just to give a general
impression. I can use this in my film opening to give the viewer a sense
of where the scene is starting.
12. Track
A tracking shot is where the camera is mounted onto a
camera dolly this a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails.
The camera can follow a subject within the frame such as a
moving actor . Paranormal activity 3 did not contain this
because it is ‘handheld’ film to add more realism.
13. Panning Shot
A panning shot is the camera turning horizontally on a
vertical axis. This could be used on rails to move the whole
camera platform. This was used in the film to keep the
audience in a tense state of the unknown as it went side to
side keeping the viewer in suspense.
14. Tilt Shot
Tilt shot moves vertically instead of horizontally, Like the pan shot.
Tilt shots are often used to show the vertical significance of
something. In this case the significance is Kristi painting her unborn
sons room to show that she is just an ordinary women who is not
expecting any disturbance of any kind.
15. Zoom
Zoom shot is where the camera moves closer to, or away from the
subject using the lens rather than moving the whole camera in or out.
This shows the importance of an object or character and gives the
viewer a detailed account of the object/person being zoomed into.
16. Cut
Cut in editing is when a single unbroken strip of film is taken out and shortened.
This is used to cut out any unimportant clips or to shorten the running time. Some
clips are cut out of this film because they had no real relevance to the plot and
would confuse the viewer hence making the film seem un realistic.
17. Pace
Pace is the rhythm or tempo. It is the rate of activity or
movement. The characters and sequences in Paranormal
Activity 3 has a slow tempo throughout the opening clip to
give it characteristics of a real life situation. For example the
slow moment of the camera in the opening 30 seconds.
18. High angel shot
Looking down at the main characters as then
unload items to show that we are in a more
powerful position to their vulnerable position.
19. Low angle shot
We are slightly lower than eye level here showing we are not
on her level. She is important and powerful at this scene. This
character has to dominate the scene so far which backs up this
point.
20. Performance
Performance is the physical expression and the vocal
delivery that interact between each other. This can tell us a
lot about the character and their relationship with others
on screen.
21. Diegetic
Diegetic sound reinforces the narrative
It helps to set the scene and make the
scene more believable. E.g. when you
see the camera moving around the
basement you expect to hear
footsteps of the camera man objects
falling and making small noises. If the
scene was silent it would not be
believable.
Diegetic sound is sound that is recorded at the time of
filming the scene.
Diegetic sound reinforces the narrative
Most cases sound is added post production but we
know the characters are supposed to hear this sound.
For example when Katie and Kristi are shuffling the
boxes in the hall way in Paranormal Activity 3 this is still
classed as diegetic sound. However the sound had
not originated from the original clip.
22. Non- Diegetic
Non- diegetic sound is generated outside the
narrative of the text. Only the audience can
hear the sound(s).
This sound helps to create the
atmosphere and mood of the film. The
background music can completely
change the mood of the film and show
the emotion that the director wants the
character to feel. Non- diegetic sound
is not featured in Paranormal Activity 3
because it is filmed in a “home video”
camera shot to make it seem as
though it has just been found.
