Mid-angle shots are mainly used to highlight Ginger as being a good character, as it allows character interaction and permits others into the shot demonstrating that Ginger is sociable. It displays characters from the waist up therefore showing facial expressions and hand gestures which show a character’s mood.
When Ginger is thrown into the coal pit by Mr Tweedie, a high angle camera shot is used consequently making Ginger seem very defenceless but also innocent. Another time this device is used is when Ginger finds the bottom of the poster and shows the other chickens- the camera gradually backs upwards so we see how vulnerable Ginger is, and how mislead she was. This highlights Ginger as being like any other creature who is dazzled by what seemed like her way out; however the fantasy got ruined making her saddened and forlorn.
A close up shot of Ginger’s face when she looks at the RAF badge reveals an idea forming as it is centering on her emotion, as a result letting the audience get a picture of what is going on inside Ginger’s head. Similarly a close up of Mrs Tweedie’s face is used when her idea is forming of how to make lots of money in producing chicken pies. In contrast though, Ginger is thinking about freedom so a light is shone behind her to lead her to the way out, whereas Mrs Tweedie is materializing completely selfish schemes in her head, of profit which is why a light is shone onto her face but only darkness behind to bring to light the darkness in her soul.
One piece of presentational device is costume, Mrs Tweedie is shown as ‘bad’ through the director designing the plasticine character to have red costuming all the way through the film, this makes obvious the devil in her.
Also, throughout the film using lighting, Mrs Tweedie always has a silhouette, this emphasises the importance of the character and exposes how she feels superior to everyone else. When the pie machine is fixed, a red light flashes onto Mrs Tweedie’s face, this red light illustrates a warning which alerts the audience and is also a sign of the devil and evil.
Music is used throughout the film- at the start the Great Escape music is in the background. This causes the audience to be tense as they try to escape but then they are let down as Mr Tweedie throws Ginger in the coal pit. It underlines Ginger as being a fighter and determined because the music is repetitive therefore showing that she will carry on trying.
When Mrs Tweedie is counting the chickens ‘Jaws’ music is used, demonstrating that she is like a shark swimming around her prey, this is metaphorical and is comparing her to such a beast as a shark, it shows how malicious she must be.
When Ginger slams the bottom of the poster to the chicken coop wall, violin music is adopted; this highlights sadness and is majestic. It shows the good in Ginger as she does not like letting the other chickens down and she is hurt by Rocky’s lies affecting them all.
Mrs Tweedie is the first person to speak in the whole of the movie showing power. We hear her footsteps coming towards the door, this is very threatening and the sound effect is used to reveal the bad in the character and make her seem powerful. Another sound effect used is the ground shaking it is made to seem like hell is stirring, and similarly it is in Ginger and the other chicken’s life’s as they are to become chicken pies, this illustrates evil in Mrs Tweedie’s actions. Rain and thunder is implemented when Ginger puts the bottom of the poster to the other half, setting the mood of Ginger- it mixes rain with tears showing emotion.
When Ginger is in the coal pit, we see how rebellious she is through her facial expressions which show determination and her plotting, but we also feel sorry for her as an audience as she is not succeeding in her little schemes. A very sharp piece of presentational device is when Mrs Tweedie looks into the poultry knife and we see her face and unexpectedly sharp blades fly out of it, this demonstrates Mrs Tweedie as being evil and clarifies the actual sharpness which she possesses. Also, when Mrs Tweedie is trying to kill Ginger a poster of ‘happy’ Mrs Tweedie flies onto her face but then it gets moved off to show reality where Mrs Tweedie is angry- it is a good contrast of fake to reality, a photographed piece of advertisement to her actually being a very evil character.
We see the good in Ginger, when she is outraged at lying; it shows her being very pure like- this is all shown by her facial expressions and body language towards Rocky. Also, when they talk about the truth we see Ginger turning her back on Rocky, this is good character interaction as she shows how opposite her and Rocky are in their moral standards, illustrating truth against lies.
When Rocky organises the Hop dance, we see that when he dances with Ginger, she is blinking a lot and using eye contact to display love and affection for Rocky; this shows how affectionate she is inside of the hard exterior for him.
Mrs Tweedie is always hitting Mr Tweedie; this exhibits the fact that she has a lot of power over him; however he is the one who has the power inside at the end as he was right about the chickens, they were plotting and they were organised.
Through this film, I have realised that film makers do not just make the film to be just about characters, but it is also about how they use film language elements to affect the audience, and use presentational devices to reveal elements of a character. By film makers using these devices it gives a certain effect for the audience and reveals elements of a character which we would not see unless these presentational devices are used, which brings more meaning both to the characters personality and to the way in which the audience interprets the film and characters.
