Urban Stories

Discuss how the 'look' of cinematography and editing contributes to the impact of the films you have studied.

Urban Stories address the issues of society at a specific time and place and the films I have studied use its cinematography to portray this.  La Haine has a signifiant scene, regarding urban issues when Vinz, a main character re-enacts a scene from taxi driver. His performance is aggressive and violent as he imitates a character from western culture. It is clear that Vinz is desensitised to violence and he is more engrossed with the concept, as there is a sense of him escaping into another character. This is a reflection on the french projects and how society are comfortable living a life of violence because it occurs nearly every day.  This scene sets up the issue of the impact western culture has on the french culture because the powerful western ideology is starting to dominate the french projects. This is seen by the mise en scene of adidas tracksuit that both Said and Vinz wear and the influence of diegetic rap music that is played from a stereo on the street. I think this rising western culture is challenging the french motto of 'liberty, fraternity and equality' as throughout the sequences, violence and crime continues to rise which contradicts the french values.
One of the main quotes that holds significance in the narrative is "the world only goes around by misunderstanding." This relates to the french philosopher; Charles Baudelaire who was very well known in France at the time. The narrative is framed around this quote and it appears in the sequence of La haine, where there is mise en scene of a sign with the writing "Charles Baudelaire" in the background of the projects. This shows that France had a very philosophical way of life.

In an early scene of 'La Haine' there is diegetic sound of a motorbike riding around, whilst the protagonists - Said and Vinz walk through the french neighbourhood, which then switches to Vinz's performance of recognising who is riding on the motorbike and what model it is. This is an important scene because it instantly identifies the idea of the french 'projects' being a very close knit community, since there is a sense of familiarity in their society. Following that, the diegetic siren in the background is a reminder that for Said and Vinz, the police and corruption is an every day situation. The mise en scene of Said and Vinz's clothing appear to be Adidas and Nike tracksuits and graffiti walls, representing the American culture and dominating western culture, resulting in less of the french culture. It also brings aspects of multicultural society into play which is a recurring aspect in urban stories where there are over 60 cultures in the projects.
The scene where there is mise en scene of the youth being on the roof in daylight shows that they are unemployed youth with nothing better to do, suggesting that the crime rate in the projects would definitely be higher than if they were employed. You see mise en scene of Said's older brother showing that he has a role model to look up to, identifying the theme of morals coming into the narrative and that the absense of a father figure means that Said only has his older brother to look up to. Said is seen as brotherhood, showed by his performance, which is from the french moto identifying his morals, always keeping the peace between Vinz and Hubert. On the roof, the mise en scene shows the boys performance where the camera is at eye level meaning there is equal conflict, face to face, leading to the suggestion of multicultural equality in the french projects and that no one has an unfair advantage. During the conflict on the roof,  the camera recording at the back of the group implies that the youth have a media influence, where everything is documented. This is backed up later on in the film, where there is mise en scene of an active TV in the background. This highlights how the community in the projects are obsessed with the media, as well as Vinz learning american culture by movies and his performance shows how he mimics other idols. This link to the idea that 'the world only goes round by misunderstanding' and that conflict is caused by the westernised culture and the influence of violence originates from that. The shot moves to a mise en scene of a digital clock with diagetic sound of ticking, instantly foreshadowing a coming danger and unease in the narrative because of how a clock shows progression, indicating a sense of urgency. On the other hand, the clock in La Haine could highlight the fact that the youth are doing nothing with their life and it is infact just a recurring motif to symbolise how monotonous life in the french projects is. There is a repeated mise en scene of a media screen in Vinz's home with his back facing it. This shows that Television and American culture is always in the background of his life, perhaps suggesting that it is a form of escapism for the youth. The message behind the media is that society in the french projects are captured in the form of the expected stereotype and that the characters of Vinz, Hubert and Said are not always aggressive but the media picks out those moments to prove that youths are portrayed in a negative light. This then gives a good reason for conflicts to always be happening. Mise en scene of Vinz mimicking his idol from 'taxi driver' shows his performance as aggressive, fitting the stereotype.

City of God directed by fernando Lund has many issues relating to urban stories throughout its sequences. In the opening sequence, there is mise en scene of an extreme close up of a knife being used, with diegetic sound of a blade following. This instantly sets up the argument that living in the favela's is like living on the edge of a knife. The theme of violence is set up from the start, addressing this as one of urban stories issues. The close up of a chicken surrounded by mise en scene of fresh produce in the favela market is significant because during the shot there is an extreme close up of caged chickens. This shot represents the key theme of entrapment. The cages represent society and characters like Rocket and Benny in the favela's being imprisoned in a reality that prevents change or transformation, a recurring theme in urban stories. This inability for change reflects off Lil Dice's character, where he becomes more corrupted as he grows up and remains stuck in a violent ideology. This is shown by the performance of Lil Dice smiling as there is a close up of him shooting women who are tied up in a local hotel. His performance of him laughing shows that he is desensitised to violence and is trapped in a violent ideology that is cyclical in the narrative, further enhancing the entrapment of lives. His upbringing has shown him that the only choice is a life of crime and violence, trapping him in a corrupt society.
This idea of having no choice or free will is highlighted through a later scene with the Runts and Lil Ze tormenting the two boys. There is a mid shot of a runt holding out his hand, whilst the camera cuts to Lil Ze telling him to choose a hand or a foot. Though the runt chooses his hand, the camera pans down and he is shot in the foot. This grotesque and disturbing shot indicates that in the favela's nobody has a choice and they will always be undermined by someone higher up in the power hierarchy. This issue of power and conflict is common in urban stories and it is usually a catalyst to the corruption that unravels in society. Additionlly, this idea of no choices is presented through the performance of Steak and Fries who is told to shoot one of the runts. This concept is very common in City of God, where it is 'Do or Die.' You had to abide by the corruption or get killed yourself. It shows just how easily a society in the favelas could be manipulated.

In Chung King Express, there is mise en scene of a long shot of the midnight express café, with 663 sat down on the floor. The smudge motion shot shows that it Is uncertain of how much time has passed, yet 663 still stays sat in the same place. This indicates that living in Hong Kong  (Chung King Mansion) leaves room for little productivity and alike most urban stories, there is a key theme of lethargy and no prospects. This shot also shows that individuals can’t move on as they always have the same issues and as the world moves on, characters such as 663 are stuck in the past. This is because the place restricts freedom and resolutions, which is often a social issue for individuals in urban stories. When 663 takes the letter, there is a close up of loose change on the counter, suggesting the key motif of changing the way you are. However, the constant smudge motion, shows that 663 cannot move on from his past and so does not open the letter. This inability to move on is one of the main issues for living in Hong Kong, where the city as the protagonist prohibits any change in individuals but also in their ideologies and materialism. The diegetic radio that continuously repeats ‘California dreaming’ throughout the sequences shows this.

In the scene of Faye and 663 walking down the streets in Hong Kong uses hand held camera technique and natural lighting to highlight verisimilitude and a documented style, in order to portray realism. The film, Chung King Express, directed by Wong Kar-Wai had no permit, resulting in people looking into the camera, a contrast to mainstream cinema. The market people recognized Faye as she walked down the street, which not only gave a bigger sense of realism but you can also recognize that Faye is a well known music star. This links to urban stories and how many of the actors on screen were not professionally trained, which added to the verisimilitude.

The mise en scene of a crowded market population highlighted that there are millions of people in Hong Kong but the key theme of loneliness and isolation is addressed. Individuals carry on with their day to day lives and the realism shows that a large population doesn’t mean there won’t be the feeling of isolation. It is a major issue in urban stories and a continuous issue in Chung king Express, resulting in barriers to romantic encounters and positive encounters because of the urban environment hindering change.

This shot also shows just how easy it is for people to rub shoulders with one another and encounter many cultures and social backgrounds. Urban environments address the verisimilitude and documented style that opens up Hong Kong to a variety of social and cultural issues, highlighted in Chung King Express. 

Reflective Analysis

'Against all odds' reflective analysis (1,000 words)

I have produced a screenplay extract to capture the perspective of war struggle and reality of the 1940's. Throughout, I have tried to incorporate aspects of mise en scene to date back to the 1940's setting of Jackson Mississippi. This helped in order to get a raw visual impression on the suburban surroundings and character's in the screenplay. The genre chosen was romantic drama and target audience is aimed at 15+ with an appreciation for tragedy and love. My main influence for this genre and script was the director; Michael Hoffman who is known for hard hitting romantic drama's, such as 'The Best Of Me' which was a box office success. His tragic elements sparked some of my own ideas in order to provoke a response for this particular genre. The characters  follow the conventions of the genre because I wanted to link back to it as much as possible, in order to connect with the audience.

I wanted to base this narrative around the harsh reality of being a war veteran's partner.  Although being female oriented may lose opposite genders interest, it brings a fresh outlook on a drama from a different perspective. I hoped that the audience would accept the characters and the stories they carry, no matter the gender. The plot and personas still have similar conventions, so there should have been a strong appreciation for the genre. Lily the main character is originally seen as a loving fiancé with a baby on the way, with her partners best interests at heart. However, that is just one layer of the complex character that she is. This is similar to the conventions of romance, where the characters are not as they seem. This develops the excitement from my target audience as the drama and romance drives the narrative towards a very optimistic audience.

In the first scene at the 'Mackenna House', my intention was for the audience to see a typical young lady,  living in a suburban area taking care of her wellbeing. This would be the audience's original expectation so I wanted to meet those conditions, in order to have a successful response. The influence from 'The best Of Me' came from Lily being a simple suburban girl, similar to the woman in the film, which inspired the genre further.  Lily has hidden desires that are presented through the relationship with Joe, her fiance's best friend. This is where the drama aspect is exposed and it is where her impure thoughts are brought to the surface. I wanted it to bring out themes of isolation and with that, a forbidden desire. The idea of Jackson Mississippi was inspired by Michael Hoffman too because he used suburban settings, which added to the genre romance of being set in such a beautiful place. I was able to portray the setting with descriptions of the burnt orange leaves that had fallen all over the place. My intention was to paint a picture with the script, in order to visualise a serene location. The romantic setting hopefully would tug at the audience's emotion and response, immersing them into it completely.  I think this was effective because from a directors point of view, the vivid description would help them use the best cinematography styles, to portray a romantic location and therefore match the genre.

The focus in the second scene of Joe's hands, I think was very effective and crucial to the narrative. Concentrating on his calloused hands and cuts gives room for an audience to use their imagination and put them in the characters shoes. I did it to show the lasting wounds that war has had on Joe and that he can't shake off the events that have shaped his life. This adds dimension and complexity to his character, which provokes empathy from the audience, as they try to imagine what he went through. His hands were to represent his actions while he was in the military. Focusing on this one feature, would cause a mystery to an audience, captivating their attention and contributing to the dramatics of the genre.

Throughout the progression, I wanted to drop subtle hints about their characters by using proximity and gestures in order to paint a clearer picture. In scene 2, when Lily hears the tragic news of her fiancé's passing, I used description such as "reaches his hand out to gently touch hers." I did this to exaggerate the proximity between Joe and Lily, exposing their hidden desires for each other. This would effect the audience who respond to romance and would be able to make links to the existing romantic drama films. It was unacceptable to have a desire for another man than your own in the 1940's so I wanted to challenge this issue. I wanted to highlight a sense of foreboding for the audience, preparing themselves for a complicated love story. I wanted to show that, being a female military partner can be a lonely and isolated setting and the fact that Lily's desires were not being fulfilled meant that she would seek else where to attain them. This brought up the idea of forbidden love, which then kept a central focus of the narrative. Again, this had plot links to 'The Best Of Me' where 'Amanda' had a secret affair. This narrative then built up the romantic drama genre successfully, without losing sight of the tragedy. The tragedy element in the script also originated from the characters in that film losing each other to add to the drama sub-genre.

My key intention was to capture the time period within the narrative. It was really important to me to set this in 1940's just after world war II because a military drama would have been much more hard hitting when it was set in the time of the biggest war to date and would have targeted the audience effectively. The tragedy used in this, held a huge influence from the sad truth of the number of deaths of soldiers. Most stories didn't even make it to the tabloids so having a narrative based around the aftermath of an effected life meant that I could bring what happens behind the scenes to the headlines. The 1940's setting meant that the mise-en-scene had to be very accurate to the time period. I had to research cars used in those days and suburban areas in order to match the year effectively. In scene 2 at the Mackenna house, the description is of a 'D14 Sedan' a classic military car in the 1940's. In scene 3, in the taxi cab, I made sure not to use a car as transport as that would have been very rare in that time period. Matching the props to the 1940's was an extremely important aspect of the script. These considerations were all done in mind of convincing the audience.

In conclusion, it met the conditions of the time period, it showed the relationship between characters which enhanced the genre and would evoke an emotional response from the audience. It also held similarities to the influential director Michael Hoffman, he was able to incorporate sub genre's into one narrative, creating one masterpiece. Throughout the script, I kept the location in Jackson Mississippi mainly to highlight the fact Lily is trapped in this life, with all the complexities that follow. Perhaps the audience would too feel trapped and captivated if the location did not change. The audience would be kept in an empathetic state for the duration.

If I were to adapt this extract, I would perhaps add in a few more significant characters who held links to the narrative, in order to create a detailed scene. I would also use more scene changes to set up the location of Jackson, giving the audience a better perception of what it was like to live there.

Creative project: Aims and Context

Genre: Romantic Drama
form: Screenplay
Extract from the movie
Target Audience: Mainstream, female orientated but male appreciation.

Context: Lily is given the news of her fiancé's Nathaniel's passing who worked as a marine over sea's who failed to make it back to the US. Her loss and breakdown causes her to become isolated within her own life and a pessimist to what life has to offer. The movie cuts to '3 years later' where she is struggling with the same issues and cannot move on. Events cause her to dwell and fixate on her past traumatic experiences. She cannot forget what they once had, so she won't open up to new relationships and she struggles to find closure, effecting all those around her.

Presentation Script

Presentation Script: To what extent could Johnny Depp be termed as a method actor?

Projector: Alice In Wonderland - Mad hatters tea party (item 1) 0.12s-0.16s

Speaker: In this presentation, I will be talking about method acting and how that relates to Johnny Depp's individual performances. Method acting was created by the practitioner: 'Stanislavski' who took the acting commitment to the next level. Method acting is defined as using various techniques in order to build characterisation and "realism" within the actor. (Item 4) You can see Depp using method in the scene of the 'Mad Hatters tea party' from 'Alice in Wonderland'. His extravagant appearance with big dilated eyes and ginger wild hair, combined with his enhanced performance is clearly inspired by someone with "mercury poisoning."(Item 8) Depp's performance shows that he is not in his right mind as he can not balance himself and acts in a delusional manner. The extent of his costume, makeup and effective characterisation highlights that he is a method actor. The contrast from character to actor is too great for Depp not to be termed as a method actor. He steps into the shoes of the character, rather than just imagining the role. "He's deep, as an actor. He also does a lot of actor prep. That's why he's so great." (Item 9)

Projector: Interview with Depp discussing how he adopted an earphone method from ‘Marlon Brando.’ (Item 13)

Speaker: In addition to method acting, Depp mentions here that he uses a technique inspired by Marlon Brando. He would wear earphones in order to block out any distractions and improve characterisation. Depp said that: “It keeps me in my own world." (Item 13) This shows that Depp can be termed as a method actor because he adopts various techniques, to improve characterisation and "realism." (Item 4) Although it is not a technique used by Stanislavski, it still proves that he experimented with methods in order to create a respectable performance. It could be argued that Depp is not termed as a method actor as he does not have a "naturalistic" performance. (Item 4) Johnny Depp is a complete contrast to this technique, since all his character roles have the focus on being extravagant and imaginative. However, the purpose of his characters is to be unique so method acting still stands even though a naturalistic performance is absent. "The modern actor is often both too much and too little herself." (Item 12) In this case, Depp is too little himself and does not have the naturalistic performance that an actor following Stanislavski's method acting would have.

Projector: Interview with Depp discussing why he used Barbie dolls as a means of role preparation. (Item 14)

Speaker: Depp's second unusual method of playing with his daughter’s barbie dolls have theoretically developed some of his greatest film characters in history. “Willy Wonka, Captain Jack.” (1.44s – item 14) This technique, although extremely unique offers a strong foundation for the characterisation for his roles. It enables him to experiment with personas and explore deeper into the the character's dimensions. This technique, in my opinion does successfully represent him as a method actor. His ground-breaking movie characters mentioned above, led to commendation that enhanced his status and career. He used Stanislavski's teachings of building character by exploring techniques, however unusual it appeared to be. In fact, Depp playing with Barbie dolls was actually considered a form of role-play, which was an effective way to work on character development from Stanislavski's techniques. (Item 14) This again supports the idea of Depp being labelled as a 'method' actor.

Projector: Clip of 'Pirates and the Caribbean scene' 'On Stranger Tides' (1.56m-2.02m) (Item 3)

Speaker: In the sequence in 'pirates and the Caribbean' on 'Stranger Tides' the performance of Depp walking in the drunken character he was playing, whilst stranded on an island helped to show that he did successfully bring the character to the screen. (Item 3) As the camera pans across to Captain Jack sparrow getting in his boat, his performance shows that he is not sober and is not focused on his own movements. Here you can again separate character from actor, which is a clear indication of Depp becoming another character, i.e; method acting. His Pirate costume and dramatic dark eye makeup helped to reflect an aggressive pirate, which added to his character development, since Depp was bringing the character to life. He would have had to adopt 'method acting' in order to step into the role. From watching the scene, you can see that Depp loses all his inhibitions and becomes a drunk and careless Pirate, which is a contrast to the shy and humble actor who would not hold those traits and quirks. To prepare for this role, Depp adopted the Stanislavski's method of the 'magic if' which are a set of 7 questions asking the actor what he/she would be doing in a set situation. (Item 3)
1. Who am I?
2. Where am I?
3.When is it?
4. What do I want?
5. Why do I want it?
6. What will happen if i don't get it?
7. What must I overcome?



Projector: Article of Mad Hatter preparation.’ (Item 7) 

Speaker: In the focus film: 'Alice In Wonderland' Depp definitely showed use of method acting through the sequences but also from an array of preparation techniques. His 'Mad Hatter' character originated from the actor painting his perception of what he believed was the stereotypical role. “When he takes on a role, Johnny Depp often paints a watercolour portrait of the still-forming character to help find his face and personality.”(Item 7) This shows just how extravagant Johnny Depp’s perceptions and imagination was when it came down to creating his characters. There is also mention of Depp having met a man in his life who had held similar characteristics, which was the trigger point for the ‘Mad Hatter’ having dilated eyes and a state of insanity. The designs for the hat also incorporated mercury, which developed the character further. ‘There’s one person, in particular, who is the main ingredient for the Hatter and if I said who it was they’d probably be upset. (Item 8) The way Depp prepared shows aspects of ‘method‘ acting as he used various techniques such as "shadowing." (Item 6) This technique involves an actor copying the quirks and mannerisms of an individual who'm they are collecting inspiration off. Depp can be termed as a method actor because this technique is an aspect of 'method' and he uses it to prepare for the Mad Hatter in 'Alice in Wonderland' (Item 1) by immersing himself into playing an entirely different character.


Projector: Clip from 'Alice in Wonderland.' 'Mad Hatters tea party' (Item 2)

Speaker: Depp can be termed as a 'method actor' from seeing his extravagant, unrealistic makeup and his wild and odd items of clothing. In the tea party sequence, the Mad Hatters wild orange hair, top hat and colourful costume add to the idea of the character being delusional. Additionally, his makeup makes him look crazy, with Depp successfully stepping into the role of the 'Mad Hatter.' (item 2) He is unrecognisable in the film, indicating that he has adopted the techniques of method acting. Depp's originality is likely what contributed to his success of a performer as he was bringing something unique to the screen. His use of 'method acting' created a refreshing and entertaining character because the acting system trained actors to use their imagination to create a well thought out character which is exactly what Depp did.

Projector: Article extract of Fear and loathing in Las Vegas, by Huffingtonpost.com. (Item 9)

Speaker: This article extract about Depp's preparation for Fear and loathing In Las Vegas touches upon ‘method acting’ yet again. Hunter shaved my head, in fact. I didn’t look in the mirror at all, I was in mortal fear. Hunter had a mining light… on his head – we were in his kitchen – and yeah, he shaved my hair.”(Item 9) In his conversation with Lipton, Depp revealed the extreme measures he undertook to be able to portray Thompson's alter ego, telling the host he even lived in the author's basement, which they called "the dungeon," for a couple months. His commitment and dedication in the process of becoming Thompson’s character proved successful. Every day he found himself “becoming more like Thompson” so this method of 'shadowing' (item 6) and adopting mannerisms helped to successfully create the character and therefore term him as a method actor.



Projector: Clip from 'Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas' 'Casino scene.' (Item 2)

Speaker: "In Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"(item 2) the film supports the idea of Depp being a method actor. The performance of Depp at the casino shows him wearing tinted sunglasses and smoking, showing that his commitment paid off to successfully adopt Thompson's character.

“Slowly, Depp would feel himself becoming more like Thompson” (Item 9) In all the roles he played, he would immerse himself into the role, committing to it in order to portray a natural performance. " He's deep, as an actor. He also does a lot of actor prep. Thats why he's so great." Successfully adopting the mannerisms of Hunter Thompson and matching his appearance, meant that he effectively used Stanislavski's techniques in order to be termed as a method actor.




Projector: Image of Raoul Duke in 'Fear and loathing in Las vegas' (Item 1)

Speaker: Johnny Depp plays a convincing role in the hitch hiker scene of Fear and loathing in Las Vegas. Hunter's character, yet again wears tinted sunglasses, whilst wearing exotic clothing. This scene indicates that Depp took on method acting successfully as he looked extremely similar to Hunter Thompson on screen, thanks to "shadowing." (Item 6) The extravagant and comical character was left on the screen and was a clear reflection of Hunter Thompson's alter ego. This again, confirms the question of whether Depp is termed as a method actor. In this case, his in depth research and character preparation did prove him to be a strict follower of Stanislavski's techniques.





Projector:  Lee Strasberg's ideal of method acting article (item 12)

Speaker: The extract of Lee Strasberg's method acting, directly relates to my question. Strasberg is a successful practitioner in the arts and he created a method to help aspiring actors create a platform for success. " I think there's that pursuit to get at the thing that is underneath the thing that will illuminate a moment." (Item 12) James Franco's description of the method acting style is: "An actors attempted excavation of her own deepest and harshest experiences to lend them to characters adds a dimension of self-revelation." (Item 12)  Lee Strasberg's methods worked for my key films because Depp explored his characters effectively and committed to the role whole heartedly.This enhanced his 'method' and 'shadowing' techniques. This then resulted in blockbuster rated features with a successful performer and Johnny Depp being termed as a 'method actor.'



Projector: A blog about Depp's personal traits and approaching roles (Item 10)

Speaker: In conclusion, this blog shows the extent of Depp's skills, perseverance and commitment. These skills enable Depp to successfully convince the audience of his character because of the time and dedication he sacrifices in order to reach the final result. "The more intensive the actor prep, the more visibly wonderful is the performance." His role preparation for the mad hatter proves that his extensive research and character building techniques paid off as he brought the mad hatter to life. "So I started kind of doing a little researching, reading a bunch." (Item 10) Depp's extensive research and personal techniques did provide a successful performance for 'Alice In Wonderland' from the actor. "I pulled out my little watercolours and Tim pulled out his drawings and they weren't all that dissimilar." (Item 8) Depp's personal methods brought the character to life and by taking on method acting for his preparation in "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas" Depp was able to depict a realistic impression of the role he had taken on. This extensive actor preparation was the evidence needed to prove Depp to be a method actor, as he fully absorbed all the roles he took to the screen. In all the films I have researched, Depp's foundation for his acting was always based around 'method' and using techniques to develop character. Therefore, Depp's continuous use of method acting for his screen means that Depp can be termed as a method actor.

City Of God

what is the importance of Mise-en-scene/sound in creating meaning and generating a response in the films you have studied?

In 'City of God' there is mise-en- scene of the destroyed landscape with a long shot of a cracked window on a car, polluted streets and the performance of the characters running in fear and running in a predatory manner. This is very significant because it instantly indicates that the community are living in a war zone with terror and violence, which has resemblance to urban stories but also the social issues in Rio De Janeiro. This links to the reality the film portrays of the Favela's being a war-ridden setting, showing a sustained negative image from the media which is represented by mise-en-scene of newspapers involving gang warfare in the Favelas. This gives a feeling of exclusion from the rest of society, shown by the low-key lighting and diegetic gun-shots and sirens being a continuous motif in the narrative, indicating that the community are left in the shadows. Generally this signifies a violent location and the use of a canted angle helps to reflect the corruption that is a constant recurring theme throughout the film and urban stories. A 180 degree tilt shot of Rocket being upside down, further adds to the corruption of how the situation has completely turned on its head, highlighting the issue of conflict being the ideology that runs throughout the sequence.
As the plot continues, Rocket is found catching a ride to his work which is outside of the Favela's, symbolising that he has found a life outside of his setting, showing that only some people escape exclusion. An issue addressed here is that most people in a Favela community never escape their reality and that is the reason for an absence of change. During this shot, there is an extreme long shot and mise-en-scene of Christ The Redeemer behind Rocket. This is one of the first times you can see the City of God in full view where the distance of the statue helps to show that redemption can be seen but it is out of reach. This mise-en-scene is important as the redeemer statue represents religion and a sense of catharsis, with Rocket being closest to it but still too far from it. This is extremely significant in the narrative because there is never a reference or image of Christ the Redeemer, suggesting that the violence in the community and the sinful nature creates a blockade to redemption, therefore characters like Li'l Ze, Benny, Tiago etc can never escape their harsh lifestyle.This relates to the social issues of urban stories and the idea of there never being a positive resolution.
The Closing scene of City of God is a circular narrative, which again highlights the idea that nothing will ever change in the Favela and that a smaller fish will always take over the bigger fish, represented by the mise-en-scene of Clippers vision of a fish being eaten. The mise-en-scene and diagetic sound of a knife implies the recurring contextual issue of the characters in the film always living on a knifes edge, shedding light on the real life issues in Brazil's Favela's. During the fast paced montage, there is mise-en-scene of chickens caged or tagged, which I feel relates directly to the characters such as Li'l Ze, Rocket, Steak and Fries etc. The characters being matched with animalistic connotations highlight that society treated them like animals and as much as they try to escape, they are always suffocated and enclosed in a reality that they can not escape from. This links with urban stories and how most of the actors weren't professionals and were in fact still living 'on a knifes edge' which is a defining feature in the 'City of God.'

Practice Essay - La Haine

What is the importance of mine en scene and/or sound in creating meaning/generating response in the films you have studied?

In an early scene of 'La Haine' there is diegetic sound of a motorbike riding around, whilst the protagonists - Said and Vinz walk through the french neighbourhood, which then switches to mise en scene of Vinz's performance of recognising who is riding on the motorbike and what model it is. This is an important scene because it instantly identifies the idea of the french 'projects' being a very close knit community, since there is a sense of familiarity in their society. Following that, the diegetic siren in the background is a reminder that for Said and Vinz, the police and corruption is an every day situation. The mise en scene of Said and Vinz's clothing appear to be Adidas and Nike tracksuits and graffiti walls, representing the American culture and dominating western culture, resulting in less of the french culture. It also brings aspects of multicultural society into play which is a recurring aspect in urban stories where there are over 60 cultures in the projects.
The scene where there is mise en scene of the youth being on the roof in daylight shows that they are unemployed youth with nothing better to do, suggesting that the crime rate in the projects would definitely be higher than if they were employed. You see mise en scene of Said's older brother showing that he has a role model to look up to, identifying the theme of morals coming into the narrative and that the absense of a father figure means that Said only has his older brother to look up to. Said is seen as brotherhood, showed by his performance, which is from the french moto identifying his morals, always keeping the peace between Vinz and Hubert. On the roof, the mise en scene shows the boys performance where the camera is at eye level meaning there is equal conflict, face to face, leading to the suggestion of multicultural equality in the french projects and that no one has an unfair advantage. During the conflict on the roof, the Mise en scene of the camera recording at the back of the group implies that the youth have a media influence, where everything is documented. This is backed up later on in the film, where there is mise en scene of an active TV in the background. This highlights how the community in the projects are obsessed with the media, as well as Vinz learning american culture by movies and his performance shows how he mimics other idols. This link to the idea that 'the world only goes round by misunderstanding' and that conflict is caused by the westernised culture and the influence of violence originates from that. The shot moves to a mise en scene of a digital clock with diagetic sound of ticking, instantly foreshadowing a coming danger and unease in the narrative because of how a clock shows progression, indicating a sense of urgency. On the other hand, the clock in La Haine could highlight the fact that the youth are doing nothing with their life and it is intact just a recurring motif to symbolise how monotonous life in the french projects is. There is a repeated mise en scene of a media screen in Vinz's home with his back facing it. This shows that Television and American culture is always in the background of his life, perhaps suggesting that it is a form of escapism for the youth. The message behind the media is that society in the french projects are captured in the form of the expected stereotype and that the characters of Vinz, Hubert and Said are not always aggressive but the media picks out those moments to prove that youths are portrayed in a negative light. This then gives a good reason for conflicts to always be happening. Mise en scene of Vinz mimicking his idol from 'taxi driver' shows his performance as aggressive, fitting the stereotype.

actors and performers

Annotated Catalogue: To what extent could Johnny Depp be termed as a method actor?
Stars and Performers - Johnny Depp

Films

Item 1 -Alice In Wonderland" (2010)
My focus film is 'Alice In Wonderland.' In this film, method acting and other preparation techniques are brought to the surface in order to develop the character and enhance Depp's performance. These techniques tend to be personal to the actor himself because of the way he explores his role. Depp explores the unique ways of bringing a character to life, such as painting the character to develop the imagination. This film provides a good example of his personal methods being used which helps answer the question of the research project.

Item 2 -  "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas" (1998)"
 I have chosen this film as an additional focus film, as the preparation he takes for the role relates to Stanislavski's idea of method acting. This film is extremely relevant to my research because Johnny Depp adopts that technique so that he can deliver a convincing performance throughout Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The use of the technique highlights his acting style as well as giving insight into the type of actor he is, which is clearly from the method acting category. This technique requires an actor such as Depp learning the characters, mannerisms and traits in order to be convincing and to have an immersive character that mirrors the original role. This film is key since it clearly shows that he is termed as a method actor, which is clearly answering the question at hand.

Item 3 - "Pirates Of The Caribbean" (2003)
My third and final film I have chosen as a focus is 'Pirates and the Caribbean.' This movie brought Johnny Depp to stardom, thanks to the multi-million dollar fan base and publicity the franchise and the single debut's received. In the movie, Depp follows the same influence of method acting for  preparation, including the 'magic if' by Stanislavski, which involved asking the character what he/she would be doing in a set situation. The film doesn't necessarily hold the same amount of evidence for Depp being termed as a method actor, compared to the other two films. However it still holds significant points regarding the question.

Books

Item 4 - "Constantin Stanislavski - An Actors Handbook"
This book discusses the techniques of a professional actor, which is directed by Stanislavski himself. The book highlights the ways to develop a convincing role, which is relevant to the films chosen as it links to the theme of shadowing a specific character in order to build characterisation, which is seen through Depp's preparation of the roles he plays. This book covers the concept of 'shadowing', which is another route to method acting, as the concept of becoming the character follows the same principle. I will be using specific quotes in order to address the question and these quotes will develop the question focus further. The content of the quotes offers guidance to develop the technique of an actor, which will helps answer the question of whether these methods prove Depp to be a method actor.

Item 5:
Source: "Johnny Depp: A Kind Of Illusion" - Denis Meikle
This book held a large amount of content of the actors history and I gained knowledge of how Depp was introduced to each film role and what it took to be accepted into the industry. There are quotes that I am going to be using in order to focus on the question of whether Depp is termed as a method actor. These quotes provide insight into the personal mannerisms and personality of Johnny Depp which relates to the main question. This source shares information of Hunter S Thompson giving Depp a proposal to take on his own character in 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. There is evidence suggesting his eagerness to shadow an individual, which highlights that Depp was driven towards Stanislavski's techniques, early into his acting debut.

Articles

Item 6: Article on the origin of the character
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/johnny-depp--theres-method-in-his-madness-1882231.html
This item discusses the origin of each of Depp's performances. The article is useful as it contains information about what Depp does to prepare for his role in each film he takes on, including the fact that he shadows specific characters to gain a better knowledge of the character he is playing. This was a unique idea yet a fresh approach to getting into character so I wanted to use this item as a means to show his diversity in style and technique.

Item 7: Article on preparation for the "Mad Hatter"
Source: http://www.hollywoodactorprep.com/blog/2010/01/johnny-depps-method-of-actor-research-acting-prep/
 This item shows how Johnny Depp prepared for his role as the mad hatter in Alice In Wonderland. This source was relevant to my research material because Depp opens up to what personal methods and techniques he considers when taking on a diverse role. The source offers good factual material that answers the question directly, including quotes about his preparation, which is an essential aspect of the presentation script. This includes him painting his perception of the Mad Hatter in order to visualise the role he is taking on and enhance the aesthetics of the character. This technique mentioned in the article, helps the viewer to go on a fascinating journey throughout the film, as he steps into character. 

Item 8: Article mentioning interview on "Alice In Wonderland"
Source: http://www.timeout.com/london/film/johnny-depp-talks-alice-in-wonderland-1
  This source was relevant because it contained information relating to personal methods that Depp had used for his films. In 'Alice In Wonderland', preparing for the role of the Mad Hatter was done by remembering someone he had once met who held similar characteristics. This man had been exposed to mercury poisoning, which is  known to cause hallucinations and madness. It is where the designs for the extravagant hat originated from. It may have also been the reason for his extremely pale skin and huge dilated eyes. This idea of shadowing in order to create the Mad Hatter paid off as Depp exhibited a very unique and original performance. I am going to use the quotes from the article as it has provided relevant information regarding the question. 

Item 9: Article about "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas"

source:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/hunter-s-thompson-shaved-johnny-depp-head-fear-and-loathing-in-los-vegas_n_1967902.html
 This sourced article shares that Depp used method acting in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in order to portray a convincing role. The article was filled with inside information of how he approached his character and what he did to prepare for the role. In his conversation with Lipton, Depp revealed the extreme measures he undertook to be able to portray Thompson's alter ego. He claimed to live in the author's basement for a couple months and he adopted the same lifestyle of Hunter Thompson. Depp studied Hunter Thompson's character but he even concentrated on his microscopic elements of his mannerisms and unique quirks. It is an insight into the commitment it takes for Depp to take on this technique and gives a clear answer that he is a method actor, just by the sheer preparation and time Depp sacrificed.

Item 10: Blog about Depp's personal traits and approaching roles
Source: http://www.hollywoodactorprep.com/blog/2010/01/johnny-depps-method-of-actor-research-acting-prep/
I will be using this source because it sheds light on the fact that in order to master his acting techniques and performance skill, Depp has had to be a driven, committed actor, in order to successfully use his methods naturally. It talks about the perseverance needed when using method acting to not only prepare for each role but also the importance of Depp's sacrifice of time, in order to successfully use method acting effectively. This source holds relevant information and quotes, surrounding the question, so it is clearly suitable in answering the question of whether Johnny Depp can be termed as a method actor.

Item 11: Blog discussing the success level of A-list star Depp
Source:http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2014/04/28/johnny-depp-is-not-a-good-actor
I will be using this because it is the first source that argues against Depp being a successful method actor, since his acting debuts have been receiving low and critical ratings and reviews. This relates to the question since it highlights that perhaps his extravagant characters that he adopts are no longer effective, as his characters are adopted by Stanislavski's method acting. This shows that these particular methods are beginning to hinder Depp's performance, leading to a decreasing rate of success. You can identify that these personal methods and techniques are becoming outdated and a possible reason for his film failures, in consecutive box office flops such as 'Mortdecai' and 'Dark Shadows'- directed by Tim Burton. From this source, it is clear that Depp adopts the method acting technique but whether it is a successful direction in which actors should take is an entirely different question. The outdated technique may be what is hindering an actors ability to perform to a high standard. I will be using quotes in from this to help improve my understanding of the question.

Item 12: Article on method acting itself
Source: http://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/is-method-acting-destroying-actors
I will be using this source because it includes specific information about Lee Strasberg's ideal of method acting, which holds similar characteristics of Stanislavski's technique. There is discussion  of there being a drive or obsession of 'becoming the character' and for many actors, this leads to a sense of madness and mis-direction. This links to my question because it highlights the issues of  method acting, which is relevant to whether Depp's success originates from these methods or hinders his performance. There are significant quotes that will support my secondary research, that I will be using in order to help increase my knowledge of this question.

Videos

Item 13 -Interview with chat show host (Jimmy Kimmel)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7JgY9zezj4
 This youtube clip is an interview that discusses Depp's personal methods of getting into character. It explains how he uses earphones to focus and portray a successful character which is evidently a personal method used by him. The chat show host and the actor himself discuss personal methods used by Depp and this offers evidence directly suited to the question I am using. I will be using this clip as primary research to further my findings. There is a mention of Depp working with Marlon Brando on set, where his co-star used this technique too.


Item 14 - Interview on Depp's craft
Source: . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-9bbrmUzAA
This interview is useful because it focuses on Depp's personal methods to develop his craft and it is a good item of research, since it clearly answers the question. The discussed techniques include how he prepares for the roles on one of the focus films; "Alice In Wonderland" touching upon the previous mention of painting his characters and adopting mannerisms for the film. Depp always uses creative and original methods when the focus is on acting and development.

Rejections

Film: "Edward Scissorhands" 
Initially, this film held relevant and crucial information about Johnny Depp's acting style. The actor used method acting to portray his character of Edward but the contents of how he developed his craft were too similar to the other key films I have chosen. It became a less significant film as there were not enough sources available to use this film in my catalogue, since my findings only scratched the surface of the question. 

Article from a Depp interview
Source:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2052067/Johnny-Depp-interview-Disney-wanted-Pirates-Caribbean.html#ixzz3cZc77Jde
 This article about Johnny Depp was insignificant to the question because it was discussing Depp as an actor being so extravagant with his characters, to the extent that Disney wanted to fire him. This did not directly address the question of the techniques Depp has or personal methods he used. It held no significance because there was no mention of key films or a direct link to the question.


Article on "Johnny Depp's Savage Journey - Rolling Stone"
Source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/johnny-depps-savage-journey-into-fear-and-loathing-in-las-vegas-19980611
 I did not want to use this source because although it holds substantial information directed at the question, it is too similar to a research article that I am already using, as it discussed Depp's method of Shadowing a character such as Hunter Thompson and there was no additional information highlighted.

Wikipedia page on Depp's personal life and achievements
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Depp
I rejected this source because the wikipedia page is very general to the actors personal life and awards, mentioning how many films he has had roles in. This item was not specific to the question at hand and held no relevant information to what techniques and methods are used to portray a convincing performance. It did not shed light on methods or techniques used for the focus key films.