My Movie
The movie, I chose was "Unstoppable", and I reviewed my own work. I was clear and had a lot of information. It wasn't that organized, but you can understand it. I feel like I talked about the film as a whole, instead of the extract. I did a good job evaluating lighting, editing, sound, and cinematography. I didn't talk about the target audience. I covered all the material, but I might need a little more analyse of my evidence, so it could sound more valuable. Overall, I did a good job. The score I give myself is a 20 because I still feel that my film terminology is undeveloped. Also, I need to focus more on the extract than the film as a whole. I didn't give much meaning when I explained my extract.
Jennifer Lewis's Oral Presentation
I reviewed the oral presentation named "Million Dollar Baby", and this presentation is made by Jennifer Lewis. She did a good job explaining the lighting. I liked how she said that dark lighting shows the character's persona and how the characters persona is hidden and still didn't express their personalities to the audience yet. This was a good comment because, she didn't just say that dark lighting means the character is sad, she went deeper. The comment about gender was good because in general, women are seen weak, but in this movie they seem powerful then men. There are a lot of closeups to express the character's feelings. She made a good comment when the character sticks the needle in the woman's body, the audience sees the heart meter go down. That symbolizes that she is dying. The editing shows the action than the reaction of the characters, which is a good point because it connects to the character's emotions. Overall, she did a good job explaining social, political, and economic factors. She should of talked more about cinematography, because she was above the surface. Good comment about how relationships impact our lives, and in this movie the character's relationships impact their live. She did a good job, and I give her an A. I give her the score of 21 she was very clear and she did a good job evaluating, but she didn't talk a lot about specific topics, like cinematography and sound. She also didn't say how the extract relates to the film as a whole.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
IB Oral: Narrative-Film Language and Representation
Narrative
How is this film constructed according to narrative/ story being told?
Unstoppable is about a run- away train carrying a cargo of toxic material, and Will and Frank try to stop the train before it destroys the city. The extract picked begins from 01:19:00 to 01:24:00. In this part of the movie, Will and Frank must slow the train speed because they are about to encounter a path that is a 15 per mile zone. The train is going about 70 miles per hour. The train is on the curved path and a few materials fall off the train. After the train passes the curve, Frank tries to jump between the cars, but the big gap between the cars stopped him. So, Will jumps off the train into a red truck driven by Nedney. News helicopters are all over the scene. In this extract we see reactions of Will's family, Frank's family, and other people.
Is the narrative organized by a plot or time sequence, or some other way?
This movie is organized as a time sequence.
Does the film use other principles than narrative sequence as a structure (for instance, an argument)?
Well this movie is a narrative sequence because the plot is only one day. The run- away train begins in the morning and the film kept going with that sequence. There wasn't a change in day, it was just one continuous plot. This film was simple because it was in a continuous time sequence.
What is the nature of our engagement with the story or characters?
The nature of our engagement with the story is that the audience will know that the two protagonists, Will and Frank will stop the run away train. For example, in the extract, the audience knew that when Will was about to jump in the back of the trunk, he will make it. To jump into the back of the truck is hard, but we know that he was going to make it. Its the same thing with the story, the audience knows that Frank and Will will stop the run- away train.
Film Language and Representation
How are the characters and issues represented?
The characters communicate with the audience pretty well because, the audience could feel the emotion or tension of the character's situation. For example, in the extract, Will and Frank communicate with each other when the train is approaching the curve. The characters are very stressed, and while speaking with each other their voices are loud. The audience feels a tension because we don't know if the train will pass through the curve safely. The characters in that scene represented the situation really well. Another example is when we see the headquarters. The tension of the railroad workers is represented thoroughly. The issue is represented clearly, because we know that the train is holding hazardous material. In the extract, the train encounters a 15 per mile zone, but is going about 70 miles per hour. This shows that the issue is that if the train falls, many people will be harmed.
What is the style and effect of acting and performance?
The style of the acting is simple, the actors didn't have a lot of dialogue. For example in the extract, Will an Frank communicate with each with a couple of words. Especially the part where the train is on the curve. The actors affected the story because their performance was so realistic, which gave the movie a sense of tension and mystery. The whole film was based more on action, than the style of the actors. Will and Frank did a good job expressing their feelings toward the audience. In the extract, as the train encounters the curve, Will and Frank are communicating with each other, and their voices sound scared and the voices were loud. This gave the audience a feeling of tension just by seeing the actors performance.
How is the meaning created by camera angles, shots, and camera movement?
There are lot of close-ups to the actors. For example, in the extract there is a close-up on the Will and Frank's faces, and when the actor talks it goes to an extreme close-up. This creates meaning because extreme close- up shots show emotion or tension of what the actor is conveying.There is a lot of panning shots and this create meaning to intensify or create mystery. For example in the extract, the train is close to the curve, the camera is panning, this shows or gives mystery because the audience is anticipating what come next. In this film there is a lot of traveling shots. These shots are used so the camera can follow the action. Since this a an action movie, this shot is used a lot. The camera movement is stable in some part of the movie, then it gets jerky, when there is a lot of action. For example in the extract, while and during the train is passing the curve, the camera movement is jerky. This creates meaning because it gives us a sense of how fast the train is going and it shows that its very dangerous. During the action scenes, there are lot of crane shots. In the extract, the crane shot is used to show all angles of the area to give the sense to the audience about everything going on. Majority of camera angles used were high and low angles. For example when the train was on the curve, there was a low angle. This makes the train look bigger and more dangerous. There are also low angle shots to show the rails of the train. This shot shows how fast the train is going.
How is the meaning created through proxemics, territorial design, or open or closed forms?
In the beginning of the movie there was a lot of open forms. The only parts that were closed forms is when Will and Frank were talking about their problems in the train. The rest of the movie was open form. For example in the extract, as the train encounters the curve the audience sees different angles. There are also shots of the actors or people. The shots weren't always on the Will and Frank, it was more on the setting, the train, the people, helicopter, etc. The territorial design was mostly a path of train tracks. But from those train tracks the audience can see every angle.
How is meaning created by editing and sequencing?
Meaning is created by editing because the audience could feel and see the tension and the action with a variety of shots. This movie is classical cutting because it is a action movie. For example, after the train passes the curve we see the emotion of other the actors. All of them started to clap, and Will and Frank had a smile on their face. This editing sequence lets us see all the emotions form the majority of the actors. It creates meaning to show that this is an action movie, and action movies must have variety of shots and fast paste cuts.
How is meaning created by lighting, shade, and color?
The weather of the setting is cloudy. A cloudy day creates slow fall off and transparent shadows. There is a lot of high color temperature. For example in the extract, when the camera shows Will's face in the train, the color is blue and that shows high temperature. The gloomy color represents a bad day, since there is a run away train that can cause harm to the people and the city. The color blue is seen a lot, and that gives a sense of sadness. Color blue is used more because it represents the sadness of Will because he has issues with his wife. Also, Frank because he forgot to call his daughter on her birthday, and she is mad at him. The color of train is red. The color red represents dangerous.
How is meaning created by sound and music?
There is lots of non-synchronous sounds. For example in the extract, the train is passing the curve and there is a lot of sound added after post production to make the movie sound more realistic. The music showed a sense of mystery and sadness. For example in the extract, the train is on the curve and we hear a sad tone a its not played loud. The other sounds that were played over the music were the sounds of the train and Frank and Will talking with each other. The sound of the train was more directed to the film than the music. In the extract, some material fall off the train, the sound of the materials were non synchronous, and the audience could hear the that sound more than the background music. Throughout the whole movie, there was non synchronous sounds and foley sounds.
How is meaning created by location, set design, and mis en scene?
The location of train shows a path, which could mean dangerous. Th train is moving along that path, and its holding dangerous material. For example in the extract, when the train is on the curved path, material fell off the train, this shows mystery because the train might fall off the curve. The location was a gloomy day, and that shows sadness or represent a bad day.
Does the film make use of symbols, metaphors, or allegories? Share are they and how do they work within the context of the film?
There is the symbol of family. Since Will and Frank had issues with family before going to work, their families never suspected that something will go bad today with their loved one. For example in the extract, Will and Frank are in the train as the its on the curve. Will's family comes to the scene and are terrified because Will is on the dangerous train. Frank's daughters are at work, and they are watching the news to make sure their father is o.k.
How is meaning created by technical elements such as production design, mise en scene, composition, special effects (matte paintings, models or animation, computer generated images….etc.)?
How is this film constructed according to narrative/ story being told?
 |
| Frank jumping to the next car |
Is the narrative organized by a plot or time sequence, or some other way?
This movie is organized as a time sequence.
Does the film use other principles than narrative sequence as a structure (for instance, an argument)?
Well this movie is a narrative sequence because the plot is only one day. The run- away train begins in the morning and the film kept going with that sequence. There wasn't a change in day, it was just one continuous plot. This film was simple because it was in a continuous time sequence.
What is the nature of our engagement with the story or characters?
The nature of our engagement with the story is that the audience will know that the two protagonists, Will and Frank will stop the run away train. For example, in the extract, the audience knew that when Will was about to jump in the back of the trunk, he will make it. To jump into the back of the truck is hard, but we know that he was going to make it. Its the same thing with the story, the audience knows that Frank and Will will stop the run- away train.
Film Language and Representation
How are the characters and issues represented?
The characters communicate with the audience pretty well because, the audience could feel the emotion or tension of the character's situation. For example, in the extract, Will and Frank communicate with each other when the train is approaching the curve. The characters are very stressed, and while speaking with each other their voices are loud. The audience feels a tension because we don't know if the train will pass through the curve safely. The characters in that scene represented the situation really well. Another example is when we see the headquarters. The tension of the railroad workers is represented thoroughly. The issue is represented clearly, because we know that the train is holding hazardous material. In the extract, the train encounters a 15 per mile zone, but is going about 70 miles per hour. This shows that the issue is that if the train falls, many people will be harmed.
What is the style and effect of acting and performance?
The style of the acting is simple, the actors didn't have a lot of dialogue. For example in the extract, Will an Frank communicate with each with a couple of words. Especially the part where the train is on the curve. The actors affected the story because their performance was so realistic, which gave the movie a sense of tension and mystery. The whole film was based more on action, than the style of the actors. Will and Frank did a good job expressing their feelings toward the audience. In the extract, as the train encounters the curve, Will and Frank are communicating with each other, and their voices sound scared and the voices were loud. This gave the audience a feeling of tension just by seeing the actors performance.
How is the meaning created by camera angles, shots, and camera movement?
There are lot of close-ups to the actors. For example, in the extract there is a close-up on the Will and Frank's faces, and when the actor talks it goes to an extreme close-up. This creates meaning because extreme close- up shots show emotion or tension of what the actor is conveying.There is a lot of panning shots and this create meaning to intensify or create mystery. For example in the extract, the train is close to the curve, the camera is panning, this shows or gives mystery because the audience is anticipating what come next. In this film there is a lot of traveling shots. These shots are used so the camera can follow the action. Since this a an action movie, this shot is used a lot. The camera movement is stable in some part of the movie, then it gets jerky, when there is a lot of action. For example in the extract, while and during the train is passing the curve, the camera movement is jerky. This creates meaning because it gives us a sense of how fast the train is going and it shows that its very dangerous. During the action scenes, there are lot of crane shots. In the extract, the crane shot is used to show all angles of the area to give the sense to the audience about everything going on. Majority of camera angles used were high and low angles. For example when the train was on the curve, there was a low angle. This makes the train look bigger and more dangerous. There are also low angle shots to show the rails of the train. This shot shows how fast the train is going.
How is the meaning created through proxemics, territorial design, or open or closed forms?
In the beginning of the movie there was a lot of open forms. The only parts that were closed forms is when Will and Frank were talking about their problems in the train. The rest of the movie was open form. For example in the extract, as the train encounters the curve the audience sees different angles. There are also shots of the actors or people. The shots weren't always on the Will and Frank, it was more on the setting, the train, the people, helicopter, etc. The territorial design was mostly a path of train tracks. But from those train tracks the audience can see every angle.
How is meaning created by editing and sequencing?
Meaning is created by editing because the audience could feel and see the tension and the action with a variety of shots. This movie is classical cutting because it is a action movie. For example, after the train passes the curve we see the emotion of other the actors. All of them started to clap, and Will and Frank had a smile on their face. This editing sequence lets us see all the emotions form the majority of the actors. It creates meaning to show that this is an action movie, and action movies must have variety of shots and fast paste cuts.
How is meaning created by lighting, shade, and color?
The weather of the setting is cloudy. A cloudy day creates slow fall off and transparent shadows. There is a lot of high color temperature. For example in the extract, when the camera shows Will's face in the train, the color is blue and that shows high temperature. The gloomy color represents a bad day, since there is a run away train that can cause harm to the people and the city. The color blue is seen a lot, and that gives a sense of sadness. Color blue is used more because it represents the sadness of Will because he has issues with his wife. Also, Frank because he forgot to call his daughter on her birthday, and she is mad at him. The color of train is red. The color red represents dangerous.
How is meaning created by sound and music?
There is lots of non-synchronous sounds. For example in the extract, the train is passing the curve and there is a lot of sound added after post production to make the movie sound more realistic. The music showed a sense of mystery and sadness. For example in the extract, the train is on the curve and we hear a sad tone a its not played loud. The other sounds that were played over the music were the sounds of the train and Frank and Will talking with each other. The sound of the train was more directed to the film than the music. In the extract, some material fall off the train, the sound of the materials were non synchronous, and the audience could hear the that sound more than the background music. Throughout the whole movie, there was non synchronous sounds and foley sounds.
How is meaning created by location, set design, and mis en scene?
The location of train shows a path, which could mean dangerous. Th train is moving along that path, and its holding dangerous material. For example in the extract, when the train is on the curved path, material fell off the train, this shows mystery because the train might fall off the curve. The location was a gloomy day, and that shows sadness or represent a bad day.
Does the film make use of symbols, metaphors, or allegories? Share are they and how do they work within the context of the film?
There is the symbol of family. Since Will and Frank had issues with family before going to work, their families never suspected that something will go bad today with their loved one. For example in the extract, Will and Frank are in the train as the its on the curve. Will's family comes to the scene and are terrified because Will is on the dangerous train. Frank's daughters are at work, and they are watching the news to make sure their father is o.k.
There wasn't any computer generated images because the director Tony Scott, wanted to make this movie realistic. For example, when Frank is on top of the train, the train is actually moving. I though the special effects created meaning because it emphasized more on the action. For example in the extract, there were shots of the the bottom of the train, and there were sparks of fire, so that was a special effect. The color of train represents Will's and Frank's lives because they are having trouble with their families, and their life is running through their hands, and they can't do anything to stop it. When they stop the train, they catch their lives because in the film, Will reunites with his wife and son. Frank is happy with his two daughters.
What emotional information is conveyed through the film making process?
Since this movie is based on a real event, this movie is emotional. The emotional information that is conveyed through the film making process is the thought of the people that were affected by the real historical event. The film makers has to take in the consideration of the people in Ohio that were affected by the run away train. In the extract, Will's and Frank's families were affected because their loved ones are trying to stop a dangerous train.
What emotional information is conveyed through the film making process?
Since this movie is based on a real event, this movie is emotional. The emotional information that is conveyed through the film making process is the thought of the people that were affected by the real historical event. The film makers has to take in the consideration of the people in Ohio that were affected by the run away train. In the extract, Will's and Frank's families were affected because their loved ones are trying to stop a dangerous train.
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