How does Kapadia build a narrative around the Amy Winehouse story?
- Structure (chronological, beginning - rise to fame, middle - fame itself, and end - decline and false endings. Follows a classic five part narrative)
- Binary opposites (alcoholism and sobriety, drug use and non-drug use, inner conflict and outer conflict)
- Character creations (who is represented as hero - Amy, and villain - Blake and Mitch)
- Codes (action - self destruction through drugs and drugs in performance scenes, through appearance and clothing)
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Sunrise, representations
Gender representations and reflection of the 1920's in Sunrise -
Gender is represented in Sunrise as very male dominated reflecting the time typical of the 1920's where females were seen to be below males and the males were reliant upon to 'look after females', this is seen through 'the mans' superiority over 'the woman' and the woman is represented as weak in comparison to the man whereby she easily forgives him for wanting to kill her. Although the man at the beginning of the film is represented as dominant and superior this is contrasted to later in the film reflecting the turning point of the stereotypical male being ahead of its time in which the man is seen to be more vulnerable and sensitive for example; when the man is trying to win back his wife he is represented as being more emotional when he is crying. The woman from the city is also represented to be ahead of her time to which she isn't represented as weak but may reflect the role of a femme fatale to which she has control of the mans thoughts and convinces him to kill his wife.
Gender is represented in Sunrise as very male dominated reflecting the time typical of the 1920's where females were seen to be below males and the males were reliant upon to 'look after females', this is seen through 'the mans' superiority over 'the woman' and the woman is represented as weak in comparison to the man whereby she easily forgives him for wanting to kill her. Although the man at the beginning of the film is represented as dominant and superior this is contrasted to later in the film reflecting the turning point of the stereotypical male being ahead of its time in which the man is seen to be more vulnerable and sensitive for example; when the man is trying to win back his wife he is represented as being more emotional when he is crying. The woman from the city is also represented to be ahead of her time to which she isn't represented as weak but may reflect the role of a femme fatale to which she has control of the mans thoughts and convinces him to kill his wife.
Trainspotting revision
How does the Characters, mise-en-scene, narrative and cinematography affect spectatorship responses in Trainspotting?
- Characters; Renton
-mise-en-scene; apartment
-sound; lust for life contrapuntal sound
-cinematography;
what is the intended response ?
how are the techniques used to achieve this ?
what responses to different spectators have (dominant,oppositional and negotiated)?
what are the factors which influence this?
- Characters; Renton
-mise-en-scene; apartment
-sound; lust for life contrapuntal sound
-cinematography;
what is the intended response ?
how are the techniques used to achieve this ?
what responses to different spectators have (dominant,oppositional and negotiated)?
what are the factors which influence this?
Sunrise, mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene in Sunrise represents an expressionist approach in contrast to the realist approach for example;
- The setting of Sunrise, is reflected through the expressionist architecture for example; the tall buildings and exaggerated crowded environments in the scenes in the town. The town scenes were filmed on a film set which also reflects the expressionist approach as it is more artificial as opposed to filming on a real location.
- The lighting in Sunrise begins very dull and dark reflecting the expressionist approach in the film as it represents 'the man' plotting his wife's death but then as the film progresses to which the man and the woman are attempting to rekindle their love for each other.
- The performance in Sunrise is melodramatic, this reflects the expressionist approach of the film through the over-dramatic change in the performance of the man from wanting to kill his wife to then the extreme sudden change to wanting.
- The setting of Sunrise, is reflected through the expressionist architecture for example; the tall buildings and exaggerated crowded environments in the scenes in the town. The town scenes were filmed on a film set which also reflects the expressionist approach as it is more artificial as opposed to filming on a real location.
- The lighting in Sunrise begins very dull and dark reflecting the expressionist approach in the film as it represents 'the man' plotting his wife's death but then as the film progresses to which the man and the woman are attempting to rekindle their love for each other.
- The performance in Sunrise is melodramatic, this reflects the expressionist approach of the film through the over-dramatic change in the performance of the man from wanting to kill his wife to then the extreme sudden change to wanting.
Pulp Fiction - Core study areas assessed on & opening scene questions
Key elements of film form = Mise-en-scene, Cinematography, Editing, Sound and Performance.
Context of the film = Historical and Social
Specialist study area = Narrative and Auteur
opening scene questions
How is the genre of the film made clear in the opening 2 scenes?
The genre is mainly crime and gangster which is made clear as the couple are talking about robberies and then is made clearer as they carry out hold-up with guns, then is made clear in the next opening scene through their clothing as they're dressed in black suits this presents them as criminals and their guns they carry.
what enigma's are present in the 2 scenes?
Through the questioning of who the people are, why are the starting a hold up, who are the men, what are the doing, whats in the briefcase, why are they killing the other men?
how is the opening of the film different from the usual way of starting a film (in terms of narrative)?
The opening in the film shows the couple in the restaurant and conveys them to be the main characters of the film but then is followed by other scenes which shows different. also the normal narrative structure of the film is in chronological order whereas this starts in mid action of them holding up a restaurant where it is followed by the next scene which is also in mid action of another story which the film follows.
What are stereotypes are challenged/ reinforced in this opening scene?
how has the director made the 2 opening scenes interesting and appealing for the audiences despite the fact that not much actually happens?
Context of the film = Historical and Social
Specialist study area = Narrative and Auteur
opening scene questions
How is the genre of the film made clear in the opening 2 scenes?
The genre is mainly crime and gangster which is made clear as the couple are talking about robberies and then is made clearer as they carry out hold-up with guns, then is made clear in the next opening scene through their clothing as they're dressed in black suits this presents them as criminals and their guns they carry.
what enigma's are present in the 2 scenes?
Through the questioning of who the people are, why are the starting a hold up, who are the men, what are the doing, whats in the briefcase, why are they killing the other men?
how is the opening of the film different from the usual way of starting a film (in terms of narrative)?
The opening in the film shows the couple in the restaurant and conveys them to be the main characters of the film but then is followed by other scenes which shows different. also the normal narrative structure of the film is in chronological order whereas this starts in mid action of them holding up a restaurant where it is followed by the next scene which is also in mid action of another story which the film follows.
What are stereotypes are challenged/ reinforced in this opening scene?
how has the director made the 2 opening scenes interesting and appealing for the audiences despite the fact that not much actually happens?
Thursday, 9 May 2019
Essay question - Documentary
Apply one filmmaker's theory of documentary film you have studied to your chosen documentary. How far does this increase your understanding of the film? ( 20 marker)
This essay will explore how far the documentary filmmaker theories of Michael Moore, has increased the understanding of Amy. The genre of documentaries has become increasingly popular, through the growing culture of documentary film in cinemas and other media outlets.
Moore approaches documentary filmmaking in a biased polemical way, inciting responses through his laid 'everyman' persona which catches his subjects off-guard. Moore acts as the spokesperson representing the 'little' and silenced people, pushing against the mainstream media and government and the injustices brought about by these. For example, this is seen in Moore's documentary film - Bowling for Columbine, whereby he explicitly displays his polemical view about gun laws in America, taking on a negative perspective to the state government. Moore through this doesn't express a balanced argument in this documentary but rather only portrays his own viewpoint. Again, in another Moore documentary film, Sicko, Moore represents himself as this 'spokesperson' when examining the healthcare crises in America, to which uses 'Voxpop' ( voice of the people ) as a way to reflects the silenced people and those who are suffering as a result of the capitalistic society, in which is the healthcare system is only beneficial to those who can afford it. Therefore Moore implements his 'everyman' persona in representing these oppressed people. The realism which Moore achieves in his documentary films are seen through the lack of scripts, the use of Voxpops and through the interviews with the main protagonists of the issue he is portraying. This reflects his stlye of filmmaking to which he presents himself as 'laid back' and ingenious or 'faux naïf'. This style allows him to achieve to catch his subjects off-guard, and also allows him to use humour and emotion.
in comparison, Kapadia's approach in Amy, has some similarities such as dealing with controversial topics, Kapadia's Amy can be viewed as controversial as it portrays the life of Amy Winehouse and her downfall caused by alcoholism and drug use. Similarly, Moore's approach also explores controversial topics, to which he presses against mainstream media and government to express the biased views he has although supporting those 'silenced' people in society. Kapadia's approach to Amy, although does have similarities, mainly contrasts to Moore's approach. Kapadia's use of real home footage which is coupled with recorded voiceovers, allows him to shape his narrative around the use of this which ultimately allows Kapadia to be more open-minded about the narrative of the film of documentary. However, Moore contrastingly has shaped the narrative himself, through knowing the story and subject he wants to tell this has created bias from the beginning as Moore sets out to capture footage rather than already having it. Also as Kapadia in Amy uses real home footage, this means that the documentary is unscripted and unplanned through the use of these. Whereas Moore, explicitly uses scripts and planned scenes in order to portray the bias he wants to show.
More subjective, explicitly representing their own opinions - Moore, Broomfield
Implicitly represents their views - Kapadia
This essay will explore how far the documentary filmmaker theories of Michael Moore, has increased the understanding of Amy. The genre of documentaries has become increasingly popular, through the growing culture of documentary film in cinemas and other media outlets.
Moore approaches documentary filmmaking in a biased polemical way, inciting responses through his laid 'everyman' persona which catches his subjects off-guard. Moore acts as the spokesperson representing the 'little' and silenced people, pushing against the mainstream media and government and the injustices brought about by these. For example, this is seen in Moore's documentary film - Bowling for Columbine, whereby he explicitly displays his polemical view about gun laws in America, taking on a negative perspective to the state government. Moore through this doesn't express a balanced argument in this documentary but rather only portrays his own viewpoint. Again, in another Moore documentary film, Sicko, Moore represents himself as this 'spokesperson' when examining the healthcare crises in America, to which uses 'Voxpop' ( voice of the people ) as a way to reflects the silenced people and those who are suffering as a result of the capitalistic society, in which is the healthcare system is only beneficial to those who can afford it. Therefore Moore implements his 'everyman' persona in representing these oppressed people. The realism which Moore achieves in his documentary films are seen through the lack of scripts, the use of Voxpops and through the interviews with the main protagonists of the issue he is portraying. This reflects his stlye of filmmaking to which he presents himself as 'laid back' and ingenious or 'faux naïf'. This style allows him to achieve to catch his subjects off-guard, and also allows him to use humour and emotion.
in comparison, Kapadia's approach in Amy, has some similarities such as dealing with controversial topics, Kapadia's Amy can be viewed as controversial as it portrays the life of Amy Winehouse and her downfall caused by alcoholism and drug use. Similarly, Moore's approach also explores controversial topics, to which he presses against mainstream media and government to express the biased views he has although supporting those 'silenced' people in society. Kapadia's approach to Amy, although does have similarities, mainly contrasts to Moore's approach. Kapadia's use of real home footage which is coupled with recorded voiceovers, allows him to shape his narrative around the use of this which ultimately allows Kapadia to be more open-minded about the narrative of the film of documentary. However, Moore contrastingly has shaped the narrative himself, through knowing the story and subject he wants to tell this has created bias from the beginning as Moore sets out to capture footage rather than already having it. Also as Kapadia in Amy uses real home footage, this means that the documentary is unscripted and unplanned through the use of these. Whereas Moore, explicitly uses scripts and planned scenes in order to portray the bias he wants to show.
More subjective, explicitly representing their own opinions - Moore, Broomfield
Analysing Kapadia's 'Amy'
To what extent does Kapadia's 'Amy' demonstrate the techniques and approaches to documentary of Michael Moore and Nick Broomfield?
- Dealing with controversial topics - Moore, Broomfield, Kapadia
- Represents the little people, 'voxpop' - voice of the people - Moore and Broomfield
- No use of 'voxpop' - Kapadia
- Looks at individuals rather than big groups or issues in society - Broomfield, Kapadia
- Based on real topics - Moore, Broomfield, Kapadia
- More subjective, explicitly representing their own opinions - Moore, Broomfield
- Implicitly represents their views - Kapadia
- Are in their own films - Moore, Broomfield
- Acts as the spokesperson for the silenced people, pushing against the mainstream media and government - Moore
- Home video footage, shaping a narrative from this, more open-minded - Kapadia
- Shape the narrative themselves, knowing the story they want to tell, causing bias from the beginning - Moore and Broomfield
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