Media Homework

Week 1

"Watch the extract several times and assess how the sequence manages the bridge between 'heavy' and 'light' moods.  (Focus particularly on finding the main / initial shift in tone)"

Within the extract of "Sherlock Homes" the mood of the entire sequence tends to change very often. The camera work, sound (especially the music) editing and mise-en-scene all help the view get immersed into what is happening on screen. The overall mood of the extract is changing all the time. 

The first time we see the major change in the overall mood of the sequence would be in the use of the characters voice (sound). It starts with a simple conversation and as it progresses the voice becomes louder and with one loud yell of the phrase "that's what people do" we see a bomb strapped to a characters chest.(mise en scene) With this as the opener of the entire sequence and the use of the yelling (sound) and the bomb (mise en scene) we already know as the viewer that this extract will be one of violence and thrill due to the sudden change of mood and what the causes were, for the change of mood, to take place. 

At the start of the extract the use of editing, sound and camera work is very present. Within these first few shots we have the sound creating an overlay for what is happening on screen, this meaning that the sound and visual are not synced. This could be used to try and give the audience more information in a small amount of time. The editing in these shots uses quick takes with a fade to black in between each of them. These fades could show a sense of time passing and how the intro to this sequence needs to cover a lot that has happened in the past at a quick rate. Within these first shots we hear that the villain of this sequence is leaving the hero to try and diffuse the bomb situation, which is strapped to his friend, all by himself. However this is where the mood changes and the villain returns to the scene. The presence of the villain back on screen makes the view feel like he is not done with attacking the hero and therefore we get a change in mood. The audience previously felt safe as the villain said he was leaving, however now as he has entered the scene again the mood changes and we feel a threat once again. 

The sound in this extract is used very well in building the tense mood and also in dropping the mood. Within the sequence the hero and villain have a heated discussion whilst the hero as multiple snipers aimed at him. As the conversation escalates the non digetic music in the background also increases in volume and intensity. It builds and builds however is cut out by the sound of a digetic cell phone ringing. This brings almost a comedic element into the extract due to the cell phone ring tone being "staying alive by the Bee Gees" this sound immediately cuts the tension of out the scene and brings the audience mood down to a safer one. However seconds later the villain immediately shouts again and the music starts. The reason why this changes the mood can be credited to what the villain actually said "Say that again! Say that again and know that if you are lying to me I will find you and I will skin you" To follow along with this line that completely changes the mood the camera work also helps in telling the audience that the threat as increased. The camera shows the hero's face looking stern but also quite concerned, it cuts and shows the victim on the floor looking very scared and worried.