Elements of Film

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Taylor Bullock--Final Paper

Taylor Bullock

Elements of film

May 13, 2012

History of Horror Films

I have loved watching horror movies since I was a young kid. They have always fascinated me and I am always looking for the next best horror film to be made. Most people like the feeling of being scared and all the emotions a horror film can make you feel. I love the quote by Stephen King, “If movies are the dreams of the mass culture…horror movies are the nightmares.” Horror films deliver thrills and tell us stories of the dark, forbidden side of life and death.

Early horror films are surreal, dark pieces owing their visual appearance to the expressionist painters. Darkness and shadows, important features of modern horror movies, were impossible to show on the film stock available at the time so the sequences seem doubly surreal to us now. These early entries to the genre established many of the codes and conventions still identifiable today. One of the earlier horror movies was The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari which we watched outside of class for homework. This was made in 1919 and was often cited as granddaddy of all horror films. Although modern viewers might find the pace slow, with long takes and little cutting between scenes, "The Cabinet..." is stylish, imaginative, and never less than haunting. The audience views the tale through the twisted vision of the narrator. The first ever vampire movie to come out was Nosferatu in 1922. It was baldly plagiarizing the Dracula story to present Count Orlok, the grotesquely made-up 'Max Schreck', curling his long fingernails round the limbs of a series of hapless victims. This movie gave us a far more frightening bloodsucker than any of its successors.

Horror movies were reborn in the 1930’s. The advent of sound, as well as changing the whole nature of cinema forever, had a huge impact on the horror genre. The dreamlike imagery of the 1920s, the films peopled by ghostly wraiths floating silently through the terror of mortals, their grotesque death masks a visual representation of 'horror', were replaced by monsters that grunted and groaned and howled. Sounds in horror films help build the suspense up for the audience. There are two movies that the sounds can be identified almost immediately and that is Jaws and the Halloween series. When these theme songs come on most people can identify right away what movie it is from and it often makes you feel scared as you would watching the movie. Making talking pictures was a very different process to producing silent movies and, watching today, some of the early efforts seem very awkward. Going from silent films to talking films was a big step in the film industry. The images of Frankenstein and Dracula are still synonymous with 1930’s horror. Audiences were starting to get more into horror films in the 1930’s more than the 1920’s when horror films were just coming out. If we were to watch a horror film today of the ones made in the 1930’s we would not be scared because new technology has been invented to make horror films today more realistic and not just about fictional monsters but about real murders and crime.

Many commentators have identified the true beginning of the 21^st century as September 11, 2001. The events that day changed global perceptions of what is frightening. The film industry was already facing a recession at that point and after September 2001 everyone wanted to watch films that made them all warm and fuzzy inside. Finally in 2005 the horror genre was back in full swing and was as popular as ever. Horror films would routinely top the box office charts. One of my favorite horror movie series is the Halloween series. The first Halloween movie was made in1978 directed and produced by John Carpenter. This was Jamie Lee Curtis’s debut film. The story is set in Illinois where six year old Michael Myers murders his sister by stabbing her with a kitchen knife. He is then set off to a psychiatric hospital and escapes fifteen years later. He then stalks a young girl and her friends but his psychiatrist suspects what he is doing and stops some of the killings. Halloween was produced on a budget of 320,000 dollars and grossed 47 million the box office in the United States and 70 million dollars worldwide. He has become one of the most profitable independent films. Another major reason for the success of Halloween is the moody musical score, particularly the main theme. In 1980, the television rights to Halloween were sold to NBC for $4 million. Halloween appeared on television for the first time in October 1981. The film was #14 on Bravos’ The 100 Scariest Movie Moments. Carpenter’s Halloween is a widely influential film within the horror genre; it was largely responsible for the popularization of slasher films in the 1980s. Halloween spawned seven sequels, a 2007 remake of the same name and directed by Rob Zombie and a 2009 sequel to the remake, Halloween II, which is unrelated to the sequel of the original. Halloween II was hugely successful, becoming the highest grossing horror film of 1981. The sequels feature more explicit violence and gore, and are generally dismissed by mainstream film critics. This could be due to the fact that Halloween II's budget was around 2.5 million dollars. They had more money to work with and better technology.

Another horror movie that started off low budget was Paranormal Activity. It first came out in 2009 and was written and directed by Oren Peli. The film is about a young couple who is haunted by a supernatural presence in their home. It is presented in the style of “found footage,” from cameras set up by the couple in order to photograph what is haunting them. The film earned nearly 108 million in the United States and 194 million worldwide. It is the most profitable film ever made, based on return on investment. A prequel, Paranormal Activity 2, was released on October 22, 2010, and was followed by another prequel titled Paranormal Activity 3 on October 21, 2011. On January 2, 2012 Paramount Pictures announced that Paranormal Activity 4 was being produced. The director Oren has been afraid of ghost his entire life even being afraid of the comedy Ghost Busters but wanted to channel his fear into something positive and productive. He prepared his own house for the shooting and did extensive research into paranormal phenomena’s to make everything very realistic. I think this film hit home for a lot of people because there are many people that believe and are afraid of ghost. After I watched this movie, I would notice more sounds in the house when I was alone and the movie makes you believe things that are not really there. He actually shot all the footage with a home video camera. Peli recalled, stating that the film would be shot day and night, edited at the same time, and would have the visual effects applied to it as the acting footage was being finalized. During the screening, people began walking out; Goodman thought the film was bombing, until he learned that the viewers were actually leaving because they were so frightened. I remember my friend and I at the midnight premiere for Paranormal Activity 2 and feeing so scared with all these other people around me and a group of teenage guys had to get up and leave because they were so frightened. My friend and I went home after that and had to sleep with the lights on and she kept thinking someone was grabbing her hand. When a movie can make you feel this way, you know it is the real deal.

Every year there seems to be more and more horror films coming out especially around the time of Halloween. Horror films are made to trigger the fear inside of us without us actually being in danger. A lot of horror films use darkness to scare us and sound. I really like documentary horror films because it makes you feel like you are actually there and things seem more realistic and I like the Halloween/Slasher types of horror movies.

Kyle Kempton

5/15/2012

Elements of Film

Final Exam

1.) “Citizen Kane” is one of the most influential films ever made, discuss this statement.

The assertion that Citizen Kane is the most influential movie ever made is an assertion which is, if nothing else, interesting. When the American Film Institute compiled its list of the top 100 greatest films made, Citizen Kane was awarded the prestigious honor of first place. This is an effect of the many advanced, varied, and at the time (1941) futuristic techniques which Orson Welles employed in his direction of the film. Up till Kane’s release no one had seen a film which was so complete and deep. Welles’s use of light and shadow, speed of camera, and deep focus in set construction were all things which had been done in movies before, but they had never all been done in one movie. What was more each of these individual elements worked together with such harmony that they developed a character, Charles Foster Kane, with whom we all develop some kind of emotional connection.

2.) What had Orson Welles done in his first 23 years of life to warrant the Hollywood film industry offering complete creative control to a first time film maker?

Welles began his Theatre and radio career in 1936 working for the Federal Theatre Project. His first job was to direct a play for the Theatre project’s Negro theater unit, he gave them an adaptation of Macbeth called Voodoo Macbeth, which premiered in Harlem to rapturous applause. That same play would later tour the country, and when its main actor fell ill, Welles would step in and play the role in blackface. Welles worked on several more projects for the government such as, Horse Eats Hat, and The Cradle will Rock but eventually Welles created the Mercury Theater. Mercury Theater was a play company for its first year, but in its second became a radio station which managed to receive an hour’s time slot every week on the CBS broadcasting stations dedicated to giving adapted radio-plays of great literature. On October 30^th, 1938 that play was of H.G. wells War of the Worlds set in contemporary New Jersey, the radio-play was so well done that many across the nation thought it was a news cast describing a Martian invasion. In everything Welles had done up to his 23^rd birthday he had never received a poor review and had always greatly exceeded expectation, which may have been why RKO gave him such a privilege.

3.) Pick an extended scene or sequence from “Citizen Kane” and discuss the story telling technique by analyzing any combination of its component parts (direction, writing, performance, cinematography, production design, art direction, editing, sound, score, etc.)

In the scene during which Kane’s gives his campaign speech we see Welles give both an outstanding performance as an actor, yet also give a dramatically well-tuned scene of foreshadowing. In the scene we immediately see a huge contrast between the bright lights on the auditorium stage, and the black darkness of the audience. In the light Welles, acting as Kane, gives is enjoying giving rousing speech primarily about his plans to fire boss Jim Getties. Yet in the dark we don’t see the audience return the voracious applause which those on stage give Welles, rather in the few close ups of the audience that we do get we see the people Kane cares about merely looking on, seeming less to agree with him, and appearing more to size him up. In the rest of the story which follows Kane’s life takes a serious turn for the worst and he begins to lose everything he once had. This scene’s sense of foreboding combined with its elegant acting is masterful, certain unlike anything done before and perhaps like nothing ever done since.

Final Paper

Telara Buelow

Final Film Paper

5/7/12

First Person Films

First person films became popular with the movie The Blair Witch Project. With the release of this movie in 1999 it was undoubtedly the most successful and influential first person films to come about and started a new trend in horror cinema. This film was able to catch a sort of realness to it in the sense that it was a group of young adults video taping their experience in a woods. Whether people found this film to be scary or stupid, I know that it was popular when I was growing up and made way for the many first person films we see today.

These types of films allow a different type of emotion and psychological aspect to them. In the traditional form of these films, it indicates a point of view from a character; basically seeing a scene through the person’s eyes. Most of these films have a documentary look to them, usually beginning as a complete “random” home video. This is why these movies have been a fab lately, this “random realness”, as though it could happen to any of us watching. Starting from the beginning of this trend of movie, The Blair Witch Project, we can look at the top 15 recent first person films and how they add a unique horror aspect to them.

In 2005, a Japanese film called Noroi: The Curse was released. This movie was about a couple of young Japanese people who are documenting their findings of this old curse. This film brought the aspect of horror and suspense in a way that filmmakers made it seem as though this tape was found. This movie brought a new level to horror films in America.

Usually films likes this one and The Blair Witch Project are low budget films, so when adding in an element, like the one in the background of the picture, it does not take much or any computer editing. That could very well be one of the cast members standing in very dim lighting to add this spooky element to it. When looking at later films, you can defiantly see more computer effects to them, combining 21^st century film making into “hand held” cameras.

A year later a movie called Borat came out in the theater. This movie is completely different to the average first person film. This movie is not considered a horror, suspense, or scary film but a comedy, a controversial one that is. This first person film takes into account the travels of a man from Kazakhstan coming to America in search of finding Pamela Anderson. Throughout the film there are many strange sexual experiences, which make this film so controversial. Unlike the other first person horror films, this film was actually non-scripted so people starring in the film were caught on camera by surprise which is what makes this film unique and funny.

In 2007, two first person horror films came out on the big screens. The Poughkeepsie Tapes and Paranormal Activity. Paranormal Activity is the more famous of the two but The Poughkeepsie Tapes is one of the most chilling first person films I have seen. It is police report of their findings of 800 VCR tapes found in a man’s home, which shows many gruesome murders. This film was made to make it seem like you are watching the daily news and the reporter is telling you about these tapes they found. The slight unevenness adds to the realistic feel of the film. The true horror does not lie within the videotaped torture, which is why this movie is so unique and a huge change to the horror film world.

Paranormal Activity is first person/documentary style film which follows a couple daily as their house is being terrorized by an evil spirit. The man in the film sets up a camera to try and videotape the sightings of this spirit. What makes this film so popular and different is that the only thing you can see is what is being filmed on a tripod so in certain parts you will only see a part in the house but hear mysterious sounds in other rooms.

This is what makes Paranormal Activity so famous and keeps you on you off your seat for the entire film.

A year later a different style of first person film comes out; Cloverfield hits the big screen. This movie is different compared to the other first person films in the sense that is has more special effects and it is a sci-fi/action film.

Since the first person film came about it has set the path for many types of film on all genres. This movie is a good example of that. I find these movies to be very thrilling and exciting. It makes you feel like you are actually a part of the film, or give you the essence that if one day you decide to record some home footage you might catch something alarming or disturbing. It will be interesting to see how many more first person films will come out and how they can change the way we view typical horror or action films.

Telara Buelow

Final Film Paper

5/7/12

First Person Films

This is what makes Paranormal Activity so famous and keeps you on you off your seat for the entire film.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Caitlin Greene - Final

Caitlin Greene

May 14, 2012

Elements of Film

1. “Citizen Kane” is one of the most influential films ever made. Discuss this statement.

The film “Citizen Kane” is considered one of the most influential films because it used film techniques that had never been used before and in many ways was before its time. The photography in this film builds Kane’s character. The shadowing of Kane’s face creates and ominous aspect and a feeling of unease. The deep focus shots in this film creates emotional tension between characters as well as the use of low angle shots in the movie. Even the movement of the camera itself tells a story. Slow camera movement is used in shots where Kane is older and a quicker movement when he is younger. Another aspect of this movie that made it so great was the use of nonlinear storytelling. The movement of the story from different years gives the story an interesting prospective.

2. What had Orson Welles done in his first 23 years of life to warrant the Hollywood film industry offering complete control to a first time filmmaker?

By the time he was 23 Orson Welles had already directed several plays including Voodoo Macbeth, Horse Eats Hat, and The Second Hurricane for the Federal Theatre Project. After resigning from the Federal Theatre Orson formed the Mercury Theatre and became the executive producer. In 1938 Welles read a radio adaption of The War of the Worlds by HG Wells. This reading gave Welles instant fame and caused panic and confusion among many listeners who had not heard the introduction and believed there had been a Martian invasion. All of these accomplishments proved Welles to be a very creative and talented man who could have a bright future in film.

3. Pick an extended scene or sequence from “Citizen Kane” and discuss the storytelling technique by analyzing any combination of its component parts.

The scene in which Kane writes and signs his declaration of principles is the scene I chose to analyze. I enjoy this scene because the use of foreshadowing. When Kane reads his principles out loud his face is completely shadowed until after he signs the paper. This shadowing of the face shows that these principles might not be something that stays with Kane throughout the movie.

Kyle Kempton
5/14/2012
Elements of film

Photography in film through time

The use of Photography in the production of film has changed greatly through the course of time as both technology and taste have evolved. As you will see from this paper the use of photography in film began very simply, using rudimentary techniques and effects. Then changed as the medium moved from a novelty to a form culture and art using more sophisticated and creative techniques. Finally ending where it is today as a product of commerce where the use of photography is greatly varied and highly complex in an attempt to please the audience.

Before we begin though we must consider what exactly photography means to film? According to the dictionary photography is the process or art of producing images of objects on sensitized surfaces by the chemical action of light or of other forms of radiant energy. Certainly this is a formal and precise technical definition of what photography is. However Robert Hughes, the famous art critic, may have summed up the purpose of photography when he said, “People inscribe their histories, beliefs, attitudes, desires and dreams in the images they make.” With these varying definitions in mind let us take a look at the history of photography in cinema and see if we cannot determine for ourselves what photographs in movies mean.

When films first came about, under the direction of the lumière brothers (Auguste and Louis), the role of the cinematographer, the person who is in charge of directing the camera, didn’t exist. For example the film Arrival of a train at La Ciotat (1895)(6) took an entire crew of one to shoot, a number which today is absolutely unprecedented for a professional film. This is a result of the fact that in the early years of film, the medium was considered a novelty, something fit for a county fair rather than an a complex artistic expression worthy of a theater. Indeed rather than being shown in theaters, early movies were only shown in “Nickelodeons,” (1.) the original indoor spaces dedicated to motion pictures, so called because it cost a mere nickel to make the machine run. During these original vaudeville stages, little thought was given to the art of photography occurring in movies. Primarily a function of acting, cinematographers, were given little to no recognition at all. It is difficult to say when this first stage ended. Nickelodeons had dropped out of style by about 1915 and yet Charlie Chaplin made well liked movies into the 1930’s and his cinematographer, Rollie Totherho, did little besides set up the camera.

Either way eventually movies moved from a novelty to a form of culture and art in the American psyche. During this period the use of technology in film expanded greatly. Cameras became more lightweight, portable, and sensitive. Allowing for an expanded array of angles and lighting to be available to cinematographers and directors. For example the cinematographer William Daniels had a prestigious reputation with MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) studios as “Greta Garbo’s cameraman” because of his ability to glamorously portray main actresses with extra lighting, something novelty cinema rarely did. However this period was one of artistry not simply aesthetics, William Daniels also shot the harshly realistic Greed (1924)(2) and Naked City (1948)(3). Indeed the nineteen forties and early fifties was the age of film noir, a time when the American taste in movies craved a high contrast between black and white, with harshly realistic portrayals of urban life and many of the traditionally juxtapositional methods practiced by Russian filmmakers. Cinematographers during this time first became an essential part of the film production crew and formed into the American Society of Cinematographers (A.S.C.) in 1911 earning full recognition as part of an elite society of artists. This age too would fade as many companies began to see movies as a route to profit rather than simply art, when this happened though is difficult to say. Both the first color film and America’s best-selling film of all time came out in 1939, but the Academy still gave out black and white cinematography awards until 1966.

This final and most modern phase saw leaps in technology and a development of niche markets for films. In the 1950’s as personal home televisions became popular, movie companies began to develop gimmicks to try and draw in audiences. Some of these gimmicks included Smell-o-vision in which theater managers would, on cue, waft smells into the movie theater. Ultimately these gimmicks failed; however they helped the movie and cinematography industry realize that in order to remain a viable enterprise they would need to begin making movies targeted at specific audiences rather than the populace at large. Even today we can see examples of this in movies like Riding Giants (2004)(4) and Gum for my Boat (2009) which are films geared solely toward people fascinated by surfing. Technology has also expanded by leaps and bounds within this last phase. Though many new stocks and lenses came into viable use for Cinematographers in the film industry, perhaps the biggest technological leap was the computer. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s directors for the first time began to insert computer generated animations into films. This slowly grew more and more common in the late 20^th century until the 1990’s with the culmination of PIXAR animation studios, a film company which makes solely computer generated animations of astoundingly high quality. Cinematography of today is still a very highly respected art form. That said film has also evolved into a form of commerce which has made the cinematographer of today more like a business man than his counterpart form the second phase of movie history. For example Mauro Fiore won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography at the 82^nd Academy Awards because of his work on the world’s highest grossing movie ever produced, Avatar (2009), despite the fact he worked on less than 30% of the film.

The use of photography in film then is something which has always undergone change, be that for the better or worse. From a simple single person production for a novelty Nickelodeon in the early days of movies, cinematography became a complex, intricate and valid form of art. Before evolving one last time into something which is also a business. That then may say something about what photography means to film, without it a film would be nothing but sound in a theater, yet with it the whole film becomes intricate, complex and capable of invoking emotion and meaning within people.

1.) A nickelodeon -- Toronto, Canada, 1910

2.) Release poster for Greed (1924)

3.) Shot from Naked City (1948) demonstrating the contrast popular for the time

4.) Poster for the surfing niche movie Riding Giants (2004)

5.) Shot from the film Gum for my boat (2009)

6.) Arrival of a train at La Ciotat