Hollywood Narrative Films

Films that are driven by strong characters.

invisible style

style that supports the story and does not call attention to itself

Objective 

Point of view in which we know what everyone knows. Most films take this view most of the time

Subjective/Narrative

point of view in which we know what they know, films take this view some of the time

Literal

Point of view where the audience is seeing things from the characters point of view

Controlled disclosure of information

how quickly and how much information is revealed to the audience as the film goes along

Exposition

conveying important story information to the audience. It is most intense in the first 10 mins of a film, when location. timeperiod, main characters, and at least a hint of the story's conflict are revealed

Iconography

Imagery and Meaning

narrative and visual coding

white hat in western

goes beyond the visual into the music dialogue and casting

Genres of Order

genres that have a determinate, contested space. 

hero leaves space at end

Western

Crime

Horror/scifi

Genres of Integration

genres that are indeterminate, civilized space

embrace at end, social integration

Musical 

Comedy

Romantic Drama

we negotiate non-genre films with ____ experience

Real World

we negotiate generic films with ____ experience

previous filmic

Plot structure of generic film

1. establishment of generic community with its inherent conflicts
2. animation of the conflicts
3. intensification of conflict to crisis level
4. resolution and celebration of temporarily well- ordered community 

1. Action-Oriented filmswith simple good vs. evil plots aimed at children

2. More elaborate and expensive costume dramas

these types were a less accurate exploration of the past and more of a means to examine the values and attributes of contempoary America.. ex High Noon

Hollywood's version of the West

A vast wilderness dotted by occasional civilized outposts linked to one another and to the East by railroad,telegraph lines, and stagecoaches. Each outpost is a virtual microcosm, plagued by internal and expernal problems

Why did the western genre die off?

1. overwxposure on television

2. the fact that serious questions were being raised about the concept of manifest destiny. people began to realize the wrong that was done to the native americans when in the settleing of the west

phase in which the "hero" role or good guy role was replaced with a "professional" hero who is either a mercenary(magnificent 7) or an outlaw ( butch cassidy)

The earlier moral code was replaced by cynicism

Two building blocks of film are?

The shot and the cut

Shallow Focus

Only one thing is in focus. Things close to and far away from the camera are out of focus. 

Ex: Main character is in focus but background is out of focus. Main reasons for this is so you will pay attention to the main character. And to give the picture more 'depth' or a 3d like feel 

Deep focus

Everything is in focus. This close to and far away from the camera are in focus

Long Take

is when the camera runs for a long period of time. People move in and out of the picture so there are actually no cuts. This is very unintrusive, but a much harder shot

High Key Lighting

Bright Lighting mostly used in Comedies

low Key Lighting

Dim Lighting~ found in horror films and westerns

(dramatic)

Mise-en-scene

means anything placed in front of the camera

ex: set design, props, character movements

What are four ways to transition from scene to scene?

1. Cut 
2. Fade
3. Dissolve
4. Wipe

Fade

Type of scene transition that usually denotes a long time transition.. picture slowly goes away

Dissolve

Type of scene transition where one image takes the place of another image gradually.. is usually a shorter time or place transition

wipe

Type of scene transition that is animated, one animates on while another animates off. Ex: When the buzz saw comes across the screen in between scenes in Home Improvement

Cut 

Type of scene transition where scene is stopped abruptly

Accounts for over 90% of scene transitions 

Continuity Style of Editing

Starting out with a wide shot then getting gradually closer and closer to characters..always best to cut to characters close ups while they are in the process of sitting down

180* Rule

Figure out what your axis of action is then you can put the camera anywhere within 180* of the scene

What were the oppositions in 3:10 to Yuma

Civilization vs. Savagery: Bale's character is married with kids vs Ben Wade outlaw

The group vs. the Indians: Railroad owners vs. the chinese laborers.

East vs. West: Mr. Butterfield represents the East. 
The railroad in Chicago was branching towards the West. 
Dan and his family were from the East, moved because of his kid being sick.

Garden vs. Desert: Dan Evans trying to carve out a ranch in the wilderness.

Town vs. Wilderness: Railroad is the way of taming the wilderness

Individual vs. Community: Dan vs. the town, they are trying to run him off his land... 

Ben Wade vs. Community

Order v. Anarchy: Ben vs. Anarchy


And that in Westerns recently, the town is shown as being corrupt. Whereas, the original westerns, the town was seen as a good thing.