SPOILER ALERT! If you havent seen All That Heaven Allows and/or Far From Heaven, don't read this if you don't want it spoiled!
I watched the Douglas Sirk film, All That Heaven Allows, as well as the Todd Haynes film inspired by it, Far From Heaven. Both films are set in the 1950's, Sirk's is filmed then and Haynes' was filmed in 2002. I decided to compare and contrast the two.
They are both basically about a woman who is in a relationship deemed inappropriate by her social circle. She is well-to-do, and is in the upper class, therefore expected to behave a certain way. She falls in love with her gardener.
The main differences between the two, are that in Sirk's classic the gardener, played by Rock Hudson, is a white man, while in Haynes' version the gardener is a black man played by Dennis Haysbert. Also, in the original, the protagonist is a widow, while in the new one she is married to a high profile executive who turns out to be gay.
Both deal with issues of class. Far From Heaven takes it to more of an extreme, including the issue of homosexuality in the 50's, as well as interracial relationships and prejudice. They both deal with the issue of the repressed woman during this time, but it seems that in the original there is more of a resolution, "happy ending" style, where she gets her man in the end after realizing she shouldn't let society dictate her behavior.
In All That Heaven Allows, the gardener also has more power in the world than Haysbert's character does, being a black man. It would have been far more dangerous for them to have carried out their relationship.
Both films use the classic Hollywood style of filming, and both portray the women as very soft spoken and polite. The issue of appearances is very obvious, especially in the remake, as she tries to hold it together even as her world falls apart.
It was interesting to me how different the films were while being so similar. I think aesthetically they were very different even though the costumes and cinematography were so similar. I enjoyed the aesthetics of them for different reasons. The remake seemed to really push the visuals of it in the same way that Sirk pushed the melodrama of his. (Don't get me wrong, they were both extremely melodramatic!)
I would recommend anyone who watches these, to watch them both, in a small space of time so that you can see the differences and similarities for yourself.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Video Concept
I have one character that I have been thinking about quite a bit as the main character. She will have a love interest, who I have not developed yet. The rest of the people will be extras.
There are still gaps in this phase of my development but I am taking notes all the time when ideas come to me so there is more to be added soon.
Say Something...
Storyboard, map and shot list
This is a companion scene to the previous one. For the first one, it was supposed to be conventional editing. This one is unconventional.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Holy Smoke! Jane Campion
In a previous blog where I reviewed Breathless, I mentioned that I originally was more interested in Sweetie, a Jane Campion movie. Since I couldn't find it, I rented Holy Smoke, another of hers. This is a film about a woman who has a religious experience and stays in India in the ashram, (it is labeled a cult, though I can't figure out why) and her family hires a man to deprogram her.
I would call it a somewhat dark comedy, it definitely had me laughing, but also had some very disturbing elements. The mother character was very memorable. I felt really sad for her in some instances, even related her to my own mother at times. Other times I just thought she was adorable.
The characters were all very well developed, and odd. The sister-in-law who is trying desperately to have an affair is somewhat psychotic. There is a moment when one of her children falls down and she just stares at her and screams bloody murder!
I paid close attention to the cuts, in an effort to start understanding better how to make my own more smooth. This is something I have been doing with everything I watch lately, it is starting to become a habit.
I enjoyed the movie mostly for its hilarity and absurdity, but I also recognized the underlying themes about women, relationships, and society. I can't understand why this religion was labeled a cult, maybe that is part of the point Campion was trying to make. The dichotomy of the world Ruth has come from and is drawn back into, and that of the Indian ashram are notable. The Indian world is looked at as Other, they are seen as behaving "exotically" and uncivilized, while the Westerners are the civilized people even as they have affairs, lie to each other, and behave outrageously. I certainly recommend this movie, and am looking forward to getting a hold of Sweetie, and any other Campion movies.
I would call it a somewhat dark comedy, it definitely had me laughing, but also had some very disturbing elements. The mother character was very memorable. I felt really sad for her in some instances, even related her to my own mother at times. Other times I just thought she was adorable.
The characters were all very well developed, and odd. The sister-in-law who is trying desperately to have an affair is somewhat psychotic. There is a moment when one of her children falls down and she just stares at her and screams bloody murder!
I paid close attention to the cuts, in an effort to start understanding better how to make my own more smooth. This is something I have been doing with everything I watch lately, it is starting to become a habit.
I enjoyed the movie mostly for its hilarity and absurdity, but I also recognized the underlying themes about women, relationships, and society. I can't understand why this religion was labeled a cult, maybe that is part of the point Campion was trying to make. The dichotomy of the world Ruth has come from and is drawn back into, and that of the Indian ashram are notable. The Indian world is looked at as Other, they are seen as behaving "exotically" and uncivilized, while the Westerners are the civilized people even as they have affairs, lie to each other, and behave outrageously. I certainly recommend this movie, and am looking forward to getting a hold of Sweetie, and any other Campion movies.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
PVC-1: Review
This movie is about a woman who has a bomb strapped around her neck with a demand for money. It is shot without cuts, in one continuous shoot. It is interesting because it gives me the feeling of being a silent observer, almost in documentary fashion with no narration.
The thought of being able to go an hour and a half shooting without making a mistake detrimental to the film is bizarre, but it does seem to make it more realistic. Perhaps it is because as Walter Murch said in his interview, we do not see life in cuts.
This type of filming works well for this because it is based on true events and seeing all of this in real time makes the viewer feel a part of it, increases the tension. This would not work for just any film, we don't always want to see every moment. In this case, however, every moment counts.
The thought of being able to go an hour and a half shooting without making a mistake detrimental to the film is bizarre, but it does seem to make it more realistic. Perhaps it is because as Walter Murch said in his interview, we do not see life in cuts.
This type of filming works well for this because it is based on true events and seeing all of this in real time makes the viewer feel a part of it, increases the tension. This would not work for just any film, we don't always want to see every moment. In this case, however, every moment counts.
Unspoken: Self-critque
Trinity Poole
Project 2
Unspoken, 2/16/11
A woman is in a kitchen on a computer when another woman walks in. It is clear that she is not happy to see her come in. The second woman tries to initiate contact and the first woman walks out angrily, denying her a chance to resolve a conflict.
I wanted to show the awkwardness and intensity that exists between people in conflict.
The main idea I started with was communication. Since it needed to be nonverbal, I thought about how what one doesn't say can say more than words, looks can be very powerful. Walking away can say just as much as shouting. This idea of communication is important to me because I sometimes have a lot of trouble with it.
The premise of the film as I saw it upon viewing is the isolation that can be felt as a result of conflict between close people.
Main tension/conflict: One person wants to resolve the issue and the other does not.
Strengths: Because I used myself and my girlfriend in the film I feel that we portrayed what really happens between us in this situation pretty well.
Problem areas: Jumpy cuts. I had trouble making them seem smooth, even using matching eyelines and actions.
During the process I learned the value of coverage. I also learned how important it is to map out each shot beforehand and about shooting not in chronological order but from each camera position.
Project 2
Unspoken, 2/16/11
A woman is in a kitchen on a computer when another woman walks in. It is clear that she is not happy to see her come in. The second woman tries to initiate contact and the first woman walks out angrily, denying her a chance to resolve a conflict.
I wanted to show the awkwardness and intensity that exists between people in conflict.
The main idea I started with was communication. Since it needed to be nonverbal, I thought about how what one doesn't say can say more than words, looks can be very powerful. Walking away can say just as much as shouting. This idea of communication is important to me because I sometimes have a lot of trouble with it.
The premise of the film as I saw it upon viewing is the isolation that can be felt as a result of conflict between close people.
Main tension/conflict: One person wants to resolve the issue and the other does not.
Strengths: Because I used myself and my girlfriend in the film I feel that we portrayed what really happens between us in this situation pretty well.
Problem areas: Jumpy cuts. I had trouble making them seem smooth, even using matching eyelines and actions.
During the process I learned the value of coverage. I also learned how important it is to map out each shot beforehand and about shooting not in chronological order but from each camera position.
Review: Breathless
Breathless: Jean-Luc Godard
Assignment: Watch and review a movie by one of the directors to study unconventional style.
Breathless was not my first choice for the movie I wanted to review, I was really more interested in Jane Campion's Sweetie, but could not find it anywhere in town. Having said that, I am glad that I watched it because it is not a movie I would have picked to watch but I learned from the research I did prior to the screening that it has influenced just about all action films since its making.
What I found striking was the sheer volume of jerky jump cuts, meant to disorient the viewer and create a sense of recklessness. The protagonist is a scoundrel who kills a police officer in the beginning, but this fact is played down throughout the movie through his "charm" and humor. He stays one step either behind or ahead of the police who are pursuing him, depending on how you look at it.
Assignment: Watch and review a movie by one of the directors to study unconventional style.
Breathless was not my first choice for the movie I wanted to review, I was really more interested in Jane Campion's Sweetie, but could not find it anywhere in town. Having said that, I am glad that I watched it because it is not a movie I would have picked to watch but I learned from the research I did prior to the screening that it has influenced just about all action films since its making.
What I found striking was the sheer volume of jerky jump cuts, meant to disorient the viewer and create a sense of recklessness. The protagonist is a scoundrel who kills a police officer in the beginning, but this fact is played down throughout the movie through his "charm" and humor. He stays one step either behind or ahead of the police who are pursuing him, depending on how you look at it.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Kitchen Film: Shot List
Camera View | Action
2 Megan at the computer, kitchen table
3 Megan looks up for a sec as door opens
1 Door opening
3 Megan looks back down at screen
1 Trin sits down, stares at Megan, tries to get attention with eyes
2 Est of Trin staring at Meg
3 Trin’s view of Megan looking at computer
2 Eyes meet for a sec
1 Trin reaches for Megans hand
2 Shot of hand reaching as Megan pulls away, stands up and leaves
2 Closer shot of just hand action
3 Show Trin reaching across, Megan leaves
1 Trin reaches over, Megan leaves
3 empty seat
1 Trin after Megan leaves
2 Est of Trin alone at table
3 Swinging door
2 Megan at the computer, kitchen table
3 Megan looks up for a sec as door opens
1 Door opening
3 Megan looks back down at screen
1 Trin sits down, stares at Megan, tries to get attention with eyes
2 Est of Trin staring at Meg
3 Trin’s view of Megan looking at computer
2 Eyes meet for a sec
1 Trin reaches for Megans hand
2 Shot of hand reaching as Megan pulls away, stands up and leaves
2 Closer shot of just hand action
3 Show Trin reaching across, Megan leaves
1 Trin reaches over, Megan leaves
3 empty seat
1 Trin after Megan leaves
2 Est of Trin alone at table
3 Swinging door
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sense of Place revised
I did not do a lot to it, there was still more I wanted to do but trying to create the transition was more difficult than I thought it would be. I would like to try it again.
Compositional Elements: Rule of Thirds
This is the trailer to the 1984 movie The Killing Fields.
I watched this movie in an effort to study the Rule of Thirds in cinema. This movie won the award for best cinematography. It is a movie about journalists in war torn Cambodia, experiencing genocide. It is based on a true story. This is truly one of the most moving war movies I have ever seen, and a great deal of that has to do with the imagery, how everything is shot and framed. A lot of the movie is not in English, so there is a lot of the dialogue that I did not understand, and needed to rely on the imagery to understand what was going on.
I would say that just about every frame was shot using the ROT. This created a sense of balance that was needed amidst the chaos of the story line. The film is based in Cambodia, and there are many landscape shots, and the horizon line always falls just where it should, my eyes are led around the scene in the way it is intended. Everything seemed very intentional. I also felt that any deviation from this would have been distracting, unlike in other movies where it may have worked. For this movie I was able to get completely lost in the story and become attached to the characters because it felt more natural and I was not jerked in and out by a lack of balance. It was the type of movie where I felt invested in the characters.
There were all of the types of shots that we have learned about for the people, the close up, extreme close up, etc., and all of these matched up completely with how the viewer is intended to experience the moment. When a character is showing intense emotion on his face, most likely this is an extreme close up. The interactions between characters is captured well with the formula of ROT and the way the shots are framed. I can definitely understand why this film won as many awards as it did, and was nominated for quite a few as well.
And by the way any photographers need to watch this movie just to see John Malkovich's character make a darkroom out of a bathroom!
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