BLOG 8: OFFICER BLACK BELT SCENE CRAFTING

BLOG 8: OFFICER BLACK BELT SCENE CRAFTING

Hey, sunshine, welcome back to my blog! 

    Today's blog will be about a movie called Black Belt Officer (I know you're getting sick of this, but TRUST THE PROCESS🥸). To make things more interesting, I will change things up a bit, something that's more SPICY (this is a lifetime special for you!). I'm going to explore a brand new domain that we have not yet discussed, the mis-en-scene. I will analyze five of the most significant elements in this movie and explain how they help convey the meaning that the director wants to express. With that being said, let's RUN into today's content!!🏃🏻‍♀️‍➡️👟

Mis-en-Scene

Jeong-do's father's chicken place (based in Korea)

    The FIRST MOST important mis-en-scene element would be location. Black Belt Officer is an action movie that is based on a true story in South Korea. By choosing South Korea to be the film's location, the production team was able to achieve the realism they awaited. In addition, the director makes sure he delivers the story in the MOST detailed way possible, as the matching between the filming location and the real-life location suggests the team's dedication to properly spreading this heroic story to the world. In addition, although filming in a studio is considered to be more complicated and expensive, the production team's decision to film at real locations added an authenticity to the film that would have been difficult to achieve in a studio setting. This definitely was a fair trade since they managed to capture some of the most realistic shots that allow the viewers to DEEPLY immerse in the story.

Kim Woo-bin's portrayal of Jeong-do

    The SECOND MOST important mis-en-scene element has to be actors. Casting actors is considered to be the most important process, as casting the "right" actors is CRUCIAL; not only the acting talent is required but also the "look" they offer to the character. Kim Woo-bin's portrayal of Jeong-do in Black Belt Officer will be the PERFECT example: Kim Woo-bin, who naturally has an "on-point" kind yet innocent look, but his duality to portray a determined and fearless expression in this scene accurately captured the real Jeong-do, who willingly SACRIFICED himself for justice. Kim Woo-bin's appearance and acting skill truly tie the story together, making his casting a key factor in the film's success and overall enhancing the impact of the movie.

Low key lighting with a pink incidental light

    I will give lighting the THIRD MOST important mis-en-scene element in this movie. Lighting can make a HUGE impact on how the audience perceives the character; depending on the intensity, color and harshness of the light, it can reflect the character's emotional state. In this scene, the director decided to include low key lighting, which resulted in high contrast that added a more dramatic feeling. Beside that, it appeared like the director played around with color psychology; the pink incidental light that shined on the character is in a hot color family (closest to red), which is often associated with strength and bravery. This inclusion of the pink incidental LED light conveys an admirable mood from the overwhelming perseverance shown. The use of low key lighting and strategic color choices SIGNIFICANTLY impacted the audience's perception of the character, enhancing the emotional depth of the scene.

Joeng-do and a prop, taser

    I will crown the FOURTH MOST important mis-en-scene element to props. Props are not simply an object that placed onto the scene; they help add character to the character and improve narrative. This scene well supports these two facts; the electric taser adds a bit of cheeky and mischievous personality elements to the kind hearted Jeong-do we have always known. This portrait is a side of Jeong-do that the viewers have never seen; this charismatic persona might ATTRACT more viewers, all thanks to this new captivating element. Moreover, the electric taser also contributed to the narrative's development; this is the turning point where our main lead, Jeong-do, started to gain more interest in his temporary job after witnessing the possible EXCITING JOURNEY awaiting for him. Overall, the use of the electric taser not only adds depth to Jeong-do's character but also sets the stage for the dramatic plot twists later on (hushh..this is our secret🤫.)

Actors and props are positioned in the center

    Lastly, the LEAST important mis-en-scene element among the five is framing. Although it's the least important, it's still one of the important elements in this movie. Framing, which refers to the placement of actors and props within the setting, allows the camera to pick up PRECISELY what is required to convey the meaning to the viewers. In this particular scene, the actors and props were positioned directly in the center, with a Korean symbol of civil union in the back. This provides the viewers with context clues of what the certificate is about (even without a direct translation of the certificate). Furthermore, by strategically placing elements within the frame, filmmakers can direct the viewer's attention and improve the storytelling component.