District 9 Essay
How are the four elements of film style (cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, editing) used in the film to create realism.
District 9 is a science fiction documentary style film directed by Neill Blomkamp in 2009, set in present time in Johannesburg, South Africa. District 9 uses stylistic techniques such as cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene and editing to make us, the audience, believe that the alien invasion redundant is truly happening in our world today. District 9 also uses strong documentary techniques to reel the audience in even further and to capture the audience’s attention in a very different style of science fiction never before seen in Hollywood. All of these techniques, along with how they are used to create realism, will be discussed in this essay.
The Cinematography used in District 9 is used extremely well to create realism, but in one aspect also reminds us that this is a fictional film. This is evident from the very opening scene when the main character, Wikus, played by Sharlto Copley, is being interviewed. He is not quite ready yet for the interview but the camera is still rolling, he is adjusting his microphone and asking the cameraman when to start, it’s making the audience feel that this is “real” and rough footage but how does this “remind us that this is a fictional film”?. Throughout the film excerpt the shots are continually changing but mostly all are consistent with techniques used to create realism. There are many medium shots presented as interviews with different scientists, colleagues and family of Wikus. There is also “News Footage” shown in a typical news broadcast format with the bulletin and the news channel at the bottom. There were also a lot of wide shots taken from a helicopter, mostly showing District 9 as a whole. Each sentence here jumps to a new topic. Don’t just describe the techniques, take time to analyse the meanings created by the techniques you describe here.
Apart from these scenes, the remainder
District 9 is a science fiction documentary style film directed by Neill Blomkamp in 2009, set in present time in Johannesburg, South Africa. District 9 uses stylistic techniques such as cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene and editing to make us, the audience, believe that the alien invasion redundant is truly happening in our world today. District 9 also uses strong documentary techniques to reel the audience in even further and to capture the audience’s attention in a very different style of science fiction never before seen in Hollywood. All of these techniques, along with how they are used to create realism, will be discussed in this essay.
The Cinematography used in District 9 is used extremely well to create realism, but in one aspect also reminds us that this is a fictional film. This is evident from the very opening scene when the main character, Wikus, played by Sharlto Copley, is being interviewed. He is not quite ready yet for the interview but the camera is still rolling, he is adjusting his microphone and asking the cameraman when to start, it’s making the audience feel that this is “real” and rough footage but how does this “remind us that this is a fictional film”?. Throughout the film excerpt the shots are continually changing but mostly all are consistent with techniques used to create realism. There are many medium shots presented as interviews with different scientists, colleagues and family of Wikus. There is also “News Footage” shown in a typical news broadcast format with the bulletin and the news channel at the bottom. There were also a lot of wide shots taken from a helicopter, mostly showing District 9 as a whole. Each sentence here jumps to a new topic. Don’t just describe the techniques, take time to analyse the meanings created by the techniques you describe here.
Apart from these scenes, the remainder
References: Abrams, Bell and Udris (2001) “The Language of Film”, Studying Film, London: Arnold, 92-116. Branston, Gill & Roy Stafford (1996) 'Realisms ', The Media Student’s Book 3rd ed, London & New York: Routledge, 446-472 Hallam, Lindsay (2011). “Lecture 1: Introduction to Screen Media Studies.” Lecture Handout. Hallam, Lindsay (2011). “Lecture 2: The Elements of Film Style.” PowerPoint lecturenotes.http://lms.curtin.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_33528_1%26url%3d Hallam, Lindsay (2011). “Lecture 3: Documentary.” PowerPoint lecture notes.http://lms.curtin.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_33528_1%26url%3d Hallam, Lindsay (2011). “Lecture 7: The Science Fiction Genre.” PowerPoint lecturenotes.http://lms.curtin.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_33528_1%26url%3d Telotte, J.P. (2001) “Introduction: The World of the Science Fiction Film”, in Science Fiction Film, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 3-32.