Mock Exam Essay - Rosie

Camera -Pans the set - Close-ups - Sharp zoom onto object - Shot-Reverse-Shot - Erratic - Fast paced - High angled over merlin after defeat showing power in the upper class character, Merlin appears vulnerable. -

Mise En Scene -          Costume -          Merlin, ragged, unclean, tatty, low class attire, scruffy hair -          Royalty, armour, full length expensive looking dress, a symbol of wealth, handsome, well looked after, pride in appearance, tidy -          Costume gives away their status and class by one glance. -          Behaviour -          Royalty characters consider themselves superior, looks down on Merlin, authority and in control -          Body Language -          Merlin – apologetic, nervous, cocky, more in control in a familiar environment, answering back, timid, won’t admit defeat, uneasy, stands up to royalty, loses. -          Uses magic to stall his opponent showing his power -          He is a ‘nobody’ without his magic, we assume is he didn’t have that power, he’d be a peasant to himself and not just others

Sound -          Eerie at beginning , shouldn’t be there, element of being caught, shouldn’t be there, regarded as unimportant -          Fast paced and adventurous during the fighting scene, corresponds with the mood and description of the scene -          SFX – Male footsteps, trying to be quiet in order to kept concealed, rustling a slight give a way and risk as could be heard, female footsteps, farm animals, market ambience, ball and chain rattling, being swung, makes royalty appear a threat. -

Editing -          Match on action -          Quick -          Shot placed one after the other in short bursts, erratic, emphasis on the fight -          Beginning is slow, creepy, sneaky, sly, tiptoeing around -          Slow-motion on royalty -

In the beginning of the clip, Merlin is seen snooping around an extravagant establishment. Merlin is wearing tatty and basic clothing suggesting that he is less superior and in a lower social class to the people who own the property. This is evident by his tatty clothing and untamed hair to which viewers would assume that he is not wealthy. The editing of the first scene is slow paced to create a mystery about what he is there intending to do. His body language presents a sly look about him due to his un-easy facial expression and slow movements. The camera uses zooms to emphasis and draw attention to the objects in which he picks up. The soundtrack over the top of this is eerie and creates a tension between Merlin and the location as we assume he is not supposed to be looking around in that way and could run the risk of being caught by someone of higher class. The sound effects used in this scene like his rustling creates even more tension as one accidental loud noise could lead to him being caught doing something he shouldn’t have. The sound of the female’s footsteps are also an aid to creating mystery and suspense as we understand that she is walking towards Merlin getting closer and closer by the footstep. When approached by the woman, she is wearing a long purple gown and has her hair neatly placed, purple could be chosen for its symbol of royalty. She appears to take pride in her appearance and her attire would make one assume that she is a wealthy, upper class individual. As the woman gets closer and closer to Merlin, the soundtrack intensifies progressively ending in a climax as he is caught clutching the book. Merlin becomes on edge and nervous at her arrival and he becomes more uneasy, noticeable by his stutter of speech and shifty movements. The editing in this scene is slow and gives an eerie feel due to its gradual and smooth pans. It appears that Merlin, being of lower social class is aware of the fact that he is out of his comfort zone and place in such an environment.

When we witness Merlin enter the market place, he slips into a more comfortable, there are characters in similar attire to Merlin, showing that this is the place he fits in, with the lower class people. He overcomes his un-easy state and becomes comfortable with his surroundings. The sound effects of the farm animals suggest the type of job, if any, Merlin may obtain, the career symbolises his class and status as we can estimate the type of money he receives.  When Merlin faces his second conversation (shot in shot-reverse shot, showing that there is a relationship and conflict between the two characters, each of different social classes) he appears much more confident in the way he talks, though he is speaking to royalty, he challenges his stereotype and talks down to him and answers back to his snide remarks. He also challenges the stereotype in the fact that though he appears powerless, his use of magic enables him to appear more powerful, though no-one in the scene is aware of it. Though he is confident in the scene, he is still looked down upon by the upper class character as he considers himself superiority, in which he likes to be in control. Once challenged to a fight, the soundtrack intensifies, and both the camera and soundtrack become erratic, there are quick, fast-paced shots placed one after another, and the sounds are quick and threatening; for example the ball and chain swinging in the air which places superiority upon the upper class character once again as the sound is only present when he appears on screen. Merlin understands that his lack of power through social class is defeating him; however he uses his magic to stall his opponent and appears to be rebelling against the stereotype and remaining in control as he is still in his environment. At the end of the scene he notices that he has been noticed using his magic and admits defeat, therefor reinforcing the stereotype of upper class having more power than lower class. The camera provides a high angle shot of Merlin on the ground, making him appear vulnerable and less superior, returning to the uneasy Merlin that viewers witnessed at the start.