Midterm Short Answer Section

 Midterm Short Answer Section

Question 1

Not yet graded / 5 pts

Two characters are framed in a long shot. They stand at opposite sides of a large lecture hall approximately twenty feet from each other. What proxemics pattern is represented in this shot?

Your Answer:

The proxemic pattern is Public - 12' or more. 

The proxemics pattern represented in this shot would be public which is the distance between 12 to 25 feet. This range is considered as formal and detached

 

Question 2

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You are the director on a shoot.  In a successful attempt to out maneuver her opponent your protagonist runs toward the camera.  She is followed by her sidekick (a supporting character).  You have chosen a high angle, well lit, long(wide) shot.  As the protagonist approaches she accidentally stumbles and falls. Her sidekick reaches her.  They pause for a moment in what has become a medium long shot.  Her sidekick asks, "Are you all right?"  She looks up at the camera and replies, "Yeah, let’s get outta here."  This continuous long take is technically perfect.

 

What psychological/emotional characteristics does this shot infer?

Your Answer:

A high angle causes the subject to appear vulnerable, weak, or powerless.

Fear anxiety, compassion, urgency, vulnerability.

 

UnansweredQuestion 3

Not yet graded / 5 pts

Based on the description of the shot in question 2A  list multiple (a total of at least three) pros and cons why you as a director might choose to use the  take. In other words. why would you utilize or reject the shot?

Your Answer:

Pro

·        Lighting you can see the action

·        Medium long shot viewer can see everything greater since of realism due to the longer take

·        Trip adds to suspense feeling of we must escape

·        Looks at camera more intimate because viewer is acknowledged.

·        Depicts friendship btwn character and sidekick.

·        High angle portrays all details adds suspense and could be good to show vulnerabilities thus well rounded character.

 

Con

·        Lighting does not create mood of desperation - you can see the action.

·        There is no close-up to highlight emotions/tension.

·        Trip lengthens the shot, may be perceived as moving slowly in an action sequence, and portrays the lead as vulnerable

·        Looking at the camera is often considered a mistake.

·        The sidekick could be perceived as stronger than the lead.

·        High angle is generally perceived as depicting characters as less powerful especially if heroine falls.

 

Question 4

Not yet graded / 5 pts

What is deep focus and how is it different from deep space composition?

Your Answer:

A deep focus shot is taken by a wide angle lens, where all focal planes are in sharp focus.

A deep space composition is often a long shot. All planes can also be seen but not necessarily in focus.  The composition gives information on all three planes.

 

Deep focus is when everything is in sharp focus – all depth planes (foreground, midground, background) are in focus therefore action can occur and audience witnesses everything thus it augments the realism of the shot itself and makes cutting less necessary.  Adds to the illusion of 3D. In deep space composition the shot is composed to include important information on all three planes, but they are not necessarily all in focus.  A shot can be both deep focus and deep space composition.

 

Question 5

Not yet graded / 5 pts

Briefly describe the use of camera movement in La Haine (Mathieu Kassovitz) and why it was important to your perception of the film.

Your Answer:

La Haine had deep space composition but then used depth field to change focus to shallow focus on a character or large depth of field to show characters in the background clearer. 

It also used tracking shots to follow the character. 

 

A very memorable camera feature in La Haine is the use of tracking shots, often hand held. The camera follows the characters as they move throughout the environment which provided sense reality for the viewers.

 

Question 6

Not yet graded / 5 pts

Please define the following and give an example from films screened in class if pertinent.

Low key lighting

Your Answer:

Low key lighting creates subtle shadows. It has low fill and high contrast.  It was used in Kung Fu Hustle in lighting up and showing the faces of the bad guys, like the harpists. 

Low key lighting is a lighting effect that uses a high lighting ratio to include shadows in your scene. Shadows and contrast are prominent.  Little fill light helps create a mood, despair and/or suspense are easily portrayed.

 

Question 7

Not yet graded / 5 pts

Please define the following and give an example from films screened in class if pertinent.

verisimilitude.

Your Answer:

Verisimilitude is  creating an illusion of a plausible reality.
An example of this is Kung Fu Hustle where they created a blend of different times and super hero type kung fu masters who could go all the way into space and come down with a big punch to win a fight. 

Verisimilitude is the appearance of being true or real. Plausable with in the construct of the story.

 

UnansweredQuestion 8

Not yet graded / 5 pts

You are working with the art director to design the home office of your lead character. She is a very meticulous, detail  oriented woman. You have decided to create a closed form space for her. How might you manipulate the depth, density and design (compose the props and environment) to create an office space which is both closed and reflects her character?

Your Answer:

Compose the props. Neatly arrange them in lines, etc. Use the depth of the frame and deep space composition to create horizontal and vertical lines, walls and windows or doors, or through color indicate the once the character is in this space the viewer see an entire world.

 

Question 9

Not yet graded / 5 pts

Define dominant contrast and list four elements which may indicate “the dominant” in motion pictures.

Your Answer:

Elements that make up dominant contrast are movement, focus, color size and lighting

Dominant contrast immediately attracts the eye with its compelling contrast. It is the area of the film image that compels the viewer's most immediate attention, usually because of a prominent visual contrast. 

 

Shape

Size

Color

Lighting - lit areas vs. shadow

Focus

Movement

 

Question 10

Not yet graded / 5 pts

One pattern our author describes used to create audience expectations is parallel editing. Define parallel editing and give an example from the material covered thus far.

Your Answer:

Parallel editing is cutting back and forth between two or more lines of action that occur simultaneously. It is a repitition of images or sounds for example if two people leave their houses at the same time and the film keeps cutting back and forth until they meet

Parallel editing is where multiple lines of action are depicted as happening at the same time at different locations. Editing between the actions helps both events progress forward and in traditional Hollywood narrative the two events will eventually meet to form closure. Think of two people preparing for a big blind date, and then they meet. Our text employs Way Down East as an example. pg. 37

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