Film History

E.T (The Extra Terresrtrial - 1982) Official Trailer Director  Steven Spielberg  reversed the alien encounter formula to wonder not what we would make of them but what they would make of us. The result was this 1982 blockbuster, which eclipsed even the original Star Wars and received 9 Oscar nominations (winning four) – a feat unheard of for a film with such overt sci-fi content.  Despite its genre trappings, ET balanced its fantasy content with an academy-pleasing dose of sentiment, played out in the home life of Elliott (Henry Thomas), a lonely 10- year-old whose parents are separating. Little time is spent revealing where the film's ET has come from, or how he came to be left behind. Instead, Spielberg focuses on the film's unlikely-buddy story; the middle child of three , Elliott takes in the ET as the friend and confidant he doesn't have.  Largely filmed from an adult-waist-height perspective, the film  prioritises  this world of children and indu...

Take 3 scenes from 'Singin' in the Rain (1952) and  analyse  the micro elements  of film form, identifying how these elements construct meaning.   The three scenes that will be  analysed  in the following post are,  'You were meant for  me',  'Good  Morning' and  'Singing  in the Rain final scene.' The reason that these three scenes have been selected is for the following reasons. The first scene is chosen because there is so much contextual detail as well as cinematographic assets to comment on in the scene. Although this particular scene is not as iconic as the title song scene, the scene does contain a lot of points to comment on regarding the production. The next scene that was chosen is the 'Good Morning' scene. This scene was chosen as a result of the scene being iconic to the film.  Also, the song that is featured in the scene is still played and used today – this justifies how iconic the scene is. Finally, ...

MICRO ELEMENTS OF FILM IN 'THE GOLD RUSH' 1925.  Take 3 scenes from 'The Gold Rush' (1925) and  analyse  the micro elements of film form, identifying how these elements construct meaning.   SCENE ONE (4:05/4:28)   MISE EN SCENE   COSTUME/MAKEUP   CHALIE'S COSTUME WAS QUITE PLAIN AND BASIC AS IT DID NOT INVOLVE ANY THEATRICAL EFFECTS IN ORDER TO CREATE THE OUTFIT FOR THE CHARACTER. THIS COULD REPRESENT CHARLIES CHARACTER AS HE IS SIMPLISTIC AND PLAIN.    PROPS   THE PROPS USED IN THIS SCENE INCLUDE A SACK, A BEAR, A BOWLER HAT AND A WALKING CANE. THE SACK INDICATES THAT THE CHARACTER IS TRAVELLING AND IMPLIES THAT HE IS SIMPLISTIC AND PLAIN. THE BEAR INTRODUCES AN ELEMENT OF TENSION INTO THE SCENE AS IT SHOWS THE CHARACTER FLEEING FROM THE ANIMAL. ALSO, THE CANE AND THE BOWLER HAT IN COMPARISON TO HOW HE INTERACTS WITH THEM IMPLIES THAT HE IS OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE – THIS INCREASES THE ALREADY PRESENT ...