MIB

I watched a three minute video clip of Men in Black. This clip starts as Will Smith gets off the elevator. It ends as he defends his actions in shooting the cardboard girl. My assignment was to analyze the different camera angles and rationalize the director’s actions. I found it was easier to focus on the camera shots without sound. This is my analyst.
 * **Clip shot** || **Explanation/Rationale** ||
 * Medium || This is the elevator scene showing Will Smith as the main character. And providing us with character location. ||
 * Very wide (long) || As the doors open, it shows what Will is walking into. So, scene includes everyone. ||
 * Medium close up || The camera focuses on Rip Torn. Then slowly circles around. ||
 * Over the shoulder || We are looking through Rip’s eyes to see the reaction of the others in the room. ||
 * Cutaway || A distraction from Will taking our focus from Rip. ||
 * Very wide (long) || A quick shot of the other men for their reaction to Will’s statement. ||
 * Noddy || A quick shot of Rip’s reaction. ||
 * Medium close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Focusing on soldier giving information. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Noddy || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick shot of Rip’s reaction to soldier’s response. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Medium close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">We come back to dialog between Will and Rip to make us feel like we are in the room. And to show reaction to their dialog. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Very wide (long) || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick shot of the other soldiers in the room. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Two shot || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Showing the relationship of Will and the other men gathered in the same room. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Very wide (long) || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick shot of the other soldiers in the room. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Medium close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Refocusing on Will. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Noddy || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick shot of Rip’s reaction to Will’s response. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Medium close up/ Very wide (long) || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Several shot back and forth of Will, Rip and other men. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Noddy || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick look by Rip to show us of a new player to this group. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cutaway || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">To make us aware that there is someone else watching what’s going on in the room. The glare on the window makes us think that there’s a two way mirror. But we don’t see a mirror in the second scene. We only see a door and a picture. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Medium close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Bringing us back to Rip and the purpose of the meeting. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Over the shoulder || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Showing how the men are reacting to Rip’s words and Will is at a state of confusion. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Very wide (long) || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Viewing the men as they begin testing. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Series of shots: Medium close up, Two shot & Very wide (long) || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A view of Will and the men take the written test. Again the other soldiers are well focused with a few small problems. Will is still at a state of confusion. His trouble with the test booklet. At one point Will drags the table over to his chair. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cutaway || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick view of Tommy Lee Jones as he watches Will in amazement. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cut in || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick shot to show the written test is over and a new test has begun. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Series of shots: Very wide (long), Medium close up, Two shot || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This set of scenes show what the men are shooting at. And that Will is just standing there observing the action taking place. At the end Will takes his one and only shot. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A view of Rip’s hand holding a remote control device letting the viewer know the test is over. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Medium close up (cutaway) || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The reaction from Will of the entrance of Rip. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A shot from very wide to close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">As the cut out of the girl comes from the back to the front. It gives us the feeling of being there at the firing range. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Medium close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">We can see that the other men are still in the room. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Two shot || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Rip’s scene demands an explanation of Will’s action. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Two shot & Medium close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Will’s explanation of why he only shot the girl. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Two shot || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quick views of others for their reaction to Will’s explanation. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A quick shot of items on the monsters and the girl as Will gives story. This helps us to see the things that we were not able to view. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Medium close up || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">As Will and Rip are talking, the shots jump back and forth. It makes us feel that they are talking to directly us. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Noddy || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">We get a quick look from Rip at the end of the dialog. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Point of view || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A view of the others shows that have been listening. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Fade out || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The scene is over. ||