The coverage of this scene is relatively straightforward and can be divided up into two sections. The first is the section where the Musical Director (Fletcher) is talking about a past student who has died and the second being where the protagonist (Andrew) and the other drummers can’t drum to the tempo of Fletcher.
In the first section we see tight shots of Andrew and the young drummer he is in competition with. These shots provide the tone of both of the characters. Andrew’s is almost an E.C.U with shallow depth of field and dark lighting on a slightly high angle, which illustrates that he is feeling dejected and wants to return to being the main drummer for the band (the reason for the scene). This shot juxtapositions well with the rival’s shot which is shot from a low angle, is well lit and is a much more relaxed MCU.
When Fletcher walks in a wide shot establishes him entering and addressing the band. Apart from when Fletcher puts in the CD the scene is very formulated in terms of coverage. Wide shot OTS of the students towards Fletcher gives context to the content of the story and is intercut with CU’s of the band and then ending with CU’s tightening to ECU’s for dramatic effect on the two main characters (Andrew and Fletcher).
Between the two sections of the scene is what I deemed as a breather section. This was a collection of loose mid shots, which worked as transition shots into the next section to ease the transition of the narrative topic. You can’t go from tight to tight and change what is being reference or the mood, you must always loosen back out again in order to give the audience time to breathe and reflect.
The shots within the scene that are giving this space are when Fletcher is getting the drummers to drum and they can’t keep to his tempo.
The change occurs when he eventually loses his temper and sends the narrative into a new mood/ tone. Tight shot of the face of Fletcher, which juxtaposes well with the earlier shot of him in tears over the pass student’s death.
Due to this section having to demonstrate struggle and time elapsing it is what I consider a montage. This montage goes for textbook montage shots, anguished faces and shots of clocks. This film uses almost exclusively these shots along with the mid shots/ tight shots of Fletcher as he gives his opinion and the students outside trying to pass the time and stay awake.
To highlight the struggle of the drummers, handheld camera technique is used through the montage and heightens the drama.
All of these conventions of a montage build to the climax of the scene in which they have a few OTS shots between Andrew and Fletcher and then tracking handheld shots of Fletcher and Andrew as Fletcher circles him like a bird of prey. These shots work effectively in demonstrating the struggle between Andrew and Fletcher with the payoff shot being the clock at the end, which is on 2am, after Andrew is bent over his drum kit, covered in blood.
Overall the coverage of this scene sticks to most popular conventions and only differs slightly in its way of covering the scene. The creative flare at the end is also a function of convention as there is usually a flourish at the end of a montage to signify change and triumph.