The Kuleshov Effect

The Kuleshov Effect is a film editing (montage) effect demonstrated by Russian filmmaker Lev Kuleshov in the 1910s and 1920s.It is a mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation.




In this shot from the movie Silence Of The Lambs, the Kuleshov effect is used when the man is lowering something into the pit where the woman is. Scenes flash between men with guns sneaking up to the house and the pit. This indicates that the man and the woman both feel fearful of the men with the guns approaching the house.

Film Analysis Summarizer - "Metropolis"

1. Fritz Lang created this film. We know this information through the credits in the film.

2. Fritz Lang wanted to create the film because he wanted everyone else to see how he viewed the city. In an interview, Fritz Lang stated that "At night the city gave only the impression of living; it lived as illusions do. I knew that I must make a film of all these impressions." We know this information because of the interview, which is located in the following link: http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2010/05/fritz-langs-metropolis-the-best-film-of-this-or-any-other-year/. He also, from another interview, stated that he "looked into the streets – the glaring lights and the tall buildings – and there I conceived Metropolis."

3. We can tell that the filmmakers all had the same sense of awe with big cities and a German Expressionist viewpoint. Lang also wanted to twist the sense of reality. We know this information because of the way the film is shot; the film, in its entirety, is a fine example of German Expressionism. Also, a majority of the problems portrayed in the film were problems that Germany was facing.

4. This film was directed towards average citizens, people with jobs ranging from laborer to business owner. We know this information because in the film, the upper and lower classes unite at the end.

5. Outside influences include government and problems in Germany. We know this information because the conflicts portrayed in the movie were, as I mentioned earlier, present in Germany at the time the movie was made.

6. The film takes on a German Expressionist tradition. We know this because:

• It was made in the German Expressionism era.
• The entirety had a German Expressionist feel, which was portrayed by contrasting colors (light vs. dark) and conflicts between social classes.

7. Metropolis is connected to nearly all science fiction movies made today. Metropolis inspired the genre itself. We know the information because a lot of visual imagery and plot is used in several other science fiction movies in this day and age,

German Expressionism Investigation

1. Nosferatu
2.

 3. June 3rd, 1929
4. F. W. Murnau
5. The actor takes on many disguises, which, according to German Expressionism, represents unrestricted terrors of that time period.
6. Dracula films



1. Faust
2.
3. 1926
4. F. W. Murnau
5. Murnau shoots the main character from a low, cockeyed angle, which distorts the perspective and heightens emotions.
6. Fantasia (1940)


1. Metropolis
2.
3. March 13th, 1927
4. Fritz Lang

5. It's main focus was on the visual aspects on the screen meant to express emotions that would trigger more personal reactions from the audience.

6. Every sci-fi film that came after it.

Chase Scene

Reflection:
Camera movements are used to evoke various emotions from the audience. Difference in camera movements from scene to scene can change the entire mood of the film. For instance, if panning movements are used to capture the size of a room, then the room seems larger than compared to a still shot of a room. If a dolly is used to move a camera from left to right to show two people looking at each other, it would be more emotionally appealing rather than a normal two shot.

Camera angles also play a huge part in filmmaking. Camera angles gives different perspectives on the situation in a film as opposed to one perspective from a handheld camera that is only focused on one object. For example, a long shot shows the actor's entire body as opposed to just his upper half. The deep focus shot keeps the foreground, middle ground and background all in sharp focus.

Successes/Recommendations: I think that my group did a good job with camera angles and capturing the plot line, a chase scene. I think we could've done better with dolly movements, as they were a little choppy.

Camera Movements

Camera Movements

Zoom:

What Is It: change smoothly from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa.

How It’s Used: to give the illusion of moving closer to or further away from the action.

Pan:

What Is It: the rotation in a horizontal plane of a still camera or video camera.

How It’s Used: used to suggest fast motion, and bring out the subject from other elements in the frame.

.

Tilt:

What Is It: camera is stationary and rotates in a vertical plane.

How It’s Used: to control the orientation of the plane of focus.

Tracking:

What Is It: any shot in which the camera follows a subject within the frame, such as a moving actor or a moving vehicle.

How It’s Used: to create emphasis on a moving object; moves right or left.

Dolly:

What Is It: specialized piece of filmmaking and television production equipment designed to create smooth camera movements.

How It’s Used: creates emphasis; moves forward or backwards.

I really enjoyed the camera we used for tho project; it was a nice camera for a starting project such as this. Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 was a bit of challenge at first, as I usually work with iMovie. After a while, I got used to working with the program. I successfully edited the clips I wanted in a certain order while meeting the five-second tie requirement for clip length. If I were to do this project over again, I would recommend myself to become more familiar with Premiere before I used it.

Photography As Art

Photography is more than combining cameras, lenses, and film; it is about using those tools in combination with the elements and principles of design to create visual art.  Understanding how to use the elements and principles will turn your “snap shots” into photographic works of art.  Define the following terms.

Elements of Design

Line: A line can be thought of as points so close together that they lose their individual identity and form a new entity. ·       Leading: An important design element that directs our attention into the heart of a picture is called a leading line. o     ·      Vertical: Vertical lines suggest strength and power. o     ·      Horizontal: symbolize rest or repose. o     ·      Diagonal: suggest a feeling of movement or direction. o     ·      Curved: suggest confusion and turbulence. o

http://char.txa.cornell.edu/language/element/element.htm use this website to figure out what each type of line represents.

Principles of Design

Balance: Balance is a psychological sense of equilibrium. ·      Symmetrical: Symmetrical balance can be described as having equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. ·      Asymmetrical: involves placement of objects in a way that will allow objects of varying visual weight to balance one another around a fulcrum point.

Unity: the relationship among the elements of a visual that helps all the elements function together.

Variety: provides contrast to harmony and unity.

Movement: is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork, often to a focal area. Rhythm: a movement in which some elements recurs regularly.

Emphasis: creates a focal point in a design

Proportion: refers to the relative size of parts of a whole (elements within an object). Scale: refers to the size of an object (a whole) in relationship to another object (another whole).

Repetition: reusing of the same or similar elements throughout your design. Pattern: Repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, value or image tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create rhythm.

Making Choices

Point of View: a particular attitude or way of considering a matter. ·      bird’s eye: an overhead view. ·      worm’s eye: a below eye-level view.

Rule of Thirds: guideline which applies to the process of composing visual images such as designs, films, paintings, and photographs.

Framing: using different objects to focus on the main object of the film.

Simplicity: placing a subject against a neutral background.

The Golden Mean

The Golden Mean, also known as the Golden Ratio, is a mathematic equation. In film, it means the audience’s eye focuses on the left and right more. That’s why in many films, it is used to be more appealing. The Golden Mean originated from the ancient Greeks because it appeared often in geometry. It was explored and explained in a book called “De divina proportione” by Luca Pacioli, which came out in 1509. The first known estimate of the golden ratio was 0.6180340; it was written in 1597 by Michael Maestlin. That is the origin of the Golden Mean/ Ratio.