The Language of Film Prof Myrna Monllor Jimnez

The Language of Film Prof. Myrna Monllor Jiménez English 124 © copyright Myrna Monllor Jiménez 2007

The great thing about literature is that you can imagine, the great thing about film is that you can’t. James Monaco, How to Read a Film

The better a viewer reads an image the more he/she understands it. • Their physical reality • What they refer to based on cultural references • Their various sets of meanings

When you look at a frame, one of the first things to consider is distance. How much do you see of the character(s)? • Is it a close up? • Is it a full shot? • Is it a medium shot? Can you see the whole body or a part of the body?

In general the closer the camera gets to the characters, the closer the viewer feels towards the characters. This is why close ups are often used for: § love scenes § scenes where the character is suffering or fearful § any other scene where the viewer is supposed to understand what the character is feeling.

As the camera moves further away from the character(s), the viewer is provided more information about them or about their situation. From Rosemary’s Baby 1968 From Babel 2006

The further the camera is from the subject, the more distant you will feel from what is happening in the scene or to the character(s).

Another thing you should consider when observing A frame is the angle or camera position. § Was the frame shot from high above? (a high angle) § Was it shot at eye level? § Was it shot from a low angle?

A frame shot from a high angle is often referred to as God’s eye view because it suggests that ‘someone’ is observing the characters. It can suggest danger and helplessness. 300 2006

Apocalypto 2007 The Fountain 2007

A frame shot from a low angle makes the subject seem larger. Citizen Kane 1941 The Postman Always Rings Twice 1946

The Dark Knight 2008

A character that seems larger than another in a frame is usually the dominant character. From Double Indemnity 1944 From Letter from an Unknown Woman 1948 From Gone with the Wind 1939 From Rebecca 1940

A canted angle suggests that something is wrong either in the character or the story’s situation.

Besides shots and angles, you should also watch for symbols. Some common symbols are: Images of entrapment are usually shown through characters framed by doors, gates, or confined spaces (like closets). From The Kid 1921 From Carrie 1976

Pan’s Labyrinth 2006 Atonement 2007

The Hours 2002 The Ring 2002 The Painted Veil 2006

A Beautiful Mind 2001 LA Confidential 1997

Images of duality are usually represented by characters reflected in mirrors , water, glass. Psycho 1960

The Matrix 2003 Taxi Driver 1976 The Lady from Shanghai, 1947

Stairs, dark alleys, canted angles, darkness enveloping a character, seeing only part of a character are some images of imminent danger. From The French Connection From Silence of the Lambs From Kiss Me Deadly From Halloween

From The Sixth Sense From The Others

Light cutting through a character(s), lines which divide the frame, usually mark images of characters that are in turmoil. From Blade Runner From The Awful Truth From The Usual Suspects

Sweeney Todd 2007

Other Symbols Christ figures/Biblical References From Dead Man Walking Crosses From The Omen Pan’s Labyrinth

From Hell 2001

Rebirth Color From Schindler’s List

Eyes From The Blair Witch Project From Un Perro Andaluz From Psycho From Spellbound

Phallic symbols From King Kong From Blade From Rear Window

Blood Destruction or desecration of symbols From Planet of the Apes

The Moon Water From Jaws From E. T. Roads From North by Northwest …and many others Trees

From Collateral From The Ring From Alexander From Superman The Black Dahlia

Other definitions • Cliché- overuse of situations, symbols • Voice over-a narrator whose voice is heard throughout a film • Restricted narration-limited to one character • Omniscient narration-changes from one character to another, the viewer receives information from many sources.

Auteurs vs. genre • An auteur is a director who manifests a consistency of style and theme across his/her films. Auteur films are inventive and creative. Auteur films emphasize their uniqueness. • Genre refers to a mass produced product of the Hollywood film industry. It studies the conventions of certain kinds of films. Genre categorizes films according to their thematic and visual similarities. Genres are not static, they evolve. They also create certain expectations in the viewer.

Bibliography Buckland, Warren. Teach Yourself Film studies. Hodder & Stoughton, 1998. Monaco James, How to Read a Film. Oxford University Press, 3 rd edition, 2000. Copyright 2007©Myrna Monllor Jiménez