Homework Task 1 Sherlock Holmes

Task: Use your notes to write a short response about how the technical elements combine to construct mood and tone.


Sherlock Holmes is a well-known drama/crime fiction tv series. It starts off with a brief introduction of the events that happened previously in the series. During the first 50 seconds of the extract there is moments when the editing cuts from blackout to picture, this lets the audience see what is happening whilst trying to cram all of the previous episode into a couple of minutes. It recaps the overall plot and situation yet still maintaining a short yet concise overview. After the first 40 seconds of the clip, the blackouts start to become fast passed almost as if it mimics the sensation of blinking. Everything starts to move at a rapid pace creating intensity and striking the audience with drops of confusion and vigorousity. This is all portrayed through the editing of the film.The beginning establishing shot of the swimming pool expresses irony in how a swimming pool is usually a place of joy and laughter. It is a recreational environment and has now been portrayed as a possible murder scene.

Throughout the short film there are many close up shots used in the camera work that shows the  character's facials, along with many other encrypting details. By showing the many different expressions seen on the faces of our main cast, this tells the audience how to feel for example professor Moriarty stands with  a blank expression as if it is almost inhumane. He wears a suit to a place which is usual fitted for casual attire giving the sense that he is ranked highly in his type of profession/industry. He shown in dull colours that wash out his complexion as if he is almost already dead, this would help to explain why when Sherlock is standing with a gun aimed straight for him he doesn't exclaim an ounce of fear. This bleeds fear into the hearts of the audience making them suspect and almost worry for the lives of the characters.

Moriarty's psychopathic tendencies are represented through colors and movement, the bodies watching the film can tell that he is in a powerful place according to his crime syndicate. The camera work has been thoughtfully depicted through the racking focus when the camera is sought to be on Moriarty, then soon shifts focus onto the gun that Sherlock is seen to be holding. This causes the audiences focus to be taken from one thing to another, conveying changes throughout the scene. An over the shoulder shot is shown, where the camera is looking over the side of Sherlock. This helps us as viewers, be admonished of not only our villains emotions/movements but also reminds us of the characters that are not fully on screen, as they are just as much apart of the situation at hand.

A number of different props are used to create an initial image in the audiences minds. Sherlock is recognized as holding a gun whilst another character on the side has a bomb strapped to his body. As viewers we can immediately recognize the underlining meaning of both props. It strikes danger and alert to everyone seeing the film. This falls under the mise-en-scene of the film categories and helps to depict the overall image. Non-diegetic sounds play in the background, one of them being an underlying drum that mimics the sound of a heartbeat. It creates intensity in the scene by having a fast paced rhythm whilst also including on edge music. This is all then contradicted towards the end of the film when the whole scene is interrupted by Moriarty's ring tone, one that is to the sound of "staying alive" by Bee Gees. This an almost ironic and iconic part of the film as our villain (Moriarty) is being faced with death the song comes on almost to contradict Sherlock's plan as if he cannot die and that the words "staying alive" was not only a ring tone but a statement in terms of Moriarty's life.