Film Viewing Practice Essay "Agent Carter"

 

The clip being analyzed is from Agent Carter, directed by Louis D’Esposito, captures many of the elements of film that we have been studying recently. As the scene opens and the marvel intro cinematic is playing, we hear Peggy’s voice. This is an example of a sound bridge: when sound carries over a visual transition in film. After this, we get a flashback between Peggy and Captain America, the scene is full of close ups to convey the emotions these characters feel and to clearly show the audience the tone of the scene. Right before the flashback ends we get a behind the back shot of captain America sitting in his pilot seat heading straight down towards the ground, this shot shows the setting but does not show what he is feeling in these supposedly last moments. On the other line Peggy hears silence/radio static then a fade to black.

After this, the next scene opens with an establishing shot of a city with the words “one year later” to set up the scene and provide detail to what is now happening. In the background, melancholy music plays, helping to inflict emotion in the audience. This use of music is an example of a non-diegetic sound or any sound that the characters on screen cannot hear but the audience can. The scene changes to a lowkey lit office filled with men and Peggy, with an alarm blaring showing something important is going to happen. The boss gets a call that two agents are needed to be sent to go after a man called the zodiac and the music amps up and changes to a faster, more frantic pace, adding much needed drama and intensity to the scene. After Peggy is not picked to go on the mission her boss comes and talks to her and in this confrontation there is a heavy use of over the shoulder shots and eye level shots to make you feel like you are the person who is listening in their place. The eye level shots also help to show details into the faces of the characters demonstrating their personalities.

In the next scene, Peggy is walking to the establishment. During this walk, the mise-en-scene use of costume is exemplified, demonstrating the time period by showing the men wearing clothing from a period like the 50’s, this helps to make the setting more believable. As the men approach Peggy, the setting is dark and is lowkey lit, helping to emphasize the mise-en-scene and make the scene that much more suspenseful. Peggy beats up the men and there is one left. As he goes for his gun, he looks up and she is gone, the whole time an old, classic, song is playing in the back. This is an example of a diegetic sound because the characters on screen can hear it. After, she gets the man at gunpoint and says drop it.

The final scene utilizes the film elements extremely well, convincing the audience of the setting and with the use of music. Overall, the clear use of the film elements really strengthen this clip and (most likely) the show as a whole.