Film Analysis Intro

The movie I chose was Jaws (Steven Spielberg)

Scene I used (time code):
00:05:00 - 00:06:26

First Shot (00:05:00): Shot of man's head. Background in focus while foreground is blurred. Couple of seconds later, background is blurred and foreground is in focus. [racking focus]
Reason: ?

Second Shot (00:05:21): Camera follows man's movement. [tracking]
Reason: ?

Third Shot (00:05:38): Close up of man's face, camera moves back as character moves towards camera. [following shot]
Reason: ?

Fourth Shot (00:05:52): Close up of boys face and hand.
Reason:

Fifth Shot (00:06:01): Rule of thirds, close up of man on the phone. Foreground [man on telephone] in focus while background [wife and son] is blurred. [selective focus]
Reason: To emphasize the importance of the phone call

Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 Questions

On the Shot:
Explain the difference between small and large depths of field. Make up and describe two scenes in a movie and describe how both effects could be used to achieve the point of your scenes.

The difference between small and large depths is about how the objects are focused in. Lens with a depth field of 10 feet to infinity range will render the object clearly, but as the object moves closer to the camera the sharpness of the object will decrease. Wide-angel, short-focal-length, lens tend to have a greater depth of field than a telephoto, long-focal-length, lens. Depth of field controls the perspective relations by determining which planes will be in focus. Filmmakers may use selective focus, which is choosing to focus on only one plane and letting the other planes blur. This technique can also be used for more of a abstract compositional effect. Deep focus is where the filmmakers use faster films, shorter-focal-length lenses, and a intense lightning to create a greater depth of field. Along with the option of selective focus filmmakers may also be able to chose racking focus or pulling focus, which enable the filmmakers to adjust the perspective while filming. Raking focus is where the background elements come into focus and the foreground blurs, or vice-versa. An example is in Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. When the Peter, Edmond, Lucy, and Susan returns to Narnia from the train station, as the background, scenery, sharpens the foreground, the characters, blur. Another example is in the movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. When Harry, Hermione, and Ron where standing in front of Hagrids cottage they slowly blurred while Hagrid’s cottage came into focus.

On Editing:
Imagine a continuously edited scene in a popular movie you have seen. Now imagine it re-edited discontinuously. Consider what graphic and rhythmic possibilities exist in the shots you're thinking of. How does it change the scene and the rest of the movie?

An example would be the movie Kung Fu Panda. The scene at the end when Po and Tai Long are fighting is an example of an continuously edited scene. The Dragon Scroll that Po and Tai Long are after gets stuck in the mouth of a statue of a dragon on the roof. The shot is, a shot of behind the scroll looking at Po, goes to Po looking in the direction of where the scroll is placed, a shot of the scroll, and then Po looking at the scroll and behind him at Tai Long. This scene is continuously edited by having a flow between each shot to make the scene make sense. If this scene was not continuously edited and was re-edited discontinuously edited it wouldn’t make sense. For example, if the scene was Po looking at the scroll, then the next shot was Po look at Tai Long and then a shot of the Dragon Scroll the scene wouldn’t make that much sense and may even confuse the viewer. It might also leave a different impression of the movie and may give the viewers a different impression than the directors of the movie intended.

Movie Genres

The three movies I pick are Spirited Away, Lion King, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Director: Gore Verbinski

Company: Walt Disney Pictures

The main actors: Johnny Depp who plays as Jack Sparrow, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, and Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa

Released: July 9, 2003

Genres: action, adventure, comedy and science fiction.

This movie is an action movie because there are a lot of stunts and fighting scenes, and of course there is the whole “good guy” vs “bad guy.” It is also an adventure movie because Elizabeth Swann is captured by the pirate Barbossa and Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner try to rescue her by traveling the seas and encountering new people and new problems. Also Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner begin to battle against pirates who have a curse upon them which makes them unable to live or die for all eternity unless they break the curse upon them. It is a comedy movie because of how well the actors portray their characters and how even though it’s adventurous they have their moments when they joke around. Finally, this movie is science fiction because it has pirates that are among the living but are part of the undead. It is also science fiction because of the special effect, for example the pirate ships fighting and people turning into zombies when under the moonlight.

Reason why I chose this movie: I enjoyed watching this movie because it was interesting to watch and I never got bored of it. There as a bit of humor which made it fun to watch also and I enjoyed the special effects including the pirates and pirate-zombies.

Movie: Spirited Away

Director: Hayao Miyazaki. The English version is directed by co-director Kirk Wise

Company: Studio Ghibli

Released: in Japan on July 27, 2001.

Main Characters: Rumi Hiragi who plays as Chihiro and Miyu Irino who plays as Haku

Genres: science fiction, animation, and adventure.

This movie is science fiction because for one the setting is in a different world from ours where spirits, monsters, and mythical creatures exist. Also the characters are mythical, for example Haku is a dragon and Yubaba is a witch. This movie is an adventure because it tells the story of a girl named Chihiro who tries to save her parents who have been turned into pigs, she meet new people including Haku and visits new areas not known to the human world. Finally, Spirited Away is an animation because its like comic strip that also includes many special effects, and has a more variety of mythical creatures and fantasy. It is also computer generated.

The reason why I chose this movie: I chose this movie because i really enjoyed the movies Hayao Miyazaki created. The movies he creates are colorful and really interesting to watch. I enjoy the characters he creates and the personalities he creates for them. The mythical creatures he creates are not only interesting ad unique they are sometimes cute. The plot he creates for this story is also interesting along with the whole story. My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, The Cat Returns, and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea are also other movies that I enjoyed that was also directed by Hayao Miyazaki. I also chose this movie since I like to watch anime.




Movie: Lion King

Directors: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff

Company: Walt Disney Feature Animation

Released: June 24, 1994

Main Characters: Jonathan Taylor Thomas who plays as young Simba, Mathew Broderick who plays as adult Simba, James Earl Jones as King Mufasa, Jeremy Irons as Scar, Moira Kelly as adult Nala and Nikete Calame as young Nala.

Genres: animation, adventure, musical, romance, and family.

This movie is an adventure because Simba travels to find himself and to run away from his past and then meets new friends such as Pumba and Timon. Its an animation because this movies is hand drawn, computer generated and animated. It’s a musical because there are scenes where Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumba sing songs, for example “Cant Wait to Become King.” It’s a romance because of the relationship between Nala and Simba and how they handle their relationship after meeting after a long time. Finally, this movie is under the family genre because the whole family can watch it and this movie talks about family values.

Reason Why I Chose This Movie: I chose this movie because ever since i was younger I enjoyed watching Lion King. I was always fascinated by the characters, I guess one reason was that I was always fascinated with animals and I loved lions. I also enjoyed the sing-along songs and the characters of the story. Of course I enjoyed the sense of humor created by Pumba and Timon.

About Me?

I am a junior attending James Campbell Highschool .

I specifically made this blog to post my work on it for my IB Film Studies Class.

My interests or hobbies are reading, usually fiction books. I do enjoy sleeping and eating, but I don’t think that’s really a hobby. I like to watch anime and I enjoy the films that were created by Hayao Miyazaki. I’m usually not so crazy about school but I do my work since I know it will benefit me in the future. I don’t care to get grades lower then B’s since I prefer to get A’s.

My goals for the next two years are to graduate high school with an IB diploma. I would also like to maintain good grades but at the same time enjoy my high school life.

My plans after high school are to attend college. I’m not really sure as to what college I want to go to yet, but I’ll decide that later on. I do know that I want to major in the medical field while being able to work with animals. I don’t want to be an ordinary veterinarian since I don’t want to work with your typical dogs and cats. I guess I would like to work on those animal reserves where you can not only be in charge with an animal’s health but also be able to have the chance to raise the animal. I guess zoos are okay as long as they have a variety of animals.

I don’t really have a favorite movie since I’m the type to enjoy all types of genres, but if I had to choose the movie I enjoyed the most watching I guess it would be have to be films created by Hayao Miyazaki since I enjoy anime. I guess my three top favorite films of Miyazaki would be Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle.