Camera Angles, Movements and

Editing Decisions

Coming of Age Films

Screenshot from ‘Cherrybomb’

EMOTION:Films within the coming of age genre are ‘emotion driven’

Whether that is depressed, happy, angry – emotions of the characters are constantly present and remain the films focus

This is because the process known as ‘coming of age’ is a personal, psychological and moral

growth – and this growth is only achieved by experiencing different emotions.

It is therefore the films job to make these emotions the focal point ; along with the actors performance, specific

camera angles and movements are chosen to achieve this.

Close ups: emotionClose ups in most films are used to identify important characters and to show a persons emotions

They are especially important in this genre as ‘coming of age’ (personal growth and change) is seen through the emotions a person is feeling

These close ups then enable the audience to see exactly what the character is feeling and/or to see how they are developing and changing

Cherrybomb (2009) –close up of ‘Michelle’ before her and Malachy have an intimate moment

Submarine (2010) –close up of ‘Craig’ when

he first meets ‘Jordana’ alone – shows how he

is nervous

Close ups: emotion“An Education- coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a

playboy nearly twice her age”

An Education (2009) – close ups identify her emotional and personal growth as she develops

through out the film

Close Ups: identifying

This establishes who the main character(s) are and in some cases, creates an

early emotional connection with them

Billy Elliot (2000) –close up of ‘Billy’

In a lot of coming of age films, close ups of the main characters(s) are amongst the first shots shown

*Fitting with our genre conventions…In our sequence our first shot is a close up of

‘Jimmy Maverick’, to establish him as the main character and to create an early

emotional connection with him

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) –

close up of main character ‘Scott

Pilgrim’

Close Ups: identifying

‘Cherrybomb’ does this as the

first shot is a police video of one

of the main characters giving a statement- the rest of the film is then a flashback,

leading back up to this point

Cherrybomb (2009) – first shot close up of one of the main characters ‘Malachy’

*Fitting with our genre conventions…Our film is told in flashback form as well - It begins

like Cherrybomb does with a close up of the main character and the opening few minuets then ‘set the

scene’ for the rest of the film

emotion and emotional response

Often when there are big groups within a scene, cut away is used

This is where the scene cuts between the master slide and close ups of different people/ important objects within the scene

Knowing the emotions and emotional responses of characters is important. By using cut away, these elements aren't lost as the close ups capture them

Cut Away:

Push In:Coming of age films reply on emotional responses - a push in is used to specifically show a persons emotional response to something

Two Shot: Intimacy A common theme within the

coming of age genre is relationships and virginity

The two shot helps to show either the suggestion of, or the creation of a relationship between two characters;

can also be used to show intimacy between two characters

Submarine (2010) – two shot of the two main characters , ‘Craig’ and

‘Jordana’

Submarine (2010) – two shot of the two main characters, at the point where a

relationship between the two characters is suggested

Two Shot: Intimacy

*Fitting with our genre conventions…Once we have entered the

flash back ‘Sam’ is going to meet ‘Ruby’ who has secretly

been waiting for him –they will both be shown in a two shot foreshadowing the fact that a relationship is going to

develop between the two characters

Submarine (2010)

Cherrybomb (2009)

Submarine (2010)

Two Shot: Forced togetherTwo shots can also be used to demonstrate ‘bad’ relationships. These can include complicated home life relationships, abusive relationships or difficult friendships.

All screenshots - The Breakfast Club (1985)- story of teenagers who are ‘forced together’ through Saturday

detention

Two Shot: Forced together

The main character has a challenging relationship with her mother and the two of them are shown disagreeing through two shots. These shots emphasise the ‘forcing together’ of the mother and the daughter as neither party want anything to do with the other.

‘Fishtank’ is an example of a

coming of age film that looks into problems with relationships at

home.

Fish Tank (2009) – two shot of the mother and daughter -Their physical expressions and actions emphasise how they have a

bad relationship

Typical ‘Coming of Age’ scenarios

There are many typical scenarios that are covered in coming of age dramas.

These scenarios are experiences that the characters have or create, where frequently it involves them doing something experimental.

Teenagers are intrigued by the idea of trying new things and these new experiences are a vital part of ‘coming of age’.

Coming of age films then place a lot of emphasis on scenes that involve the characters experimenting or trying new things.

Weather it be the characters attending parties for the first time, partying in a new environment, experiencing new relationships or

taking drugs and alcohol, the films use some specific camera angles and movements to demonstrate what is going on and to relay the

feelings of the characters, to the audience. They are also sometimes used to help the audience ‘feel and experience’ what the characters

are ‘experiencing’.

Some added editing effects are also used to help emphasise these experiences and to give a clear understanding of what is going on.

Example: Club Scene – ‘CherryBomb’

Canted angles – creates confusion and disorientation – emphasising the feelings those on screen are experiencing

Colour Palette change- This scene is filmed through a red filter and has red artificial lighting– highlights the fact that they are in what could be considered a dangerous environment (night club) and showing how the actions they are taking i.e. taking drugs, is having a dangerous effect upon them.

Dynamic cutting – creates a hyper pace effect making the scene feel disorientated (emphasised by the extreme close ups) - reflects how those

that have taken drugs in the scene may be feeling

Example: Club Scene – ‘Cherry Bomb’

Example: Big Party Scene – ‘CherryBomb’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ63NlwFW1M

This is the final scene before the story begins to reach its climax as all ‘goes wrong’. It is a large

party scene where many teenagers have turned up after the main characters have invited them to a leisure centre that they have broken into. Drugs, alcohol and fireworks are dominant through the

whole scene.

All the camera angles/movements and editing, demonstrate what is going on and recreate what

the characters on screen are feeling and experiencing

Example: Big Party Scene – ‘CherryBomb’

Low angles- when alcohol is present – camera is looking up at the alcohol showing how it has a dominant part in the scene and how it is taking control of the teenagers

Close ups- Used to indentify the feelings on characters faces – mostly to show the effects the dugs and alcohol are having on them

High angles- used to make the characters look weak and venerable in a situation they are losing control of – as they lose control of their minds and bodies (effect of drugs and alcohol)

Non-transparent editing is used - the camera constantly has an ‘unsteady’ feel – gives the impression that those shown on screen also are ‘unsteady’ and highlights how they are unstable when walking around

Unmotivated angles- used to create an artistic effect and emulates the way those who have taken drugs may be seeing the world

Two Shots- to show the intimacy and relationship between particular characters

Canted Angles – help create confusion

Example: Big Party Scene – ‘CherryBomb’

Group shots- to show how there are many people involved in the scene and how it is growing out of control

Filmed in slow motion – creates an almost ‘outer body experience’ as their taking of drugs has slowed the whole situation down

Example: Big Party Scene – ‘CherryBomb’

Colour palette change- a yellow coloured filtered is used to film the scene – used to reflect how this isn’t a ‘normal’ situation as they are experimenting with things that are illegal and a normal everyday situation would not be seen like this -The fact that it isn’t a ‘normal’ scenario is emphasised by the fact that fireworks keep getting let off even though they are indoors

Transitions between slides- these transitions overlay the frame with the previous creating a disillusioned feeling -The fireworks that are being let off inside are also overlaid over the top of some frames – this helps emphasise the danger of the whole party situation - Some scenes are also blurred to create an unclear image – giving an impression that this is possibly how some of the teenagers are seeing from their point of view

By Rebecca CreightonScreenshot from ‘Cherrybomb’