It is unquestionable that the fact ‘Pillowtalk’ (1959) and ‘Fringe’ (2010) are set in completely different times influences the type of edits, language, emotion and meaning depicted in these two extracts and experienced by the audiences. The beginning of the extract has a mixture of short and long frame shots, setting the pace for the rest of the programme. The pace and frequency of the two extracts are very dissimilar. ‘Fringe’ is faster paced ‘Pillowtalk’. The fact that ‘Fringe’ is so much faster paced than ‘Pillowtalk’ once again reminds us of how modern it is as it is more compact than the old fashioned ‘Pillowtalk’ extract. The faster pace complies with today’s “go go go” lifestyle compared to the 1960’s.
At the end of the first shot in ‘Pillowtalk’, a dissolve edit is used. This makes the shot feel as though it is much later than the previous shot whereas a straight cut would make it feel as though it was at the same time. It is also effective because it is introducing us to a new character that also turns out to be the main character of the extract. The regular use of big and extreme close ups in ‘Fringe’ create an intense atmosphere in comparison to the more light hearted feel that ‘Pillowtalk’ portrays. ‘Pillowtalk’ does not use the same close up shots; it focuses on using medium close up shots as well as medium shots and over the shoulder shots
Throughout the two extracts, various types of cutting are used to present different images to the audience.
Although ‘Pillowtalk’ is much longer in length than ‘Fringe’, it does use fewer shots and has a much shorter average in time between the cuts. ‘Pillow Talk’ and ‘Fringe’ are entirely different in most respects but there are some small similarities which are mainly, to do with the timings of frame changes. At the beginning of ‘Fringe’ the frame changes every few second whilst the two men are having a short serious conversation. The frames change according to what character is talking, showing there facial expressions. Similarly the ‘Pillow Talk’ extracts frame changes according to what character is speaking, and therefore showing the facial expressions which were the reasoning for doing the same thing in the other extract. However this is not apparent until the middle of the extract.
‘Pillowtalk’ uses the split screen effect at 0.31 minutes which is a sign of the times as this was popular in the 1960’s. The effect is often used to show both sides of a discussion during a telephone conversation, and it also helps us to develop a better understanding of the characters and gives them a clearer introduction to the central characters. We can also compare their reactions as we can see both characters at the same time, rather than having multiple shots flicking between the two characters as they speak. Modern-day audiences would find this quite boring in some respects because of the use of the split screen and the lack of cuts between the conversations as cutting and editing has become so different and interesting in more recent times that we are used to seeing a varied use of this in film. The more modern day extract of ‘Fringe’ uses frequent cuts between conversations throughout. A split screen would stick out and take away from the serious atmosphere and tone that is developing. An interesting screen effect that is used in ‘Fringe’ is the use of the tracking shot at 0.36 minutes where the camera very slowly moves towards the main focus of the scene from a distance. It is effective because the movement is so subtle that you as an audience barely notice the camera is moving so it doesn’t take from the drama in the scene.
Although ‘Pillowtalk’ is much longer in length than ‘Fringe’, it does use fewer shots and has a much shorter average in time between the cuts. ‘Pillow Talk’ and ‘Fringe’ are entirely different in most respects but there are some small similarities which are mainly, to do with the timings of frame changes. At the beginning of ‘Fringe’ the frame changes every few second whilst the two men are having a short serious conversation. The frames change according to what character is talking, showing there facial expressions. Similarly the ‘Pillow Talk’ extracts frame changes according to what character is speaking, and therefore showing the facial expressions which were the reasoning for doing the same thing in the other extract. However this is not apparent until the middle of the extract.
‘Pillowtalk’ uses the split screen effect at 0.31 minutes which is a sign of the times as this was popular in the 1960’s. The effect is often used to show both sides of a discussion during a telephone conversation, and it also helps us to develop a better understanding of the characters and gives them a clearer introduction to the central characters. We can also compare their reactions as we can see both characters at the same time, rather than having multiple shots flicking between the two characters as they speak. Modern-day audiences would find this quite boring in some respects because of the use of the split screen and the lack of cuts between the conversations as cutting and editing has become so different and interesting in more recent times that we are used to seeing a varied use of this in film. The more modern day extract of ‘Fringe’ uses frequent cuts between conversations throughout. A split screen would stick out and take away from the serious atmosphere and tone that is developing. An interesting screen effect that is used in ‘Fringe’ is the use of the tracking shot at 0.36 minutes where the camera very slowly moves towards the main focus of the scene from a distance. It is effective because the movement is so subtle that you as an audience barely notice the camera is moving so it doesn’t take from the drama in the scene.
‘Pillowtalk’ is a romantic comedy and ‘Fringe’ is a science fiction series which immediately shows us that the audiences will be very different. Because the genres of the two extract are particularly diverse this, therefore, has an impact on the type of audience member and the way in which they respond to it. The characters in ‘Pillowtalk’ are played by what we perceived as much more experienced and respected actors whereas in ‘Fringe’ we are watching newer and less experienced actors who are much less known than the ones from ‘Pillowtalk’. The lighting in ‘Pillowtalk’ is much brighter in comparison to the dark and dull lighting used in ‘Fringe’. ‘Fringe’ uses this darker and more mysterious lighting because of the genre and plot that the series holds, whereas ‘Pillowtalk’ uses brighter lighting as it is a very easy going and light hearted film. This affects how the audience reacts to certain parts of the extracts as it is easier to focus on the more brightly lit scene. A lamp is used as back lighting in ‘Pillowtalk’ at 0:30 minutes in both parts of the split screen featured here as is it used throughout the extract of ‘Fringe’. This lighting is effective because it helps to counteract the effect of the key light and makes the subject of the scene appear to be more rounded. The use of back lighting also helps to emphasise the mysterious plot of ‘Fringe’.
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