Photography Lecture Part ONE
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Transcript of Photography Lecture Part ONE
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.