Journal Question 1

Did the Avant-Garde films help to expand your definition of film?

Photography

“Movies should be treated as texts

works to be analyzed and interpreted.

They are very similar to any other text,including a textbook.” Bernard F. Dick

Realism vs. Formalism

two tendencies have existed since the beginning of cinema:

Lumiere Brothers (Auguste & Louis) vs.

Georges Melies

MeliesLumiere Bros.

Lumiere image:• recording of an actual event• available lighting• no actors• no set design

Melies image: • shot in a studio• using actors • elaborate sets • special effects

REALISM VS. FORMALISM IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

Images: Kids, Blade Runner

Images: Bicycle Thieves, Spy Kids

Sherry Baby

Mulholland Dr.

Cinematographers use the camera in specific ways to convey meaning, mood, atmosphere, dramatic tone, and other visual subtext.

SHOT SIZES

Extreme close-up (XCU)

Citizen Kane

Every picture tells a story

Close up

(CU)

Close-up (CU)

Breathless

CU

Medium shot (MS)L’Avventura

Long shot (LS)

City of God

Extreme long shot (XLS)(sometimes called an establishing shot)

Extreme

Long Shot

POV SHOT (point of view)

Represents what the character sees

The Shining

Over the shoulder shot

The Graduate

LIGHTING

3 basic placements for lights:

3 basic placements for lights:

• Key light

3 basic placements for lights:

• Key light

• Fill light

3 basic placements for lights:

• Key light

• Fill light

• Back light

High and Low Key Lighting refers to the

contrast of the image.

High and Low Key Lighting refers to the

contrast of the image.

High Key=low contrast, evenly lit

High and Low Key Lighting refers to the

contrast of the image.

High Key=low contrast, evenly lit

Low Key=high contrast, areas of light and dark

High key Low key

Meet John Doe, Touch of Evil

Low key High key

Touch of Evil, Platinum Blonde

Low key High key

The Third Man, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Some Like It Hot Nosferatu

High Key Lighting: as a rule is associated

with Comedies and Musicals

High Key Lighting: as a rule is associated

with Comedies and Musicals

Low Key Lighting: often appears in horror,

mysteries, thrillers and gangster films and

Film noir

FILM NOI

R

FILM NOI

R

Origins of FILM NOIR

- visual style came from German Expressionist cinema of 1920s and early 30s

Nosferatu (1922)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Techniques also used in American horror films of 1930s

- Dracula, Frankenstein, etc.

FILM NOIR

REALIST?

FILM NOIR

REALIST?

FORMALIST?

FILM NOIR

Film Noir

A style of film (not a genre)

Specific time period in (American film history) beginning in the 1940’s and ending in the late 1950’s

Typical Characteristics of Film Noir

low key lighting

Typical Characteristics of Film Noir

low key lighting

ominous shadows and smoke

Typical Characteristics of Film Noir

low key lighting

ominous shadows and smoke

skewed camera angles

Characters of Film Noir

Protagonist: cynical, morally-ambiguous, anti-hero

Characters of Film Noir

Protagonist: cynical, morally-ambiguous, anti-hero

Femme Fatal: seductive, manipulative, sometimes murderous

anti-hero

protag. who lacks traditional heroic attributes (courage, idealism, etc.)

instead has opposite attributes (ineptness, stupidity, dishonesty, etc.)

An anti-hero acts heroically, yet in an underhanded and deceitful way

Sunset Boulevard 1950

Directed by Billy Wilder

William Holden as Joe Gillis

Gloria Swanson as

Norma Desmond

1. In what ways might the character of Joe Gillis be considered an anti-hero?

2. Why is Sunset Boulevard considered a film noir?

Response Questions - CHOOSE ONE OF THESE QUESTIONS TO RESPOND TO

RESPONSE PAPERS: Throughout the course of the semester, we will screen at least twelve films. You are required to write half-page response papers for at least five of the films. THESE PAPERS ARE DUE ONE WEEK FROM THE DAY THEY ARE ASSIGNED. Each paper is worth a maximum of 2 points. If you are not satisfied with your grade on a response paper, you may write another paper to make up the lost points. Topics for response papers will be given during class. These papers may constitute cumulative total of 10 possible points. All papers must be typed using 12 point Times Roman font, with 1” margins and be double-spaced. No handwritten pages accepted. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are taken into account. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.