ABSTRACT

This section began with a discussion of the basic concepts of mise-en-scène (the meaning created by the content of a shot) and montage (the meaning created when we juxtapose shots). Juxtaposing images highlights a link, contrast, or relationship between shots that compounds their meaning, guides the viewer’s attention and evokes associations. Juxtaposing key images, especially of signi cant moments, in a sequence helps to compress a lengthy process while still conveying its essence. Each chosen moment makes us imagine (that is, co-create) the progression from the previous one. Film’s favorite form of juxtaposing is the cut from one image to another, but we must also consider the power of juxtaposing scene against scene, for it enables a lm to y through space and time and make narrative and thematic comparisons and contrasts.