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Foreign Language 3160 Class Protocol / Minutes Monday, July 2nd, 2001 Discussion of Elements of Cinema Visual: Camera: Angles: often used to diminish or enhance the size of an actor (especially 40’s films); used to distort; by breaking convention, distortion informs the viewer that we should not take what we are seeing literally DistanceMovement Mise-en Scene: how the elements of scene are organized in relation to each other Placement of people & objects Movement of people & objects Framing of shot: what is visible within the boundaries of the shot; how deaply can we see into the shot; do we have a sense of what is happening behind or around the main action Lighting: Backlighting From above From front Aurally
(sound): voice or soundtrack is used to help with transition where
there is a visual edit Voice Sound effects Music On screen / off screen Editing: putting two separate images together in transition; will stand out if soundtrack is turned off; ContentThe content of a film may create a particular response in the audience because certain things are imbedded in their psyche; these are often cliches Graphic violence Faces/closeups Images of evil/good Clothes Actor Emotion History Icons Language Nudity Objects Music Cultural References Example: we see Eurpoean films differently and read different things into them, because we are not familiar with the actors. Example: the French film Diva makes a visual reference to the scene in The Seven Year Itch where Marilyn Monroe’s skirt is blown up from below. With this, imbedded cultural information is brought to the surface. ———— Brief Analysis of The Gay Divorce Camera: Distance: same distance throughout the shot; even when cut to behind venetian blinds, the shot is at the same distance; full body shot giving us a sense of the stage Movement: follows the dancers throughout the shot. We see there expertise as dancers Editing: almost no cuts Lighting: classical High-Key lighting: bright, even illumination with few shadows Brief Analysis of Flashdance Camera: in contrast to The Gay Divorce the camera is making the dance as much as the dancer/actress Distance: various distances; close shots from below make dancing appear larger than life; close shots allow other dancers to replace actress for difficult steps Movement: lots of movement Mise-en Scene: the actions and
movements of the actress in relation to objects such as the record
player show us that she is nervous
Lighting: lighting enhances the
dance and the feel of the dancer’s prowess
Editing: many cuts away from
dancing to show judges reactions = we are written in as judges.
Editing makes the dance leaps and spins seem longer than physically possible Brief Analysis of The
Tango Lesson Camera: both full shots and close ups; camera focuses on the dance as in “The Gay Divorce” but also helps create it through changes in distance as in “Flashdance” Lighting: mostly natural lighting, but snow scene is lit Low-Key (diffuse shadows with pools of light) to be romantic ———— Zuckerbaby 1985 Director:
Percy Adlon Germany (art house film even in Germany) use of color use of camera angles death imagery –flatline tone while she watches TV lighting is very dark when she first sees him, everything is overplayed camera movement in sex scene teases the audience food/sex connection ———— Babycakes 1989 Director:
Paul Schneider USA (made for TV) more realism character is more connected to world; she is more caring, good at her job, has life outside work, has a friend, much younger American films make a parody of the funeral business – we laugh at this Plot line is more conservative Ending has resolution
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