Film Technique Practice - Lord of the Rings

 Brainstorm:

- Four hobbits are hiding under a tree from the Black Rider. They are afraid - see on their faces. 

Technique:

Color - pallete - green, black, grey, dark, natural/nature, dull

- feels cold and uninviting.

Lighting - natural, dim, cold - makes it feel cold and uninviting.

Sound/music - diegetic sounds - horses hooves approaching, bugs crawling, birds, movement of riders armour, sounds of his breathing - little sounds are magnified when we are afraid. 

Camera:

Shots - Focus - tilt shot - from the rider to the hiding hobbits, 

Movement - angle - close-ups - hobbit forces - scared, nervous

- bugs - crawling across the hobbits, shows how difficult it was to keep still and quiet.

- Three closeups on parts of the rider - the horses hooves pawing the ground, the horses muzzle with red eye and the riders feet hitting the ground. Builds suspense before we see the rider.

- Low angle - looking up at the rider, shows hobbits cowering below, makes the rider look bigger, intimidating and frightening. 

Statement: In the 'Black Rider' scene close-ups used to show the fear of the characters as they hide.

Example: The four hobbits are running from the Black Rider. They seek refuge in under the roots of an old tree as the rider approaches. Close-ups shows us the expression of fear on the hobbits faces.

X-audience - This makes the audience feel intimidated and anxious with the hobbits as the unseen enemy arrives.

X-director - The purpose of this is to build suspense before we see the rider. Like the characters, we are afraid even though we don't know what is coming.

X-link technique - Combined with the close-ups is the use of diegetic sounds including the horses hooves on the ground, the breathing of the rider and the clinking if his armour as he dismounted. These sounds add to the feeling of fear we have seen through the close-up shots.

Y-your real world connection - Interestingly, most viewers have felt the fear of being chased and found before. This allows them to connect with the emotions of the characters in this moment.