Nosferatu (1922)

M (1931)

Phantom (1922)

Why has UFA managed to stay in business?

-UFA is a motion-picture production company that produced films during the silent era

-UFA’s goal was to promote German culture and improve Germany’s international image after WW1

-In 1927 UFA was bought by Alfred Hugenberg, a nazi supporter, who changed the aim of UFA to promote German nationalism

-Shortly after in 1937 the company was purchased by the government in order to control the production of films

-UFA started to take over foreign film production facilities in places such as France and Belgium by 1938

-UFA survived so long due to the nazification of the company

-started to become established in Germany in 1910

-valued expressionism over impressionism

-Expressionism was popular in Germany and Austria

-Expressionism went against the constraints of tradition

-Post war expressionist art drew on the emotions of the people

-The movement started to fade in 1933 after Hitler’s Nazi party rose to power

Common themes:

-bold use of colour

-inspiration from non-western cultures

Examples:

Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLhDLL3MjSs

-1914 cinema becomes established (1500 approx cinemas)

-social and economic devastation after war led to slump

-Germany’s political and economic instability post war led to a new culture later described as “German Expressionism”

-In the 1920s cinema started to spike as people started to seek out escapism from the economic problems

-German Expressionism cinema tended to explore darker themes like crime, social decay and the destructive powers of money and technology

-German Expressionism gave birth to two new genres of film: Gothic Horror and Film Noir

Source: https://alphahistory.com/weimarrepublic/weimar-cinema/

Link: https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/69f57c1f-cb5d-44ca-8247-68c21d16d6ab

makeup inspiration:

For the male characters to follow the style of makeup in Dr Caligari, I will use a base of white/ pale foundation and use talcum powder on top to give the skin the texture as shown in the film. I will contour the eye sockets, nose (in particular the bridge) and the jawline.

It is common in most German expression films for the makeup to include small lips with a prominent cupid’s bow and hollowed out eyes

For Jane, her makeup is significantly softer (to make her appear more feminine). Her eyebrows are thin and elongated with a similar hollowing of the eyes.

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/aba56a6c-3d50-4858-97ba-2f442e99b442

Explain how the production context of Citizen Kane influenced the “look and feel” of the end product. (100 words)  

Chiaroscuro lighting is a lighting technique which is used several times throughout the film. The harsh, crisp shadows are used to show when a character is in a vulnerable situation and inferior to the other characters in the scene. The impact of the shadows is heightened due to Citizen Kane being a Noir film since there is a greater contrast between areas of light and extreme darkness. This technique effects the “look and feel” of the film by expressing Kane’s loss of authority and control over his life. This is shown by the dark shadows “dragging” the character into the background.

 

All three of these filmmakers were comedians and worked in comedy which featured slapstick (exaggerated physical theatre). They also all wrote and starred in films.

Buster Keaton: Keaton was an American filmmaker and comedian. He worked mostly in silent films where his trademark was physical comedy and a deadpan expression. His most influential film was “The General” (1927).

Charlie Chaplin: Chaplin was an English comic actor and filmmaker. He became an icon through his persona of ‘the tramp’. Other notable films of Chaplin’s were “The Kid” (1921) and “The Great Dictator” (1940).

Harold Lloyd: Lloyd was an American comic and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films. Some films he starred and produced are “Girl Shy” (1924) and “Movie Crazy” (1932).

These three filmmakers influenced the film industry. For example, Toto, an Italian stage actor who built their character around Charlie Chaplin.

Film: Midsommar (2019)

Director: Ari Aster

Short Biography:

Aster became obsessed with horror films as a child. In 2008, he graduated from College of Santa Fe where he studied Film. He later earned a master’s degree in Fine Arts with a focus in directing. He spent the first 4 years of his directing career making short films until 2008 when he made his feature film debut with “Hereditary”. As well as directing Aster also tends to write the screenplay for each of his feature films.

Personal opinion:

In Midsommar, Aster used blocking in an effective way. For example the use of the long table when they eat at before the beginning of the Midsummer festival. The table represents how isolated the group is since they are not from that culture. I admire the way in which Aster utilised the actors for example in the opening scene when Dani breaks down on the phone to Christian after her parents and sister died. The scene evokes a lot of emotion and showcases the actress’ (Florence Pugh) skills.