Discuss how important cinematography is, in establishing strong responses from spectators to a key character in 'La La Land' . Your answer must refer to 1 scene.
In La La Land, cinematograpgy is key in establishing relationships between characters and getting the response from spectators the director specifically wants. In many of the upbeat scenes and numbers, the camera will quickly pan between characters to keep the pace of the scene very quick to represent its light heartedness. This why this film suits a passive audience because they can pick up on the tone very easily, through fast camera movements and the colourful Mis-en-scene.
In the scene\song "Someone in the crowd" there are very few cuts, which is noticable through the whole film. The use of so many long shots could be the director trying to maintain as much verisimilitude throughout the film as possible. With these long shots the camera pans between characters at various different points and the speed at which it happens says a lot about the relationship between the characters and the tne of the scene.
Throughout this scene, there are several moments where we see Mia through a mirror, this could be representative of how the real Mia is different to how she presents herself, and the only person in the film who sees her for how she is Seb, who she ends up splitting up with.
When her friend are convicing Mia to go out there is a refernece to Grease which a passive audience would ignore, as well as many old movie and musical references made throughout La La Land. The shots on the bed is from a high angle and zooming in on Mia to showcase that even though these other women are taking the forefront of the scene, it's all focused around Mia.
When the girls are outside and dancing before getting the car the shots are wide and from a high angle to showcase their dancing and it;s a nod to old movie musical dancing scenes. By taking the shot from a high angle it allows the spectators to see the whole of what they're doing. It also makes them feel Mia is talented and makes each rejection she receives more devastating as they see her showcasing this immense talent.
During the section after they get in the car and begin to arrive at the party all of the signs feel quite old school broadway and showcase the old musical genre the film is. However, by becoming split screen it reminds all spectators that they are watching a modern day adaptation of an old golden age movie musical. The colours contast which makes it feel like 2 different worlds, like how Mia and Seb are from 2 different worlds. The split screen blends softly so it makes the shot more visually appealing, the different shots from dancing to the main party. The shot of the feet dancing is swing dancing, this is something a passive audience would miss.
When Mia is in the bathroom at the party we again see her reflection in the mirror and the camera zooms in so the shot becomes a close up, this could show through the cinematography that we can almost see the real Mia but shes not there yet and still has a journy to go on. When she leaves every one else is in slow motion and and she is at normal pace at first this is represenatative of how she may feel dettatched from everyone else in LA as she is an unsuccsesful actress. This may create an allignment with spectators who may be trying to become actors themselves. The speed increases and she exits the shot which reinforces this idea.
The party scene continues with the camera in the pool and going 360 at a faster and faster pace. The shot then cuts to Mia walking home down a dark hill, this shows how we can only have so much escapism before we are brought back to the harsh reality of life.
It is arguable that La La Land is a film made for a passive audience but i'd arguse it requires an active audience to catch all of the old musical theatre references, which i feel this scene perfectly demonstrates. The long shots are representative of how in old movie musicals there would be very few cuts and be full body shots to showcase the dancing, they also had very limited options with cinematography options and even though La La Land and could've used more modern day techniques they did not which emmits a strong response from spectators as they will resonate to movie musicals they grew up with, even if they are a passive audience.
In the scene\song "Someone in the crowd" there are very few cuts, which is noticable through the whole film. The use of so many long shots could be the director trying to maintain as much verisimilitude throughout the film as possible. With these long shots the camera pans between characters at various different points and the speed at which it happens says a lot about the relationship between the characters and the tne of the scene.
Throughout this scene, there are several moments where we see Mia through a mirror, this could be representative of how the real Mia is different to how she presents herself, and the only person in the film who sees her for how she is Seb, who she ends up splitting up with.
When her friend are convicing Mia to go out there is a refernece to Grease which a passive audience would ignore, as well as many old movie and musical references made throughout La La Land. The shots on the bed is from a high angle and zooming in on Mia to showcase that even though these other women are taking the forefront of the scene, it's all focused around Mia.
When the girls are outside and dancing before getting the car the shots are wide and from a high angle to showcase their dancing and it;s a nod to old movie musical dancing scenes. By taking the shot from a high angle it allows the spectators to see the whole of what they're doing. It also makes them feel Mia is talented and makes each rejection she receives more devastating as they see her showcasing this immense talent.
During the section after they get in the car and begin to arrive at the party all of the signs feel quite old school broadway and showcase the old musical genre the film is. However, by becoming split screen it reminds all spectators that they are watching a modern day adaptation of an old golden age movie musical. The colours contast which makes it feel like 2 different worlds, like how Mia and Seb are from 2 different worlds. The split screen blends softly so it makes the shot more visually appealing, the different shots from dancing to the main party. The shot of the feet dancing is swing dancing, this is something a passive audience would miss.
When Mia is in the bathroom at the party we again see her reflection in the mirror and the camera zooms in so the shot becomes a close up, this could show through the cinematography that we can almost see the real Mia but shes not there yet and still has a journy to go on. When she leaves every one else is in slow motion and and she is at normal pace at first this is represenatative of how she may feel dettatched from everyone else in LA as she is an unsuccsesful actress. This may create an allignment with spectators who may be trying to become actors themselves. The speed increases and she exits the shot which reinforces this idea.
The party scene continues with the camera in the pool and going 360 at a faster and faster pace. The shot then cuts to Mia walking home down a dark hill, this shows how we can only have so much escapism before we are brought back to the harsh reality of life.
It is arguable that La La Land is a film made for a passive audience but i'd arguse it requires an active audience to catch all of the old musical theatre references, which i feel this scene perfectly demonstrates. The long shots are representative of how in old movie musicals there would be very few cuts and be full body shots to showcase the dancing, they also had very limited options with cinematography options and even though La La Land and could've used more modern day techniques they did not which emmits a strong response from spectators as they will resonate to movie musicals they grew up with, even if they are a passive audience.
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