So, as I was sitting through a lecture
in my Film class, the topic was about “Film Loops”. What came to mind as I
watched these films with repetitive loops (of athletes and stories that dragged
on forever), was the Adult Swim Commercials on Cartoon Network. These small commercial
loops for their late night comedy shows were very crazy. Too bad I wasn’t able
to find any on the internet or You Tube.
Looping small parts of a film is
quite interesting as well as a great art form. Here are some commercial loops
that I found that emphasize the power of Looping. They are quite funny and at
the same time annoying. Check out the film loop of someone eating and a dog
taking a revers dump, classic films to add to the collection of nonsense. Enjoy!
Once
Upon a Time in the West by Sergio Leone has a lot of sound
elements, one wouldn’t notice if they hadn’t stopped to listen. There is so
much sound going on in the just the beginning of the film. It makes you wonder
how much sound one misses when standing alone. Since this is a western film, the sound as
well as the visual elements places the viewer in the atmosphere of being out in
the desolate lands of a western.
I’m not a very big fan of westerns, but after seeing
and listening to this film, I am rather intrigued to watching / listening other
ones now.Next time I go out into the desert, I am going
to have to stop and listen to the surroundings. Who knows, I might hear buzzards, tumble weeds
blowing by the wind, insects and maybe a rattle snake.
I have found my calling and the genre that I would like to pursue... It is
that of Italian "Neorealism". What is "Neorealism" you may
ask yourself. The best way I can describe it… it is true reality. Neorealism isn’t
the crap that you see in movies today with happy endings and heroes or any
other silly crap that we are fed on the big screen (or the little one in your
homes).
Neorealism in cinema began in in 1945 and lasted till about 1948 with one of
the last films in the genre showing in 1951. It was a reflection of reality
after and during the devastation of World War 2.
Ceasare Zavattini
One of the most vocal amongst screenwriters in the genre is Cesare Zavattini. He wrote the
screenplay for "Bicycle Thief" for Italian Director Vittorio de Silca.
Here is a list of some of the films that were produced during this genre:
1945 - Open City
1946 - Paisan
1946 - Shoeshine
1947 - Germany Year Zero
1948 - The Bicycle Thief
1948 - La Terra Trema
1951 - Umberto D.
When
I first seen Bicycle Thief, I immediately thought it was going to have a strong
resolution at the end of the movie. But as in life itself, sometimes there is
no resolution to the conflicts that we face. The feeling that overcame me when
watching this great film was the feeling of being ripped off by the society
that we live in and it’s many disguises of reality. I then chuckled and realized
it was a great film. Bicycle Thief had poised a reaction out of me, something
that movies usually don’t do, only people who frustrate me. I highly advise
anyone to see this film and try something different by receiving a new outlook
on life.
Here are some excerpts of some sound creators along with video. I did not
appreciate some of them, but there are people who do. I know sound is a great
aspect in making movies; it is a building block and is essential in film
making. But when you have sound that is just nonsense with movies you get crap.
Anyone who has experienced bad sound with their movies knows that it is crucial
to have wonderful sound to complement their vision.
John Cage
What I'm not going to show you (but you may want to brace yourself when viewing)
are some videos of abstract sound creators.
John Cage is considered a great composer of sound, but I do not favor
his work. Perhaps Hitler's impression of some of his work can best explain my own attitude for the time being, but is subject to change.
...and then there is this experimentle film called "Boomerang" by Nancy
Holt and Richard Serra.
I just want to rip my ears off and plug them with corks or
cement. This video was so annoying, it makes me just want to smack the woman
upside the head and knock the headphones off her. If you get through the rest
of the video, I commend you, but you must not have anything better to do with
your life. I had to watch this video as part of my class regarding sound, so I
have a better excuse than you.
Then there is Gary Hill, his vision and sound just
confuse the viewers. It’s a funny combination but most people who seen this video
were confused about what was going on. The images and dialog are hard to focus
on at the same time.This experimental
film is profound and I do credit the artist for creating it. Enjoy this film.
Last, but not least, is Jay Rosenblatt. His use of images and narration in "The
Smell of Burning Ants" is very intriguing. I was very impressed with the
images and how the dialogue made you correspond to what was going on. This is definitely
a must watch film. Some images have been cut because they are too graphic for
YouTube. If you can get a hold of the original film, it is one to add to
your collection of great film makers.
Editing is the building block of any film. Without
good editing your film is pointless. Don’t get me wrong, camera shots have to
be just as great. But, the editing of the shots must be considered to emphasis
the vision of the film and in return to encapsulate the viewer. To broaden my
perspective and to realize great aspects of good editing, the following films
show the magic of great editing.
The Battleship Potemkin - Sergei Eisenstein - 1925 Odessa steps -
Do any of these scenes look familiar? A majority of the films
we see today have used these same concepts and editing techniques from the
Odessa steps from the film “The Battleship Potemkin". These are foundation
techniques that should be used in any film maker’s films.
Here is an example:
Some other great examples of great film editing is the movie “Psycho” by Alfred Hitchcock.
Alfred Hitchcock
In the shower scene, there are numerous shots to convey
the murder. Not once does the knife actually penetrate the victim. The editing
of this particular scene is marvelous in respect to express the enclosed space
between the murderer and the victim. The transitions from the swirling of the
water down the drain with the victim’s eye are also remarkable.
Now, another great movie, with of course great film
editing, is the movie “Apocalypse Now”
by Francis Ford Coppola.
I didn’t realize the awesome editing for the opening
scene of this movie, until I was revisited with it in class the other day. This
scene alone screams watch me! I can remember in my high school days watching
this movie religiously with a couple of friends and not realizing till now the
sheer vibrancy from the work that was done to make this spectacular movie. The rhythm of the helicopters flying by, the
smoke blowing in the wind, the music in the background and the queue of Jim
Morrison singing “This is the End” with the explosion, illuminates raw power of
this opening scene! This movie should be a cornerstone standard building block
for every film maker/editor out there!
In my own opinion, these films, accept for a few, are very nail bending,
hair pulling and are utterly despicable in taste when it comes to film. But as
required, I am to give my own interpretation on the genres of film, so here is
my two cents.
There were a series of film artist's that were presented to me regarding
duration and performance. In my opinion, some of these film artist's didn't
appeal or even make me want to watch their work again. They are as follows:
Bruce Nauman
Bruce Nauman
created films that were of the abstract nature and were very lengthy in manner.
There is no plot, just repetitive motions in the films that I see by him which
include "Stamping in the Studio" and
also "Walking in an ExaggeratedManner...”. I did not like them, I
did not understand them nor do I even care to.
Joan Jonas
Joan Jonas
and her film "Vertical Roll"
hurt my eyes and gave me a head ache. The constant flickering of the film and
the vague images were not very appealing but appalling. Although there was a nude
woman in the film, it took forever to actually make out that it was in fact a
nude woman. Apparently at the end of the film, the message is that the person
in the film is watching you watching them.
Vito Acconci
Then there is this nut case- Vito
Acconci. He created this film called "Theme Song" that is apparently
a theme of someone trying to hit on the viewer using the most horrible pickup
lines. The film goes on for about 30 minutes or more with him smoking a cigarette,
playing different songs from a tape deck singing horribly to them and trying to
get someone to believe his horrible pickup lines. He says things like that he’s
so alone and how he wants to be with someone, to be close to them, to have their
body close to his body. But, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder
because according to Mabsurda, who uploaded Accnci's Film to You Tube, says
"The dynamic tension between 'I and you,' artist and viewer, is perhaps
most brilliantly realized in 'Theme Song'...”. I beg to differ.
Now, onto some film artist's that are awe inspiring, who knew what they were doing, who had meaning or something eye catching in thier films .
William Wegman created some short films that had amusing themes and skits that were more enjoyable to watch then the previouse Film Artist's mentioned. Wegman incorporates his pet dog into his films and also wise cracks that help draw the viewer's attention. Wegmans Film's are very enjoyable, creative, inspiring and not boring at all.
Then there's this crazy lady who turns everyday kitchen items
into weapons!?! Woe to the man that marries and crosses her! Martha Rosler created this film called
"Semiotics in the Kitchen" during
the Feminist Movement. It depicts an upcoming genre that is out of the ordinary
and is along the lines of women burning bras, but using kitchen appliances and
cooking utensils in a violent and also destructible manner. I think that the
message of the film is to realize that women are not going to be bound to the kitchen
as mere house wives anymore and are going to be independent to do as they
please.
Last but not least
is the film maker Corinna
Schnitt who made the film" Once upon a Time". This film is awesome; it
was so creative whereas it had different animals in a living room. I won’t give
any spoiler's because I highly advise that people watch and share this film. It’s
cute, clever, creative and not a waste of your time. Unfortunately, I could not
find the Video to upload it. But I've attached some clips to give you a sneak
preview. Believe me, this film is great!
The Lumiére Brothers started the innovation of Film by creating the first
form of a video camera called the "Cinématographe". Some of their
first Movies were "Repas de bébé" ("Baby's
Breakfast") and L'Arroseur arrosé("The Sprinkler
Sprinkled"). These films were the few of many that the Lumiére
brothers would create and are the basis of the Film Evolution.
Even though these films were a mere form of what we would call a "home
video" today, audiences at the beginning of this new invention were in
awe at the creation of these films.
Cinématographe
Repas de bébé
L'Arroseur arrosé
George Méliès
George Méliès was next in line to create the first visual
effects with the invention of the Cinématographe. Méliès began his career as an
illusionist and carried that skill into his films. He not only directed his films but also acted in them. Méliès is considered the
father of Visual Effects.
With Méliès ingenious style, he has created countless films that revolutionized
the film industry. Méliès’s films were cleverly made with backdrops painted to
create visual space using perspective. His use of the "Master Shot" and unique
transitions are the basis of what we use in films today.
Some of the films that Méliès created were "Le roi du
maquillage"(Untameable Whiskers), "Le Voyage dans la
lune"(Trip to the Moon) and "Le diable noir"(The
Black Imp). These films show Méliès skill as an illusionist but also as a Superb director. These films have influenced the films we see
today.
I consider Méliès to be influential in my own film endeavors.
Maya Derenis another
influential film maker who brought about expressionistic and abstract cinema.
One of her works that she directed and acted in is "Meshes of the
Afternoon". It is a short experimental film that Deren and her husband
both worked on.
The film has a very mysterious quality that leaves the viewer
in suspense. It has a morbid and eerie dream like state that is different from
a lot of films. Not only that, the composer who did the music for Deren -Tiji
Ito, creates a song that gives the film a more horrid atmosphere.
I consider the film "Meshes in the Afternoon" similar to that of the T.V series "The Twilight
Zone" by Rod Serling.
