Explain how the production context of Citizen Kane influenced the ‘look and feel’ of the end product.
Wells Career began in stage direction for theatre productions. Wells was in very high demand and Hollywood was determined to take him from his theatrical career. This lead to RKO giving him a huge amount of control in his first contract including complete control over writing, directing and editing and 939 727 thousand dollars which back in 1941 was a significant amount of money considering it was being given to an unproven 25 year old, This money went on sets, choosing his cast which he brought over from the federal theatre project, This caused controversy with the studio as all of the actors where only theatrically trained.
Chaplin and Keaton were both comedians who pioneered silent comedy/slapstick (exaggerated physical comedy). As well as this they created and wrote films such as the Dictator (1940) and the General (1926). Furthermore They helped to influence Toto and Films like Wallace and Gromit and Mr Bean.
1895-1918: The World Discovers A New Art form or Birth of the Cinema
•What was the name of the first film made by the Lumiere Brother and when was this?
Workers leaving the Lumiere Factory 1895
•What is the “Phantom Ride”?
The earliest Phantom Rides were shot on the front of trains which created the affect of a floating Phantom moving forward.
•What was ground-breaking about the silent films “The Sick Kitten” and “Life of an American Fireman”?
The Sick Kitten was the first film to use a close up on the Kitten eating. And in the Life of an American Fireman uses continuity editing(cutting between locations to follow the story)
•What was the name of the first “film star” in Hollywood?
In the golden age of cinema (1930-60’s) There were 4 cinema screens in Jersey.
There are currently 10 screen in jersey at Cineworld
There are currently only a few independent screens in Jersey such as the arts centre outdoors in Howard Davis and in a few hotels such as the Grand.
The number of cinemas declined as in the 50s when the queen was getting coronated everyone wanted to see it therefor leading to the sales of tv to skyrocket and people no longer wanting to go to the cinema as they could just watch Tv at home.
Job description– A Film Director, or Movie Director, manages and directs all the creative elements and components of a film. Their main duties include reading and adding edits to scripts, setting the blocking for Actors and collaborating with Editors during post-production to create a visually appealing and captivating final product.- www.Indeed.com
Inspirational professional- David Fincher
The imagery in a Fincher film is grounded in realism, but it’s a dark, stylized realism. This is most notable in the director’s use of colours. Fincher is famous for his use of low-key lighting and heavy use of shadows. This combination of lighting and shadows works together nicely with his use of restricted narration. The darkness of the lighting and the cloak provided by the shadows help create the surprise that is achieved through restricted narration. Fincher focuses on the darker side of the world which carry deep themes and messages.
‘Some people go to the movies to be reminded that everything’s okay. I don’t make those kinds of movies.’-David Fincher
Job description- A film composer writes the score, which is the sum of all the original music going into a film. They’ll demo pieces of the score regularly to the film’s creative team for feedback on how it’s fitting into the scene. Film composers are also responsible for the recording of the film score. Composing can also be used as a storytelling device which carries themes and leitmotifs.
Inspirational professional- Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer has excelled mix electronic sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements, thus achieving a dynamic fusion and even tension, as well as the rhythm. Hans Zimmer has composed one of his best works for the film of Christopher Nolan. The music that surrounds the film is beautiful and inspiring, making the viewer feel the emotions that Nolan wanted to convey with the film.
”Anything can become a musical sound. The wind on telegraph wires is a great sound; get it into your machine and play it and it becomes interesting”- Hans Zimmer
Job description-A cinematographer, also known as a director of photography, is in charge of the camera and the lighting crew. They’re the person responsible for creating the look, colour, lighting, and for framing of every single shot in a film. The film’s director and cinematographer work closely together, as the main job of a cinematographer is to ensure that their choices support the director’s overall vision for the film.
Inspirational professional- Sir Roger Deakins
Deakins cinematography is directed by the story. He works around the script and uses a variety of simple and extreme camera shots and movements. This helps create a impression of realism. Furthermore Deakins cinematography incredibly good at keeping a sense of realism as it is almost invisible which takes nothing away for the story even though most of his shots are very intricate and detailed. Deakins use of lighting helps to create a mood and tone for the film. This builds emotion towards the film. Deakins has worked on films such as No country for old men, Skyfall and blade runner 2049 which won multiple academy awards.
“I like simplicity. I like using natural sources. I like images to look natural – as though somebody sitting in a room by a lamp is being lit by that lamp.”
I will complete research on a range of film texts Finding information and inspiration in order to create my own work. I will find out what each role does and how it is influential in the process of making films. I will find the essential skills needed in each of these 3 areas Directing, cinematography and composing and examine specific works to find inspiration and influence for my own work.
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