EXPLICATION
My group did the scene in which Beowulf tells his epic boast. The first scene starts with a shot of the stain-glass window with a cross, a harp, and a crown and then it pans down to Beowulf standing directly underneath it. This shot shows the association Beowulf has with the things displayed on the window (cross= Christianity, crown= hero). Showing both the window and Beowulf in this single shot shows that Beowulf is related to the themes of heroism and Christianity displayed in the stain-glass window.
When Beowulf was responding to Unferth with his boast about his monster-slaying journey, the camera has a extreme close-up on his face. the camera goes 180 degrees around his face back and forth during his speech. This close-up and camera panning shows the rate of intensity Beowulf is speaking with and how valuable it is for the story as a whole. This shot also shows the theme of heroism because the camera is focused on nothing but Beowulf and his epic speech.
During Beowulf's boast, we added a flashback of him killing the sea monsters in his path. We edited in a flashback instead of 'Beowulf' talking to give the audience a better picture of what happened and show the importance of this scene since it is a big focal point in his boast. The camera almost moved with Beowulf at a reasonable distance to let the audience follow alongside him.
PROJECT ASSESSMENT
I think our group did exceptionally well on establishing the key themes in the first shot of the stain glass window. I think we also did a good job of explaining the sea monsters in the flashback and helping the audience understand what that part was all about.
Overall I feel like we did a good job but I think we needed a few more pieces of mise-en-scene to depict the themes. Perhaps we could have used an establishing shot in the chapel for the first scenes to help give the audience an idea of where they are.
I feel as though our group worked very well together. We supported each other's ideas and we helped explain things in clearer detail on parts of the project that one of us may have found unclear.
In the explication, you provide some solid insights which you connect to specific decisions. What other key points did you emphasize in the scene? There are some additional details of significance worth mentioning, like your use of camera angles and costumes.
ReplyDeleteYou express general feelings in your assessment, but I'd like to hear more about what went well and what didn't in terms of how you worked together and executed the scene.