Film Language Test Learner Response

WWW:

• A superb set of responses: clear thought and engagement with each question with a variety of possible interpretations discussed in depth. 

EBI:    

• Keep an eye on paragraphing and organisation. Loss of clarity in places. Some points could be taken further. Lack of depth in some questions. 

How is editing used to create drama and tension in the opening scene?

The use of the slow paced editing creates drama and tension in the opening scene, as it forces everything to happen slower and the audience to almost savour everything happening. There is not a constant transition from shot to shot, which shows the importance of the thing being filmed. Singer almost toys with the audience, especially during the conversation between the two characters as he does not allow the audience to see both characters as they speak. We, as the audience, are accustomed to wanting to see both characters and their faces, however because this is not done it creates much more tension and makes the scene very dramatic as we still are unaware of this mystery man yet we can hear him. The lack of editing here creates that dramatic atmosphere.

At the beginning of the scene, the editing is faster, showing the matches being lit and then the fire starting, the use of the faster paced editing here may represent the rapidness of fire. This may also represent just how quick a fire is started and the use of this editing captures that exactly. This is again reinforced by the use of the slow motion, when the villain drops the cigarette and a fire is started. The use of the slow motion with the fire slows down the pace of the clip and allows the audience to watch the fire burning away, just like the characters life will be. This creates more tension as we can see every detail and the rapid motion of a fires starting can actually be seen and savoured. This makes the scene more dramatic and on edge. Furthermore, we, as the audience, want to know what's going to happen, so the slow motion, again, creates more suspense due to the action code being so thrilling.

Furthermore, when the scene reaches it's climax, we would expect the editing to become more fast paced, however the editing stays exactly the same pace. The explosion is seen and everything is seen for the same amount of time, which makes it even more dramatic. The audience want to be thrilled by the fast paced editing to see the explosion at different angles and in a rapid pace, however the scene is still just as thrilling at the slower pace and it becomes all the more dramatic as we are focused on the one explosion. Because we are seeing the same thing, it becomes more dramatic as we don't see the character dying but instead we are just focused on this huge explosion, creating a very tense atmosphere.