KJ
Conventions of Rom-Com/Comedy Films:
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The Mask - 1994
Outline of The Mask:
When timid bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) discovers a magical mask containing the spirit of the Norse god Loki, his entire life changes. While wearing the mask, Ipkiss becomes a supernatural playboy exuding charm and confidence which allows him to catch the eye of local nightclub singer Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz). Unfortunately, under the mask's influence, Ipkiss also robs a bank, which angers junior crime lord Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene), whose goons get blamed for the heist.
Director: Chuck Russel
This is a video clip of Ipkiss (Jim Carrey), performing a musical dance called 'Cuban Pete', to escape from a group of police trying to capture him. Click the arrow at the centre to watch!
Mis-En-Scene:
In the film "The Mask", the setting takes place in a city called "Edge City', which is set in an early modern fashion in an unknown region (possibly in the US). When Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) wears a mask, we see a personality change and the change of clothes he wears. Ipkiss in his mask form wears colourful suits and a hat to present his stereotypical, 1920 supernatural playboy appearance, with the green makeup further demonstrating his possesed and comical appearance.
Another example is the range of suits and colourful clothes that Ipkiss wears, such as the red suit when he wonders around the city, a yellow suit when he goes on a night club, a french playboy costume when he meets Tina (Cameron Diaz), a mexican dancer costume and a black, gangster suit when he battles against the crime lord Dorian (Peter Greene).
Editing:
CGI is used alot in Ipkiss' comical actions, such as the gif scene where Ipkiss has been surrounded by the police and releases a comical, pop out scream to demonstrate his ridiculous shock. In the youtube video, the scene where the mask traps the two detectives by heavily sealing the door, the scene was edited in fast mode, to demonstrate the quick speed of Ipkiss's powers and his comical action in escaping from the police.
Sound:
Most of the comical non-diegetic music comes from the main protagonist, only when he wore his magical mask and makes his sudden appearance. An example of this is when Ipkiss starts dancing with the "Cuban Pete" music to distract the police. From watching the youtube video, the non-diegetic musical also demonstrates the protagonist's bizzare, but yet cool demanour.
Camera
This is a medium shot of Ipkiss's surprise of spotting a female singer, performing on stage in a massive Casino. The use of CGI is to present Ipkiss's funny side, with his open jaw stretching wider to touching the dinning table, making it seem realistic.
The over the shoulder, two shot is used to present a stereotype between the serious, straightforward security guard and Ipkiss's playboy persona, with a massive amount of cash on his hands. This is to define how hilarious and stupid the main protagonist does in avoiding trouble, where in truth, he causes a lot of trouble.
This low angle shot is use to present Ipkiss's courage of wearing a mysterious mask, where he feels a sense of fear from the mask's sudden attachment to his facial skin, but a sense of curiosity of the mask's mysterious powers.
This two shot presents Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) being in a romantic relationship with Tina (Cameron Diaz). The wide shot of the two characters, staring at the lights in the sky, conveys that they are inseparable in leaving each other and admiring the natural atmosphere.
Click the images to view the written text that explains about the use of these camera shots. When on image view, click the arrows that is displayed on the left/right screen to view the next slide.
What Happens In Vegas- 2008
Outline of What Happens In Vegas:
During a wild vacation in Las Vegas, career woman Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) and playboy Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher), came to the sober realization that they have married each other after a night of drunken abandon. Besides that, there is a huge jackpot at stake. An implacable judge freezes the prize money and refuses to grant an annulment, so Joy and Jack must try to make their strange marriage work.
Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
This is a video clip of Joy (Cameron Diaz) and Jack (Ashton Kutcher), trying to make their strange marriage work by living together in Jack's appartment. Joy then realises that she won't make it in living in Jack's awful habbits. Click the arrow at the centre to watch!
Mis-En-Scene:
In the film "What Happens in Vegas", we are introduced to two protagonists (Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher), where they suddenly realised that they are married after getting drunk from a party in Vegas. The drama mostly takes place in a city, where the rivalry of two protagonists suddenly realise that they are both in love.
The costume they wear are modern, but Joy (Cameron Diaz) wears makeup, slightly revealing clothes, which demonstrates her "dumb blonde" lifestyle, but retains her personality of keeping herself clean and in order.
Jack (Ashton Kutcher), is represented as a modern playboy who enjoys his messy lifestyle, but his lifestyle overtakes him in being a troublesome, bored character who ends up getting drunk and marrying Joy by accident.
Editing:
Most of the editing is cuts between two character or more when they talk or going to a different area. There are quick cuts used in this film for example, the sudden revenge surprise on this gif image creates this comical, yet funny by one of the character's reaction towards this crazy revenge. Quick cuts is also used from the youtube video, where we see Joy's reaction towards the bathroom being dirty and commented if Jack was "training monkeys".
Sound:
From watching the youtube video of Joy moving in with Jack, we can hear the comical, non-diegetic violin sound where we see Joy's reaction towards the bathroom being untreated and filled with rubbish. Another example of a comical music is the longtake scene of Joy, cleaning up Jack's bed so that she can peacefull sleep without the stink smell. The use of this non-diegetc sound was to present Joy's discomfort towards Jack's messy lifestyle.
Camera
This two shot scene presents the two protagonists being separate towards each other. From this shot, we can see that Jack (Ashton Kutcher) is showing a sign of boredom, as we can see that he is reaching towards snatching the popcorn from Joy (Cameron Diaz). This conveys that Joy is disgust of this "marriage" lifestyle.
This is a display shot of the characters staring at the dirty chaos of the bathroom. This shot presents Joy (Cameron Diaz) feeling uncomfortable of the messy bathroom, where as Jack (Ashton Kutcher) doesn't seem to mind with the mess or not bothered cleaning it.
This is a medium shot of Jack and Joy, getting married while drunk. This shot is mostly used to reveal the ending of the film, where we get to see the two rival protagonists, ending up marrying each other after the long term event of living in a strange marriage. Their drunk expression could also reflect the humorous, funny side of how the two couples are married during their time in Vegas, reflecting to the title 'What Happens In Vegas'.
This is a two shot of Joy and Jack, shocked about the negative review of their strange marriage from the interviewer. This shot is used to allow the audience to feel the need to laugh, as the two main characters make bizarrely weird, shocked reaction, including Jack's opened mouth to express his shock.
Click the images to view the written text that explains about the use of these camera shots. When on image view, click the arrows that is displayed on the left/right screen to view the next slide.