By Deja Gordon
Today, I am going to be teaching you how to segment! Segmentation is a practice to use when dissecting a film either for a review or an academic paper. It helps the reviewer or writer understand the significance of the scene on a deeper level. I will be giving you a guide on how to accomplish this by using my own example.
When segmenting a scene, we must write down how long each shot lasts. This gives us an idea of how long each shot is. Another thing we must do that assists in the segmenting process is to write down what happens in that shot. When dissecting a scene, it’s important to look at not only what is happening but the dialogue, costuming, lighting, and the overall setting. All of these pieces of information can assist us in discovering the true meaning of this scene and to understand it on a different level. When we watch shots and scenes in a film, there are things we do not seem to notice the first time we watch. Once we are able to rewatch the scene as many times as we have to, we begin to see more and more that we didn’t see before. This is why segmenting is super helpful for writing reviews.
Now on to actually dissecting a scene! The scene I have chosen is from the well know movie, Barbie. (Here is a link to the scene if you wish to follow along with me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR3gnbs6JUg). This scene in particular is when Barbie realizes her feet are now flat and not heeled as they once were. This scene is the moment where Barbie does realize something is wrong with her and we can see that through the other Barbie’s (and Ken’s) reactions. Now let’s begin segmenting! First, we must start the video and pause once the shot has ended, in doing so we also must take in to account the seconds of the shot. This will aid us in understanding which are long shots and which ones are quick. Here is a simple layout for segmenting:
0:00-0:03: Barbie looks down at her feet in confusion and surprise. Her feet are now flat and touching the ground. The other Barbie’s approach her saying “Hey” and “Are you okay?”. They all surround Barbie in the frame, making her the center. Barbie replies “Hey” and says she is fine and that she just “Fell”.
This is an example of what should be written down, but you can also go into more depth based on whatever you are trying to review in the scene. Whether is the shots themselves or the emotional value of the scene or even just the setting of the scene. The next shot is an example of a very quick shot that barely even lasts a second:
0:03-0:04: Doctor Barbie repeats the word “Fell” as it is something that does not happen to Barbies. This shows how obscure these instances are leading up to this moment.
This scene in particular is very short to where not much can even be said about what happens in it. But every scene matters no matter how long or how short. Segmenting helps give a deeper understanding of the film specially the message it is trying to convey. I hope this tutorial helps in whatever endeavors you may choose to use it for.
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