The Artist Analysis

The main technique that replaces dialogue as a narrative device in Michel Hazanavicius’ film ‘The Artist’ (2011) is the exaggerated performances.

This ‘overacting’ brings a very comedic element to the film and also easily conveys the actors emotions and intentions to the audience without the use of dialogue. It also reminds the audience that they’re watching a reflexive film that is about filmmaking, by drawing their attention to the comedic overacting of the performers themselves. Similarly, the performance sets up a lot of visual gags to do with staging/choreography which ties into the comedic genre of the film.

The shot style used in the film also eliminates the need for dialogue due to the order of shots in a scene, especially when changing locations. It normally use either a wide shot as an establisher, or a tracking shot following the character, giving the audience enough clues in the mise en scène to establish it themselves.

Each shot of a characters action is normally followed by at least one reaction shot of a different character so the audience knows the emotions each person is feeling individually. It also connotes a certain tone in each scene which the audience can easily pick up on and understand.

The music is a vital convention as well, as it consistently reflects the tone of each scene and the emotions of the main characters, e.g. at the beginning when the audience applauds the main character, George, after the film ends, the music is very upbeat which connotes happiness and purity to the audience.

Finally, the way the film transitions between the creating of a film in the context of the narrative and the film that we, as an audience, are watching, is very smoothly accomplished and relevant to my own film for this semester. In The Artist, the transition is normally done through the change in the style of the soundtrack as it is changes according to the mood of the scene.

In my film, The Conductor, we want to show a similar transition, from fiction to reality, which I will attempt through the change in music, as well as some changes to sync sound and the addition of sound effects. In terms of the picture edit, I will use the technique of placing reaction shots after a significant action has taken place so that the audience understands how the character feels, as well as drawing them into the world the character is in.

410 Words

Use of Music and Soundtracks in Drama Films

Our film for this semester uses a soundtrack as a backbone for the visuals to be cut around.  A notable example of a film that does this effectively is the opening credits in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976).

It instantly introduces the audience to some of the themes that continue throughout the film, as well as creating tension to engage the audience from the beginning. It opens with suspense heavy music which then cuts to a romantic jazz style tune which foreshadows the theme of schizophrenia and surrealism as the two contrast in style and induce very different emotions into the audience. The use of intercutting between these two pieces of music, when synced to the reoccurring extreme close up of Di Nero’s eyes, gives the audience an insight into the character’s emotional and internal psyche. The jazz music has a very ‘sleazy’ feel to it, a theme which is continued later in the film, so the audience is already being given insight into the progression of the narrative.

The second piece of music I’ve chosen to look at is Pumpkin and Honey Bunny/Misirlou from the opening of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). This piece of music's main purpose is to draw the audience into the world of the narrative, instead of introducing them to a character. This is largely to do with the structure and focus of the two stories, as Taxi Driver is focused around one main character and Pulp Fiction is focused around a number of stories all contained in the one world.

Our aim in 'The Conductor' is to use a piece of music to progress the narrative whilst also enhancing the themes of daydreaming and surrealism. Before the music comes in, we need to have already introduced these themes through the tone and ‘atmosphere’ of the film using the sound design“… the correct use of music, which is as a collector and channeler of previously created emotion, rather than the device that creates the emotion.”^{[1; Pg: 122]}

Due to our film not containing any dialogue, we need to use the soundtrack as the driving factor in the narrative to immerse the audience within the world of the film. To do this effectively, we will have to look at the metaphorical use of sound, which is “… the idea of emphasizing the visual by artificially focussing on a possibly disjointed or unrealistic layer of sound.”^{[1; Pg: 119]} As our films’ narrative is centred on daydreaming and ‘the unreal’, we will be mainly using this concept of metaphorical sound to not only enhance our themes, but also to allow the audience to engage emotionally with the main character to create empathy and make the story seem believable.

452 Words

1. Michael Ondaatje (2002); The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Edting Film; London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

The Apprentice Opening Sequence - Analysis

Series 10 Episode 5 of the television series; The Apprentice UK (2014).

 
The sequence opens with an aerial extreme wide of London’s Canary Wharf which is shown at the beginning of every episode in the series. The program opens on this shot because Canary Wharf is a major business district in London which instantly informs the audience where the show is set, as well as introducing the theme of business and professionalism instantly.

A voice over of Lord Allan Sugar begins underneath this shot which then cuts away to the sync shot of him speaking all within the first 4 seconds of the show. This is to introduce the audience to the focal point of the show, Allan Sugar. He says “I won’t be working, you will be working,” which already lets the audience know who is in charge and sets up the narrative of the program.

In the first 10 seconds, there are 6 cuts between images which are synced with the iconic soundtrack, underneath the dialogue. This gives the opening montage a strong but quick rhythm which enforces the theme of business, implying it is a quick and ruthless industry, and also foreshadows the stressful and relentless nature of the tasks that the contestants will be put through. It allows a lot of information to be conveyed to the audience in a very short space of time as it gives a brief introduction about the content of the show, as well catching the audience up on the previous episode’s action.

The voice over drives the sequence as it makes an assertion which is then subsequently backed up by the visuals. E.g.: 0:06 the V.O says “on the hunt for a brand new business partner” and then shows a clip of Lord Sugar getting into a car and it driving off. This is a way of spoon feeding the audience information which makes it easier to watch and understand.

The music is also important in the opening because it works in tandem with the voice over, driving the cuts, as well as highlighting what the audience should be focusing on. E.g. when Lord Sugar talks, the music is turned down, making him clearer. The nature of the music as well is very important as it is quite a classical piece with the repetition of violin strings, connoting suspense and running with the very eccentric drama genre of the show.

Finally, when we are then introduced to some of the contestants 50s in, it shows them in very competitive and confrontational situations which acts as a hook to entice the audience.

435 Words