MM110 - WK14 - Film as Visual Communication

Visual Language of Film

Introduction

  • Film is a significant part of our culture and consciousness.

  • Focus is on how film communicates visually, not just the history or general content.

  • Film uses sound, verbal elements, and visual elements to communicate, but this lecture focuses on the visual aspects.

Mise-en-scène

  • Mise-en-scène: A French term meaning "placing on the stage."

  • Refers to the arrangement of everything that appears in the frame of a film shot.

    • Includes: setting, lighting, props, costume, makeup, actors, hair, frame, and camerawork.

  • The director is in charge of all these elements.

  • Essential look of the film is important to keep the audience invested.

  • Composition is part of the principles and elements of design.

The Director's Role

  • The director decides what goes where, when, and how.

  • The director wins the Best Picture Oscar because they oversee the entire movie.

  • The cinematographer manages the camera but the director manages all elements.

  • The director works with the cinematographer, actors, set directors, and set designers.

Evolution of Mise-en-scène

  • Early films showed simple scenes of everyday tasks.

  • As technology advanced, mise-en-scène grew more complex.

  • Examples of early films:

    • Metropolis: A silent film relying entirely on visuals.

    • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: Another silent film with complex visuals.

Visual Storytelling

  • Citizen Kane: The first three minutes are purely visual, conveying the initial story without dialogue.

  • Visual style: Specific visual factors that evoke emotions or convey information.

  • Each shot can project a large amount of meaning.

Example: The Exorcist

  • The visuals (e.g., lighting, shadows) create a terrifying atmosphere.

  • Visuals can deeply affect the viewer, even without sound.

Key Terms: Setting, Set, and Location

  • Setting: The place and time in which the events of a film occur.

  • Used to transport the viewer to a specific location or time period.

  • The set and setting set the tone or feel for the movie.

  • Set: A constructed space within the setting.

  • Location: An actual place used for filming.

Edward Scissorhands Example

  • The setting is a super 1950s nuclear family-style neighborhood.

  • The setting is the opposite of the main character, Edward.

  • Setting supports a character or shows how the character doesn't fit into the place.

Rear Window Example

  • The entire movie takes place on a set built on a soundstage.

  • The set looks like a real neighborhood in New York.

Control and Virtual Sets

  • Sets give directors control over lighting, weather, and other elements.

  • Virtual sets (CGI) offer even more control and allow for special effects.

Actual Locations

  • Actual locations are now more common, especially for exterior shots.

  • It takes a lot of work to use actual locations because you have less control.

Props, Figures, and Costumes

  • Props (properties): Objects used by actors that carry symbolism and significance.

  • Figure: Any object in the film's frame including human figures, background characters, pets, or animals.

  • Star Wars lightsabers: Colors communicate good (blue/green) versus evil (red).

Actors as Visual Objects

  • Actors are significant visual objects that convey ideas.

  • Directors cast actors to portray archetypes or stereotypes.

  • Leo DiCaprio in The Revenant: Visuals of his body and facial expressions convey emotion.

Costumes and Makeup

  • Costumes and makeup enhance the authenticity of a film.

  • Dress visually communicates information (e.g., class differences in 12 Years a Slave).

  • Moonrise Kingdom: Costumes are period-specific and hyperreal.

Lighting and Color

  • Lighting and color add depth and complexity to a scene.

  • Blade Runner: Lighting contributes to the dystopian theme.

  • Raging Bull: Lighting creates a dramatic effect, inspired by documentary-style photos.

  • Color palettes create moods and reveal information.

  • Schindler's List: The red coat on a little girl stands out in the black-and-white film. The red coat symbolized the world knowing about the Holocaust but did nothing to stop it.

The Power of Film

  • Film combines sound, picture, and actors, making it a powerful art form.

  • Film is culmination of human communication from rock drawings to modern movies.

Discussion Assignment

  • Pick a scene from a film that means something to you visually.

  • Discuss the visuals in that scene.

  • Example: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, car going out the window.

This are some terms used in discussing how the film is made.