Is Documentary Film Still a Distinctive Media Form?
Is Documentary Film Still a Distinctive Media Form? Documentary film has existed for a substantial amount of the time that television has existed itself. From titles such as 'Nanook of the North', a silent film which followed a group of Eskimos as they went about their daily routines, to more recent documentaries such as the 'Walking with Dinosaurs' series, which used special effects to present an amazingly authentic - looking Jurassic environment, as well as using conventional techniques to produce a film that, aside from the use of special affects to recreate a non existent society, was still widely recognised as a documentary. Traditionally, the main purpose for documentary film is to inform and educate. Indeed, the Cambridge Dictionary defines a documentary as "a film, radio, or television programme that gives factual information about a subject". In modern times, this is still true, but there is a lot more emphasis placed on entertaining the audience nowadays. The documentary is more often than not easily recognisable because they tend to follow the same set of conventions, however in recent years this distinction has become somewhat blurred with the advent of reality television, fly - on -the -wall documentary, and also comedy has been sneaking into the genre by parodying it. (for example, the award-winning series, 'The Office') The website
Discuss the film narrative in the City of God
Discuss the film narrative in the City of God Fernado Meirelles' City of God (Cidade de Deus 2002) tells the story of the growth of the drug trade in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. As Macelo Melo (2004) states that it appeared to be the on that finally succeeds in putting into practice the 'retaking project' - a film that directly communicates to the average audience, has full command of contemporary editing and photographic techniques, and social conscience. Besides, City of God has an Achilles' heel that it's few detractors attack: for instance, the exploitation of poverty, in other word, the aesteheticisation of the harsh realities of Brazil's slums. This essay will tend to highlight the importance of areas in film narrative through which we comprehend a film. Many different sequences the film has been focused on and presented; and on the ways in which film narration, unfolds and in forms mise-en-scene. The opening sequence of the chicken run is an important scene as a film narrative in terms of temporal reordering and temporal narration at the end sequence where Rocket assumes a new dominance as narrator in the story itself, presenting his own story. The spectator is accompanied Rocket, a key figure in the task of dealing with a great number of characters that appear and disappear in the course of the plot. Rocket's narration in voice-over has an explanatory tone, always
Compare the Original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and
*Compare the original 1971 Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory to the 2005 Charlie and the chocolate factory scenes* In this essay I am going to show the differences and similarities between two films according to audience expectations. The scene I am going to compare is when the ticket winners enter the factory. Both films use a wide variety of camera shots throughout. Generally, when the characters are talking or being focused on, close ups or mid shots are used. When the cameras are focusing on scenery long shots are used. When the cameras are on high angle, they occasionally zoomed in on the crowds. Firstly, in the 1971 film, the first scene is the reporter interviewing the general public and the ticket winners. Throughout this situation, close ups are used on individuals and mid shots on crowds of people. On the arrival of Willy Wonka, a mid shot is focused on him, and keeps referring back to the main children characters to define their reaction to Wonka's arrival because it is very deceptive. When the winners enter, each is greeted by Willy Wonka, which personalises the relationship between Wonka and the children. However, in the most recent 2005 remake, the appearance and situation is much different. This Wonka seems a lot more mysterious with a history because of the way he is portrayed throughout the film. To start with, a very high angle shot is used to capture
An analysis of the way in which mise-en-scene cinematography, editing and sound are used to create meaning during the opening 7mins of The Usual Suspects.
Richard Thompson January 2001 An Analysis of The Way in Which Mise-En-Scene, Cinematography, Editing and Sound are Used to Create Meaning During the Opening 7mins of The Usual Suspects When we go the cinema, we go for entertainment. But in order to enjoy the film we need to understand it. To do this an audience can look for the key concepts of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound. During this essay it will be these subjects that I investigate in order to find out how the film is put together to generate meaning and response from the audience. The Usual Suspects has an original narrative structure which is crucial to the creation of the enigma that is created in the film, and thus important in the role of gaining the audience's attention. The narrative structure is able to do this by altering the time line of the film by showing the audience the end of the film at the beginning, this instantly hooks the audience and makes them want to know how this situation arised and what is going on. The film is able to indicate these times in time and settings through the use of captions, which anchor the meaning of any shot by telling the audience where it is and when it is. During the opening of the film the mise-en-scene attracts the audience attention as they want to know what is going on, who is this man Keyser Soze, why is the film opening up in a
Film Studies essay - Gladiator.
Film Studies essay - Gladiator Helen gammons 11 D An analysis of the opening frames of "Gladiator" exploring: * What is established? * What questions are raised ? *The film techniques used, and the effect of these. In the opening sequence to "Gladiator" the director uses clever techniques to stir emotions from the audience. In the background to the scenes that appear on screen there is eerie music used to give the film an uneasy atmosphere. The director has cleverly used the colours of smoke and fire in the opening title to subtly merge all the images together. Here the classic Dream works emblem has been adapted to blend into the frame. It is tinged with sepia colours to help the images fade from the logo into a misty foggy atmosphere. The director has felt it necessary that we know the background to the story, so blocks of text appear on the screen giving a brief historical outline to the story. All the while there is a sound bridge to let us know that these images are linked. The music playing is non-diagetic as it does not correspond with what we see on screen , however it is a parallel sound as it creates the right mood and helps to increase the tension. After these images there is a straight cut to a man walking through a field of barley. We merely see the man's head and his arm. His arm is dressed with a cuff and a ring, which seem to suggest that he is a Roman
Movie Review of Remember The Titans
Movie Review of Remember The Titans The film Remember The Titans based on a true story is set in Alexandria, Virginia is from the beginning made out to be yet another American high school sports movie like many other films made, however there is more to this feel good sports movie than just American football. If you are unaware 1971 played a vital role in bringing a separated community together, the divide of the community was between the black and the white races. This divide was made worse when two high schools; George Washington and Francis Hammond were changed into junior highs and T.C. Williams became the senior high school. One of the original high schools being predominantly white and the other predominantly black, the integrating of the schools created masses of tension and friction between the already rivalling races. With an all-star cast being linked to real life characters in this motion picture, some may see it as trying to alter the history of T.C. Williams. Remember The Titans should not be watched if you are intending to see a sports movie, because although based around American football there is more depth in this story then just a game. It is based on the racial tension of a community being pushed to the limits as they are forced to work as a team. The Film starts at a funeral, however we are unaware whose funeral it is and why the film decides to begin
An analysis of the opening sequence of the film 'East is East' directed by Damien O'Donnell The film 'East is east' is based on an autobiographical screen play by Ayub Khan Din.
An analysis of the opening sequence of the film 'East is East' directed by Damien O'Donnell The film 'East is east' is based on an autobiographical screen play by Ayub Khan Din. It tells the story of a mixed race Asian family who live in a north of England town. The father, Mr. Khan, is intent on keeping the traditions of Pakistan, while his children oppose to following traditions such as arranged marriages to other Pakistani families. It shows the family's struggle to live ordinary British lives while the father pushes to bring Pakistani culture to his children. The principal themes running though out the story are racial intolerance, adolescents and their need for independence, and the problems of being caught between two different cultures. Though out this analysis I will focus on the key film language features of lighting, sound, camera and mise en scene. A successful opening to a film should introduce the area the film is to be set in, the main characters and something about them, and start building the atmosphere and mood of the film. It should do this by using the first camera shots to show the scene. Sound can be a very useful tool in creating atmosphere as is lighting. Showing close-ups of the main characters faces will introduce them to the audience and give them some information on the character's backgrounds and give first impressions of the film's themes.
Comparison Between Gladiator And Apollo 13.
Comparison Between Gladiator And Apollo 13 The era these two films are set in are completely different, more than two thousand years apart. Apollo 13 is set in the 1970s whereas Gladiator is set in the brutal Roman times BC. The genres of these two films are different Apollo 13 is a true story of the unsuccessful space mission to the moon. Gladiator is an action adventure story with the roman genre of sword and sandals through out the film, which hasn't been on at the cinema for along time. The film includes gruesome battles. Ridley Scott directs Gladiator. Forced into slavery by the corrupt, incestuous heir to the throne, Roman general Maximus becomes a gladiator. His prowess in the arena will eventually lead him to Rome, the coliseum and a vengeful show down with the new emperor. Ron Howard directs Apollo 13. It had been less than a year since man first walked on the Moon, but as far as the American public was concerned, Apollo 13 was just another "routine" space flight, until these words pieced the immense void of space: "Houston we have a problem." Stranded 205,000 miles from earth in a crippled space ship, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert fight a desperate battle to survive. Mean while, at Mission Control, astronaut Ken Mattingly, and a heroic ground crew race against time and the odds, to bring them home. Either produce the state of the art
kidadulthood review. How are teenagers represented in the film 'Kidulthood'?
How are teenagers represented in the film 'Kidulthood'? The film "Kidulthood" deals with a number of teenage issues and the traditional adult/teenage conflict. It looks at stereotypical teenagers, who are often described as moody, argumentative, violent, causing trouble (getting an 'ASBO', 'Hoodies with lots of attitude, all in an urban back round. Set in west London, the film follows a group of teenagers for a period of 48 hours. Bullying is a big issue in many schools around the U.K but especially in larger schools in cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham. Bullying is one of the main subjects tackled in 'Kidulthood'. In the film, bullying has a huge effect on all of the teenagers. Everyone in the film deals with Katie's suicide in different ways. Katie committed suicide after being severely bullied by a group of girls at school. An older boy named Sam also bullies Trife. Trife however, gets his own back on Sam after seeing the effects of extreme bullying. Most teenagers deal with bullying on a day-to-day basis throughout their school lives, whether they are getting bullied themselves, watching or taking part in it. Either way, bullying is always a big part of school life. In the film, the presence of bullying shows the audience how hard it is to watch or to be around it. It shows parents should be more aware of teenagers and keep more in touch with them. The
What part does the mise en scene play in the introduction of the character of Indiana Jones in the opening of Raiders Of The Lost Ark(Steven Spielberg, USA 1981)?
Tom Williamson What part does the mise en scene play in the introduction of the character of Indiana Jones in the opening of Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, USA 1981)? The Raiders Of The Lost Ark starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones was made by Steven Spielberg in 1981 in the USA. The film is set in 1936 and is located in South America and Central America in the opening scenes. It is an action adventure film and Indiana Jones is the film's hero. Indiana Jones is Harrison Ford and he is a very famous actor based in Hollywood and known worldwide. Steven Spielberg scripts Indiana Jones as a sex symbol in Raiders Of The Lost Ark which may have been an attempt similar to James Bond to appeal to both sexes. Indiana Jones the sex symbol to the female sex as and the action hero Indiana Jones to male. Indiana Jones' introduction is important for two main reasons. Primarily to establish Indiana Jones as the hero of the film and secondly to set the scene for the rest of the film, i.e. It is an action adventure film. Indiana Jones is the hero who is fearless, clever, rugged, strong and courageous. He searches for ancient artefacts and in these opening scenes he is looking for a particular artefact. He has a competitor however who stole this one that Indiana Jones found. We wouldn't know anything of the story, the genre of the film, the character of the hero and who his
