First example: Personification of the watch
There is a bit where the narrator personifies the watch, gives the watch opinions. It shows how significant the watch is in Harold’s life. It knows him, but is “friendly” enough not to tell him it makes his neck look fat. Giving emotions and opinions to the watch also gives it more power, and the fact that it has these thoughts really helps the audience to see that it is no regular watch, and also to focus on the major role the watch has in Harold’s life. The watch is a major part of the story, and is Harold's only companion, and the dialogue brings this to the audience by capturing their attention, because obviously in reality, a watch wouldn't really have an opinion. It makes the audience really focus on the uniqueness of the watch
Second example: Dialogue mentions all the numbers in Harold's life.
The narrators dialogue provides us with many of the precise details of Harold’s life. How many brush strokes he does, how fast he runs per block, how many files he reviews per day. The narrator mentions them smoothly, and very matter-of-fact, because they are such a natural part of Harold’s life. Everything he does is calculated, his mind works with numbers, and it contributes to the idea that Harold’s life is very structured. The narrator is giving us insight to Harold’s mind, which links again to the idea created about wondering who this narrator is, who can see what Harold sees, and it keeps the audience interested and encourages them to keep watching.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Transitions
First example: Slide transition in the Fibonacci sequence
Here we have an interesting use of transition, showing the various stages of Harold’s tooth brushing. It wipes the screen to the right in a Fibonacci sequence. To the audience, brushing your teeth is just a regular activity, but this use of transition emphasizes the idea of how important numbers are to Harold. The Fibonacci sequence is a calculated numerical sequence, and we see when we watch that even in an activity as small as brushing his teeth, Harold is still calculating, counting his brush strokes.
Second example: Quick, simple cuts
We have a few quick transitions, quickly cutting from brushing his teeth, to him in his suit, to him running across the road. It shows how his life is just a series of events, with no excitement or spontaneity to them. The quick cuts are not exciting. They are quite formal. The effects compress time, so it is also used to highlight key points in Harold’s day, and to show his hurry on the way to work. It also links one point to the next, to show it is all happening in one day. It links to the idea that Harold’s life is structured and precise, but there are no overly surprising moments.
Here we have an interesting use of transition, showing the various stages of Harold’s tooth brushing. It wipes the screen to the right in a Fibonacci sequence. To the audience, brushing your teeth is just a regular activity, but this use of transition emphasizes the idea of how important numbers are to Harold. The Fibonacci sequence is a calculated numerical sequence, and we see when we watch that even in an activity as small as brushing his teeth, Harold is still calculating, counting his brush strokes.
Second example: Quick, simple cuts
We have a few quick transitions, quickly cutting from brushing his teeth, to him in his suit, to him running across the road. It shows how his life is just a series of events, with no excitement or spontaneity to them. The quick cuts are not exciting. They are quite formal. The effects compress time, so it is also used to highlight key points in Harold’s day, and to show his hurry on the way to work. It also links one point to the next, to show it is all happening in one day. It links to the idea that Harold’s life is structured and precise, but there are no overly surprising moments.
Mise-en-scene
First example: In the office
- The composition of this shot of Harold’s office is used successfully to contribute to the idea of the structure, simplicity and repetition in Harold’s life.
- The shape of the square repeats in the shot. The lights are square, the windows in the background are square, and the cubicles are square. So the shape is a symbol of the repetition of Harold’s life, the same everyday, bland, but structured.
- The colours in the shot are all neutral. Grays and blacks on the roof, and the walls, and the people are wearing bland beige costumes. It shows the lack of spontaneity in Harold’s everyday life.
- It’s a wide shot, so it shows his office, but also notice that Harold does not stand out. He is just another employee. It links to one of the main ideas – Harold is insignificant to the world.
Second example: In Harold's kitchen
The composition of this scene gives us insight to Harold’s life. It is in the kitchen of his home.
- The colours are, again, quite plain. The walls are plain, and the room kind of looks like Harold has tried to make it friendly and happy, but it is quite a dim yellow. It is just one colour, another symbol for his life – it is a straight line, all the same.
- This also shows how solitary Harold is. He is a lone figure, in the middle of this small confined space, just washing his dishes. He has no companion. The narrator in this part also repeats the word alone, to emphasize that Harold does not have anyone else.
- There is the use, also, of special effects in this scene. You can see the lines being drawn around the cupboards on the right. Everything is ordered, in neat lines, in the basic square shape, like in the other shot, and continues the idea that everything is precise.
The composition in this scene creates an almost sad feeling. Although Harold’s life is ordered, and he has no problems, it is not a fulfilling life, and apart from his wristwatch, he is alone.
- The composition of this shot of Harold’s office is used successfully to contribute to the idea of the structure, simplicity and repetition in Harold’s life.
- The shape of the square repeats in the shot. The lights are square, the windows in the background are square, and the cubicles are square. So the shape is a symbol of the repetition of Harold’s life, the same everyday, bland, but structured.
- The colours in the shot are all neutral. Grays and blacks on the roof, and the walls, and the people are wearing bland beige costumes. It shows the lack of spontaneity in Harold’s everyday life.
- It’s a wide shot, so it shows his office, but also notice that Harold does not stand out. He is just another employee. It links to one of the main ideas – Harold is insignificant to the world.
Second example: In Harold's kitchen
The composition of this scene gives us insight to Harold’s life. It is in the kitchen of his home.
- The colours are, again, quite plain. The walls are plain, and the room kind of looks like Harold has tried to make it friendly and happy, but it is quite a dim yellow. It is just one colour, another symbol for his life – it is a straight line, all the same.
- This also shows how solitary Harold is. He is a lone figure, in the middle of this small confined space, just washing his dishes. He has no companion. The narrator in this part also repeats the word alone, to emphasize that Harold does not have anyone else.
- There is the use, also, of special effects in this scene. You can see the lines being drawn around the cupboards on the right. Everything is ordered, in neat lines, in the basic square shape, like in the other shot, and continues the idea that everything is precise.
The composition in this scene creates an almost sad feeling. Although Harold’s life is ordered, and he has no problems, it is not a fulfilling life, and apart from his wristwatch, he is alone.
Camera effects
First example: Zoom shot at the beginning
- . It starts out with a shot of the stars and the universe, and zooms through the world to focus on Harold’s watch. The reason the zoom, from a wide shot to a close-up, is used is to emphasize how important the watch is in Harold’s life. It controls his whole world. It links to the idea that the watch is very significant to Harold. Also, having it as the very opening shot highlights how important the watch is in the rest of the film.
Second example: Shot from inside Harold's mouth
- This is a very unique shot, from the inside of Harold’s mouth. It is used bec
ause it captures the audience attention, and also it is kind of unsettling, being in a place where you shouldn’t be. There is the idea of voyeurism, the invasion of Harold's privacy. It is almost a POV shot, showing the audience what Harold sees, but then the fact that it is from his mouth, rather than his eyes, shows that he is unaware his privacy has been invaded. This connects to the rest of the film, also, where he does find out somebody, the narrator, knows all these things about him.
- . It starts out with a shot of the stars and the universe, and zooms through the world to focus on Harold’s watch. The reason the zoom, from a wide shot to a close-up, is used is to emphasize how important the watch is in Harold’s life. It controls his whole world. It links to the idea that the watch is very significant to Harold. Also, having it as the very opening shot highlights how important the watch is in the rest of the film.
Second example: Shot from inside Harold's mouth
- This is a very unique shot, from the inside of Harold’s mouth. It is used bec
ause it captures the audience attention, and also it is kind of unsettling, being in a place where you shouldn’t be. There is the idea of voyeurism, the invasion of Harold's privacy. It is almost a POV shot, showing the audience what Harold sees, but then the fact that it is from his mouth, rather than his eyes, shows that he is unaware his privacy has been invaded. This connects to the rest of the film, also, where he does find out somebody, the narrator, knows all these things about him.
Part C
I have chosen to do
- Camera shots
- Mise-en-scene/composition
- Transitions
- Script/Dialogue
I am focusing on three main ideas the scene is getting across
- One is that it shows how calculated Harold’s life is. It is precise, and always the same everyday. There are no surprises, and not very much excitement.
- There is also the fact that the narrator knows so much about Harold's life, so it leaves the question: Who is this narrator, and how does she know so much?
- A main idea is the idea that Harold is a very simple, unnoticed person. He is just a lonely IRS agent. But in his life, his watch is very significant. It controls his life through time, and is his only real companion.
The ideas contribute to the overall reason for the scene. It is an opening, and hints at things for the rest of the movie. It shows how Harold's life has been for 12 years - dull and uninteresting - so that the audience understands what is happening, and how dramatic the change is in the rest of the film. It also leaves the question of the narrator open, so it keeps viewers watching, waiting to find out who this voice is and how she knows so much.
- Camera shots
- Mise-en-scene/composition
- Transitions
- Script/Dialogue
I am focusing on three main ideas the scene is getting across
- One is that it shows how calculated Harold’s life is. It is precise, and always the same everyday. There are no surprises, and not very much excitement.
- There is also the fact that the narrator knows so much about Harold's life, so it leaves the question: Who is this narrator, and how does she know so much?
- A main idea is the idea that Harold is a very simple, unnoticed person. He is just a lonely IRS agent. But in his life, his watch is very significant. It controls his life through time, and is his only real companion.
The ideas contribute to the overall reason for the scene. It is an opening, and hints at things for the rest of the movie. It shows how Harold's life has been for 12 years - dull and uninteresting - so that the audience understands what is happening, and how dramatic the change is in the rest of the film. It also leaves the question of the narrator open, so it keeps viewers watching, waiting to find out who this voice is and how she knows so much.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Atmosphere
This scene creates a feeling of preciseness, perfection to the audience. It is constantly using numbers to explain how Harold's mind works.
- The editing is used in a Fibonacci style, using various sizes of him brushing his teeth ( and counting his strokes), to show how precise and calculated his life is.
- Dialogue is a main feature in this scene, with a narrator voicing everything Harold is doing and thinking, and is a insight to his mind. It shows how his lifestyle is numerical and ordered through lines such as "brush each of his 32 teeth 76 times"
Also the word precisely repeated often - "timed precisely by his wristwatch" and "precisely 11:13 every night, Harold would go to bed". Everything in his life is controlled by his wristwatch so there is that feeling of control put forward as well.
- Music in this scene is very interesting. It is quite upbeat, but it is also quite repetitive, mimicking how Harold's life has been for 12 years. Exactly the same all the time and controlled by his wristwatch.
The mood is very interesting, because there are two moods conveyed in the scene. The watch comes across through the dialogue as being happy and contented. While Harold rushes to work, the wristwatch is pleasantly "delighted in the feeling of the crisp wind rushing over his face". This watch is very much personified, the upbeat music adding to this mood. In contrast to the happiness of the watch is Harold. A day in his life is shown in this scene, he goes to work, comes home from work then goes to bed. Nothing dramatic happens in his day. You can tell this from the performance of the character, as he never once smiles in this scene. His face remains blank the entire time, like he is walking through life without seeing it. Clearly, although his life may seem perfect on the outside, inside, he just isn't living. His life is cleverly calculated, but despite everything working, and him never having any issues, something is not right. So the contrasting moods are really interesting.
The tones and moods show how numerical and "perfect" his life is, but he isn't really living. He is controlled by numbers, by his watch, and it is shown through the various techniques.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Close Reading - Selection
I have picked the opening scene from Stranger than Fiction, directed by Marc Forster.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obEwiCPXXlg It is the starting up to 3.06.
The scene is the beginning scene of the film, and it introduces the audience to Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), a man whose life revolves around numbers . It is really an introduction of Harold and his everyday life, showing how he counts his toothbrush strokes, how and where he works. It shows what a normal day is for Harold, and how his watch controls it.
This scene fits into the film because it shows the audience all the places that are important to the rest of the film. Just after this scene, in which Harold's day is controlled perfectly to the minute by his watch, everything changes. This scene has a main focus on the watch, and right from the very start, it is the first object to come into focus on screen. It wakes up Harold, and is mentioned like it has a mind of its own, such as liking the wind and having an opinion on Harold's tie. It shows that the watch is going to be, and is, a major part of the film.
Also, having the narrator adds interest, speaking from a third person point of view, providing insight on the watch, and also insight into the mind of Harold. The narrator is also a major part of the film, controls the film, and introducing the person straight away leaves the audience wondering who the narrator is.
I picked the scene mostly because I like it. I think it is a really effective opening for a film, and how Harold Crick has this very structured lifestyle, and you really just wonder what is going to happen to upset this, especially with the one of the last lines being "that was, of course, before Wednesday". What I found so interesting and unique about this beginning, was that the effects really capture your attention, demonstrating how math based Harold's world is. There is a lot to comment on in terms of camera, and how the scenes fit together, and I will really enjoy doing it too. That is why my selection is Stranger than Fiction
The scene is the beginning scene of the film, and it introduces the audience to Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), a man whose life revolves around numbers . It is really an introduction of Harold and his everyday life, showing how he counts his toothbrush strokes, how and where he works. It shows what a normal day is for Harold, and how his watch controls it.
This scene fits into the film because it shows the audience all the places that are important to the rest of the film. Just after this scene, in which Harold's day is controlled perfectly to the minute by his watch, everything changes. This scene has a main focus on the watch, and right from the very start, it is the first object to come into focus on screen. It wakes up Harold, and is mentioned like it has a mind of its own, such as liking the wind and having an opinion on Harold's tie. It shows that the watch is going to be, and is, a major part of the film.
Also, having the narrator adds interest, speaking from a third person point of view, providing insight on the watch, and also insight into the mind of Harold. The narrator is also a major part of the film, controls the film, and introducing the person straight away leaves the audience wondering who the narrator is.
I picked the scene mostly because I like it. I think it is a really effective opening for a film, and how Harold Crick has this very structured lifestyle, and you really just wonder what is going to happen to upset this, especially with the one of the last lines being "that was, of course, before Wednesday". What I found so interesting and unique about this beginning, was that the effects really capture your attention, demonstrating how math based Harold's world is. There is a lot to comment on in terms of camera, and how the scenes fit together, and I will really enjoy doing it too. That is why my selection is Stranger than Fiction
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