Blog #4- Trip to the Museum of the Moving Image

On my visit to the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) I discovered many new things about the film and media industry. One particularly interesting thing I got to experience was how the actors' appearances are decided/made and what impact that has on a movie. There were exhibits on makeup, costume, and special effects that showed how these aspects of appearance matter. 

It was fascinating to see in person actual masks and facial makeup that was used in real films, such as the bust of Jim Carrey and his green face mask from The Mask (1994) and the actual Chewbacca mask worn by the actor in Star Wars: Episode IV (1977). I learned about how these things get constructed, and that often busts are created of actors so that the special effects and makeup can be developed over time. Decisions regarding makeup and special effects (from extreme masks to basic, more natural makeup) significantly contribute to many aspects of a film and how it conveys content.

Another great part of learning about how appearance affects film was the exhibit they had on costumes, where many famous movie costumes were on display. From the dress ensemble worn by the late Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) to the classic sweater and slacks worn by Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show (1984-1992), I learned how choices of what an actor wears are very important to the feel of the film and the development of the actors character. I also realized that a "costume" that holds significance and makes contributions doesn't have to be an extravagant dress or something fancy; it can often be just an average looking outfit one would wear to work or school.

Aside from gaining knowledge about what is involved in creating a character's appearance in a film, I learned much about the evolution of moving image technology itself. As technology has advanced, media makers have gained infinite amounts of options to help them in their creative endeavors. We now for example, have a myriad of choices as far as what camera we want to use depending on how we want our film to look, and what lighting we want to use to convey certain moods. Advancements in on screen aspects such as actor appearance choices and computer generated film effects make it possible to convey any characterization and action one can imagine. All of this and more contributes greatly to the ever changing aspects of the creation, viewing, and experiencing of moving images. 

Blog #3- Relationships Between Shots

The piece I have chosen to analyze is the final scene of the movie Pompeii (2014). The scene depicts the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in Pompeii, Italy, and the destruction and horror it causes as main characters Milo and Cassia try to flee. The editing and the relationship between shots make a significant contribution to the storytelling and the feel of the scene. The piece's feel is of desperation, anguish, and at the same time an odd sense of peace and stillness.

Part of what contributes to the desperation and anguish conveyed by the scene is the way it is edited. The editing increases the drama and highlights the direness of the situation for the two characters. The sound consists of explosions and eerie, minor-chorded church like singing that helps add to the feeling of what a colossal, awful moment this is. In terms of cuts, there is a lot of cutting back and forth between the larger picture of the destruction occurring to the city, and close ups of Milo and Cassia. The cuts are noticeable as they often jump between very different fields of view.

The shots are organized in what seems to be descending order of content and movement. The more dramatic and dynamic shots (i.e. when the two get thrown off of their horse, and the shots cutting back between the destruction and them) are more toward the beginning of the piece, and the more still and slow shots where it is understood that the two are doomed are toward the end. The shots vary in length over the course of the piece. The feelings of for example either panic or defeat are conveyed equally well in shots of either long or short length, and in regular or slow motion.

Toward the latter half of the piece, the editing is done so that the focus is more on Milo and Cassia close up, as they have accepted that they are going to die. It is at this point where the sound becomes less eerie and more resolved, carrying on through the end of the scene as the pyroclastic flow of the mountain consumes the two alive as they kiss. The close framing of this scene, the sound, and the slow motion convey how dramatic and final this moment is and yet also bring a sense of peace and stillness. The piece (and the movie) finishes out with a very close up, very long in length tracking shot of what is revealed (through zooming out and up) to be the preservation of the two characters in ash. The length and continuity of the shot as well as the softening of the music adds to its concluding feel.

Project #2- Audio Interview