The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing is a 2004 documentary film directed by filmmaker Wendy Apple. The film is about the art of film editing. Firstly, the film is talk about history of editing. Lumiere Brothers invented cinematography in France. However, as time goes on audiences want to watch imagine is moved, they do not want to watch static shot. Why they pay money for real on the screen. Many people thought cinema is no future. Nevertheless, editing changes the situation of cinema. Edwin S. Porter used footage to tell a different story unrelated to what the footage originally was meant to portray. In the 1908, D.W Griffiths was a first editor in the history. He produced first American feature film and discovery of the close up. 

Walter Murch is a film editor in American, He work on The Godfather I, II, and III, The English Patient, with three Academy Award win six nominations for editing and three sound mixing. He has been referred to as "the most respected film editor and sound designer in the modern cinema.  He introduce two principles, first he will not go on the set. He will not to see the actors out of costume. In addition, a major Hollywood production shoot almost 200 hours. Walter thought every shot connect them need to reason enough, the goal of cut let them forget watch movie. This is a invisible art. Picture composition need to be consider deeply. Editor need to developing where is audience attention.   

In the documentary, Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino said two frame has a big different in the film. Therefore, almost film editors are female because they have more patient and they could consider others thoughts. 

When I watch this documentary, I should consider time and space problem and how to get new possibility  to storytelling. One of thing I need to development where is audience attention. The documentary talk about why editing is important in modern movie and meaning of editing.   I will read some books to cultivate my editing skills and art of cutting.

Reference: IMDb. (2004). The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428441/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. Last accessed 18th April 2016.

Spotlight

Spotlight won the Academy award in 2016, the best motion of picture of the year. It is really a fantastic film. The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation. 

I really like the plot of the film, it makes me like a detective, I want to know the truth and want to analyze some detail. It is really catch my eyes I need to follow it step by step. I am afraid I will miss some important clue. About rhythm of film, I think it is controlled very well, not too fast not slow, just in time. The narrative style is very special, I can empathy some character's feel. For example, I could be worry about my children live in the Boston, he/she will be some risks. No matter the film or the news report is also a destructive blow to the Catholicism. Because American is God's nation, president placed his hand on his personal bible during his inauguration ceremony. Thus, this is a breaking news in American. The number of pastor of sexual abuse have a big changes, from 13 to 90. Another good point is Mark Ruffalo act as reporter investigate the information of scandal, he is very hard working. He try to find truth and save those children. He like a brave solider fight in 'smokeless war'. Spotlight reporter challenge the authority system under the enormous pressure. 
Moreover, The Boston Globe is a independent institution, no one can control its speaking rights that makes me remember last term some research questions. I think this is a typical case, Manufacturing Consent wrote by Noam Chomsky is talking about a majority media controlled by government or elites. The Boston Globe is a minority media which is not controlled. Public need this kind of media to let them know the truth. 

The Leather Boys

The film is directed by Sidney J. Furie in 1964. It is controversial film in that time because the film include homosexuality and 'Cafe racer.  The film was adapted by a novel. I chosen this film because the film was shot in the Ace cafe London and the film is also involve  'cafe racer'. The film is very old so I cannot find very high definition version. A girl 'Dot' marry his fiance Reggie. Reggie is a cafe racer. However, they had a unsatisfied honeymoon holiday. They start separate lifestyle, Reggie often go out with his biker friends. He start to race with his friends on the street. Reggie and Dot still quarrel all day. He start know Peter is one the biker. Peter is a great guy treat Reggie like a real friend. Reggie start loses interest with Dot. Dot do some rude behavior in Reggie's grandfather at funeral. Reggie have to leave house back to his grandmother's house with Peter. they hang out and find two girls but Reggie notice Peter is not interested in female. His wife with other people go to bed, Reggie discover this so disappointed. He find Pete to have a chat, but they meet in a gay bar. Reggie cannot accept this thing. Final, Reggie leave alone.

Many shots are really good, I can use them in my documentary. Such as cameraman use the track shot to follow racing motorcycle. The space of shot has changed from ambiguous space to deep space. In addition, many shots was shot in the Ace cafe. So it is also give me some advice how to shoot indoor of Ace cafe. The film follow Reggie and Dot life, but they both have some trouble, it is a very special theme. It is a classic kitchen sink drama. It is worth mentioning Reggie and Dot quarrel scene are really realistic. Main characters have great acting skills that can act emotionally. 

Reference:

IMDb. (1964). The Leather Boys. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057244/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. Last accessed 16th Feb 2016.

Senna

This week I watched this classical documentary again and I analyze the Senna's last match in San Marino Grand prix in Italy May 1st, 1994. Overall, Senna crashes scene has 33shots and main shot size are close up shot and extreme close up shot. Director use many close up shot to express emotion of Senna and paves the Senna's death. Compare with other documentary, the scene use long take more than others, because it can give audience a suspense. You never know what will happen next second. In addition, the documentary gives me many shooting methods, I cannot use first person perspective but it has many other way and shooting angles that can help rich my documentary. 

References:

IMDb. (2012). Senna. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424432/. Last accessed 27th Jan 2016.