This first one was something that stood out to me since the color orange in this case does stand out, and alerts a person to potential harm. I had hoped this drab location would make the orange pop out and be even more noticeable, emphasizing the harm that could come if you messed with these boxes. Side note: These are behind a Denny's. Take that for what you will.
So, the red bucket on our white shelves. Since this is something that does draw my eye everyday, I wanted to try and take a picture that would demonstrate that. I also tried to incorporate lines that would lead you to the red element. I now wonder if I would have taken the picture from the other end if it would have been more effective, since the lines would vanish into the red bucket.
This was an experiment to see if you really would be drawn to just one movie instantly. Admittedly, the framing isn't perfect, so that may have an additional side effect to the experiment, but hopefully you as a viewer are drawn to the red DVD box for 1941 amidst a sea of blue DVD's.
FILM # & TITLE:
_Shot for Shot: For A Few Dollars More_
DP: _Billy
Knowles_
TMA 285 DIRECTOR’S REFLECTION
Reflect
on how your film turned out. Have the courage to evaluate your work not just
with a self-congratulatory eye, but also with a critical eye. Step back; pretend the film wasn't made
by you. Be exacting. Be demanding. Don't let yourself off the hook. Be
completely honest about your performance!
-
Turn in a hard copy of this statement the next class session after your film
screens
- Post this
to your blog with your film the day after your film screens
Overall response(2-3
paragraphs):
Write an
overall response to your film in 2-3 paragraphs: Were you successful at
achieving what you set out to achieve? What are you proud of? What would you do
differently if you could remake this piece? What did you learn?
This scene
means a lot to me on a personal level, and so I really wanted to do it justice
in this assignment. As I said in class, I kept thinking about what it’s like to
learn a song someone else wrote and then play it from your own heart. It gives
you a different type of connection that you don’t get hearing a song on the
radio. I felt like this was what happened for me on this assignment. I felt a
deeper connection with this scene for sure, but I also feel like I had my eyes
opened to new ways to tell a personal story even if the elements in the story
are foreign to you. For the most part, I thought I achieved what I set out to
do.
I felt that
there were several shots where we were able to get the timing down almost
perfectly, and while those felt good, the ones I really liked were the ones
where we had to make do with a change of location or other unforeseen event and
were able to adapt and communicate the same thing as the original film. I was
also proud of my organization for this shoot. I’m not saying things went perfectly,
but I felt that I was able to come to set more confident because of all the
paperwork and pre-visualization I did on this assignment.
If I had
the chance to do this again, I would have given my actors more of the back
story. I know that showing them animatics or clips isn’t always the best thing
to do, however for this assignment I think it would have helped, as well as
giving them more than a reader’s digest version of the story. There is a great
deal of back story that comes before this scene in the film, and if my actors
had been more familiar with it, I think it would have been easier for me to
communicate what I was going for. I would also have thought through the meaning
of each shot even more than I did, so that I would have noticed more of the
shots where we were framed just a little off.
Briefly discuss the following:
What, specifically, did you want to
communicate? Were you successful? Why? Why not?
I wanted to
convey the feeling of triumph over adversity that I feel when I watch this
scene. I love that Mortimer comes so close to death, and then with the help of
a friend is able to rebound and ultimately win the day. I think I communicated
this as much as is possible seeing the clip without much knowledge of the story.
The blown out skies behind Mortimer didn’t really light him the way I thought
they would where in the original you see him look like an avenging angel. So in
that sense, I don’t think I made as much of an impact as Leone, but I think it
was a step in the right direction for me as a filmmaker.
How, specifically, did you try to communicate
this?
As I stated
above, I really tried to match the framing and lighting on Mortimer exactly the
same as in the film. Of all the framing, I think on Mortimer I missed the most
correct angles and lens choices, which as I said probably weakened the overall
impact.
What did you learn about storytelling:
A few weeks
ago in class we discussed that it’s really only possible to utilize two or
three of the visual elements when it comes to filmmaking. I really feel like I
noticed this during this shoot. In essence, the shooting plan was already made
for us, we knew what we wanted things to capture, and yet, seeming small
elements like costumes, location, and the height of the actors constantly disrupted
to some degree, the plan we had in mind. If you want to tell a successful story,
it’s in small details that you can get your theme across. Things like costumes
matter, and can add or detract from your story in ways you might not consider
on paper.
What did you learn about working
with actors and getting performance:
Since my
scene didn’t have much dialogue (or physical motion from the actors), I really
noticed how important it is for actors to know the subtext of the scene.
Emoting from the eyes, or small facial ticks can speak volumes. Certainly Leone
accomplished this much more effectively than I did.
What did you learn about blocking
the camera and actors?
This whole exercise
made me want to write a scene, just so I could try and compose shots the way
Sergio Leone did in this film. It really dawned on me how much you can get out
of the story-especially a visual story-if you take time to block the actors,
and select the right lens.
What did you learn about visual
elements such as lighting, composition, framing, etc.?
I feel like
there were multiple times where Billy and I “corrected” the frame so that it
fell more in line with the rule of thirds, or some other “rule” like that, and
then once we looked at the frame from the film, we realized that it wasn’t
framed according to those guidelines, because the way it was framed originally did
more for the story than just show a good looking picture. I felt like this was
something I noticed in other classmate’s remakes as well. It really hit home to
me that even if you are someone who believes that “story is king”, you have to acknowledge
that for the story to be a great king, it needs to rule while paying attention
to those visual elements. (side note: I will try not to use quotations like
that ever again.)
What did you learn about design and
art direction?
Trying to
replicate what the characters looked like, and wore as costumes did a lot to
cover some of the other mistakes I made in creating this shot for shot, because
those designs do a lot to convey what these characters are about. Everything in
Mortimer’s shots are strait and clean, whereas El Indio is always at strange
angles. The both wear black, but even then the type of black clothes they wear
speaks volumes. Even tiny details like the type of holster, or the type of
facial hair can do a lot of the leg work for you as a storyteller.
What did you learn about the Production
Process such as pre-production, collaborating with crew, securing equipment,
etc.?
I learned that if you’ve done a solid job in pre-production,
you’ll have a greater chance of success. I’ve always kind of known that, but
since this was one of the most in depth pre-production plans I’ve ever made, I
really know it to be true now. I was lucky that everyone was willing to go the
extra mile on this shoot, and that was something that stood out to me as a
reason projects can be successful. If everyone has the same passion to complete
a project as you do, then not only will your collaboration be better, but your
final product will be stronger as well.
What was it
like to watch your film with an audience? Did they understand it? Miss the
point? Why did they respond the way they did?
This was a
fun one to watch with the class. I think everyone was able to understand what
was really going on, and if we had more time in class to discuss it, I would
have liked to have heard peoples interpretations. I think the fact that this
scene is so long and yet always interesting goes a long way in making people
invest, even if it’s just for the sweet relief when it’s over. I watched a
documentary in preparation for this where even Clint Eastwood talks about how
he thinks the scene is way too long. It seemed to me that everyone felt that
same anticipation while watching.
Any other observations or notes:
This was a
brutal assignment, but I feel like it was an exercise that made me a better
filmmaker. I would like to have another opportunity to dissect a scene like
this.
So this was an attempt at injecting a small story into the photo. I couldn't get a model, and didn't want to shoot my kids, so I chose my trusty Anakin pod race mug. I figured the round cherubic face with the circles in the background might go nicely together.
This was another idea I had to use light in the background to add more shapes to the background. I then planted my developing timer in front and set the exposure for about 2 seconds. I like the concept, I'm not sure if the execution is exactly what I would like. I would have liked to light the timer just a little different.
This was another experiment that I hoped would evoke the feeling of something like you see in the Matrix when Neo wakes up and you see the rows and rows of pods with people in them. I also liked the idea of everything being roughly square or rectangular with lines vanishing in the distance. However, I stacked the pieces in a triangle shape which I hoped would echo the blue diamonds in the tiles.
This is a bonus image, that I can't get to look right on the computer. I just liked the multiple circles in this image and how it kinda looked like a spaceship or something even though it's just a bunch of washer and dryers. Again, the exposure isn't spot on, hence this being a bonus image. I'm just adding it cause I did like the concept.
FILM 3: SHOT-FOR-SHOT DUPLICATION
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT OF INTENT
This
statement of intent is designed to train your mind, eye and heart to shoot purposefully.
You should prepare it well before shooting. Briefly—but thoughtfully and
specifically—answer the following questions. Be sure to make your answers
specific to the assignment as listed on Learning Suite.
1.What film or TV show is this from?
For A Few Dollars More (Leone,
1965)
·In 3-5 sentences, what has happened in the story before this scene?
Col. Mortimer and Manco have spent a good chunk of time
tracking down the criminal El Indio. Years earlier, he had raped Col. Mortimer’s
sister-who killed herself during the encounter-and so Mortimer is out for
revenge, Manco is out for the bounty. They team up and infiltrate El Indio’s
gang, but are discovered and forced into a showdown.
2.What is the theme of this film?
The theme of this film is how revenge
can change someone and take over their life.
3.What is the story—the beginning,
middle, and end—of your scene in three or four sentences? In other words, what
happens as the scene starts, as it progresses, and as it ends?
Mortimer’s rifle lies on
the ground; he finally has a chance to avenge his sister after all these years.
When the chimes end he must reach down and grab the gun before he is shot;
which he realizes is impossible. Just as all hope seems lost, Manco “re-starts”
the chimes while also giving Mortimer a new pistol, thus making it a fair
fight. Mortimer’s confidence is restored, and justice is done as he shoots down
El Indio.
4.What, specifically, must the
audience understand narratively in order to engage in this scene? How does the
director communicate each piece of information?
Two things must be understood, the
first is simply who to root for. Both men are dressed in black, making it
difficult to determine their status as hero or villain, however, Mortimer is
lit from behind, giving him a somewhat angelic appearance. The audience must also
understand the odds each man faces. Without his weapon in hand, Mortimer doesn’t
have a chance against El Indio. Leone uses closeups on the eyes of both
Mortimer and El Indio, as well as posture to convey their confidence (and
likewise their odds for success) in this fight.
5.What is the narrative, emotional and
thematic purpose of this scene in the larger story?
Mortimer is finally in a position to
avenge is sister and end a considerable portion of his life’s work by finishing
off El Indio. The fact that he doesn’t have his gun and begins to doubt his
ability to win demonstrates the futility of wasting your life plotting revenge.
However, it becomes clear that perhaps it’s more than just revenge, and
Mortimer is also after justice. Eastwood’s ability to finish off El Indio
himself but instead letting Mortimer fight his own fight, demonstrates that
there is a sense of western honor between these men. They aren’t simply cold
blooded killers.
6.What is the progression of emotions do
you think the director wanted the audience to experience in this scene? Why?
How did the director achieve this? How do you intend to do this?
There is one shot, just
before Manco shows up with the watch where Mortimer’s eyes droop almost imperceptibly.
I believe this is to convey the feeling of hopelessness Mortimer is feeling in
not being able to avenge his sister. I also think the director wanted the
viewer to feel the tension of being in a gun fight. The close ups and back and forth
between eyes, hands reaching for guns, and wide shots effectively does just
that. I think in large part, the cross cutting adds an element of tension on it’s
own, but by shooting specifically the faces and eyes, it leaves the viewer
wondering if Mortimer (and by extension themselves) has what it takes to emerge
triumphant. That worry is where the tension comes from. I want to accomplish
this by seriously trying to break down what is going on in the minds of
Mortimer, El Indio, and Manco during this scene and have my actors replicate
that. There is little to no dialogue, so it all must be expressed in the eyes
and posture.
7.What is the first image of the
scene? What is the final image of the scene? Why do you think the director
chose these specific images?
As I am breaking down this scene the
first image is El Indio taunting Mortimer and him explaining the rules of the
fight. He has the musical pocket watch in his hand. The final shot will be
Mortimer holstering his pistol. The reason for this is the watch is a symbol of
power, and Mortimer has none. In the end, the power transfers to his pistol
from the second watch and he is in charge.
8.Why is this scene personal to you?
What previous personal experience(s) does it remind you of? Ask yourself, “Why
do I need to make this scene?”
This is one of my favorite scenes in
all of cinema, and largely because I think Lee Van Cleef and Sergio Leone craft
such an amazing emotional arc for Mortimer in this scene. As far as a personal
reason, I really relate to Mortimer at this stage in my filmmaking career. I
wonder if I have what it takes, I doubt myself, and I hope I can regain my
confidence in a metaphoric way that would echo what happens in this scene. I
think that means coming to peace with my own past, but also relying on others
more than I have in the past (the way Mortimer receives help from Manco). The
fact that I’m from Wyoming and have images of the wild west seared into my
brain puts this gunfight in a language that resonates with me as a compelling
metaphor for the way I feel. I think I need to make this scene as a cathartic
release to deal with some of this baggage I carry with me.
9.Which specific visual elements (line, shape, space, tone, color, rhythm,
movement) do you notice the director is using to purposefully communicate the
emotion of the scene? What other elements is the director using to evoke
emotion? (Be specific! Don’t just say “art direction,” although that’s a start,
say, “scattered clothing on the bed, open closet doors…” etc.)
For starters, I think shape is
apparent since the three characters appear in a large circular arena to have
their fight, as well as the shape of the actors in the frame and the sweat and
dirt on their faces. Another would be tone. As I said above, both characters
are dressed in black, but El Indio pops out of his white background, whereas
Mortimer blends in even though it’s a bright background since it’s not a stark
white. This gives him the appearance of an angel. Movement also plays a
critical piece, and in this case its very subtle movements by the actors.
Reaching for guns, or a slight twitch of the eye stands in large contrast
against the overall static quality of the images. The rhythm of these shots
adds to the intensity due to the variety and meaning of each shot.
10.What focal lengths does the director appear to be using? Why?
I would guess he ranges
all over the place from as wide as possible (14mm) to intense close ups (75mm).
I think he does this to create that tension I discussed earlier. Jumping around
from shot to shot, finding that rhythm in framing adds to this tension. The
close ups make this very personal and put us in the mind of the gunfighters.
The wides not only allow for a breather and moment to gain a look at the
geographic area, but also give us a grander perspective on this fight.
11.In a bulleted list, describe two or three potential obstacles the
filmmakers faced in creating a successful scene. How do you think they overcame
these?
·One obstacle was conveying an
unspoken dialogue between the two fighters. I think they overcame this by using
subtle movements, punctuated by larger movements in order to demonstrate what
the characters were thinking and feeling.
·Another obstacle was making sure the
camera work stayed consistant throughout the entire sequence. There are a good
number of static tripod shots, but the moving camera shots feel the same
because the camera commits to the frame its on. There’s no drifting as the camera
operator tries to decide where to be. I think they accomplished this through
practice.
12.In a bulleted list, describe two or three potential obstacles you may face in creating a successful
scene. How can you be prepared to overcome these? Be specific!
·Acting will be one of the biggest
challenges for me. I am going to try and make sure that I really have a handle
on what each character is thinking in each shot just as much as trying to make
the scenes match. I think the acting could cause the scene to drift a little
off and one from perfect when compared to the original edit.
·Costumes could be a challenge. I’m
not worried about some details when it comes to the scene, for example I have a
pocket watch that isn’t identical, but will work. However, the shape of
Mortimer’s hat provides a unique look to the framing that I think is important
to replicate.
·Lighting. This might also fall under
a weather type problem. They had really great lighting outdoors. Some of that
should be easy enough, but in order to match, I don’t want to shoot in a
blizzard or even an overcast day. I’ll plan my best, but to be honest, I don’t
know what I can really do if there is a storm. I am going to aim to shoot in
the morning to hopefully avoid more stormy times of day.
