Batman 1989The Dark Knight 2008http://whatculture.com/film/tim-burtons-batman-vs-chris-nolans-the-dark-knight
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/whatculture.com/amp/film/15-reasons-tim-burtons-batman-is-better-than-chris-nolans-the-dark-knight The terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001 which targeted New York and Washington changed every aspect of our world. The political landscape, popular culture, and the entire industry of cinema was altered in some way or form. Some movies, such as Nosebleed starring Jackie Chan, had to be cancelled because the plot of the film was too similar to the events that happened that day. Upcoming movies had to be adjusted so that they were inoffensive as possible in the months after the attack. The World Trade Centre was removed from a lot of New York set films, and other films' plots had to be adjusted. For example, the plot for The Bourne Identity was going to focus on a terrorist attack which had to be removed. Some films and TV shows that were already made that featured the Twin Towers were removed or censored. This caused Hollywood to go in a different direction with films and created fantasy films that offered escapism from the problems of real life. Films such as The Lord of the Rings were created in a fantasy world that didn't exist so the audience could escape from what was happening the real world and what they were being shown on the news. However, Hollywood began to come to terms with what had happened on 9/11 and started using imagery and similar plot lines to the real events of 9/11. Cinema began making films set in the Middle East, such as CIA thrillers that had a level of relevance. Cinema also began using the Twin Towers to represent time period. To show a film was set in the past or pre-2001, films set in New York featured the Twin Towers as part of the skyline which were digitally added. This showed an acceptance of what had happened and a shift to it being a historical mark. Just as the Middle East became the go-to setting for some films, terrorists became the go-to bad guys. And in a lot of films, the terrorists were Muslim fundamentalists with their beliefs being the sole purpose of their actions. The events of 9/11 have somewhat become a cinematic tool for films such as Remeber Me, as it is used at the end of the film and focuses on the character rather than the events of 9/11. 11'09"01For part of our research into the effects 9/11 had on cinema we watched several short films directed by 11 different directors which focused on the effects 9/11 had from different viewpoints around the world. Some of the short films we watched were directed by the following:
The short film that stood out to me the most was the short film directed by Ken Loach which is told by a Chilean singer writing a letter to American mothers, fathers, and loved ones about attacks on his country that happened 28 years ago on the same date as 9/11. The film tells the story about the overthrow of the government in Chile. The main people responsible for these attacks was the US government and this film highlights that Americans can be just as cruel and inhuman as terrorists from the Middle East. Ken Loach is known for his socially critical films such as Cathy Come Home which is a realistic drama that addresses the struggles and issues of homelessness. The film switches between showing the Chilean singer writing the letter and showing old clips from the past 9/11 and events that surrounded that day. The clips show the lives of Chileans before and then after the attacks began. Some of the clips are difficult to watch as it shows the people's terror and how horribly they were treated. The Chilean singer managed to escape his country after being imprisoned for five years without trial, unlike most of his friends who were murdered. I think the director is trying to demonstrate that America can be just as terrible and cruel as terrorists and that sometimes the people responsible for terrible acts do not take the responsibility that they should. Another of the short films was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. This film was very intriguing and quite difficult to watch also. For the majority of the film, you are presented with a blank black screen and the main focus of the film is the audio. You can hear news reports, people leaving messages to loved ones, and people praying in different languages. Further into the film, images start to flash up on screen of jumpers who jumped off the Twin Towers and are falling from the buildings. These images are hard to watch as you can see their arms and legs still moving around. They made the decision to jump from the buildings not knowing whether they would survive or not as they thought it would be the better alternative than to die in a fire or when the buildings collapsed. They chose to take their fate into their own hands. Further on the film, there is a moment of silence and then a clip of the buildings collapsing is shown. This clip is very moving and striking as it really makes you feel for all the people who lost their lives in these attacks. At the end of the film, the words 'Does God's light guide us, or blind us?' are displayed in what I think is Arabic, with an English translation underneath. This quote is used to represent terrorists who use their religion to justify their actions. I think using audio instead of images to bring across the terror of 9/11 is just as emotive and moving. The images that are used are so affecting, they are only needed to be shown for a split second to stay with us forever. I read this quote in an article which I think is a good representation of the film. "Despite the minimalist visual design, the film is rich and highly emotive." Mira Nair directed another of the short films which focuses on the mother of a man of Islamic religion who goes missing on 9/11 and people assume he was involved in the attacks. The FBI come to inquire about him. The neighbours begin treating the mother differently because of the rumours. However, the true story unfolds that the man was a paramedic and had rushed to help those in the World Trade Center and therefore had unfortunately died on 9/11. Nair worked closely with the family of the young man who died on 9/11 as they wanted the story told as a way to counter some of the reactions. This film is moving as it shows people are too quick to judge because of somebody's religion or ethnicity. The young man in the film was a hero despite his religion or ethnicity. Many close-ups are used in this film to represent the emotions of the mother and show how she reacts to different situations that happen in this film. The camera feels as if it is hand-held a lot of the time which makes the audience feel as if they are there with the characters and part of what is happening. Nair uses bold and lots of colours in her films to bring life to the screen and represent the moods of the characters. http://whatculture.com/film/10-ways-911-completely-changed-movies?page=2. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/18/september11.usa http://online.sfsu.edu/amkerner/memory/GonzalezInarritu.htm https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/dec/13/artsfeatures http://sbccfilmreviews.org/?p=15590 Changes in production contexts during the 1980'sDuring the 1980's, Ronald Reagan was elected president and his goal was to 'reinvigorate American morale'. This was reflected in the social and economical changes throughout the 80's which can be seen to be demonstrated throughout films in the 80's. Reagan's government cut taxes which they thought would encourage people to spend more of their money which they were allowed to keep instead of spending on taxes. However, this plan was not successful and a great recession was the result. Materialism became very important during the 1980's and making money and buying consumer goods was the sole focus of the youth of America. For example, America focused on more and bigger was better, such as men having bigger muscles like in Terminator and Alien. Technology also changed drastically during the 80's and helped form our technology that we have today. The first computer, the first CD player, and camcorders were just some of the new technologies that helped shape the technology we use today in all aspects of our lives. Cable TV made a huge difference in American homes as most Americans began watching TV more and it became a daily routine to watch television. The cable network MTV also had a big impact on the way people started to dress and their hairdos, as people began to copy the way bands looks in music videos. Masculinity during the 80's was portrayed in action films such as Die Hard and Terminator. Nearly all action heros in films during the 80's were male and had huge muscley bodies in vests to represent their masculinity and toughness. This was influenced by the backlash of the feminisation of society and the traditional representation of men. During the 80's, society began to feminise men so these films were used to show the traditional way men were and how they were 'supposed' to be. The action heroes had large muscley bodies to assisst them in the physical struggles they would partake in during the film. 1980's Films: Die Hard (1988)Die Hard is a film about a lone hero, Bruce Willis, who defeats a group of Europeans who try to rob a rich business on Christmas Eve. During his struggle and triumph, Bruce Willis must also save his wife from this group and help the hostages escape. This film shows representations of the fight between east and west, as it is set in L.A. but Bruce Willis is a cop from New York. It also displays the stereotypical man of the 80's as Bruce Willis wears a vest to show off his muscly body and withstands broken glass, fights, and explosions and is still hailed the hero. Bruce Willis' character also has a helper character during the film who is black. They refer to each other as 'pal' and 'Roy' over their radios as they do not meet face to face until the end. The theme of anti-capitalism can be seen throughout this film, as even though Bruce Willis is a cop, he does not like the way the system runs or how the cops do things. He is also hurt when he discovers his wife has been using her maiden name rather than her married name as she is being influenced by the people she is working with who follow the capitalist society. The business men and women his wife work with also reflect the capitalist society as there is classical music and champagne at the party. One of the characters is also addicted to drugs and is caught taking cocaine. This reflects the idea of a corrupt society . 1980's Films: TerminatorThe Terminator is a film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (Arnie), who at the time was not a well-known actor. The Terminator, played by Arnie, is a killing machine sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor. The Terminator has been built to look like a man, which has huge muscles and withstands being shot, fire, and fights. It has also been built to feel no emotion and only follows the order to kill Sarah Connor and won't stop until she's dead. This could be a representation of a subconscious fear of the loss of traditional male identity, and were forced to hide their emotions or they would be classed as feminine and weak. One of the main themes in Terminator is machines overpowering man, so technology vs humanity. This can be reflected in the advances of technology during the 80's. During the film the character Sarah Connor goes on a physical and emotional journey which she must learn to defend herself and protect her future son. At the time that is was made, Terminator had state of the art special effects which helped make the Terminator seem more real and threatening. However, in some parts of the film, it is obvious that the Terminator is a model. The background noise that is used when the Terminator is on screen helps create tension and builds suspense. Post 1980's Films: Terminator 2 (1991)However, following on from Terminator in 1984, The Terminator comes back reprogrammed to protect John Connor and learns how to be a father and show emotion and care towards John Connor. This could reflect the way society was beginning to see men and become more accepting that men could show emotion just in the same way that women could. Like Bruce Willis in Die Hard, Arnold Schwarenegger is a lone hero who defeats the Terminator and saves Sarah and John. It also makes Sarah Connor more masculine and makes her wear a vest to show off her muscly body like in Terminator with Arnie. Sarah is also more like a Terminator in Terminator 2 as her main goal is to protect John and stop the world being destroyed. The Termintor in this film is much more advanced than the first Terminator and has the ability to liquify. The Terminator is also more human like and looks neater and tidier. He dresses in a cop uniform for most of the film which may suggest that people trust him automatically just because of what he is wearing. He uses more sharp objects to kill rather than guns which gives it more of a horror aspect. Post 1980's Films: Point Break (1992)Point Break is a film about a FBI agant Johnny Utah, played by Keanu Reeves, who is trying to take down a group of bank robbers and must uncover their true identity. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, who plays a surfer called Bodhi, create a bromance throughout the film. The character of Bodhi lives for the radical and spiritual side of life and doesn't believe in the system. He also gets a thrill from adrenaline filled activities such as sky-diving. During the film, Bodhi acts almost like a master to Johnny and teaches him to live free and not follow the system. For example, in the film when they are about to rob a bank, Bodhi says 'Why be a servant to the law, when you can be it's master?'. At the end of the film, Johnny throws his badge into the water which could mean that the student has now become the master. There are representations of homoeroctic messages throughout the film between Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze's characters which could relfect the changes in society during the 90's. https://www.moviefone.com/2014/09/02/why-point-break-just-may-be-1991s-perfect-movie/ References:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#Presidency_of_the_United_States:_1981.E2.80.931989
http://www.history.com/topics/1980s http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/8-technologies-to-thank-the-1980s-for-635764 http://www.slideshare.net/ksomel/1980s-action-films https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-fundamental-lesson-s-of-the-movie-Point-Break 3 Minute Short Horror Film:The 3 minute short horror film we created had several conventions of horror, however it did not end up looking like or sounding like a horror film. I think we had a very basic knowledge of conventions of horror which meant we could not create something that mirrored a horror film. The conventions we did have were an isolated location, flickering lights, and a jump scare. However, our final edit did not have any background music so there was no or little building of tension throughout which is really needed in a horror film as it helps sets the scene and the mood. Horror films also usually consist of sharp objects, which we had none of, as they are more terrifying than guns. As for auteur theory, we did not break out of any of the codes or conventions of the horror genre, at least not purposefully. 30 Second Genre Trailer The genre we chose for our trailer was a drama/thriller and consisted of several conventions of a thriller. For example, we had dark lighting, eerie background music, a mysterious figure, and jump cuts. We also had conventions of a trailer such as short snappy scenes, several locations, production company logos, and the title. However, our acting was not very good which brought the quality of the trailer down. There is also not much structure to it and it is difficult to know what the story is actually about. We also could of used a mask for the mysterious figure as this would have helped to be build tension and to get the the audience wondering who it was under the mask. Scene RecreationThe scene we recreated was the diner scene from the film Warrior. This film ticks several conventions of different genres such as drama, action, and sports films. We recreated this scene in a cafe as we could not find anywhere with booth seating. We had to film at night which meant there was no natural light like there is in the original scene. The lighting we used did not quite mirror the lighting in the original scene either as the faces of our actors were too lit up and the background was too dark. I think we managed to copy the camera angles well, however we could not use a handheld camera so we added this effect in editing. Genre theory is a way of separating films, music, and books into categories. This makes easier for audiences to know what they like and dislike.
Auteur theory is a way of recognising certain 'authors' by their distinctive characteristics or style. This helps the audience to recognise particular directors, producers, actors, etc. The audience can then watch a film expecting what it's going to be like or consist of as they recognise the directors or sometimes the actors and can compare to other things they have created or acted in. Genre theory is a way of creating films that consist of similar conventions and narratives. Whereas, auteur theory helps directors to create films that have different styles or elements which the audience can recognise as being their work. Genre theory also helps to categorise films into different groups which audiences can pick and choose from with an idea of what they will be like. Whereas auteurs could make films of different genres but bring their own creative style to each separate narrative. Genre and auteur theory are similar in the way that it helps audience to anticipate what they are going to see. Genre has a wider spectrum to auteur theory as genres are beginning to blur the lines between different genres. For example, Die Hard can be categorised as an action film as the top layer because it involves conventions such as guns and a fight between good and evil. However, it could also be categorised as a Western as it a fight between East and West, as John Mclane, the main character, is from America, and the thieves are from Europe. I think genre and auteur theory are helpful to assist the audience in choosing a film which they will enjoy. Auteur theory also helps the audience in choosing a particular style from a director or actor they have seen before. For example, a Quentin Tarantino movie is likely to involve bold colours, action which is quite gory but entertaining, and usually a wide range of characters. You could argue that actor and actresses can be auteurs. The actor Johnny Depp is a good example of this as he has his own particular characteristics which he brings to the roles he plays in films which can be argued to make the film the way it is. After he played Jack Sparrow in The Pirates of the Caribbean, in the majority of the roles he plays you can almost always spot characteristics of Jack Sparrow. In Tim Burton's adaption of Alice in Wonderland, you can see the characteristic of Jack Sparrow as the Mad Hatter is walking down the table at the Mad Hatter's tea party. In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka has lost his mind slightly and acts this way by the way he holds himself and his gestures, which is similar to the role of Jack Sparrow. However, the character of Jack Sparrow has his own separate traits as well. Johnny Depp quite often stars in films by Tim Burton such as Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Sweeney Todd. He seems to always play a wacky out-of-the-ordinary character in films directed by Tim Burton, for example the Mad Hatter. However, in films not directed by Tim Burton, he plays almost normal characters that would still be the same if they weren't played by Johnny Depp. That being said, they still have a Johnny Depp-esk about them. For example, in The Tourist, he plays a character who is an almost normal person but actually has an alternative identity. Johnny Depp plays this role well as he has played many different type of characters throughout his acting career. All this being said, does this mean he is an auteur or just an actor with his own particular style that you can pick out in a film? Would the film starring Johnny Depp turn out the same way if Johnny Depp's character was played by someone else? And would the film have an as high success rate if the film starred a less-known actor?
DefinitionAuteur, a French word that translates as author, theory was introduced in the 1950's which means that a director's film is distinct and reflects their signature style. An auteur usually breaks the codes and conventions of their specific genre, for example the story-line. However, an auteur must team up with actors, writers, and cinematographers to create their film as they wouldn't be able to do it by themselves. Auteur theory makes us look at the individual characteristics of an auteur and what is different rather than similarities. HistoryAfter the second World War ended, films previously forbidden in fear of provoking any acts of resistance by the German Minister of Propaganda were released into France. The importation of these films inspired new filmmakers and critics to come about in France, particularly Paris. The idea of auteur theory was brought to America in the 1960's by Andrew Sarris, an American film theorist. The Young Turks of the French New Wave who were filmmakers in France, which included Francois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol, and Jacques Rivette, were aware of the constraints on filmmakers in Hollywood meaning that they could not tell the stories they really wanted to through their films. The French filmmakers made their own films and had the ability to add their own aesthetic style to the films they directed. When looking at auteur's films, the Young Turks believed there was a common theme that ran through their different films. The Young Turks chose an auteur to analyse, one of which was Alfred Hitchcock who was a less known director. The Turks eventually looked to Hitchcock as a guide and inspiration and this led to Hitchcock respecting them. Some well-known auteurs that have their own distinctive style are Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino, and Baz Luhrmann. Autuer- Director Baz LurhmannBaz Lurhmann first became well known for his adaption of Romeo and Juliet in 1996. He uses contemporary music and bright colours throughout his films. Most of his films end in tragedy which is obviously true for Romeo and Juliet which breaks the conventions of romantic films which usually have a happy ending. Lurhamnn co-wrote Moulin Rouge and wrote his screenplays for these three films with Craig Pearce. Romeo and JulietLurhmann's adaption of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet uses the original dialogue but with a modern twist. For example, DiCaprio wears a Hawaiian shirt in one of the scenes which consists of bright colours which is a trade mark of Lurhmann. Leonardo DiCaprio is also cast in Lurhmann's adaption of the Great Gatsby. Moulin RougeThis reinterpretation of the musical uses bright colours in the costumes and set design which gives the film a certain character which can be distinctive of Lurhmann. Lurhmann also uses contemporary music in the musical. However, it also consists of opera music as this is part of the narrative of the movie. Lurhmann likes to give his films his all which can be seen in Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby. The leading role in Moulin Rouge is played by Nicole Kidman, who stars in another of Lurhmann's films called Australia. The Great GatsbyThis film also uses contemporary music though the narrative is set in the 1920's. The costumes throughout are bright and distinctive to the characters, a trade mark of Lurhamnn's. This film casts Leonardo DiCaprio who also stars in Lurhmann's Romeo and Juliet. Lurhmann uses the same writer for each of these screenplays which helps give them Lurhmann's style. However, critics say that Lurhmann went too far with The Great Gatsby and it was too over the top. https://eng3122.wordpress.com/auteur-theory/
http://www.slideshare.net/simonwright85/auteur-theory-fd-a-year-1 http://www.slideshare.net/thiswaynorthproductions/genre-analysis-auteur-theory https://auteur.co.uk/ http://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/7-modern-directors-and-their-distinctive-visual-styles.html/?a=viewall http://www.biography.com/people/baz-luhrmann-21032459#early-life-and-career Genre can be described as a style or category of film. Genre is important for filmmakers as it categorises films into particular groups which makes its easier for filmmakers to appeal to a certain audience. This then makes it easier for the audience to watch films of that category that interest them. The audience may also see a film if they recognise a filmmaker and have seen previous films of the filmmakers' which they enjoyed.
Genre can be dependent on various factors or elements of films, for example horror films are usually in a isolated location and have some kind of 'monster' or evil being chasing the victims. Genre can be dependent on the narrative, for example romantic comedy usually consist of two people who fall in love, or what the audience expectations are, including other factors. Genre gives filmmakers a rough idea of how the story will be played out and what the audience will expect from the film. This can help to make a film which the audience will enjoy as they know what they are expecting to see based on the genre. Genre gives audiences familiarity and offers them a way to escape from their everyday lives. Genre usually follows common and known conventions which can have a positive or negative impact on filmmakers. It may have a positive impact as this encourages the intended audience to watch the film. However, it may also have a negative impact as the audience will know what they are going to watch. Therefore, filmmakers add conventions which are unknown to the audience or may manipulate the already known conventions. This can be referred to as the process of "difference in repetition"- Neale 1980. This keeps the audience interested in the film rather than watching passively and forgetting it as soon as it is finished. For example, horror films follow the conventions that there is a 'monster' who kills victims. However, filmmakers add twists and unknown elements to make the film stand out and not blend in with the crowd. http://www.slideshare.net/HeworthMedia/genre-theory A narrative or story can be described as a report of connected events either real or imaginary presented in a sequence either in text or in film.
Vladimir Propp was a Russian critic who defined seven character types which are usually found in a narrative. These include: 1. The Villain- a evil character that creates struggle for the hero 2. The Dispatcher- any character who illustrates the need for the hero's quest and sends the hero off 3. The Helper- a typiclally magical entity that comes to help the hero in their quest 4. The Princess or prize- the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her as a consequence of some evil or injustice, perhaps the work of the villain 5. The Donor- a character that prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object, sometimes after testing them 6. The Hero- the character who reacts to the dispatcher and donor characters, thwarts the villain, resolves any lacking or wronghoods and weds the princess 7. The False Hero- a Miles Glorious figure who takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess Films such as Star Wars or Die Hard follow Propp's conventions precisely whereas some films such as Pulp Fiction don't. Tvzetan Todorov was a Bulgarian literary theorist who suggested that narratives or stories follow a three part structure where they begin with equilibrium, where everything is as it should be, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution where equilibrium is restored. Traditional stories go through five stages. These are: 1. Equilibrium- all as it should be 2. Disruption- usually by an event 3. Recognition that the disruption has occurred 4. Attempt to repair the damage of the disruption 5. Return of restoration of a new equilibrium Claude Levi-Strauss was a social anthropologist who studied myths of tribal cultures. He examined how stories unconsciously reflect the values, beliefs, and myths of culture expressed in the form of binary oppositions. Binary oppositions can be explained as a conflict between two qualities or terms e.g. Good vs. Evil, Technology vs. Nature, etc. |
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