Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound, Mise-en-scene to construct representation of relationships

The clip ‘cutting it’ can be used to construct representation of relationships using features like camera shots, editing, Mise-en-scene and sound.

At the start of the clip, the relationship between the man and woman is represented in quite a secretive but close way. They are in the taxi together, and the camera angles show they are a close couple because of the close up camera shot used. The closeness of the couple is again shown by the camera shot in the taxi when an extreme close up is used to show them holding hands, and this is effective because the main subject in the shot is their hands. This is what shows the audience and makes it official that they are a couple.

The sound in the clip also represents the closeness of their relationship. Whilst the female character is in the hospital seeing the doctor, the dialogue is stopped and slow music is played over it. This gives the effect that there is something secretive going on which is why we cannot hear the dialogue because the non-diegetic sound that has been added in editing, hides it from the audience. This builds up tension because as well as the couple being secretive from each other; they are also being secretive towards us. The closeness of the couple is also represented in their relationship at the end of the clip. When the woman walks out of the hospital and ‘gets hit by the lorry’, she is left lying on the floor in pain, the man runs across the road and as he does this, the non- diegetic sound is stopped and a heartbeat sound effect is used instead. This sound is effective as it could imply the hearts are beating together in pain, showing that they both are in one body. The camera angle looking below onto the Mise-en-scene is them both lying on the ground, side by side, with Gavin looking like he was in the accident too. This constructs representation of a close relationship as it could be shown looking down from heaven onto them both, as they have both ‘died inside’ because of the car accident.

As close as their relationship seems, it is also represented as complex. You can tell this by the dialogue between the couple at the start. When they are in the taxi and Allie says, “I know about Melissa”, this implies that although they are married, there are more secrets and complexity that the audience doesn’t fully understand. It also shows that as well as a secret to us, it was a secret that the female character didn’t confess she knew until now. TA close up shot is used of the male character fiddling with his wedding ring and this shows insecurity. Its been zoomed in as a close up shot to give the effect that there not just happiness in this relationship and that maybe the feelings are making him second think. Another bit of dialogue that is used to construct a complex relationship is the dialogue again said by Allie when she says, “I’d want you to move on to love someone else” . This shows complexity in her relationship because its also being secretive as to why she’s said it. Later on in the clip she goes to the hospital, and even when the audience doesn’t know why. This links in with why she said the dialogue. Secrecy is again used when it makes the audience wonder why she is at the hospital, the fact she didn’t even tell Gavin that’s where they were going in the taxi, makes you maybe question how strong their love is.

The camera angles used during the clip use effect, which shows different aspects of their relationship. When the couple get out of the taxi before Allie goes into the hospital, the camera is only facing her when she kisses him goodbye, this could symbolise that only she means the kiss, whilst Gavin is still a bit unsure. After, whilst Allie is in the hospital, Gavin is waiting outside, for the first time in the clip they are both two separate people. The looking down shot is used whilst Allie is speaking to the doctor, and the close up is used on Gavin to show his facial emotions. When Allie get hit by the lorry, the producer has used ‘a cut’ edit of the close up of Gavin, to make it an extreme close up. This has been done to show emphasize the facial expression Gavin gets when he see’s his loved one on the floor lying in pain.

In conclusion, the main way in which the extract ‘cutting it’ constructs representation of relationships is the camera shots used. This is the main technique because it shows the audience the separate feelings of the characters and this is important because it shows how the relationship between them really is. Camera shots and angles gives effect by how much is in the shot. If there was a lot going on in a wide shot, it would be described as complicated, and confusing, compared to a close up which only lets the audience see a small part of the main subject.