Deciding on a film opening is one of the hardest part of the pre-production process in filming, recently my team members and I hit a wall becoming indecisive on which genre we should do. Although we had plenty of ideas we decided for each of us to research specific genres to see which vibe fit our vision.
Fantasy
As I dove into the fantasy genre two films caught my attention, which were Wicked and The Green Knight. These films are a modern fantasy masterpiece, using lighting and clothing for visuals and a base to connect the audience to their themes.
Wicked
Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu and shot by cinematographer Alice Brooks, uses lighting and costume design to clearly pay tribute to the original 1939 film while still reinventing the story in a more modern way. The film references the classic use of color, contrast, and visual symbols but updates it with softer lighting and more detailed costuming. Glinda is seen as the "rising sun", frequently backlit by warm sunrise lighting that gives her a natural spotlight. This visual choice mirrors the idealized "good characters" in the original film, while also gives Glinda an ethereal almost dreamlike quality. Meanwhile, Elphaba is presented as the "setting sun", using darker tones and heavier lighting to reflect her misunderstood nature in the film. This contrast not only honors the visual storytelling but also deepens characters by showing how light and shadows can shape identities.
The Green Knight
The Green Knight approaches fantasy differently from Wicked especially in context of genre conventions. Instead of using bright colors and clear good versus evil dynamics the film uses muted visuals, natural lighting, and a slow paced vibe to create an unsettling and reflective tone. Director David Lowery relies on these types of symbolism and minimal dialogue to challenge traditional fantasy narratives audiences are used to seeing now days.
Comedy / Drama
The first film that instantly came to mind when I started researching comedy and drama was Lady Bird. I had watched it in my sophomore year of high school, and it really resonated with me, which aligns with how these films make their stories feel real and relatable. Directed by Greta Gerwig the film draws out the drama through emotional conflicts, family dynamics, and lady birds journey to self discovery while also including comedic moments in awkward situations and everyday teen experiences. This balance makes the film both heartfelt and entertaining for the audience.
In terms of media conventions, the film uses close ups to emphasize intimate emotions and handheld camera shots to create a realistic, natural feel. Natural highlights the suburban setting, while music and diegetic sound establish the early 2000s atmosphere.
Thriller
For thriller the film I choose was "Carry on" by Jaume Collet-Serra this film uses an airport setting to create a sense of inescapable pressure. Similar to "Wicked" and how they use lighting to define a character, "Carry on" uses cinematography and pacing to transform an everyday location into a psychological cage.
In this film the usage of technology is predominate such as security camera feeds, X-ray monitors, and phone screens to tell a story. This aligns with a tech thriller sub genre where the protagonist is being watched, the cinematography uses tight framing to show his lack of control contrastingly to the wide shots shown of the airport displaying the hundreds of lives at danger.
From my research and analysis of films like Wicked, The Green Knight, and Lady Bird, I've learned that filmmakers use lighting, camera techniques, and narrative conventions to shape how the audiences connect with character and themes. However exploring the Thriller genre added a layer to my understanding which was the importance of tension technical precision.
I'm also interested in using lighting, camera angles, and media conventions purposefully to highlight characters. I would want my characters emotions to be communicated through these types of techniques so that my audience feels connected and involved. Overall, I feel like I'm on the right track and I'm excited to continue thinking about how genre, audience, and cinematic techniques can all work together to create a film that's both meaningful but visually engaging.
References
https://platformmagazine.org/2023/04/19/a24-authentically-connecting-with-audiences/?
https://colorculture.org/cinematography-analysis-of-lady-bird-in-depth/?
https://studylib.net/doc/25842617/lady-bird-study-guide?
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1340&context=history-in-the-making
https://filmquarterly.org/2021/10/08/the-green-knight-non-whiteness-and-landscape-punk-in-a24orror/
https://preserve.lehigh.edu/system/files/derivatives/coverpage/426182.pdf
https://medium.com/@nicfbalti/from-medieval-to-modern-how-the-green-knight-transforms-sir-gawains-quest-925ed1429a72
No comments:
Post a Comment