The story is about a crime that took place: capitol murder. In the film, the technique of re-enactments/visuals are used, but voiceover is not used. Re-enactments were performed as well as descriptive visuals. There was no voiceover was during the re-enactments/visuals. Although, in some scenes the interviewees voice could be heard to guide the audience throughout the visual depictions. In order to create a vivid picture that matched the details to tell the story to the best of his ability, is why Morris chose to do these following things in the film. The audience is able to understand and picture the crime scene instead of using their own imagination to match the storyline. With dialogue coming from the actual people that experienced the crime, it also helps the audience picture the story better. He also had a technique in his editing style where he juxtaposed certain pieces of interviews next to each eachother or scenes so that the audience could se the credibility of each of the interviewee’s stories. It makes the storytelling very effective because of this.

Some techniques that I could use in my own filming are these re-enactments, as well as being very precise when juxtaposing clips together during editing. I could also play closer attention to when storytelling as Morris did. One thing he did was that choose clothing very carefully. For example, in the beginning, Randall Adams is dressed in white—the color of innocence while. The police officers are wearing striped ties containing lines of blue, which represent the title of the film. What I can do is think about the image I want to portray and brainstorm as many examples and details that will help the reader follow and “feel apart the story” and certain emotions that relate. Another thing he did is that he chose a very important and controversial subject. Because of his film, he changed someone’s life for the better. That inspires me to film about subjects that are more important so that maybe I could maybe even just a small change in the world.

There were thirty-six shots in the shower scene between 0:40 and 1:30. (Many of them were realized slightly high or low to show the difference of eight between the two characters.) This is every shot, including a description:

1. medium close-up; eye-level; she is showering and enjoying the warm water

2. medium close-up/over the shoulder; slightly high; she continues to shower as the man behind her, who’s holding a knife, opens up the curtains while the camera turns to a medium close-up of him, also at eye-level

3. medium close-up; eye-level; she turns around in fear

4. close-up; eye-level; she starts to scream

5. extreme close-up (of her mouth); eye-level; she is screaming

6. medium close-up; slightly low; he is raising the knife and trying to stab her

7. medium close-up; slightly high; she is screaming and trying to resist him

8. medium close-up; eye-level; he is raising the knife back, once again trying to stab her

9. extreme close-up/behind (her back); eye-level; she is trying to resist the stab

10. two shot medium; high; they are going back and forth

11. close-up; eye-level; she is screaming

12. two shot medium; high; they are going back and forth

13. close-up; eye-level; she continues to scream

14. two shot medium; high; they are going back and forth

15. medium close-up; eye-level; he is raising the knife back, once again trying to stab her

16. close-up; eye-level; she is getting stabbed and is showing extreme pain

17. medium close-up; eye-level; he is raising the knife back, trying to stab her

18. close-up; eye-level; she is getting stabbed and is showing extreme pain

19. close-up; low; he is raising the knife and stabbing her

20. close-up; eye-level; she is getting stabbed and crying

21. close-up; low; he is raising the knife and stabbing her

22. close-up; eye-level; she is crying

23. close-up; low; he is raising the knife and stabbing her

24. close-up (of her stomach); eye-level; she is getting directly stabbed in the stomach

25. close-up; eye-level; she is in fear and crying as she is being stabbed in the stomach

26. medium close-up (of the shower rim); low; showing just his arm with the knife aiming at her, again

27. close-up (of the side of her back); eye-level; she is getting directly stabbed in the chest

28. medium close-up; eye-level; she is screaming in pain

29. medium close-up (of the bottom half of her legs); high; the blood is streaming down her body into the drain

30. close-up; eye-level; she is trying to turn away

31. medium close-up (of the bottom half of her legs); high; the blood is streaming down her body into the drain

32. close-up (of the shadow of her hand); eye-level; she is starting to lose so much energy because of the blood loss

33. close-up/behind (of half of the back of his head and his arm; eye-level; raising his knife and aiming to stab her

34. medium; hip; a woman in a robe desperately running out the door

35. extreme close-up (of her hand); eye-level; her hand is slowing tracing down the wall as she falls

36. close-up; eye-level; she is losing strength and falling

I think that Alfred Hitchcock chose to shoot the “shower scene” with many quick shots and abrupt cuts to increase the intensity as she was getting stabbed, with many of the cuts increasing in speed symbolizing the “faster” she is getting killed. It also tenses people when they here abrupt noise that accompanies the shot, play there are so many things happening in a short time span that it creates and feeling of panic.

I think that the “shower scene” is generally regarded as one of the most famous sequences in 20th century American film because there were so many abrupt shots and cuts in the sequence which were very effective in making the scene have a very anxious and panicked tense for the audience. The scene was also very traumatizing which I believe also allied in its fame.

The first shot and the second shot are juxtaposed against one another in an interesting manner. These shots illustrate the Kuleshov effect because the first shot is very relaxing and the character is happy, while in the beginning of the second shot she as well. The man also appears to be behind the curtain but no fear is established until the shower curtain is abruptly opened and you can see the man holding the knife. It establishes and instant fear.

What I can take from this sequence and use in my own filmmaking is that the type of shots as well as the editing make a big difference in the atmosphere and effectiveness in the story-telling of a scene. For example, a more happy and relaxed scene may have one consistent shot with few cuts, as well as slow and calming music. A more scary and tense scene may have the opposite. Each grab the attention of the audience in a certain manner, making them feel like they are “in the scene” and experiencing the same emotions.

Tim Burton is a director who is very famous for his style of movies. He has directed thirty-eight films. The first film that he directed was The Island of Doctor Agor, which came out in 1971. Burton’s most recent film was Dumbo which came out this year. He has written several of his own films, as well as produced. Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands were two of his major breakthrough films because his style is portrayed and the films were very successful. The Artifice describes Tim Burton’s style saying that “People have often compared Burton’s style to the gothic. The use of black, the darkness of some of his drawings, the heavy make-up, the paleness of the skins, monsters and other ghostly creatures recall Gothic literature and paintings but also German Expressionism.” Frequent collaborators of his include Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Burton was nominated for two Oscars (and several other awards) and has won many awards such as the “Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement” and the “Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S_AYZGBxkQ

This scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a very notable scene of his because it’s from a very famous movie and it portrays his sense of creativity and imagination.

Over the past week, my group and I have been filming a scene, incorporating the master shot and single shots. We have made sure to get a lot of coverage so we have more to work with when each of us create our own edit. It’s very effective, which is why they do this in Hollywood. Although, it can be very time-consuming and very difficult because we sometimes need to reshoot the science several times because of minor mistakes. Otherwise, I believe that using the filmic elements do add a lot to a scene.

In one of the first scenes, the elements of lighting and angles are shown. A man met a young girl and is asking her to introduce herself. As he is talking, his shadow is casted on a poster. This creates a dark image of him, where you cannot see his features. This element portrays him to seem creepy and suspicious. In the same scene, the camera is also positioned where you cannot see the girl but only the man talking down to her. This creates a sense of power that he has over the small child. It contributes to the overall film because all of these details help us understand the next scene that implies the child is now gone, because she was taken by the man.

QUESTIONS

1. When did you decide that you wanted to be involved in the industry?

2. Why did you choose to have that specific career?

3. What is your favorite thing about your job?

4. What is your least favorite thing about your job?

5. Were you originally interested in another career in the industry or is this what you always wanted to do?

ANSWERS

Lauren works for Fox 5 Atlanta and is the technical director. She works in the control room where she codes the show and puts it on air in the computer program. Lauren chooses the shots, positions the mics, controls the graphics, etc. She always knew she wanted to be this career and graduated college for it. Then, she spent six months looking for a job and got one in Market 200. She’s been working for five and a half years. Lauren says that she loves her job but it can be difficult sometimes because news is different every single day! One of her bigger mistakes was airing a screen of just black…luckily she kept her job is what she said. Lauren also said that the viewers who watch allow her to keep her job. I loved this interview and was very interested because I hadn’t known this job was in the industry! 🙂

1. Georges Melies studied at École des Beaux-Arts and Lycée Louis-le-Grand, in Paris.

2. His principle contribution to film language is the illusions/special effects he created in his films.

3. The effect Melies’ jammed camera had on film was that it allowed films to be edited and have objects removed or added.

4. He discovered that cameras could manipulate images and create illusions in the occurrence of his jammed camera.

5. Three common filmmaking techniques he pioneered were illusions, fading in and fading out, and cutting/ pasting film.

6. He received the “L’egion D’Onneur” or Legion of Honor Award.

7. The opening science takes place in an astronomy chamber.

8. The group is told they will witness “a splendid spectacle”!

9. The rocket ship first lands on the moon.

10. The King captures the travelers to punish them.

11. They are essentially aliens, who look weird, creepy, and like little monsters.

12. The moon inhabitants poof into the air when they are touched.

13. The king poofs into the air.

In my opinion, one of the most comedic silent films of the era, The General was a film that was ahead of its time. It contained many filmic elements such as the camera work, editing, acting, and stunting that were all well-developed and portrayed, for the technology and skills that they had at the time. One very impressive filmic element from the movie, The General, were the stunts during the train scene with the cannon. During the scene, Johnny Gray (played by Buster Keaton who also directed the film) was setting up the cannon to fire it at the opposing side. He was doing this while balancing on the moving train. At one point in the scene, when the cannon is about to fire, it tips and aims at him. The cannon eventually fires away, but it is a close call from hitting Johnny or the front of the train. This filmic element creates suspension for what will happen and adds action and intensity to the overall film. I believe that this scene should be given tremendous applause for the stunting because of its amazing timing and accuracy, under the intense circumstances.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton