Sunset Boulevard 1950

Directed by Billy Wilder

William Holden as Joe Gillis

Gloria Swanson as

Norma Desmond

Sunset Boulevard

1989 the Library of Congress selected it as one of the 25 landmark films of all time.

Sunset Boulevard

1989 the Library of Congress selected it as one of the 25 landmark films of all time.

1998 AFI voted it the 12th greatest film in its list of top 100 films.

Sunset Boulevard

1989 the Library of Congress selected it as one of the 25 landmark films of all time.

1998 AFI voted it the 12th greatest film in its list of top 100 films.

2007 AFI rated it the 16th greatest film of all time.

Journal Writing Assignment #2

Did Sunset Boulevard reinforce or exceed your expectations of a black and white film?

Photography (part 2)

Film Formats

Larger formats =

Larger formats =

higher resolution

Larger formats =

higher resolutionmore expensive

Larger formats =

higher resolutionmore expensive

equipment less portable

IMAX cameras

IMAX cameras

35mm camera

most feature films shot with 35mm

16mm camera

Choice of independent filmmakers on a limited budget

Super 8

Pre-video used for home movies still used in avant-garde& music videos

VIDEO

VIDEO

- less expensive than film

VIDEO

- less expensive than film- smaller, lighter

VIDEO

- less expensive than film- smaller, lighter- work faster, with smaller crews

FOCAL LENGTH

• 3 kinds of lenses:

Each lens has its own characteristic effect on the

image…

NORMAL LENS (50mm)

“the way our eyes see”

• A normal lens = 50mm

• A normal lens = 50mm• smaller than 50mm = wide-angle

• A normal lens = 50mm• smaller than 50mm = wide-angle• larger than 50mm = telephoto

• deep depth of field

• deep depth of field

deeper depth of field shallower depth of field

• deep depth of field

deeper depth of field shallower depth of field

out of focus

Deep depth of field

deep depth of fieldCitizen Kane

deep depth of field Citizen Kane

• deep depth of field

• wider field of view - more peripheral information

Wide-angle lens

Extreme wide-angle = Fisheye lens

TELEPHOTO LENS

TELEPHOTO LENS

• shallow depth of field

Jackie Brown & The Aviator

TELEPHOTO LENS

• shallow depth of field• flattens the image = more 2-dimentional

TELEPHOTO LENS

• shallow depth of field• flattens the image = more 2-dimentional• movement toward or away from camera

is less apparent

TELEPHOTO LENS

• shallow depth of field• flattens the image = more 2-dimentional• movement toward or away from camera

is less apparent• narrower field of view - less peripheral

information

comparisons:

Wide-angle

comparisons:

Wide-angle Telephoto

wide

telephoto

The Gladiator

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

CAMERA ANGLE

• Relationship between subject and viewer

Low angle shot

Low angle shot

• emphasizes a character’s power or superiority –

• appear threatening

Touch of Evil

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Shaft

High angle shot

High Fidelity

High angle shot

• subject seems weak, powerless, perhaps depressed

High Fidelity

Bicycle Thieves

Kill Bill

Eye-level shot

Amelie

Eye-level shot

• no visual superiority or inferiority

Eye-level shot

• no visual superiority or inferiority

• often a realist tendency

Bird’s-eye view

Last Days

Bird’s-eye view

• somewhat disorienting

Last Days

Bird’s-eye view

• somewhat disorienting

• not the way we usually see things

Last Days

American Beauty

The Third Man

Oblique (canted) angle shot

Oblique (canted) angle shot

• image appears less stable - off balance - might suggest a state of flux

Citizen Kane

(oblique and low-angle)

Citizen Kane

CAMERA MOVEMENT

Pan

Pan

• Horizontal camera movement

Pan

• Horizontal camera movement

• Might follow the action in the scene

Tilt

Tilt

• Vertical movement of the camera - tilting up or down

Dolly Shot

• Filmed from moving vehicle or cart

Dolly Shot

• Filmed from moving vehicle or cart

• Also called tracking shot

Dolly Shot

Crane Shot

crane shot

Zoom Shot

• Position of camera does not change

Zoom Shot

• Position of camera does not change

created with the lens

zoom

Hand-held Shot

no stabilizing device

hand held shot

Aerial Shot

Aerial Shot

• Often establishing shot

Aerial Shot

• Often establishing shot

• Helicopter

Aerial Shot

Director Phillip Noyce (2002)

Everlyn Sampi as Molly

Tianna Sansbury as Daisy

Kenneth Branagh as A. O. Neville

Remember!

Make sure you’re answering the question with evidence from the film not just giving plot summary.

Write about the film in the present tense.

“Joe is an anti-hero.”

Not “Joe was an anti-hero.”

Be specific in your thesis sentence

Do not begin with a vague sentence like, “Joe Gillis is an anti-hero for many reasons.”

Your introduction should be strong and set up your response.

Your analysis should

Begin with an introduction with a topic (thesis) sentence.

The body of your paper supports the

thesis

And finally a conclusion to wrap it all up

SOURCE

Anything that isn’t your original idea must be sourced, even me!

(Kendall)

Not sourcing and referencing others material is considered plagiarism

“Unlike the prototypical hero or good guy Joe Gillis embodies the quintessentialcharacteristics of an anti-hero” (Kendall).

10 to 12 lines of material

Shorter papers will not receive full credit

Put film titles in italics

And capitalize the first letter of each word

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard

Double space your document

Finally!

Write your paper in the third person and avoid using pronouns, like “you” and “I’ “we” “they”

Please proof read your paper before submitting it and follow the format in the writing packet

Response Questions - CHOOSE ONE OF THESE QUESTIONS TO RESPOND TO

1. How does the use of a wide angle lens enhance the storytelling in Rabbit Proof Fence?

1. How does camera movement enhance the storytelling in Rabbit Proof Fence? (Give specific examples from the film and use film grammar)

RESPONSE PAPERS: Throughout the course of the semester, we will screen at least twelve films. You are required to write half-page response papers for at least five of the films. These papers are due one week from the day they are assigned. Each paper is worth a maximum of 2 points These papers may constitute cumulative total of 10 possible points. All papers must be typed using 12 point Times Roman font, with 1” margins and be double-spaced. No handwritten pages accepted. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are taken into account. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.