Travelling and arriving | Donnie Darko Clip Analysis

Clip Analysis

Mise En Scene by Duygu

There are 13 different characters focused in the Donnie Darko clip, these range of different types of characters presented in the clip; students and teachers in groups and alone. The first characters shown are a group of male students which appear at 0.05 seconds; once they enter the building they walk in a formation of a triangle showing the in front is the leader and portrays to the audience he is the main character of Donnie Darko as he is in the beginning of the clip.

The next character is a male student shown at 0.22 seconds walking towards the group of boys face to face with the leader with a serious facial expression and shoves pass him. This suggests that he is the group’s enemy by his body language and many dramas and conflict will appear further on the movie between the characters. At 0.31 seconds as the character is walking down the corridor he mocks a female teacher who watches him pass by with a straight face and one eyebrow raised at 0.34 seconds who watches him walk by and follows him. This gives the impression that neither of them is fond of each other as he is the ‘baddie’ and she would deal with his punishments as her body language shows her hierarchy in the school. He reappears at 0.51 seconds sniffing drugs, which reveals to the audience that drugs and alcohol will be a main topic.  

The following character is a female student looking into her mirror in her locker at 0.41 seconds. This represents that she is a vain character who cares about her appearance as she properly fancies the main character and is properly going to try grab his attention later on. A male teacher sees him taking drugs at 0.50 seconds who just continues walking down the corridor, this suggest that he is an teacher that wouldn’t stop inappropriate behavior when seen and would give punishments.

The next character is shown outside at 1.13 seconds is a female student by herself reading a book. This gives impression to the audience that she lacks in self-confidence due to her weight who wouldn’t have many friends in school therefore companies herself with books.

The next character is a man who is seen talking to the previous female teacher at 1. 16 seconds who is introduced to the male teacher at 1.24 seconds who then walks around showing the school, this shows that this character is an important man who could have an effect on the school later on the movie. He is then introduced to another 2 teachers (male and female) at 1.38 seconds to enhance his importance and aware the teachers who he is. The female teacher stops and looks at the group of girls singing and dancing at 1.58 seconds which portrays that these girls may be a part of cheer leading further on the movie. The female teacher then reappears on the screen at 2.17 seconds throwing her drink in the bin and entering the building and takes a deep breath with her head held up before entering the classroom at 2.26 seconds. This gives the impression that she is aware this school year is going to be hectic year. 





Camera Analysis by Nawd

During the film sequences right at the start the camera starts upside down then rotates and then begins to zoom out, not only is this eye catching but it can also represents the world turning around when they begin to attend school/college in teen dramas, the camera then pans along the screen to follow the main person into the school/college itself. This sort of effect could be seen as isolating the main character and also identifying who will be most followed during the whole of the film.

When the main character and his friends enter the building the camera follows them in a swing motion this could be used to indicate that they are a group. When the camera flips and follows then the camera dose a 540° this is used to represent a new character being introduced into the story.
The camera switches into a slow motion which indicates how the new character is moving and communicating through his eyes with the people around him then goes back to normal after he makes contact with the main character and then back into a slow motion when looking at the teacher.

The camera then starts to passively pans as it goes through the hallways slowing down then speeding up then panning as it introduces all of the characters, this is done to represent how the characters of the teen movie are stereotyped in a way that the audience can have a moment to analyses there actions and mise en scene.

The scene begins to speed up towards then end when the older teacher begins to walk through the door at a 3x speed. As he exits the sunlight becomes blinding then this is used to hide into dissolves into another scene, the whole speed up speed down editing represents school life and how it runs.

The camera then begins to slow mo and speed up then transitions into a follow zoom which is used to continuously introduce new characters then follows the woman and ends.

Setting Analysis Chenny & Thaomy

Through out the opening different setting are shown, showing a a variety of contrasting school environment. At 0:03 seconds into the opening, there is a yellow school bus showing the audience the typical 'American' school type bus. Then 0:18 seconds into the clip the setting then change and we're introduced to the school corridors. Just like a typical school there corridors are full of students. Also the around the corridors there are notice boards and lockers, all showing the common convention in a school environment. 

The scene then changes to a outdoors scene, from there we see the school mascot, indicating a public identity for the audience to be aware of. Again the open space if filled with students and we see benches and tables laid out for the students to use. You are also able to see teachers conversing with each other. The final scene were are reverted back inside but this time into a classroom, the classroom has tables and chair as well a chalk boards all showing a the common school features.