Discussion Post 9/23

Méliès was a visionary first and foremost for seeing the potential for cinema as a long-lasting artform. While the Lumière Brothers could not foresee an industry for their art, Méliès was able to imagine the new frontier of entertainment. 

“Méliès’ main contribution to cinema was in recognizing the possibilities of the medium for narrative and performance, combining traditional theatrical elements with motion pictures, seeking to present performances of a kind not possible in live theater. He created the basic vocabulary of special effects, manipulating and distorting time and space to create illusions of appearances, disappearances, using jump cuts and other complex special effects such as the first double exposure, the first split screen, the first overlapping dissolve, fade in fade out, stop motion photography and much more.”

In addition to the belief that cinema was captivating he built on his predecessors in technical achievements. In a truly scientific manner, Méliès experimented with film and created many of the techniques we use today in cinema.  Although it seems common place to today’s audience, the effects of jump cuts, manipulation, and editing were discovered by Méliès. What interests me is that he was able to take the jump cut, which was an accident, and transform it into an artistic choice. From there narration itself changed, leading to deeper plots and advanced technological effects which furthered narratives in ways previously impossible using a single wide angle shot. It is the building on these bases which created the space for variants in style, tone, and even genre in film. 

 https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/articles/early-cinema-the-magical-world-of-georges-melies/

Discussion Post 9/29

The most obvious additions to Renoir’s full length film are the new complexity with which he uses his camera and the addition of speaking. Both aid to significantly highlight the sentiments of the film’s narratives while simultaneously deepening the impact on the audience of these moments.  Camera shots such as the close up relay a heightened intensity of emotions, drawing the audience in and creating an intimate sensation. 

While in moments of grandiosity we were able to view the entire picture. 

Both members of the French and German army are shockingly magnanimous towards one another. This can be seen without the aid of camera techniques, but the beauty of a moment such as a German soldier cutting Marchel’s food can be showcased by closing in on their interaction out of a table of many men. Making this action seem more intimate and therefore more tender. 

Apart from the addition of speech, to me, the effect which changed the viewing experience between this film and some of the earlier work we viewed in class such as Le Déshabillage Impossible or Le Voyage dans la Lune was the removal of most jump cuts. As mentioned in the article attached, Renoir and much of the New Wave directors used jump cuts, especially in the beginning of the movement. Renoir and Méliès utilise this technique in silent and short films to further the narrative and create a lively feeling. But in La Grande Illusion Renoir turns away from them to the advantage of this film. “Favoring fluidity and naturalism, Renoir typically chooses to change time periods by ellipses.” The naturalism spoke of in this quote is exactly what makes this film so enticing. And employing camera techniques more like that of the human eye allowed viewers to experience the film more organically, which in turn leads to a stronger connection to the message of the film. https://sites.psu.edu/fr138andrews/renoirs-camera/

Discussion Post 28/09

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/kuleshov-effect-examples/

The Kuleshev experiment essentially started the practice of editing. The relatively simple idea of putting two images together as a way to manipulate the meaning of one was a breakthrough that is currently still used in modern styles of editing. This article goes through the history of the Kuleshev experiment and also discusses how it is used in contemporary media.

One of the main objectives of cinema is to be able to manipulate the emotions of the audience through the story that is being told. The Kuleshev experiment was so groundbreaking because it showed that filmmakers could manipulate their audiences emotions, not only through the story being told but also through editing.

Along with many other directors and shows mentioned, this article highlights Steven Speilberg's use of the Kuleshev effect in his reaction shots. Speilberg is known for making his audience feel genuine emotion in his work. He has taken the basis of the Kuleshev effect and succeeded in morphing it into his own unique editing style, called the "Speilberg Face." This technique is "a close-up reaction shot to something awe-inspiring in front of the character."

The specific example of "The Speilberg Face" used in the article is a scene from Indian Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark. He uses this as a way to show what the character is thinking rather than just feeling. The article breaks down the specific shots, showing how the close-up on the characters faces followed by a shot that represents the characters point of view, gives us a direct idea of what the audience is thinking.

The article continues to give many different examples of when this form of editing is used. Overall, this style of editing was revolutionary for the making of films. While it continues to be adapted, the basic concept behind the Kulsehv experiment is one that remains important.

Discussion Post 23/09

The silent films by George Méliès marked the beginning of film the way we know it. I was intrigued by the rapid progression of film technology. There were less than 10 years in between the Lumiere Brothers discovery of taking moving images and Mélies Trip to the Moon. In that time Méliès was able to discover how to do tricks on a camera. Despite this being an accident it was essential to the development of films now. He was also able to work with sets that move and advance how films were edited.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/articles/early-cinema-the-magical-world-of-georges-melies/