Film as Art: Creativity, Technology and Business

Artistic Decisions in Filmmaking Filmmaking is a long process of decision making by everyone included in the production Decisions in the script, during the production, especially with each problem that arises. (Trust me when I say many) Never to small of a decision to make (buttons)everything matters Many of the decisions have a big impact on how the final product tells a story Some may be purely artistic, but always think economically Some may have no effect at all. (which plug do we use?)

Aspects of Film Art Form: is the sum of all the parts of a film, unified and given shape by patterns such as repetition and variation, story lines and character traits. Style: is the way a film uses the techniques of filmmaking. -4 categories of techniques: 1) mise-en-scene :arrangement of people, places and things to be filmed 2) cinematography : use of camera and other objects to be filmed 3) editing: the piecing together of individual shots 4) sound: voices, music, and effects all mixed on the film’s soundtrack.

Mechanics of the Movies: Machines That Use Film Look at the Board to see how the camera works!! Standard shooting rate for sound film is 24 fps Look at the board to see how the projector works!! Projector works as an inverted camera with light source coming from the inside, rather than the outside. Projector runs at 24 fps for sound film - shutter blocks and reveals each frame twice in order to reduce flicker effect on screen

Film Cameras Feature length film uses about 2 miles of celluloid (the actual film strips) per 2 hour film Projector carries the film at rate of 90 feet per minute Film strip that emerges from the camera is called a negative – colors and light values are opposite of those original on screen Printers will modify the images, so as to produce positives, which can be shown on screen. Films can run through projectors because of its edges which are called sprocket holes which allow the film to run at a uniform rate and smoothness

Film Sizes Width of the film strip is called the gauge, which is measured in millimeters (mm) Commercial theatres use 35mm, but other types include Super 8mm, 16mm, and 70mm Image quality increases with the width of the film because greater picture area gives the images better definition and detail. 35mm > 16 mm, 16mm > 8mm; 70mm trumps all Best right now is Imax system. (think The Dark Knight) Got to see Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rear Window on 35 mm in a theatre and it was awesome.

Machines That Use Digital Media Digital cameras began to come into use in late 90s and early 2000s Advantages: cheaper, easier, and more flexible to use in the various stages of production They do most everything the same as 35mm camera As light passes, hits a computer chip that reads a bunch of 0s and 1s that can be loaded onto computers.

Different Types of Digital Cameras Consumer: give relatively low-resolution images and are mainly used by amateurs. = to Super 8mm Prosumer: appeals to pros and consumers. Good enough to show at festivals and put on DVD = 16 mm Professional: 1) they primarily use files with little or no compression 2) shoot at 24 fps (high quality) =35 mm

Digital Cameras Digital recording capacities are measured in pixels-tiny dots that make up the electronic images on tvs or monitors Professional recording takes place at 720p, 1080p, 2k, 4k 720p mostly used in broadcast television and internet videos 1080p most commonly used in Hollywood pictures 2k and > used on the RED ONE camera, very closely comprable to 35mm

Making the Movie: Film Production Movies go through 3 phrases: 1) production 2) distribution 3) exhibition Group or company makes the film; distribution company rents copies to theatre chains; local theatres exhibit the films.

Phases of Production Scriptwriting and Funding - idea is developed and screenplay is written. Filmmakers acquire funds. Preparation for filming - Once screenplay is or almost done and some funding is secured, filmmakers plan the production Shooting -filmmaker’s create film’s images and sounds Assembly -images and sounds are combined in their final form. (i.e. editing sound and pictures, adding music, titles, etc.)

Phases of Production: Scriptwriting and Funding Two crucial roles during this phase: Producer and screenwriter Producer: biggest responsibility are finances and organization -may be independent, getting film projects and trying to convince producers or distributors to finance. -can work for company and come up with ideas for film - can be hired to put together a particular package (actor, writer, story, etc.) - Find financing, crew - during production: acts as liason between director and financiers. -After completion: arranges distribution, promotion, marketing, and monitoring payback to fianciers today, works with an executive producer, who gets the financing or finds the literary material -Line producer oversees day to day activities of what goes on on set