The Genius Of Moving Image – Part 2

The Genius Of Moving Image – Part 2

What is the role of a cinematographer in film making?

The Cinematographer helps to tell the story. They tell people where to look. The cinematographer is the author and the creator of light and how it contributes to the story.

Why did Roman Polanski insist on using a hand held camera in the film Chinatown?

Polanski used a hand held camera as it gave an intense close up feeling, more intimate and the actors gave a spontaneous response. He wanted to give a voyeuristic look to the film. As well as being easier to handle and control to get different angles.

Name two films which use colour in a very symbolic way and describe what they suggest?

The Wizard of Oz 1939  - Harold Rosson: The use of colour and black and white, helped to show the division between the real world (black & White) and Dorothy’s “Fantasy World” (colour).

Becky Sharp 1939 – Ray Rennahan.  It was the first feature film to use three strip colour, Technicolor process. It created a separate film register for each of the Primary colours. The use of colour created a Sophisticated, yet subtle and beautiful feeling to the film. It starred Miriam Hopkins who played the lead role of “Becky”, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film.

In the film raging bull why was the fight scene filmed at different speeds?

The Fight Scene in Raging Bull was filmed at different speeds purely to draw the audience in to the emotions of the character. Whilst the speed was slowed down, it was calming before speeding up and throwing the character  back into the action.

Who is the cinematographer for the film Apocalypse now? And what was his philosophy?

Vittorio Storaro, is the cinematographer for Apocalypse Now. He believes Cinematography is a “Common Art” that cannot be expressed by one single person. There has to be a Director, a Main Author to be in control, as everyone is expressing in art form it can go in many different directions. Photography on the other hand, he considers to be a “Single” Art” form like painting or writing.