Stranger Things Analysis

Analysing A Media Text: The Notebook

https://www.youtube.com/thenotebooktrailer

Genre:
Romantic

Key themes/ secondary Meaning:
Love, heartbreak, pain, relationships, patience, frustration, couples, family, social status, flash backs.

Camera shots:

This over the shoulder shot is used to show Noah's perspective of seeing Allie for the first time. You could say that this shot indicates love at first sight.

Love is a key theme throughout the film and is shown through other shots like the two shot: In this scene, the audience are made to feel hopeful. The white birds sitting on the water are a sign of hope and peace, making the audience feel calm and happy. Psychologically, white is a colour of hope and purity.



There is also a theme of sentimentality shown in this trailer due to the scenes shown of the older couple in the home, these shots are taken as close ups to show that the character is touched and feels strong emotion. This makes the audience feel emotional too and maybe can make some people feel they could relate to Noah and Allie's situation if they are from an older generation particularly, as this film is set in the 1940's.



The theme of social status is shown by the colouring in the clothes. In this wide shot, Noah is shown wearing dark colours among a group of Allie's friends and family wearing white, showing that they have more money and therefore a higher economic and social status.

This scene is probably one of the most dramatic and emotional in the whole film as the weather and screen colouring has changed. It is taken as another over the shoulder shot to show the emotion from Allie's perspective yet still making Noah the subject and therefore showing his emotion too. The lighting has got darker given a completely different feel to the scene compared to how a sunny or bright weather/background would give. the dark lighting gives the idea that something bad, tense or scary is happening or about to happen. This makes the audience feel tense yet intrigued about what is going to happen next.

Camera Movement

Pan:
Moving the camera lens from one side, then to another. From right to left, then left to right.

Track:
When the camera follows the subject or an object moving with the subject.

Tilt:
Similar to panning but instead of moving the camera side to side, it is moved up or down.

Pull Focus:
Focus pulling is when the shot goes from focusing on one subject, to another.

Crane:

Similar to a tracking shot but the camera is on a crane so that it can be moved more easily but also at a higher angle, sometimes looking down. Unlike a tracking shot, a crane can move in any direction, up, down, left, right, diagonal, etc.

Arial:

A more exciting version of a crane shot. An arial shot is taken from a helicopter and is usually used for taking an establishing shot.

Zoom In:
A shot starting further away from the subject and then getting continuously closer with the camera.

Zoom Out:

A shot starting with the camera closer to the subject, then continuously moving further and further away.

Whip Pan:

A type of shot where the camera moves so quickly that the shot is not focused on one thing and blurs out into a wash of movement. Can often be used to show a passing of time.

Hand Held:

A handheld shot is when a scene or shot is filmed with the camera in the hands of the cameraman instead of being placed on a tripod or being mounted onto another base.

Dolly:
When the camera is placed on a vehicle like a car or truck and the camera films the shot as the vehicle moves along.

Steady Pan:

Camera Framing

Extreme Wide Shot:
An extreme wide shot is a shot so far from the subject it can't be seen. It is often used as a starting shot.

Very Wide Shot:

A very wide shot is a shot taken a little closer to the subject than in an extreme wide shot, however the subject is still barely seen. The emphasis is still mostly on the surroundings.

Wide Shot:
The subject is now the focus of the shot and takes up most of the frame. This may also be known as a full shot or a long shot.

Mid Shot:
Some of the subject is shown in the shot but is not completely in the shot. This type of shot can be used to give an impression of the subject.

Medium Close Up:
This type of shot is half way between a Mid Shot and a Close Up.

Close Up:
When a certain feature of part of the subject takes up the whole frame and is the main focus of the shot.

Extreme Close Up:
A close up shot that is very close to the subject and shows a small part of the subject in a high amount of detail.

Cut-In:
A shot that shows another part of the subject in the same amount of detail as a close up.

Cut Away:
This is a shot of something other than the main subject of the photo.

Two-Shot:
This is a shot of two people. It is framed not dis-similarly to a mid shot.

Over the Shoulder Shot:
A shot taken from behind someone focusing on the subject.

Noddy Shot:
A reaction shot of someone reacting to something said or done by the subject.

Point-Of-View Shot:
A shot showing the view from the subject's perspective.

Weather Shot:
The subject becomes the weather. 

Worm's Eye View:

A shot taken from ground level. Usually looking up or ahead.

Bird's Eye View Shot:

A shot taken from directly above, looking down on the subject. This shot is sometimes taken using a fish-eye effect.

Arial Shot:

A variation of a crane shot. Usually taken from a helicopter and used to establish a setting.

Crane Shot:

A shot taken by a camera on a crane. The crane carries the camera and the cameraman who can direct the crane in any direction. These type of shots are often taken at concerts.

High Angle:

High angle shots are taken to make the subject seem vulnerable and isolated or alone. 

Low Angle Shot:

Low angle shots are similar to Worm's-Eye-View shots. They are taken from below and looking up in an attempt to make the subject of the photo look important and powerful.