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?
This essay is going to investigate how film makers use presentational devices, to create more meaning to the film for the audience. I will look at how camera angles, close ups, music, scenery and lighting are used to create the desired effect. Specifically I will try to explain how they use presentational effects, to make the audience see Ginger as the good character and Mrs Tweedy as the evil character.
There is a definite theme of good and evil throughout the film, this is shown by the contrast of Ginger and Mrs Tweedy, who are both determined; Mrs Tweedy, in becoming rich and Ginger in freedom for her and her friends, showing them a better life. Ginger's motives are selfless in contrast to Mrs Tweedy who is selfish and only interested in profit.
The title sequence displays a repeating motif; of Ginger's escape attempts, which are always foiled, followed by her being harshly thrown into the coalbunker, for five days of "solitary confinement." She marks each day on the wall, in a tally. We see various other tallies next to the one she draws, showing us this happens often, and she knows exactly how long until she will be let out. This gives the audience an idea of the extents to which Ginger will go to, to escape and her determination to do so. When she has served her tie in confinement, she is always kicked into the pen and the door slammed behind her. This emphasises the fact she and her friends are prisoners.
The last camera shot we see is over looking row upon row of grey regimented chicken coups, in the dark evening light. This is juxtaposed with the scene before, which displays Mr Tweedy swings his fat fist threateningly at the chickens; "Let that be a lesson to the lot of you! No chicken escapes from Tweedy's farm!" This immediately makes him appear evil, and helps the audience to side with the chicken's. This is in the early scenes and also informs the audience of the chicken's objectives.
Throughout the film close-ups are used on the main characters, ...
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The last camera shot we see is over looking row upon row of grey regimented chicken coups, in the dark evening light. This is juxtaposed with the scene before, which displays Mr Tweedy swings his fat fist threateningly at the chickens; "Let that be a lesson to the lot of you! No chicken escapes from Tweedy's farm!" This immediately makes him appear evil, and helps the audience to side with the chicken's. This is in the early scenes and also informs the audience of the chicken's objectives.
Throughout the film close-ups are used on the main characters, to show their emotions and inform us as to their character. Close-ups of Ginger, until the end of the film, often show her despair or fear. She tries so hard to achieve freedom, but more often that not, she fails.
Ginger, throughout the film is portrayed as the good character. This effect is created by using a variety of presentational devices, like the ones I have already mentioned. I will be explaining and giving examples of how these devices create this effect.
When Ginger is being filmed, the camera is normally inside the chicken coup, with Ginger, with the fence in the background. This reminds us that she and her friends are trapped, and puts us in their position better, and thus makes us sympathise with them, as being trapped in a chicken coup doesn't sound or look very appealing. It also helps us to decide whose side to take.
When Ginger discovers that Rocky has left, and never could fly, as she walks out and shows the rest of the chickens, the weather changes. It becomes stormy and starts raining, matching the mood of the chickens. This is referred to as a pathetic fallacy. I think this creates the effect that everything's worse than it really is, because it all seems so much more depressing.
After Edwina's death, Ginger sits on top of a chicken coup, crying, with forlorn hope as she watches a flock of birds flying freely into the distance over row upon row of grey regimented chicken coups. With renewed determination she declares a meeting for their next escape plan. This shows the strength on her character, and establishes their next escape plan with more importance than the others, so the audience have higher hopes for this escape.
In role call, Mrs Tweedy begins walking towards 'Babs' who fears the worst after Edwina's fate, knowing she has not laid the required amount of eggs. Ginger holds her hand to comfort her as Mrs Tweedy approaches. This shows Ginger caring for her friends, as she tries to comfort 'Babs' despite the dangerous time.
When Ginger discovers the truth about Rocky, she walks outside to show the others of her findings. As she does so, the weather changes from sunny and warm to dark and stormy, the chickens expression change at the same time, as they realise Ginger has bad news. This is a pathetic fallacy, when the weather imitates the mood of the characters.
Near the beginning of the film, when Ginger is marking on the wall of the coal bunker how many days until she is returned to the coup, we switch to a scene of Mrs Tweedy marking on a clip board how much profit she is accumulating. These scenes are juxtaposed to put emphasis on the contrast of their characters, and how different they are. Ginger was in solitary confinement for trying to help her friends escape, and Mrs Tweedy was analysing her profit charts.
In role call, Ginger passes a plan to Mac. This scene is juxtaposed with a scene of Mrs Tweedy passing the egg count, this puts emphasis on Ginger's obsession with escape and Mrs Tweedy's obsession with profit.
Mrs Tweedy dismisses Mr Tweedy's claims that the chickens are "up to summit," by saying chickens aren't organised. This scene is juxtaposed with a scene is of the chickens in a meeting, with Ginger calling for silence. Mrs Tweedy is made to appear foolish, and doesn't realise the intelligence of the chickens.
Whenever Mrs Tweedy enters the scene, the music often becomes intimidating and spooky, and sometimes the lighting becomes dimmer. This makes the audience feel tense and wary, which they associate with Mrs Tweedy's presence.
Throughout the film Mrs Tweedy is viewed using a low angled shot, so she is looking down onto the camera. This makes her appear more fearsome and powerful to the audience, intimidating them slightly. This also helps put the audience in the chickens' perspective, as they will always view her from a low angle.
Whilst Mrs Tweedy is yelling at Mr Tweedy, we see her using a low angled shot from Mr Tweedy's perspective. She also walks towards the camera, this is intimidating for the audience. It puts them in the position of Mr Tweedy, and creates the effect that Mrs Tweedy is yelling at the audience.
Throughout the film, there has been romantic tension between Rocky and Ginger. Just as they are about to kiss, which is something the audience have been waiting for, Mrs Tweedy ends this scene just before they do. This makes the audience feel annoyed with Mrs Tweedy, and creates suspense as to how they are now going to stop her. The music changes from happy to tense.
Near the end of the film, the chickens are escaping in their flying contraption and Mrs Tweedy threatens their successful escape, before Ginger eliminates this threat, for the first time in the film, Mrs Tweedy is viewed using a higher angled shot, and Ginger from a low angled shot. This shows the audience that for the first time, Ginger has power over Mrs Tweedy.
