Example TEXAS paragraphs about film techniques.

Mark this….. Criteria Achieve – Explains. give a reading of the scene with supportive examples How does Hitchcock build tension in this scene? This scene builds tension through its music. The music builds in volume, tempo and pitch and this makes the audience feel more stressed as we reach the murder. For example, the music that accompanies the character as she sits at the desk is much less frenetic than the music playing as she gets into the shower. This shows that the tension is building towards the murder. Excellent – Analyses perceptively. Give a range of different readings of the scene with supportive examples. Relate it to the rest of the film. Merit – Analyses. Give 2 different readings of the scene with supportive examples relate to The increase in the pace could represent the increased heart rate of the audience and the character. Also, the pitch of the music seems to get higher and higher and this could be building up towards the screams of the murdered leading lady. In another example, when the music reaches the murder scene with a high pitched repetitive screeching, the music then seems to match the screams of the victim. It could also be said to be cutting through the air like the murderer’s knife.

Year 11 example – How does the director show context and relationships in this scene? The director uses a low angle mid-shot to show the power and authority that the pastor has. The audience and the boys are show to be less powerful than the pastor. For example, the low angle of the shot shows that he is looking down physically, metaphorically and morally on the boys. By using a mid-shot we are allowed to see the dog collar that the pastor is wearing. This represents his status within the church. It also shows his commitment to his faith. Perhaps the black shirt has been chosen to highlight the white dog collar and his traditional formality or even metaphorically suggest the contrast between good and evil. Presenting the Pastor in front of a stained glass window suggests his links to the stained glass in church and with light shining onto him, this suggests he is symbolically supported by God. Overall, we feel how small the boys fell and the Point of view shot hammers this home. We are already aware that the culture presented is Samoan and with pragmatic knowledge we realise the status of this character within the culture as well as the film metaphorically morally represents status highlight represents suggests formality pragmatic symbolically contrast

Analyse Analyse in Context – ask yourself when and where and how is this important? Analyse the symbolic meanings and effects Analyse the metaphorical meanings and effects Analyse from different perspectives Look for intended and unintended effects

Year 13 – How does the director build tension in this scene? The use of close ups create tension in this scene. They suggest both feelings and symbolised meaning. For example, the close up of the screaming mouth suggests fear as it highlights her screams for the audience. The choice of the mouth as the focus for this shot may be to demonstrate an expressive and sensual moment. It is clear that in a conservative time such as the 1960’s the shot of the mouth would be very sexual and shocking to the audience of the time. This links to the close up of the knife touching the victim’s stomach. The phallic image is both shockingly suggestive and also preys on the fear of violation. The close ups of the eye is arguably the most important close up here. Even out of context the eye has symbolic connotations as the window of the soul or, being stilled and open, it signifies death. The rotating zoom out could signify the soul leaving the body or the chaos that has occurred. Overall, it seems that the eye, staring out represents t he whole person and shows the stillness and loneliness of the dead woman.