1. 9 Screen Analysis
‘Breaking Benjamin – The Diary of Jane’
By Alex Preston

2. Shot 1

3. Shot 1
Time 1.1 seconds
The opening shot is of a ominous looking house which looked abandoned.
This is conventional of the Rock genre as the use of deserted and
disquieting locations to highlight isolation and segregation, common
theme explored in this genre, Jason Mittell suggest this allows the
production company to make high profits. Due to the video playing into
the audience expectations of the genre and the band themselves. The
lighting effects used on this shot further amplify the feelings of isolation
and dread. There are no people present in this shot, thus describing it as
a opening or establishing shot.

4. Shot 2

5. Shot 2
Time – 0.25
Voyeurism is explicitly present in this shot, due to the framing of
the young woman by the doorframe, this infers that we are
watching her. This is a common occurrence according to Andrew
Goodwin, but in this context he is incorrect, as this shot does not
relate to ‘Star Image’ but to stereotypical view of woman in the
media. Woman are viewed, and portrayed as emotional weak in
the media, this shot incorporates that bias view and a intertexual
reference of woman in horror films. It is a common horror motif
that woman commit suicide and/or die in mysterious ways in
bathrooms. So in conclusion the shot infers that we, the audience
are peering in on a dead body of a young woman.

6. Shot 3

7. Shot 3
Time – 0.29
The shot is a simple long shot to show the band
playing. The location is again isolated and dark,
to convey the themes of the song. This is also a
typical convention of the Rock genre and follow
David Mittell’s theory that this is used to sell
records. The same can theorized about the mise
en scene present in the shot; the clothes the
band are wearing, how they are playing there
respective instruments and also the type of
instruments used.

8. Shot 4

9. Shot 4
Time – 0.39
This medium long shot of ‘Jane’ conforms to
Andrew Goodwin theory of voyeurism through
the use of mirrors. But also links with Denis
McQuail’s theory of search for ‘Personal
Connection’ through the media. Due to the
nature of the song these connections are about
loss and suicide, thus the use of dark lighting. It
is unknown at this point if ‘Jane’ is alive, following
Carol Vernaillis idea of the diegesis being slowly
revealed.

10. Shot 5

11. Shot 5
Time -0.47
This close up of the lead singer of ‘Breaking
Benjamin’ links with Andrew Goodwin theory of
‘Star Image’. The record company will want a
number of close ups of the band and the lead
singer in particular, to ensure high sales figures,
as Jason Mittell suggests. This frame also
conforms to theory from Carol Vernaillis as the
band are only shown in the chorus. They move in
time with the music.

12. Shot 6

13. Shot 6
Time- 2.08
The medium close-up of ‘Jane’, shows the audience her attire.
Her white dress being the only clothing she is wearing; this is
commonly linked with innocence and nativity. This is used to
illustrate ‘Jane’s’ lack of understanding of her predicament, the
dress could also be used a way to portray her as being dead. This
shot also links to Laura Mulvey theory of the ‘Male Gaze’. The
camera exposes some of Jane’s feminine assets.

14. Shot 7

15. Shot 7
Time – 3.06
This is a interesting transition shot as it reveals
the remainder of the diegesis to the audience.
Follows theory from Carol Vernaillis that they
may be gaps in audience understanding at the
end of the video, that it may pose questions that
were not answered. It is also common for Rock
music videos to use a multitude of visual effects
to illustrate the underlining themes of the song.

16. Shot 8

17. Shot 8
Time- 3.10
This shot has a more symbolic significance than a
atheistic meaning. The close up of the red rose
signifies the love the singer has for this ‘Jane’. The
book is closed to show him letting her go, the end of
the two narratives; her search for why she has no
reflection, and his search for a reason for her suicide.
Carol Vernaillis states that they can be gaps in the
audience understanding. ‘Jane’ does not understand
why she has no refection and the singer does not find
a reason for her suicide. It is safe to suggest that he
was romantically involved with ‘Jane’, as red rose
connotes themes of romantic and internal love.

18. Shot 9

19. Shot 9
Time- 2.25
The high angle shot of ‘Jane’ is used to
symbolize her realisation of her predicament, that
has no reflection, which subtly hints that she
maybe dead. The audience already understood
this, but a close-up is used to allow the audience
to see her emotional response. The audience
has build up a rapport with Jane over the course
of the video, not to the extent to which can be
accomplished in a film, but still allows the
audience a little closure for ‘Jane’.