The Other Boleyn Girl- Camera

The Other Boleyn Girl- By Hannah Pengelley

The film that I have chosen to write this essay on is ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’, the sequence within this film that I have chosen to specifically write about is the King’s arrival to the Boleyn’s family, the sequence begins at 14:29 minutes into the film..
The sequence begins with the King and all his men galloping on horses uphill on their way to the Boleyn family, the lighting within this sequence is natural lighting, this creates a more realistic atmosphere which adds emphasis to the fact the film is based upon a true stpry. The lighting is more so low key than it is high key within this part of the sequence due to the shadows which are cast above and below the king and his men, the shadows frame the King and his men with a streak of light, this adds emphasis on how many men work for the King due to his power, status and royalty. The shadows also add connotations that the King’s presence may cause darkness for the Boleyn family, his arrival may not be a good thing as they first believe it will be.
During this part of the sequence an extreme long shot is used as the all ride uphill, an extreme long shot is used so as many of the King’s men can fit into the shot as possible, this exaggerates the amount of men which do work for him, this allows the audience to identify the fact he is a very powerful man who is looked up to by many people.
Just over a minute later into the sequence a point of view shot is used, a point of view shot allows the audience to feel as if they are there within the action, the shot is filmed at an extreme long shot so we are far from the action, it is also shot behind a few blades of glass so the audience is felt to be in hiding, this allows the audience to feel as though they should be in fear and shouldn’t be close to the action which indicates that the King is someone to be afraid of which again emphasises his power and status. Several more point of view shots are used during this sequence including when the camera focuses on Anne Boleyn and when King and his men gallop through the village and arrive to where the Boleyn family wait for him, during all of this point of view shots the camera hides behind either another person or an object so we feel as though we are there at the King’s arrival, this creates a sense of fear for the audience as they are made to feel hidden by being behind either a person or object, this creation of fear emphasises the King’s power and status and portrays him to be a cruel and intimidating person.
During a point of view shot and tracking shot is then used, the camera moves as though we are walking along vertically through the crowd with the King as his rides in n his horse, this is also combined with a low angle shot as the King triumphantly sits high up upon his horse, the combination of low angle shot and tracking shot allow the audience to feel vulnerable in the presence of the king but also proud to be in his presence as his is of great importance is looked up to by people throughout the country.
Next a pan shot is used on Anne Boleyn and then the camera switches to King Henry as he dismounts his horse, this is used t create a relationship between these two characters. As the pan is used n Anne Boleyn a slight zoom is also used on her, this emphasises her presence and allows the audience to identify she is a key part of the sequence/film.
Once the king is off of his horse the camera witches to Mary Boleyn as she curtseys down to the King, a slight tilt down is used during this curtsey so the audience feel as though are doing the same action, this exaggerates his royalty as he must be greeted within this certain way as a way of respect to him and his ruling power.