DISCUSS THE WAYS IN WHICH THE EXTRACT FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH CONSTRUCTS THE REPRESENTATION OF CLASS AND STATUS USING CAMERA SHOTS, ANGLES, MOVEMENT, COMPOSITION, EDITING, SOUND, AND MISE EN SCENE.

DISCUSS THE WAYS IN WHICH THE EXTRACT FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH CONSTRUCTS THE REPRESENTATION OF CLASS AND STATUS USING CAMERA SHOTS, ANGLES, MOVEMENT, COMPOSITION, EDITING, SOUND, AND MISE EN SCENE.

The extract from Our Friends in the North shows 2 couples in confrontation over a meal in a busy restaurant.

The composition of this extract leaves the character’s faces constantly in the segments of the shot that comply with the rule of thirds. This makes sure the viewer’s eye is always drawn to the key parts of the clip making sure no vital parts of body language or speech are missed. Keeping their faces in the rule of thirds also allows the viewer to see where the power lies. If a person’s face is on the point where 2lines cross then that draws the viewer’s eye to that point, making it the focal point of that shot which emphasises power by making sure attention is kept on that character. At the beginning of this extract, all four characters seem to be on a similar level of control and power with all four of them, when in shot, being on the cross points of the lines that occur when using the rule of thirds. As this clip goes on the shots become much more claustrophobic and this doesn’t apply anymore. Now, instead of all four characters being on the cross point of the line, there is now no more than one person in shot at a time that aligns with these thirds, emphasising power. This links to class in the sense that when the clip becomes more intense, the composition of the shot changes. The working class characters are seen being off theses cross points whereas, the lady of middle class stays in the focal point of the frame.

This links well with the types of shot used. Class is shown very well when it comes to the confrontation part of the extract. The working class people are shown in a high angle shot type, making them seem small and inferior compared to that of the middle class, being shown in a lower angle shot, making her seem much more powerful than people of the working class. This pattern is continued throughout the extract until the end when two of the working class characters are seen to be getting up and leaving the table. This is when there is almost a complete change in roles. The camera pans up to leave both working class characters overlooking the middle class with a low angle shot in place which then cuts to the opposite side of the table with a high angle shot.

This shows how effective angles can be in a shot. Especially when establishing a character. The use of high and low angle shots not only creates tension in the confrontation but also highlights the way in which the class system worked at that time, first off showing the working class and below the middle, physically shown by using high and low angle shots. There is the occasional tilt shot which helps to emphasis the confusion the characters are feeling when comments are being made about things that the other half of the table may not agree with.

 We also see a master shot being used in this extract which is essentially a shot that is referred back to multiple times. This creates an interception between the classes that have clearly been established. This master shot takes the attention from the heated confrontation, created by the angled shots. This then links to the mise on scene in the shot.

The mise on scene is used very efficiently in this extract in terms of costume and set. The costume in this clip is very effective in establishing the class of the two parties. The first party who are seated are seen in a suit and a dress that seems fit for the occasion. As the second party is seated, the woman can be seen wearing a much more formal costume, thus belittling that of the working class. Similarly the setting allows the idea of class to be established easily. Linking back to the idea of a master shot, the setting works in a way that allows a master shot to take place that completely intercepts the conversation and creates a diversion in the conversation. This helps to establish class in the way that the only people that are seen to be talking to the staff member and actually listening to what he has to say are that of the working class, the lady of middle class seems to ignore him, holding her stare.

The sound in this extract is used effectively in showing class in terms of the accents used. The working class are seen to much less well rounded accents, using slag and language they feel is appropriate that may not be considered in the same way by someone of a much higher class. This is almost the complete opposite of the way the middle class are portrayed. She speaks in a manner that is associated with someone of a much higher class. Not only just she speak more highly but she also is much more wary of her surroundings in the sense that she politically corrects things that people of the working class say that she doesn’t think are correctly. Sound is used in a way that creates tension in a similar sense that when the confrontation between the 2 groups becomes more intense, the background and diegetic sound levels drop and the conversation becomes the focal point of the clip, rather than their surrounding which in a way almost contrasts with the idea of representing class as it almost puts every person in the situation on the same level.