Monday, February 24, 2014

Paige Bier_February 24_Film Clip Techniques

Bunny
In the short clip Bunny, there were many film techniques used to symbolize meaning. For example, the camera zooms in on the oven when the bunny crawls inside of it in order to follow the moth. The colors and the shallow versus depth of focus throughout the clip were also significant. We discussed that the oven’s feature is meant to bake and when you bake things, they rise, transforming the product into its complete figure. Therefore, the oven was the mission that transformed the food from one form to another. The producers also used reflections, such as the moth flying to the light in the eyeglasses of the bunny in order to display two different structures. Therefore, the way that the colors, lighting, and focus of the camera were used in the clip allowed the religious connection of Jesus and the after-life to be shown. 

Harold and Maude
In this film, we watched as the woman said “I like to watch things grow”. From a distance, the camera shows a field of flowers. As the camera zooms in for a close-up of the flowers, we see how they are all different. Automatically, the scenes switch to a distant view of a graveyard filled with tombstones that all look the same. Since our minds had just been set to relate the special qualities of each individual flower, the audience automatically applies that to the graveyard. Therefore, we saw that although the tombstones look alike, we know that there is something unique about each and every one of them- and in fact- not one is alike. This reminded me that we are all children of Christ, but each of us are unique and have our own special relationship with him. Meaning that no matter how similar our worship tactics or quiet times may be, our relationship with Him is not the same as others- because it is special and unique.

Buffalo
Powerful imagery was a big technique in Buffalo. For example, the scene of the different cars going in three different directions was powerful because of the birds eye view used to place feelings about your own faith. Another example was the mountain scene that showed the coffin car going down the road. The lighting placed on this scene by the producers was purposeful to convey the importance of life and death. Since nature was empowering over the coffin being transported, it belittled the importance of a greater God.

Paris Texas
This film held importance in music as it was a technique used to display sorrow and solitude of loneliness. The man is shown walking off of a path and the camera continues to show scenery of the desert that seems never ending. The way the scenes were structured put emphasis on communication in contrast to the sand dunes. Since the man is not walking on a path and shows different point of views (i.e., shot of rock peak à shot of bigger rock peak), the camera’s techniques were working to instill a certain emotion. The points of view of the characters were displayed through the means of communication and the direction of the power lines, which ironically are structured similar to the Cross. Therefore, I felt that the man was walking in the direction of God and where God was leading him. The sounds from the train and imagery of shoes were used to capture where the characters are walking and more importantly, why.

Pink Floyd
In the film “The Wall”, there were many techniques used to capture good and evil. The different abstracts were significant to represent the separation of good and evil. For example, the shots of warfare were used to display emotions of shame and/or hate from the main character’s perspective. On the other hand, symbols such as walls and flowers were used to represent the good. The producer’s were successful in the way they presented the children in relation to education because it allowed their point of education to be portrayed in a negative connotation. I also thought the juxtaposition in this clip was crucial as I observed the crashing down of the walls that exposed Floyd. The way the wall(s) crashed down and the facial expression on Floyd’s face was depicted was essential for receiving an emotional appeal or reaction from the audience.

Cabeza de Vaca
This film used certain features and techniques to portray the meaning of God’s trust in our lives. The introduction of the film uses different camera shots to display or reveal the Cross. The structure of the scene allowed the audience to see how religion took over those in Spain. A scene I found particularly interesting was the man trying to run away. I think that we often ask God to change situations, not realizing He meant for the situation to change us.

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