If one thing I learned today is that analyzing film is much like analyzing literature and once you get into "judging" certain details and trying to understand if they meet their purpose then you get to experience the movie in a whole other level. The theme, the characters, the overall organization of events, the way characters are presented, the props, the colors, symbolism and how it's used to enhance the message, the acting quality-- everything adds up and makes a film a sensation, a so-so movie or a complete disappointment.
As we watched The Great Gatsby as a class I became the camera shot's and their effects expert and for the whole movie I tried to see how the way the camera moved and the angles chosen affected my connection to the plot and feelings towards certain situations.
Here are some notes I took a long the way:
As we watched The Great Gatsby as a class I became the camera shot's and their effects expert and for the whole movie I tried to see how the way the camera moved and the angles chosen affected my connection to the plot and feelings towards certain situations.
Here are some notes I took a long the way:
-- here are some notes I took along the way: --
Scene: Nick and doctor dialog
Camera shot: Nick looking outside the window, the camera is placed outside facing his expression front and capturing both the inside of the room and the snow falling.
Effect: As you see him looking out it shows that he is thinking and reflecting, specially as the camera moves slowly farther away it made me feel like he was remembering the past. I was able to connect more to him because I was looking front to his eyes.
Camera shot 2: there are constant back and forth changes in the shot from behind the characters to see both expressions of dialog and reactions.
Scene: introducing new York city
Camera shots: the shots are set from far away and from above, showing the massiveness of the setting and to add to the excitement the camera follows a plane rapidly as it moves through the streets.
Effect: makes you feel that you are in the plain and in the city.
Scene: when nick and tom meet, tom throws a ball towards nick
Camera shot: the camera flies with the ball towards Nick’s frightened expression.
Effect: adds to the thrill and transmits his feeling in that moment
Scene: second time Nick is drunk in his life - "house party"
Camera shot: the camera effect is in slow motion, and from above showing all the destruction their causing inside the room. A slow motion effect is used when tom slaps myrtle.
Effect: this allows the viewer to see every one's expression and adds to the drama of the situation.
Camera shot: Nick looking outside the window, the camera is placed outside facing his expression front and capturing both the inside of the room and the snow falling.
Effect: As you see him looking out it shows that he is thinking and reflecting, specially as the camera moves slowly farther away it made me feel like he was remembering the past. I was able to connect more to him because I was looking front to his eyes.
Camera shot 2: there are constant back and forth changes in the shot from behind the characters to see both expressions of dialog and reactions.
Scene: introducing new York city
Camera shots: the shots are set from far away and from above, showing the massiveness of the setting and to add to the excitement the camera follows a plane rapidly as it moves through the streets.
Effect: makes you feel that you are in the plain and in the city.
Scene: when nick and tom meet, tom throws a ball towards nick
Camera shot: the camera flies with the ball towards Nick’s frightened expression.
Effect: adds to the thrill and transmits his feeling in that moment
Scene: second time Nick is drunk in his life - "house party"
Camera shot: the camera effect is in slow motion, and from above showing all the destruction their causing inside the room. A slow motion effect is used when tom slaps myrtle.
Effect: this allows the viewer to see every one's expression and adds to the drama of the situation.
Scene: GATSBY'S party
** A clear shot pattern used in this film that makes it so engaging is that the camera is like a train that travels through every situation. In Gatsby’s party it moves from behind the party car arriving to the house into the house focusing in every face as if you where walking through the crowd. The camera also focuses lots of times in SYMMETRY and patterns and makes it (unconsciously) a much more pleasurable and "artistic" view. This can be seen as they focus the first dance from the top towards the pool, from the top of two dancers as they look up and also enhances the "style" and elegance of the 20's.
Camera movement: the camera changes from slow to fast motion and different angles to show all the action going on.
** A clear shot pattern used in this film that makes it so engaging is that the camera is like a train that travels through every situation. In Gatsby’s party it moves from behind the party car arriving to the house into the house focusing in every face as if you where walking through the crowd. The camera also focuses lots of times in SYMMETRY and patterns and makes it (unconsciously) a much more pleasurable and "artistic" view. This can be seen as they focus the first dance from the top towards the pool, from the top of two dancers as they look up and also enhances the "style" and elegance of the 20's.
Camera movement: the camera changes from slow to fast motion and different angles to show all the action going on.
Scene: Myrtle's first appearance
Camera shot: the camera captures myrtle from down bellow and focuses on her tight look, boobs and does not show her face.
Effect: it instantly gives the audience the feeling that myrtle is "cheap" and not a "lady", it also makes you feel like you are looking at her in the eyes of tom.
Camera shot: the camera captures myrtle from down bellow and focuses on her tight look, boobs and does not show her face.
Effect: it instantly gives the audience the feeling that myrtle is "cheap" and not a "lady", it also makes you feel like you are looking at her in the eyes of tom.
OTHER THINGS I NOTICED:
- when a new scene begins a far-shot is used to capture the whole setting and set the scene for the viewer.
- slow motion adds drama and makes the viewer be conscious of certain details (when daisy hits myrtle)
- photography ties in: rules such as the rule of thirds