Items Tag › Faded Requiem

Auteur, Sukiyaki & Review | 6.28

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=1010

After a brief discussion on auteur theory, we watched another Miike film: Sukiyaki Western Django. Certainly not a fan favorite, but very much an intriguing idea. Here are the links to some readings on auteur theory. Andrew Sarris – Notes on the Auteur Theory Peter Wollen – The Auteur Theory François Truffaut – Une Certaine Tendance of Cinema Francaise Auteur Theory auteur – usually always a director one who brings to a film signs of their own individuality (perhaps in way narrative is constructed, way certain themes are explored, or visual style) not all directors are auteurs

able to function as main creative force & controlling presence metteur en scène – director who ‘merely’ brings competence to specialist role of directing within production over which they have no overall artistic control

raise up to auteur – rise above “restraints” of formulaic genre film-making auteur…

June 29 2010, 1:53pm | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Film Theory & The Happiness of the Katakuris | 6.23

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=1005

We discussed many film theories this evening and topped it all off with The Happiness of the Katakuris. Monday will bring our last film and auteur theory. Film Theory & Criticism (a rapid overview & listing – you can look up some of the ones that I do not focus on) classic film theory – designate specific value of cinema formalist (creationist) film theory – Rudolf Arnheim, Sergei Eisenstein, Bela Balazs

cinema more than “the feeble mechanical reproduction of real life” transforms and constructs reality the how of artistic expression – editing, cinematography

realist film theory – Andre Bazin, Siegfried Kracauer

reality possesses ambiguous quality Bazin believed filmmakers should develop style that respected ambiguities & that did not unfairly coerce or manipulate viewers into sharing a single, mass emotional response to a scene or film techniques best suited to represent reality were deep focus…

June 25 2010, 9:17am | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Postmodernism & Hot Fuzz | 6.21

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=991

What is postmodernism? Is Hot Fuzz postmodern? Tonight we discussed characteristics of postmodernism and screened Hot Fuzz. Postmodernism in Film organization of film industry – mass production to flexible independent production exemplify postmodern themes or offer images of pomo society – dystopian sci-fi bricolage / pastiche – playful mixing of elements (genre for us) – we could also use pastiche for mixing of film elements such as live action and animation nostalgia – reflect on past but w/o real exploration intertextuality / blank parody – Hot Fuzz and homage erasure of boundary between past, present & future self-referential – break down 4th wall no separation between high and low films and techniques voyeurism Nest class we venture into film theory. Make sure you bring your film journals, they are due right after we watch our film.

June 22 2010, 9:02am | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Genre, Zombies & Pontypool | 6.16

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=964

An interesting conversation moving from just how many genres are there to zombies. We then explored the world of Pontypool. What exactly is the purpose of the piece after the credits? We tend to say many genres, but we do need to be careful about saying unlimited or infinite. This helps criticism as much as saying there is only one genre. Frank McConell – 4 character types & 4 genres which correspond to 4 stage historical cycle of culture

King establishes the state – Epic Knight consolidates the state – Adventure Romance Pawn is trapped in the institutionalized state of laws – Melodrama Fool points out craziness of institutionalized state – Satire

a fifth stage he adds Apocalypse – breakdown into anarchy and decadence which requires establishment of new order – new cycle based on archetypes Thomas Schatz (Hollywood Genres) – Adopts thematic &…

June 18 2010, 1:26pm | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Narrative, Genre & Survive Style 5+

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=939

What a better way to introduce narrative and genre by showing you the potential for breaking them. Survive Style 5+ was an interesting departure from Hollywood, tell me what you think in the comments for bonus points. Narrative cinema begins with the written word

scripts adaptations – issues with adapting

actualities (no narrative form) to documentary and “story” films narrative structure = story +plot plot – sequencing of events story – larger set of events (true chronological sequencing) linear plot – chronological classical narrative structures – viewer is aware of shaping of storyline, move towards resolution

use of flashbacks

formalistic narrative – author is overly manipulative to maximize thematic idea mixed up plot sequences – Pulp Fiction, Run Lola Run narrator & narrative point of view films have multiple authors – real vs. implied narrative POV

1st person – voice over, POV shots 3rd…

June 15 2010, 2:02pm | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Editing, Sound & Some Like it Hot | 6.10

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=930

We cleaned up some editing and went right into sound. And then we laughed along as we watched Some Like it Hot. Principles of Continuity Editing spatial continuity

continuous flow of action – viewers are supposed to be unaware of the film’s technical side matching to master shot – ms defines layout of scene establishing shot – beginning of a new scene, establishes time & space reestablishing shot – reorient viewer with time & space after many cuts constant screen direction eyeline match – characters looking at each other shot – reverse – shot series – used for dialogue, cameras over shoulder of characters 30° rule – between shots camera position must change by at least 30° in order to avoid a jump cut 180º rule – nothing is sacred, used to stabilize space of playing area so spectator isn’t confused or disoriented

temporal…

June 10 2010, 11:43am | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Acting & Editing | 6.7

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=927

While my sinuses began closing, we entered into a discussion on acting and editing. While we will continue our discussion, I think the acting discussion went really well and in-depth in relation to Do the Right Thing. Acting becomes design element

unique body language choreographing expression

histrionic – precise & exaggerated gestures in silent film

typage – actors and performances are visually stylized, suggest that character embodies a particular social or psychological type

social typage – actors expected to portray a typical representative of a social class or historical movement psychological typage – portray typical representative of mental state

visual mediation of performance – use of visual elements top affect how viewer understands a character (one way is using lighting)

approaches and methods method acting (Lee Strasberg) – actor seeks to portray a character by using personal experience & emotion as foundation for the…

June 9 2010, 12:42pm | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Lighting & Do the Right Thing | 6.4

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=924

A short night for notes (attributed to a sickness that is still taking its toll), the big event was screening Do the Right Thing. Lighting 4 major features of lighting

quality – relative intensity of illumination (hard & soft light) direction – path of light from source to object lit

frontal lighting, sidelight, backlighting, edge or rim lighting, underlighting, top lighting

source – may use real light or studio lighting

key light – primary source of illumination fill light – less intense, softens or eliminates shadows cast by key light 3 point lighting – use of a key light, fill light, and back light to illuminate a scene

color – can convey symbolic meaning, establish narrative organization, convey mood and tone

What was your response to the film? We will discuss this more in-depth in class along with acting.

June 7 2010, 12:02pm | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Form, Cinematography & Mise-en-scene | 6.2

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=921

We covered quite a bit this evening from form to mise-en-scene. We do not find results in just memorizing, we will find our results in being able to use what we’ve learned to analyze a film just as we did with the clip from Gladiator. Form Form as System artistic form – artworks rely on unifying quality of human mind film has form – overall system of relations that we can perceive among elements in whole film

set of narrative elements – the story stylistic elements – way camera moves, patterns of color in frame, use of music mind wants to bring two elements together

Form versus Content exist together in film expectations help guide us in form A=cue, B=formal hypothesis ABACA – expectation to hypothesis to expectation sometimes expectations are delayed (AB…)

suspense – delay in fulfilling an established expectation surprise is a…

June 3 2010, 9:02am | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Writing About Film & Modern Times | 5.26

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=916

This evening we discussed in-depth how exactly we write about film. In addition, we viewed Modern Times and had a lively discussion afterwords which led to the beginnings of a discussion on film form. Writing About Film Writing about film can be highly specialized. In class we discussed the three main types of writing and some hints to making your writing better. Screening Report

1-2 pages, informal, connections between film and content, clear examples remember it’s for you

Film Review

2-5 pages, but depends on where it will be published makes evaluation central focus judgment on quality of film what to include

brief plot synopsis – no spoilers main character name followed by actor in parenthesis mention striking aspects comparisons to other films no ratings system since they have no context

use your personal style

Analytical Essay / Scholarly Criticism

5-15 pages but depends…

May 28 2010, 7:59am | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Introduction, Origins, & Phases…oh my! | 5.24

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=911

Where do you start? You start with a rapid overview of the beginnings. It may not be pretty, but it’s effective. Preconditions for Motion Pictures

understand human eye and how it perceives motion – Zoetrope

critical flicker fusion & short-range apparent motion

capacity to project rapid series of images on a surface – magic lanterns use photography to make successive pictures – split second exposure print images on flexible base to pull through camera – George Eastman (1889) intermittent mechanism (shutter)

Contributors to Invention Thomas Edison & W.K.L. Dickson

Kinetograph & Kinetoscope (1891) Black Maria

Louis & Auguste Lumière

invented commercially viable projector – Cinématographe shot films @ 16 fps

R.W. Paul & Brit Acres

sold equipment rather than lease like Edison

If you want more information view Origins and Origins Continued Phases to Film Exhibition commercial movie housing showing current films constitutes theatrical…

May 25 2010, 9:33am | Comments »

I posted to fadedrequiem.com

Final Exam Review

http://www.fadedrequiem.com/zoetrope/?p=887

The final exam is this Wednesday night at 5:30. Th exam consists of answering 5 of 8 essay questions worth 20 points each for a total of 100 points. The exam will consist of questions from the midterm on. Good luck!

May 11 2010, 12:22pm | Comments »