Sound Editors systematically work through films checking the sound of each sequence – dialogue, music and sound effects – and ensuring it all comes together perfectly in sync.
Sound designers collect, edit, and create sound effects, ambient effects, and even music for video games, applications, or any other form of interactive media.
This shot from moonlight is a closeup. The effect this scene has on the audience is unique. From this point of view, we can truly experience Chiron’s life with an addict mother, no personal space, his feelings being disregarded, and his mother coming to him for money to purchase more drugs. This POV makes it look like Chiron’s mother is trying to sympathise with us, the audience.
This low angle shot represents Kevin as an aggressor, making him look bigger and his presence more demanding. This technique is used to show that in this moment he has the power over Chiron and is using it against him.
I have chosen this scene to represent camera movement. In this scene the camera is moving in a corkscrew like fashion around this character. This technique creates a sense of foreboding and tells us that something bad is going to happen. This is like a personified version of someone” spiralling”
| SCORE OUT OF 10 | MEMORABLE SCENE | FILM RESPONSE |
| 9/10 | A memorable scene for me was a young Chiron looking out onto the ocean. This seems like a tranquil place for him. The motif of water is commonly used as a reference to “rebirth” or “baptism” and in every act of the film we can see Chiron at a body of water, cleansing him of one era of his life, leading him onto another. | I absolutely loved this film. It tackled the topics of sexuality and addiction so gracefully. Usually in films that explore these topics we see a lot of unnecessary violence that hold no significance to the plot, but moonlight strategically places heart wrenching scenes to reach out to the audience. The first 2 acts take place in Miami in the 80s, when the war on drugs and AIDS epidemic was taking place. I only have one critique for this film, and it is the Beach scene with Kevin in act 2, I would have preferred it if they had only shared a kiss instead of that and a sexual act. |
Joker. Directed by Todd Phillips 2019.
I have chosen this image because of the creative usage of colour grading. This scene is timestamped at one of the most important points of the film, this is after the joker kills 3 Wall Street traders and takes off to hide. In this scene there is a significance to the colours reflecting against the wall. The two main colours are yellow and blue. Most commonly the references that come with yellow are either “happiness and sunshine” or deceit and cowardice. We commonly see yellow in the film when Arthur is by himself or feels comfortable with himself. Whereas blue represents the society around him. In this scene we see Arthur transforming in and out of these two perspectives, shown through interpretive dance.
I have decided to use this scene to represent the use of makeup in this scene. In This film we don’t see a spectacle of special effects. There are small moments in the film that use makeup and special effects to its advantage, doing this pulls the audience in with small but extremely violent and realistic makeup looks and effects.
I have decided to use this scene to represent the usage of composition. In this scene there are two characters (Arthur Fleck and Hoyt Vaughn) the placement of both characters is very strategical as to keep the audience’s eye on all aspects of the scene. There is a triangle created with Arthur, Hoyt, and the small clown figurine at the bottom of the desk. Hoyt is placed at a lower angle compared to Arthur which gives the audience the impression that Arthur is a looming figure, a personification of the criminality in Gotham.
I have chosen to use this clip to represent verisimilitude in this film. In this scene we see Arthur shoot Murray point-blank in the head. This is a favourable example of verisimilitude, as we see the bullet penetrate Murray’s head on screen. If this were an off-screen death the audience would have a harder time believing Arthur’s insanity. An on-screen death will always shock the audience.
I have picked this scene to represent Lowkey Lighting. In this clip we can see Arthur in his “alter ego” The Joker. Arthur is just after killing a man in his apartment and has succumb to his illness. The use of Lowkey lighting in this scene foreshadows oncoming terror, (which does come in the next few minutes) The use of lowkey lighting gives the audience a sense of fear.
This scene is used to represent location filming. This specific scene was filmed at the West 167th Street Step Stairs in the Bronx. Many viewers from New York City or anyone that has knowledge on NYC will recognise these stairs. Location filming is important as using notable locations such as NYC (which Gotham was based on) gives a more authentic feel to the film
This scene is used to represent sound-stages. Todd Philips was creative in his use of sound in this film. For a sequence in which Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is beaten up by three Wall Street suits on a subway car, the sound gets more sinister as the scene progresses. It was building the scene, starting at a normal atmosphere and then amping it up as the torment increased on Arthur. In a way the usage of sound in this film is a separate character itself, almost representing the chaos that is in Arthurs’s head.
Joker first response
| SCORE OUT OF 10 | MEMORABLE SCENE | FILM RESPONSE |
| 6/10 | When the joker is in the public bathroom doing an unsettling dance. In this scene when the joker is dancing the camera follows his body movements very fluidly making you feel a part of the scene | For the most part I enjoyed this film. Visually it was entertaining, but it was a complete remake of the king of comedy (Scorsese, 1982) even down to Robert de Niro being in it. It follows the exact same story line. Also, very reminiscent of taxi driver (Scorsese, 1976) with the motifs of how loneliness and isolation will lead people to do crazy things like kill a talk show host or politician. The cinematography was beautiful, it captured the grittiness of 80s Newyork perfectly. |
Monaco represents his understanding of film in multiple ways. In his book he expresses that film holds a close relation to many other media aspects such as; novels, painting, photography, television and even music.
Monaco starts off this chapter by explaining the historical significance of poetry, and astronomy and other human creativities have had on the culture.
Monaco explains that if we were to arrange the arts on a spectrum based on their levels of abstraction then film would cover a broad range of other ideas because of its relation to other art forms mentioned above (photography, painting, music, etc). Film started off as a medium to record other arts but quickly turned into the anomaly that we know as “cinema” today.
Cinema holds the ability to visually tell you a story and take you on a journey of emotions and experiences. The music used in films influences every watcher’s experience and is timed perfectly to match the story to create a narrative within itself.
Cinema has the ability to commentate on society with the evolution of genres. Many people look towards film as a way of understanding the world around them. One notable example (personally) is taxi driver, in this film we see how loneliness and isolation can drive society to insane means of being noticed
Year 12 film studies, Kendal. Film categories
Battleship Potemkin
Director; Sergei Eisenstein
Genre; historically significant
Date; December 21, 1925
A bug’s life
Director; John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton.
Genre; mainstream
Date; 1998
The shape of water
Director; Guillermo del toro
Genre; art film
Date; December 1, 2017
Seven samurai
Director; Akira Kurosawa
Genre; historically significant
Date; April 26, 1954
The breakfast club
Director; john Hughes
Genre; mainstream
Date; February 15, 1985
The wizard of oz
Director; victor Fleming
Genre; historically significant
Date; august 25, 1939
The magnificent 7
Director; john Sturges
Genre; historically significant
Date; October 23, 1960
Love, Simon
Director; Greg Berlanti
Genre; mainstream
Date; March 16, 2018
Fitzcarraldo
Director; Werner Herzog
Genre; art film
Date; October 10, 1982
Alphaville
Director; jean-Luc Goddard
Genre; historically significant
Date; November 1, 1965