Sounds Like This: Back to the Future-1985

  Film: Back to the Future-1985

 Director: Robert Zemeckis

Tracks/Scores: George to the Rescue Part 1/Part 2

Composed and Conducted : Alan Silvestri 

 For this blog posting, I wanted to show a scene from a film. That I know of very well.  How this scene goes well together with the music. It shows fear, love, justice, and an act of kindness, in the need of someones help. In which also it does affects how the story can change the main characters existence from being born. 

Next, as we see the main characters future father(George). Running to the car park his future wife/and mother(Lorraine)to their son Marty. The music becomes eire, odd, and turns to shock George, when he opens the car door. He's speechless, and when the bully Biff says to him; you got the wrong car McFly, and George interferes with whats going on. Everything becomes serious, when Biff gets himself out the car, and then George takes a swing at Biff's gut. That's when the music changes to big mistake for George, when biff grabs his arm. The music becomes intense,serious, and sense of hopeless for geroge. To me everything becomes emotional and physical when the main character isn't there to help.  But when Marty's future mother interferes with the fight, biff pushes her off his back. With biff laugh at what he is seeing, causes George to become upset and angry, to what he saw. Which cause him to make a fist with his other hand, the music changes to show a sense of hope for giving geroge the upper hand. Then its light out for Biff, flat on the ground, and then the worst is over for now, which the music turns into some romantic. At this time as Marty sees what happens, and then looks the picture of him and his brother, sister, he's not too sure about the future about his life. Which causes the music to sound mysterious to whats going to happen next. 

 Finally, I would have to say the music scores showed different kinds of elements of love, a feeling of being worried to another character, justice, and fear. Thrown all together at once, to help the events of scene to turn a feeling of we all thought was lost. In a lot of ways it help flow of how the scene went. In way its like being on emotional roller coaster, and not knowing who will take care of this big bully named biff.          

"Kevin Smith Interviewed on The Treatment"

 I decide to choose Kevin Smith as the person to write for my blog. This podcast was aired on April 6th 2011, and this conversion was about his newest indie film Red State. 
Kevin's film career range from director, writer, and even sometimes an actor in his films. He made films such as Dogma, Clerks I and II. 

  First, during the viewing of this interview, Kevin Smith wanted to say a few things about his film Red State. Before that part of the conversion was talk about, Kevin wanted to point out; how he became a filmmaker. He remembered reading an article from 20 years ago, about an unknown filmmaker by the name of Richard Linklater. Who made an indie film called Slacker(1991), and the director who made this film. Had shot the whole film completely in his home town of Austin, Texas. At that time when Kevin was inspired by this film, to make want to be a filmmaker. 
 The big shocker to me, was that Kevin was going to retire from the film industry. 

I would like to tell one of the three quotes, that Kevin was saying during the interview. First, as I talking about Kevin retiring the film industry in paragraph two. He had said "I'm just retiring from the film business as a director". Which he wanted to give the chance to younger filmmakers who are coming into the industry, in a way, it sounds like the passing of the torch. But he's not going away from making films, because I heard recently that he's working on a draft of his next film Clerks III. 


Secondly, when Kevin first started out a writer, which he had heard from other writers, "writers don't get any respect for there work" When you hand your final script, he or she the director can choose to do with it. They can just as easily tear up the script, and throw it way if they choose to. Which is why Kevin wanted to "direct his films, to protect his scripts"


Third, Kevin had said: "I want to make movies to tell stories, not to make comedies". But that's how he made his first film Clerks, which is based on his first job at a quick stop liquor store. For the most part comedies have help his film career, and he also wanted to say that it's truly hard work to put your film out there. You have to find a someone who can distribute his films, and show up for live question and answer panels to talk about what film is about. In all it sounds like a lot of work to just get everyone to see your films. 


Finally, from listening from this very interesting podcast of Kevin Smith. His take on making films over the years, has help him become the type of person we can like or dislike. Even thou his films weren't that great, over the past six years as some people would say. I was truly surprised how he inspired to make films, by someone, Who was a nobody and is a some body in Hollywood  To me, I think of Kevin who's just an average guy who wanted to make films. For our enjoyment, than to make million dollar films that would do well at the box office. In the end Kevin has helped us connect with his best films like Clerks, Dogma, and all the other well known ones. To even showing the nerdy side of showing his love for Star Wars, and comic books, which is why he has such huge fan base at comic book culture  In a way, I would like to say thank you for showing his for love films and letting us enjoy his films.            

Cinematography: The Man Who Wasn't There

 Overall Look: In this film we are shown scenes of light and shadow; which casts a silhouette over the main character Ed Crane. When he stands in the doorway of the way of the bathroom. In which the only type of key lighting that we see is the two light scene in the bathroom. But, the interesting part of this film is that we see is light only given when its room full of people at a party. Or when Ed is cutting hair inside of the barber shop; in which the only light we see is coming from outside of the sun. Even sometimes during night shouts we see light casting over into Ed's bedroom window. I would also like to point out; there are also a lot of scenes that have lighting effect of chiaroscuro.

 











Images: For the most part there isn't too much of color or no color at all in this film. In which mostly everything is black and white. The reason I think; is to give it a neo-noir look, and not too mention there isn't much lighting when ever there are indoor scenes.



Shot Lengths: Threw out this film, I've seen long pauses of Ed looking into a gaze than; by having a wonderful time when he's at a work party for his wife. Even when it comes to having dinner with wife, and his friend Big Dave, he really doesn't want nothing to do with anyone. These lengths happen between one to two mins; like for when ed goes to the bank to help his friend and coworker Frank with barber show. As Frank is walking with personal banker to his office, the time slows down to cause sad effect. About the bank taking control of his shop.

Shot Types: I would like to say for most parts, there were different types, there was an over the head shot of the man from San Francisco who was talking about dry cleaning. As Ed was cutting the rest of the mans hair; or when ed was in the hospital, when the police and a doctor were trying to talk to him, which shows a close up and ed's pov on the bed. For most part we see scenes of medium shots of other actors standing in the background while the main actors tell there lines. But I only caught a few landscape or extreme wide shows of the Ed and his wife going to a family wedding, where it was taking place on a farm. Another important part is when Ed is in court for his friends death and his lawyer is telling the jury his case, there is a pov shot of  a jury looking from where there sitting.







Camera Angles: There was mostly a handful of different kinds of angles to choose from in this film, for the most part its not the type film. Where the camera is always moving from place to place; but over all I would like say there is an interesting part. Where ed is going to talk to is his friend dave about the money he had to give to someone, that he dave need for
his business. In turn dave finds out it was his good ed who wanted the money, so there's a fight breaking out in Dave's office and then ed grabs a knife used to cut tips off daves cigars. So ed stabs dave in the throat and in this moment we see ed's pov of dave dropping to floor gasping for air, but he can't, so he dies from choking on his own pool of blood.







Composition: For the most part there some scenes showing ed at a party with his wife, and shes showing to her husband the different kinds of people she works with a the store. For the most part it seems it only need when there was type event or what was going on the background of the film. I would like to point a few noticeable areas when I was seeing this film. When ed is goes upstairs to the stores piano department we can see birdy playing the piano with back facing as ed is moving close to see who is playing this tune.

 
  
    









Camera Movement: I would like to point out there is a lot camera movement; when ed is alone when he goes to meet the man from barber show about the dry cleaning offer. So as ed goes upstairs to the third of the apartment building. We can see the camera on jig shot panning from the ground level to the top floor where ed is greeted by the man. Or when ed is walking into a group of people when the camera is tracking him or called a dolly shout moving to right. Here's interesting one; having the camera mounted the bumper of the front of the car when the car is driving down the road.



Cinematography Style: For the most part of the film it had some similar types of noir films. There was a lot of light and shadow for the most part; which I think helped the scene of feelings of characters who are angry, sad, or to help the next the start of a new scene. But there's a few scenes of extreme closeups of faces when and having just one type of key lighting a room. Or having shown light from the sun coming threw the jail cell and casting the cells wall.
          

Biography of Joel Coen by Ryan L.

Joel Daniel Coen
DOB: November 29, 1954
Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Born to Jewish Parents 

Father: Edward Coen

Mother: Rena Coen

Education: went to Simon's Rock Early College in Barrington, Mass/ then went to NYU undergrad film program, then graduating after four years at the university. 


He got some work after college working with director Sam Raimi's film: The Evil Dead (1981) as an assistant editor.  

his trade marks: Writer, Producer, Director, and Editor. But, he is most known for directing and writing films.

Married to actress Frances McDormand  
Acted in films:
Burn after Reading(2008)
Fargo(1996)
Raising Arizona(1987) 
Blood Simple(1984)

Films he star his wife in

   
Has a younger brother: Ethan Coen

helps his older brother with directing and writing 






Joel and his brother made films such as: 

Raising Arizona (1987) 








Fargo (1996) 
Won two Oscars:
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Frances McDormand 

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen to Joel.    


 The Big Lebowski(1998) 

O Brother, Where Art Thou(2000)

Was nominated for two Oscars: Best Cinematography
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:
Joel and Ethan Coen. 








Miller's Crossing (1990)

Barton Fink(1991)

Crimewave(1985)

Blood Simple(1984)

The Hudsucker Proxy(1994)

Burn after Reading(2008)

nominated for a golden globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: Frances McDormand 

A Serious Man(2009)
Won a AFI Award for the Movie of the year, to Joel and his brother Ethan and was nominated for
an Oscar in Best film of the year, and best in writing.



No Country For Old Men(2007)


Won four Oscars in Best Achievement in Directing to Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Best Motion Picture of the Year

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role to Javier Bardem

Best writing to Joel and Ethan Coen 

and won an AFI Award for Movie of the Year

True Grit(2010) remake

Won an AFI Award: Movie of the Year

was nominated for ten Oscars for

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Best Achievement in Directing

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Best Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay

Best Motion Picture of the Year

A student's view of film noir, Blog Post #2

1. Find a quote and explain

 A powerful, sexual female is a very dangerous figure. A quote by scholar: Janey Place, this quote means from my view. When a woman uses herself to get a reaction out of the young male character, which is shown in the film: the doorman always rings twice. It shows how easily a middle age man who just walks into the owner's dinner. And there standing in the parlor is the husband's middle age wife with her skinny swim-suit, and putting on her make-up. My first thought what came to mind was when I saw that scene, if looks can kill, it would be her.


2. Femme Fatale

 A quote  from Janey Place: she's uses her sexuality to get what she's after, and whats shes after is not the man in the picture. When I first saw this quote use to cora the female character, it basically tells you when you see a very attractive woman. Who wears clothes with a tight fit, and an amazing figure, she can make a game of it by using her charm. To get any man she wants, but her husband is so naive that he doesn't even think twice about the new fellow getting cozy with his wife. But in cases the its not too typical, because the wife who married the owner of the dinner, maybe she loved him because he has a business and she could get anything she wants. Or maybe shes tried of her older mid 40s husband and wants to seek out a new person in her life.

3. Noir photography, lighting, and location

 First, light and shadow was a big use indoors during the filming of (The Postman Always Rings Twice).
For example, when the characters close up shop for the night, you can see the effected of the window blinds. Casting a shadow effect on the wall, in the background of the dinner.  The interesting part of the scene I remember recalling form watching from the film, the most romantic location shots. Were done at night at the beach. But when the time came to setup the murder scene for the husband. The feeling change from being wonderful  to suspenseful, when the wife was planing to drown her husband, and at this same time. Her boyfriend  is trying to keep an eye out for the highway patrol man.

When it comes to choosing the camera  angles in film noir there, mostly angles of close up shots of the subject's face. Or when looking at the person next to them, even in some cases when there's a bank robbery. Angles can change from the subject: the getaway driver waiting, to people minding there own business, to the driver looking at there watch. So basically angles can be used in different ways like: showing the subject holding there side-arm. Then having the camera focusing on the bad the guy's eyes to watch his next move.

Lastly, music is a very important part of film noir its what sets the mood, of the scene. For example, when the young male character tells the wife of the dinner owner to dance with him. The music begins to change to romantic and joyful, but when it someone dyeing. The music becomes more dramatic and a feeling of sadness.


4. Neo-Noir: Paying homage to the old days of film noir

 When I watch a film like Blade Runner or play a game like LA Noire. Both have a sense of bright color's that stand out from any type of object. Like what what type of clothes they wear, the scenery, and to even what type of cars there driving. With the story it can talk about where the setting is taking place like in a metro city. What's the story trying to tell you going on between the characters going on in the film, or is a murder of people?. How about the hunt for robots going off the deep end killing there master. As for blade runner, playing it respects to noir of the old days, it shows how the main character can go out of his way to to bend the rules of justice. In order to find out the group of robots trying to take over the human race. For mise-en-scene, there's a lot of wide angle shots of the skyline of futuristic city of LA. Like the electric signs showing major brand names, cars, etc. When it came to music it had feeling of suspense when the show girl knew the what was going and then took off running from derker. Then got shot in the back, or when it came to derker trying to show an emotion to rachel the mood became romantic with the sound of a synthesizers.



As side note since this subject involves Bladed Runner, I found this some months back. But the interesting part this short film is directed by Ridley Scott's son Luke Scott.

What it takes to make a noir film part 2

   First, you need a very well written script, that can help the ease of the people following the story.
The setting should take place in a city where its filled with crime,gangsters, etc. The cops are crooked and there is no justice for anyone. Which is why I like stories based around comic book; like the shadow or even the early days of of Detective Comics. Which has the first appearance of Batman, but sadly there aren't only a few comics that are based around the noir genre.

  Second, the important part is choosing the right actor and actress. I would like to choose actors like Bruce Willis to actress kim basinger. Because you need an actor would can truly take on the character, he or she will be acting. A really good example of a visual/film/video game, I have heard of is called LA Noire. Its the first game thast theme is based around a neo-noir story.

 The story is set in 1940s los angeles, and the main character you play who is a young beat cop. In which you rise threw the ranks of patrol, traffic, homicide, vice, and arson of the police department. But at the same time he is haunted by his past from serving in marines fight in the pacific theater. I really don't want to give to much of the story away. Because its really long story, when I first heard about the game being made. The story was mixed with different elements from a few films(The Naked City and Chinatown). And the novel LA Confidential written James Elroy.

What makes these films different from the others, film noir set no limits. It shows you what truly life was like a cop chasing down bad guys. Or gangsters hunting down cops for interfering with their racketing. Like in the recent film of Gangster Squad(2013) about a group of cops who bend the rules to get there man. That guy is the notorious gangster Mickey Cohen, its the type of film that takes elements from the film the untouchables(1987) and an old article from the 1940s los angles times. But over all it was interesting film to watch, with an amazing cast.The setting was fully shot all over los angles county.

My views on film noir part 1

Film noir, is a type of film that is dark, these are types of film that show the good guy never get the bad
guy. Because they always out-smart the cops, and other gangsters. They have scenes of lust for love, shouts, etc. If you think about it for a second, its like watching an early version of a rated R film. But a at that time there wasn't much of a rating system, when it came to rating theses "noir films".

  The first noir film that was shown in the US was called Detour(1945) that got a lot of buzz. Which helped pave the way for other films like: Double Indemnity, and  Murder My Sweet(1944). But the interesting part is that in two films called: Kiss Me Deadly(1955) and Cry of the City(1948).Woman are shown as tough, sexually, etc. That can show by force to get information, or to make a stand and say to the man; no more mrs nice gal, buster.