How do the film makers of 'Chicken Run' use presentational devices to reveal the good and evil in the characters of Ginger and Mrs Tweedy?
How do the film makers of 'Chicken Run' use presentational devices to reveal the good and evil in the characters of Ginger and Mrs Tweedy?
The film makers of 'Chicken Run' use presentational devices to create an impression about the characters and give clues to the audience about each character and the action in the film. 'Chicken Run' is a parody of the 1963 film 'The Great Escape.'
Using Ginger and Mrs Tweedy I am going to portray how the film makers use camera angles, lighting, costume, setting, music and sound effects to create a greater impression for the audience. I will specifically concentrate on Ginger being portrayed as a good character and Mrs Tweedy as an evil character.
The opening scene of 'Chicken Run' can be compared to the opening scene of 'The Great Escape,' the establishing shot sets the scene and shows the audience that it is around midnight as there are dark colours, such as blacks, deep purples and blues. In the opening scene there is a close up of the moon and the colours that are used are dark green. This creates an eerie atmosphere.
It is quite humorous the way the film makers have decided to use chickens; as the original 'Great Escape' is prisoners of war. However it is also a serious issue as both are being kept where they do not want to be, for example a battery chicken farm.
The film makers create the impressions of good and evil by using different camera shots. Close up shots are generally used to give the object or character more specific meaning. They are usually applied to show the audience that the object is relevant for what is about to happen in the scene. In this particular scene which I have chosen to analyse Mrs Tweedy is counting the chickens. As she approaches the chickens we get a close up shot of her black Wellington boots, the audience feels as though she is 'in-charge' as she marches up, just like a sergeant or general would do.
Close up shots are also used on characters' faces and will generally focus on their emotions, they can be used to make the character seem isolated and they concentrate on one character only.
There is a close up shot of the axe before Edwina is killed, this is used to show the audience that she is about to be killed. Also in this scene the audience sees the shadow of Mrs Tweedy about to kill Edwina - this is an illusion to 'Psycho' a very famous thriller by Alfred Hitchcock.
There is also a close up of Ginger when she is on the roof top, this makes her look isolated, whilst she is watching Edwina, and then another close up of Ginger's tear when Edwina has been killed. She is watching the birds which are a symbol of freedom, Ginger really wants to be a heroine and free all of the chickens. This can be compared to 'The Great Escape' because Hilts, who Ginger represents, is desperate to escape and is determined and no matter how many times they get caught they will never give up. They would rather die trying than die and not have tried at all.
There are other close up shots used such as when Ginger finds the second half of the poster and there is a close up of Ginger's emotionless face, she just looks shocked, when she pins up the rest of the poster. The rain and lightening add to the sadness. The circus music playing reminds the audience that Rocky is from the circus and he does not want to go back there so Ginger cleverly used this opportunity to get him to try and teach them how to fly, so they could escaped. However, when she finds out he could not fly she is devastated, as she thought that this was their chance to escape and she felt like a heroine that she had finally found a way out. This shows Ginger as being a good character because she is the noticeable leader and even though she is upset, she is upset because she could not free all her friends which is what she wanted to do.
Another kind of camera shot that is used frequently is a mid angle shot. This is a shot showing the characters from the waist upwards, it allows other characters to be in the view and allows interaction. It is seen as a more sociable shot.
An example of a mid angle shot is when the mayhem caused by the chickens getting ready for the parade is shown. The chickens are all panicking and are worried. The audience feels involved and sees what is happening from the chicken's point of view.
There is another mid angle shot ...
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Another kind of camera shot that is used frequently is a mid angle shot. This is a shot showing the characters from the waist upwards, it allows other characters to be in the view and allows interaction. It is seen as a more sociable shot.
An example of a mid angle shot is when the mayhem caused by the chickens getting ready for the parade is shown. The chickens are all panicking and are worried. The audience feels involved and sees what is happening from the chicken's point of view.
There is another mid angle shot used when Ginger discovers that Rocky can not fly; all of the other chickens are looking happy and care-free and this shot shows Ginger in the foreground with all her chicken friends around her, it shows that she is upset but all her friends are there to comfort her.
Another excellent example is when the chickens are learning to fly, this helps to show the interactions. It is humorous the way all of the chickens are drinking together. This shows a friendly relationship between the chickens. Also, when Rocky is giving the chickens thrust this shot allows more communications between the chickens because there is lots of cheering in the background.
There are also some high angled shots used, this is a shot taken from above the action and actors, it makes the audience feel powerful and superior and the actors seem small and vulnerable. An example of a high angle shot is when Mrs Tweedy is counting the chickens and realises that Edwina has to be killed because she is not producing enough eggs. We see a high angle shot on this scene but it creates an unusual effect because it puts you in Mrs Tweedy's position but makes Edwina look frightened because we see Edwina's facial expressions through Mrs Tweedy's eyes. The high angle shot is also useful because all the chickens seem small and vulnerable. This portrays Mrs Tweedy as an evil character because she is seen as superior and much larger and stronger than the other chickens. It makes the audience have sympathy for the chickens and makes you dislike Mrs Tweedy as well as that she is having Edwina killed.
Low angled shots are taken from below an actor as if they are looking down on the audience, it makes them seem superior and the audience seem vulnerable.
There is a low angled shot when Mrs Tweedy is counting the chickens, it puts the audience into the chicken's position and makes Mrs Tweedy look superior and dominant, in contrast the chickens look weak. This shot is very effective and makes the audience empathise. It shows Mrs Tweedy as a bad character because she is much bigger and superior than the chickens and it makes her look intimidating and scary. However, this shot also shows Ginger as being a good character because although it shows her as being small and weak it shows her as being brave and courageous because she is willing to fight off such an evil, scary woman.
There are many other shots used such as an insert shot used when the other half of the poster is shown. The audience sees it from the chicken's point of view and this makes them feel involved. The chickens are laughing and there is fairground music playing which is meant to create a happy and delightful atmosphere on the morning that the chickens are learning to fly. However, the music suddenly turns depressing when Ginger reveals the other half of the poster, there are sounds of violins, cellos and drums which play a melancholy tune.
A different shot used is an over the shoulder shot, this is very effective for creating tension, for example, when Ginger and Rocky are in the pie making machine. The audience can only see what Ginger sees and when she slowly turns her head towards the 'roller' and we get a close up shot of Gingers face looking scared before we see this.
The film makers of 'Chicken Run' use presentational devices to give clues to the audience about the characters. I am first going to concentrate on the presentational devices used for Ginger and how they make her appear as a good character and a heroine.
In the opening scene the chickens are trying to escape, it is night time in the farm yard so Mr and Mrs Tweedy can not see the chickens escaping. Ginger is wearing a hand knitted hat and scarf which is thought to have been knitted by Babs as she is the chicken who is always knitting. This shows that Ginger is a unique and popular chicken as none of the others have this. It also makes her look homely and it is humorous that a chicken is wearing a hat and scarf; it also helps the audience see the characters as being like people. Ginger wears the same costume throughout the film; this shows that it is obviously very special to her. Even when she almost loses her hat in the pie making machine she just grabs it just in time, this is similar to Indiana Jones, as he is shown as a hero and just manages to get his hat in time as well. The lighting in the opening scene adds to portraying Ginger as being a brave chicken, she is hiding in the shadows and it is dark but there is light on her face, this highlights her facial expressions. The music, in the opening scene, is the same music that is in 'The Great Escape,' it is loud and upbeat. The barking of the dogs creates a tense atmosphere for the audience and the suspense builds up and becomes more dramatic towards the climax when Mrs Tweedy opens the door. There are loud noises to make the audience jump and feel gripped.
Furthermore, when Ginger is being chased by the dogs her body language tells us a lot about her character as she is brave and desperate to escape. She is a good example of a heroine because she puts the group before herself. Although, her wide eyes show us that she is scared and she stumbles into a gnome. This reminds the audience of her size and vulnerability. Nevertheless, she is fearless and quick thinking when she tries to defend herself with the gnome. Then the door opens and even the violent and scary looking dogs quiver with fear, this informs the audience that something scary is going to appear next.
Ginger is also shown as a heroine when Rocky first appears on the chicken farm, she sees Rocky flying and so she presumes that he is their answer to get out of the chicken farm and he will teach them all how to fly. It is night time in the yard, suggested by the dark gloomy, misty greys and blacks. There is a drum roll that starts when Rocky gasps, the audience knows something is wrong and the music starts to build up and the argument heats up between Rocky and Ginger as she is threatening to call out if he does not help them to fly. The music reaches a crescendo, and the audience knows that something is about to happen and then Mrs Tweedy appears. Ginger squawks and screeches, this may make her look bad but really it is making her appear more of a heroine because she is determined to make Rocky help the chickens as this could be their only possible chance of getting out. Ginger is calm and forceful and eventually persuades Rocky to stay.
In the scene where Ginger and Rocky are in the pie making machine is at night time, the lighting is quite bright but there is extra light added on Ginger's face to show her anxiety. The music is quick and tense, it builds up and then dies away, and this makes it dramatic and jumpy. In this scene it is the first (and maybe only time) where we see Ginger unsure of what to do as her body language shows us that she is uncertain by spreading her wings and shrugging her shoulders. Rocky then rescues them both by jumping down a hole; this is an example of him being a hero. Rocky then gets stuck in the oven; Ginger is revealed as a heroine because she could have saved herself but she went back and saved Rocky as well. She rolls her eyes as if to say that he should have been able to do it himself. It is ironic that Rocky went in to save Ginger because Ginger ends up rescuing Rocky. There are also different kinds of humour used in this scene, Rocky uses a pun when he is looking down the vegetable shoot, and he says 'Shoot!' as though it is a bad thing.
In the scene where Ginger and Rocky are sitting on the roof reflecting on their futures, the lighting is the moonlight highlighting their faces and there are stars out which are romantic. This helps to create a passionate and romantic atmosphere between Rocky and Ginger. The music in the background is soft, slow and calm, it is a relaxing melody. Ginger and Rocky are both obviously romantically interested and are both a bit nervous when they are around each other because when they start talking, they are talking over each other. Ginger's voice is soft and seductive, she is being flirty with Rocky and she is fluttering her eye lashes. However, when they touch hands Rocky pulls away and it leads to an awkward silence, the audience sympathises with Ginger and when she leaves she gives a swooning sigh because Rocky said her name. This makes Ginger seem like a heroine because she is not just a chicken who wants to escape and be free, but she has a loving personality and is not just a brave and bold chicken but also has a romantic side with emotions and feelings for Rocky.
I am now going to look at the presentational devices used to portray Mrs Tweedy and how these depict her as an evil character.
The first time we meet Mrs Tweedy is at the front door of her farm house, she is wearing her dressing gown and slippers, a shower cap and a big ruffle around her neck. This is humorous because you would not expect such a big build up for what looks like a harmless old lady. Both of the costumes of the two characters that I am comparing appear as humorous, this adds a more amusing side to the film. The lighting is shining from behind her; this makes her look important as though she is in some sort of spot light. Before Mrs Tweedy appears the music builds up and then suddenly stops, the door creaks as it opens as though it was like a haunted house; this adds to an eerie tension to the atmosphere. Ginger takes a short sharp intake of breath and the dogs yelp, showing the audience that it is a scary person or object behind the door. Mrs Tweedy's body language shows us that she is superior and in charge as she stands with her hands on her hips. She has an aggressive, crackling, evil, North Yorkshire accent to make her sound amusing like a stereotypical farmer. She speaks down to Mr Tweedy extremely forcefully and the audience can immediately see 'who wears the trousers!'
In the scene where Mrs Tweedy is working out her profits from the chickens, she is doing this inside the living room and the audience can see a carcass which is obviously Edwina's. This shows Mrs Tweedy as an evil character as she has murdered one of the chicken's friends. Mrs Tweedy is wearing a high collared pink dress; it makes her look like an old fashioned school teacher but also adds humour because pink can be classed as a feminine colour but she seems too aggressive to be lady-like. There is electrical lighting of the living room which is bright and the opera music is coming from the radio. There is a high pitched 'ping' noise to signify that she has had an idea and her eyes widen. When Mrs Tweedy first stands up she lifts her hands up (this adds tension) and she speaks patronisingly to Mr Tweedy and bullies him.
Mrs Tweedy is greedy and wants to make lots of money; she is very insulting towards Mr Tweedy. She is shown as an evil character here because she is very intimidating and not very pleasant towards her husband. It seems as though she has just married him for his money and his business. She rolls up the booklet and hits it into her other hand, this is very threatening.
In the scene where Mrs Tweedy tells Mr Tweedy about her plans to convert the chicken farm into a pie factory is set in the barn and there is dark electrical lighting from a dim bulb and there is a slight green tinge. There is a tense, jerky tune which then changes into a sad melody when Mr Tweedy talks about the history of his family, Mrs Tweedy rolls her eyes when he is talking about it and looks bored which is very rude.
There is a crashing sound when the circular blade saw opens out, you see Mrs Tweedy's reflection in it and it reflects how evil she is and how scary she looks. She is narrowing her eyes and is pointing at Mr Tweedy and some people say that if someone is pointing at you, they want to hit you. This is a good example of how the film makers are portraying Mrs Tweedy as an evil character because it is showing her as being threatening towards her husband.
In the climax of the film Mrs Tweedy is hanging onto the end of the plane, it is night time and she is wearing the same outfit as before but she is covered in egg yolk and it is slightly greyish. The music is a traditional and brave sound because it is when the chickens are finally escaping. Mrs Tweedy's body language suggests to the audience that she is determined and an example of a 'good villain' because she will not give up until she gets what she wants. She is baring her teeth like a dog, this is effective because it makes her look like an animal. Her legs are dangling and she is gripping on this also shows her determination and fortitude and that she will not let go.
The ending, however is the opposite of the ending to 'The Great Escape' because in 'The Great Escape' it is a sad ending because many of the airmen die. However 'Chicken Run' has a happy ending because all of the chickens are free, I think the film had to have a happy ending because it is aimed basically at all ages and it would be too upsetting for younger children.
In conclusion, I think that 'Chicken Run' is a clever and enjoyable film for all ages. By using presentational devices it gives clues to the audience rather than just telling them. It is humorous but also adds that gripping touch. I have learnt that film makers use presentational devices so that the film is not all obvious, they indicate about what the characters are like by using devices such as characters body language to show the audience whether the characters are good or evil. I have also learnt that a film is not just about characters and the action but it is also about how a film maker uses elements of film language to add effect to the film and to the audience. I enjoyed doing the 'Chicken Run' project because I think it is a good film and excellent to watch! (Even though I could probably say it word for word now!!!)
