Film as Art: Creativity, Technology and Business

1. Film as Art: Creativity, Technology and Business

2. 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?)

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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 holeswhich allow the film to run at a uniform rate and smoothness

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.)

13. 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