Hey I realize this is coming late. I haven't had internet all week. Anyhow, I see that some people have responded to last week's blog topic and that's fine and actually fits in well with this weeks topic.
Hope you guys have a super awesome-tastic winter break. Thanks for a great semester. See some (most) of you on Tuesday.
Discussion Topic
Choose a discussion topic from the blogs posted over the semester and respond to it. It can be any one as long as it's a topic you haven't responded to previously.
63 comments:
From what I’ve learned in this class, editing has to be the single most important aspect of post production. Editing can make or break a movie, making it a hit or a flop, depending on how the editing effects the finished film. It can not only change the mood of a film, but like in the fake trailers, it can turn a kids movie into a horror movie, and visa versa. In Run Lola Run, if the pacing had been slowed down, it wouldn’t have been as exciting, and it would have felt more like they had a week to get the money together rather than just twenty minutes. The mood of the film wouldn’t have been as frantic as it was, and I feel it would have made the movie into a flop. It’s enough that we get to see the film repeat three times, we don’t need to slow it down to “get more of a message” from the film.
Discuss what role editing can have in determining the plot and story of a film. For instance, if you've seen Pulp Fiction, how would that film be different if it was told in a linear fashion? Likewise, how would Run Lola Run be different if it was edited at a slow pace? How would the mood of the film change?
The plot has a major influence in the presentation of ideas in a movie and editing is the main driving force in portraying these ideas. As seen in Pulp Fiction, editing can be used to dissorient the audience to make for an overall more dramatic plot. The mood of the film would have been a little more direct and uninteresting had it not been presented that way. Editing is what makes the movie itself because shots can be arranged in any fashion but it is that right mix that makes for that certian affect that the director is trying to get across. In this sense, editing controls the plot and the mood of the movie by controlling what is to be portrayed with the different scenes throughout.
Discussion Topic:
Talk about the use of "Time & Space" in Elephant. Many of the shots go on for a long time, and take us through many different rooms of the school. What do you think the intended feeling for the audience is supposed to be when we're following a character for a long period of time in the film? What is the feeling you walk away with after some of these shots? Also, there are certain moments in the film where Gus Van Sant uses slow motion. What effect do these moments have on the viewer?
I believe the intended feeling we, the audience, are intended to receive is that of some sort of emotional attachment to the character we are following. We can relate to the character somehow, if we used to be them, or knew someone like them in High School. I believe Van Sant uses slow motion in some shots is keep the audience on edge, and feel anxious. We all know how the story ends but with Gus Van Sants' directing you don't get bored with the story because he uses different techniques in Time and Space.
In the movie Physco with the shower sceen I feel that it would of been better seen in one continous shot or less than 80 shots. Scence the sceen had so many different views and angles it was hard to tell what was actually going on and it made it look really fake. If you were to actually sit there and watch the sceen in person you would only get one angle and that is how it would seem real. For me it was harder to connect with the sceen because the angle was changing so much. I perfer to see things as they would really happen. The more you change the sceens the more i lose intest. 80 shots is a lot for that short of time.
Editing has total control over the plot of a film. It determines the mood and feeling of the film. If Run Lola Run was edited at a slower pace, the whole mood of the movie would have changed. The viewers would not be able to connect with the plot nor the film because the movie was created around a twenty minute timeframe. Twenty minutes have to happen fast, otherwise the movie would not make sense and the viewers would not enjoy watching it. As we saw in "The Cutting Edge," movies are edited to fit together perfectly. All scenes are stitched together at the perfect shot in order for the film to make sense. The fake trailers were great examples that showed how some movies were edited together with other movies to create a new movie, which proves that editing has an impact on the mood, plot, and idea of a film.
For Psycho:
I believe that the Hitchcock version of that scene is most effective due to the fact that there is the part where we see the door slowly opening where Norman is coming out of. Also the fact that it is black and white adds to the darkness and mystery of the entire scene (not to leave out the fact that the first one actually made me jump when I was watching it). The 1998 version seems extremely random with the different scenes being put in, like the random cow in the field, which have nothing to do with the movie. It seems more of a joke. Also when the man screams it seems extremely fake, and in the Hitchcock version it a much more effective reaction that the man has.
The total meaning of a film can be changed through editing. One new shot or scene can change how a movie may end. Clips can be added and removed and change the entire plot. If Run Lola Run was at a slow space, the mood of the film would have changed drastically. We wouldn’t have the anticipation of Lola trying to get the money to Manni quickly. The way a film is edited can also change people’s view on a particular movie. Some people may not like certain movies just because of the way the film is edited. The editing of a movie is extremely important as to how the plot will be told to the audience.
Punch Drunk Love Blog from Oct. 31
The first shot, showing Barry by himself in blue, portrays that he is lonely and different from other people. The colors throughout the room are grey, blue, and black. Grey symbolizes dullness, blue symbolizes sadness and tackiness (he stands out in society), and black symbolizes unhappiness. These colors depict Barry’s life in the beginning of the movie.
The second picture, of “the couple,” is completely different. Blue and red both symbolize trust. The blue cools down the fieriness of the red, and the red spices up the blue. Therefore, the two characters are somewhat opposites of each other; however, they are attracted to one another.
Election (8/28) blog
The Protagonist in the film I believe is Jim McAllister. The movie revolves around him before, during, and after encounters the antagonist. Before he met her his life was dull. He saw how her relationship with his friend and co-worker, Dave Novotny, ruined his marriage and teaching career. When he encountered her he already had pre-conceptions about her which turned out to be true. His life suddenly turned very interesting and gave him hope for each day as he tried with all his power to ruin her life. He took Paul Metzler under his wings and used him as his puppet to run for President and thus ruin Tracy Flicks life! After his plan failed, his life shattered. He lost everything over a high school election.
The Antagonist in the film I believe is Tracy Flick. She keeps the protagonist, Jim McAllister from accomplishing his goal of ruining her life. Thus in the end, she won.
In Run Lola Run time is the main concept. There's three different scenarios that the movie goes through that changes the outcome in the end. In this you can see how one second can change everything. There's one where she trips down the stairs, one where she jumps over the dog, and one where she gets scared of it but keeps going. Because of these three different things that happen to her in the beginning the rest of the things change throughout the movie which changes the ending. Also the movie shows what happens to the people that she runs into. The old lady she bumps into wins the lottery and the next time Lola runs into her you can see that the old lady's life changed to something else. There was also the man on the bike, the lady in the office, and the poor guy who took the money. You can see how all these people's life changes just because of what Lola does in the beginning of the movie. The three outcomes at the end are her boyfriend dying, her dying, and then everything turning out alright. Because of all the different things that happen with who she runs into it changed what happened in the end too. You can see how one small thing in the beginning can change the whole course of her run and the outcome in the end.
Children of Men Post-Reality
In the movie Children of Men, there are many references of real world situations taking place today, while the movie takes place in 2027, more than 20 years from now. Today’s issues are toned down and put a what if approach on them if things continue the way they are now. Parts of this movie worrying about what could happen to the world made me make references to the movie Paycheck with Ben Affleck. He is faced with what if situations that affect his future, and he’s even able to see his future in new technology that he helped to invent. Both movies use what we know today and say how things could turn out in the future with how there being used now.
The opening scene of the couple's conversation is changed around several times throughout the film. The sound for this scene is the main thing that is changed. The sound is changed so that little by little the audience is able to piece together the entire conversation. The sound designer uses the pieces of dialogue to keep the audience in the dark about what is going on, and to make them think one thing in the begining of the film, but in the end of the film the full dialogue turns out to be something completely different than our first impression. By keeping the audience wondering about the meaning of the pices of dialogue given from the very begining until the end of the film keeps them interested in what the meaning of that dialogue is which is the basis of the entire film.
The opening scene of the couple's conversation is changed around several times throughout the film. The sound for this scene is the main thing that is changed. The sound is changed so that little by little the audience is able to piece together the entire conversation. The sound designer uses the pieces of dialogue to keep the audience in the dark about what is going on, and to make them think one thing in the begining of the film, but in the end of the film the full dialogue turns out to be something completely different than our first impression. By keeping the audience wondering about the meaning of the pices of dialogue given from the very begining until the end of the film keeps them interested in what the meaning of that dialogue is which is the basis of the entire film.
PSYCHO
“In 1998 director Gus Van Sant (Elephant) released a remake of Psycho, using essentially the same shots as were used in the 1960 Hitchcock original. However, when we watch the two versions of the above scenes side by side, we see that Van Sant did make some changes to the scene.
Discuss which version of the scene you think is more effective. Talk about the use of color vs black and white, the number of shots used, the length of the shots in each version, and the added thematic elements (weird cutaways) in the 1998 version of the film."
Although both scenes are very effective, I'd have to say that the original 1960 Hitchcock was the better version. Films in black and white, as opposed to those in color, seem to set the mood a little more eerily. This tone makes the movie seem more haunted and suspenseful. In my opinion, the number and length of shots is the deciding factor between the two. In Van Sant’s remake, there seemed to be a lack of build up as the detective was walking up the stairs. It seemed almost instantly that the character climbed the fleet of stairs and was stabbed. Hitchcock accurately portrayed the scene as a director should. He made the walk up the stairs a longer drawn out scene, which obviously adds to the suspense of the scene. The added thematic elements in Van Sant’s seemed to take away from the dramatic experience of the scene. The character’s flashbacks were somewhat distracting in taking away from the true focus. In Hitchcock’s original, once the man is stabbed in the face the camera stays with him the entire flight down the stairs. This is a more drawn out scene in which all of his horrified facial expressions are caught on camera.
PSYCHO
“In 1998 director Gus Van Sant (Elephant) released a remake of Psycho, using essentially the same shots as were used in the 1960 Hitchcock original. However, when we watch the two versions of the above scenes side by side, we see that Van Sant did make some changes to the scene.
Discuss which version of the scene you think is more effective. Talk about the use of color vs black and white, the number of shots used, the length of the shots in each version, and the added thematic elements (weird cutaways) in the 1998 version of the film."
Although both scenes are very effective, I'd have to say that the original 1960 Hitchcock was the better version. Films in black and white, as opposed to those in color, seem to set the mood a little more eerily. This tone makes the movie seem more haunted and suspenseful. In my opinion, the number and length of shots is the deciding factor between the two. In Van Sant’s remake, there seemed to be a lack of build up as the detective was walking up the stairs. It seemed almost instantly that the character climbed the fleet of stairs and was stabbed. Hitchcock accurately portrayed the scene as a director should. He made the walk up the stairs a longer drawn out scene, which obviously adds to the suspense of the scene. The added thematic elements in Van Sant’s seemed to take away from the dramatic experience of the scene. The character’s flashbacks were somewhat distracting in taking away from the true focus. In Hitchcock’s original, once the man is stabbed in the face the camera stays with him the entire flight down the stairs. This is a more drawn out scene in which all of his horrified facial expressions are caught on camera.
The sound effect used in the movie reflect the mood of the movie. Factually, the unclear vocal sound of the couple recorded by Harris Caul ( Gene Hackman) become more captivating as Harris keep playing it over and over. Also this unclear conversation elicit a sense of curiosity among the audience because it would help the audience understand what the movie is about.
"Psycho" post-
Discuss which version of the scene you think is more effective. Talk about the use of color vs black and white, the number of shots used, the length of the shots in each version, and the added thematic elements (weird cutaways) in the 1998 version of the film.
I think that both scenes are very similar and in their own ways effective. If I had to pick one seen I think that I would go with the one from the black and white version. One of the reasons I would pick that is because I like how the detective is walking slower up the stairs than he is in the newer version. The length of the shots seems to be longer in the older one and that is definitely a positive in building up the audiences nerves. I think that that adds more suspense to it and makes the audience worry more. It seemed like in the newer one it just happened so fast. Personally I also think that black and white movies are creepy for some reason. Other than speed, I think that both scenes are almost identical expect the cutaways from the newer version which I didn't really understand or like. The one thing that is better with color is that you can actually see the color of blood on his face which I think gives it a little something extra. The one complaint I had about the older one was the corny sound effects that they used when the detective was stabbed and he fell down the stairs, but I guess that is what you would expect with a movie that old. So If I had to choose which scene is more effective to me it would definitely be the older one.
"The Cutting Edge": Discuss what role editing can have in determining the plot and story of a film. For instance, if you've seen Pulp Fiction, how would that film be different if it was told in a linear fashion? Likewise, how would Run Lola Run be different if it was edited at a slow pace? How would the mood of the film change?
After watching that documentary on editing, it really changed the way how I look at movies now. I never realized how important the role of the editor was. Editing, in my opinion, is what makes a movie a hit or a flop. It is true that the editor has to work with the shots that the director gives him, but the editor's role is to sift through all that sand to find the treasure. He has to follow the plot by piecing together the shots the director has given him. That is very important, because you want the story to be told in a way so that the audience can understand what is going on. Even in movies like Pulp Fiction and Run Lola Run, with their unorthodox editing styles, there still came a point to where you figured out the plot. Instead of starting inside and working its way out, they start on the outside and work their way in.
Also if an editor put shots together in a different order, or add different types of music and effects to shots, it can change the whole mood of the scene. For instance in that clip of the Shining, what was supposed to be a scary movie was transformed into a sappy love story about a man who adopts a son. From that alone, if you hadn't seen the Shining, you would've believed what you saw.
The editor holds the reigns and has one of, if not, the key role in a film's production.
The editing process is very important to a film and controls how one views the message. the story can be told several different ways based on how it is put together during editing. There is the ability to speed situations up, cut out unnecessary images or slow things down. The editor has a lot of responsibility and impact on the final product.
In reference to the blog for "Run Lola Run", the main element being edited in the movie is that of time. As stated by others, the time sequence of the movie depicted the outcome of the each episode the audience witnessed Lola go through. Initially, the audience is lead to believe only one ending occured for the story, however, one quickly encounters a flashback to the beginning of the film and sees things played out a different way. The director and editor used ideas of adding or subtracting things from a particular scene, which lead to a change in time for Lola and ultimately affected her decisions. The director also provided the audience with an opportunity to go back into the story, before each episode occured, to see how Lola and Manny got to the predicament they were in. Each episode showed that ultimately, time affects all decisions, and some can lead to tragedy (Manny and Lola getting caught by Police and accidentally shot), or good (Manny and Lola staying together).
The 2001 animation sequence seemed to help explain some of the ideas that Kubrick left open to interpretation. While they are only opinion, they help to decipher the movies ambiguities. The first three scenes of the animation explained the basic story line fairly well. The last scene still left me confused. Overall, watching the animation helped with some of the issues that I had with the movie, but I still feel that much is left up to the viewer's imagination. As far as the movie was concerned, there were a few exciting moments that really got me thinking, mixed with over 2 hours of confusion and boredom. I remeber starting to watch this movie several years ago and I in fact turned it off after 20 minutes. Too bad I couldn't have turned it off again!
"Cuaron, in the film, was making obvious political references to current events. How do you think setting the film in the near future and his deliberate use of "toned" down futuristic design (i.e. technology not much more advanced then our own) affected or emphasized the political themes of the film?"
I think, now after having some time to deliberate on the matter, his use of "toned" down futuristic props helped the audience relate to the film on a more personal level. When you see a movie that is completely futuristic with flying cars, and hovering skateboards, it takes you out of the story and has you focus mainly on what you are looking at. A lot of directors use this, simply to fill seats due to the fact that 80+% of the viewing audience of this country happen to be idiots. Movies that use this technique I think take a gamble though. While they do not get as large of an audience as the major mindless blockbusters, they do something far better. They intellectually stimulate those viewers with enough mental prowess to comprehend what they are viewing and appreciate it for what it is.
Topic: Wednesday October 31st, 2007
Movie: Punch Drunk Love
In the first picture we see Barry alone in an empty room, wearing that ridiculous blue suit. I believe that the intended feeling of the director is for the audience to feel a sense of pity for Barry. The information being conveyed through this picture tells us that Barry is a lonely man, who often secludes himself from the rest of the world. Figuratively speaking, he has no problem standing at the back of the room, going unnoticed.
In the next picture, we begin to see that Barry’s attitude towards his social life is changing. Instead of the blue suit making us feel pity, it makes us happy; which is because it shows us that perhaps he is trying to stand out after all. And Kate’s wardrobe (or at least I think that’s her name) I believe tells us that her and Barry are more alike than they think. They are both wearing flashy colors, both of which are solid. This tells the audience that while we are not dealing with the most complex characters, there is something about them that makes them stand out a little.
And the last picture simply shows us the ending of Barry’s transformation. It is the result of all his experiences with Kate, the D & D Mattress people, and his sisters. All the while still wearing that damn blue suit.
The Cutting Edge
Editing can play an immensely important role in film; it can either make or break a film. It can change a film entirely just by snipping and redirecting it in a certain way. For example, a film editor can change a G-rated children's film to an R-rated horror film. The movie Run Lola Run is a lightning fast edited film. If it were editing to be told at a slow pace, it would change the breath-taking thriller to a much duller and less suspenceful film. The movie would lose it's touch and full effect. The plot, story, and genre of the film would change, and the slow-paced editing would probably break the movie. The editing of Run Lola Run helped make the movie great and worth watching.
I picked the topic from the movie Elephant...
In this movie the viewer fallows a certain character for a long time. I feel the director did this to connect the viewer with that character for a period of time and then disconnect them and move on to another character. The shot was basically from the eyes of the character you were watching, what they were seeing and for me that connected me with that character's feelings such as fear that someone was around the corner, or his anger as he hunted the school to find more victems. Then as soon as the camera moved form one character to another I was automatically connected to that new character's feelings. Slow motion was used to add a sense of dramatic effect.
I walked out of class that day thinking about what I had just seen and processing it all. It was a strange movie but very thought provoking. I was a bit anxious, knowig that something like that could very possibly happen and has happened before. It was upsetting to me, one of those movies that you just needed some time to process.
In the above pictures (Keeping in mind that the first picture is the opening shot of the film where we are introduced to Barry for the first time.) what do the colors of their wardrobe say about the characters in relation to (in the first picture) their character traits, and (in the second 2 pictures) each other?
In the opening shot of the movie, Barry Egan, played by Adam Sandler, was sitting in the corner of a room. The room had a thick blue stripe along the wall and Barry was wearing a blue suit that blended into the wall. There were no windows in the room; I had the feeling that Barry felt trapped there because he was so engrossed in his work, alone at his desk, and had paperwork that was pilled high on his desk. The color blue that was surrounding him may have also been a representation of his level of depression, which at that moment was surrounding him. Throughout the movie Barry wore the same blue suit, which may have been a representation of how he viewed everyday as being very similar. Barry was questioned by his sisters and co-workers about every decision he made. One of his sister’s was very confrontational with Barry in regards to why he even wore the blue suit. It was as if she did not think he fit the role of a businessman, and she was confused as to why he was pretending to be someone, she did not see. Barry on the other hand wanted to be a professional and wanted to be respected and the primary color blue that he choose to wear was an example of how he wanted to be noticed, yet because he had been repressed his entire life, he struggled with other people’s opinion’s, but he remained steadfast in his decision to wear the blue suit.
In the second photo Barry and Lena were having dinner together. Barry was still in his blue suit and Lena wore a very feminine, pink dress. The colors were opposite, yet they complemented each other very well. Lena brought Barry out of his shell with compassion and understanding and at dinner, Barry is smiling and his suit looks more turquoise, which may represent a change within Barry that was occurring.
In the final shot, Barry’s suit is a vibrant blue, which may represent the “birth” if you will, of Barry’s happiness and romantic side. The contrast between Barry and Lena’s clothes in the final scene reminded me of the colors you would see in a beautiful, romantic painting and the white walls behind them only add to the passion of the scene because the white walls serve as the border around the canvas of blue and pink in Barry’s and Lena’s clothes.
Discuss what role editing can have in determining the plot and story of a film. For instance, if you've seen Pulp Fiction, how would that film be different if it was told in a linear fashion? Likewise, how would Run Lola Run be different if it was edited at a slow pace? How would the mood of the film change?
Editing is a major tool that can be used to present the plot in a unique and interesting way. Pulp Fiction is one of the best examples of non linear editing, we are shown different parts of the plot at different times, so by the end of the movie we are able to put the pieces together, and see how they are all interconnected, making the movie as a whole much more interesting, and exciting. Editing can also affect the mood of the movie as seen in Run Lola, Run, the editing helps create the quick pace, helping to set the mood, unique editing also included the animated scenes that showed a different aspect of the movie, editing was also used to express the theme of time in the film.
For Physco: I believe that the scene would have been less detailed if it was shot in half as many shots. The shower scene is a very detailed scene that would not be very well represented if it was filmed in less shots.The shots didnt show everything so it allowed ones mind to create what they think happened.
Though every process of movie making is important, the colors, lights, and sounds used in a movie are some of the most imperative elements.
The colors of a movie help to explain how a character acts, feels, or even the setting of the movie. If a character wears an excessive amount of darker colors, then it's safe to assume that they are either a dark, mysterious, depressed, gloomy, and/or mellow character, unlike someone who dresses in bright and colorful clothing.
The lighting of a movie can also create a certain mood. Without lighting, there is no movie. A shadowed area or character gives the audience a foreboding feeling which in turn creates suspense for what's up ahead, versus a brightly lit area which can cause an audience to embrace the idea of a happy scene to come. It can also be used to determine the protagonist and antagonist of a film such as good vs. evil.
Sounds also play a monstrous role. In a horror flick, the music of a scene, along with the lighting, often create the fear of the audience. A loud and sudden sound can also startle them, which in turn makes the audience react.
Without those three elements, there would be no movie.
Punch Drunk Love
The wardrobe and colors are very revealing and insightful in the film. Barry's wears an odd colored blue suit the entire film. The color is a weird blue color that illustrates his eccentricity. It is also a dull blue with represents the state of mind Barry is in. The suit is not a bright and warm color and Barry is not a particularly bright and cheerful man. He suffers with depression and fits of rage.The fact that he wears this suit the entire time shows how he is a man of habit and conformity. He doesn't like to draw attention to himself. When he has attention drawn to himself, that is when he has his breakdowns and fits.
Talk about the use of "Time & Space" in Elephant. Many of the shots go on for a long time, and take us through many different rooms of the school. What do you think the intended feeling for the audience is supposed to be when we're following a character for a long period of time in the film? What is the feeling you walk away with after some of these shots? Also, there are certain moments in the film where Gus Van Sant uses slow motion. What effect do these moments have on the viewer?
The long shots that were incorporated into the movie Elephant gave you a stronger emphasis on the upcoming events. Like when you are following a certain person down the hallways of the school you just are waiting for the action to start happening. Especially when you follow different people and they meet up with a person that you have already followed and it is almost like seeing the scene from a different perspective. The slow motion scenes in this movie portray a stronger feeling for not only the character but the shot that is happening at that moment. Like lets say he slows down a person being shot at... then you really understand that the gunfire is real and happening. The editors did an exceptional job on cutting and editing, and they were the back bone to this movie. Because without there skill and time this movie would be horrible.
So far my favorite film we've screened has to be Run Lola Run. Not quite sure if it is just because she had red hair or what but great movie none the less. As per the discussion topic for RLR, editing is really the essence of film making and as we can see from RLR, this process can take us back in time and run an entire plot sequence in twenty minutes. More over though has to be the incredible use of scene cutting that allowed for highly varible results within a scene, but still withheld the time restraints of the plot. The entire pacing of the film had to be exact otherwise the audience would have been lost, and a boring film would have resulted. As we can see though from films liek RLR and even those sort edited trailers, editing is what makes the story.
Election:
In the movie Election, I feel that the protagonist is Jim McAllister. Jim McAllister, who seemed to be the main character in the movie, lived a good life. He was one of the student's favorite teachers, he had a good relationship with his wife, and he was very content with the life he had. He had no problems until Tracy Flick, who I belive is the antagonist, came into the picture. Tracy Flick caused his life to change tremendously, causing the main conflict in the film. Although Mr. McAllister did cause some problems and did some things wrong, he had his reasons. Tracy Flick is someone who has to have everything her way and will do whatever she can to get there, for example, ripping down her opponent's posters before the election. She would have done whatever it took, even if it meant ruining someone else's life.
Punch Drunk Love:
In the above pictures (Keeping in mind that the first picture is the opening shot of the film where we are introduced to Barry for the first time.) what do the colors of their wardrobe say about the characters in relation to (in the first picture) their character traits, and (in the second 2 pictures) each other?
In the opening shot it shows a man dressed in blue sitting in a very boring and dull room. The dark colors and dim lighting all symbolize a monotonous a boring feeling. The man sitting alon, at a single desk in the room also portrays this feelings of lonely and boring lifestyle this man lives.
In the second picture it shows the complete opposite. Instead of a dark, lonely man there is a much happier atmosphere. The blue suit is portrayed as a brighter happier color because of the complimentary pink outfit across from him. The lighting also helps to portray a happier image.
The third picture speaks for itself. The couple is obviously happy kissing each other and their wardrobe of bright pink and blue doesn't really play as much of a role as it had in the other two pictures because of the fact that they are kissing.
ELEPHANT
I believe the audience was intended to feel what it is like to be in the characters shoe. In my opinion, there is no better way, than to have the camera follow the character around during several actions. After the shots, I personally feel like a part of the character. The camera allows me to see everything that character sees as they walk by certain things, and then a completely different view when following a different character. The overall affect is that we, the audience, feels more involved in the scenes and know what the characters are seeing and then thinking. The audience is also able to discover how each of the students have their own issues in the same situation. Through this, we are able to relate even more with the characters on screen.
Through Gus Van Sant’s use of slow motion, I personally feel he wanted the audience to make the scene more dramatic in that something significant is about to happen. For example, when Eric and Alex were on their way to school to commit a horrible crime. This scene was a very significant part of the film and made a primary focus on it.
Punch Drunk Love Blog: I believe that wardrobe, color and other elements of production can truly set characters apart from one another. For example seeing the same character in the same situation wearing a different set of clothing with a different color scheme and lighting effect will make ones mood changes toward that scene, even though the situation is the same. Color also tends to have a direct correlation to sets of emotions for example: vibrant bright colors tend to make the audience feel happy and safe … where as when the colors are dark the mood tends to feel dreary and dull, almost sad and sometimes even scary. The Couple in the shoot have completely different wardrobes, the woman is wearing a light pink blouse … were the man is wearing a dark blue suite. It makes the feel as if the woman is flirtatious and fun where as the man is more reserved. It just again shows how important all these elements are to film
In run lola run, the director used several thing to convay that there was a shift in time then the obvious going back in time. The way Lola did something different each time that was so small and insignificant but it changed the out come of all the people around her so drasticly. Like running into someone made them get married, and running around them and they got thrown in jail for something. I don't remember excactly what it was but it was very close. And how each time she went back the mood felt different. I mean it was still a sence of urgency to get the money, but for me each run through and a little something different to tell the view that this time would be nothing like the last.
In the above pictures (Keeping in mind that the first picture is the opening shot of the film where we are introduced to Barry for the first time.) what do the colors of their wardrobe say about the characters in relation to (in the first picture) their character traits, and (in the second 2 pictures) each other?
The opening scene of punch drunk love shows Barry completely blending in to his surroundings. Everything is the same, bland, and well boring. The colors of his wardrobe have no contrast to the environment he is in and this was done on purpose to show how Barry does not wish to standout. However, later in the film we meet the girl in a bright red dress, and him in a bright blue suit. When he is no longer at his office his suit is no longer blending in, but standing out with her. Together they are in contrast and harmony. Red and Blue always go together very well. Further promoting how perfect they are for each other.
Discussion topic responding to:
An obvious theme in the "Run Lola Run" is the concept of time and of changing time. Talk about how the editing of the film specifically adds to this theme, (besides the obvious answer that she goes back in time). Think about what techniques the director and editor use to manipulate time in the "Run Lola Run" and how these techniques are used to effect or add to the idea of time in the film.
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I really enjoyed “Run Lola Run”. The editing of the film really adds to the concept of changing time because each time we see the new “run of events”, something slightly different happens each time. All of the three sequences are slightly different, showing how things change throughout time and what effects these changes have.
The director and editor used slightly different camera angles, lighting, and framing to manipulate time in the film, and these different techniques allow the viewer to see how these slight changes make a big difference in the story.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Cutting Edge - Blog A-F Run Lola Run
This blog referred to the effectiveness of editing in a film. From the short reproduced trailers, well-known movies were taken and turned into something completely different from the original purpose of the film. For example, West Side Story is similar to Romeo and Juliet. It is a love story about two people with different backgrounds. The movie trailer made it look like a horror film that was all about murder. The Mary Poppins trailer took a popular Walt Disney children's film and tansformed it into another scary movie that appeared frightening and definitely not geared towards children. A simple change in background music, or the speed of each clip in the trailer, will result in completey different understandings of the film being advertised. In the movie Run Lola Run, the whole editing design is to to be fast pased and to show the events in backwards order. Any change in this form of editing would completely change how the movie is perceived and would also not match the title, "run" lola run.
Pysco:
There are things about each version that makes them effective. Like the clips of deer in the new version. However, overall the original version is more effective for two main reasons. The first reason that in the original version you actually see the originally stabbing, which adds more effect to the audiance. The second is at the end of the scene, you hear him moan in pain, which also intensifies the level vulgerarity of the scene.
Discussion Topic:
According to different sources, the "shower scene" in Psycho is composed of somewhere between 70 and 85 different shots(I've never counted personally), which took weeks to shoot. What would be the difference in tone and feeling, had the sequence been shot using half as many, or how about simply one long shot, as Alfonso Cuaron chose to do for his action scenes?
Response:
Hitchcock is renowned for his stylistic use of a juxtaposition of shots in order to create dramatic tension. The rapidity of the back-and-forth shots between Marion and the knife evoke a frantic, panicked feeling in the audience, which is obviously Hitchcock's desired effect. In the hands of such a capable director as Alfonso Cuaron, this scene may very well have been just as potent and suspenseful with a reduced number of shots, yet it would not have such a definitive and distinctly Hitchcockian feel to it.
"Talk about the use of "Time & Space" in Elephant"
As we’re following these characters around the school, the director is wanting us to feel as if we’re there with the students. Continuing to follow them makes us feel as if something is going to happen to them as well. The slow motion in the film is wanting us to feel as if time is going by really slow. All of these movements leave us feeling as if we’re in suspense. We feel as though we are really there with the students in the high school. It makes us feel sorrow and be scared when the attacks start happening, because we feel as if we know the actors.
Discussion Topic:
In class we discussed how color, wardrobe, and other elements of production design can be used to give information about a character or a scene to the audience.
In the above pictures (Keeping in mind that the first picture is the opening shot of the film where we are introduced to Barry for the first time.) what do the colors of their wardrobe say about the characters in relation to (in the first picture) their character traits, and (in the second 2 pictures) each other?
Throughout the movie Barry wears the same dark blue suit. When we are first introduced to the character he is sitting in a room with a wall made up of blue and other dark colors. The blue and other dark colors show Barry's personality and mood in the movie. He is a person who keeps to himself and isn't very outgoing. He leads a life similar to the dullness of the colors. Lena on the other hand wears brighter colors, such as red, throughout the movie. She is more of an outgoing person as she is the one who initiates the relationship with Barry. She meets him and brightens up his life.
Discussion Topic
Talk about who you believe to be the protagonist and antagonist in the film and tell us why you've come to this conclusion.
I believe that there is not a line in this movie which defines whether a character is a protagonist or an antagonist. Both Jim and Tracy show their good and bad side. While some may say that Tracy was responsible for all the things that happened to Jim and vice-versa, neither of them is completly right. I believe that the movie is illustrating how people actually are in reality. It emphasize the human nature for ambition, jelousy and so forth.
In response to the discussion topic on editing: I believe that editing plays a very important role in the production of a film. Editing alone can completely change plot of the film, as we saw in the fake trailers. By cutting out a few clips an editor was able to change "The Shining" from a horror movie to a drama about a boy looking for a father. It can also create a certain mood in a film. For instance, the many short scenes in run lola run created an fast-paced movie and allowed us to feel its intensity. If it were edited at a slower pace it would have been much more boring, and probably not worth watching.
Discussion Topic:
Talk about the use of "Time & Space" in Elephant. Many of the shots go on for a long time, and take us through many different rooms of the school. What do you think the intended feeling for the audience is supposed to be when we're following a character for a long period of time in the film? What is the feeling you walk away with after some of these shots? Also, there are certain moments in the film where Gus Van Sant uses slow motion. What effect do these moments have on the viewer?
When we are following a character around the school for a very long time, you feel almost a sense of urgency. The audience knows that something is about to happen, they are just waiting for it. Sometimes nothing immediately important happens, but later on you realize that the final scene was intended to be remembered. After walking away from the some of the scenes, I think that the audience is a little confused and disturbed but intrigued to see what else will happen. The slow motion scenes also provide the audience with the same feelings. You know that this scene is being emphasized for a specific reason. Because the scene is being elongated in the same manner as following a character around for a long period of time, you still know that something is going to occur.
"Talk about who you believe to be the protagonist and antagonist in the film and tell us why you've come to this conclusion.
In my opinion, the "good guy/bad guy" roles are vague in the relationship between Tracy Flick and Jim McAllister, who are both extremely flawed in character."
Although both characters have their own individual flaws, I feel that the director made the viewer more sympathetic to Mr. McAllister. I feel that we saw more of his life and situations over Tracy's issues. I feel they both have the good guy/bad guy qualities. Tracy Flick seemed to have the important role in trying to be a successful women but using her powers for evil. Mr. McAllister saw this, and for the sake of other people and himself, he tried to "save the school" from Tracy. How he did this, was in a bad guy role, and lied about the results of the election. Both of these characters seem to be the protagonist and antagonist to each other. I feel that their is no specific one, they both pay off of each others characters.
Discussion Topic: Cuaron, in the film, was making obvious political references to current events. How do you think setting the film in the near future and his deliberate use of "toned" down futuristic design (i.e. technology not much more advanced then our own) affected or emphasized the political themes of the film?
Setting the film in the future but showing a more of past setting elaborated how the director feels the future will be. He shows how the future seems to be falling apart and repeating the terror that we have already seen in those countries. He shows a lot of political events by showing the army, the war, and the fact that women can not have children anymore. He uses a lot of dramatic war scenes to show a more political feeling.
Fargo blog- In a motion picture, color sets the mood for a scene. The director uses color in the wood chipper scene to instill a dramatic feeling in the viewer. He wants the audience to be on the edge pondering what disturbing thing will happen next. By using red with white, two very opposing colors, the audience is seeing suspense without even realizing it. Red being the color of blood and in a sense associated with evil, and white being the color of innocence, virginity and snow it establishes a deep tone of terror. When one sees the deep red blood flailing out of the wood chipper in a scene of white, it gives one a keen sense of reality. The director, Joel Coen is excellent with manipulating colors against each other to create the mood in Fargo.
I choose the entry about Psycho. If the scene had used less shots, it would have completely changed the tone of the movie. That scene is the most critical scenes in the movie and sets up the rest of the film. By using so many different shots, it gives suspense and cluttered feeling that is occurring. It feels like it is really taking place and not something scripted.
Editing is the main part of movie making that gives the film its meaning. The process of cutting and adding shots...even a single shot can drastically change the entire feeling of the movie. If Run Lola Run was at a slower pace, the feeling would have been different. We wouldn't have been able to feel the emotion of Lola trying to rush through the scenes to get to Manni in time. If it were slower we wouldn't have had that anxious feeling...we wouldn't have worried about her making it on time. Also, if it were any slower, the movie would have dragged on and may have become really boring. The way a film is edited can also change people’s view on a particular movie. It may change whether or not a person likes the film. Editing is an extremely important factor in movie making...it can either make or break a film. It is the last say in how the audience will react to what is going on. Editing controls the mood and feeling of not just the movie, but the audience as well.
In The Conversation, sound effects are very important. In the opening scene, sound is used to set up the story. You hear only what the team is hearing through their devices. Key information is missing and that is what the whole movie is based on. You can also tell that the team is "spying" on the couple because of the noises the devices make and the conversation they have between each other.
i accidently posted my blog on the A-F Conversation blog from last week so here it is again..
In the first scene, the sound of the conversation creates confusion in the audience which makes them focus harder to understand whats going on. As the film goes on, the bits and pieces of the conversation are slowly put together through the other scenes. Since the conversations were distorted a wrong impression was made since it was unclear what was really going on. In the end, its shocking to learn it was a plot to kill her husband and reveals that sound is an important role in what we hear and precieve.
I chose the Punch Drunk Love blog.
In relation to the first picture, of Adam Sandler sitting alone in his blue suit surrounded by a blue room, the color connotates a calm feeling, steadfastness, peace, and loyalty. However, too much blue creates a cold feeling, which is definitely felt in the first picture. The blue suit might have been the character's way of trying to feel calm, but added into the blue, barren room creates a feeling of being alone and unloved. Also, the color blue, to mean calm, adds to the fact that the character bottles everything up, and in turn it contrasts with his violent outbursts. The other 2 pictures, in relation to each character, shows a balance of the two spectrums, light and dark. The woman is dressed in bright pink while Adam Sandler is dressed in dark blue. The woman is calm and collective, shown by the pink itself, but also full of vitality, which comes from being a shade of red. So the woman's clothes are the yin, and Adam's are the yang, denoting a balance. Also, pink and blue are the traditional colors of girls and boys.
I think I may have posted this in the wrong place yesterday so here it is again just in case...
During the opening scene of “The Conversation” we watch Gene Hackman and his undercover team record the conversation of a man and a woman as they walk through a loud courtyard. During the first run through, the sounds in the courtyard make it difficult to understand their conversation fully and the couple, although somewhat odd in their emotions, is relatively uninteresting and bland in their conversation. Throughout the movie, however, we hear the recording multiple times and with time, a little more about the conversation is revealed as Gene Hackman’s character manipulates the tape by adding or taking away sounds for clarity. It was interesting to watch in the movie how he uses large machines and odd looking pieces of equipment to manipulate a small part of the recording and how the little pieces he uncovers drastically change the whole story. The film really conveys what an impact sound has in a film whether it be background sound that you don’t really notice or the way some sounds affect the impact of other sounds.
Discussion Topic:
Talk about the use of "Time & Space" in Elephant. Many of the shots go on for a long time, and take us through many different rooms of the school. What do you think the intended feeling for the audience is supposed to be when we're following a character for a long period of time in the film? What is the feeling you walk away with after some of these shots? Also, there are certain moments in the film where Gus Van Sant uses slow motion. What effect do these moments have on the viewer?
Because of the constant following of a character in the movie, it makes me feel as though I am there with them and familiar with these individuals. When vertain moments are slowed down, it makes that scene seem more dramatic or important to that section of the movie, making it more memorable to the viewer.
I believe the shower scene in pyscho, comprised of the various shots it is, greatly intensified the 'stabbing' effect. The constant movement between shots, sometimes not allowing the brain to fully comprehend what it is seeing adds a confusion element to the horror which again intensifies the emotion. Had the scene taken fewer shots, it would've given the viewer a chance to almost rationalize the scene completely destroying the huge build up in tone and feeling. I don't feel this scene could've been shot in a singular cut to any entertainment value with the amount of action Hitchcock wanted to pervey.
I was a little confused with when i am supposed to turn in my last blog post, so i hope I got it right that it was due the last day of class.
In Children Of Men, there are boh direct and indirect comments made about politics in our country today. In the movie they show a breif propaganda film about how all of the countries of the world have fallen into dissarray, exept Great Britain which still "prevails". I feel that they are saying that the leadership of our current politicians is inadaquet and will eventually lead to our downfall.
Though the movie is set 20 years in the future, very little has progressed in the way of technology. I feel that this is a comment on the lack of initiative that the youth of today are taking. I also can see the lack of technologichal advancements from the eyes of the people of the future. If in the future there will be no society, why should we try to advance it now?
One last comment that I felt the film was trying to make was on the large amount of goddlessness that certain people beleive exists in todays society. In a few parts of the movie you could see religious activists preaching that the lack of pregnancy was a plauge sent down by god to punish humankind for its sins. This is a pretty direct statement. If society doesnt clean up its act, bad things will happen.
In the above pictures (Keeping in mind that the first picture is the opening shot of the film where we are introduced to Barry for the first time.) what do the colors of their wardrobe say about the characters in relation to (in the first picture) their character traits, and (in the second 2 pictures) each other?
Barry's wardrobe shows that he is very calm and unsure of himself, while the lady's (can't remember her name) shows that she is much more outgoing and "fiery". Barry's wardrobe shows that he is going to take a very subdued approach to the relationship, while the lady's shows that she is going to be the driving force behind it.
In Elephant, the director uses the effect of following one person over a long duration of time. This gives the viewer a sense of relation to the person being followed. Everyone had their own story of what happened that day, and everyone saw the events through a different perspective and you could meet up with the other students along the way. As for slow motion that gave the viewer a sense of importance from more than one characters perspective, such as when two or more characters would meet and they would show the scene more than once (just from different perspectives).
What I have learned in this class is that editing is the to creating an amazing movie, a movie that goes beyond just the average. The reason I feel this is because they control the way the audience reads into a movie. They can cut a film can organize the sequences to their own desire controlling how we are going to interrupt the movie. These keys can make a major difference in any movie, and although wardrobe and the 180degree rule is a big deal it does not come close to the editing factor.
Such as in the movie Run Lola Run it shows that the matter of one different event happening can change the course of time, sometimes for the better other times for the worse. It brought this movie from the average to a great movie filled with the suspense and scene cuts.
In the film, Punch Drunk Love, Barry is infamous for his navy blue suit that he wears through out the entire film, despite being criticized by his obnoxious sisters about how od and ugly it is. This outfit is appropriate for Barry because it expresses who his character is as a person, dull, introverted and pessimistic.
On the other hand, Lena is wearing a bright top that compliments her light subtle features and blonde hair. Lena's wardrobe is fitting for her character because she, unlike Barry, is simple but interesting, and optimistic about life as well as genuinely kind. Wardrobe is an extremely important part of film and is used to its full potential in this film.
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