MICRO & MACRO ANALYSIS

MICRO AND MACRO ANALYSIS

When you analysis title sequences or movies you look at two aspects: micro analysis and macro analysis.

Micro= look at all detail brought together to provide a scene; examines the camera (incl.shot distance/angles/movement/framing), Editing (cuts/speed/special effects/transitions), Mise-en-scene (Location/setting/costume/make up/props/performance&lighting), Sound (incl.musical score/sound effects/wild sound/Foley sound).
Macro=looks at the scene as a whole and covers the plot, the characters, the stereotypes presented and the message given.

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 - Caper story/Thriller

Micro analysis:

Camera

Techniques used: widening of screen, close ups on all the key characters, zoom in/out, wide shot, shot-reverse-shot, quick movement of camera, cut-in, crane shots of city, 180 degree rule (clear in office shots), long shot, 3 shot, low shot, birds eye view, worms eye view, over the shoulder.

Editing

Titles: Fast/slow motion shots of bad guys (edited to the song). Slow frames: 1 2 3 in time with beat of the song, titles move in & out of the frame (like trains). Cross cut: builds up tension and switches between shots.

Mise-en-scene

Contrast: Gd vs Bad: Business clothes vs Leather/ shades/ jeans/ tattoos. Switches between: Busy city setting and calm work place setting. Set in the New York underground. The actors: male dominated, stereotypical construction workers and people on the underground train (wearing everyday clothing).

Sound

Screeching of trains (non-diegetic beeping horns). Non-diegetic song/ soundtrack (Jay Z). Sound fx control room (beeping). Contrast between aggressive soundtrack with antagonist & calmer sounds in control room with protagonist. 

Macro analysis:

What is the key plot idea introduced in the title sequence?

The underground is busy. We are introduced to the actors in the film. There's a negative vibe given from the characters waiting at the platform meanwhile, there's a problem with one of the train tracks. 

In what order is the story line introduced?

Big city chaos is introduced.

Close up of assumed (by audience) antagonist walking on the street.

Cut ins to men in the office.

Switches between the protagonists and antagonists (with some shots of the train staff).

What social groups are represented? How are they represented (positively, negatively, stereo typically/ use of binary oppositions)?

The protagonists working in the office are presented as the hard-working, trustworthy "good guys" whereas, the antagonists are presented negatively (the opposite). The protagonists are represented as stereotypical train staff members wearing "grandad clothing" and glasses, making them seem friendly. The antagonists are represented as stereotypical gang members ("bad guys") wearing leather jackets, sunglasses, having tattoos and piercings, making them seem violent and dangerous. 

Order of credits : 

1) COLOMBIA
2)COLOMBIA PICTURES AND METRO GOLDWYN MAYOR PICTURES
3)RELATIVELY MEDIA
4)SCOTT FREE/ESCPAE ARTS - PRODUCTION
5) TONY SCOTT - FILM
6)DENZEL WASHINGTON - MAIN ACTOR
7)JOHN TRAVOLTA - MAIN ACTOR
8)THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123
9)JOHN TURTURRO - ACTOR
10)LUIS GUZMAN - ACTOR
11)MICHAEL RISPOLI AND JAMES GENDOLFINI - ACTORS
12)FRANK WOOD, JOHN BENJAMIN HICKEY, GARY BASARABA, RAMEN RODRIEZ - ACTORS
13)GHENA AKINNAGBE, KATHENRE SIGISMUD AND JAKE SICILLANO - ACTORS
14)ALEX ALUZHSKY, AUNJANUE ELLIS, TONYE PATANO, JASON BUTLER HARNER - ACTORS
15)DENISE CHAMLON, CSA - CASTING
16)RENEE EHRIICH KLAFUS - COSTUME DESIGNER 
17)HARRY GREGSON WILLIAMS - MUSIC
18)LINDA FARICA, ANSON DOWNES - CO EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
19)CHRIS LEBZON - EDITOR
20) CHRIS SEEGERS - PRODUCTION DESIGNER
21)TOBIUS SCHLLESSER, ASC - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY22)BARRY WALDMAN, MICHAEL COSTIGAN, FRANK KAVANAIGH - EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
23)TODD BLACK, TONY SCOTT - PRODUCED BY

                                   GONE GIRL - Thriller

Micro analysis:

Camera

Techniques used: Close up, medium close up, wide shot, long shot, mid shot, wide shot, quick movement of camera when showing environment, extreme wide shot and fast show of setting shots.

Editing

There was a frequent use of fades in-between shots, the shots faded in & out. There were fast cuts of the environment and surroundings. In the opening the shots started when it was dark outside and gradually by each shot it got lighter outside until it reached 7 am (shot of clock) when the film begun. The titles appear quickly in small, white and bold font then fade out.

Mise-en-scene

The setting is a small, vintage town surrounded by lakes and forests so there's beautiful scenery ,but, a cold and dull atmosphere is given off. The environment seems quiet- surrounded by a lot of nature. The town seems very quiet and empty. The costume are everyday casual clothing.

Sound
There's creepy music at the beginning creating a weird feeling. The title sequence starts with the main character speaking. Every setting shot the sound tune changes. There's a water dripping sound effect. There are birds, insect and dogs barking sound effects in the background. Wild sound is used, faint sounds of car horns.

Macro analysis:

What is the key plot idea introduced in the title sequence?
The relationship between the husband and his wife. The wife goes missing.

In what order is the story line introduced?
-The wife is introduced.
-Husband's speaking in the background.
-Setting introduced.

What characters are introduced?
The first shot is of the wife, then after the setting shots the husband is eventually shown. 

Order of credits:
1) TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX AND REGENCY ENTERPRISES PRESENT
2) A DAVID FINCHER FILM
3) BEN AFFLECK 
4) ROSAMUND PIKE
5) "GONE GIRL"
6) NEIL PATRICK HARRIS
7) TYLER PERRY
8) CARRIE COON
9) KIM DICKENS & PATRICK FUGIT
10) DAVID CLENNON & LISA BANES
11) CASTING BY LARAY MAYFIELD, CSA
12) SOUND DESIGN BY REN KLYCE
13) MUSIC BY TRENT REZNOR & ATTICUS ROSS
14) COSTUME DESIGNER TRISH SUMMERVILLE
15) FILM EDITOR KIRK BAXTER, ACE
16) PRODUCTION DESIGNER DONALD GRAHAM BURT
17) DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF CROIVENWETH, ASC
18) EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS LESLIE PIXEN & BRUNA PAPANDREA
19) PRODUCED BY ARNON MILCHAN & REESE WITHERSPOON
20) PRODUCED BY CEAN CHAFFIN p.g.a & JOSHUA DONEN
21) BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GILLIAN FLYNN
22) SCREENPLAY BY GILLIAN FLYNN
23) DIRECTED BY DAVID FINCHER
24)"JULY 5TH - THE MORNING" 

WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? - Romance/ comedy

Micro analysis:

Camera
Techniques used: Quick cut in shots of magazine articles on relationships. Two- shot, Medium close up, wide shot, over the shoulder and close up shot's were used.

Editing
There's a discrete opening at the beginning of the title sequence. The discrete opening quick shots and transitions. There are titles during the discrete opening then, the titles are paused and a bit of the film is played then there are titles again with the film and then the same thing happens. The titles have very irregular timing in between them because of this. Titles finish when the song does.

Mise-en-scene
The first setting is a flat then the city. The costumes are everyday casual clothing and smart work office clothing. There's bright lighting as its day.

Sound
There's an upbeat pop song played during the discrete opening. There's fast music used when the main character creeps into the toilet and back into bed. There's also dialogue. Crowd sound effects are used in the city shots. The song finishes when the titles do.


Macro:

What is the key plot idea introduced in the title sequence?
For the main character to find her true soulmate.

In what order is the story line introduced?
-Discrete opening.
-Context of most recent relationship.
-Main character fired from job.

What characters are introduced?
Main character waking up in bed next to present at the time partner. Opposite door neighbour getting the newspaper as she stands at her door. Main character's sister on a phone call to her.

What social groups are represented? How are they represented (positively, negatively, stereo typically/ use of binary oppositions)?
Female adults stereotypically reading and reffering to magazine articles about relationships. For example: in the film the main character gets worried about the "main average" of men a female sleeps with.

Order of credits:

1) REGENCY ENTERPRISES PRESENTS
2) A NEW REGENCY/ CONTRA-FILM PRODUCTION
3) ANNA FARIS
4) CHRIS EVANS
5) "WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER?"
6) ARI GRAYNOR
7) DAVE ANNABLE
8) JOEL MC HALE
9) ED BEGLEY, JR
10) AND BLYTHE DANNER
11) HEATHER BURNS & ELIZA COUPE
12) KATE SIMSES & TIKA SUMPTER
13) CASTING BY KATHLEEN CHOPIN, CSA
14) COSTUME DESIGN BY AMY WESTCOTT
15) MUSIC SUPERVISOR JULIA MICHELS
16) MUSIC BY AARON ZIGMAN
17) FILMED BY JULIE MONROE
18) PRODUCTION DESIGN BY JON BILLINGTON
19) DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY J. MICHEAL MURO
20) EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ARNON MILCHAN & HUTCH PARKER & BOB HARPER
21) EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ANNA FARIS & WAN MORALES
22) PRODUCED BY BEAN FLYNN / TRIPP VINSON
23) BASED ON THE BOOK "20 TIMES A LADY" BY KARYN BOSNAK
24) SCREENPLAY BY GABRIELLE ALLAN & JENNIFER CRITTENDEN
25) DIRECTED BY MARK MYLOD