Film 1022 Lecture 1 Notes - Jurassic Parks (1)
.pdf
School
Western University**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
FILM 1022
Subject
Arts & Humanities
Date
Dec 16, 2024
Pages
4
Uploaded by ProfLapwingMaster2011
General notes - Lecture 1:-FIlms are designed to affect viewers-Appreciation of films increases with awareness and understanding of the filmmakingprocess-Spielberg is known as more as an auteur-Jurassic Park is a franchise which makes it more of an experience-Form is the overall pattern of a film-If a light flickers fast enough, our eyes blend it together-The steps of making a movie include writing, fundraising, shooting-Depending in what scale is the 4th step is distribution-Critical flicker fusion and apparent motion are whats called psycho-perceptual-Flat wide screen is the main way to watch now-Back in the day they used 4:4 or 4:3Film production:1.Scriptwriting and Funding: the script is developed and funding is required2.Preparation for Filming: planning the production3.Shooting: the actual film is made4.Assembly: images and sounds are combined; music dialogue, special effects, and titlesare addedAncillary markets:-These are airline releases, pay-per-view, cable, network, DVD, and streaming-Typically video generates more money than theatrical release, which has allowedsmaller distributors and foreign film to be profitable-Digital technology is spreading nontheatrical viewingExhibition:-Theatrical involves the public paying admission-Non theatrical includes video, cable, satellite, streaming, and other screenings such asfilm festivalsCreative decisions in La La Land:-In the opening number, the Steadicam operator ran among and stepped backward ontoa crane platform that lifted him into the air to get the shot below-Using primary colour in 35mm and represent the classical musical movies-Tried to achieve what classical musical achieved back in the day(Singin’ in the Rain, LesMis)Jurassic Park:Novel: Michael CrichtonScript: Michael Crichton, David Koepp
Director: Steven SpielbergCinematography: Dean CundeyCGI: Industrial Light and MagicSound design: Gary RydstromMusic: John WilliamsCast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard AttenboroughProduction: Amblin (Spielberg)-Jaws (1975) as the first modern blockbusterDistribution: Universal-Often worked with SpielbergExhibition: 3,400 screens-Saturation advertising, including TV-Box office: $912 million-Domestic = 40%; International = 60%Merchandising tie ins-Novel, toys, games, comics, collectables-"media mix"Product Placement-Ford,-BarbasolCombination of "animatronics" and CGIStop-motion animation→animatronicsArticulated models, like JawsComputer generated graphicsIndustrial Light and MagicNow commonplace in large-scale cinemaSound (sorry, not this file...)DTS: digital, directional, fidelity, dynamic rangeNew technologies used to intensify experience–What does Spielberg do with them?What more traditional techniques do you see?–E.g. How does Spielberg create shock and suspense?What story is the film telling?-What is the beginning, middle, and end?-How do characters change during the film?-What does the audience take from the film?Three act structure:-1) Opening setup: Characters, park, project-Themes of dysfunctional family, human hubris,-2) Tour of the park-Alternative versions of masculinity and femininity-Sun, wonder excitement turn to Storm, fear, danger-3) Both groups survive the night-Showdown against the dinosaurs: deadline and twist
-Who dies and who survives? What do they learn?Representations of nature, gender, ethnicity•How does Jurassic Park represent nature?-Not just what does it say about nature-What is associated with natural spaces and things?•How does Jurassic Park represent gender?-Are male and female roles different?-What is associated with each gender?•How does Jurassic Park represent ethnicity?-What is the fate of the "non-white" characters?-How are they represented in the film?Representation of nature in Jurassic park:Cinema as the art of “reanimation”-Still images brought to life-Time rescued from the pastNature as “other”: wonder to dark and scary-Dinosaurs: animals that dominated before mammals-Horror genre, always dark, rainy, suddenHuman interference in nature = “hubris”-Prometheus, Frankenstein, etc.-Greed vs. WonderRepresentation of gender in Jurassic Park:Only one adult female character-Second wave feminism: serious, athletic, brave-But how is she represented in film?Range of masculinities-John Hammond: naive paterfamilias-Donald Gennaro(lawyer): “bad dad”-Ian Malcolm: Lothario threatens nuclear family-Alan Grant: “bad dad” turned family heroRepresentations of ethnicity in Jurassic ParkHollywood’s progressive range of representation-Local workers, Henry Wu, Ray Arnold-But they are dispensableWhite(blonde!) family at the centre of the film-80% in 1990 USA, but box office = 60% international-Global Hollywood centred aroundVertical integration: When a movie is produced, distributed and exhibited by one companyHorizontal integration: They are companies that own other assets but also create and distributemovies