For my film analysis I will be looking at the 20th Century Fox film 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium'.
Purpose
The purpose of 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium' is to entertain multiple generations of viewers, it does this by enticing consumers with comedic and genuinely touching characters, each of these attempting to relate to at least one of the people watching. Special effects are used in the emporium- there's a room made up of bouncing balls and slinkys that move on their own accord- this adds an element of magic to the toy store so it becomes entertaining and intriguing; the viewer wants it to exist (https://youtu.be/jaHedefjC1U).
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium has been made to target a mass audience as it has an age rating 'U' and is classified as a family film so that more people will watch it. It is an international film and premiered across locations like England, America and Europe and was developed to make money for 20th Century Fox, otherwise known as a commercial product, as they distributed the film and they are a conglomerate.
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium has been made to target a mass audience as it has an age rating 'U' and is classified as a family film so that more people will watch it. It is an international film and premiered across locations like England, America and Europe and was developed to make money for 20th Century Fox, otherwise known as a commercial product, as they distributed the film and they are a conglomerate.
Genre
Daniel Chandler (2001) 'Genre means type or category'.
The film has multiple genres, making it a hybrid of Fantasy adventure what with the journey the characters go on in the way they treat the store. The actual magic within the story gives the film a fantastical quality, the emporium is made up of things which in our world would be impossible so it creates a fantasy world (https://youtu.be/HVTPetDiJ-c). There are aspects of comedy within the movie as well, there are jokes and amusing scenarios created by the characters but each have their own stories which are dramatic and heartfelt.
Form
The film I'm looking at is a feature film with a total running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has been distributed over many platforms to reach a wider audience, for instance: DVD, streaming TV (sky box office), streaming websites (Netflix), cinema, pirate websites, downloading it onto a device and watching it on TV (Sky movies).
Style
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium has a very modern aesthetic as it is set in 20th/21st century, the world it's in creates a feeling of verisimilitude but the magic taking place in the emporium detracts slightly from this quality. The futuristic/magical aspects give the impression it is perhaps set in another world similar to our own yet different, but there is also something nostalgic in it as many people watching will recognise the qualities of an old toy store when they watch it.
Narrative Structures
There are multiple theories as to the plot points that every narrative must follow, for instance Todorov's (1977) belief of an equilibrium and then disruption. Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium follows this structure soundly- it begins with the normality of Mr Magorium content in running his magical emporium, but soon we are faced with the enigma; Mr Magorium is dying and the toy store doesn’t want him to leave. The magic no longer works properly and this continues after his death, until Molly finally decides to take over the toy store and a new balance returns.
Kate Domaille believed every story had certain characteristics and mine has three of these- the achilles (flaw of a character) is both that Mr. Magorium is running out of time and that Molly cannot complete her concerto, which also links into the Orpheus (the problem or loss that a character must recover). Molly’s story follows the Cinderella pattern as she eventually takes over the store and gains the confidence she needs, simultaneously Eric makes a real friend. All these narrative types are used to reflect the fantasy genre and target a mass audience.
Claude Levi-Strauss said that every film must have binary opposition, in my film this is less obvious but the dominant characters seem to be the adults destroying the childish dream-whether this be by trying to buy the store and change it’s purpose or by other means- and the subordinate character is Molly, left behind by Mr. Magorium and unsure of what to do.
Sound
This scene takes place a few minutes into the movie and is a brilliant example of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds within films. There are multiple diegetic sounds that can be detected; Molly knocks on the door before opening and shutting it, there is some degree of tension in this as it is the first time the audience has met Mr. Magorium. A single non-diegetic noise can be heard from the other side of the door, Mr. Magorium’s singing! He is not singing a song that is recognisable and sounds as if it is upbeat and improvised in order to reflect his character, from this we can connote that he is quite a joyous and creative, perhaps with little care for following the ‘rules’ in life. Dialogue begins to take place between Molly and Mr. Magorium as she enters the apartment. Throughout the scene there is incidental music denoted playing in the background which is cheery and features nonsensical sounds- denoting an overall bizarre mood of the apartment as Wallace and Gromit like machines whirr all over the place. We can connote that the apartment itself represents Magorium as a character as the music is similar to the tune he was previously humming and he almost blends in with the atmosphere; the apartment oozes personality and makes the audience feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff within it. However, what was initially incidental music becomes diegetic as Mr. Magorium takes the needle off the record and the song stops abruptly. The strange devices in the room release a constant offset of non-diegetic sounds from pots clanging and the coffee maker steaming in the opposite room to a zebra honking and a bouncy ball squeaking. Upon Magorium entering the changing room there is the obvious noise of devices moving around to suit him, this connotes that perhaps this is a metaphor for him life- he is the type of charismatic, magnetic person that people and even inanimate objects revolve around because of their attachment to him.
Sound is a key element in any movie as it enforces reality within the narrative to create verisimilitude, otherwise known as the appearance of being real. There are two categories to it; diegetic sounds and non-diegetic sounds. The title sequence is made up entirely on non-diegetic sound as music is denoted playing over the top of it-an orchestral piece which is mainly brass. The title sequence connotes fun and excitement, it offers viewers a taste of what they are to expect within the emporium and the simplistic art of the sequence imitates the minds of the children within the store to relate to the children watching. The upbeat and rhythmic tempo of the music compliments the sequence occurring before the audience as a bouncing red ball leads them around the various scene changes- it also manages to link in well to the rest of the story as the main character Molly is a composer so the soundtrack tends to drive the narrative. At points we watch as she is denoted miming playing the piano on the bus home, each note sounding only in her mind as the other passengers look on obliviously. From this we can connote that she is similar to Mr Magorium is some ways, the audience feels that there is an aspect of magic from the toy store that she takes with her when she leaves. Even when the audience is not being shown the toy store on screen it is as if every character has somehow been effected by it and very little are the fantastical qualities not present within the movie. Her struggle as a pianist is the enigma of the story and these scenes keep her issues relevant. Immediately after the title sequence we are greeted by Eric as he introduces us to the story and it’s characters through a reoccurring voiceover. This voiceover is diegetic as the words are coming from a character that exists within that world. His voice connotes the age and thus childish nature of his character, reinforcing the fantasy genre as we are obviously looking back on a story being told by his disembodied voice and theres an element of mystery as we do not know what has happened to make him look back on it but we know he must be important to the diegesis. Eric’s single voice is representative of not only the many children that visit the emporium but also each and every person that Mr. Magorium has touched the life of- each person he has met and become a part of their own story throughout his adventures. Such a child-like narrator will manage to resonate with the kids watching the movie as well as perhaps resonating somewhere with adults watching and recalling their own youth.
Leading on from the voice over there is an example of dialogue when Mr. Magorium tells his new accountant Henry ‘’It’s a magical toy store, it can do all sorts of things’’. This particular line reinforces the fantastical genre of the film by showing almost a child like abandon to the realm of reality; the fact it is a magical toy store is merely a fact and nothing else in Magorium’s eyes. It even manages to intrigue the consumer by connoting there is ever more to the toy store than the wonders we have already seen, those watching become excited for the prospect of it. However there are many non-diegetic noises within the emporium as, after all, it is a magical toy store! There are sound effects denoted such as the chatter made by dolls on the shelves, the noises of the fresh fish mobile, toy aeroplanes and the groaning made by the walls as the emporium begins to fall apart. Each of these noises along with the bright colours enforces the genre by connoting magic and happiness which is evident within the toy store, it evokes wonder in the audience because it is the toy store everyone dreams of being real- or dreamt of. These connotations turn the emporium into a character, it feels alive and vibrant as the toys fill it up.
Mise en scene
Mise en scene
Mise en scene is a french term which means ‘everything within the frame’, it is known as a micro-element and is encoded within films and trailers in order to give meaning to them. Factors of mise en scene include: location, costume/make up, props, lighting and gestures.
Locations are a very important factor when it comes to creating verisimilitude within films- the location in which the majority of my narrative takes place is within the emporium itself. The emporium is denoted as being very brightly coloured and filled with a multitude of different toys that appear to be constantly in action, whether somebody is using them or not- not only becoming a part of the location but also iconography. The fact they move by themselves connotes a truly magical element to the store to reenforce the genre and the way the store presents itself is a feast for the eyes; the emporium seems to mirror the simple joy of the children within it, as if it is adapting to their approval similarly to a child trying to make a friend. From the sheer multitude of toys denoted the audience are led to believe the store must be very old as they make a huge collection, leaving them in no small amount of awe. Eric is one of the children that visits the toy store, he has only one friend of whom is Molly Mahoney, much older than Eric! For him, the emporium feeds heavily into his side narrative as its the only place he feels less alone- even if the other children ignore him- because of how full the toy store truly is, and perhaps it is connoted that the toys within represent friends for Eric and any children struggling like him. His room at home is shown a handful of times throughout the movie, at the times when he feels alone it is often dark- this connotes isolation and a sense of being lost; none of the other kids will talk to him and Eric is at an emotional loss as to who he should try and be, stay himself? Or try and change to fit in? When he brings his first friend home the room is better lit, it has a more comfortable and warm feel to it, a total contrast from before. This seems to connote a changing point in his young life, things are looking up for Eric the underdog!
Another important aspect of mise en scene is the costume. The costume is used to reflect the diegesis and create representation of individual characters by showing their mindset and mood through their attire. For instance, Mr. Magorium is connoted as both a eccentric and interesting character and this is denoted through his clothes-always a suit, often brightly coloured whether it be the tie or the jacket to represent that he is different from other people in some way. Magorium comments that he found the shoes he wears in a shop in Tuscany and bought enough pairs to last him a lifetime, adding to the magical element of the movie- how would he even know how many to buy? Throughout the entire movie he wears a similar costume, even when it is his ‘death scene’. From this we can connote that he is ready to depart and is content with how his life played out as he says repeatedly throughout the movie, it may also be that he wore this suit in order to treat dying the same way as he had lived- like an adventure. Henry, the accountant, also wears a suit but it is in obvious contrast to Mr. Magorium’s own. His are boring and ordinary, reflecting his personality when he comes to the store as he does not believe in the emporiums magic. This may connote that Henry has conformed to the rest of the world, but stepping into the toy store he is no longer allowed to be so ordinary- his costume reflects his narrative of gradually opening his mind to new possibilities. This may relate to some of the parents in the audience, giving them something to think on. Eric is denoted wearing a new hat every day and has surmounted quite the collection- this is connoted as being both his skill and his fatal flaw, its the reason the other kids think he's weird. His wardrobe has the biggest effect on his story, by trying to be himself he is being shunned and he faces this dilemma throughout the movie.
In films certain characters will have props that relate to their narrative or current state. Props is short for property and certain props are considered ‘iconography’, meaning an icon of the genre based on the diegesis. They may create stereotypical representations that become recognised and create ideologies for viewers. An example of this is Mr. Magorium’s shoes, a part of his costume but also a very distant prop throughout the movie, similarly to Eric’s hats they are what set him apart from other people and keep his aura of magic relevant. He constantly refers to them, the shoes are denoted as ‘his last pair’ after buying enough to last his entire life- in this sense they moderate as a ticking clock throughout the film representing the time Magorium has left. This connotes that they act as a metaphor for his eventual ‘departure’, linking in with the movies target audience as kids cannot be expected to cope with hard hitting subjects such as death with such ease. A lot of characters within Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium appear to have a toy of sorts which reflects them as a character- Magoriums is not actually his shoe but instead a paper aeroplane. A couple of times during the movie he makes one and allows it to fly free around the shop, but in his last moments alive he takes a paper aeroplane out of a glass case and throws it. The aeroplane connotes that it represents Magorium, he is dying now but in death he is considered to be ‘free’ much like the plane. Molly is denoted as being given a wooden block in the first part of the movie, much to her confusion. She finds no use for it initially but eventually realises that the block is much like herself, connoting that it only needs somebody to believe in it for it to do something amazing. This is an iconic prop as it is what adds mystery to the movie, the audience wonders why Mr. Magorium would give her such a useless gift. But in the end it is not the block which we uncover the mysteries of, but Molly. Finally, the ‘mutant’ Henry passes by a sock monkey denoted several times within the toy store, never does he notice it but each time he goes past the monkey moves to try and hug him. Henry does not see any of the magic taking place within the toy store and is always conveniently missing from the scenes where something fantastical takes place- in movies there is stereotypically a character which must learn something from the events unfolding. The monkey reaching out to him may connote his inability to open his mind and believe in the wonder of the emporium, or the adult mind and close mindedness. Only at the end of the movie, when he has learnt that even as an adult you are still allowed to be a child, does the sock puppet finally manage to hug him before he walks away; signifying his acceptance of the childish sense in the emporium.
The lighting and colours are very important in films as they create the mood and emotion of each scene. There are two kinds of lighting: low key and high key. High key lighting is when the scene is bright (sun is high) as it is throughout the majority of the movie in the toy store. The brightness encodes happiness and prosperity within the toy store as it is flourishing because of the joy it imbues the visiting children with. As well as this it connotes hope, Mr. Magorium’s hope that by teaching children to be creative they will continue to be creative throughout their life and not give this up in the way that Henry initially has. Another scene of high key lighting is the park where Magorium tap dances, Molly wants to make one of his last days as happy as possible and this is how she is denoted as hoping to achieve it. The lighting connotes the joy the pair feel at spending their day as such, it gives Molly some amount of hope too, hope that Mr. Magorium may not be ready to die after experiencing a day like this. Magorium sees it differently to her however, he sees this happy day instead as a celebration of his life; not hope for him to continue living it. Low key lighting is when the scene is dark and there is very little light for example in Eric’s bedroom at the start of the movie- only white light from his toys are present in the room. The lack of light encodes a feeling of isolation for his character- he has no other friends to share in this darkness with and thus it may begin to feel more constricting and threatening to him, he is afraid of being alone forever. The darkness also connotes his fear of the unknown; he has no friends so he doesn’t know how to get one. a key point of darkness within the movie is after Mr. Magorium has died and the emporium rejects everyone, instead of being bright and colourful like it normally denoted there is a stark contrast- the walls and toys are grey and barely lit. This is connoting the darker side of the store, it feels like it has lost all hope now it’s previous owner is dead so it is acting much in the way a child would and throwing a temper tantrum. It is a gradual process as the toy stores colours fade from bright and new to a peeled grey- reflecting the emotions of each characters throughout the movie.
Gestures in a movie are the body movements of a character. Molly’s gestures are particularly repetitive and influential as throughout the movie she is denoted playing on a piano that isn’t there in an effort to finish her concerto. This keeps her side story relevant throughout the mayhem the emporium provokes in everyones lives. Molly firmly believes she is not magic but there is something fantastical connoted in the way that she manages to envision each note the piano would make, tying in with a stereotypical representation of a woman as she is subservient and has a low opinion of herself and only has to believe she is magic to be so. When she and Magorium go to the emporium shortly before he departs they are denoted hugging, the first time we have seen any character publicly display affection in the film. Because of this we connote that they must care and love each other and that there is some finality in this, the audience are overcome with sadness in the way she needs to physically hold onto him to remind herself he hasn’t gone yet. This is a family film and the love shown here gives an almost message to not take what you have for granted whilst you have it.
Camera work
Shot type:
This is an interior wide shot, it denotes the emporium which features a lot of colour in the scene and a multitude of toys. This shot connotes that is must be early in the narrative stage as it is presenting the emporium to the viewers. The colours and toys are bright which connotes joy and childishness, they stereotypically attract young kids and the toys symbolise youth and innocence as kids are still attached to these inanimate objects. We have learnt prior to this scene that the main characters either work here or visit the emporium often, which may connote their characteristics- they must still have some love for the world they knew as a child, like Mr. Magorium, or that they are still experiencing, like Eric.
This is a two-shot denoting an adult and young boy in a well-lit room full of hats. This connotes that they are friends as they both have hats on, this may also connote bridging the gap between adults and children or an adult one again experiencing the simple joy of being a child. It also connotes the different characters- whilst the man has a tie and shirt to connote strictness, the boy has a brightly striped shirt on to connote aspects of childishness and also freedom as he does not have a dress code to adhere to. The eye level angle of the shot is used as it denotes the physical difference between the two, not only their clothes but their height. From this angle the obvious differences between the two characters are highlighted but it connotes to the audience that the two may share more emotional similarities, no binary opposition exists between these two ages.
Angles:
A high angled close up shot is denoted here as it is above the box. The angle and lighting connotes mystery as it focuses hugely on what appears to be a pointless object, unrelated to the narrative. It connotes something may be happening soon in relation to the box and that it is actually important, the shot is done in shallow depth and the background is out of focus so our eyes are attracted purely to detail of the box. The camera lingers on this shot for a long time so the audience begins to anticipate something to happen- when it does not we are left puzzled but intrigued by the prospect of something happening later on in the narrative. This wooden box becomes the enigma of the story as well as an important part of iconography.
Denoted here is a low angle which connotes strength- the audience knows the book Molly is opening is magical and powerful. The angle connotes dominance of both her and the book as she masterfully controls it; challenging the typical stereotype of women being subservient. It also puts you on the same height as one of the children in the toy store so you can imagine how they would feel being a bystander during this spectacle; similar to the audience.
Movements:
Another camera movement is when Bellini, the book builder, sets a book down and the camera tilts at a medium shot from his head down to the book- denoting the stature of the large man. The opening of the book that is denoted connotes the narrative point of the story as it is the beginning, giving the impression of an old fashioned fairy tale; very ‘once upon a time’ like. Whilst Bellini is a very tough looking man, fitting to the stereotype, we also see in the previous camera shot that he still sleeps with a stuffed toy- contrasting entirely to his appearance. The ease with which he handles the books connotes he has done it many times before, perhaps with Mr Magorium or with other people. This already exudes a mysterious and magical tone, who lives in a basement and documents the lives of people of no notable grandeur?
Shot reverse shot structure is when the camera cuts between characters repeatedly in a scene, typically used in conversations. This scene is a perfect example of shot reverse shot structure between Molly and Mr. Magorium as she enters his apartment to discuss the future of her job with him. Initially the camera uses close up shots at eye level of each character during the scene and the background is out of focus. However, when Magorium declares he wants to give her a gift and they move to the kitchen, medium close up shots are still used but they are done over the shoulder. Denoted in the shot is a well lit apartment with a multitude of brightly coloured objects out of focus in the background. This may connote Magorium’s personality as being carefree and messy, creative and a mind with many tracks- or perhaps that he has been on many adventures and leads a busy life because of all the possessions in his home; he even has ties in his dishwasher. The light in the room connotes hope as Molly is struggling and Mr. Magorium wishes solely to help her fix her problems- giving her the block of wood in an attempt to help her. Denoted here are two characters of, realistically, different levels of power. Not only because of the binary opposition of their genders and ages but also the fact that Magorium is Molly’s boss and should have control over her. What actually happens during this scene though does not promote the stereotypical power gap between these two, instead they speak as friends on equal levels. The audience begin to sense the disequilibrium evident in Molly’s life, evoking emotions of pity within them and they begin to cheer for her in the hopes that she will overcome the challenges before her- fitting into the narrative theory of Orpheus as she has lost faith in her ability. Here she is acting even more than Magorium, completely opposing the idea that women simply appear in films.
An insert shot is used to draw the audiences attention to something that was only a part of the previous shot e.g. usually a prop (iconography). The first shot will often be a wide shot (may be deep depth) but then it will go straight into a close up shot (may be shallow depth) to connote importance. It almost always involves a close up shot. This scene shows a sock monkey reaching out to grab Henry before he walks away and the toy is left on the shelf. The scene begins with medium long shot eye level of Henry stood in front of toys, as the audience see sock monkey begin to move Henry steps offscreen and the camera switches to a close up of the distressed sock monkey. Denoted here is a multitude of toys on the shelves, yet it is this specific one that reaches out. The fact he is reaching out connotes sadness and loneliness even among so many others, this may reflect Henry as a character- perhaps he feels out of place in the world even with so many people exactly like him, or probably because of this fact. Sock monkey may connote Henry’s childish desires reaching out to him now he has returned to a place of such alluring wonder and creativity, yet the toy does not actually come into contact with him until the end of the film- which may connote his need to be mature all of the time until the end of the film. Similarly to Henry, the sock monkey is majorly grey although he has highlights of red on his lips and neck. In this case the colour red connotes desire, as aforementioned, specifically Henry’s childish desires being reawakened. The monkey signifies the disequilibrium in Henry’s side of the story as he must embrace the child still inside of him, the enigma is only solved once he has overcome his own personal problems. When the audience watch this scene they will encounter feelings of sadness and pity for the sock monkey, as well as a strong desire of their own for him to be united with the man. The fact that the monkey is considered very cute will only serve to strengthen their wish for him to be happy.
An eyeline match is when the character is looking at something and then the camera cuts towards what they are looking at (their perspective or point of view). It’s a type of shot reverse shot structure. This scene begins at a low angle, we see a shot of Henry looking around at medium close up and then looking down at something. At this point it switches to a high angled shot of a small child beneath him. Henry is denoted wearing a grey suit and tie, connoting that his character may be quite a boring and typical office worker- he has grown up unlike the kids in the toy store and he is now stuck in the daily bump and grind of life, working to earn a living. He looks around rather awkwardly when left by himself, possibly connoting he feels out of place in the toy store as he no longer fits in there like he may have as a child. The young boy staring up at him is denoted as wearing a bright, knitted shirt and holding a stuffed bear. This toy connotes him literally holding onto his innocence and the clothes he wears are colour-coded quite similarly to the sweets in a barrel beside him which connote creativity and attraction because of their brightness. Unlike Henry, he belongs in this store, even physically matching it. The disapproving expression denoted on his face shows he does not like Henry being in the store and connotes he has realised that this man is out of place here; whilst he may be normal in the most accurate sense outside of the store, the emporium is connoted as having rules of its own because of the magic taking place within, so here he is an outsider. Levi-Strauss believed there is binary opposition in films between specific groups, here it is the young and the old. The young boy stamps on Henry, the adult’s, foot (showing the sterotype of kids being mischievous) within moments of meeting him as he feels he is out of place here is maybe participating in the destruction of the childish dream by being there. Henry’s arrival represents the beginning of a disequilibrium in the story as he quite literally becomes the bearer of bad news (he is only there to ensure Molly is given full ownership of the store after Magorium dies). This scene is mostly amusing for the audience, such a small child inflicting pain on an adult is practically comical, but theres also an element of sadness. It seems the adult has outgrown all these childish toys and the older members of the audience may appreciate this as they no longer fit into that generation.
An action match is where an action will begin in one shot but it will continue over the next shot (or more) to disguise the fact that there has been a cut. In this scene a giant bouncy ball chases a young boy. The first shot shows the bouncy ball beginning to roll at a low close up angle, before going to the boy at wide shot. It then proceeds into a wide high angle and switches between this and being stationary at eye level with the boy as he is being chased. The denoted shadow being cast by the ball connotes danger, menace and threat, which gives a comical effect in this case as it’s actually a giant dodgeball chasing the kid. The size of the dodgeball is emphasised as smaller balls are denoted bouncing around in the same room- the immenseness connotes magic and importance in the scene. In this you probably learn more about Mr Magorium as it belongs to him, having such a nonsensical device connotes his own desire to retain that childish notion of having things for no reason but for the sake of it. The audience will find amusement in this scene, it is one of the key moments within the film as it enforces the childish tone. Here, we get to look at what truly makes the emporium magical- rooms like the one presented in this scene are what makes it different from anywhere else and the children in the audience will be in awe of this.
Camera work
In any film you will find many different shots and angles edited together to create continuity, establishing a logical coherence between shots so the narrative runs smoothly. Shots and angles are important in adding mood to a scene or complimenting the diegesis; we may not always notice them but they have a huge effect on the way we watch films.
Shot type:
This is an interior wide shot, it denotes the emporium which features a lot of colour in the scene and a multitude of toys. This shot connotes that is must be early in the narrative stage as it is presenting the emporium to the viewers. The colours and toys are bright which connotes joy and childishness, they stereotypically attract young kids and the toys symbolise youth and innocence as kids are still attached to these inanimate objects. We have learnt prior to this scene that the main characters either work here or visit the emporium often, which may connote their characteristics- they must still have some love for the world they knew as a child, like Mr. Magorium, or that they are still experiencing, like Eric. 
This is a two-shot denoting an adult and young boy in a well-lit room full of hats. This connotes that they are friends as they both have hats on, this may also connote bridging the gap between adults and children or an adult one again experiencing the simple joy of being a child. It also connotes the different characters- whilst the man has a tie and shirt to connote strictness, the boy has a brightly striped shirt on to connote aspects of childishness and also freedom as he does not have a dress code to adhere to. The eye level angle of the shot is used as it denotes the physical difference between the two, not only their clothes but their height. From this angle the obvious differences between the two characters are highlighted but it connotes to the audience that the two may share more emotional similarities, no binary opposition exists between these two ages.Angles:
Movements:
At the beginning of the movie, the camera follows Molly walking along the pavement to the toy store from the other side of the street at a long shot. This could also be considered an establishing shot as the road the store is along is denoted and catch a glimpse of the emporium’s exterior for the first time, connoting that it is early on in the narrative. This connotes a journey being made by Molly, not only physically but emotionally as the audience know she is one of the protagonists of the film and we expect the movie to follow the usual path of a disequilibrium and then a new equilibrium. Not only this but Molly’s personality is also encoded into the way she dresses and walks in the scene. She dresses in quite a ‘tom boy’ manner, once again diverting from a typical woman that would be dressed to serve ‘the male gaze’ (Laura Mulvey 1975).
Another camera movement is when Bellini, the book builder, sets a book down and the camera tilts at a medium shot from his head down to the book- denoting the stature of the large man. The opening of the book that is denoted connotes the narrative point of the story as it is the beginning, giving the impression of an old fashioned fairy tale; very ‘once upon a time’ like. Whilst Bellini is a very tough looking man, fitting to the stereotype, we also see in the previous camera shot that he still sleeps with a stuffed toy- contrasting entirely to his appearance. The ease with which he handles the books connotes he has done it many times before, perhaps with Mr Magorium or with other people. This already exudes a mysterious and magical tone, who lives in a basement and documents the lives of people of no notable grandeur?
Focus type:
When Molly and Magorium walk into the emporium together and hug as he gives his ‘King Lear’ speech, the background is denoted as being out of focus or in shallow depth. The shot is a medium close up on each of their face which connotes the importance of the characters to each other, and the irrelevance of the rest of the emporium- they are both focused solely on the other throughout the scene. The close up on their faces shows the importance of the emotion, sadness is encoded within their expressions and they share these emotions with the audience. Here, both characters speak to each other as equals; there is no binary opposition because of their genders or age, as with characters throughout the entire movie. Berger (1972) said that “Men act, women appear” which is certainly not the case here, in this scene Molly stands on the same level as her boss who should realistically have power over her character.
Editing
Editing
Editing involves going through the film and modifying or taking away unnecessary footage as well as adding in narrative transitions, sounds (or emphasising the sounds by making them louder) and effects. The leftover footage is then arranged in continuity order to create the narrative of the diegesis.
Shot reverse shot structure is when the camera cuts between characters repeatedly in a scene, typically used in conversations. This scene is a perfect example of shot reverse shot structure between Molly and Mr. Magorium as she enters his apartment to discuss the future of her job with him. Initially the camera uses close up shots at eye level of each character during the scene and the background is out of focus. However, when Magorium declares he wants to give her a gift and they move to the kitchen, medium close up shots are still used but they are done over the shoulder. Denoted in the shot is a well lit apartment with a multitude of brightly coloured objects out of focus in the background. This may connote Magorium’s personality as being carefree and messy, creative and a mind with many tracks- or perhaps that he has been on many adventures and leads a busy life because of all the possessions in his home; he even has ties in his dishwasher. The light in the room connotes hope as Molly is struggling and Mr. Magorium wishes solely to help her fix her problems- giving her the block of wood in an attempt to help her. Denoted here are two characters of, realistically, different levels of power. Not only because of the binary opposition of their genders and ages but also the fact that Magorium is Molly’s boss and should have control over her. What actually happens during this scene though does not promote the stereotypical power gap between these two, instead they speak as friends on equal levels. The audience begin to sense the disequilibrium evident in Molly’s life, evoking emotions of pity within them and they begin to cheer for her in the hopes that she will overcome the challenges before her- fitting into the narrative theory of Orpheus as she has lost faith in her ability. Here she is acting even more than Magorium, completely opposing the idea that women simply appear in films.
An insert shot is used to draw the audiences attention to something that was only a part of the previous shot e.g. usually a prop (iconography). The first shot will often be a wide shot (may be deep depth) but then it will go straight into a close up shot (may be shallow depth) to connote importance. It almost always involves a close up shot. This scene shows a sock monkey reaching out to grab Henry before he walks away and the toy is left on the shelf. The scene begins with medium long shot eye level of Henry stood in front of toys, as the audience see sock monkey begin to move Henry steps offscreen and the camera switches to a close up of the distressed sock monkey. Denoted here is a multitude of toys on the shelves, yet it is this specific one that reaches out. The fact he is reaching out connotes sadness and loneliness even among so many others, this may reflect Henry as a character- perhaps he feels out of place in the world even with so many people exactly like him, or probably because of this fact. Sock monkey may connote Henry’s childish desires reaching out to him now he has returned to a place of such alluring wonder and creativity, yet the toy does not actually come into contact with him until the end of the film- which may connote his need to be mature all of the time until the end of the film. Similarly to Henry, the sock monkey is majorly grey although he has highlights of red on his lips and neck. In this case the colour red connotes desire, as aforementioned, specifically Henry’s childish desires being reawakened. The monkey signifies the disequilibrium in Henry’s side of the story as he must embrace the child still inside of him, the enigma is only solved once he has overcome his own personal problems. When the audience watch this scene they will encounter feelings of sadness and pity for the sock monkey, as well as a strong desire of their own for him to be united with the man. The fact that the monkey is considered very cute will only serve to strengthen their wish for him to be happy.
An eyeline match is when the character is looking at something and then the camera cuts towards what they are looking at (their perspective or point of view). It’s a type of shot reverse shot structure. This scene begins at a low angle, we see a shot of Henry looking around at medium close up and then looking down at something. At this point it switches to a high angled shot of a small child beneath him. Henry is denoted wearing a grey suit and tie, connoting that his character may be quite a boring and typical office worker- he has grown up unlike the kids in the toy store and he is now stuck in the daily bump and grind of life, working to earn a living. He looks around rather awkwardly when left by himself, possibly connoting he feels out of place in the toy store as he no longer fits in there like he may have as a child. The young boy staring up at him is denoted as wearing a bright, knitted shirt and holding a stuffed bear. This toy connotes him literally holding onto his innocence and the clothes he wears are colour-coded quite similarly to the sweets in a barrel beside him which connote creativity and attraction because of their brightness. Unlike Henry, he belongs in this store, even physically matching it. The disapproving expression denoted on his face shows he does not like Henry being in the store and connotes he has realised that this man is out of place here; whilst he may be normal in the most accurate sense outside of the store, the emporium is connoted as having rules of its own because of the magic taking place within, so here he is an outsider. Levi-Strauss believed there is binary opposition in films between specific groups, here it is the young and the old. The young boy stamps on Henry, the adult’s, foot (showing the sterotype of kids being mischievous) within moments of meeting him as he feels he is out of place here is maybe participating in the destruction of the childish dream by being there. Henry’s arrival represents the beginning of a disequilibrium in the story as he quite literally becomes the bearer of bad news (he is only there to ensure Molly is given full ownership of the store after Magorium dies). This scene is mostly amusing for the audience, such a small child inflicting pain on an adult is practically comical, but theres also an element of sadness. It seems the adult has outgrown all these childish toys and the older members of the audience may appreciate this as they no longer fit into that generation.
Production process
There are certain stages film companies need to go through when creating a movie, these stages are called the film production process. The first of these is pre-production in which they have to plan what they will be doing, they’ll need to figure out their budget to decide what equipment they will be using or what actors they will pay for- in this case they had quite a large budget as they managed to sign on Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. During pre-production they will; write a script, cast their actors and go location scouting. They would've needed to spend a long time searching for the right place to set up the emporium as it is where the events of the film take place. Once these details have been finalised they go into the production stage, where they will begin filming. During production the cast and scripts will be put into action and the crew will set to creating the necessary prosthetics and costumes; such as Henry's suits and Eric's hats. After they’ve finished the filming, they go into the third stage known as post-production. This is where they look back at the footage from the production stage and begin to edit it using CGI and manipulate any blue or green screen filming; the toys within the toy store will have taken a very long time to animate. Any necessary sound effects will be added and transitions from one scene to another will be added in, for instance a jump cut or wipe.
There are certain stages film companies need to go through when creating a movie, these stages are called the film production process. The first of these is pre-production in which they have to plan what they will be doing, they’ll need to figure out their budget to decide what equipment they will be using or what actors they will pay for- in this case they had quite a large budget as they managed to sign on Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. During pre-production they will; write a script, cast their actors and go location scouting. They would've needed to spend a long time searching for the right place to set up the emporium as it is where the events of the film take place. Once these details have been finalised they go into the production stage, where they will begin filming. During production the cast and scripts will be put into action and the crew will set to creating the necessary prosthetics and costumes; such as Henry's suits and Eric's hats. After they’ve finished the filming, they go into the third stage known as post-production. This is where they look back at the footage from the production stage and begin to edit it using CGI and manipulate any blue or green screen filming; the toys within the toy store will have taken a very long time to animate. Any necessary sound effects will be added and transitions from one scene to another will be added in, for instance a jump cut or wipe.
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