MASTER & COMMANDER CLASSWORK QUESTIONS

Master & Commander

Why is there a high angle establishing shot?

The establishing shot is a high angle shot which shows us the scenery and sets the scene for us, the audience, to see. It also shows us the sheer size of the vessel. It makes the audience feel the sense of being in the middle of the ocean and no land in sight. This gives us the sense that the ship is vulnerable and isolated.

Which of those under the second question (mise-en-scene, editing, camerawork or sound) would you cover the title sequence under?

Editing

Why have a low angle shot?

The low angle shot makes the audience feel very close to the ocean, and makes us feel how strong the ocean can be, this also makes us feel like we are on the ship with the men. This gives us a sense of suspense and jeopardy.

Why do we have shots such as this one, of the men up the rigging?

To show how high the ship can get and how dangerous the whole enterprise is.

Is that type of shot called an arc pan or a tracking shot? Which leaves the boat facing what?

An arc pan.

It leaves the boat facing the mist and the fog and also the unknown which is a cue for danger.

Did you see someone you didn’t expect to see? Refer to social stereotypes.

This is not a stereotypical child as he on the boat. This is very untypical, as he is given much responsibility that is way beyond his years which is untypical and very uncommon in our modern time

What kind of shot is it when the person moves from one person to another in a conversation?

Shot-reverse-shot

What kind of shot is that?

Point of View shot

Yes or no? Would you use this sequence of how suspense is built up?

Yes

What kind of shot is it when he’s responding with an expression? This is part of how tension is built up.

Pick this as an example of sound.

Sound is used when they are on battle alert in the following way when the drum is used. Drums are a military instrument; they are used as a rallying call to get people into the battle mood. They make a harsh, strong, abrupt noise which affect the people aboard the ship and informs them to act quickly. It is almost used as an alarm.

Pick this as an example of mise-en-scene.

The moment for when the table is cleared for surgery shows us how the table is used for many purposes. We know that the bloodstains come from previous surgeries and the music that is going on in the back is also brutal. This creates suspense and jeopardy.