Essay
The director is trying to convey to the audience that the scenes are taking place in a medieval time period that is most likely filled with the usual themes of war and betrayal. Through the theme of dark conventions similar to a drama and thrillers the director uses the set to transport us to another time and world. The many different layers of conventions that the director brings to the scenes makes the audience feel the seriousness and the underlying sense of fear the actors make the charractor portray.
The feelings that brings out in the audience and the charractors is that they are trying to get help from a kingdom they know will refuse their request. Through the message of the harsh music and distinct diegetic sounds the audience is left with getting submerged in the story the director is showing us. I think the way the director layered out the scenes was to show the vulnerability of the first two characters shown and the contrast between them and the three other men in the last scenes.
For scene one, the director's vision is the medieval times, to make the characters on the ship the main characters,all for the scenes that will follow. This can be seen through the use of the dark elements to this theme. In the use of the high angle shot of the ship as it sails by we can see the colors of the ship to be ones that could have possibly been obtained back then. The reds can be a symbol of where they came from or represent their individuality as characters. From this bird's-eye perspective we can see the urgency in which it is moving, the fast pace is matched to a jump cut. The camera zooms into the character wearing a grey costume, making him out to be the most important person, in the two-shot that it zooms out to. This light costume sets him apart from the person behind him. After which the camera jumps again to a wide angle two shot, capturing the sword at the side of the person wearing the black costume, this makes him out to be the one to protect the one in grey. This could mean that the one in grey is of high rant and social status. The tone of the scene is conducted through the non-diegetic sounds of the ambient noise in the background. This sound brings about urgency and the seriousness of the mood the actors are portraying. This leads the audience to believe that they're going to a place where they are seeking help but already know they will be denied it. These costumes compliment the medieval tone of the other pieces to the scene, the diegetic sounds of the waves, birds chirping, the ship creaking, all set the mood to tell the audience that they are in a boat sailing to a place where they will ask for help for something serious.
For scene two the director's vision is set in a kingdom where the characters we meet a second ago are sailing to, and through the use of the previous conventions we can tell they are apprehensive about going. Through the use of a pan shot, we are in a bird-like perspective that zooms out away from the two characters, to tilt up to a statue, and a big city. The characters were looking up before we had seen the statue leading our eyes to follow theirs to the statue. The pause after would be an establishing shot telling the audience this is where they will be for the remainder of the scenes. These are all slow jump cuts and mainly pans signaling the audience to focus on the characters and marvel at the surroundings.
For the director's vision is still the medieval themes but with the characters in the big open room we can see how truly at a loss they are. The window and close up shot of the presumably main character's head shows how the scene is meant to be dark and adds to the suspense. Then through the use of a pan we see the look of fear from him. We can hear the abiant non-diegetic sounds stop and the boots are the loudest noise till the dialogue. Then it goes to a wide shot of the lonely huge room that is much too big for just a couple of people. The director likely made the decision to show the audience that the two people are probably going to be made a fool of or at least made to feel like they aren't important. The place they were in was much too big for a small meeting and the large table with the two small stools across from the three thrones made the audience's assumptions clear. The characters seem distressed about the confrontation they had sailed there for, the dark lighting ,and their face highlighted with a dark contrast and sweat makes them look a little sickly. The audience is left with the assumption that they already know the answer to the questions they're going to ask. This tension can be seen in the way the characters present themselves, throughout the main character (in grey) pacing, to the black character watching him with a fearful gaze with the low angle shot, made to make the other character (grey) seem bigger and thus in charge, we can practically feel the tension in the air ourselves. At this time the jump cuts seem to be getting faster as the characters continue back and forth, this leads the people to believe they are still nervous.
From scene four the director's vision is to make the audience feel the awkward surroundings and the pressure that the two men have to bear, to try to get what they need, even with the people who seem to be impossible to get through. Through the use of a big setting like the room filled with only a long table, two small stools ,and three thrones, it makes the space between them and the other people who aren't in the room yet feel bigger. The flinching of the two characters and the fast pace jump cuts to and from them then to the massive doors makes us question what's going to happen. With the confidence the men walked in with we can tell what's about to happen. The director makes it so the camera tracks and pans the movements of the three men to look as if they are synchronized. This leads the people watching to believe this isn't the only time they have had this meeting with another kingdom. The two other men are shown quickly but the camera rests on the one in the middle, marking him as the leader. He greets the men with a fake smile and a fake welcome. The scene brightens up but only on their side as the side with the first main characters stays dark. The director chose this lack of color and light to represent the hard times they've faced and will face in the future it seems. The reoccurring colors of muted tones of grey, faded yellow, blacks, and other muted tones seems to make this scene even more suspenseful and interesting to watch. When he directs them to sit it jump cuts to a wide shot of the two characters looking at the small uncomfortable stools. This shows the disrespect of the nice tone he uses, completely contradicting what he is projecting on the outside. The silence in the room is suffocating and the close up of the main character (the one wearing grey) tells us how uncomfortable the scene should make us feel. He walks to the chair and the camera moves at a low angle in a pan motion. Afterwards the close up to his face and the jumpcut to the two shots of the main characters can be seen. This awkward way of filming makes us wonder what they will try to do to get them to agree to their demands. After the long pause of the scene the wide shot can make the characters look extra small but the one wearing black introduces the man in grey then sits. This shows the other characters in the throne that he has a title too and shouldn't be disrespected. However, the one in the middle who as I, the audience, assumes to be the leader other others disrespects him further by talking about his past makes the scene turn even more awkward. The dialogue continues but it isn't until the end where we see more light on the main characters side as the one in black stands up for his boss and I'm assuming friend. This interaction shown by this man brightens up the room and the jump cuts to the one wearing grey shows a new perspective on his character. He walked away after being criticized so harshly but, even if he cut the fingers off the man with the black clothes, he is still highly respected by him. The man wearing black talked highly of him regardless and the turn of emotions gets played on the other mans face (the one sitting in the throne). The turn of the criticisms makes it seem like the two main characters might have a chance at getting what they were after all along.
From the audience's perspective there were two main scenes, but the different tones split the last scenes due to several changes to the atmosphere of the characters,lighting, and overall mise en scene. The directors' use of the many conventions helped shape the theme of this medieval drama and thriller to transport us (the audience) into the world that the director wanted to show. We got to experience the subtle increase in tension with the increase in jump cuts and close up shots of the characters faces. The diegetic sound of the ocean and birds transported us to go to the kingdom they went to, in a birds perspective with pans and close ups. The props and the clothing fit the medieval times and were completed with a sword and boat. The vision to transport us to a world where these characters feel they need to start a battle, and gather resources from people they don't trust, creates high tension to make this scene work for the times they chose.
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