Discuss the ways in which the following are used in the extract from 'The Mummy': camera angle, shot, movement and position, editing, sound, special effects and mise-en-scene.

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Discuss the ways in which the following are used in the extract from ‘The Mummy’: camera angle, shot, movement and position, editing, sound, special effects and mise-en-scene.

In the extract from ‘The Mummy’, a wide range of techniques are employed in order to convey certain aspects to the audience.

The ways in which the camera is used have great effect on the impression given; for example the minimal movement, including slow pans, in order to not detract from the impressive nature of the exotic location – a staple for films of the action/adventure genre. The vastness of the desert is also emphasized by the use of wide shots, in which the screen is filled by the sandstorm and the heroes’ plane appears greatly vulnerable; this also makes use of another genre convention – the powerful odds which must be overcome. Another use of the wide shot is to provide a backdrop for the film’s spectacular special effects. Medium close-ups and close-ups (CUs) are used to focus on the expressions of the actors, such as when the female lead kisses the Mummy, and on the building psychological tension, for example the female lead’s concern for the occupants of the damaged aeroplane. The use of POV (point of view) shots, such as the view from the plane as it turns over, increases the audience’s involvement in the action and their empathy for the characters, and the use of low angles when the Mummy appears gives the impression of great power.

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The most obvious example of computer generated images (CGI) is that of the sandstorm itself and the devastation it creates. This is the main focus of this extract, and while the large amount of screen time devoted to it does not further the plot particularly, this is not its purpose – instead, it amazes the audience. Another slightly less spectacular, although no less effective, use of CGI is that of the arrival of the Mummy, his sidekick and the female lead – their materialisation from the sand adds to the supernatural image the audience has of the Mummy.

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