Michelangelo Antonioni – Red Desert
Judging from the clip we watched in class of Antonionis film Red Desert his style of film making is very visual and aesthetic based. He seems more conscious of the space and then environment then the actors. It seems as though he composes the shot visually, allowing for the surroundings and then places the actors within that shot. There is a strong awareness of composition and balance is highly prevalent. The scene starts on a rustic still image of the white paint chipping off a concrete wall. Without altering the position of the camera, the actor then moves into frame. This sets the mood and ensures the audience is aware of the concrete, bare and rustic environment. This contributes massively to the way in which an audience reads into the scene. High importance is put on mood and emotion rather then simply the script and dialogue between the characters. The surroundings are unique and Antonioni ensures the audience is aware of this creating a stronger emotional connection between audience and film. The shots almost seem like a series of carefully composed still photographic images. When the man in standing outside he is framed by a series of provincial doors and windows that create a sense of culture and location in the scene as well as providing balance in the shot. By framing the shot to include these things at Different levels they frame the actor but also create balance by drawing the eye to different areas and levels on the screen. There are always props and substance in the scene to draw the eye in, this includes a stool, a phone, a light, a car, a newspaper and various patches of paint on the wall. Antonioni always seems to compose his shots to the surroundings form a series of lines and shapes that contribute to its symmetry and aesthetic beauty. Careful choreography has been put into place to move the camera and the actors around the space in a fluid motion that does not hinder the beauty of the shot. It is almost musical in the way that the actors and the camera glide around the room. There is a strong sense of flow and the action is not disjointed in any way. This could be due to meticulously planned and rehearsed scenes. There is almost an architectural style to his work where the corners, crevices and archways in the shot all come together to create a sense of space.