-Lighting
-Mise-en-scene
-Camerawork
-Editing
-Sound
Monday, 13 October 2008
Casablanca
Casablanca was a film created in 1942, directed by Micheal Curtiz slotting into the the genre of 'classical hollywood cinema.' The plot is set in world war two, and focuses on exiled american Rick Blaine who is a successful but lonely cafe owner. When his former and only love Ilsa returns to Casablanca with her husband he is faced with a difficult decision. The plot is fairly non-sensational containing relaxing and comforting story-lines, but Casablanca is considered formalist because of its form. The form comes under 5 main categories, which are:
classical hollywood cinema
Classical hollywood cinema was a era of much glamour and beauty that reigned from the late 20's to the late 50's.
'Casablanca' - 1942
'It's a wonderful life' - 1935
'King Kong' - 1933
i think it is formalist because it shows life in a warped, fairytale style, which is very romantic and picturesque. this results in a whole new world, which is entirely unrealistic, therefore formalist.
'Casablanca' - 1942
'It's a wonderful life' - 1935
'King Kong' - 1933
i think it is formalist because it shows life in a warped, fairytale style, which is very romantic and picturesque. this results in a whole new world, which is entirely unrealistic, therefore formalist.
Monday, 6 October 2008
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM
LIGHTING, MISE-SCENE, SOUND, CAMERAWORK AND EDITING
Today we looked at 'German Expressionism'. When it started, who was involved, what it meant and the key features.
WHEN AND WHO?
German expressionism started in the 1920s, in Germany. Perhaps the first ever example of G.E is 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920) which is one of the most known films of the movement. Later films include Nosferatu (1922), Phantom (1922), Schatten (1923), and The Last Laugh (1924). The directors include: Robert Wiene, Paul Wegener, Fritz Lang and W . F
Murnau.
What are the key features of German expressionism?
German Expressionism depends heavily on mise-en-scene. Shapes are distorted and exaggerated unrealistically. Actors often wear heavy makeup and move in jerky or slow, sinuous patterns. The lighting is very dramatic, using shadows to create and stark colours fr a more deluded effect. Also symbolic action and characterisation.
Where can the influence of G.E. be seen in film history?
German Expressionism has been repeated throughout film history, though sometimes only in snatches. It is heavily influential, and has been through all the ages, even including modern cinema movements, such as 'film noir'. Certain other forms of film have adapted its style, such as the music video 'Living dead girl' by Rob Zombie, that was made in 1999, yet still contains key features. It has also influenced theatre, in productions such as 'Edward scissor hands'.
in film history in films such as 'Run Lola Run' which is a later formalist film which includes all the key features of German Expressionism
Today we looked at 'German Expressionism'. When it started, who was involved, what it meant and the key features.
WHEN AND WHO?
German expressionism started in the 1920s, in Germany. Perhaps the first ever example of G.E is 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920) which is one of the most known films of the movement. Later films include Nosferatu (1922), Phantom (1922), Schatten (1923), and The Last Laugh (1924). The directors include: Robert Wiene, Paul Wegener, Fritz Lang and W . F
Murnau.
What are the key features of German expressionism?
German Expressionism depends heavily on mise-en-scene. Shapes are distorted and exaggerated unrealistically. Actors often wear heavy makeup and move in jerky or slow, sinuous patterns. The lighting is very dramatic, using shadows to create and stark colours fr a more deluded effect. Also symbolic action and characterisation.
Where can the influence of G.E. be seen in film history?
German Expressionism has been repeated throughout film history, though sometimes only in snatches. It is heavily influential, and has been through all the ages, even including modern cinema movements, such as 'film noir'. Certain other forms of film have adapted its style, such as the music video 'Living dead girl' by Rob Zombie, that was made in 1999, yet still contains key features. It has also influenced theatre, in productions such as 'Edward scissor hands'.
in film history in films such as 'Run Lola Run' which is a later formalist film which includes all the key features of German Expressionism
Friday, 3 October 2008
Why Is 'Run Lola Run!' A Formalist Film?
In class today we watched 'Run Lola Run!', which is a German film made in 1998 and directed by Tom Tykwer. We immediately decided that it was a formalist, because of the cartoon titles and the odd lighting. After it had finished we were asked to create a blog determining all the other features in the film that make it formalist.
THE LIGHTING AND COLOURS:
The lighting was very 'loud'. There were no soft tones and it was very stark and contrasting. Also with the colours, which clashed continuously. Another interesting feature was an repitition (or obsession) with the colour red, which was continued throughout the film (E.g Lolas hair, various passer by's clothes, the telephone, large amounts of posters on the walls etc...)
SOUND
There were a lot of cartoon-ish sound effects and the dynamics varied depending on the tension and atmosphere of the scene/situation.
EDITING
The editing was possibly the most formalist aspect of the film. The film consisted of one event, played back three times and changed y fate or someones different decision each time. We watched (basically) the same thing three times and there didnt seem to be any clear direction. I was confused about which was real and which weren't. Also the random cartoon sequences.
CAMERAWORK
The camerawork was formalist because of the odd angles it shot from, and the style in which it filmed. For example, in dramatic moments the camera would appear to be staggering towards the events, like it was hand-held to create illusions and confuse the audience.
MISE-EN-SCENE
the main formailst aspect in the mise-en-scene, was (as i said earlier) the repetition of the colour red.
SOUND
There were a lot of cartoon-ish sound effects and the dynamics varied depending on the tension and atmosphere of the scene/situation.
EDITING
The editing was possibly the most formalist aspect of the film. The film consisted of one event, played back three times and changed y fate or someones different decision each time. We watched (basically) the same thing three times and there didnt seem to be any clear direction. I was confused about which was real and which weren't. Also the random cartoon sequences.
CAMERAWORK
The camerawork was formalist because of the odd angles it shot from, and the style in which it filmed. For example, in dramatic moments the camera would appear to be staggering towards the events, like it was hand-held to create illusions and confuse the audience.
MISE-EN-SCENE
the main formailst aspect in the mise-en-scene, was (as i said earlier) the repetition of the colour red.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)