From Silents to Studios

Part 1: Explore how the inclusion of sound in the movie pictures impacted the Movie Industry. Detail how it happened, who was effected, what was lost. 

Although it may seem as if adding sound to movies would be a revolutionary breakthrough in the film industry, many studios opposed the idea due to their many reasons as to why it wasn't a wise choice. Many criticized that viewers would not accept it or some were already too accustomed to the traditional silent films. That way audience members were more focused on the characters themselves in terms of traits, purpose and physicalities. As sound made its way through into the business of film industry, some conflicts arose with actors' appearance and their voices, meaning they wouldn't match with their image. For example, on screen we would see this burly, rugged, masculine male figure, but as soon as he opened his mouth to speak viewers would hear this high pitched voice that would not match and throw off the whole character's appearance in the film. In addition, actors would have to take the extra step in memorizing their lines, rather than the directors telling them what to do and where to go, further consuming more filming time. Purchasing the technology for capturing audio and dialogue was another conflict, that of which would put crews at minor set backs in terms of time and budgets. However, on the other hand, the one company that dared to pursue the art of sound became a success in the film industry. They are known as Warner Bros. Studios. In 1927, they were the first to incoporate audio and dialogue into their films. Doing this, a chain reaction was eventually developed and other studios were quite intimidated by their instant success. They have decided to take on the challenge of sound and in no time it had spread throughout the film industry. 

Part 2: The 20 years between 1930 and 1950 are generally recognized as the studio years. Describe what the pros and cons were of this factory system.          

Due to a lack of experience with sound in films, there were a number if limitations that arose during production. Actors were to be with talking range of the microphone and during scenes between two characters, the the conversations had tendencies in dragging on and on and on. Actors were to even lean in towards a hidden microphone, making it far too obvious for viewers to notice. Since recording audio was such an elaborate process, it was to be done in an enclosed area, limiting the variety in shot selection, causing audience members to grow bored. Although many negatives were brought up during this new method, there were numerous positives to the incorporation of sound. Studios thrived in the creation of set design, bringing more interest to the viewer eye with its colors and props. Through their devotion the studio, productions like MGG, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox grew and progressed throughout the dynamic era of the "talkies", successfully putting the highly growing mediation of Silent vs. Sound to an end and a new beginning to work. 

Writing About Film

The formal analysis discusses and describes all of the different aspects of a film and see how each part contributes to the whole. To name a few these aspects include the cinematography, sound design, story, and art direction. Looking at these different aspects is important to see how the individual parts of the film adds meaning to the film. By breaking down each essential component creates a better sense of how they serve a bigger purpose in terms of theme, meaning or value.

Film writing can also look at the history behind the film. Most films have a history to them in which they acquire a sense of historical background by being based on a time period, but more specifically an event within that era. This encompasses the history that the actual film reflects, the culture and society that the film was made in, and even factors during the film's production that could have affected the outcome of the film. For example, the movie The Raven (2012) was based in the time period of 1849. This film follows the story of the renowned poet Edgar Allan Poe and his most famous works of literature. Using his life and poems, the director (James McTeigue) was able to develop a storyline that reflects the life of Poe, but simultaneously manipulating his background to create a film in which acquires more suspense due the movie consisting of dynamic murder mystery. Film history involves the banning or wide acceptance of certain movies due to cultural values or morals.

All films reflect some kind of ideology. Ideology papers examine the ideology behind film. Many times the ideology comes from the director or writer of the film. Film can be a medium to express one's views on topics and themes such as family, redemption, or trust. When watching a film, it is important to understand that the film may being trying to manipulate our feelings about certain topics. The film The Breakfast Club (1985) works to express how looking beyond stereotypical features and cliques can result in numerous realizations about one another. This is done through five high school students who don't know each other at all but receive a Saturday detention, giving them 8 hours to sit and "ponder the error of their ways", but eventually baring their souls to each other. 





Similar to ideology, Cultural Studies and National Cinema focused papers look at the society that made the film. This is when the films reflect the cultures and nations that they were produced in. Films are usually produced to appeal to a certain culture or society. For example, a French filmmaker would take a different approach to a movie than an American filmmaker would approach a movie. Especially in national cinema, films can show audiences what the culture is like in other countries beside our own.

Finally papers that look at auteurs focus on the body of work that the director has made and how they relate with each other to emphasize certain themes.This criticizes the film as the view of a single person, usually the director. Many times, directors use similar techniques in making their films such as recurring plot structure, themes, and types of conflicts.When discussing Auteur one must consider that film is still collaborative, because people such as the make-up, cinematographer, editor all have a part in the final product.

Annotating a film sequence is like taking notes, except with a film. It can be a very helpful technique to efficiently articulate your ideas when writing about a film. This technique is done by taking notes on individual shots or certain shot sequences of the film. Especially when looking at excerpts of film, noting down the certain aspects and adding notes to significant shots is effective in breaking down a sequence, which can help to delve deeper in a specific scene's meaning and/or purpose.

When thinking beyond the frame one should consider other aspects that do not pertain to a certain shot or scene. One should question who made the film. The scene might have similar themes or motif that relate to other movies made by the same director. Factors like sound, production history, and expert opinions on the film. A film is much more than the film itself. External factors play a big role in defining the film and what it come to represent, outside of the subject matter

Trailer Review: The Avengers

Joss Whedon's The Avengers (2012) is a film in which incorporates and unites some of Marvel's finest superheroes into one alliance know as The Avengers.

Narrative: The trailer for The Avengers reveals enough narrative to entice viewers with some of the film's most dynamic and attention grabbing scenes, but simultaneously conceals details to leave audience members wanting to watch the whole movie. Through this trailer we can depict the initial story line, but also have many questions as to why things are so. How did these heroes join alliances? Why are they fighting? Who are they fighting against? The trailer successfully creates narrative due to how it attracts audience members into wanting to watch more.

Mis en Scene: Consisting of explosions, fighting, and chaotic scattering, the mis en scene of this trailer emphasizes the action packed nature of the city in which it takes place in. Raging fires, crashing, flipping cars, and crowds dispersing in fear are all evidences to a corrupt city in danger, bringing out the idea that this movie is filled with scenes of action and an incorporation of sci fi. It also gives the plot a sense of back story. With the streets and buildings vastly destroyed along with unknown, futuristic flying robots, viewers know that the main characters aren't your average citizens.        

Cinematography: As demonstrated throughout the trailer, the cinematography glorifies all the action sequences through dynamic tracking shots. Simultaneously, there are numerous close-ups to create a sense of intensity in terms of capturing a characters true emotions whether it being, suspicious, angry, or determined. During intense scenes such as explosions, the cinematographer creates shaky movements to establish a sense that the action is real. There are also a number of skyscraper shots to create a source of establishment in terms of setting and mood.

Edit: As normally exemplified in action movies, there are numerous quick cuts in fighting and running scenes to glorify the action and intensity within the film. One essential factor to editing would be the CGI. Animations of robots, explosions, and weapons are created in the edit to create a sci fi feel. For those of you who are fans of the works of Marvel, the CGI performed in this trailer seems familiar to add to the superhero feel of the narrative.  

Sound Design: The sound design within this trail was executed successfully in terms of musical score, sound effects and dialogue. The sound effects are well done with the sounds of explosions, fighting impacts, and weapon bursts considering the weapons rather appear to be quite futuristic. The dialogue was created so all audio levels were even and able to be audible over musical score, obtain the dramatic intent. In terms of musical score, choice of soundtracks were perfect to preserve the mood of action and intensity. It helped convey the fast paced movement of the trailer along with the character's actions.   

Documentary Preproduction - BayKids

Purpose: The purpose of our documentary is to inform the audience about a world of children who are in intensive care and want to show their creativeness through the art of film making. They are young and their lives are not as easy as it might have been for us all. “BayKids is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of hospitalized children by teaching them a wide range of movie making skills and helping them discover the power of self-expression” and we want to help support them by getting the word out.

Contacts:
415-561-6262  --BayKids
devora@Baykids.org

Interview Questions:
To Adults working at BayKids:
How did BayKids get started?
How do the kids get funding for their projects?
How can others help BayKids improve?
What about your job is the most rewarding?
How has BayKids benefited you?

To Parents (if possible):
How do you feel about BayKids?
How were the first few days of the diagnostics like?
Were there any physical or emotional changes in your son/daughter at BayKids?

To the kids:
Have you made any videos before? If so, what was your favorite and what was it about?
How has film making helped you?
What type of movies do you like?

What do you like best about making videos?

Shot List:
Opening
- LS and ELS of empty streets of SF
- LS of BayKids building

B-Roll
- MS & CU kids with video cameras
- ECU of the eyes of the kids
- kids sitting in bed
- kids going under regular check up (maybe)

Interviews
- MS/CU (don’t know the location yet so it is hard to imagine where everything will be placed)

General Flow:
The documentary will open up with quiet, empty streets. This emphasizes the loss of livelihood missing in the shots. What’s missing are the people and therefore, the children who are facing life threatening conditions in the BayKids hospital. It is very unlikely that the opening will be narrated because we want the interviews to speak for themselves and describe the situation. After the street, the BayKids building will be shown to establish the location and also to show the facility. Most likely, an interviewee’s voice would be heard already and the camera would go to that person describing the location. After an interview with an adult, we will talk to kids and ask their personal opinion on movie making. Relevant B-Roll that we capture will be placed for every interview to illustrate the point even further. The documentary will end with a serious note and most like a text at the end saying that BayKids needs your help.

Scripts:
Questions to ask people we are interviewing, voice overs, musical score, templates for names of people we interview.

Production Schedule:
We will film from the 7-9 of December and dedicate the rest of the week to editing the film to finish by the 14th of December.

Everything is a Remix: Part 2

Everything is a Remix: Part 2 is a documentary that visits the depths of Hollywood film making and the process of how movies are created based off of other movies. Originating from types of genres, books, comics, actual events or other movies, big blockbuster films are created by simply remixing them into different, more modern versions ergo the title Everything is a Remix. As seen in the figure to the right, these so called remixed films are created with the basic process using the standard elements of appropriating, transforming, and subverting. Although it may seem some of today's films appear unique and fresh, it is rather important to keep in mind that they in fact do heavily rely on existing material.

Given that the majority of many box office hits are either sequels or remakes, Hollywood's greatest tool in the art of film making is using adaptations from other sources. Everything is a Remix explores the ideas of recreating films by transforming them from out with the old and in with the new.  

From the movies that do seem unique and fresh, originality wouldn't be the most appropriate word to use to describe them, due to how these films are known as "genre movies". These genre movies are broken down into subgenres. For example, the documentary discusses the subgenres of slasher, zombies, creature feature, and torture porn all fall under the bigger genre of horror.  

The principle audience of this documentary would basically be anyone interested in the true origins of certain films. It discusses the processes that go into creating big box office films as well as the vast history of film making and its potential adaptations.

This documentary's goal is to raise awareness of the adaptations of big blockbuster films. Doing so would create a better image of the art of film making and its past in terms of old versions, books, and even toys. It explores how today's modern screenings are always referring back to films all the way back in times as far as the early 1900s. A great example to further demonstrate this idea would be Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill (2003). This film has approximately 12 mash-ups with other past references such as different scenes and specific elements of other classic films. This can be interpreted as Hollywood's greatest tool to creating new and exciting ideas and films. By remaking certain early year films, it helps audience member revisit the past and its classic memories.

This documentary is simply created to entertain rather than to just inform with its choice to convey artistic stand. Its use of B-roll consists of examples from movies from the early 1900s to demonstrate the idea of modern adaptations. By doing so, audience members gather information of how the film making industry mainly works. To recreate and make new versions entices viewers into watching new and potential box office hits. This simply allows audience members to vaguely remember the origins of modern movies but simultaneously enjoying present day films.

Although no interviews were used within this documentary, many enlightening examples were explain to broaden the understanding of film's past time. Given that there is a plethora of references, viewers are more aware of how today's movies reflect on the early sources proving that films bring out many certain aspects of the past. By providing these examples, gives audience members a sense of where Hollywood film makers adopt their ideas from. 

This documentary strongly and thoroughly communicated its points as to why today's film industry creates new versions and/or sequels to keep the movie making business both exciting and insightful. Successfully reaching its goal, this documentary achieves the ideas of the origins of modern day films.  

The Descendants: Realism, Classicism, Formalism

Realism

  
 To edit in a realist fashion is to create one long, continuous shot without any cuts or edits, therefore giving off a sense of dramatic intent and importance to the scene. Here we see the camera slowly, continuously pan over to a woman lying on a hospital bed unconscious; this here is the director's way of incorporating backstory within the plot, bringing out its main internal conflict which also can arise many questions as to why and how she got there. The shot is held on the woman for a while, creating an intimate and dramatic mood as she is slowly zoomed in on. This concept has an intention of making viewers focus and concentrate in order to fully grasp the effect this scene is attempting to create. All these elements within this one, crucial excerpt compose an effective foundation to the films beginning. 


Classicism

 Classicism is an editing concept in which keeps audience members interested due to the way all action is condensed in a way that gets the scene right to the point without leaving out any crucial information that is significant to the plot. This scene is edited in a in which keep the cuts not very noticeable based on the fact that all dialogue is quick and straight to the point rather than attempting to lead the main conflict in. We hear the girl say “Mom was cheating on you” at the start of the scene; that way the main external conflict becomes evident because of how concise everything is, grabbing attention and keeping it throughout this important scene which forms a sense of back story. The quick cuts and brief, yet effective, dialogue builds tension and glorifies all emotion.


Formalism

Formalism is a way for directors to develop a tone within the movie that is juxtaposed from the linear narrative that is mainly established throughout the plot. Although captured in only approximately under a minute, this excerpt from the film demonstrates this editing concept by creating context, further forming a sense of back story. Disregarding real time, the director cuts this scene to establish a new conflict, possibly creating more questions for the audience. This scene takes away from the linear narrative in this film due to the way the scene sort of gets off topic by Matt King (George Clooney) running randomly but, evidently, with purpose.    

Step Outline

Step Outline
                             

Scene	Dramatic Intent
1. Victim, Simon, (innocent boy) sleeping on couch in living room	1. Establishing shot of what will happen to Simon
2. Friend, Gerald, (notorious prankster) creeps into room with suspicious look on his face	2. Introduces antagonist and shows who and what his character is
3. Gerald carefully tiptoes over to sleeping boy with a rope in his hand and mischievous look in his eye	3. Reveals Gerald’s intentions, and what he prank he is planning. Also showing backstory on what he will do and how it will happen
4. Gerald goes to the foot of the couch where Simon’s shoes are and ties his shoes together in a triple knot	4. Reveals Gerald’s first execution of his prank and the audience realizes his level of maturity
5. Gerald goes to Simon’s hands and carefully handcuffs them together behind his back	5. Reveals Gerald’s second execution of his prank. Also shows that Gerald is executing his prank making sure Simon can’t escape unless helped
6. Gerald goes to the head of the couch, carefully brings out an airhorn and blows it in Simon’s ear	6. Gerald’s plan comes into action
7. Simon wakes up startled and turns to Gerald confused. Realizes his hands are cuffed behind his back	7. Demonstrates what obstacle Simon encounters as he must figure out a way to get out of Gerald’s prank
8. Simon, trying to squirm free, begs Gerald for the key back as he mocks him by dangling the key in front of Simon’s face barely within reach	8. Further characterizes Gerald. He is devious and and childish
9. Simon attempts to get up and go after Gerald but falls off the couch and onto the ground, realizing his shoes are tied together but unable to untie them due to the handcuffs	9. Brings out main conflict in story on what Simon must deal with and try to get out of to overcome
10. Simon struggles on the floor trying will ever will in his body attempting to break free while Gerald is outside the door mocking him	10. Audience sees Simon is truly angered and no longer thinks the prank is funny while Gerald has a different perspective
11. Gerald puts the handcuff key on the porch steps and walks away with an accomplished smile on his face without regret or remorse	11. Shows that Gerald is truly relentless when it comes to pranking and proves he doesn’t stop at any extent
12. Cuts to Simon’s dog in the kitchen knocking down a lit candle off the table which lands near a curtain, causing it the enflame	12. Introduces big turning point within story foreshadowing Simon’s fate and Gerald’s life changing mistake
13. Fire grows bigger while Simon remains in the house still trapped unable to make it out alive	13. Shows big conflict and second turning point of story. Also brings out major backstory to antagonist’s mistakes
14. Gerald sees fire from a block away with a worried look on his face realizing Simon hasn’t made it out	14. Gerald realizes what an enormous mistake he has made as he considers everything he has done: kills someone and forever looks at himself as a murderer