Thursday, April 10, 2014

Film Noir & Citizen Kane (Orson Welles)

Please turn in your pitch assignments today.

The Elements of Film Noir (documentary)

Here are a few things to watch for in the film noir genre:

1. A protagonist that is cynical or detached
2. A femme fatale who leads the protagonist astray
3. A mystery, crime, or use of suspense
4. A naive scapegoat to take the rap of some "crime"
5. Goons (hired criminals who give the protagonist a hard time)
6. Razor sharp dialogue
7. Reference and description of low key lighting

Film noir films of the 1940's:
The Third Man 
The Big Sleep
Double Indemnity (full film)
Casablanca

Now a little technique and advice about making films:
CITIZEN KANE & ORSON WELLES

Citizen Kane is considered the world's #1 film. It is typically included in film studies curriculum. Because we are far behind schedule in our course, we will be skimming over the film, examining a few scenes.

Today, please watch these scenes from Citizen Kane (1941):
Orson Welles as Auteur:
Welles directed, wrote (partial), and starred in this film (even though it was thought he wasn't old enough to portray Kane). While Welles had direct control over the film and its look, there were other people who contributed artistically. Some of the invention and creativity of film making includes:
The Deep Focus shot!
Low angle shots revealing ceilings!
Moving shots used as wipes!
Overlapping dialogue! (not original to Welles, but a trend in Screwball Comedies)
Long uninterrupted shots!
Expressionist lighting and photography!
Multiple perspective! (adds complexity to a plot...)
Orson Welles, Other Films from the 1940's & 1950's:
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