Life of Pi -
LO1 Task 2
I have been approached by education wise and have been asked to teach you about the media course, I am now teaching you task two of a four part course. I am analysing Life of Pi in terms of micro elements, purpose, genre, form, style and production.
Purpose
The purpose of the film is to entertain; it does through an interesting
storyline, gripping character connection, building suspense and high budget
action. The type of audience is International and produced for the mass,
it has reached such countries as America, United Kingdom and Taiwan. The film
has been made for commercial gain and to expand their audience, earning them
over $609 million in worldwide sales.
Genre
The genre of my film is classed as Action,
Drama and Fantasy. Daniel Chandler defined genre as a 'type of category' and
Barry Keith Grant states that 'all genres have sub-genres.' In this case
my films sub-genres are action, drama and fantasy. This film can also
be classed a hybrid of genres.
Form
The form of my film is a feature film as it
is a rather long film, having duration of 2 hours and 7 minutes.
Based on the target audience being a mass and international audience, the film
would be distributed on many platforms including; DVD, streamed through Sky Box
Office, pirated website and illegally downloaded, downloaded onto a phone or
tablet through App Store. It was also distributed to cinemas because it is
a mainstream film produced for the mass audience, and also it would have
appeared on Sky TV because Sky is one of 20th Century Fox's subsidiaries.
Style
The style of Life of Pi is modern, although
it uses CGI which may mean that it isn't real, although it drives the
narrative and allows the film to have verisimilitude. The style of the
film is classed as modern because it is set in the 21st Century and is made to
appear modern through the era it is set in.
Content and
Meaning
Sound
The trailer starts by denoting the diegetic
sound of the storm being the rain (00:13) and the waves these are known as
Foley Sounds and are created separately using other means but they are natural
to the story world and can be heard by the characters and audience. The storm
connotes danger and chaos and this relates to the diegesis as the storm kills
everyone apart from a few on the ship and leaves him alone with a tiger. It
could also connote drowning and death, this also connotes the film genre being
action which is shown through the fast pace and chaotic sounds. Next is the
Diegetic sound denotes a Zebra panting for breath in the water (00:37), this
connotes that the Zebra is drowning and possibly presents the connotation that
the rest of the animals will die on the boat, it could also connote a life
threatening situation or drowning. This also relates to the narrative style
being Orpheus following the loss of something, this is the start of the loss
and it is going to be followed through. The effect on the audience is that the
story starts to grip them and the enigma/disequilibrium has just begun. On top
of all the chaotic sounds there is the protagonist screaming (00:46) as he is
launched into the water, this connotes that the character type is dominant but
is in a vulnerable situation challenging the stigma. The next diegetic sound
denotes a tiger growling (01:22) which could connote danger and chaos again and
possibly connote that anyone near the tiger has their life threatened, this
also connotes that a new disequilibrium/enigma that needs to be resolved and
also links to the narrative style being orpheous and now we follow the
protagonists new loss. This is followed by a drastic change in the music
briefly connoting the enigma and possibly a more interest. The last diegetic
sound is the voice over in the second trailer (00:17), it denotes the
protagonist talking about his life story and explaining what has happened, this
could denote that the story is very interesting and needs to be told or that
the story is complicated and needs explaining, “Let’s see, where to begin”. The
subtle tone to his voice connotes that the start of the story is peaceful and
calm, being proved when he says “I was born and raised in one of the most
beautiful places on Earth”. Connoting this film is going to be both
aesthetically beautiful but also emotionally beautiful. The mode of address of
which the voice over has been addressing is Parent to child as he talks very
confidently but with a soft tone as if trying to explain a story to a child.
There aren’t many non-diegetic sounds
to the trailer, but that is because the film is creating verisimilitude. The
first non-diegetic sound denotes some incidental music which is slightly
calming and subtle which adds to the subtlety and softness of the voiceover,
this could connote that the storm is over and the enigma/disequilibrium has
been resolved, the protagonist is safe, it also connotes calmness and
peacefulness, this reinforces the genre being partly drama and the narrative
style being Orpheous. The last Non-Diegetic sound denotes the sound track being
Paradise by Coldplay. This could connote that the film is very aesthetically
pleasing and connotes a beautiful view, the lyrics aren’t being played but the up
tempo and positive pitch connotes that the disequilibrium/enigma has been
solved and the loss is being followed through, relating to the story following
the loss of the protagonist being his family and watching him fight to survive.
The song is popular as it is in the charts and even though the words aren’t
there, everyone will already know the words and will be feeling happiness and
hopefulness according to the tempo of the song.
Mise en
scene
Mise en scene is a micro-element that is
encoded to create meaning and representation. Mise en scene is basically
everything within the frame. This includes; location, costume and makeup,
props, colour and lighting and gestures, that reinforce the genre and represent
certain themes.
There are two main locations within Life of
Pi being his home village and the ocean. The first location denotes his home
town being vibrant, peaceful and aesthetically pleasing, but also connotes that
the scenery throughout the film will be beautiful. This affects the audience in
a positive way and prepares them for a very emotionally evoking story. The fact
that the first location is so beautiful, may possibly connote a contrast is to
come in the film, to counter act that and catch the audience of guard. The
beautiful scenic view also connotes the genre of the film being action, drama
and fantasy, usually fantasy and drama having aesthetically pleasing
backgrounds and compelling stories. This also links heavily to the narrative
style being orpheous (following a loss) the loss is yet to come but all the
peace and calmness prepares you for the loss that is to come. The vibrancy and
life of all the animals, also represents the life and vibrancy of the
characters and the fight that they have in them and their passion for life.
When the family is moving half way across the world and transporting their zoo,
it heavily connotes that their lives are going to change. The second location
is the ocean, most of the film occurs in the ocean. The ocean connotes the
freedom that the protagonist wanted; he wanted more control over his life, now
he’s got the independence. But the ocean could also connote hopelessness and
that his efforts to survive out there are futile. This also heavily links to
the narrative style being orpheous this being the loss that is followed, the
loss of his family and stability and structure. This represents the genre being
partly action, as his fight for survival in the harshness of the ocean will be
the action, and the beautiful scenic views will be the drama and fantasy. The
sudden change from the protagonist’s home to the vast ocean builds tensions and
is able to entrain the audience with more impact.
There aren’t many costumes showcased in this
film as for the most part the protagonist is set adrift in the ocean. At the
start of the film, the denotation being traditional Indian clothing which are
bright and colourful, the connotations being their passion for life and their
passion for their religion, this connotes they are dedicated and loving people.
This directly links to the protagonist not giving up in even the worst
situations. It also links to the genre being drama connoting beautiful and
vibrant views. The costumes reflect the diegesis following loss and where the
film is set being India at this current point. The males and females at the
beginning are wearing similar clothing connoting no differences. But this film
contains the stereotypical representation of men and women, with the men being seen as dominant and the women being seen as subordinate. It also shows binary opposition of the two genders, one being seen as more important/powerful than the other. Also later on the film the protagonist
wears nothing but a piece of clothing wrapped around him connoting the
hopelessness of the situation, it also connotes the survival aspects
reinforcing the genre of the film being action. The protagonist being the only
character for the most part of the film, apart from tiger but that actually
represents the protagonist himself, so generally there is no one to compare him
to. The clothing the protagonist wears reflects the diegesis and the
verisimilitude of the film. Later on in the film the protagonist is denoted as
dehydrated and his skin becomes pale and his skin around his eyes and mouth
looks dry and grey, this was added to create verisimilitude.
There aren’t many props used in the film as
most of the film is set on a boat stranded in the ocean with scarce supplies.
There are a few examples of iconography; this term means items that create
stereotypical representations that become well known and recognised. In terms
of handheld props there aren’t any at all, but in terms of things and objects
being iconic there are some. The first example of iconography denotes the boat
that the protagonist is stranded. This connotes the genre being tragedy very
well as he is stranded and the boat his only saviour. This also has an effect
on the audience, making them feel sympathy for the protagonist; it also
connotes a helpless and vulnerable side to him also. It also connotes the
narrative style being orpheous following the loss; the boat is a visual example
as it actually is the focus of the loss and travels with the protagonist. The
boat helps to create the diegesis and verisimilitude. The second iconography is
the tiger; the tiger is a very iconic figure which the film revolves around
mostly. Later on in the film we realise that the tiger wasn’t actually there
and in fact is there to represent the protagonist, so in that respect it is
very important to the narrative. The tiger even though is added in through
special effects creates verisimilitude and helps create tension and the
atmosphere throughout the film. Throughout the film this character is
constantly developed as it becomes less hostile and more loving, this creates a
positive effect on the audience and allows them to grow to love the character.
The tiger also connotes the genre being tragedy and action, as the film follows
the tiger’s loss and tragedy but also at the start the hostile aspect connotes
the film as action.
Generally the film is denoted as very bright
and colourful in terms of lighting and colour. The film encodes mostly high key
light, which means bright and represents natural light being the sun. Relating
to this film it could represent hope in hopeless situations, representing
prayers and miracles which would be needed in this film. The light could also
represent the survival aspect and resilience. This reinforces the narrative
style being orpheous and connoting that there is always hope even in the worst
of circumstances. The bright light and the fact that the protagonist is
travelling connotes that he is searching for hope. It could also represent
freedom, the freedom he wanted but no he is set adrift in the ocean all alone.
There is a specific part in the film where low key light is encoded, during the
night time it doesn’t connote hopelessness but it actually connotes optimism,
as it is beautiful and inspiring. There aren’t many characters to analyse in
Life of Pi; it mainly contains only one character. But his actions and gestures
are usually forceful representing that he is having a fight for survival,
sometimes his gestures are slow and energy consuming reflecting his situation
and the diegesis.
Camera Work
This shot denotes a bird’s eye view camera
angle/ high angle connotes subordinance and vulnerability. Even though
in this situation the tiger would have the most power, this shot denotes the
protagonist and tiger in similar situations connoting vulnerability, could also
connote the possible danger that they both may be in because of the whale. The
effect on the audience is that it builds tension and this may also create
spectacle for the audience. This shot could also be denoted as an establishing
shot, as it sets the diegesis and the scene. This shot also connotes the genre
being action and tragedy. Even though there is an imminent danger present the
soothing, calm colours connote peace and calmness.
This shot denotes a two shot; this is good at
promoting the relationship. These shots are usually used when establishing
power roles, being dominant and subordinate, in this case the two characters
are equal, even though the tiger would normally being dominant. This is
opposing the binary opposition. This shot connotes the power balance
between the two characters, it also builds tension for the audience because of
the imminent danger the protagonist is in.
This shot denotes an over the shoulder shot
which connotes looking from the protagonist’s perspective. This gives the
audience the effect that they are looking through the characters eyes; it
connects the audience with the film. This is an example of what is in focus;
the protagonist is in focus whereas the background and all the characters are
not in focus. This shot is also a crowd shot as it contains more than 3 people.
This is an example of the male gaze introduced by Laura Mulvey, which
objectifies women as sex objects. This creates the idea that women are
subordinate and men are dominant, this idea is further developed when the male
character is in focus and all the female characters are not in focus, this
creates a binary opposition. This sets the diegesis as it introduces new
characters and shows the sort of society that we are in.
Most of the camera movements in this film are
the camera moving from side to side to mimic the movements of the boat in the
ocean. In this scene the camera movements denotes a panning shot, with a
sweeping movement. This recreates the effect that you are seeing through the
characters eyes; it can be used to introduce new characters or setting. In this
case it is used to introduce a new character by panning up to zooming into
their face, denoting a medium close up. This is used to show the detail on a
characters phrase and emphasises their facial expressions.
In this scene the camera tilts up and down to
establish the scene. This is used to show what the protagonist is looking at,
so it allows the audience to interact with the characters. The camera also sways
with the rocking of the boat and direction of the wind, to create
verisimilitude. The tilting of the camera allows the audience to see the new
scene and see all the danger and devastation, this connotes the genre of the
film being action and that the narrative stage has reached its disequilibrium. The focus being the boat, the protagonist and the tiger. The shot was in deep depth as everything was in focus.
Editing
SHOT REVERSE SHOT STRUCTURE
TIME CODE – 00:16:34 – 00:17:12
The transitions used are just a cut; it
appears as though the transition is invisible. This shot reverse shot structure
as well as the invisible makes it seem as though the audience are spectators,
the juxtaposition between the two characters creates spectacle for the
audience. The shot reverse shot structure connotes a conversation being held,
usually between two characters and has a power in balance. In this case the
binary opposition is between size and age; the protagonist is seen as the
submissive character whereas the other is seen as dominant. The power in
balance is shown by the high and low angles, high for the protagonist which
makes him seem submissive and vulnerable and low angles for the man to make him
seem intimidating and powerful. The shot reverse shot structure is usually used
to present a conversation being held between two people, but also to denote the
facial expressions and emotions of the characters, this is shown even further by
the mid close up shot, and this helps to build tension and spectacle for the
audience. This is also good at representing the personalities of the characters
and establishing character roles.
CUT AWAYS
TIME CODE – 00:17:15 – 00:21:12
The transitions are called fades, this can also be called an eclipse which indicates a passing amount of time, this allows the
audience to tell the difference between a normal cut and the cross cutting
between two different locations, it shows the contrast between the two
locations. Also the slow fade between the two clips, fades from the protagonist
to an older protagonist narrating the story, the slow fade allows the audience
to see how the child has developed and how he has developed power now he is
older and bigger. The two events coincide and allow the audience to have more
understanding, the cut away allow the story to be easily explained
throughout. Also it still also the audience to feel as they are spectating and
going on the journey with them, the protagonist explains the story to the reporter
but it seems as though he is directly talking to the audience. Also it creates
spectacle for the audience, because the audience are aware of what is going on
and the contrast between the two locations, it allows the audience to become
more enthralled in the film. It has also has the effect of allowing the
audience to connect with the protagonist and witnessing his development and
growth. The cut away connotes that the protagonist has lead a long and
meaningful life that now needs explaining. This cut away could connote
Carl Rodgers theory of the “Ideal Self” and “Ideal Partner”, in this particular
case it would be ideal self, as the older protagonist is more of a role model
to the younger protagonist, even though he isn’t aware, it could connote that
he wishes to be older and be more respected. The two medium close ups denotes
the similarities between the two characters but also how the character has
developed.
EYELINE MATCH
TIME CODE – 00:22:22 – 00:23:20
The transition denoted is almost
instantaneous, making it seem invisible. This has the effect on the audience
yet again that the audience are spectating and are a part of the film. This as
well as the action packed scene creates spectacle for the audience. At the
start of the clip, the camera tilts upwards, establishing the characters
involved in the scene and setting the scene, this also establishes the diegesis
and narrative. The thing that the protagonist is viewing is the tiger
approaching him; it then cuts to a mid-close up of the characters to highlight
their facial expressions and emotions. The younger child is not scared or
intimidated and is almost excited whereas the older brother is terrified and
runs away. This connotes a binary opposition, the older brother should have
more power and be more dominant and the younger brother should have less power
and be more submissive, but as seen as the younger brother is fearless, it
opposes the stereotypes, this theory was introduced by Claude Levis Strauss. Another
theory also applies to this scene, the theory is about narrative structures,
which means this would be the disequilibrium or the enigma, and this was
introduced by Todorov. This disequilibrium is a shift in the balance indicating
something is going wrong, at the end of the scene when the father approaches
and pulls the child away, the enigma is resolved and the equilibrium is
balanced. This disequilibrium creates spectacle for the audience. Eyeline match
is perfect for presenting facial expressions and important events.
Pre-Production
Pre-production in terms of the film Life of
Pi, this is the first part of the three stages in the Film Production Process,
including all the planning, this entails; storyboards, writing the script, the
casting and crew, audience research, assets, work plans, concepts, software's,
location scouting and budget and legislation. In this case, the location
wouldn't necessarily be needed to be scouted because most of the locations such
as the ocean and the islands were produced using green screen and special
effects. Casting for the film would be a key part of this stage, as in this
film there are only a small amount of significant characters, therefore these
actors would need to be carefully chosen to suit these characters and capture
their personalities and emotions.
Production
The second stage of the Film Production
Process is production, this entails essentially the filming of the scenes; this
involves the directing, acquiring any assets likes props, sets and costumes.
Props are not a significant part in this film, there are hardly any hand held
props to hold, the real iconography is shown through iconic characters such as
the tiger and survival objects such as the boat. The filming of the scenes
would mainly consist of the characters being in front of a green screen and the
background and sets would be edited in through post-production. Other parts of
production are pyrotechnics, lighting by the director of photography, Chroma
key, acting and recording audio. Lighting is a key aspect in this film as it
helps build the narrative and the diegesis, it also helps set certain moods and
themes. Pyrotechnics isn't as key in this film as there aren't any fires or
explosions. Chroma Key is a key feature in this film; it’s how they tiger was
produced and edited in and how most of the settings were produced.
Post-Production
The last stage involves post-production,
which includes the editing. This can be anything from editing the footage, to
editing the sound if it is too loud or too quiet and also gives you a chance to
add any music. This would be the stage where you would add Chroma key, computer
generated imagery and special effects. Transitions are also another key feature
that would be added in, for example; dissolve, fade and jump cut. Green screens
and special effects are a key part of this film as it helps create
verisimilitude and helps set the narrative and diegesis, by creating the
scenery and one of the protagonists. Also transitions are a key part of this
film, they help set the mood and create tension and help enthral the audience
and make them feel like spectators.
