Scene analysis 1. Eat Drink Man Woman
Description of this video from 4:39-5:40
Eat Drink Man Woman is a 1994 comedy- drama film directed by Ang Lee. For this version is Mandarin Chinese version with English subtitle. In the entry of this scene, the location set up in the kitchen and the camera is hand- hold by the cameraman. The medium shot for the Master Chef Zhu till other trainee chefs put the uniform for him. The medium follow shots are used so far. After that, there are many close-up shots for the foods, so that point out the foods. Eat Drink Man Woman has very special place in lens and sound. Compared with other films, the lens they use some frames, signs, colors and other expressions to be more straightforward. The hidden meanings and hints in each shot are closely related to the story. Furthermore, in the kitchen scene, there are many hand hold shots, I think it is to make the audience have an immersive experience. Also in the kitchen scenes, there are no background music but some sounds of cooking and yelling of people. The sounds here is to make the environment looks real and noisy. After that, in the “home scenes”, there are mainly shot by medium shots for three daughters, the purpose is point out the main character’s face but gather this three characters in the frame. And also panning to the other side to show the movement is consistent. In the last, the Asian comedy film like Eat Drink Man Woman, the director like to telling the story through the scene and Ang Lee makes people feel the Asian’s fine emotions through the film.
Scene analysis 2. In the Mood for Love
This Scene is Mrs.Su and Mr.Chow are going to get food separately. The soundtrack is a triple meter style music for this scene. This scene is Mrs.Su is walking on the stairs with a thermos, and the camera is panning smoothly, also this scene is slow motion, so that to point out Mrs.Su is charming. Furthermore, the rhythm of the rain under the lights is the repeated montage images to symbolize the lonely and boring life of the two people. The subtle changes of light of the face of Mrs.Su and Mr.Chow when they are facing each other. In this scene, the main light is the street lamp and the stair area is dark, so the view of her back looks lonely. After that, there are some medium wasit shot for Mrs.Su, the purpose is to show her movement when she is waiting for the food. Meanwhile, the shot for Mr.Chow waking through the stairs is same way to take. Furthermore, this scene have no dialogue, so the soundtrack is help the scene develop the atmosphere. In the conclusion, In the mood for love narrative is simple and clear, so the rhythm of the film is slow, which needs theme music to modify. Furthermore, the location of the shooting was in Hong Kong, the shooting content and style were reflect the lifestyle of the contemporary Hong Kong people. In my point, this film representative art originates from life but higher than real life.
Scene analysis 3. In the Mood for Love
In the Mood for Love is a 2000 Hong Kong romantic drama film directed by Wong Kar-wai. This scene is Cantonese version. At the beginning of the this clip, there is a de-focus scene of the booth. The following shot is dirty shot for Mr.Chow and Mrs. Su, this scene starts from Mr.Chow and only can see his face and Mrs. Su’s back. The lighting set up here is mainly form the top, as we can see there are some shadow from the characters, so that the lighting could point out the characters. The following shots are the bust shot for each of them, and the scene are many dialogue. The purpose during the dialogue between Mr.Chow and Mrs.Su is to show their micro-expression. They talk carelessly but thinking each other form inside. Furthermore, there are two close-up shots, one is for the cup of Mrs.Su, she is blending the coffee carelessly, the purpose for this scene is to point out she has something to say but she did not. Another close-up shot is for the cigarette from Mr.Chow. The cigarette is a excuse to avoid embarrass. Meanwhile, the cameraman also give Mr.Chow a extremely close up of he is smoking and quickly pan to the bottom of the cigarette. Furthermore, the soundtrack here is a classic orchestral music and smoothly fade out during the dialogue. In the conclusion, this story is telling a man and a woman whose spouses have an affair together and they slowly develop feeling for each other. As we know, cheating is unethical, also Asians are normally implicit, so Wong Kar-wai cuts out the trivial details and transitional plots, and presents the result of the plot to the audience only through motional scenes and dialogue, so that give the audience more imagination and thinking space.
Reflective Writing 1.
The studio of “The scene in cinema” is telling the coverage/ scene construction/ decoupage, from both an academic, theoretical perspective, and a practical one. To understand coverage of this studio. There are two meaning of coverage. The first is the practice of capturing a dramatic scene as scripted. This usage alludes to functionality and industrial efficiency, and is closely associated with the notion of the supremacy of a script, or text as blueprint. The second is more to do with the expressive potential, and uniquely cinematic application and effects of the process of segmentation.
From the start of this course, the first exercise 1A- A Single Shot. In my opinion, I decided to set up as three shots. The first shot is a dirty/medium shot when Laura enters. The camera will be at the back of Tony and directly. The purpose for the coverage here is only to show actors top of the body and their face and only can see Laura’s facing acting but Tony’s back. The second shot is from when Laura speaks to “over the summer holiday I guess.” This shot I would like to make as wild shot, the purpose is to show actors body language acting. And the camera will be at back of the sofa, so Laura’s face will be the only one in the frame. The last shot of this scene is a medium (close-up) shot. This shot begins when Tony speaking and to the end. The purpose for this set-up is to show Tony’s acting and some micro-face acting. Because from the past 2 scenes, we almost did not see Tony’s face or acting. So, this shot it to set him.
Reflective Writing 2.
“What relationship between focal length and coverage?”
In the frame, the focal length choice directly affects the image. The focal length of a lens is determined when the lens is focused. The focal length tells us the angle of view, how much of the scene will be captured and the magnification, how large individual elements will be. The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view and the higher the magnification.
Response to Chapter 23 ‘Blocking is overlooked and undervalued’ 2009 in Reilly, Tom, The big picture:
Filmmaking lessons from a life on the set, Tomas Dunne Books: St. Martin’s Press, New York, pp.93-97.
according to the article, “Writing, casting and performance, shot selection and lighting, the lens on the camera, location and set design, and music and editing are the most obvious component parts of a film.” From the above elements of the article mentioned. Those parts are the important and more intuitive to express the film. The good film starts from a good script and story; An excellent and talented actor could express the content of the film; An excellent director and cinematographer could make the film better; Furthermore, the lighting, tone, props setting are also significant of the film;
Different type of the film or each single one film has their own atmosphere, style. Each factor determines the final result. For example, two different actor performing a same scene will delivers two different expression, same way as director or any other of the part of the film.
Reflective Writing 3.
Scene-Love In the Afternoon
The scene set up to a medium shot and the scene starts from stare, when the actress came, the camera pan a little bit but following the actress. After the actor came to the frame, this scene become a dirty- medium shot, and we still can see the camera panning with the actors. When the actor walks to the right, the camera panning to the right a little, the purpose is make sure the actor in the frame. This scene is mainly focused on the actress, because she expresses a lot in the frame.
Scene- My Night At MAUDES
The scene set up to a medium shot and the camera is following the one of the actor. The camera panning with this actor whatever when he crouches or stand. When this actor stand up, another actor appears in the frame and the camera adjust the position to shot they two.
Scene- High Low
This shot set up to medium shot. the beginning of the scene is the man leading the camera to the rest of two actors. The camera stared when those to man talking. After the actress came to the frame, the camera adjusts a bit focal length to make sure they are all in the frame and correct position. Also, those three actors are in the different distance to the camera, so that looks layering. Furthermore, the camera panning a little bit when the first actor (the first came out one) because he still has dialog. After he walks out to the frame, the camera panning to right back, to focus the rest of two actors.
Scene- MA VIE SEXUELLE
The shot is medium (close-up) shot. The scene following the actor when he sits on the bed and panning with his movement. After the actress sits with him, her face is clear and focused in the frame, and the actor’s is unclear, because camera man adjusts the focal length to express her acting.
Scene- Syndromes Century
The shot is wild shot and stared. The location is the corridor of school. The scene design here is more focus on dialog and background. The architecture in this scene looks pretty in the scene, in my opinion, the director of this film is wanted to show the environment shot and express an awkward atmosphere.