Film Study: Cinematography

Here are two clips from what we watched yesterday.  Feel free to write your paragraph about one of them!

12 Angry Men Film Study Paragraph

You are going to write a paragraph on the cinematography used in a scene from the movie, and how it affects the story.

An example topic sentence would be something like:  "In the scene about .... (describe the scene you chose) ... the director used many types of cinematography to enhance the story."  Then, pick some of the terms that were used, and discuss how they were used.

Cinematography terms:

• overhead "God's Eye View"
• underneath "Ant's Eye View"
• dolly in, out, or across
• pan down, up, left, or right
• rack focus from one subject to another (action/reaction)
• over-the-shoulder (character's perspective)
• establishing shot

• landscape (wide), group (medium), close-up, or extreme close-up (extreme emotion) 

• musical score/soundtrack
• lighting (dark=something to hide, light=exposed and open)
• costuming

Camera Angles and Cinematography terms!

A director uses these elements to enhance the TONE and the THEMES of the movie.  We'll be applying it to Twelve Angry Men.

Score: music composed for a specific film to enhance emotion.

Establishing Shot: a shot that introduces a location and/or character.  It gives us the context, the "big picture" of the movie...so we know where this is, what the setting is.

Pan: when the camera turns on a single axis.

Dolly Shot: a steady camera movement through a scene in a single shot.

Rack Focus: a shift of focus from one element on a screen to another.

Wide Shot: shows the whole character.  More of a distant feel to it.  It's used often in introducing characters.

Medium Shot: shows character from waist to head.  Often used for dialogue.  This is the most frequent type of shot used in American film, and most of a movie is at this distance.

 

Close Up: shows a character's head and shoulders (although it can be of an object like a knife).   This gives you a chance to see the character's facial expressions.  Often used when we need to see a character's emotions.

  

another close up.....

  

Extreme Close Up: shows only a portion of the the face, ex: eyes or mouth.  These are the closest shots you can get and are used to focus on emotion.

 

another extreme close up...

 

and another...

 

and one more!

Test Moved to Monday

Test has been moved to Monday.  Today we reviewed.  See the image and video below.  Tomorrow we will discuss cinematography and we'll watch your videos...hooray!

Update...video fixed....sorry!

12 Angry Men Movie

Today we had the spelling bee team finals.  Congratulations to Tucker and Caroline!  We will be watching them compete against the rest of the school on January 31st!

The second half of the half-day was spent watching the brilliant movie, 12 Angry Men.  If you were absent, you can find it on Youtube (below).

Homework:  12 Angry Men objective test is on Friday.

Cinematography Intro

Hi folks!

In the video below, you will learn many of the elements of cinematography.  Your assignment: be able to tell me three terms that were discussed in the movie, and were NOT on the handout I gave you for tomorrow.

Homework:  Watch the video below.  12 Angry Men test on Friday.  Movie terms sheet due Thursday.

Cinematography in 12 Angry Men

A director uses these elements to enhance the TONE (overall emotional feeling) and the THEMES of the movie.  We'll be applying it to Twelve Angry Men.

Score: music composed for a specific film to enhance emotion.

Establishing Shot: a shot that introduces a location and/or character.  It gives us the context, the "big picture" of the movie...so we know where this is, what the setting is.

Pan: when the camera turns on a single axis.

Dolly Shot: a steady camera movement through a scene in a single shot.

Rack Focus: a shift of focus from one element on a screen to another.

Wide Shot: shows the whole character.  More of a distant feel to it.  It's used often in introducing characters.

Medium Shot: shows character from waist to head.  Often used for dialogue.  This is the most frequent type of shot used in American film, and most of a movie is at this distance.

 

Close Up: shows a character's head and shoulders (although it can be of an object like a knife).   This gives you a chance to see the character's facial expressions.  Often used when we need to see a character's emotions.

  

Extreme Close Up: shows only a portion of the the face, ex: eyes or mouth.  These are the closest shots you can get and are used to focus on emotion.

 

and another...

 

Filming

Today we created our short films in class and tomorrow will be putting some finishing touches on them and will be uploading them.

Those of you who prepared and brought in costumes...your effort really seemed to pay off!

Homework:  12 Angry Men objective test is this Friday.

Finish the Play and Bring in a Costume!

On Monday we're going to be using the iPads to shoot a little video of your character...that's why you need your costumes!

There are specific things that need to be in your video...that's why you need to watch the video below this weekend...so you can come prepared to shoot!

Only one class completely finished the play, so the rest of us will finish it Monday as well, right before we jump into the shooting.

We covered some intense parts of the play today...the video also has a little bit of review.

Homework:  Watch the video and bring in your character's costume.  The video will tell you what you need to have in your short film.

Acting Day 4

We will finish this play tomorrow!  We will have a little discussion and then watch the movie shortly thereafter next week.

Homework:  Watch the movie below.  It will ask you to post something on Edmodo...watch it to find out what!

Acting Day 2

Today we acted once again...and the tension is building!  Tomorrow we will continue acting.

Homework:  Read up to page 45. Watch the video below.  It has a question that you need to post an answer for on Edmodo.

Acting: Day 1

Hi folks,

Today we began acting.  Tomorrow we will continue.  If you had a classmate who has the same role, it will be their turn tomorrow.

Homework:  Watch the video below.  Write the answers down on a separate piece of paper, and be ready to be called upon in class tomorrow.

You Decide

Come see the play 12 Angry Men (directed by Mr. Stowell)

For tickets, go to www.playersring.org.  You can also check out a ton of pictures at the Facebook page!

12 Angry Men Poster

It's coming sooooon!!!!

Today in class - film terms quiz

Today you are getting new seats for the quarter.  We are also cleaning out the old binders, talking about third quarter, and ... taking the film terms quiz!

Oh yeah, and you're passing in the final draft of your 12 Angry Men Essay.

I used Easybib.com to make this citation, actually...and yes it was easy.  I used the ISBN number...and voila:

Rose, Reginald. Twelve Angry Men. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

Watch the Entire 12 Angry Men Movie Right Through YouTube!

There is a link you can watch it through YouTube right here... or you can watch right off the blog below!

Motivations

9 to NG: He  really admired that 8 stood alone, and he now wants to hear more.  People accused 5 of changing his vote during the secret ballot that 8 abstained from, but it was really 9.  He may have been slightly subconsciously influenced by 8 putting his hand on his shoulder when 10 sassed him.

5 to NG: Not only did he have some sympathy for the defendant who was from the slums as he was, but he believed that a witness couldn't possibly hear the words "I'm going to kill you" as an el train was roaring by, therefor causing him to doubt the old witnesses testimony.

11 to NG: He changed his vote at the same time as 5, so we can assume that the noise was also a motivating factor.  Additionally, he raised the point that it would be illogical for the defendant to return to the scene of the crime.

2 to NG: He actually timed the "retracing" of the old witness's steps, and found that it was 42 seconds, not 15 seconds that the witness testified took him to cover 55.5 feet.  Also, he himself yelled at a man once who made him mad, so he could believe that the words "I'm going to kill you" don't necessarily mean it.

6 to NG: He's a painter, so when the discussion turned to the layout of the apartment and hearing a train go by, (he painted in a house close to a train), he paid close attention.  Right after the retracing of the witness's steps, he believed the old witness may have assumed he heard the words "I'm going to kill you" but didn't really.  It helped that 3 had been such a jerk to 9, and he even just helped restrain 3 from lunging at 8.

7 to NG: He had been complaining about missing his game the entire time...and when he saw that they were deadlocked in a 6-6 tie, he changed his vote to NG.  11 gave him a very tough time about this, saying he was playing games with a man's life.  7 didn't have a very convincing reason.

Foreman to NG:  He reluctantly raised his hand to change with 7 and 12 after the 6-6 vote to bring it to 9-3...but why?  Immediately beforehand, 5 spoke about the knife angle being all wrong, so that could have been it.  However, before that he brought up the psychologist's testimony that the boy had homicidal tendencies, but 11 shot that down by saying many people...even people in the room may be judged to have the same tendencies, and that doesn't mean you'll act on them.  This was illustrated beautifully when 3 lunged at 8.  Also helpful to note: right after that argument, he had a little bonding moment with 8 at the window, talking about one of his games in coaching football.

12 to NG: This guy was never really sure about anything.  When the angle of the knife was discussed and 5 said no experienced knife fighter would stab overhand, he changed his mind...but just for a little while.

12 to Guilty:  This guy went back to guilty after 3 and 4 claimed that the only thing that mattered was the female eye-witness to the murder was the only thing that mattered and you could throw out all the other evidence.  This brought the vote back to 8-4.

10 to NG: He was one of the three last holdouts.  When he saw that the vote had turned to 9 to 3 in favor of NG, he exploded.  He was then promptly shunned and shut down after his rant of bigotry.  For the rest of the play he sulked and caved, going along with the NG vote, even though he believed otherwise.

4 to NG:  It took 9's observation that the female witness had glasses just like four to finally convince him that there was a reasonable doubt: nobody wears glasses to bed, and the woman's eyesight was now called into question.

12 to NG:  This guy really was bouncing back and forth like a tennis ball.  It was the glasses testimony that convinced him too...you'll notice in the movie that he has glasses as well.

3 to NG:  The only thing that made this juror finally capitulate was the fact that the rest of the juror's made him realize that his anger towards his own son was influencing his vote for guilty.  He broke down in tears...and the 8 vs. GROUP conflict was resolved in the climax!

Quote Hunt 2: Hints for the Homework

1. 3 vs. the Group:  look towards the end where 3 is the only one holding onto not-guilty.
2. 7 vs. 11: 11 was yelling at 7 for being irresponsible.  Look for where 7 changes his vote.
3. 10 vs. 9:  Look for the old man calling 10 out on his bigotry.  There are a few times where they butt heads.
4. 3 vs. 4:  These guys are allies throughout most of the book, but there is a point towards the end where they disagree.  Look for that.
5. 3 vs. 6:  Everyman likes to stand up for 9.  When 3 gets fresh with 9, 6 tells him he better quit it or....
6. 4 vs. 8:  These two are the two smartest guys of the whole bunch.  Look for where 8 is strongly questioning 4, and 4 starts to sweat.
7. characterization of 10:  Look for the part where 10 is being a super-bigot.
8. characterization of 3: Look for where he breaks down at the end.
9. characterize 8:  There are several places throughout...
10. characterize 11:  The immigrant takes this whole process very seriously and really believes in our justice system.  Look for a place where he is discussing this.
11. characterize 7:  This guy just wants to get the trial over with.  Look for a spot where he makes that clear.