Age Essay

This extract is able to portray age through Mise-en-scene, Sound, Editing and Camera Shots.

Mis-en-scene was used to show the characters age, for example the elderly woman sitting in the waiting room. She was designed to look like the stereotypical older woman; grey hair and wearing a scarf. She is also seen to be 'looking into space' then asked why she was there. The extract made her look and act like this to make sure the audience know her age. Also most children/teenagers in the extract are made to look more vulnerable than the adults, portraying their physcial and mental age. However during this extract they go against the stereotypical child, he is sat in his hopsital bed playing sudokau. This is seen as an adult characteristic and activity to enjoy.

They are also able to go agaisnt the childs stereotype by using sound/dialogue. He is able to know why and how he is sick e.g. "First it felt like a lump in my throat" and "I suggested a muscle biopsy." This dialogue suggests the intellligence of the child, showing it is at an higher stage than most children/teenagers his age. The extract is also able to portray age by sound, using dialogue. When in the waiting room a younge child speaks in an higher and more panicked voice saying "Killer bit me" whereas the elder woman is more calm and relaxed, saying she just wants "air." They also portray age by showing the dialogue of the young couple. She explains how she wants to go travelling and how it's an "once in a life time opportunity." This could portray her age as it is stereotyped that most young workers want adventure and good memories in life. 

Editing is also used to represent age. Eyeline match is used between the male doctor and teenage patient. The doctors eyeline match is higher than patients, showing his dominance over him. This shows us their age as most adults have dominance over children and teenagers in reality. Cross cutting is also used to show the pace of the characters in the extract e.g. when on the elder woman the pace is slower and calmer, whereas the drunk patient's pace is alot faster and chaotic but this could also link to the state of the patient and what situation they are in.

The extract also uses camera angles/shots to show characters age. It uses over the shoulder shot between the female and male doctor when they are trying to treat the drunk patient. Here you can see the male character is older due to the dominance over her and is able to order her. The extract also uses a birds eye view shot on the drunk patient, showing the chaotic atmosphere around him. This could portray age as he may have alot of life to loose.