MASTER AND COMMANDER QUESTIONS

Media Questions

Why is there a high angle establishing shot in the opening of the film?

There is a high angle establishing shot to establish the setting (in the middle of the sea). It also shows how vast the ocean is in comparison to the boat in the middle of it, and so builds tension as it makes the boat look vulnerable and open to attack.  It makes the audience share the sense of fear and isolation that anyone on the boat must be feeling as they are so far away from help and are surrounded by the sea.

What section does the beginning shot come under?

Editing

Why is there a low angle shot?

The very low angle shot makes the reader feel as if they too are in the ocean or travelling along it and so immerses them in the film. It also makes the sea seem stronger and more powerful, to make the audience understand how vast the ocean is. It helps them understand how it feels to be travelling in a boat on the sea, and how vulnerable you feel. Because of this it creates a sense of fear and jeopardy because you are at the mercy of the sea.

Why are there shots such as the men up the rigging?

It is a low angle shot so shows how high the men are and how dangerous the position they are in is. It creates suspense and fear as to what may happen to them.

Is the shot of the boat called an arc pan or a tracking shot?

It is an arc pan, which leaves the boat facing the emptiness and unknown of the mist, creating a sense of peril and suspense.

Pick out social stereotypes

Children are a social stereotype which is broken in this extract, as there is a young, 12 year old child who is working on the boat. He breaks the stereotype of being surrounded by child protection laws and looked after. He is given responsibility beyond his years and treated as an adult, which is untypical of most young children.

What kind of shot goes from one person to the other and back to the first?

Shot reverse shot

 

What kind of shot is it when the captain looks through the telescope?

Point of view shot

Would you use this sequence as part of an answer on how suspense is built up?

Yes

What kind of shot is it when someone responds to something they’ve seen?

Reaction shot

If you picked this as an example of sound, what would you say?

Sound is used when they are on battle alert in the following way.  There is also non-diegetic sound with the use of the drums, which are often associated with military sounds and manoeuvres. They are used as a rallying call to get people into the mood of the battle. They make a strong, powerful, rousing noise which suggests being alert and about to attack, which injects drama into the extract.

If you picked this as an example of mise-en-scene, what would you say?

Mise-en-scene is used by using props such as clearing the table and putting down a blood stained table cloth, which is where people were operated on when on boats and when they were injured. You also see the instruments which are very basic and brutal, suggesting the surgery will be very painful. This creates a sense of fear and suspense because it means they are expecting people to get hurt or even to die.