In class today, we were asked to analyze clips from movies to determine the different shots and editing it presents. The movie I chose to analyze is called, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018). In the first video, the clip is within the timestamp of 0:28-0:41. This scene is an example of a dissolve transition. During this scene, Lara Jean is on the track field when Peter approaches her while holding one of the love letters she has written to him. As she feels embarrassment starting to rise, she also comes to the realization of what is happening. As a result, she faints and experiences a dramatic, slow-motion dream that is reflected based on her mental state at the moment. The use of the dissolve transition allows for viewers to understand the anxiety and panic that Lara Jean is facing in the moment. In the next part, from the same video, but at timestamp 1:02-1:06, this is an example of an eyeline match. Lara Jean has just awoken from her faint, and she is talking to Peter. While this is happening, Lara Jean notices her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh, approaching her, but with his own letter. The scene shows Lara Jean looking up and ahead, and then the next scene cuts to show the viewers what she is looking at. The use of an eyeline match in this scene helps create a dramatic effect by building tension. It evokes a sense of anticipation for the viewer as they might wonder, "What is going to happen next?" Furthermore, towards the end of the video, at the timestamp 1:58, this is an example of a low angle. For context, in this scene, Lara Jean rushes to hide in the bathroom after kissing Peter on the track to avoid her sister's ex-boyfriend, who had received one of her love letters. Lara thinks that hiding in the bathroom will allow her to escape the situation. However, once she is in the bathroom, she is confronted by another person who also received one of her love letters. The clip shows the letter being "slipped" underneath the bathroom stall, but then it cuts to a low angle of Lara Jean standing on the toilet seat. The use of a low angle in this scene evokes a sense of helplessness on the viewer's side. In other words, viewers may be able to relate to Lara Jean and the situation she is facing. By using a low angle, the viewer might feel helpless in that they can't do anything to save Lara from her situation.
In the next video, it is also of the same movie, To All the Boys I've Loved Before. In the first few seconds of this video clip, 0:00-0:03, this is an example of using jump cuts. The scene is of Lara Jean walking through the school hallway on the first day of school. The hallway is bustling with students walking to class and students hanging around the lockers on the sides. The use of jump cuts in this scene creates a feeling of unease and compresses the time of Lara walking in the hallways to a shorter time frame. A scene walking in the hallways would usually be boring and mundane, but by using jump cuts, this makes the sequence of events in the movie seem more dynamic to the storyline as a whole.
Furthermore, the next video clip I chose to do, which is also on the same movie, is on the timestamp of 1:47-1:51 of the 3rd video. In this scene, the camera first shows Lara Jean and Peter having a conversation. However, it then cuts into the notebook that Lara Jean is writing on. The cut-in of the notebook shows viewers what Lara Jean is writing specifically. This is important because in this scene, Lara and Peter are discussing the rules for their fake relationship. By cutting into the notebook, this puts emphasis on the importance of the rules in relation to the storyline and later events. In this case, the cut-in of the notebook is a form of foreshadowing in that they are writing up the rules they are supposed to follow, but eventually, both Lara and Peter end up breaking them as they fall in love with each other.
Finally, in the last video (4th video), from timestamps 0:32-1:05, this is an example of over-the-shoulder shots being used. For context, in this scene, Lara Jean confronts Peter about being caught with his ex, Gen, after saying that he was over her. Over-the-shoulder shots are typically used in dialogue scenes, cutting back and forth between each character. Thus, by using over-the-shoulder shots in this scene, this allows viewers to understand the current relationship between Lara Jean and Peter. Specifically, in the scene, a sense of tension and intimacy is created through the conversation. Viewers may feel as if they are a part of the conversation, which helps build suspense and establish a perspective. Therefore, the different film elements I have identified in these few clips of To All the Boys I've Loved Before are a dissolve transition, an eyeline match, a low angle, jump cuts, a cut-in, and over-the-shoulder shots.
Video Clips
Video 1
Screenshots from Video 1
Dissolve (0:28-0:41)
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