Chicago (2002) dir. Rob Marshall Production Elements Lighting

Learning Intention Success Criteria To understand and utilise the meta language associated with lighting when analysing screen products. Success Criteria MUST Take notes and write answers in full paragraphs. Hand in a finished paragraph. SHOULD Learn meta language and definitions. COULD Try answering the questions in relation to other texts we’ve studied this year.

Mise en scene Editing Lighting Sound Camera techniques Acting Simple term How the element will be phrased on exams Detailed explanation of element Camera techniques Camera/Film/Video techniques and technologies including shot selection, movement and focus Camera techniques refers to how the camera is positioned to capture a scene, and the techniques and qualities that are used. It may be from different angles, or from a distance, or it may be moving. It is also about the depth of field, focus, shot selection and film stock.   Acting An actor’s facial expressions, tone of voice and body language Acting refers to specific characterisations, traits or associations that an actor will add to the character to create a personality. It includes: body language, facial expressions, appearance, gesture, and movement. Mise en scene The arrangement of elements in front of the camera, closely related to visual composition Mise en scene incorporates many aspects. This is the way a scene, or particularly a frame is set up. It is how the director places the characters, props or setting to create a look. Take into consideration: colour, costumes, lighting, shots, setting, camera techniques. Editing Editing/vision and sound design and mixing, including style, techniques, placement, pace and rhythm of editing Editing deals with the way shots are put together, or cut to create the effect that the director wants. It is about placement of scenes, timing, pace and rhythm and the relationship between vision and sound. Lighting Lighting, including naturalistic and expressive Lighting involves creating realistic light, shadows, emphasising objects and people within a scene, natural lighting, and expression and setting a scene. It can also be used to create mood. Sound Sound, including, dialogue, music and sound effects This includes sound track, music, sound effects, diegetic and non diegetic, dialogue, pitch, timbre, duration, rhythm and silence. It is used to create mood, atmosphere, convey emotions of characters.

What do we already know? 5 minutes ACTIVITY: In groups you will be given a series of laminated cards. You must arrange these cards to demonstrate your knowledge of the meta language of LIGHTING. 5 minutes

LIGHTING Lighting involves creating realistic light, shadows, emphasising objects and people within a scene, natural lighting, and expression and setting a scene. It can also be used to create mood. Keep your meta language card safe in your book. Whilst you can’t bring this into the exam or SACs, you will use this whenever you write in class.

USE YOUR BIG WORDS One thing is common between the VCE and real life – you can make yourself stand out from the crow through the vocabulary you use. How can you add value to your short response answers by placing adjectives in front of the subject noun (meta language)? In grammar, we call this building nominal groups. Aside from adjectives, we also need to describe our production element in more detail by using further specific meta language. ACTIVITY Fill out a table in your books with as many adjectives as you can think of – use a theasaurus and perhaps look through the film for inspiration. The lighting…. The high key lighting…. HIGH KEY LOW KEY Positive connotations Sunny Negative connotations Stark Let’s build nominal groups! The stark high key lighting The stark, naturalistic high key lighting

Let’s put our vocabulary into action! For each of the following stills from the film, explain how lighting is being used to create meaning. Allow yourself 4 minutes per slide – so think and write quickly! Don’t forget to build your nominal groups!

AND NOW…A TAP DANCE Explain how two production elements are used to develop an idea from the tap dance scene in Chicago. This must be handed in, so write on loose leaf paper or type up for submission.