9 Screen Analysis

‘Breaking Benjamin – The Diary of Jane’

By Alex Preston

Shot 1

Shot 1

Time 1.1 seconds

The opening shot is of a ominous looking house which looked abandoned. This is conventional of the Rock genre as the use of deserted and disquieting locations to highlight isolation and segregation, common theme explored in this genre, Jason Mittell suggest this allows the production company to make high profits. Due to the video playing into the audience expectations of the genre and the band themselves. The lighting effects used on this shot further amplify the feelings of isolation and dread. There are no people present in this shot, thus describing it as a opening or establishing shot.

Shot 2

Shot 2

Time – 0.25

Voyeurism is explicitly present in this shot, due to the framing of the young woman by the doorframe, this infers that we are watching her. This is a common occurrence according to Andrew Goodwin, but in this context he is incorrect, as this shot does not relate to ‘Star Image’ but to stereotypical view of woman in the media. Woman are viewed, and portrayed as emotional weak in the media, this shot incorporates that bias view and a intertexual reference of woman in horror films. It is a common horror motif that woman commit suicide and/or die in mysterious ways in bathrooms. So in conclusion the shot infers that we, the audience are peering in on a dead body of a young woman.

Shot 3

Shot 3

Time – 0.29

The shot is a simple long shot to show the band playing. The location is again isolated and dark, to convey the themes of the song. This is also a typical convention of the Rock genre and follow David Mittell’s theory that this is used to sell records. The same can theorized about the mise en scene present in the shot; the clothes the band are wearing, how they are playing there respective instruments and also the type of instruments used.

Shot 4

Shot 4

Time – 0.39

This medium long shot of ‘Jane’ conforms to Andrew Goodwin theory of voyeurism through the use of mirrors. But also links with Denis McQuail’s theory of search for ‘Personal Connection’ through the media. Due to the nature of the song these connections are about loss and suicide, thus the use of dark lighting. It is unknown at this point if ‘Jane’ is alive, following Carol Vernaillis idea of the diegesis being slowly revealed.

Shot 5

Shot 5

Time -0.47

This close up of the lead singer of ‘Breaking Benjamin’ links with Andrew Goodwin theory of ‘Star Image’. The record company will want a number of close ups of the band and the lead singer in particular, to ensure high sales figures, as Jason Mittell suggests. This frame also conforms to theory from Carol Vernaillis as the band are only shown in the chorus. They move in time with the music.

Shot 6

Shot 6

Time- 2.08

The medium close-up of ‘Jane’, shows the audience her attire. Her white dress being the only clothing she is wearing; this is commonly linked with innocence and nativity. This is used to illustrate ‘Jane’s’ lack of understanding of her predicament, the dress could also be used a way to portray her as being dead. This shot also links to Laura Mulvey theory of the ‘Male Gaze’. The camera exposes some of Jane’s feminine assets.

Shot 7

Shot 7

Time – 3.06

This is a interesting transition shot as it reveals the remainder of the diegesis to the audience. Follows theory from Carol Vernaillis that they may be gaps in audience understanding at the end of the video, that it may pose questions that were not answered. It is also common for Rock music videos to use a multitude of visual effects to illustrate the underlining themes of the song.

Shot 8

Shot 8

Time- 3.10

This shot has a more symbolic significance than a atheistic meaning. The close up of the red rose signifies the love the singer has for this ‘Jane’. The book is closed to show him letting her go, the end of the two narratives; her search for why she has no reflection, and his search for a reason for her suicide. Carol Vernaillis states that they can be gaps in the audience understanding. ‘Jane’ does not understand why she has no refection and the singer does not find a reason for her suicide. It is safe to suggest that he was romantically involved with ‘Jane’, as red rose connotes themes of romantic and internal love.

Shot 9

Shot 9

Time- 2.25

The high angle shot of ‘Jane’ is used to symbolize her realisation of her predicament, that has no reflection, which subtly hints that she maybe dead. The audience already understood this, but a close-up is used to allow the audience to see her emotional response. The audience has build up a rapport with Jane over the course of the video, not to the extent to which can be accomplished in a film, but still allows the audience a little closure for ‘Jane’.