Micro-Technical Analysis

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Extreme Close Up

Extreme close ups are used to show things in extreme detail. These types of shots I used a lot in the fast paced montage sequences in my short film. This was because in these montages I wanted to create a sense of life in these sequences (since the central theme of the film is ‘what is the meaning of life’). The shots in these sequences range in shot types and content, however, I wanted to include these extreme close ups to add variety and because they are visually intriguing, especially with the soft focus of certain areas and shallow depth that such a close up shot creates for the background of the shots. This shallow depth of field makes the focus of the shot (e.g. the grass) even more distinctive and clear.

Link to Focal FilmsHere are two examples of

extreme close ups in Malick’s films. The first is from The Tree of Life, where you see the mother holding her babies foot. By having such an extreme close up, the audience is able to see every detail and with the hands surrounding the foot they can see how small it is, emphasising it’s vulnerability.

Close Up

Like extreme close ups, close up shots show things in more detail. When of a face, a close up allows the audience to see the expressions of their faces without any surroundings distracting you from the focus of the shot. I implemented these shots throughout my short film, ranging from close ups of the protagonists face to show his the expressions, allowing the audience to gage his emotions much better. For example, the shot of the protagonist framed to the right shows him with a straight face, looking into the distance. This creates a sense of longing, and reinforces the theme of nostalgia and how the protagonist is constantly looking back on the past. I also used them to show things in more detail and more clearly. For example, the shot of the protagonist holding the photos is a close up shot because the audience is better able to see the subjects of the photos. I wanted it to be clear that the photos are representing the past, and how the protagonist is looking back on his own past and reflecting about his life.

Link to Focal FilmsThe use of close ups in

Malick’s film are often used when he creates lens flares and of characters faces. For example, in Badlands (1973) there is a close up of Holly as she applies some lipstick. Instead of seeing her face on, you see her through the reflection in the mirror. This emphasises how she is focusing on her appearance and conveys her youth and innocence to the audience, as even when living in the ‘badlands’ and on the run, she is focused on her appearance.

Medium Close Up

A medium close up allows for the person in the shot to be clear, however it also allows for the background to be shown also. This gives the audience some context as to where the character is, and also makes the shot less dominant and the subject of the shot becomes less explicit. By this I mean if you have a close up of someone laughing, it creates a mood of happiness, however this as a medium close up makes the mood less obvious. I used this shot type multiple times throughout my short film as it allows the audience to see the protagonist and his expressions, without being to close up constantly as this could become overwhelming.

Link to Focal FilmsMedium close ups allow the

audience to see both the detail of the characters face and expressions, whilst at the same time begin able to see the surroundings that they are in. It is also a good shot type to use when using ‘rule of thirds’ to frame the shot. This is used in the bottom image where you see two characters from To the Wonder (2013) close together. By framing them both to the left, the audience can see the natural surroundings that they are in giving them context but also making the shot more intriguing and dynamic.

Medium Shot

Medium shots, like medium close ups allow you to see more of the characters surroundings. However, the characters face and expressions are less apparent and clear. The background therefore is even more obvious. I used these shots, often before cutting or tracking the camera forward to a close up of the protagonist. This is so there is some context as to the location for the audience, and then they can see his face and expression more clearly in a medium close up or close up after. For example, the shot of the protagonist drinking a cup of tea has part of a card board box in the foreground and you can see some of his house in the background. This shows his location and also visually communicates to the audience that he is packing and therefore moving house which gives some context as to what has caused him to start looking back on his life

Link to Focal FilmsBy having a medium shot you

can see more of the location that the characters are in. You are able to have a less invasive look into the the locations and set of the films. In the first image you can see the main focus of the image, the mother, but also you see her children playing in the background, creating a sense of family and happiness. The image below is of one of the main characters. By being framed in a medium shot you can see the run down of location that he is in, convening the status of the character through the mise-en-scene.

Medium Long Shot

Medium long shots is another shot type that I used in my short film. Often they were from tracking shots that moved forward, towards the protagonist. The first image one of the final shots of my short film that starts as a long shot but gradually tracks forward to become a close up of the protagonists face. This allowed for a range of shot types, including a medium long shot, in just a short amount of time. This tracking forward from a long shot is the same for the next two images. I felt that this reflected the cinematography of Terrence Malick (and in turn, Emmanuelle Lubezski). The locations of the scenes can also be shown greatly in this shot type, for example the final image shows the expanse of the location he is in. This reflects one of the themes in my film which is nature representing freedom. This is because the large expanse of nature makes the protagonist appear small within it showing that being within nature the protagonist seems to be escaping to something bigger than him, somewhere he can not worry about the meaning of his life.

Link to Focal FilmsMedium long shots are used

within Terrence Malick film to show the various locations that he films at. In the first image you see two characters from To the Wonder (2013), and the large expanse that they are surrounded by. The image below, from the same film, you see a lower angel medium long shot of one of the central characters in silhouette. However, by having a medium long shot it allows you to see the rows of lights that light the shot so that you are not just seeing a black silhouette.

Long Shot

I used long shots to show the locations of the shots, providing context and often a more dynamic image. You see less detail of the characters face, so I used these shots before or after cutting to medium close ups and close up shots. This way you get to see a beautiful location and wide angle shot, but then you can see the expression of the characters face too. This also helps to show my use of wide angle lenses that are very evident and are an auteur feature throughout Terrence Malick’s body of work.

Extreme Long Shot

Similarly to long shots, you can see the locations of the shots. However, along with the use of a wide angle lens, the surroundings are the most dominant in the shot, making the protagonist/ character appear small. These types of shots are common shot used throughout Terrence Malick’s body of work. Therefore by incorporating this into my own short film, I can show the influence of his work on my own. Once again, these shots are used before cutting or tracking to more close up shots that allow you to actually see the the characters faces and expressions.

High Angle and Low Angle ShotsFrom my own film:

Link to focal films:

Natural LightFrom my own film:

Natural LightLink to focal films:

Use of ShadowsMy own film: Link to Malick (The Tree of Life):

This shadow in my short film is my own shadow. The use of shadows crates a sense of mystery to films and is a strong visual image. This related to Malick because in the film Badlands (1973) he makes a cameo appearance.

EDITINGMy short film includes the use of continuity editing, montage editing and parallel editing (cross cutting). The montage editing is most apparent during the fast paced montage sequences of multiple shots that represent life, showing both nature and people, and how they work and live together. I wanted to include this in order to represent ‘life’ itself and show what it is so that the central theme of the film (the meaning of life) is explicitly apparent in the film for the audience. I wanted this because the film is experimental, with no real narrative. Therefore I needed the visuals to to represent and convey what the film is about. Also, I used linear editing, especially in the first ‘scene’ where you see the protagonist looking through old photographs and eventually packing them away. This was to create a sense of continuity for this scene, so that from the beginning the audience can understand the sense of nostalgia that it throughout the film. Later on you see him in Howden and at a marsh. Without dialogue it is hard to understand, however this first scene provides context so that the audience can understand what the film is going to be about. I also used parallel editing (cross-cutting) between medium close up shots of the younger people looking directly into the camera, and the shots of the protagonist. This was to show that despite the age difference, they are the same and struggle with the same existential crises of what the meaning of life is. It allows the audience to understand that the protagonist, who is shown to be alone in the film, is not alone in his worries. By showing both them and the protagonist laughing in some shots (this is towards the end of the film), the audience can understand that, like the lyrics suggest, things will “be ok”.

Relating back to creative investigation

Throughout Malick’s body of work, various editing techniques are used, that I have also used within my own work. Conventionally, films are cut using the same techniques, both short and feature films. However, I decided to focus a lot on montage editing for the fast paced montage sequences. This was due to how short my film is. It allows pace to be built within the film and makes sure to encompass all that I wanted to show, in terms of themes. This use of montage editing is notably used int The Tree of Life (2011) during a separate sequence that shows the creation and progression of life, from in space, to the dinosaurs etc. This is an example of montage editing, however, it is not as fast paced as my own because the length of the film allows this. Editing in all films varies depending on the type of scen and the mood and atmosphere of those scenes. I cut to the music of my film as I was greatly influenced by Un Chien Andalou and silent films that only has their musical score for sound. This is unlike Malick’s films.

MISE-EN-SCENE

Costume

The costumes in The Tree of Life (2011) create verisimilitude as they reflect the ‘everyday’ of the era for the flashback/ memory scenes. Simiarly in the present day scenes, the protagonist wears clothing that once again creates verisimilitude.

Within my own film I had the protagonist wear his own, ‘everyday’ clothes as I wanted to create verisimilitude and show that the protagonist is an ‘everyday’ man that goes through the same issues and problems as anyone else.

Location

Above are examples of locations within my short film. I wanted to use locations that create verisimilitude and show the ‘everyday’. I also used outdoor locations that presented the theme ‘nature representing freedom’. I wanted to show expanses of land and nature to demonstrate the character escapes to nature to think about his past, showing the theme of nostalgia. He escapes to nature to feel small and insignificant, therefore showing that he is just a small part of life.

Locations is Terrence Malick films simiarly show the theme of ‘nature representing freedom’ and show off the cinematography and use of wide angle lenses. It shows the expanse of nature and I therefore wanted to use a wide angle lens to shoot my own film to show the vastness of nature and reflect Malick’s style.

SOUNDThe only sound within my short film is the doing ‘Be Ok’ by the band Too Far Moon. I wanted to reflect the influences I had from silent films like Un Chien Andalou and The Artist (these also influenced my script). There is no dialogue in the script and the film is cut to the music. The song itself repeat stye line “I’m gonna be ok”, which I felt represented my film well. This is because it convey how the character, though going through this existential crisis as to what the meaning of life, and his life was and is, he will “be ok” as he is not alone in this feeling. This is shown through the multiple medium close ups of the younger people that are interspersed throughout the film that emphases that people of all ages go through the same crises and that the protagonist is not alone. In Terrence Malick’s films he does not use songs with lyrics, rather scores. I wanted to go away from this feature of his because I felt that taking influence from silent films aided the experimental form and also make it intriguing because it is not something that you often see in films today. I did however choose a modern song that isn’t solely instrumental as I wanted it to be appealing to a modern day audience. Due to the niche audience that short experimental films have, having a song that is intriguing and current helps to catch their attention to watch the film.