Synopsis"A dock worker Jude travels to America in the 1960s to find his father (an ex American soldier who was stationed in Liverpool during the war). After success with his father he decides to stay with his new found friend Max. Jude takes a shine to Max's teenage sister Lucy. Meanwhile other stories take place where other characters are introduced and they all come together as flat mates along with Jude and Max. Lucy later joins them after her boyfriend is killed in action. When her brother Max is drafted to fight in the Vietnam war, they become involved in peace activism. The film title and main characters are named after various songs by The Beatles."
"Across the Universe is a fictional love story set in the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and civil rights, mind exploration and rock and roll. A combination of live action and animation, the film is paired with over 30 songs by The Beatles in various locations from the Liverpool Docks to Vietnam."
"Across the Universe is a fictional love story set in the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and civil rights, mind exploration and rock and roll. A combination of live action and animation, the film is paired with over 30 songs by The Beatles in various locations from the Liverpool Docks to Vietnam."
Target Audience
Older generation, interests in war, musicals, The Beatles and romance.
Older generation, interests in war, musicals, The Beatles and romance.
How?
Use of music, tone of film including colour, involvment with characters and a relevant plot.
Use of music, tone of film including colour, involvment with characters and a relevant plot.
Genre
Musical, war interest and romance.
Musical, war interest and romance.
Editing
Abrupt jump cutting from establishing shot to mid shot and throughout the raging sea frames.
Superimposition for most of the first 2 minutes.
Fades into the glitterball with the glittering link from the previous frame.
Abrupt jump cutting from establishing shot to mid shot and throughout the raging sea frames.
Superimposition for most of the first 2 minutes.
Fades into the glitterball with the glittering link from the previous frame.
Mise en scene
Setting- Starts with a beach in Liverpool, cold, wet, isolated and deserted. Next you see raging sea and the waves crashing over superimposition. Finally a glitterball close up, which zooms out to an American school dance hall.
Props- Realistic setting to start with very little in terms of props, cutting to the seas there are scenes of war and rioting so military props are present and then there is the glitterball to finish.
Appearance of characters- Jude on the beach looks rugged and scruffy as if it doesn't matter to him, he is completely dressed in black. The war characters and Lucy are dressed in either millitary or 60's fashions to match the time period.
Facial expressions/body language- Jude looks troubled and emotional with no enthusiasm, Lucy is screaming and pushing through crowds as the police hold her back, the millitary are uniformed and marching.
All of this helps to convey an image to the audience about what this film is about and wether or not they continue to watch after the first two minutes.
Setting- Starts with a beach in Liverpool, cold, wet, isolated and deserted. Next you see raging sea and the waves crashing over superimposition. Finally a glitterball close up, which zooms out to an American school dance hall.
Props- Realistic setting to start with very little in terms of props, cutting to the seas there are scenes of war and rioting so military props are present and then there is the glitterball to finish.
Appearance of characters- Jude on the beach looks rugged and scruffy as if it doesn't matter to him, he is completely dressed in black. The war characters and Lucy are dressed in either millitary or 60's fashions to match the time period.
Facial expressions/body language- Jude looks troubled and emotional with no enthusiasm, Lucy is screaming and pushing through crowds as the police hold her back, the millitary are uniformed and marching.
All of this helps to convey an image to the audience about what this film is about and wether or not they continue to watch after the first two minutes.
Sound
The sound used is parrallel to the action portrayed on screen such as the rock version of 'Helter Skelter' when shown images of violence and rioting over the raging sea, this helps the audience to be drawn into the action on screen.
Across the Universe is a musical so it involves both diegetic and non- diegetic at one time within a frame. For example Jude at the beach is singing 'Girl' so the backing track for that would not be heard normally (non diegetic). You can also hear the waves crashing on the beach (diegetic).
The sound used is parrallel to the action portrayed on screen such as the rock version of 'Helter Skelter' when shown images of violence and rioting over the raging sea, this helps the audience to be drawn into the action on screen.
Across the Universe is a musical so it involves both diegetic and non- diegetic at one time within a frame. For example Jude at the beach is singing 'Girl' so the backing track for that would not be heard normally (non diegetic). You can also hear the waves crashing on the beach (diegetic).
Lighting
The lighting on the beach is natural and looks realistic, perhaps high-key.
Lighting used for the raging sea frames are flashes from cameras as if the press are photographing the riots and the lighting sources are from above.
Lighting with the glitterball comes from the mirrors and its more subtle in contrast to the previous frames of violence.
The lighting on the beach is natural and looks realistic, perhaps high-key.
Lighting used for the raging sea frames are flashes from cameras as if the press are photographing the riots and the lighting sources are from above.
Lighting with the glitterball comes from the mirrors and its more subtle in contrast to the previous frames of violence.
Camera shots/movements
Establishing shot of the beach, tracking and zooming in simultaneously as he sings till it becomes an extreme close up, showing his emotion.
When it cuts to the raging sea the camera stays still and the movements on screen contrast, the sea is raging fast and the image superimposed is either in slow motion or sped up over the top.
When it gets to the glitterball the camera is on a crane, up to the glitterball level and zooms out from there to get the wider shot as characters come in.
The audience has an objective view as onlookers to the story.
Establishing shot of the beach, tracking and zooming in simultaneously as he sings till it becomes an extreme close up, showing his emotion.
When it cuts to the raging sea the camera stays still and the movements on screen contrast, the sea is raging fast and the image superimposed is either in slow motion or sped up over the top.
When it gets to the glitterball the camera is on a crane, up to the glitterball level and zooms out from there to get the wider shot as characters come in.
The audience has an objective view as onlookers to the story.
Colour
The beach scene is in colour but the area looks dull, wet and cold. Jude looks pale faced and wears dark clothes.
The raging sea scenes contrast to monochrome to emphasise its importance within the film.
When it cuts to the glitterball the colour returns but its subtle and not as harsh as the previous beach scene. The colours are dewy and bright.
The beach scene is in colour but the area looks dull, wet and cold. Jude looks pale faced and wears dark clothes.
The raging sea scenes contrast to monochrome to emphasise its importance within the film.
When it cuts to the glitterball the colour returns but its subtle and not as harsh as the previous beach scene. The colours are dewy and bright.
Titles
The titles start with Jude. No names are mentioned of characters or actors in either font or spoken words.
The only indication of the film title is with the glitterball scene as the camera zooms out the titles fade in using glitter to link directly to the glitterball and subtle lighting. It gradually comes into focus as the camera continues to zoom out.
The beginning of the film is also seen further on as you watch and then makes sense towards the end. Its used to draw the audience in (flash forward).
The titles start with Jude. No names are mentioned of characters or actors in either font or spoken words.
The only indication of the film title is with the glitterball scene as the camera zooms out the titles fade in using glitter to link directly to the glitterball and subtle lighting. It gradually comes into focus as the camera continues to zoom out.
The beginning of the film is also seen further on as you watch and then makes sense towards the end. Its used to draw the audience in (flash forward).
