Axis of Action

Example 1

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Here are stills (read them like a text) from a sequence of shots (each counter-shot indicating a new shot; longer shots are represented by a number of stills) from a sequence of Kubrick's The Shining. This is one of the most dramatic and frightening scenes in the film. It is also very dynamic: she is backing up through a large room and he is pursuing her. Orient yourself in these stills by paying attention to the room in the background (in the last still you can see a view of the whole room from the top of the stairs; they move from the top right of the room to the left middle and then to the right bottom of the stairs, then up the stairs).

Now: look closely and spend some time figuring out whether the axis of action it is maintained throughout.

Ask yourself: what is the position of the camera in each shot and where are we, the audience thereby placed during the sequence?

1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8
8	9	10	11
12	13	14a	14b
14c	14d	14e	15
16	17a	17b	17c
18	19a	19b	19c
20a	20b	20c	20d
20e	21a	21b	22
23	24a	24b	25
26a	26b	27a	27b
27c	28

Question: Do you notice any violations of the axis of action?

Question: In the course of this sequence, what is perhaps the most significant change in the mise-en-scene?

Challenge: Describe the effect of these changes.

Challenge: After closely analyzing this sequence you may wish to go here.