Discuss the use of Sound and Mise-en-scene in the extract from 'Life On Mars'. Make specific reference to examples from the sequence.

Mise-en-scene and sound are used throughout this extract from the T.V show, to enforce portray location, atmosphere and character status. The most evident example of this during this clip is shortly after the character Sam is hit by a speeding car.

At the very beginning of the clip, we open up with what is made out to be a crime scene. We immediately establish this through the use of character costume choice, (exemplified with the police officers lingering in the background of the frame ; this presents denotations of the police service and crime; in this case murder. Sam, the lead character is wearing a dark blue suit jacket and a blue shirt and tie, contrasting with the uniforms of the other officers, this suggests that he has a higher literal status in power. the fact that the color coding of the dark and light blues may be symbolic to make known that he is a police detective. The location is clearly defined as a group council flats stand nearby in the background, which suggests the area is interpreted as working class. Also council estates and flats - such of these - have connotations of dangerous, criminal based areas. The camera then pans down to reveal blue shirt, stained in the blood of its missing owner, sitting on a children’s swing in a public playground in the council estate. The use of blood is subtle and not overdone, however it does its job by immediately bringing to mind dark connotations of violence, pain and murder. As the shot cuts to a high angle extreme long shot we see the swing is indeed part of a children’s play area, and we can tell that by the geography of the location that everyone could see down (from their flats) at the crime scene- enforcing this idea of the residents and how "they don't care".

As for sound in this section, we immediately hear police radio chatter and talking officers. These are both example of diegetic and synchronous sound; particularly the radio chatter, as in the background we can see police talking on their radios, these sounds remind us of crime, hence immerse us more within the scene. In terms of non-diegetic sound we have the score, of which in this section is a very slow melodic drone, played on strings, this at this particular moments conveys a sense of uncertainty and when the shirt is in shot the score alters to a ‘darker’ atmosphere as the music goes down in scale. As the first location begins to change the amplification on the score increases, eventually embodying the entirety of the audio featuring no diegetic sound, this eases us into the next scene.

The use of just the score effectively highlights and emphasises the emotion on screen, in that the mood shifts to reflect a sense of heartbreak, once again via the use of strings. To bring diegetic sound back into the scene a sound bridge is used, in that the sound effect of a car horn and screeching is suddenly audible. The score then fades out and we begin to hear the song ‘Life On Mars’, the camera soon reveals that this is playing through an iPod, making it diegetic.

As Sam is hit by the car, once again a sound bridge is used as the diegetic music immediately stops at the sound effect of him being hit by the car, to leave only the non-diegetic bass noise to be audible, highlighting the moment. A synchronous heartbeat is then audible and suggests the subject is in a life threatening situation. A white flash then fills the screen accompanied by a sound effect of almost lightning, which could suggest a defibrillator; subsequently the heartbeat begins slows-down, supporting this. During the asynchronous soundscape we also hear the noise of an ambulance, once again supporting this notion that his life is in danger. An echo of ‘Life On Mars’ can begin to be heard once more. We hear the dialogue “Charge to 200 joules” then “Is that clear?”, enforcing the idea that the lightning sound symbolises a defibrillator, as well as this we hear beeping, such as we imagine a defibrillator to do. While visuals show out of focus woodland, we hear a child’s whisper say “Where are you?”, which suggests confusion from the characters’ point of view and we then see what looks like a leprechauns shoe, which could suggest he is lucky to live? Also the snapping of twigs to represent motion with this woodland. As he opens his eyes, the beeping begins to slow and diminish in amplitude, leaving just the non-diegetic sound of the song ‘Life On Mars’.

As the camera circulates we see the character in a different costume, of which appears to be from the 1970s period. In the background we also see factories, some which are demolished, reminiscent of the same time period, the same of which applies to the car in the next shot. Again a final sound bridge is used to link the sound back to diegetic once more, as we see and hear the music decrease in quality, seemingly coming from a cassette, supporting the time period. We also briefly see what appears to be a government document, with what could be a metropolitan police logo, suggesting even in this period he is still involved with the police. We then see another subject in what appears to be a 1970s police uniform. In the background we also can hear a police car siren as we see the officer. In the background smoke is coming from the factories, indicating a working industrial period.

Evaluation - Questions 6 & 7

Evaluation - Questions 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Evaluation - Question 1.

Mise-En-Scene

 Here in this snapshot taken from Life On Mars, we can spot various things (some subtle and some more obvious) just from this preview that can indicate the context of a scene and its period and setting. The fact that the two men in the background are wearing blue shirts, ties and trousers indicates the fact that they are police officers (linking to the context of the program). one of them also appears to be drinking, and from the background (to the right of John Simm) we can see the end of a bar and its shelves, stacked with alcoholic drinks. Also, we can interpret the time period through the use of the dark, moody lighting and the light and dark shades of brown and black- all indicating the time period, and perhaps our protagonist's perception of the setting. From the large, stylish trench coat, worn by Philip Glennister, we get a sense of power and dominance that he possesses.

In this fragment of Merlin, we can already gather a lot of information by looking carefully into the details of certain aspects of the scene. The costumes that all three characters pictured in frame are quite clearly medieval and establish the time period from just one glance. The fact that the male in the center possesses a sword, and drawn at that, we can tell that he has the highest authority and he is the most dominant - and perhaps the most dangerous - of the three. They also appear to be in a cave, ill lit, but the important part is the fact that they are holding torches. This indicates a sense of perhaps daylight, mood, but also the time period as it would be extremely rare today if anyone was to be venturing through a cave with a torch instead of a flashlight.

From this screenshot taken from Doctor Who, we can immediately establish many things within this scene by taking into account many different details. It is clear that Catherine Tate's character, from the costume, that she is a bride (or a bride to be). From The Doctor's suit, we can feel a certain sense of power he has and knowledge, but also with a sense of style with the way it is worn - to add to our likability of the character. The contrasting of the brown and blue colors, within the interior of the TARDIS, gives us a real sense of homeliness and safety- but also a sci-fi feel, at the very same time.

From this screenshot, even with me being mistaken as to what TV program it is taken from, I can already interpret certain details within the scene to help me to gain and understanding of the characters and the environment  around them. From the blue curtain I can already imagine this place to be a hospital ward (with the characters looking down at a patient). The characters' costumes are obvious, they are clearly doctors or nurses (either way a form of medical staff) and we can also judge this by their props; their stethoscopes around their necks.

This screenshot from Waterloo Road can tell us a lot about the scene, the characters within them, and the setting around them. Judging from the uniform, they are quite clearly school children/students (secondary school) - from their ties, jumpers and shirts - all of with follow a pattern of color coding. Now we can't really see where they are in terms of geography, but they are quite clearly outside. and because the frame is so packed with students (and teachers) it could possibly be the playground, with everyone overseeing some form of incident.