How does the director of Peaky Blinders use camera angles and mise en scene to establish expectation and character?

                                                         Peaky Blinders analysis

 Within this scene the camera angle is giving these characters within peaky blinders a God -like stature; with them looking down on us and that they are on top 'of society' also: As well as literally being at the top of the screen.  With this angle coming into effect from the beginning, it sets the tone for the rest of the scene/still images. The expectation of what the characters will do next can coincide with the colour pallet, in the scene that the red burning flame in the corner can symbolise hell, but more likely that violence is inevitable. The puddle also can be seen to show the transition from a happy/cheerful part of town- to the dark depths of it. With the reflection ending mid-way through the screen, the other half of the screen is black, showing that the path that lies ahead for these characters will be hellish. As well as the unity within these characters shown by the togetherness and symmetry in their walking, the clothes that they are wearing symbolises that they are all part of the same group- and that whatever they are about to do was planned, as they're wearing the same outfit.

Within this following still the director portrays that these characters as a group of thugs, that are on a 'mission.' Shown by the way that they aren't fazed by the puddle, which they walk straight through it as if it’s not there. This could also show that they're trying to assert their dominance on surrounding bystander they shouldn't be approached. Furthermore, this shot adds to assumption made previously that these characters are part of a group, wearing the same style of shoes and trousers: that was previously hidden in the last still. This colour pallet of this shot adds fuel to the already present violence that is foreshadowed, with the ripples created in the puddle this can implement the feeling of uncontrollable violence, 'waving' out of control.  With the group being the medium that is unsettling the calmness of the puddle, before the storm. 

Finally, within this still image the director zooms in on the main characters faces, creating a rule of thirds- of all three of the characters face parallel to this rule. This creates a sense of unity between the characters, which they don't need to be facing each other and/or in conversation to know what each other are thinking. Also, the camera angle within this shot gives the audience a sense that they are within this scene: possibly a bystander: gawping at this thuggish looking group. Last of all, with the characters all looking in the same direction it creates a suspense- that we should also be looking at what they are: alternatively that we were missing out on part of the scene. This, added by the repeated burning orange colour pallet used - confirms the assumption of violence taking place within the scene after.

EDITED 27/10/16 - A PowerPoint on how the director established character in Back to the Future

Back to the Future still images by Reece Slater on Scribd

Why does the director not show any character's face in the opening sequence? 

     There is many possibilities as to why the director choose to not show the face of this character until the end of the first scene. The main reason, could be that the director does not want you to make presumptions about this character. Even though the mise en scene allows the audience to understand the age and the traits about this character, they can be easily manipulated by showing other traits of the character. My point is that, if the audience have a face to a certain characters actions, then it’s difficult to then change that characters meaning and purpose. Furthermore, another reason could be that the director wants the audience to be captivated from the start, so with the ever growing intrigues towards who this character could be will do this. Finally, the director could be suggesting that this character has something to hide, with only the lower half of his body showing. Either that being disfigurement, or an item.

How does this add to the sense of characterisation and anticipation?

     The way in which the character moves within this sequence, a knowledge of the surrounding, confidence- this creates a sense of what this character is like. Also with the dress sense and mode of transport, skateboard, you can assume the age and social status of this character. With the director not showing the characters face, we can assume that this has to link with characterisation, it could be so that the audience focuses on what this character persona is, not judging a book by its cover kind of scenario. Finally, this adds to the anticipation of the scene as there are ever growing amount of questions directed towards this character throughout. Helped by the unknowing of who this character is.

#Plug to Hazy Parkour

    Keelan and Ben are sick at Parkour

Introduction

Hi, my name is Reece and this is my media A-Level blog.