Homework Questions Hurt Locker

1) Explain 2 ways the characters and/or events fit the action adventure genre:

The characters fit the action adventure as there is a clear protagonist of the character William James. He tries to save the day whatever the cost and even tries to save someone many people don't think is worth saving. This character is a clear action adventure convention and fits the genre. Another way the characters fit the action adventure genre, is that they are all men and all in a army and conflict role. They all carry guns and other weapons which fits the action adventure. Along with the protagonist there is a sidekick who helps and backs the protagonist all the way even if they don't 100% agree with what the protagonist is saying, in this clip the sidekick is Sgt. Sanborn. These are both stock characters that will appear in most action adventure films as they are clear conventions of action adventure. They way these characters interact and act around each other such as the swearing, the fist bumps and the general comradery fits the action adventure genre and army based setting very well.

The events that happen in this clip fit the action adventure genre as they are very dramatic, tense and chaotic. There are explosions and lot of build up of tension. Everything happens very quickly, flashing from one to person to another, from one place to another, this build up a lot of tension for the audience watching. The conflict in this clip on if to save the man or not is also a key action adventure genre, the decision the protagonist has on if to risk it or not this creates tension and suspense. The fine line between good and evil is a key convention of the action adventure genre, especially in this clip as it is in a very realistic and army setting which makes the decision harder and more relateable for the audience.


2) Explain how each of the following is used to create effects- soundtrack, editing, mise en scene and camerawork

Soundtrack- From the start of this clip up to the point where William James approaches the man with the bomb there is the sound of a road rumbling away in the background. This is a sound bridge as helps keep the audience based on what is happening during the quick flash editing and also help create a more realistic effect as the audience can tell they are in a real everyday setting for that group of people and the country they are in. This sound stops when William James is right up with man with the bomb as this is the peak point of the clip and the audience needs to be able hear and focus on the two men (nothing else) for the tension and suspense to be felt effectively. At the start of the clip when William James comes in the army truck a very clear mechanical sound can be heard from the truck; this is a synchronous and diegetic sound and helps create the realistic and army, mechanical, harsh setting that matches with the sound of the guns clacking. Along with the truck sound of the guns being loaded and set is also very clear at the start of the clip. This is also a mechanical, hard synchronous and diegetic that helps create a very real, army and conflict effect. Throughout the scene the different men talking to each can be heard. This is a diegetic sound and the volume at which they are speaking changes depending on who is speaking to who. This helps create the effect for the audience to see who is closer to who and who people trust more. This also helps create the effect of showing who is the authority figure as when William James shouts everyone listens to him and even  when he is talking quietly and personally to Sgt. Sandborn he gets the last word. Throughout the different volumes of talking there is always a undertone of urgency and adrenaline and it always very fast paced which helps create the suspense and tension.When approaching the man with the bomb the audience can clearly hear William James footsteps which is a diegetic sounds and helps create the effect of the audience being in the scene and involved. It makes it more real for the audience and increases the tension. This effect is also created by hearing William James and the man with the bomb breathing which is a diegetic sound that again makes the film more real and tense for the audience.              

Editing- Throughout the entire scene there is a lot of fast paced editing. The shots jump from different areas in the setting and from different people. This take places when William James is talking to the fellow troops and it is always used to flash back to man with the bomb. The fast paced editing constantly flashes from the man with the bomb and William James and the others and back to where the rest of the troops are. This creates a lot of tension as the audience has to keep up with what is going on and as the editing get faster and faster more tension builds up. Shot reverse editing is used when the main protagonist William James is talking to people. This is particularly used when he is talking to translator, this creates the effect of the audience feeling for William James as it is as if they are there in his shoes talking to people. Jump cut is also used when editing the shots of the man with the bomb, as it creates the effect of the audience focussing on him. This also creates the effect of building tension as every time a jump cut is used for the man with the bomb it as if the bomb is going to explode. Finally continuity editing and cut editing is used throughout the clip as it helps link all the action and talking going on together. This created the effect of the film flowing and allows the audience to keep up with the storyline. As cut editing is used when editing the man with the bomb and William James it creates the effect of the audience knowing on who to focus on and why.  

Mise En Scene- The costumes add effect as they are military camouflage as they add to the military and conflict effect. The fact that all the soldiers are wearing helmets adds the effects of danger and that they are all heavily armed. The props of the different weapons also adds to the military and conflict effect and this also adds to effect of danger as it clear the men need these weapons to protect themselves. The lighting is very natural to add to the realistic effect for the audience, there are no special effects for the lighting to keep the situation feel more real for the audience. No special effects are used as the attention needs to be focussed on the men for the tension build up to work effectively.

Camerawork- Near the start of this clip a establishing shot is used when William James arrives in the truck. This shot shows the whole setting for this clip so the audience can see how close the man with the bomb is to the troops and rest of general setting. This helps create the effect of setting the scene for the audience so they feel more involved as they know the setting. Throughout the whole clip hand held camera shots are used to create the effect of the audience being there in the scene, like when following William James move around. This helps the whole effect of the movie get across to the audience from the building suspense and tension to making it as realistic as possible. Tracking shots are also used throughout the clip like when moving from the man with bomb back to the troops and moving from different characters. This creates the effect of the audience being able to follow the action and events with ease. Shallow focussed shots are used when William James is talking to Sgt. Sandborn quietly as it allows the audience to focus on their faces to see the emotion and what they are feeling. This creates the effect of the audience being being able to understand and empathise with the characters more. Finally point of view shots are used when William James is approaching the man with bomb as it allows the audience to see the scene the way that he would see it. This creates the effect of audience being "in" the scene and also allows them to empathise with William James.

3) Discuss the way in which people are represented in the extract

William James is represented as the typical protagonist, he is willing to risk everything to try to save the day. This is shown by the way he is the only person to try and save the man with the bomb even when most other people think he is not worth saving. He is also clearly represented as the leader and most high in command member of the soldiers. This is shown by the way he talks to everyone and how they all listen and respect him even if don't agree with his plans. He fits the stereotypical army and military role as he is a male and is not afraid to shout or be blunt to get himself heard. He knows what he wants and is determined to do it. The rest of the other soldiers are also represented as stereotypical military people by the fact they are all male and can all be blunt,harsh and all swear. They have no problem with shooting the man with the bomb which shows they have a hardened personality and understand that the death of one person is something that may be needed to be done to save more people. They calculate the risk and also have trouble trusting people that are not their troops as shown by one of them saying "Oh, he's not a bad man? He's got a bomb strapped to him!" which shows how unwilling they are to trust the man. They also fit the military role as they all obey their orders perfectly even if they don't always agree with them. Despite the harsh way they are represented they are also represented as good friends and good people who are only trying to do what is right in a difficult situation. They all clearly care for each other as shown by the way Sgt. Sandborn dose not want William James to try and rescue the man and how is very reluctant to leave him with the man with the bomb. This shows the strong friendship between the men.                


   

Question 2: Explain how each of the following is used to create effects- soundtrack, editing, mise en scene and camerawork

Editing-
The editing creates an effect as most of it is fast paced editing. This is used to create and build up tension as the pace is getting faster and faster, which cause the tension. This editing is used in the scene after the explosion on the plane when he firsts lands on the beach, to show the audience the danger and how is life is in peril. CGI is also used heavily as it helps create a futuristic effect that fits the military industrial setting. This helps to convey the huge battle scene as it adds the effect of futuristic times. Cut editing is used to show the audience a change of setting and time, this is used when William Cage dies and starts all over again at the army base. This is a very abrupt change as it creates tension and shock to make the audience jump. This editing also helps the audience to really understand there has been a change of setting. Shot reverse shot editing is used when William Cage is talking to Rita to show the emotion on their faces. This is used to help the audience feel, relate and empathise to the characters. The quick changing between their faces can also be used to create suspense.


Camerawork-
The scene starts with an establishing shot to clearly show the audience the area and place for the scene. This has the effect of setting the scene for the audience. Throughout the scene there is a lot of hand-held camera shots. This is used when following William Cage around the battle scene. This creates the effect that the audience is in the scene, it makes the audience feel involved in the scene. There is a brief point of view shot when William Cage looks down at his control pad, this is used as it helps the audience feel the same panic and fear that William Cage is feeling. Shallow focus is used when William Cage is first back at the army base after dyeing to focus the audience solely on him and the emotions displayed on his face. This creates the effect of the audience feeling for William Cage.


Mise En Scene-
The costume create a effect that matches the futuristic setting and feeling already created by the editing and camerawork. The costumes of all the characters including William Cage is made of metal and very robotic based. All the costumes are armed that add to the army based effect and the metal on the costumes adds to the industrial effect. The setting really enforces the futuristic and industrial theme as there is lots of tanks, planes, helicopters and other military vehicles in the background. The rubble laying around with the small fires also creates a military battle scene. The props used also help create the military, industrial and futuristic setting, such as the guns, weapons and how everything is very technology based. The lighting is quite light to help make it clear to the audience what is happening, however the sky itself is very grey and overcast to show the mood of the battle scene.


Soundtrack-
There is non-diegetic sound at the very start of scene. This a very dramatic piece of music with no lyrics and it helps set the scene for the audience, as it forewarns them that something big is going to happen. It builds up tension. This is replaced by mechanical sounds when they are on the helicopter, this is an synchronous sound as the audience would expect to hear machine like sounds on the helicopter. This adds to the futuristic and industrial as they are sounds that are typically expected. That sounds fades and can be heard faintly in the background when the Major starts talking to the troops this and this is diegetic sound. Sound effects are used when the helicopter blows up to create the effect of the explosion, the alarm bells sound and the sound when William Cage drops to the battleground. This is used along side the editing to keep up the fast paces effect which creates the effect of panic and fear for the audience. From these sounds the mayhem and chaos effect is displayed to the audience. Once William Cage is back on the battleground the dramatic music non-diegetic sound is back, the same as the start. This helps create the effect that William Cage is a barve, hero like protagonist.    

Explain the two ways that the characters and/or events fit the action adventure genre

William Cage (the main character) conforms to the action adventure genre by being daring, trying to be the hero and trying to save the day. He is also a underdog which is a typical convention of a action adventure film. As the main character he is the protagonist and he risks his life to help/save others. There is dramatic movement with him running and dodging bullets and other danger, there is also dramatic music that is a convention of action adventure. It is set in harsh, futuristic (this mixes with the sci-fi genre making it a hybrid genre) that has a lot of fire, explosions and bullets, these are part of the action sequences that are added to conform to the action adventure genre. Sound effects are also use effectively, as is a key feature of the dramatic build up of tension.