Shameless- Editing and Camera types

Shameless series 1 episode 5 – camera and editing techniques
"Explain how (to what effect) camerawork and editing are used in this excerpt."

During this scene of Shameless Steve confronts Frank as he find out that he has been having an affair with his girlfriend, Karen. The camera shots have been used to build up a sense of pace, in which it was quite fast, with all that was going on, and the quick cuts and transitions to each shot. Editing was used to help enhance the drama and tension between Steve and Frank, and also to bring more suspense to the scene.

The pace begins quite normal, with a tracking shot from behind Frank, and then panning from the side of him, following where he is walking. It then cuts to a point of view shot from the character in the car (Steve), which looks over to Frank, it then cuts back to in front of the car and Frank. This quick switch of shots is to represent the tension between these two characters, and to begin to build up the pace.

Pace is increased yet again, as match on action is used to emphasis the impact of the car crashing. It begins with a low angle underneath the van, then cuts away to a medium shot behind the car, to show the effect from the crash. It then cuts to a close up Frank’s face, to express his reaction of shock, as he notices Steve come out of the car. This is an eye line match shot, as it then switches to then look at what he is looking at, then zooms into Steve as he gets out of the car, walking up to Frank. The 180 degree rule is used here, as they are both on the opposite sides, the whole time.

As the fight begins, the editing starts to appear more, and the cuts are more frequent. Point of view shots are used a lot during the fight scene, to give it a sense of realism, to almost feel as if you are there. An eye worm’s view shot is used to represent Frank looking up at Steve as he is kicked.

It begins to switch between the four characters in the current part of the scene, and then uses a fish eye lens shot to almost spy in on Karen as she hides in her room, to show her reaction to what is going on outside with Frank and Steve, showing her panic as to what is going on.

Parallel action is used throughout the scene, to represent the events going on both in the house, and on the street. It is mainly used so that it can represent everyone’s reactions to the situation, and to what will happen next.

An effective white fade edit has been used twice in this scene. It is firstly used when Sheila says “I’m coming, Frank!” and then opens the door, in which white fade is used to switch cameras from the house to the fight, which is then a point of view shot, showing Frank getting beaten up. White fade is then used as a last punch is made onto Frank, the worms eye view shot is used, and then a punch is made directly in the same place as the camera is, which the white fade is used to switch camera again. As the fight is being broken up, it involves a master shot, as it switches to view the characters, and then switches to a medium shot, showing the characters and the setting.

After it is broken up, it cuts to a extreme close up of Frank’s face, this is used to show what has happened after the fight, as there is a lot of blood covered over his face. Point of view shot is then used, as Frank tells Sheila an excuse as to why Steve attacked him, which Frank looks over to Karen. We see her expression as she feels somewhat grief and regret from what did happen, and then walks off, as she doesn’t like the situation and hearing Frank lie about what happened.