Key Scene Essay – “The Hunger Games” General Feedback

Key Scene Essay – “The Hunger Games” General Feedback

1.  – The Introductions were done relatively well but remember to summarise the scene (briefly) as well as the Film (very briefly).

2.  Key Points – Camera Angles

- Mise-en-scene

- Sound/Music

Camera Angle / Evidence / How the use of the particular camera angle creates tension / How this highlights the theme of the consequences of authoritarian governments
Close Up / When Prim is chosen to represent her district in “The Hunger Games” there is a close-up on her face. / - The close up creates tension because it allows the audience to clearly see the fearful expression and shock on Prim’s face.
- The fact that the people of the district are aware of the dire consequences (the probability that they will be killed as only 1 of the 24 children will survive) of been chosen adds greatly to the tense atmosphere. / - The children of the district had no control over their nomination.
- The authorities use propaganda to force the idea that the “games” are a reward rather than a punishment for the districts
Point of view shot / The camera is placed behind Katniss as she walks up to the stage just after she has volunteered to replace her sister as a tribute in the “games” / - This shot creates tension because the audience are given Katniss’ perspective and we can see how everyone is staring at her and the shock registered on the faces of the people of the district.
- As we see Katniss’ point of view we can see how far she has to walk to the stage and this symbolises the long and treacherous path that she has chosen. / As above
Low camera Angle(s) / A series of low camera angles are used to film the Capitol representatives: Effie trinket, the peacekeepers, and the propaganda screen / The use of the low camera angles increase the intensity of the scene because they indicate the intimidating presence of the Capitol authorities. / - During this scene the audience are continually reminded of the power and control that the authorities of the Capitol has over the people of district 12.
- Ross highlights the main theme here as he warns of the dangers of totalitarian regimes by suggesting that the authorities will not hesitate to use force to control the people of the district.
Aerial Shot / An aerial shot is used to film the people of the district being brought in to the area where the reaping will take place. / Using an aerial shot to show the people of the district demonstrates the mass scale of the operation. / - The aerial shot also makes the people of the district seem very small and this conveys how insignificant individual lives are to the authoritarian Government.
- Also, the audience can see the control being exerted over the people as they are filed in a very ordered fashion.
Feature of Mise En Scene / Evidence / How the use of mise-en-scene creates tension / How this highlights the theme of the consequences of authoritarian governments
The futuristic equipment and piles of documents and files on the row of tables. / As the people of the district are shepherded in they all have D.N.A and blood samples taken to identify them. / - The piles of documents on the table containing D.N.A profiles of the people highlight the extent of personal data the authorities have of each person.
- This increases the tension as the people would realise that they have very little or no freedom and that they are constantly being monitored through surveillance. / - The fact that each individual can be identified so clinically and quickly has overtones of Nazi Germany and the way Jewish people were tattooed to identify them quickly.
Shabby colourless clothing of the people. / Throughout the scene the audience can clearly see that, even though the people of the district are in their best outfits for the event, they are wear in old, colourless and faded clothes. / - Their clothes clearly contrast with the rich flamboyant clothes, rich in colour (purples and pinks) that the Capitol representatives, such as Effie Trinket and this contrast emphasises the general poverty of the district.
- The obvious inequality would create resentment and the conditions necessary to motivate the people to revolt against the Capitol increasing the tension of the moment.
/ Through his portrayal of the Capitol authorities Gary Ross is criticising the abuse of power and inequality created by totalitarian regimes around the world where the powerful are obscenely wealthy and the people have very little.
Sound/Music / Evidence / How the use/absence of sound or music adds to the tension / How this highlights the theme of the consequences of authoritarian governments
The absence of non-diegetic sound (i.e sound that is added in the edit, and the source of which can not be seen on the screen e.g background/incidental music) / At the beginning of the scene as the people are marched in there is no background sound/music / The absence of non-diegetic sound allows the audience to hear and focus on the sound of the footsteps as the people are marched in to increase the tension of the moment and emphasise the significance of the “Reaping Day” / The audience can hear the rhythmic marching footsteps and this has connotations of the controlled and ordered way that Jewish people were horrifically marched into the concentration camps during the holocaust.
There is complete silence just before Effie Trinket chooses the names from the vases of the tributes from District 12. / This moment is extremely tense as the boys and girls are about to learn their fate; silence here emphasises how the crowd are holding their breath in terrifying anticipation of the reaping. / - See previous note about them having no choice and being forced into nomination.
- Controlling the people through the threat of the punishment of the “Hunger Games” whilst using propaganda to force the idea on the people that they are a reward.
The continuous low base note. / A bass note is played throughout the scene (only dropping out at the aforementioned periods of silence) / - The continuous booming bass note symbolises the constant worry that resonates through the minds of the children who may be chosen.
- This uncomfortable sustained sound also alienates the audience which increases the tension. / - Again, see notes on the consequences of being chosen for the children of the district.
- Also, the children of the district live with the continuous presence and threat and threat of the Capitol and “The Hunger Games”

Conclusion – should sum up the main points of your essay about the techniques used to create tension in the “Reaping Day” scene and you should draw a conclusion about which technique you found the most effective to create tension or highlight the theme.