SO last weeks screening was Zodiac directed by David Fincher (2007) this 2 hour and 45 minute film I actually really loved, it gripped me from the start to the end. Set in the 60’s and 70’s a serial killer zodiac leaves messages, cyphers and phone calls to mess with the investigators of the murders. The investigators (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and cartoon artist and reporter (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) all have their own way of finding out who the killer is. This movie was full of suspense, as an audience member I felt the frustration of the investigators trying to figure out who zodiac is. I was constantly on edge trying to figure out the messages, attempting to fit the pieces all together.

This week in intro to cinema, our reading was about the shot and cinematography. In summary this discusses how cinematography which literally means writing in movement depends largely on the photography of the shot. A few key terms I picked up in this reading are things that cinematographers consider when setting up a shot so it communicates the right message. The focal length is important as is changes the size and the perspective that we perceive something including the depth of the image. Exposure regulate how much light passes through the camera and this basically alters the light within a frame. Depth of field, which is how objects are photographed from a range of distances in sharp focus. Special effects, where perspective of a shot can become unrealistic (superimposition) or realistic. The importance of  framing during a shoot. Perspective and framing are taken into careful consideration to ensure the subject is seen in a certain way. Camera position is another part of cinematorgpray including angles (straight-on angle, a high angle, or the low angle), Height,(higher or lower than the subject.), Distance of Framing (close up, long shot, mid shot, extreme close up etc.) and movement (tracking, dolly shot etc.)

 

The movie itself was very interesting to analyse, I noted that in some shots with the zodiac involved the camera angle was positioned low to give him a sense of power and authority. This also made us as audience feel a sense of fear, likewise the movement when slow and panning gave a real sense of anticipation which I found was used a lot. Long shots of the zodiac also gave a loss of individuality and identity which ultimately followed along with the storyline and the investigators.  The exposure in many cases involving the zodiac was quite dark, in particular the scene in the house of one of the suspects who has a basement and the exposure is very dark as the lighting is only the light bulb in the basement. This gave a super eerie feeling and the cinematographer I assume planned this out to ensure this feeling was achieved.