Extract Essay- Game of Thrones

Carla Choukroun 4/20/20 Period 2 Candidate No. 0102

  1. Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs meaning through the following:
-Camera shots, angles, movement and composition.
-Editing.
-Sound.
-Mis-En-Scene.

In the Games of Throne extract, there is a theme that prevails of mystery and most apparent, uncertainty. The vision that the author captures is through various aspects that begins in the very opening scenes, as the uneasy and rocky waves provide the first glimpse of an unknown atmosphere that will set itself for the premise of this extract.

To begin with, the first scene begins with an establishing shot of the large ship and powerful waves that surround it. Here, diegetic sound can be heard of the seagulls and waves crashing against each other as they overlap from the ships forward movements. During this scene, the camera diverts its attention to the two main characters, with the camera zooming in on them. Incidental sound intensifies, as the zoom allows the audience to examine the facial expressions of the two characters and showcasing their costume design of medieval set attire in formal wear. They show signs of being uncertain, timid and overall anxiety of what lays before them. This shows that the author was trying to capture these exact emotions with the zoom to enhance the theme, making the character and the audience alike uncertain of what events are foreshadowed as a crane shot tilts up of an entrance with a large, towering, statuesque figure of a warrior/soldier .

As the music slowly fades, the next scene is shown of the two main characters in a large dimly lit room, with a great big single horizontally-elongated medal table, accompanied with three large chairs and two small, cowardly looking stone benches on the other side for the two main men. As one of the main characters paces back and forward, the author shows this action as a way to add how uncertain the men are, with one pacing and the other trying to comfort or reassure the other. The camera is kept at a medium close-up to keep the camera focused on the men’s weakly lit faces. Finally, three men emerge, known to be the “bankers” in this scene. There is a moment of hesitation that the men are faced with, as they were met abruptly, even though they were waiting eagerly for these other men. They were plainly dressed, with only one of the “bankers” addressing the men collectively.

Now, the next scene begins with dialogue and shot/reverse-shot of all the characters discussing the matter at hand: heir to money. As the characters go back and forward, arguing and bickering, it is still clear that the author is portraying the uneasy atmosphere displayed amongst these men as it seems an agreement cannot be made. Another theme presents itself here: power. The only “banker” speaking appears very calm and collected and seems to be holding a higher ground than the two main characters. He is unbothered by their claims of who owns the right to the money lost and the heir to the throne to be titled as a Lord. Therefore, the author is presenting that the power is being held at a firmer grip amongst the bankers than the two main men.

With the next scene, the two main characters seem to be defeated of trying to argue with the banker. However, this is until one of the main characters stands to speak up. As the bankers are still seated, one of the main characters is shown in a medium long shot as he speaks in an upright position, which the author created to impose a sense of authority. As the men continue to bicker on grounds of loyalty and who holds the true title to aiding in the lost money, a main event is shown during this scene. One of the main characters uncovers his glove to show the banker. The author added this scene to create depth on the situation, which questioned the other main characters’ integrity, intentions and overall loyalty to the title of being a Lord. Upon removing the glove, the audience was met with a butchered hand- the fingers had been cut or amputated down to the joints of the fingers. A reaction shot was shown of the banker, his face mortified and shocked. The author provided an understanding and background by doing so to prove that the other main character was worthy of the title and the chance to the heir of money to the banker.

Conclusively, through these scenes, it is apparent that the author was trying to show how the theme of uncertainty followed these two main characters in the events that unfolded. They did not know what to expect, in more ways than one. The main characters did not know what the response would be from the banker, the audience did not know either, but even more so, the banker was not expecting of the actions of one of the main characters, with his justified arguments and points, which left the banker searching for words. Therefore, this solidifies the view and intentions of the author when creating the theme of mystery and uncertainty.