Blog Post #29- Paper 2 Sample

In this excerpt from "Agent Carter", they use various film techniques to convey emotions to the viewer. Through different mise-en-scene elements, they show a dark action theme with overarching feelings such as loss and isolation. 

To begin, the start is in start contrast to the rest of the scene. The viewer is thrown into a sunset above the clouds as a man and woman are communicating. They transition between their 2 environments, a plane above the clouds and a dark communication room.  The warm colors of white and orange show freedom or a release from something. This compared to the dark room lit only by a board of flashing buttons with a close up of the woman in distress gives the viewer a sense if sympathy and relation despite this being the introduction. Following this is an establishing shot J-Cut if a man talking before the viewer is shown an office, seemingly some sort of station or headquarters, filled with men in suits. Here it is where our protagonist is shown and she is the only woman shown throughout the excerpt.

Next is to describe the feelings that are shown to the audience. In this office many film techniques are used to display the separation of out main characters from the rest of the cast. In the office she is always shown in the background to signal separation, she is always in a darker area than the men, and given that she is the only woman, there are always a group of men in the shot showing her pricelessness. There are wide shots to show her isolation and in some shots she is physically lower, or shorter than the men. The wardrobe us also worth mentioning. All the men are in suits or uniforms, showing a connection or that they all think the same and are either fitting in or are told what to do. There is no independence or freedom. Going back there, there are camera shots of key items, such as documents and suitcases that are placed for the viewer to catch onto as they carry significance.

Finally are two more mise-en-scene elements, lighting and sound. From the beginning, a contrast is shown that carries throughout the rest of the excerpt. The woman is constantly alone and in darkness showing her isolation after the implied tragedy that occurred at the beginning. A careful detail is that the picture of the man she keeps is in black and white. In the end of the clip, which is at night, it shows how as the clip started with a sunrise and ends with darkness, the isolated main character finds her calling. Last but not least js the sound. It is very simple throughout, with a few standout examples in the clip. Some instances of SFX are shown as a a plane careens downwards, an alarm rings several times in the office. and glass is broken in the final action scene. There are examples of L and J cuts as well as conversations between  characters.

So in this excerpt from “Agent Carter”, many film and mise-en-scene techniques are used to show to the audience the feelings of characters on screen. Themes of isolation and loss are touched as the viewer is shown a flashed out environment.