There is so much behind-the-scene work that goes into film and art that the general public would not even begin to imagine whilst seeing a performance or film. Lighting, one of the most important techniques, can bring multiple emotions to a scene. Dark lighting can represent sadness, while colorful lighting can make the scene feel like a party. Panning from light to dark or vice versa can create mystery or an eeriness. Different angles that a scene is shot on make for abstract scenery. Panning from one location to another, sharp abrupt cuts, or slow and delicate montages all create a feeling without any acting or dialogue.
The first film watched in class was titled "Bunny". The bunny was very old, grumpy, and had trouble getting around his home. A camera pans to a hung photograph of the bunny's wife symbolizing the death of his wife and the loneliness he feels without her. As he bakes slowly in the kitchen, struggling with every move, a moth comes into the scene flying around Bunny in an annoying way, swarming back and fourth in and out of the shot, clearly upsetting the Bunny. As bunny becomes more and more frustrated with the moth, attempting to kill it but never succeeding, he finally captures the moth in the cake he was baking, and stuck it in the oven for the moth to die. After exerting so much energy, Bunny falls asleep at the kitchen table. He is then awakened by a bright light shining from the oven. The light leads bunny to the oven and overtakes him with complete awe. The bunny climbs into the oven which leads him to space, which then takes him to heaven. The symbolism this film shows with just lighting, panning, and animation with no dialogue is impeccable.
Next we watch a couple scenes from a "cult classic" titled "Herold and Mod" showing a rich, controlling mother who shows little love to her son. The son then fakes multiple suicide attempts to get his mother's attention. He reaches out for love in such an odd way because not only is he a desperate, rebellion teenage boy, but he has grown up not knowing true family loves and lack the skills to show it. The way the scene watched in class is beautifully done, with a mix of tight and wide frames, showing fantastic imagery through body language and face expression with little dialogue. Like "Bunny", "Herold and Mod" does not need dialogue to gain the attention of an audience.
"Northfork" was a film with ample symbolism that showed the pain of a of a dying city and the grief in the town. An example of imagery shown were the Rocky Mountains that were shown in the distance while transporting a coffin to be buried. The scene we watched was mostly imagery and music, but was so powerful, that it made it simple to follow along.
"Paris, Texas" was a very mysterious film with an opening scene in the dry dessert. A man who looks to be dehydrated, exhausted, and somewhat disillusion is walking slowly through the dusty mountains with no end in sight. There were many point of view shots shown in this film that make the audience feel what the man felt walking to no where. Another symbol shown later in the film is the act of communication but with no connection. The man ends up reconnecting with his son after and they communicate back and fourth, but with little to no real connection.
The "Pink Floyd" Film was my favorite of the bunch, because of it's incredible imagery, colors, symbols, pans, and way of shooting. It was psychedelic in a way, making the viewer seem to be in another world. There is a mix of animation and real acting in the film, that makes the mind work extra hard, which I think is a great touch to any film. Strange things happen like cars turning into guitars, and then flowers symbolizing love turn into hateful imagery. This artistic film is a fascinating piece that will keep viewers' eyes peeled to the screen.
Lastly, the film "Casa de Vanca" was a Mexican film that shows men deserted on an island. One man begins to go crazy and attempts to run away to freedom, but the shaman brings him back using his powers and magic. There is a lot of imagery in the film including a lizard who turns to a man and vice versa. This film was quite confusing, but the colors film techniques used help make better sense of the plot.
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