The Art of Watching Films

     There is an art to making films obviously, but there is also an art to watching films.  The art of watching films is a matter of observing, developing skills and habits of perceptive watching and analyzing.  Film is unique in that it is an industry and an art form.  Each film is a "child of a turbulent marriage between businesspeople and artists."  ---The Art of Watching Films by Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie
Films also have different art media woven into them.  (Scultures, paintings, music, poetry etc.)  People often times see analysis as a destroyer of the beauty and enjoyment in the film.  This might be somewhat true, but you can't truly enjoy a film while only focusing on the art and emotion that was put into it, just like you can't just focus on analyzing every tiny aspect of the film.  It is a happy medium between the two that will bring the full enjoyment and appreciation of the film. 

Props in Film

      Props or properties in film is a fairly general term used to include everything from the past, present and even the future.  Props are usually however, grouped into categories depending on size and purpose.  Props can ordered from catalogs, taken from past props used in other films, bought and even made!  Buying props for a film out of a catalog can get to be very expensive.  This would be more of special items that cannot easily be made and that you have never used before.  It is important for filmmakers as well as theatre people to keep the props that they have used in the past.  They will get to have quite a large collection after awhile and it will be cheaper to use the same props again, even if they have to be altered for the next play they are used in.  A lot of props can be bought at regular stores.  If the play is set in the past especially then D.I's, second hand thrift stores and antique shops can be great places to buy things.  Props can be made quite easily also! 

Costumes in Film

     The costumes in a film might not seem all that important, but it is one of the many things that make up a great film.  If you took away the reality, authenticity and durability of the costumes, then it starts to take away the believability of the entire film as a whole.
In the book, "Magic Garment" by Rebecca Cunningham, it states that "A costume is a "magic" garment--a garment that enables the actor to become, for a time, someone else." 
The costume that the actor wears also plays a part in the actor's ability to pretend.  They can also help to tell the audience the time period that the film is going to be set in and also play a role in defining the character and even show the development of the character.  Costumes also establish rank or social status; this helps so that things don't necessarily have to be spoken outloud to tell the audience what is going on.

Cinematography as a Career

     Cinematographers need to have knowledge of a lot of different aspects of film, not just about the camera work!  They need to have a knowledge of audio lighting, experience with many different software programs for editing, tilting and motion graphics and lots of other things! 

     The Cinematographer works on a film or television set.  They are supposed to compose the shots in the film to reflect the mood and tone that the director means to reflect.  Cinematographers have to be able to work with not only the director but also the camera operators, the editors and even the producers.  They need to also be able to know what kind of equipment will be needed and help in acquiring the equipment for the actual filming.   

     Computer skills are obviously a necessity for the special effects and technological aspects of the cinematographer.  You must have a college or technical degree to fulfill the position.  Many companies want extremely specific skills and specific programs for you to be familiar with.  It is a very rewarding career, despite the sometimes stressful environment that is apparent. 

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3-D Films

     The recent development of 3-D films over the past decade have been becoming a bigger and bigger deal to filmmakers and to those enjoying the films.  The 3-D aspect might enhance the illusion and the depth perception of the film but it might be compromising more important things.  


     Although there have been some forms of 3-D films since the 1950's, filmmakers have really only recently since the year 2000 been successful and had a breakthrough with the technology.

"A 3-D (three-dimensional) film or S3D (stereoscopic 3D) film^[1] is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception. Derived from stereoscopic photography, a regular motion picture camera system is used to record the images as seen from two perspectives (orcomputer-generated imagery generates the two perspectives in post-production), and special projection hardware and/or eyewear are used to provide the illusion of depth when viewing the film. 3-D films are not limited to feature film theatrical releases; television broadcasts anddirect-to-video films have also incorporated similar methods, primarily for marketing purposes.

3-D films have existed in some form since the 1950s, but had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion picture industry because of the costly hardware and processes required to produce and display a 3-D film, and the lack of a standardized format for all segments of the entertainment business. Nonetheless, 3-D films were prominently featured in the 1950s in American cinema, and later experienced a worldwide resurgence in the 1980s and '90s driven by IMAX high-end theaters and Disney themed-venues. 3-D films became more and more successful throughout the 2000s, culminating in the unprecedented success of 3-D presentations of Avatar in December 2009 and January 2010."

Information found at   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-D_film


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Makeup Artist

     Makeup Artists can turn young into old, beautiful into ugly and human into non-human all using just a few tools!  There are several different types of makeup used in films and for other occasions.

Fashion Makeup is used in magazines and on the runway.  It is also generally used in television and film and is used to create natural beauty and sophisticated looks.

Theatrical Makeup is obviously used in plays and is meant to go in accordance with the lighting and to also highlight and make it easier for the audience to see the actor's emotions and expressions.

Special Effects Makeup is used to enhance or change physical features on an actor.  Prosthetics and plaster casting are often times used to create these changes.

High Definition is a new for of makeup which involves the use of light and minerals to give the skin a flawless finish and glow.

Makeup Artists apply makeup and prosthetics for theatrical, television, film, fashion, magazines and several other different types of productions including modeling and weddings.  Makeup Artists and actors have to be able to work well together.  This is especially relevant if it is makeup that will need to be applied many times and that can easily get messed up and need fixed.  Makeup Artists have a tough job and have to also be able to deal with high  stress situations!

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http://www.ehow.co.uk/how-does_4671617_special-makeup-artist-spend-workday_.html

Lighting in Film

      Lighting for film can also be called stage lighting.   The pros to using artificial lighting is that it can be controlled easily.  If a scene is being shot outside, the weather could definitely affect the lighting and it might not turn out how it was supposed to.  Also, if you wanted to film something outside at sunset it might not work out if the actors are having a hard time getting their lines right or if the equipment isn't working correctly because if you take up too much time with that, then the sunlight might already be gone.

      Lighting can also help to portray the mood or the emotion of the scene.  The intensity of the illumination is what helps with that.  A soft backlight will be used for the female actors that are meant to look flawless and beautiful.  Uplights create a mysterious and unknown effect.  (This is especially true when a lot of things are in shadows and only certain things can really be seen)  Lights can also direct attention for the audience to where they need to be looking.  Lighting helps to create the environment in the film and is very important!

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Pre-Production Storyboards

      Story boards are a sequence of drawings that are usually with directions and dialogue.  They are showing the shots and ideas planned for a film.  These are completed before the filming is done.  They are graphic organizers so that the ideas of the film can more easily and fully be understood by everyone.  Storyboards can also show the cinematography that is wanted in the film; this can help the editors to know what was intended.  

      Storyboards are created so that the images and illustrations and written words can be displayed in a way that can help everyone to pre-visualize the film before it is filmed.  Obviously the entire film isn't going to be displayed within these simple storyboards, but they do give the basic idea of what needs to be done.  The dialogue especially in storyboards might not be completely correct.  They are more intended for the organization of shots and footage.

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Pre-Production; Scripts in Film

      Creating a film takes a lot before, during and after the filming of the movie takes place!  During pre-production a lot goes on and the creating of a script is one important part of it!   Every movie starts with a script and the scripts are even available for you to read online.  A screenplay is a specialized version of a script.  This might include what types of shots are wanted etc.  A script in general however is a written work that is where the movements, actions, expressions and dialogues of the characters are narrated.

      Although the script is not always exactly followed by the director, it is a basic version of what the film is hoped and supposed to be like.

      The pay for a screenwriter is very subject to be different from one person to the next.  There are also different kinds of screenwriters.  Someone who writes a spec script (short for speculative) doesn't get paid for writing the actual script.  Once they have written a script for a movie, they try to sell it to filmmakers.  A pitch is where a writer writes a 5-20 minute long presentation of a prospective movie and presents it to possible buyers.  A feature assignment is where a writer writes the script on assignment when they have a contract with a studio or a production company or an individual.

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Actors in Movies Vs. Actors in Theatre

Actors are actors, right?  Well there are actually quite a few vital differences between stage actors and on-screen actors.

Stage actors obviously only have one chance to get their lines right and they also have to have a bit of an open mind in case they forget their lines and have to compromise.  They also are performing for a live audience that is far away and it is apparent in the way that they act.  They over exaggerate every movement they make and project their voices so everyone can hear.  They have to deal with a lot of things that are exaggerated, like the props and costumes that they use.  They also act differently because of the environments that they are in.  The sets for plays are obviously not as realistic and elaborate as those of films tend to be.  There are no after effects that can be used to make things look better, so the actors have to learn how to do things in certain ways ie; fight scenes.

On-screen actors are meant to seem more like real people in real situations.  (This has nothing to do with the authenticity of what the film is about.  like for sci-fi movies or fantasy films)  What I mean is, that the actors aren't necessarily performing for an audience.  They are pretending to be people who are unaware that they are being filmed.  They have many times to get their lines right because films are edited before people watch them.  Film actors do not need to be exaggerated in any way while they are acting because of the use of closeups and cinematography that can be used to creatively portray things.

Similar Movies Come Out at the Same Time

    Have you ever noticed that a lot of times films that are very similar come out at the same time?  Some examples of this are the movies:

Ants and A Bug's Life
The Illusionist and Prestige
Surf's Up, March of the Penguins, and Happy Feet
Ratatouille, Flushed Away, a Tale of Despereaux
Megamind and Despicable Me

These movies all came out around the same time of each other and they are so similar!  This could be anything from the storyline to the subject matter.  Why does Hollywood put out films that are so similar at the same time?

It is in part to cultural trends, but a large part of why this happens is for the competition.  Different film studios might hear that another studio is making a certain film or a certain kind of film and they want to get in on it and try it themselves! When this happens however, one or the other of the two films is going to be viewed as the "shadow" or "photocopy" of the other film!  This not only makes competition greater between the two or more films, but the value of both efforts will be compromised and less money is made!

Recently, filmmakers have been creating films from Greek mythology.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lightning Thief, the Clash of the Titans, and Thor

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Editors

         "Film editing is part of the creative process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling. Film editing is the only art that is unique to cinema, separating film-making from other art forms that preceded it (such as photography, theater, dance, writing, and directing), although there are close parallels to the editing process in other art forms like poetry or novel writing. Film editing is often referred to as the "invisible art"^[1] because when it is well-practiced, the viewer can become so engaged that he or she is not even aware of the editor's work.
On its most fundamental level, film editing is the art, technique, and practice of assembling shots into a coherent whole. A film editor is a person who practices film editing by assembling the footage. However, the job of an editor isn’t simply to mechanically put pieces of a film together, cut off film slates, or edit dialogue scenes. A film editor must creatively work with the layers of images, story, dialogue, music, pacing, as well as the actors' performances to effectively "re-imagine" and even rewrite the film to craft a cohesive whole. Editors usually play a dynamic role in the making of a film."

(Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_editing)

         Film editors are on the post-productions team of film.  They work closely with directors in figuring out what they are expected to portray.  Although the editors are really at the Directors discression, they generally have a bit of room to do what they feel is right for editing certain sequences of film.  The editors are really doing a lot of the behind the scene things that don't necessarily get the credit that they deserve. (editing is a stressful and laborious process that can take many many hours to complete)  They get screen credit obviously, but they aren't really recognized like specific directors and actors are.  Despite this however, they are very vital in the film-making process.

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Producers

      "A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.
The producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process, from inception and development to completion and delivery of a film project.^[1] However, an idea or concept for a film can originate with any individual, including a screenwriter, a director or a producer."

(Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_producer)

    Producers really don't have a lot to do with the making of the actual film.  They just kind of invest in a film that they believe will do well.  (Since they take a risk by using their own money to fund the making of the film,they want it to be a movie that is expected to do well and make quite a bit of money.)  This also like the director though, is very suseptable to varying from producer to producer.  Some producers can be very involved in the making of the films and some might not hardly be involved at all.

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Directors

"Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry the vision out, deciding how the film should look. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer, and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking, and also may be involved in the writing, financing, and editing of a film."

(Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_director)

The director's job cannot really be technically "classified" seeing as different directors like to have more or less control of everything.  Their work will also vary depending on whether or not they are also acting in the films that they are directing in.  For example:  Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford and Jerry Lewis all directed one or more of the film's that they acted in.  Directors will often times use storyboards to illustrate their ideas and how they want to portray things long before they start filming or even writing a script.  They also have to work with the post production teams such as the editors, to make sure that everything gets portrayed how they had intended. They may even help direct sound mixing and such.

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Film Budgets: What is Put in and What Comes Out

Information found at www.imdb.com 

Lord of the Rings; the Fellowship of the Ring

Budget:

 $93,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

 $66,114,741 (USA) (23 December 2001) (3359 Screens)

Gross:

 $870,761,744 (Worldwide) (2002)

Pirates of the Caribbean; Dead Man's Chest

Budget:

 $225,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

 $135,634,554 (USA) (9 July 2006)

Gross:

 $1,066,179,725 (Worldwide)

Pride and Prejudice

Budget:

 $28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

 £2,529,947 (UK) (18 September 2005) (397 Screens)

Gross:

 $120,051,592 (Worldwide)

Casa Blanca

Budget:

 $950,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

 $181,494 (USA) (12 April 1992) (11 Screens)

Gross:

 $1,711,189 (USA) (19 June 1992)

The Godfather 

Budget:

 $6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

 $302,393 (USA) (19 March 1972) (6 Screens)

Gross:

 $245,066,411 (Worldwide) (11 May 1997)

Citizen Kane

Budget:

 $686,033 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

 $216,239 (USA) (5 May 1991) (11 Screens) (re-release)

Gross:

 $1,585,634 (USA) (re-release)

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Different Genres in Film

    When we think of different film genres, there are probably a few that come to our minds.  (Action/Adventure, Horror, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Spaghetti Western, International, Independent, etc)  But these are really just the broad overview of genres!  There are many many more!! All of these different genres have been recycled over and over again throughout the years!  Although there are more of certain genres during certain years.  Spaghetti Westerns for example were very popular in the 30's with John Wayne films.  However, they are still making western films today!  For example, the new film Cowboys and Aliens.  The same goes for all of the other genres!  There have been horror or suspense movies in the past (a lot of Alfred Hitchcock) like Rear Window, Psycho and The Unknown.  But they are still making plenty of those today!  Obviously there are differences in the storyline and characters and moral messages and everything but they all have many similarities within their genres.  That might even be part of the reason that we feel so comfortable watching movies from within the same genres.  There is some part of them that is in the known area for us.  It might even just be the setting or the costumes or the time period.

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Top 100 Films of All Time

Top 100 films of all time, according to the American Film Institute.  (click the link to see the list)











     Obviously different film institutes differ in which films they put in their top 100 lists.  But they have a lot of the same films on their lists.  For example, Citizen Kane, Singin' in the Rain, On the Waterfront, The Wizard of Oz and the Godfather are almost always in the top 20!  Why is this?  Almost all of them were made a very long time ago! The Wizard of Oz was made in the late 30's and Citizen Kane was made in the early 40's.  Singin' in the Rain and On the Waterfront were made in the early 50's.  The Godfather was made in the early 70's.  These films are all so different and yet they have all remained in the top 20 films for all of these years.  They really are just so unique and offer so much to their viewers!  How many movies do we watch now a days that we don't really get anything out of?  I know that I have seen plenty of movies that upon leaving the theatre, I wonder why in the world I not only wasted my money but also my time!  These movies that have become the greatest of all time and have remained on the list for all of these years, offer more than just one element of film to the audience.  They aren't just cinematographically pleasing, they have moral and social messages within them!  I think that some contemporary filmmakers need to remember why they are making their films, and not just focus on the money.

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Michael Medved Part 3

         Medved’s paper was overall extremely eye opening and was written in a way that made you think about what he was claiming about Hollywood.  I found his argument to be strong, sound and valid, but also interesting.  He used examples and statistics that helped to confirm his argument.  I hadn’t really thought too much about the affect that the media really had on society until I read his paper.  I definitely agree with his disagreement with the way that Hollywood is lying to us as media consumers.   More importantly however, I support his conclusion that the only way to contradict a lie is with a truth.  


          He talked about how we need to remember that messages in the media matter, that we can’t view and accept the world’s portrayal through a TV screen, and that we might not be able to “turn off” the media, but we can turn it down.  The only weakness that I found in his argument was the fact that he never mentioned a positive side.  Although I agree with him that Hollywood is lying to the world, I believe that some of the media can affect us in positive and even life changing ways.  We live in a world where we are so concerned with what goes into our bodies, then why wouldn’t we be concerned with what goes into our minds?   

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Michael Medved Part 2

Medved argues against Hollywood’s claim that they only entertain and don’t influence. He had a lot of sound and valid points.  For example, he related an event that occurred in 1982, Where the surgeon general of the United States released volumes of data showing that prolongedviolence on Tv promoted more hostile and aggressive behavior and attitudes of those viewing it. “ABC TV,” Medved said, “Trotted out one of their vice presidents who said “Unfortunately,

there is no conclusive scientific evidence to suggest that media imagery impacts world behavior in any way.”” I concur with everything Medved has claimed, however I believe that his argument would have benefited by talking about the positive aspects of media reflected on society.  Because although he was pretty justified in not agreeing that the short clip in “Lethal Weapon” was promoting safety and affected “thousands of lives”, there are also inspiring and things seen in cinema that really do affect for the better.  For example, in the film “Mr.

Smith goes to Washington”, courage and faith are portrayed along with steadfastness and honesty as Mr. Smith stands up to evil men that would corrupt America.  There are many otherinspiring films that have the opposite effect on people. 

          In response to Hollywood’s statement that they only reflect society, Medved makes a moving and vivid point.  He talks about the reflection and false portrayal of murders, crime rate, cheating on your spouse and the lack of church goers on TV.  All of those categories are greatly dramatized in C.S.I shows and are often shown quite contrary to reality.  He referenced one of the few times prayer was even included on TV, and it was in a Simpson episode where they prayed to God only to say “thanks for

nothing”.  He goes on to discuss the fact that Hollywood is showing society in a way that is not how the world really is.  People watching those shows however, feel inadequate and think that maybe they are the odd one out.  

          Next, in response to Hollywood’s assertion that they if you“don’t like this stuff” then you can just turn it off, Medved uses an example of Madonna.  He asks the audience how many of them had ever gone to a Madonna concert. Few hands were raised, but nearly every person in the audience knew who Madonna was when he asked for his last question.  In accordance with this, was his quote of saying that “If you don’t like the smog, just stop breathing”, is the same as saying that we can just ‘turn off’ the media.  


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Michael Medved Part 1

In October 1994, Michael Medved spoke to Ricks College about "Hollywood's Three Big Lies about Media and Society" 

Michael Medved started out his argument that Hollywood (meaning the people involved in any form of media; director, producer, actor, script writer, etc.) is damaging society with a very convincing and interesting statistic concerning how much time children really spend watching television.  He said that by the time a child turns six, he will have watched more TV than he would ever spend with his father in a lifetime.  In his argument, he points out that

Hollywood claims that they don’t affect people through their entertainment.  But how could they not, when so much time is spent consuming the media?  According to Medved, thethree big lies that Hollywood claims are: 

“(1) we just entertain, we don’t influence people; 

(2)we just reflect society as it is, we don’t shape society; and 

(3) if you don’t like it, just turn it off.” 

           He talks about the three different lies and goes into detail explaining how and what they are lying and covering up.  He has examples and thought-provoking information in each category.  For the first lie he talks about how if a thirty second commercial can change your opinion or cause you

to buy something, then why wouldn’t a two hour long movie have an influence on you?  For the second lie he addresses the fact that so many things on television are blown way out of proportion and often don’t portray life as it really is.  For the third lie, he talks about how we don’t always choose what we hear or see.  To close his paper, he readdresses the three lies and has solutions for them in the form of three truths.  

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Rides Made into Movies, Movies Made into Rides!

           Films have a great impact on society in many different ways!  One way is through amusement park rides. When we watch films, we have a tendency to become a part of the film for that hour and a half that it plays.  Turning movies into rides and rides becoming movies is a way that people can be a part of the action of the movie. 

           Disney does this with a lot of rides and movies.  Pirates of the Caribbean was a ride before it was ever a movie and  although it wasn't as much of a success as a movie, so was The Haunted Mansion.  Disneyland and California Adventure have alot more rides that came from movies including, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Splash Mountain, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, A Bug's Life, The Tower of Terror, Toy Story, Snow White, Peter Pan and many more!  They are even planning another movie to be made after the attraction "The Jungle Cruise."    

           Disney is not the only company that turns movies into rides.  Universal studios has made rides for The Mummy, Jurassic Park, The Simpsons and a few others.  They also now have a Hary Potter amusement park.     http://www.imdb.com/list/vdduX9c5Pv4/

          Why are rides so successful at being movies? and why are these movies popular rides?  I think that it wouldn't even matter if the movies themselves weren't that great!  When people grew up going on and loving the ride, it is exciting for it to be made into a movie.  It is also extremely creative that the Imagineering teams at Disneyland are able to accompish taking a simple ride and creating an entire film out of it!  Along the same lines, it is exciting to have our favorite movies made into rides so we can become a part of the films that we love! 

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Independent Filmmakers

      Everyone can't be as well known a director as Steven Spielberg.  And you don't have to be to make a good film! A lot of times, those independent film companies make more meaningful films because they aren't focused too heavily on special effects.  They are more concerned with the artistic aspects and the moral messages being portrayed.

       Contrary to belief, Film Festivals are not only for famous and well known directors to participate in.  They will take part in them so as to "attract media coverage"(http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-film-festival-work1)  But Film Festivals are perfect for new independent filmmakers that want to have their work judged by a professional and to have their work noticed.

       Just because a director isn't famous, definitely does not mean that their films aren't wonderful.  "The Butterfly Circus."  is a great example of this.  This film was entered into a Film Festival concert and not only won the Film Festival, but also won a Gold for the best short film!  Director Josh Weigel was given a list of words to choose from to create a film.  He chose the word 'hope' and created this magnificent film.   Weigel didn't have a lot of money to work with the film, but he truly created a masterpiece! And it is becoming a full length film!

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Past Films

           In the past, films have meant more and gone deeper than what is viewed simply on the surface.  In the 1940’s, the economy was unpleasant and the film industry was expected to take a fall.  However, John Russell Taylor, an English critic and author said of this time, “Economic necessity pointed the way towards smaller films, depending on stronger ideas rather than higher productive values.”  Despite America’s recent economic state, filmmakers who earn a lot of money, are leaning against as a crutch not only their special effects, but the dependency that American’s will be blinded by them and won’t question the lack of a well told story.  Cinema in the 1940’s focused more on the idea of the film rather than “higher productive values.” Even with the so called “smaller films” made during these years, many of them made it to the top one hundred greatest movies of all time.   

                Casa Blanca, Citizen Kane, Gone With the Wind, Singing in the Rain, Seven Samurai, The Searchers, and On the Waterfront were voted to be in the top twenty best movies of all time. (Entertainment Weekly) And they are all made within a span of about fifteen years; from 1939 to 1956.  At this time, there was little use of computer animated effects.  Citizen Kane broke the Hollywood mold and using deep focus camera work, overlapping dialogue and intriguing and distinctive camera shots that had never been used before, caused it to be known as the greatest film of all time.  And many filmmakers after watching this film were inspired in their movie making techniques and even pay tribute to it in their films.  Singing in the Rain on the contrary, was loved and remembered for its wonderful songs, storyline, choreography and casting.  On the Waterfront not only had stimulating cinematography and symbolism throughout its inspiring plot, but it also had one of the greatest moral messages shown in its time.  Another inspiring movie that used very little special effects was Rear Window.  This Hitchcock classic portrayed everything from the view through Jeffrey’s window and the audience only saw what Jeffrey could see, unlike many films today where the viewer’s know more than the characters themselves do.  So much was depicted about the characters through the music and the panning and zooming and different subjective shots of the camera.  The particular way this unique film was made caused audiences to feel suspense without dramatic lighting and intense shots and special effects.  Because of the times that these movies were made in there wasn’t a lot of that sort of technology, and filmmakers had to rely on artistic cinematography in their films.  They focused on the development of the characters and the resolution and realizations at the end of the movie.  Along the same lines, they were packed with deep meanings and everything tied together to arouse more than one emotion and to inspire and eventually become classic films.  The arousing of emotions can be shown through themes, camera work, editing and/or the actors.  The Twilight series is a good example of a very unrepresentative film with unnecessary CGI and actors limited to only rendering one emotion.  Other films however can show the positively created emotion through the use of special effects without becoming overbearing.

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Special Effects in Film

“A film’s photographic effects should not be created for their own sake as independent, beautiful or powerful images.  In the final analysis, they must be justified psychologically and dramatically, as well as aesthetically, as important means to an end, not as ends themselves.  Creating beautiful images for the sake of creating beautiful images violates a film’s aesthetic unity and may actually work against the film”  (Boggs, Joseph M., and Dennis W. Petrie. The Art of Watching Films. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print.)   

 Filmmakers have not only been overusing CGI and special effects in recent films, but have been making entire movies based off of what they can do with the special effects and 3-D imaging within a simple storyline; creating the feeling of being trapped in a video game, rather than the feeling of experiencing a movie.  Journey to the Center of the Earth is full of stimulating and exciting fast moving scenes, all at the expense of a lack of development of not only the plot but the characters, who also lacked depth and general likeability.  The film critic, Brian Orndorf said that the director might know what he was doing with special effects but “he’s at a loss when it comes down to nurturing even a tuft of human interface.”   

Avatar is another example of this type of film; sacrificing what really counts (the plot, the characters, and the message) for cheap, plastic thrills.  The entire film is based off of the special effects and the 3-D aspects of it.  Everything else about the film however is incredibly less memorable.  The dull plot might be pumped up by the remarkable computer generated imagery but it was essentially no different than three well known films: Pocahontas, Fern Gully and Dances with Wolves.     

This new kind of film might be the “latest” but is it really the greatest?

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Hiding Behind Their Green Screens

What really makes a film good? Is it the actors? The script? The sets? The storyline? The score? Is it the special effects?  Good films should be able to portray things and present a memorable and moral message all using aspects within the scope of cinematography, without relying too heavily on special effects.  Despite the artistic and meaningful purpose of films in the past,

contemporary filmmakers have been over using special effects in films.  Instead of bothering with an intricate and interesting plot and necessary character development, filmmakers are hiding behind their green screens and special effects.

Computer generated imagery (CGI) and special effects aren’t bad for filmmakers to use.  In fact, used in the right ways and for the right reasons they can add to and enhance films.  They can also increase the realistic aspect of a film and even better portray emotions and feelings that the director intended to get across to the audience.  A great example of using CGI in a positive way would be the trilogy "the Lord of the Rings."




Word Count: 175