Film Media – Deconstructing ‘Back to the Future’
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Year: 1985
Certificate: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Year: 1985
Certificate: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Camera Work
First there is an establishing shot of clocks representing time and the film is about time travel so this first shot links to the film. Panning around this person’s house showing different contraptions he / she has made, showing that he is obviously an inventor. The panning continues and shows two pictures one of Thomas Edison and another of Benjamin Franklin two very famous inventors, this makes you think that these are the inventors role models. The TV comes on and the camera sound bridges towards the TV, and shows an extreme close-up of the news report. The camera then pans away from the TV and towards a contraption that is about to be set off, the camera stops for us to see what the contraption does.
First there is an establishing shot of clocks representing time and the film is about time travel so this first shot links to the film. Panning around this person’s house showing different contraptions he / she has made, showing that he is obviously an inventor. The panning continues and shows two pictures one of Thomas Edison and another of Benjamin Franklin two very famous inventors, this makes you think that these are the inventors role models. The TV comes on and the camera sound bridges towards the TV, and shows an extreme close-up of the news report. The camera then pans away from the TV and towards a contraption that is about to be set off, the camera stops for us to see what the contraption does.Sound
Starts with non-diegetic ticking of a clock over the credits and the title of the film, this then changes to diegetic as we see many clocks. The clock sound fades and over the top you can hear an advert for Toyota on the radio, this links to the film as the car that time travels is made by Toyota, this sounds then stops and the TV comes on, a news report on stolen plutonium. A sudden screech is made and some badly burnt toast pops up out of the toaster, another alarm then beeps loudly and a can of dog food is dropped down, diegetic sound is made as a machine moves round and unseals the can. More diegetic sound as the dog food is poured out of the can, and then an emphasised diegetic sound is made when the food hits the dog food bowl.
Starts with non-diegetic ticking of a clock over the credits and the title of the film, this then changes to diegetic as we see many clocks. The clock sound fades and over the top you can hear an advert for Toyota on the radio, this links to the film as the car that time travels is made by Toyota, this sounds then stops and the TV comes on, a news report on stolen plutonium. A sudden screech is made and some badly burnt toast pops up out of the toaster, another alarm then beeps loudly and a can of dog food is dropped down, diegetic sound is made as a machine moves round and unseals the can. More diegetic sound as the dog food is poured out of the can, and then an emphasised diegetic sound is made when the food hits the dog food bowl.
Mise en Scene
We are first shown an old clock and other clocks surrounding it, this sets the scene for the film as a clock represents time and the film is about time travelling. As the camera pans around we are shown many more clocks and soon realise they are obviously timers when toast pops up out of a toaster on its own as a timer is set off. Shortly after this another alarm goes off and a dog food can is released. The house the inventor lives in appears to be extremely messy and fairly unorganised this could suggest that the person clearly doesn’t have a lot of spare time on his hands as he spends most of his time inventing more things. This appears to be the house of a mad scientist.
Editing We are first shown an old clock and other clocks surrounding it, this sets the scene for the film as a clock represents time and the film is about time travelling. As the camera pans around we are shown many more clocks and soon realise they are obviously timers when toast pops up out of a toaster on its own as a timer is set off. Shortly after this another alarm goes off and a dog food can is released. The house the inventor lives in appears to be extremely messy and fairly unorganised this could suggest that the person clearly doesn’t have a lot of spare time on his hands as he spends most of his time inventing more things. This appears to be the house of a mad scientist.
At the very start of the film we see the title of the film ‘Back to the Future’ this is transitioned onto the screen from right to left, this then disappears and a few credits are shown. The non-diegetic sound of the ticking clock is then faded in as a few of the credits are being shown. When the dog food drops into the dog food bowl the editing technique here is match on action.
