Props
The best use of Props in film are props that which are iconic, props with emotional or cultural significance, which is why I have decided to use Wilson from Castaway. What probably started as a simple practical solution to keep Tom Hanks talking while he’s alone on screen turns into so much more. As we watch tom hanks cope with his loneliness by turning the simple painted volleyball into a friend, projecting his emotions and fears onto it, we as viewers start to do it alongside him. Our empathy for Hanks drives our connection with Wilson who sits there quietly collecting all our vicarious identification in reaping the rewards by becoming one of the most loveable hunks of leather there ever was.
Costumes
They say that clothes make the man, but in Hollywood they often tell his story. The genre of science fiction allows directors and costume designers to run wild with imagination and this couldn’t be more obvious in the fifth element. Designed by the legendary Jean Paul Gaultier. Is there a better sci-fi wardrobe than Ruby Rhod, But it doesn’t end there. There’s Leeloo’s iconic white straps, Gary Oldman’s frigid turtlenecks. Gaultier personally designed over 900 costumes for the film, from the stars to the extras, with an eye towards playing with and against notions of sexuality and gender. It’s one of the coolest and impressive Science Fiction wardrobes to date.
Hair and Makeup
Movie Makeup can do a lot more than hide a few wrinkles and make attractive actors look even better. It has the power to bring imaginary characters to life. The film I have chosen to speak about is the elephant man. Originally the director, David lynch, decided that he was going to deign the makeup entirely himself. however, it didn’t turn out so well, in fact it was a disaster. In a week before shooting began a panic production finally brought Christopher Tucker, an actual makeup artist on board and he certainly had his work cut out for him. His design included 15 different sections that he worked on with his team for up to 49 hours at a time in preparation, and in order to properly simulate the real life John Merrick who died in 1890. tucker worked off not just a cast made of his head but his actual skeleton. when the academy didn’t honor him with a special award voters sent angry letters in protest, which prompted the Academy to introduce the best makeup category the very next year. that’s right, The Elephant Man was the film that convinced the Academy to honor makeup.
Set Design
Set design demands nothing less than the creation of worlds, apart from the actors, the lighting and the cameras, design controls everything else that appears on screen, turning words and fantasies into reality. In ‘Her’ the director went in a completely different direction to Bladerunner, envisioning a future that fetishizes the retro, recognizing that in the right context the retro can look futuristic too. Its world looks mostly like our won with a few key additions and subtractions that allow it to feel ever so slightly other. It is possibly the most naturalistic vision of the future ever put to film, but so emotionally intelligent in that achievement. recognizing that future consumers won’t want to be sold a future, but a more comfortable link to an idealized past.
