This film study was done by a 10th grader
Scene 1-
This is the beginning scene of the film. Here, we saw an African-American rapping, while there are multiple cut shots of scenes from what seems like ordinary life of the setting. This introduces the everyday life of where the film will most likely take place and provides the viewer with some background information before the film begins.
· Framing: Close-up/medium shot on rapper.
· Focus: Rack focus, where foreground is in focus and background is not.
· Angle: Low angle, where the character is looming over the camera.
· Camera movement: Tilt movement during cut scene, some zoom, and a pan of another cut scene.
· Lighting: Neutral light.
· Sound: Diegetic sound of the rapper and nondiegetic sound that includes background soundtrack.
· Editing: Cross-cut editing of multiple clips.
Scene 2-
This is a scene that occurs a little after the beginning scene. Here, boys are playing basketball, stop, look over their shoulders and talk about the “Window”. This scene is an essential since it introduces the “Window.” The viewer now knows that the “Window” will play an important part in this film because such emphasis was placed on one character in a very short amount of time.
· Framing: Close-up on boys’ faces.
· Focus: Rack focus, where background is in focus while the boys’ faces are out of focus.
· Angle: Eye-level angle, where the faces are at eye level.
· Camera movement: There is a slight pan from faces to the actual window.
· Lighting: High-key lighting to show daytime.
· Sound: Diegetic. Includes the sound of basketball thumping and characters talking.
· Editing: Short take editing. The shot is extremely short.
Scene 3-
In this scene, the “Window” and Jamal are talking. This is the first establishment of what seems to be a long relationship between the two characters. It also aids in the character development of the “Window” and to some extent Jamal as well.
· Framing: Close-up on both Jamal and the “Window.”
· Focus: Rack focus, where the foreground is in focus.
· Angle: Eye-level angle.
· Camera movement: Zoom in and then a zoom out.
· Lighting: Low-key lighting to show dreariness of the “Window’s” apartment.
· Sound: Diegetic dialogue.
· Editing: Cross-cut editing depending on which character is speaking.
Scene 4-
This scene is when Clay is showing Jamal around the university and lasts until they say good-bye. Not only does this establish the relationship between Clay and Jamal, but it also establishes the character development of Jamal and his thoughts about attending the university.
· Framing: Medium shot, close up, and then medium shot again.
· Focus: Deep focus where Clay and Jamal are shaking hands and then rack focus of characters where background is out of focus.
· Angle: Eye-level of Clay and Jamal and then a low angle of the professor.
· Camera movement: Zoom out, zoom in, and then a small pan.
· Lighting: Neutral lighting to show the classroom of the university.
· Sound: Diegetic dialogue.
· Editing: Eye-line match. First close-up of Clay and Jamal, then wide angle of whole classroom, then close-up of professor, and then back to close-up of Clay and Jamal.
Scene 4-
Forrester is typing and talking to Jamal. This is an extremely powerful scene as it emphasizes the first bond between Jamal and Forrester. It shows Forrester teaching Jamal how to write and encompasses many stunning angles of the typewriter and the keys.
· Framing: Close-up of paper on typewriter and then close-up on keyboard.
· Focus: Deep focus.
· Angle: Eye level with paper, but high angle with the typewriter keyboard.
· Camera movement: Pan left to right on paper and then a zoom on paper after a close-up of Forrester.
· Lighting: Neutral lighting.
· Sound: Diegetic sounds of dialogue and typing on keyboard as well as nondiegetic soundtrack.
· Editing: Cross-cut editing of Forrester, to paper, then to keyboard, and back to Forrester.