I tried.
Here is the page dedicated to my personal observations of the cinematography in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. From these observations, I tried to make inferences based off the cinematographer's choice of lighting, camera angles, framing, and editing techniques that would help enhance the director's message of the film.
Low AngleA low angle is when the camera is below the subject being filmed. Low angles give the illusion that the subject of the shot is powerful, dominant, or important. In this particular shot, Francis Lawrence chose to use the low angle ironically. In this scene, Katniss is being sent up into the games. But, while she is trapped in the tube, one of her best friends Cinna is being beaten to death. Katniss feels helpless, useless, and powerless. She can't do anything to save her friend because she is trapped and physically cannot get out to save him. Snow does this on purpose so when she does arrive in the games, her past illusions of feeling confident and powerful will dwindle.
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High AngleA high angle is when the camera is above the subject being filmed. These angles give the audience the illusion that the subject is is week, powerless, or inferior. In this shot, Katniss and Peeta are making their way around the stadium, to show the capitol citizens who is participating in the current year's games. This shot is supposed to be from President Snow's point of view. The shot was used because Snow feels more powerful than Katniss and Peeta. But, the shot was also used ironically. In the scene, Katniss and Peeta do not look afraid. They are mad, and they are ready for whatever Snow has planned for them in the games. So even though Snow feels more powerful than Katniss and Peeta, Katniss and Peeta too feel powerful; even though the odds aren't exactly in their favor.
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Medium ShotMedium shots are waist up shots; they are very common, and they imply that the scene is neutral, comfortable, and unobtrusive. In this particular case, Katniss is about to enter her second year of the Hunger Games. Even though anyone would be stressed and scared in this situation, the cinematographer chose a medium shot. He did this to emphasize Katniss' reliance on Cinna. He is a true friend to her, and he can make her feel safe and comfortable no matter the situation. Katniss feels comfortable whenever she is with Cinna, which is why a medium shot was chosen.
Close-upA close-up is when the object takes up eighty percent or more of the screen. These shots force the viewer to ONLY see what the director wants them to see. Some effects that close-ups can cause are:
-Object has importance. -Foreshadowing -Character reactions -Emotions -Tension This shot below is the ending shot of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and it is personally my favorite shot of the entire film. The director chose to have a close up of Katniss' emotions at the end of film to display to the audience what kind of thoughts are flowing through her mind, and to foreshadow for the next film, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. She is shown to have utter sadness, then realization, confusion, anger, and finally determination. This makes the viewers wonder what Katniss is going to do next, and it foreshadows her change in character for the next film *SPOILER* Jennifer Lawrence acts out this scene after Katniss receives news that Snow destroyed her home, district twelve. High Key LightingHigh key lighting is when the shot or subject in the shot is bright, open, and with no shadows. Everything is washed in full light, and it implies that the character is trustworthy and honest. It can also mean excitement. In this shot, Plutarch Heavensbee is shown in High Key Lighting. I know what you're thinking, "WHAT?! HE IS CLEARLY SHOWN HERE TO BE WORKING WITH PRESIDENT SNOW, UH, NOT TO BE TRSUTED". Well, Lawrence did this for a reason!
*SPOILER* Lawrence has his cinematographer do this in order to hint to the audience that Plutarch is NOT bad guy! He is actually working from the inside, and at the end of the film the viewers find out that he is responsible for the escape plan of Katniss Everdeen. CrosscutA crosscut is used in modern editing. It's parallel editing, and it's used to show one scene cutting immediately to another. It implies that the scenes are happening at the same time. It also creates suspense. So for example, crosscuts can be used in scenes that have conversation between characters. In this scene, the shot from Peeta yelling for Katniss is cut immediately to Katniss crying and screaming. Peeta is yelling to Katniss that the cries of her sister are fake, and is trying to help her realize this while she is sobbing over the pain of her sister being hurt. The crosscut also makes the scene suspenseful;l the scene is moving fast and this makes the audience sit on the edge of their seats to see what happens next.
Fin.
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Long ShotThese shots are also called establishing shots. A long shot is used to show the audience setting and time. It also forces the viewer the focus on one or two things, which could imply that they are important. This particular establishing shot is at the end of the gif. The gif starts at a close-up of Katniss, then the camera slowly moves to show the long shot: the arena. By showing the audience the arena, they can now fully understand where Katniss is, what time of day it is, and see what type of arena she will be forced to battle in.
Here is a simpler long shot example. The camera shows the victor's tour train heading into the capitol. This shot allows the audience to see that Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and Effie have finally arrived at the capitol, their last stop on the tour.
Low Key LightingLow key lighting is the type of lighting that you see when the screen is dark with lots of shadows. It implies that the scene or character is scary, suspenseful, uncertain, or full of doubt. In this shot, President's Snow's face is covered in shadows. Since he is the antagonist in this film, this shot works for him. He is shown to the viewers as not trustworthy and scary.
But, not all low lighting implies that the character is bad. Here, the main character Katniss is shown to be in low lighting. She had just deceived Peeta and Haymitch by leaving out the important information that Snow had come to visit her in her home, threatening her and her loved ones. She didn't want to worry her two close friends, but the lighting still enhances that she was lying and was uncertain about her decision to keep this from her team. Plus, during this same scene, Peeta is washed in full light (see high key lighting). This contrasts Katniss' deceit with Peeta's open and honest personality and reaction to the news.
Back LightingBack lighting is just what its name implies; lighting from the back. This type of lighting creates suspense. In this scene, Katniss and Peeta are kissing in the games. I think that the director chose to use back lighting for this scene because it could be considered suspenseful. It makes the audience confused. They wonder, "Does Katniss actually love Peeta?" or, "What is going through Peeta's head? Is he still hurt?" or possibly, "What will happen next in their love story?". The audience is on their seats waiting to see Katniss' reaction, and judge for themselves whether they believe Katniss loves Peeta or not.
SymbolismSymbolism isn't just used in books! Movies also contain literary aspects. Often, when a director wants an audience to notice something used earlier in a shot, but will come up again later, they have the cinematographer get a close-up shot of that symbol. In this case, the train is driving past a graffitied mockingjay symbol on the wall. This symbol is important to Katniss personally because it reminds her of strength and of family. But, it is also important to the revolutionaries, because it is a symbol of taking charge against the capitol. This symbol is very important in this movie because The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the movie when the viewers start to begin notching revolution in the districts.
Here is another example of a close-up helping to enhance symbolism! In this shot, the locket is shown in Katniss' hands. It is a symbol of her home, a reason to keep fighting, her family, and Peeta's love and understand for her and her situation with him.
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Just in case you would like to get a better feel of the movie, here is the trailer! And there is also a link to the movie online free on the home page :)