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Unit 4: Story telling Essay psycho By Amrit Chohan 16/05/12

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Contents
Introduction..p3 Main bodyp4 Conclusionp5 List of illustrationsp6 Bibliography.p7

p3 Introduction

This assignment is discussing psycho released in (1960) and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Stating the discussion of techniques of film editing. How camera works do to the related sources for psycho. The sources that will be shown are digital cinematography by Leeuw (1997). This talks about the general terms of camera height and angle. Analysis of Thames and Hudson manual of film editing by Crittenden (1981). Last source is upon grammar of the edit by Thompson (1993). These sources talk about the way camera is used in the direction of the characters movements the direction used. Main Body Camera angle depends on the placement and the setting of the direction. Leeuw an, author and a freelance animator states Camera angle refers to where the camera is placed In relation to the action of the scene. (Leeuw, 1997:p74) Camera angle is all about the placement of the camera and the position as it is crucial. Within the action of the scene it depends where the stage of the environment is set. So a camera can be set in a position where it is focused on a particular scene. Where it could be a close-up where the camera is moved closer to the direction of the scene.

This is taking about the height of the camera. A cameras height is the observation of the camera in height of a scene. Leeuw an author states Two important pieces of information can be communicated or at least implied through the height of the camera. The first is the observers status within the context of the scene. As the camera is the viewpoint of the audience, it sets the scope of the viewers knowledge of what is going on. If the camera is placed high above the scene it places the viewer above the action, making him an uninvolved observer.(Leeuw, 1997:68-69) so looking at a height from a scene shows you the overall picture. The only obstruction in a height of a camera not shown is the character faces. The audience would be unable to see the character in a scene. The character would be hidden. This would build the suspense to the height of the camera the placement of it would bring at more tension. This does make the audience much more focused due to seeing the action in a height of the camera. This brings at another direction to the camera angle.

Fig 1 Psycho-20

p4 This still image is from a film called psycho who was released in (1960) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This image shows of an image of two characters which one is carrying a knife and is running towards the other character. The knife is bold to give an idea to the audience. The knife causes the direction of the knife to the character. This is leading you on to whats going to happen. The height of the camera shows the whole scene so this tells you whats going on in this particular scene. This angle shows another direction to a camera height and this being stable. This scene shows where the killer is coming from. The character just realised whats happening when he turned his head. So this seems to be quiet fast pasted due to this camera angle and the killer is blurred that is showing the speed the character is coming from.

In the middle of an action shows the most interesting moments to the level of action evolved in a scene. Leeuw states If you want to put the viewer right in the middle of our metaphorical riot, put the camera right on the same level as the action. Placing the camera in the thick of things gives the audience less overall scope of the action. (Leeuw, 1997:69) the audience placed in the middle of a scene. So the viewer is not able see clearly due to less visibility. This brings more tension to not seeing the characters faces. So the action will take place and youre not able to see whats happening. This will be leading to the suspense as you cant see the characters face. You wont be able to recognise who that person is. So then the scene is then changed due to the camera level.

Fig 2: Psycho This still image from the film psycho (1960) shows in the middle of the action brings at whats going on. As in the still image you cant make at who it is. But the viewer notices what is going on. As the buck boot of the car is open and the character is putting something in that boot. Noticing this is broad daylight. This builds the suspense. The sense of the distance of the camera gives you the distance of the whole scene. As you can tell whats happening at this camera direction.

p5 Close up shots can show more information do to the objects in the surrounding environment. Thompson an author states The CU is a dramatic shot which emphasizes and magnifies facial reactions, or draws particular attention to a specific thing. (Thompson, 1993:22) dramatic shots show facial reactions when telling the viewers a sense of change due to an expression from a character. Close ups draw attention to a character and then to an object which could be a relation of an object and the character. As its another lead to something different. This is drawing attention to another object which changes after a close up of a character. A shot close up is changed due to the importance of a new adaption.

Fig 3: Manicured The movement of the camera goes well with the visual adaption to the change of the character. This is more reflecting the image. This image of the drain shows that the importance of this drain has something to do from why it has led to this. It could mean that blood is going into the drain. This is why the camera is staying at this point of the close up. Is that person alive this direction brings at the suspense.

A film makes an audience to be aware of an editing sequence. Crittenden an author states Dramatic film often makes good use of allowing the audience to become aware of editing techniques. (Crittenden, 1981:21) a director makes changes to a sequence to a scene. In particular taking a scene such as the shower scene from psycho (1960) the way that the scene has been edited is very fast pasted. In the sense its quick such as the stab wounds are not shown. So its not shown to be gory. This is because the camera angles are edited away from this gory scene and into a changed diversion. This is then leading to something else. Away to leading from the character to an object which can be another close up. The audience becomes aware of the style, of a sequence of the editing of the shower scene. Creating fresh sequences of the shower scene film psycho. Better way of getting the idea across. Such as the kill which leads onto the drain.

p6 Conclusion Camera angle is yes about placement of the camera. A camera can go around in a circle 360 degree angle. Camera height is a wider vision. But can make the audience be in suspense not able to see characters below, such as the faces. Being in an action of a scene again can give you a wider opinion due to the characters appearance. Also being able to observe the background of a scene. Close up shots can give facial reactions and also can draw attention to another object. Close up can change a scene due to the close up filming use in a different direction of an approach. Audience can be aware of film editing by taking close attention to the quick paste of movement used in the shower scene from psycho released in (1960). The director Alfred Hitchcock is trying to make the audience understand the way each piece of film editing is created as quick stabbing shots to make the audience un aware. The making of the shower scene from psycho (1960) is to be unexpected to the audience.

List of illustrations: Fig 1: Psycho-20 Psycho-20 URL at: http://classic--movies.blogspot.com/2010/12/psycho.html (Accessed on 29/02/12) Fig 2: Psycho URL at: http://www.youtube.com/user/agroti (Accessed on 29/02/12) Fig 3: Manicured http://guyhaslerfoundationproduction.blogspot.com/2010/09/psycho-shower-scene-analysis.html (Accessed on 29/02/12) Bibliography:

Crittenden Roger (1981) The Thames and Hudson manual of film editing Great Britain Leeuw (1997) Digital cinematography United Kingdom: London Thompson Roy (1993) grammar of the edit England: London