For your first paper, you will examine how a single formal film element works in a particular scene in one of the films we’ve seen in the first half of the course.
That is, you will discuss how Acting, Mise-en-scène, Cinematography, Editing OR Sound Design works in ONE scene from The Great Train Robbery, The Pale Face, Go West, Adaptation, Giant, The Shining, Citizen Kane, Psycho, OR Apocalypse Now.
For this writing exercise, I would like for you to write me a paragraph with your preliminary thoughts about the film AND the formal film element you plan on writing about.
English 245: Film Form and Culture 
For my first paper, I would like to examine the cinematography in “Psycho”. In this class, we used “Psycho” as a representation of editing, but the movie also exemplifies cinematography. More specifically, I would like to analyze the famous shower scene, and talk of how all of the shots help to tell the whole story. There are two great examples of cinematography in this scene. Firstly, the rapid montage of shots during the stabbing segment leads the viewer to a nervous, and unknowing tone. As well, the juxtaposition of the shower drain to Marion’s eye implicitly states that the life is draining out of here. Along with these specific moments, I will also look at other moments within this section, and examine the meaning behind the shots.
In the film, The Shining, sound design plays a major role in the making of the film. A scene that stages the mood for the film is the opening scene where the setting is shown. There are multiple aerial shots of the landscape which would typically be seen as a very nice, calming view but the sound is what changes the mood completely. As these landscapes are shown, there is creepy music off the bat, which changes the feel of the movie overall.
I plan on looking at sound design in the movie The Shining. The music used in the movie is greatly improved and really sets a mood for what the viewer is watching. Without even looking at the screen in some instances you already know it gives a creepy vibe. I will focus on the scene where Danny goes in to the room and talks to Jack as he is sitting on Jacks lap. The music foreshadows the movie when Danny asks “you would never hurt my mom and me would you?” The shift in music creates a creepy feel and foreshadows the rest of the movie. This will be enough material for my first paper.
The movie Psycho is a suspenseful movie that uses many elements of cinematography in combination with editing to benefit the genre of the film. In the scene near the end of the film where Lila runs into the basement wanting to talk to Norman’s mother, the different camera shots and combination of each shot adds detail and specific meaning to the scene. The editing of the shots that the storyboard has created gives the film a unique vibe. Most of the editing creates a certain tempo and adds to the depth of the plot.
For my first paper, I would like to examine the cinematography in the famous shower scene in film, Psycho. I would talk about the multiple camera angles, position, and movements during this scene. I will talk about the medium eye-level shots of Marion washing herself and how they represent her washing her sins away. Then, the low level shots from Marion’s point of view which creates tension.
Keyan Javadi
For my first paper, I am planning on examining the cinematography in Apocalypse Now. There are many examples of great cinematography throughout the film, especially the scene when Willard meets Kurtz. The lighting creates a very interesting and eerie mood while the two talk to each other for the first time. This is just one of many examples that I will be able to talk about in my first paper.
For the first paper I’m thinking about writing about either parallel editing or cinematography in the last scene in The Shining. Parallel editing is present in this scene by showing each character, Jack Torrence, Wendy Torrance and Danny, and what they are doing simultaneously. The movie alternates from each of these character’s actions at the same time but in different locations. I’m also thinking about doing the cinematography in the last scene as Jack chases Danny through the maze.
In the scene in Psycho when Lila goes into Normans house to find his mother the mise en scene defines Norman for her. Lila frantically runs into the house in search of her sister and Norman’s “mother”. As Lila runs into the house she immediately runs up stairs to search the room. Lila is frantic since she must search the house while Norman is still distracted. This puts the audience on edge just as Lila is on edge.The camera slowly scans the entire room as if the audience is in Lila’s shoes.
Out of all the films we have watched, Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, relays back in my mind due to it’s abundance of formal film elements. Although maybe not the most important element of film, sound design plays a huge role in a certain scene of the movie. This scene is when Arbogast is falling down the stairs after being stabbed. The different elements of sound design are able to emphasis as well as separate different sections of the scene that the director wants the audience to focus on.
For my first paper, I want to write about how the mise-en-scene in the parlor scene for Psycho. I want to analyze how all the details in that scene make Norman out to look like a hawk himself.
I am planning on connecting Mise en scene and Psycho. The mise en scene of psycho helps dictate the mood of the movie. The scene I would focus on is the parlor scene. The setting of the parlor demonstrates Norman’s psychotic nature. The human figure of this scene makes Norman appear strange and abnormal.
I am also thinking about connecting editing to The Shining. The scene I would focus on is the editing between showing Danny and showing the twin girls. This scene continues to cut to Danny being frightened and then to the girls dead. This scene demonstrates the mood of the movie and provides a horrific nature. It also relates to the theme of a loss of childhood. This is because the young girls are viewed as demons. Also, they are displayed bloody and dead which shows a loss of innocence. The cuts in this scene allow the viewer to see what Danny sees.
I am going to write my paper on how mise en scene works in Psycho. Although the movie is in black and white, Hitchcock still manages to incorporate into the film almost every aspect of mise en scene. The setting of the Bate’s Hotel is very significant along with the props and the placement of human figure. Two very important scenes where mise en scene is used are the scenes where Lila Crane explores the Bates’ house towards the end of the film and in the parlor with Marion and Norman.
The scene in Apocalypse Now, where Captin Willard finally comes face to face with Kurtz, has a lot of cinematography elements. The scene begins with the camera behind Captain Willard. Willard is kneeling down and the lighting is dark, therefore we only see his shadowy silhouette. Kurtz is hidden behind wall; the camera dollies forward, and goes around the wall. He is lying on the bed, as the camera moves around and towards the bed his entire body is slowly revealed except for his face. All of his body is dark and covered in shadows except for a faint yellow light on his hands, the camera flashes back to Willard, even though his body is facing ahead towards he open lighted doorway, his face is turned to Kurtz. Willard is lighted significantly more than Kurtz therefore the expression on his face is easier to decipher, he is clearly focused on Kurtz intent on what he is saying and eager to finally see this man he has been hunting. The camera flashes back to Kurtz now he has sat up and the faint yellow light has moved to the back of his head, but it is still hiding his face. The camera stops and stays stable in this place for a while increasing anticipation,
I hadn’t definitely decided on what I which elements of film I want to focus on, but I was thinking of doing either cinematography or acting. I also think I may want to pick either Go West or Citizen Kane(obviously if I choose Citizen Kane I won’t choose cinematography).
The mise-en-scene characteristics of the surfing scene in Apocalypse Now contributed to the chaotic, hellish feeling that the director was trying to communicate. Soldiers were told to try to go surfing in the middle of a dangerous area where fighting was still taking place. There were bombs going off left and right, and helicopters flying in all directions. People were shooting and there was even a napalm blast close by, and yet in the middle of the water, there were two soldiers trying to surf the waves in the midst of this danger. The mise-en-scene was also manipulated to adjust the characteristics of the sunny lighting, the way the soldiers were dressed, and the organization of the beach location.
In Citizen Kane, Mise-en-scène and cinematography are crucial for the audience to connect to the emotions of a scene. The scene of Kane’s death may be a great example of how the director helps the viewers understand the mood with camera angles, lighting and positioning. I have not definitely decided on which I will be discussing, but I am leaning towards Mise-en-scene.
In The Shining, the use of mise-en-scene is able to take the audience to a new level of film viewing. There are multiple examples of mise-en-scene in The Shining, but the two I’ll most likely focus on is lighting and camera angle. I feel the combination of the two elements gave the film the mark on film history and culture that the film carries to this day. The film utilizes lighting and camera angle in a new way that hasn’t been done prior to its creation.
For my paper, I either want to write about editing in The shining maze chase or cinematography in the psycho shower scene. I’m probbably leaning towards Psycho because Hitchcock is regarded as a master cinematographer and want to analyze it further .
In Adaptation I thought that the way the plot was played out was not done in the best way. They tried cutting between too many different periods of time at different points in the three different stories with almost no transition. This was confusing because it took time to realize what story and when the scene was happening. One thing they did really well though was sound.
The sound in the scene where the brothers are hiding from Orlean and Laroche made the scene. It made it much more intense because it was almost silent which added to the anxiety. Then when someone was walking around or running you could really hear it even when it switched from the twins to Orlean and Laroche.
For my first paper assignment I want to analyze how cinematography plays crucial role in the shining. Kubrick uses various elements of cinematography that aren’t usually used on horror movies. The scene I would like to focus on would be the maze scene and the setting of hotel where Kubrick uses sufficient lighting to create horror scene.
Im on the fence right now between these two
The sound design in Psycho play a large role in the movies effectiveness. Hitchcock uses sound to establish the tempo and creepiness in a lot of the scenes in Psycho. For example whenever the murders are being committed the music is very high pitched, and repetitive establishing the numerous cuts Norman is delivering and also to show confusion or hysteria in the scenes. He also uses music with a rising tempo to build suspense just before something drastic is about to happen.
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The sound design in Shining is important because it establishes suspense makes seemingly normal scenes creepy. One example is the large hall in witch Jack does his writing. The acoustics of the large hall make the sound of the typing echo throughout the scene. Also the soundtrack in the opening scene turns a peaceful winding mountain road. Makes the scene same ominous.
For my first paper, I want to examine either the mise-en-scene or cinematography in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho. Scenes that I am considering choosing to work with include the scene where Lila goes into the house or the parlour scene. I think the miss-en-scene is interesting as Lila begins to piece together the story of Norman Bates through the composition of what is arranged around the house. The lighting is also significant and creates different moods, especially as she walks down towards the cellar. I could talk about the actual setting of the house and Bates motel. About the human figure, I could discuss the placement of people in the end of the scene where Lila discovers the corpse and Norman Bates’ identity as dressing and acting as Mother Bates is revealed.
The cinematography in Apocalypse Now utilized various different shots that really help define a war film. In the scene with the first beach invasion, a lot of shots defined setting and the chaos of war. The shots also established the supiority of characters over eachother. In such a chaotic scene, the cinematrography was very important with portraying the story to the audience.