Summary
With an emphasis on the narrative film, The Art of Watching Filmschallenges students to take their film experience further by sharpening their powers of observation, developing the skills and habits of perceptive watching, and discovering complex aspects of Film art that they might otherwise overlook.The first chapter offers a rationale for film analysis while providing suggestions for deepening film appreciation from day one of the course. Following Chapter One, the text presents a foundation for understanding theme and story, key aspects of understanding narrative films (Chapters 2 and 3), before moving on to discussions of dramatic and cinematic elements (Chapters 4 to 11). A framework for integration and application of these elements into an analysis of the whole film is set forth in Chapter 12. Subsequent chapters explore special topics including adaptations, genre films, re-makes, and sequels. The Art of Watching Filmsintroduces the formal elements and production process of films, and helps students analytically view and understand films within their historical, cultural and social contexts. The text presents an analytical framework that can be applied to all movies, as distinctly different as Avatar, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Vertigo, Iron-Man, Man on Wire, and The Hurt Locker.
Table of Contents
PREFACE 1. The Art of Watching Films THE UNIQUENESS OF FILM Increasing Realism as Technology EvolvesTHE CHALLENGES OF FILM ANALYSIS THE VALUE OF FILM ANALYSIS Either/Or Positions About Film AnalysisThe Two Sides Can Coexist: This Book’s PositionAnalysis Enhances Our Love of FilmsBECOMING A RECEPTIVE VIEWERBe Aware of Personal BiasesWatch the FilmConsider Your ExpectationsTHE FILM-VIEWING ENVIRONMENTPREPARING TO SEE A FILMDEEPENING OUR RESPONSES TO FILMSAnalyzing Your Responses to a Film 2. Thematic Elements THEME AND FOCUS Focus on Plot Focus on Emotional Effect or Mood Focus on Character Focus on Style or Texture or Structure Focus on Ideas IDENTIFYING THE THEME EVALUATING THE THEME Analyzing Theme Watching for ThemeFilms for Study3. Fictional and Dramatic Elements FILM ANALYSIS AND LITERARY ANALYSIS THE ELEMENTS OF A GOOD STORY A Good Story Is Unified in Plot A Good Story Is Credible A Good Story Is Interesting A Good Story Is Both Simple and Complex A Good Story Handles Emotional Material with Restraint THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE DRAMATIC STRUCTURE Linear, or Chronological, Structure Nonlinear Structures Endings: Fine-Tuning the Dénouement CONFLICT CHARACTERIZATION Characterization Through Appearance Characterization Through Dialogue Characterization Through External Action Characterization Through Internal Action Characterization Through Reactions of Other CharactersCharacterization Through Contrast: Dramatic Foils Characterization Through Caricature and Leitmotif Characterization Through Choice of Name Varieties of Characters ALLEGORY SYMBOLISM Universal and Natural Symbols Creating Symbolic Meanings Symbolic Patterns and Progressions Symbolic Values in Conflict Metaphors Overreading Symbolism IRONY Dramatic Irony Irony of Situation Irony of Character Irony of Setting Irony of Tone Cosmic Irony Analyzing Fictional and Dramatic Elements Watching for Fictional and Dramatic Elements Mini-Movie Exercise: The GraduateDVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 4. Visual Design COLOR VERSUS BLACK AND WHITESCREEN FORMAT (ASPECT RATIO)FILM STOCKPRODUCTION DESIGN/ART DIRECTIONThe Script: The Starting PointSetting and Its EffectsStudio Versus Location ShootingPeriod PiecesLiving Spaces and OfficesFantasy WorldsCOSTUME AND MAKEUP DESIGNLIGHTING THE BUDGET’S EFFECT ON THE FILM’S LOOK Analyzing Visual Design Watching for Visual Design: Dressed to Kill Mini-Movie Exercise: Dressed to KillMini-Movie Exercise: Fantastic Mr. FoxDVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 5. Cinematography and Special Visual Effects THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VISUAL IMAGE THE CINEMATIC FILM CINEMATIC POINTS OF VIEW Objective Point of View Subjective Point of View Indirect-Subjective Point of View Director’s Interpretive Point of View ELEMENTS OF CINEMATIC COMPOSITION Focusing Attention on the Most Significant Object Keeping the Image in Motion Creating an Illusion of Depth SPECIALIZED CINEMATIC TECHNIQUES Handheld Camera Camera Angles Color, Diffusion, and Soft Focus Special Lenses Fast Motion Special Lighting Effects MOVIE MAGIC: VISUAL EFFECTS IN THE MODERN FILM THE F/X OF ANIMATED FEATURE FILMS . . . ESPECIALLY FOR ADULTS FLASHBACK: ANIMATION: ONCE AN OPENING ACT, NOW A MAIN EVENTAnalyzing Cinematography and Special Visual Effects Watching for Cinematography and Special Visual EffectsMini-Movie Exercise: CinematographyMini-Movie Exercise: Animated FXDVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 6. Editing SELECTIVITY FLASHBACK: FILM EDITORS: A HISTORY BEHIND THE SCENES COHERENCE, CONTINUITY, AND RHYTHMTRANSITIONS RHYTHMS, TEMPO, AND TIME CONTROL EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION OF TIME SLOW MOTION THE FREEZE FRAME, THE THAWED FRAME, AND STILLSThe Freeze FrameThe Thawed FrameStills CREATIVE JUXTAPOSITION: MONTAGE Analyzing EditingWatching for EditingMini-Movie Exercise: The New York StoriesMini-Movie Exercise: Lord of WarDVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 7. Color COLOR IN THE MODERN FILM Effects of Color on the Viewer FLASHBACK: DISCOVERING COLOR AT THE MOVIIESColor as a Transitional Device Expressionistic Use of Color Color as Symbol Surrealistic Use of Color Leitmotifs in Color Color to Enhance Mood Comic Book Color Comic Strip Color Painterly Effects in Color Ironic Use of Color Special Color Effects COLOR VERSUS BLACK AND WHITE Analyzing Color Watching for ColorMini-Movie Exercise: Akira Kurosawa’s DreamsDVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 8. Sound Effects and Dialogue SOUND AND THE MODERN FILM DIALOGUE THREE-DIMENSIONALITY IN SOUND VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE SOUND POINTS OF VIEW IN SOUND SPECIAL USES OF SOUND EFFECTS AND DIALOGUE Sound Effects to Tell an Inner Story Distortion of Sound to Suggest Subjective States The “Personality” of Mechanical Sounds Slow-Motion Sound Ironic Juxtaposition of Sound and Image Placing Unusual Emphasis on Sound Using Sound for Texture, Time, and Temperature SOUND AS A PLOT DEVICE SOUND AS A TRANSITIONAL ELEMENT VOICE-OVER NARRATION SILENCE AS A SOUND EFFECTRHYTHMIC QUALITIES OF DIALOGUE AND SOUND EFFECTS THE “SOUNDS” OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE OR INTERNATIONAL FILMS Voice Dubbing Subtitles Analyzing Sound Effects and Dialogue Watching for Sound Effects and DialogueMini-Movie Exercise: “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”DVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 9. The Musical Score THE REMARKABLE AFFINITY OF MUSIC AND FILM THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MUSICAL SCORE GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE MUSICAL SCORE SPECIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE MUSICAL SCORE Heightening the Dramatic Effect of Dialogue Telling an Inner Story Providing a Sense of Time and Place Foreshadowing Events or Building Dramatic Tension Adding Levels of Meaning to the Visual Image Characterization Through Music Triggering Conditioned Responses Traveling Music Providing Important Transitions Setting an Initial Tone Musical Sounds as Part of the Score Music as Interior Monologue Music as a Base for Choreographed Action Covering Possible Weaknesses in the Film SYNTHESIZER SCORING BALANCING THE SCORE Analyzing the Musical Score Watching for the Musical ScoreMini-Movie Exercise: DivaDVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 10. Acting THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTING THE GOAL OF THE ACTOR BECOMING THE CHARACTER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FILM ACTING AND STAGE ACTINGFLASHBACK: SILENT ACTING EVOLVES: THE SUBTLTIES OF EXAGGERATIONTYPES OF ACTORS Impersonators Interpreters and Commentators Personality Actors THE STAR SYSTEM CASTING Casting Problems The Typecasting Trap Supporting Players Special Casting Challenges Extras and Small Parts ACTORS AS CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS SUBJECTIVE RESPONSES TO ACTORS Analyzing Acting Watching for ActingMini-Movie Exercise: Being ThereMini-Movie Exercise: Coffee and CigarettesDVD Filmmaking Extras Films for Study 11. The Director’s Style THE CONCEPT OF STYLE SUBJECT MATTER CINEMATOGRAPHY EDITING SETTING AND SET DESIGN SOUND AND SCORE CASTING AND ACTING PERFORMANCES SCREENPLAYS AND NARRATIVE STRUCTURE EVOLVING STYLES AND FLEXIBILITY
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