There is more than meets the camera angle...

The shot of a scene in a film tells us so much more than what is happening in that frame. Depending on the angle of the camera, the closeness verses the distance, the brightness or darkness of color, and the clarity can allude to something more occurring in the film. In the films Do the Right Thing and Taxi Driver we see the use of camera angles and colors tell a story of it's own throughout the film.

In Do the Right Thing, the camera is often angled an unusual way. There were several times when it was a below shot looking up at a character, or an angled, tilted shot of a character or a conversation. This could alluded to the misconception or judgements that went along with this persons character. For example, Mother Sister and the older gentlemen in the neighborhood always had a tilted camera angle when conversing. This could mean they perceive each other with a certain, off center outlook. Mother Sister saw the older man negatively and this could be way the angle of the camera was not straightforward. The use of color in the this film is also a strong influence on the mood and message given. The bright reds, oranges, and browns led to the feeling of heat and tension. This all builds up to the ending of the movie where the heat, the fighting, and the tension get to everyone. Sal's place catches on fire and there is a huge brawl in the streets. This is all in the making throughout the film and the heat is portrayed in the colors.

In Taxi Driver, the camera work was often looking through glass. Several times when Don was driving, they showed his perspective looking through the windshield or into the review mirror. Even in the diner with the other taxi drivers they conversed looking into the mirror. Don also looked through the window of Palentine's office and that is how he watched Betsy. This can all give to the notion that Don is separated or isolated from the outside world. He is alienated and there is an unseen barrier between him and others, similar to the barrier in his taxi cab between him and his customers. This use of camera work allows us to see the world from Don's perspective. The use of color in this film all create a sense of suspense and loneliness. It seems it is usually nighttime in the film and that is usually the time of danger or crime. The darkness of the night surrounding the yellow cab makes Don stick out and can create the idea of alienation or loneliness. All of these elements play to the message of the movie and emphasize what is being portrayed throughout the film.

The Shining: Shot by Shot Analysis

The first scene of this sequence is Wendy’s face, a frightened look towering over Jack’s writings. It then cuts to his writing in the typewriter and then back to Wendy’s face. The music that starts suggests that she is realizing something is wrong with Jack. It then goes to his stack of papers and zooms in so one can read what has been typed. Jack typed the same sentence over and over and over again, and we know this because the camera stays on his writings for a while. The camera work allows the viewer to read what is on the paper and grasp the insanity that would cause such behavior. Her then flipping through all the pages one by one allows the viewer to see just how intense this behavior is. It allows you to see Wendy’s hand shaking as she flips through the pages and the music provokes fear. Her reaction shows that she is getting upset and scared of what this means.

            The next section of this sequence is when Jack enters. It starts with, what seems like a Point of View shot from him looking around the wall. We see Wendy’s back and that she has found Jack’s papers. The music continues to play heightening the suspense. We then learn that it wasn’t a point of view shot because the dark outline of Jack’s head and shoulder appear in the right side of the frame. He speaks and it startles Wendy, causing her to scream.

            Jack then walks into the scene. It is bright, well lit with a glare, and white walls. This cold, colorless atmosphere creates an uncomfortable feeling and no warmth or comfort for Wendy. Jack has clearly stepped out of civility and this is seen in his writings, his reaction to finding his wife in that area of the hotel. He starts going on a rampage and rattling off information that does not relate to what they’re talking about at all. His appearance is another implication that he has stepped out of civility. He has disheveled hair, a scruffy beard, and several layers of clothing. He does not look put together and that is reflecting his mental state.

North by Northwest Analysis

Th film North by Northwest is a suspenseful film directed by Alfred Hitchcock that is not only a classic, old-time movie but also includes important filming elements as well as elements that reflect the time period this film was made.

Creative camera work intensifies several different scenes within this movie. One particular example of this is when the main character, Roger, is driving drunk and a reverse-shot-reserve is seen between his expression and the road in front of him. This scene also includes a point of view shot that shows his perspective of the road while driving drunk. This is done by a camera swerving back and forth and a blurry lens. Some other shots that are done in this movie help establish the scene. This includes New York Train Station, Penn Station, by showing the crowd and the terminal. Establishing shots are also used when showing the U.S. Assembly Building and the Capitol Building. 

These shots of the U.S. Assembly and the Capitol Building also play to the time the movie was made. The film came out around the time of the cold war, so patriotism is evident throughout the film. There is a large American flag hanging in the train station as well as the court room Roger is brought into, emphasizing a strong American presence. Also when Roger is hiding in the train station he wears a red cap as he is being searched for. This use of the color red and the negativity that follows could be seen as an anti-cold war statement. Other elements that emphasized the time period was women being referred to as "sweetie" or "dear" without any backlash. Also in the beginning of the film when Roger is being accused of driving drunk he is told to "pay the two dollars". It is shocking to think a ticket for driving while intoxicated was once two dollars. This, along with the fact that they showed him driving drunk and from his perspective is a hint at era. Drunk driving today is a much more touchy subject and I do not believe that scene would be in a movie today.

There are also some elements that add to the suspense and drama of the film. One of these elements is the deep suspenseful music. This allows you to understand the tone of the movie right away. This is also seen with the use of colors. The colors in the movie are very bold, dark, and rich. Colors such as blacks, red, maroons, golds, and neutral colors all play into the meaning of the movie. It is agreed on page 108 of An Introduction to Film, that "colors are an important way of distinguishing two realms." These realms include the meaning behind the colors, along with working into the set, clothing, and presentation of the film. All of these elements play a key role in making this movie as suspenseful and captivating as it is.

The Royal Tenenbaums; One Scene is Worth a Thousand Words

In the movie The Royal Tenenaums, there is a scene where Royal Tenenbaum is laying in bed being evaluated by a doctor with his whole family standing on one side of the bed. A lot can be inferred about the relationships in the movie from this particular scene. The characters in the sequenced are framed with the a close up of the doctor, yet he is not in focus. Royal Tenenbaums family is the most clear to see in this scene even though it could be considered a medium or long shot of a few of the characters. All of the characters are arranged so you can see the facial expression of each one. I would say these scenes are composed to look crowded, making the family look larger. There is a lot going on and a lot of relationships throughout the movie yet it is all within one family and this scene captures that.

What time find most interesting about this scene are all the trophies in the background. There really isn't any mention of them directly throughout the movie, so we can assume this is a way of telling us of how successful the family or a member or the family may be. I believe the most noticeable part of this scene is Royal Tenenbaum and how he is laying in the bed. This is one of the times we see him really vulnerable throughout the film and it is portrayed in the way he is laying in the bed.

According to this sequence you can tell who is closest and most comfortable with Royal. Richie and Royal's close friend are the closest to his bed. These are the two throughout the movie that really listen to Royal and sympathize with him. Next are his grandchildren, who just met Royal and don't have any hostility towards him.  The next closest character is his wife who was willing to let him live in the house and talked with him without too much hostility. The furthest characters are his adopted daughter, and his son that is most angry and hostile towards him. This shows distance in the relationship and less closeness. This scene does move the composition forward because they all do show concern for their father while the doctor is there. Though there are some issues and bad relationships, they are all there to hear what the doctor has to say and if the father will be okay. The way this scene is set up does have a similar appearance to the last supper. They are all gathered around one main subject.  That is interesting to consider when watching the rest of the movie.

The Graduate Analysis

In the movie The Graduate, cinematic history was made with a lot of unique camera shots, along with the use of common camera work to express emotion and set a tone for specific scenes. For example, within the first five minutes of the movie we see extreme close-ups when Ben walks through the part at his parents house. It creates a sense of claustrophobia and no ones full body is show.  Certain techniques can be used to make meaning, and no technique has the same meaning (Ryand and Lenos, 9). Since the camera was so close to each person’s face and also shaky, it was probably a handheld camera. After that, the relationship between Ben and Mrs.Robinson is established in the two-shot in his bedroom. She walks in and lounges very comfortably in his room while he stands there uncomfortably. The two person shot allows us to see the distant that Ben puts between the two of them and how the two interact. Camera work also helps set the scene when Mrs.Robinson is first trying to seduce Ben. A close-up of his face is done, which shows him sweating, fearful, and uncomfortable. There are then jump shots when Mrs. Robinson shuts the bedroom door from Ben’s face to Mrs.Robinson’s body and tanlines. The shots of Ben’s face show panic and express the adrenaline Ben is feeling. Another shot that really captures the suspense and nerves Ben is feeling in the film is the long shot of him walking down the hotel hallway his first night with Mrs.Robinson. This shot really expresses Ben’s feelings because there is no music or sound except what he hears while walking in the hallway.

            This movie also has a lot symbolism in the water that is seen in the film, along with the use of blank and white colors. The water in the film can be seen as a symbol of Ben’s purity, but as the film goes on Ben loses this sense of purity by having an affair, drinking, and smoking. This reflected later in the movie when the father is seen skimming the pool of all the dirt. The black and white stripes in the Robinsons kitchen, the clothing they wear, and the swim cap the mother owns are symbolic of Ben feeling trapped. This is also reflected when Ben is in the scuba suit and his vision is from his point of view and is very limited, the outside voices are muffled, and all he can hear is his breathing. This creates a claustrophobic feeling like one is trapped.

            Another cinematic camera tactic that is used in this movie is an establisher shot. When Ben goes to Berkley to meet Eileen, there is a pan shot of him driving through the woods and also the bridge to establish where he is. This also gives the sense that he has been driving long and far to get to her. These are just a couple of shots that were used in the graduate, along with the use of symbolism that was then copied for years to come.