Sound, Camera, Mise en scene and Editing

Ghost ship film language analysis

Camera

F - Frame

A - Angle

M - Movement

The angle of the camera at the beginning is below the water which pans up to a long shot of the ship, this is first time that she ship is seen by the audience. As the camera then moves onto a birds eye view of the people on the ship, we can then gather that the movements of the camera are slow and calming just like the waves. Moving through the clip we are presented with a close up of the wired blade, then the same shot is taken seconds later where we are shown a bloody dripping piece of wire. Once we gather what has just happened the camera turns back onto the little girl, a POV shot is shown here as she looks up at the man who was protecting her. Once the girl produces a piercing scream the camera then moves to show the same long shot of the boat at the beginning then the camera pans down to disappear back into the ocean.

Editing

S - Screen time
T - Transitions
O - Order of narrative
P - Pace
S - Special effects

Within Ghost ship the characters in this clip alone that get the most screen time are arguably the signer in the red dress and the young girl. Most of the transitions are just straight cuts until the death scene at the end where the images dissolve as the camera shows each of the dead people. The order of narrative in this scenario would likely be about 30 - 40 minutes as not a lot of time has passed. The pace is quite steady for the majority of the clip, this reflects the calm environment that a cruise ship presents you with. Although the pace does turns slow motion when the bodies are falling,  this type of pace has been used to dramatise the actions causing us to consider the pain in which these characters are going through. In this clip the only special effects are when the bodies are being sliced open and when they fall over by themselves.

Mise en scene

C - Costumes
L - Lighting
A - Actors
M - Makeup
P - Props
S - Setting

All costumes are formal and create this imagery of posh wealthy people, the signer wears a red dress which could be used to foreshadow the bloody scenes that follow later. The lighting is natural with a slight tinge which creates a romance feel however, once the lever is pulled the lighting then turns very cold and blue indicating this idea of death. The actors seem pleased with life through their happy enjoyable facial expressions, they are all dancing to the music which signifies that they are having fun. All makeup is natural although the signer has darker eye makeup to perhaps enhance her beauty and importance seen as she is the centre of everyone's entertainment. Every prop has an expensive aspect about it e.g. the Champagne. However, the lever and she sharp tongs on the wire illustrate danger which is then enhanced by the blue tinge of the frame. The ship looks of a high quality standard which links back to the idea that its perhaps a holiday for upper class families/couples.

Sound 

M - Music
C - Contropontial/parallel
D - Diegetic/Non - Diegetic
O - Offscreen
V - Voiceover
E - Emotion
D - Dialogue

Music is relaxing and is sung in a different language although, the signing stops once the flowers are chopped in half. This creates a suspenseful atmosphere as it leaves the audience wondering if the lady is still alive. The sound is contrapuntal once the lever is pulled and blade begins to spin, as we have the lady signing a sweet happy song against a fatal weapon. However, at the beginning of the clip when the couples are dancing to the lady singing the sound is parallel to the images being shown. When the camera shifts to a different room the music becomes offscreen and sort of muffled although its still heard through the walls. Once the bodies begin to fall after being sliced in half we are presented with non - diegetic sounds as we hear their physical painful noises as they die. The sound within creates a calming emotion which completely relaxes you, this is then enhanced by the only dialogue being the signer as we have no choice but to really study the movements and listen to the beautiful song.