Week 3: Film Viewing Practice Essay t

Camera shots, editing techniques, sounds, and mise-en-scene are all elements that are used to drive forward a movie’s plot. In the first five minutes of Marvel’s Agent Carter, these elements are used to establish the setting, drive the plot, and build suspense.

          The first element provided in the clip is regarding sound. In the opening shot of the clip, the Marvel logo is developed over the sound of Peggy speaking to her colleague, Steve, which quickly transitions into a shot of the two characters. By using a sound bridge like this, the audience is immediately drawn into the action without the use of an introduction. The sound element of left-motif is also used in this first scene, in which suspenseful music plays throughout. By using a combination of direct sound and indirect sound, the director makes the shots intriguing, interesting, and suspenseful. The sounds provide both context for the situation and build up strong emotions of sadness and urgency from the very start of the movie. Later in the clip, music is used as a transition from the past to the present. Following the calm music is the harsh sound of a buzzer, which is an example of diegetic sound. This sound, similar to the speaking at the beginning of the movie, throws the audience right into the scene and cuts straight to the point. By using sound to transition from one shot to another and from one setting to another, the film forms a single cohesive unit, despite the various settings. Therefore, it is clear that sound is used to build emotions, transition from one scene to the next, and convey a sense of urgency or suspense. 

             Another element that is clearly used in the clip is regarding editing. In the first few shots, the editor clearly uses parallelism to show the similarities between the emotions that the two characters feel. By cutting back and forth between Peggy and Steve, the editor is able to show both sides of the situation in the midst of the action. This is useful I’m building a clear sense of perspective and in creating an understanding of the various emotions that may be felt in this scene. Another editing technique used is simultaneity. Near the end of the clip, the editor uses simultaneity to create a sense of suspense. When Peggy appears in front of the store and fights the men, the shots cut back and forth between Peggy and the action and the tired man yawning calmly I’m his chair. There is a clear contrast between the two characters and their situations and the cross cutting between the two scenes helps emphasize this contrast. As the scene moves forward, another form of simultaneity is used when Peggy ties up the man. As the man sits against the wall in defeat, the shit switches over to the other three men in a different room. As the first man begins to yell for help, the others are seen looking around in concern at the same time. This once again shows the separate perspectives that are possible and helps to build an understanding of what is going on. 

         Next, different camera shots and angles are used to convey different messages. For instance, a close shot is used to emphasize a certain point. For instance, in the middle of the clip, there is a close shot of a paper with a big red stamp on it that reads “Zodiac”. While the paper is only shown briefly, the close shot emphasizes the importance of the word “zodiac” and helps provide background information for a later seen when “zodiac” is mentioned. Another camera shot that was used was that of an establishing shot at the beginning of the clip. When the clip transitions from the suspenseful flight scene to the city scene one year later, an establoshing shot of New York City from a distance is used to establish the new setting. With beautiful skies in the background, the city appears peaceful and serene in comparison to the fighting flight scene. In this way, the establishing shit is effective in providing the setting of the story. Moreover, many shots are moving shots, which adds to the feeling of urgency and business throughout. As the camera follows the actions of the characters, the film feels much more like you’re experiencing the action than like you’re watching from afar. 

          Finally, mise-en-scene is used in a variety of ways. First, costumization is very important. Peggy appears elegant and well put together throughout, which is a contrast from her tough demeanor and quick actions. Moreover, the clothing is very dated. With simple suits and skirts, the setting appears to take place in the early 20th century, which may be important for other aspects of the film. Another use of mise-en-scene is with the items seen in the shots. For example, one of the scenes shows an older looking car parked on a street, which once again suggests a time period of 1940s-1960s. Another important element of miss-en-scene is staging. For example, in the office scene in which a buzzer goes off repeatedly, the camera angle is arranged to show all of the men from an equal level so that the men at desks all appear very similar to each other. By doing this, the editor sends the message that none of the men are particularly unique or special. These men also form a sharp contrast from so far the only women seen: Peggy. The way that the men are arranged, one behind the other, makes the men appear more like factory workers than anything else.
          In conclusion, various film elements are used in the first five minutes of Marvel’s Agent Carter. These elements provide context and keep the plot interesting as it is driven forward. These elements are also used to invoke specific emotions in the audience and to provide context for the setting of the scene. While the elements named are just a few of those used in the film, it is clear that a variety of elements can be used together to make a quality film.