Watch this clip from Gladiator. Write a 2-3 paragraph analysis of the clip in which you say what you think the director (Ridley Scott) is trying to show us in this scene (about the characters, the culture, and/or about certain overarching themes). Explain HOW he does this in terms of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, and music/sound.
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THINK:
As you watch this clip, consider your own impressions of the central characters and setting. Try to identify the cinematic tools that the director (Ridley Scott) uses to make us think and feel a certain way about the characters, place, and what is going on in this scene.
WRITE:
First, describe the scene. In your description, include the director's use of mise-en-scene (Set/Location, Costumes, Makeup, Props, Actors), cinematography (types of shots, camera angles, lighting), editing (the sequence of images we're shown), and music/sound (noises from the crowd, the sounds of marching, underscore, etc.).
Refer to your notes from class, and just do your best.
Then, describe your impressions and personal reactions to certain parts of the scene, or to the scene as a whole.
The director Ridley Scott shows us how loyal a man could be to his leader. How far he was willing to go to stand up for what or who he believes. Also how bold they were to say it to the opposition. Scott used a variety of different shots for this scene. He started out far, wide, and high for the audience to get the full effect of the scene. Then he went into more close-ups when the characters shared dialogue to feel each emotion involved. Then once again into far, wide, high angled shots.
ReplyDeleteThe costumes were authentic to the dress of Gladiators in Ancient Rome. Each sound made the audience feel as if they were right there in the colliseum. Each prop was carefully picked and used appropriately, the director did a great job in bringing in props to make the scene just that more real. Last but not least was the lighting. It was very bright inside the colliseum because it was daylight when everything was going on. Then it went dark when the gladiators returned in the corridors of the colliseum to leave. Even darker when the Emperor went in to show his defeat at the time.