Analysis of Camerawork, Editing and Sound/Music in Charmed.

Camerawork and editing are used a lot in this scene of charmed. The scene starts with a tilt upwards to show a house and then dissolves into a master shot of three people in a wide shot. During this, a guitar-like music is playing and a sparkling noise is made from an instrument such as a keyboard to associate the audience with the idea of magic. This is then followed by dialogue and a sequence of cuts between characters. These cuts are all medium close-ups and all involve eye line matches. Halfway through this sequence, some music is played on a piano to show the almost upset emotions of the characters that their story is ending. After this sequence, the camera cuts back to the master shot and then cuts back to a medium close-up of Phoebe looking at the book. This then cuts in to a close-up and during this the music continues to play. The camera then pans to a dissolve whilst Phoebe is talking as a monologue through a voice over. After the dissolve, the camera goes to a wide shot and then tracks forwards to a two shot. Throughout these scenes, the same music is still playing. The camera then dissolves to a two-shot of Phoebe and Coop and then pans to follow them. The camera then cuts between a two-shot of Phoebe and Coop and a mid-shot of the children. After this, the camera dissolves to a medium close-up of Phoebe which then pans across and tilts up to see a poster. During this, the voice over changes to Paige's voice and a dissolve shows a medium close-up of her whilst the camera pans. It then dissolves again to show a mid shot of Henry and the camera tracks backwards to follow his movement. This is followed by an eye line match cut to show a mid -shot of Paige and the children. The camera then cuts back again to Henry and a slight pan is used to follow him hugging his children. A cut is used again after this to a close-up to show Paige's happiness. On the word 'whitelighter', there is a fast-paced cut to show a mid shot of a demon shooting an arrow. The camera then quickly pans to follow the arrow and the cuts to an over-the-shoulder shot to show it blowing up the demon. The camera then changes angle during the blast and shows a two-shot of Paige and a woman. A dissolve is then used again while Piper begins to speak to show a medium close up of her. The camera then uses a pan similarly to the other two characters and dissolves again to a mid shot of Piper and Leo with their children. The camera has slight movement throughout this scene and the camera then moves to show a two shot of Piper and Leo. The scene then dissolves again to show a series of cuts between close-ups of two of Piper's grown up children and then a close-up of a pot which is then followed by a two-shot. A dissolve then follows to show a panned mid-shot of Piper in the kitchen. A dissolve is used again after this to show a mid-shot of Leo which also pans to follow him. Next, a cut is used to show a wide-shot of children from over Leo's shoulder and the camera then cuts again to show a mid-shot of Leo. A medium close-up of a boy is the used and the camera cuts between this shot and a mid-shot of some books to show the boy moving one of the books. An over-the shoulder long shot is used after this to show Leo once again. After this, a dissolve is used and the voice of Piper changes to shound older and more frail. This then changes the dialogue to a mode of address towards the other character. A two-shot is then shown with a slight pan and track at the same time. After this, the camera follows the older Piper to show a mid-shot wth Leo in the background but in shallow focus. Piper moving infront of the camera then shows a mid-shot of the young girl which then uses an eyeline match to show a two-shot of Piper and Leo. The mid-shot of the girl is then cut back to and a cut follows again to show Piper and Leo walking up the stairs. To follow this, a sequence of dissolves between pans of pictures on the wall and Piper and Leo walking up the stairs are shown. After this sequence a dissolve is used again to show a mid-shot of the door. A cut then shows the young girl again and the camera cuts between the door and the young girl to show her closing the door with a wave of her hand. To complete this scene, a match on action cuts to the outside of the door and uses a crane to track backwards and brings the scene to a finish.
To conclude, this scene is very complex and uses a lot of camera shots and editing techniques as well as a lot of voice over dialogue. Using these techniques may be very simple but they have made the scene very interesting and enjoyable to watch.