film appreciation theory and history. widescreen vs. full screen widescreen film was determined by...
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Film AppreciationTheory and History
Widescreen vs. Full screen
• Widescreen film was determined by the director with the big screen in mind.
• Full screen films have been edited to fit an old TV screen.
Why read a film?
The better a viewer reads an image the more he/she understands:
•Its artistic quality
•Its reflection of culture and its values
•Its various sets of metaphorical meanings
When you look at a frame, one of the first things to consider is space.
How complex is the mise-en-scene?
•Is it claustrophobic?•Is it wide-open space?
How much of the space of the frame is filled by the characters?
Mildred Pierce 1945
Hidalgo 2004
A claustrophobic set design builds tension and anxiety.
The Shining 1982
Harry Potter
A spacious, open set design can create loneliness, isolation, or freedom.
Lord of the Rings 2001
Forrest Gump 1994
Another thing to consider is distance.
How much do you see of the character(s)?
•Is it a close up?•Is it a full shot?•Is it a medium shot?
How much distance is between the viewer and the characters?
A Place in the Sun 1951
In general the closer the camera gets to the characters, the closer the viewer feels towards the characters.
Most common in…
love scenes
horror films
emotional dramas
As the camera moves further away from the character(s), the viewer is provided more information about them or about their situation.
From Rosemary’s Baby 1968 From Babel 2006
The further the camera is from the subject, the moredistant you will feel from what is happening in the sceneor to the character(s).
The Establishing Shot
It lets the audience have a look at the subject in relation to itssurroundings. It usually appears at the beginning of a film orscene to establish the setting or to introduce a film.
The Illusionist 2006
The Two-Shot
Makes two characters the subject of the frame. It allows you tounderstand how the characters interact and react to each other.
Avatar 2009
Something else to consider when observingA frame is the angle or camera position.
Was the frame shot from high above? (a high angle)
Was it shot at eye level?
Was it shot from a low angle?
A frame shot from a high angle is often referred to as God’s eye view because it suggests that ‘someone’ is observing the characters. It can suggest danger and helplessness.
300 2006
Apocalypto 2007
The Fountain 2007
A frame shot from a low angle makes the subject seem larger.
The Postman Always Rings Twice 1946
Citizen Kane 1941
The Dark Knight 2008
Inglorious Basterds 2009
A character that seems larger than another in a frame is usually the dominant character.
From Double Indemnity 1944
From Rebecca
1940
From Gone with the Wind1939
From Letter from an Unknown Woman 1948
The Departed 2006
A Dutch angle suggests that something is wrong either in the character or the story’s situation.
Artificial Intelligence 2001
Besides shots and angles, you should also watch for symbols.
Some common symbols are:
Images of entrapment are usually shown through characters framed by doors, gates, or confined spaces (like closets).
From The Kid 1921
From Carrie 1976
Pan’s Labyrinth 2006
Atonement 2007
The Hours 2002
The Ring 2002
The Painted Veil 2006
A Beautiful Mind 2001
The Departed 2006
Images of duality are usually represented by characters reflected in mirrors , water, glass, or in accentuated shadow.
Psycho 1960
The Lady from Shanghai,1947
Taxi Driver 1976
The Matrix 2003
Mulholland Drive 2001
Black Swan 2010
Stairs, dark alleys, Dutch angles, darkness enveloping a character, seeing only part of a character are some images of imminent danger.
From Silence of the Lambs
From Kiss Me DeadlyFrom Halloween
From The French Connection
From The Sixth Sense
From The Others
Light cutting through a character(s), lines which divide the frame, usually mark images of characters that are in turmoil.
From The Usual Suspects
From Blade Runner
From The Awful Truth
Sweeney Todd 2007
Other Symbols
Christ figures/Biblical References
Dead Poet Society
The Shawshank Redemption
Cool Hand Luke
From Schindler’s List
Color
Rebirth
Eyes
From Un Perro Andaluz
From Spellbound
From The Blair Witch Project
From Psycho
Phallic symbols Dr. Strangelove
Bonnie and Clyde
Rear Window
Why read a film?
Art represents all that we experience as humans.
Understanding film as an art means understanding yourself and the world
around you.