Power conversation

 

Introduction

For this project, we were investigating the idea of power shifts in conversations in film and how one person can dominate a conversation through the use of camera angles and the 180 degree rule, a term concerning the space between two characters in a scene and where the camera can move between them. The idea in the project was to create a conversation with two characters arguing about something, with one of the characters remaining in power by the end of the scene and the other being powerless against them. 

Above are the notes and analysis of the scene I looked at in class from the film 'Training Day'. The scene features two men having a conversation, with Alonzo (the character with the newspaper) dominating the majority of the scene, through the use of the 180 degree rule and the fact that he is always in the shot - to represent status. What I thought was really interesting about this scene was the shift in tone and power when Alonzo puts the newspaper down and the camera slowly gets tighter around his face, showing his power over the other character.

Planning

We dedicated a lot of our time to the design of the setting and what the scene would look like. We had decided that our scene was going to be about a student named Zac being told off by his headteacher, Headmaster Barron, for his low grades and bad behaviour in school. The idea of the power shift came from Zac being powerless against Barron punishing him, with him threatening to call his parents and therefore dominating the conversation. Therefore, the set was an office with a desk, with Barron having a taller chair and more equipment on his side of the desk to show his power over Zac. 

The script for our scene:

Shot analysis 

I like this shot because it clearly shows the shift in power from Zac to Headmaster Barron when he says the line "then there's absolutely no reason for you to be failing now, is there?". Barron dominates the majority of the screen here, as if he's like a shadow looming over Zac, with Zac being pushed into the lower corner of the shot and looking down to avoid eye contact with the teacher. It is here that I believe the power completely shifts from Zac to Barron, and it is clear that he has won the conversation and is in full control of what happens next.

Final result

Evaluation

This was my second film I created in the A Level course, and I think it was a good test for me to show the filming and editing skills I learned from the Jurassic Park task. I also learnt about the 180 degree rule and how to structure a conversation in film, as well as how to show power shifts using a variety of high and low camera angles. Overall, I was quite happy with how it turned out, and what I'd learnt from the task, as well as what I could do whilst working in a group and editing on my own.