How are the characters in the clip represented through the camerawork and editing?
The sequence I have chosen to write about contains a scene from the last episode of the first series of Rome, where Julius Caesar is murdered. I have chosen this sequence as it contains many different types of shot, plus various editing styles. This is a historical drama, showing life in the old Roman empire.
The opening shot of the sequence shows Julius Caesar walking in to a building, the atrium. He is framed in the centre of the shot, using a low mid shot, showing three quarters of his body. This shot helps to show that Caesar is obviously a man of great power. When he walks up the stairs, all the other characters shown in the shot are shown to be below Caesar.
When Caesar walks past the camera, it moves to another character, who is being asked a question from another character. From looking at the way he is also framed in the same style as Caesar was, it shows that he will obviously be an important character later on in the sequence or in this episode. He then exits the shot in the same way that Caesar did.
The following shot returns to Caesar, with a behind Mid-shot, tracking forwards, following him. He is once again framed in the centre of the shot, but slowly moves off to the right hand side of the frame, before returning to the centre again.
A side shot is used next, where Caesar is stopped by someone in the Atrium. At first he is kept centred, but when the person who has spotted him is introduced, they then share the frame together, Caesar on the left and the other character on the right. This collection of shots have constantly used Caesar in the centre of the frame, reinforcing the fact that he is currently the most important and powerful character in this episode.
Another character is then introduced, most likely shown earlier in the episode or series. A close up shot is used, with a lot of extra’s walking in front of the camera, creating confusion as to why he is here. He stays centred in the frame, looking towards the audience at a slight angle in the direction he is walking in. This gives you the impression he is looking at Caesar, as it has cut from him, to this new character, and then back to Caesar again. These cuts have used the 180 degree rule, with the new character looking to his right, and Caesar looking towards the left.
When we cut back to Caesar, the shot is in almost the same position as before, giving good continuity editing to the scene. When he walks away from the confrontation, his arm is grabbed. He pulls away, keeping himself in the centre of the frame. It then moves to a two person shot, of Caesar and the other character struggling against each other. The other character who was last seen when the 180 degree rule was used is featured again, with another 180 rule. When the shot of Caesar struggling ends, he is looking towards the camera. When the other character is re-introduced, he is also looking at the camera. This gives an idea that the two characters are connected in some way, and Caesar’s struggle is affecting him.
When Caesar breaks free, his power is shown again by being focused in the centre of the frame. He looks around him, at all the people surrounding him. The other character is included again, looking straight at Caesar, with an expression of concern. A new character is introduced, firstly looking away from the camera, but then turning towards it, looking angry. He lunges towards Caesar, being the main focus, instead of the knife, as he is now an important character. The camera cuts to Caesar, but the focus is this time shared between him and the knife, as both are important to the outcome of this scene.
Then, the obvious leader of the group of people surrounding Caesar, is shown, first with the knife being used almost as a transition. He is focused in the middle of the frame also. More characters, associated with the killing of Caesar comes in with another knife, put is positioned at the same height as Caesar, showing how Caesar is loosing his power over his people. This is followed by a birds eye view shot of people coming in and stabbing Caesar.
Caesar is now falling lower to the ground, as he is stabbed more, showing how the people with the knives now have much more power. He falls to the ground, followed by the character who was included in the 180 degree rules. He walks towards Caesar, who is still being focused in the centre of the frame. He gets down onto his knees, as if trying to show how he feels he and Caesar are now equals in power. Caesar looks up at him though, as if addressing the fact that this other character is in control of power now.
Once Caesar has been stabbed, the other character is shown in low angle shots, creating the idea that now he has stabbed Caesar, he can control the power the knife has given him.
