Single Shot Analysis

I find this one of the more interesting shots included in our production. A Sim card is dropped into a sink of water, and Becci is shown singing ‘I’m all messed up’. The original shot of the sim card swirling around the sink did not seem to make enough of an impact, so the shot involving Becci was super-imposed onto it. Each shot was obviously taken separately before being super imposed over each-other.

First we thought about the framing of Becci before filming. The camera was placed behind a glass paned door leading to Amy’s living room at a medium shot. We did this because the two wooden panes both sides of Becci act as a good frame and obey the rule of thirds. They also separate the lighter and darker tones of the room. With the black painted walls either side of Becci and lighter aspects in the centre behind her. The shot is fairly symmetrical, and I believe it is one of the better examples of camera-work because of this. We had to be careful as a mirror stands directly behind her. If the camera were any higher it would be in view, so we had to take a slightly lower angle of view. We wanted the room to be fully lit, so the lights were turned on, and lamps placed about the room to light up Becci from all angles. This helped us to obtain a clearer shot. There were a few framed photographs towards the edges of the shot, but these were deemed as unnecessary to be removed, and so were left in place for the sake of ease.

The harsh contrasts of the room match the attitude of Becci’s clothes and hair. The colour scheme was a big contribution towards the success of the shot. The dark make-up Becci wears also contrasts with her blonde hair. The opposite colours in shot emphasise each other and make for a more dramatic outcome. There are several hues of red within shot, such as pictures on the mantel piece and a canvas to the left of the shot. These somehow help to keep the sim card relevant as they both share angry red.

The sim card is shot close up from a high angle and the camera follows it directly as it swirls around the sink. This was merged with the shot of Becci for good reason. As Becci sings ‘All messed up’ she makes a swirling motion around her head with her hand. Combined with the sim card’s swirling, it gives the impression that she is stirring the water. It may also be seen that there is an essence of intersexuality in this shot. The film ‘Psycho’ is well known for the focusing on the base of the bath as swirling water and blood heads down the plug hole. Referring to the film in this manner establishes Becci’s appetite for revenge on an aggressive level. The plug-hole drifts into shot as the sim card swirls, establishing a greater relation.

Becci’s expression provides an insight as to how she feels about the situation. She maintains a mischievous grin throughout the proceedings, and this situation is no exception. Becci’s smirks and grins allow the audience to judge her character more clearly, perhaps deeming her as sadistic whilst the boyfriend’s life and possessions are broken down.