The way genders are represented in the scene from “Extra’s” is by the mise-en scene, camera angles and the characters body language. These three features play a big part on how the audience perceives the piece of media shown to them. Everything counts from the set of the show, to the way the camera is angled on the actors/actresses face. I think in this extract the audience are shown three different stereotypical gender relationships between and men and women.
The first characters we are introduced to are Orlando Bloom and the defence lawyer who is played by Sophie Myles. Sophie’s body language shows the viewers what kind of person she is. In her scene, she stands up very confidently and asserts her opinion to the whole courtroom. Her assertive body language shows that she is a strong character. It also foreshadows that if she were in a relationship with a man she would most likely not be the weaker one. Her relationship with the other defence lawyer in the scene, Orlando Bloom, is shown in an equal light. Firstly, Sophie is confrontational with Orlando and is face to face with him in front of the court. This gives the effect that both are on the same level, instead of having Sophie sitting down and Orlando standing up. In that scenario Orlando would be the more dominant person in the relationship. Along with the body language of the characters, the mise-en scene also contributes to the way gender is perceived in the scene. Both Sophie and Orlando are wearing the same wigs and outfit, implying that both are of the same class and have equal respect in society. The setting of the established courtroom also shows the audience that Sophie and Orlando are from the upper class. The cameras angle and position in a scene can change someone views on the characters. The director used shot reverse shot filming in this particular scene between Sophie and Orlando because it again shows them as equals. One is not lower than the other or in the back of the shot, but instead both are shown at an equal level. All the ways that body language, mise-en scene, and camera angles are used in this first scene create the effect of the two genders being of the same importance and status, which shows the viewers one stereotype of a relationship.
The second scene is introduced with the change of lighting from high key colour to everyday lighting. By this use of lighting it shows us that the scene we were first watching was not real life but instead on a film set. This is a clever transition onto the next relationship between Orlando Bloom playing himself and an extra on the set, Maggie. Maggie is first introduced to the viewers when the camera was moving along the jury. Maggie stood out from everyone else because she was the only one looking in a different direction. She was moving her head back and forth around the room instead of focusing on the judge like the rest on the room. She is also seen slouching compared to everyone else who is sitting up staright. Her body language shows us that her charcter is quite ditsy and unimpressed. She stands out from the rest of the Jury who are all doing the “right” thing. When the scene is cut, Maggie stays slouching and watching a swarm of girls all over Orlando Bloom. This relationship between the girls and Orlando is a stereotypical represntation of women with famous men. The women are seen degreading themselves by throwing themselves all over him. Ironically, Orlando has his eye on Maggie who is slouching in the corner unimpressed by Orlando’s arrogance. Orlando then comes over to Maggie and leans in whilst talking to her. His body language in this scene is very forward and confident which shows that he is quite full of himself. When Maggie points out that the girls only like him because he is famous, he is very taken back and shows that with his confused face expression. His face tells the viewers a lot about how he thinks of himself. He disagrees with Maggie saying that the girls were around him for his good looks instead. By having Maggie sitting down while Orlando is leaning over the side shows the status of the two charcters. Orlando is more dominant because he is standing up. The fact that Maggie is lower down shows her as less important. The relationship between these two charcters shows two stereotypes of genders, the slef indugled celebrity and the woman who is unimpressed by his arrogance. Maggie is a special charcter because she shows a new way to how women would react to a celeberity. Maggie, unlike the other women, was unimpressed by Orlando Bloom.
The last relationship between the two genders is between Maggie and her friend Ricky. Ricky has called Maggie to check that she is still coming to watch his new show tonight. Maggie is shown in a new light in this scene being quite ditsy and forgetful. Throughout the phone call Ricky had to remind her over 3 times that tonight was the premire of his show. Ricky and Maggie are both shown sitting down in the scene, which shows the viewers that they are off equal status. The mise-en-scene shows Ricky is on a film set with bright high key colour whilst Maggie is still on the set of the court room. The camera is used in this scene for close up’s on their faces. This is done in order to show the expressions of both charcters while they are on the phone with eachother. There is a role reversal to the way genders are portrayed in this scene. Instead of the woman being needy and asking for support it is the man. Maggie is seen as unbothered and un-supporting of her friend.
The way body language, camera angles and mise-en-scene is used can show the viewers how genders are represnted. In this clip from extras the viwers got to see three examples of relationships between men and women.
