About my research project

What is your subject of study?

My subject of study is how to use lens language to express documentary storytelling more attractive, (visual design and editing technique) is two aspect of lens language that can sympathize with audience and making the documentary more tension.

What your research question?

How can the storytelling in the three parts (mise-en-scene, cinematography and postproduction) influence lens language（visual design and editing technique）to engage audience emotionally visual effect with frame in documentary films.

Research aim(s):

The primary research aim is to learn and definition lens language to express documentary storytelling. Mainly, how to influence lens language（visual design and editing technique）to advance audience’s visual effect with frame in documentary films. The secondary research aim is why the lens language is able to express documentary storytelling via lens language (visual design and editing technique) could engage audience emotionally. In addition, another research aim is to understand how to use cinematography and cutting materials to make documentary storytelling. The final research aim is how to test lens language（visual design and editing technique）, as to experiment with the theory hypothesis and to sustain conclusion of investigation.

Sicario

Yesterday we watched a film in Broadway cinema. The film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The story like the slogan of poster: The deeper you go, the darker it gets. Kate is a FBI agent with a strong sense of justice. But when she take part in a team for strike border crime, Kate are used by the member of the team. Kate have a mental struggle from act and speak, principle. Not matter she met a man in the pub  or she's group members change her mind. In the end, the women, a FBI agent, do know how to do it. Just let her life-saver go. she do not know whether to catch the man.

Sound track 

In some big scenes， the sound track can motivate emotion in audience. Catching heart and eyes of audience, it is looks like waiting something big will happen. Making a  good atmosphere. e.g. In the start of the film, everyone armed waiting for a big battle. 

References:

IMDb. (2015). Sicario. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397884/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. Last accessed 4th Dec 2015.

The Act Of Killing

I prepare a long time to watch the film. Because Jools told me to make a good mood  with the film. I have to say that is a significant film in my watched documentaries.  The rhythm of the film I really enjoy, many long shots give audience some time to  think about.

The film directed by Joshua Oppenheimer in 2012. The film is about the characters who took part in Indonesian killing from 1965 to 1966. The  government is overturned by the military government. Almost of protesters are killed by the military government.  Protester who against military dictatorship, the government call them ' communist'. Million people die in these slaughter include workers and local ethnic Chinese. The protagonist Anwar Congo participated the  slaughter activity. He is revered as the right wing of paramilitary organization Pemuda Pancasila grew out of the death squads. 

The act of killing is a documentary of cinema verite. The director do not use any historical data. The camera aim to murders in those years and fellow their step to reappear their life and killing experience. Via  the protagonist make the film to record history , the director shoot the second hand videos.  However, Anwar go to television station to propaganda his film, Comment of broadcasting room make a massive influence. The film successful point that is the camera as a media, the creator of film take part in this transformative events. In the end of film even appear Anwar has vomit and confession.  The film as a proton changes Anwar's attitude  and thought to some extend. In addition, the title and end of the film had a significant gorgeous posing that made striking contrast.

Reference:

IMDb. (2003). Touching the Void. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/?ref_=nv_sr_1. Last accessed 7th Dec 2015.

Yan K (2014) '‘Reality’ and ‘directness’ in documentary making：a case of study The Act Of Killing and Madness Hotel ', JOURNAL OF GUIZHOU UNIVERSITY-Art Edition,28(No.6), pp. 20-24.

The Last Emperor

The film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci in 1987. At the 60th Academy Awards, the film won nine Oscars. The last emperor Pu Yi had a dramatic life. He experience highs and lows of life, from born noble and master of China to became prisoner in the jail. In the end, the last emperor became a poor worker. 

color

The film use two yellow and white hue, yellow hue used in the forbidden city, Pu Yi live in there and enjoy his emperor high-grade of life. The emperor play the tennis with princess Wan Ron. First scene is a long shot to explain they played tennis. However, film cutter show the everyone's close-up shot. Why did not use full shot firstly? . The full shot express characters's position in the frame. If the tennis match is not real, every actor hard to act very spot on. 

Revolutionary army rush into the forbidden city, they start to drive the emperor. the emperor bowed farewell to his english tutor. So the long shot for go far away emperor. The english tutor has a mid shot. The vermillion walled building still  appear the film.

Light 

Vittorio Storaro is photographer  in this film. He know how to use the light. Side light can increase scene. Especially, when the emperor back to the summer palace, the light project not only  to his face but also to the dragon chair. Making a charming and glory atmosphere, but the place do not belong to the emperor.

References:

IMDb. (1987). The Last Emperor . Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093389/?ref_=nv_sr_1. Last accessed 4th Dec 2015.

The conformist

The conformist is a political drama directed by Bernardo Bertolucci in 1970. The film talk about a man who do the things like to follow the environment. He do not consider  himself. The film is too old, but the metaphor have a deeply influence until today.

Bertolucci use massive shot with filter. However, the filters make the photography of  film add lots of marks. In the beginning, long shot and smooth tracking shot make a comfort atmosphere.

Light and shadow

In a scene, Marcello hold a flower to his fiancee's home. The shadow of curtains make a clever line on the characters. Vittorio Storaro explains that he used a 'form of cage' on the characters(David,2012). 

It is a very interesting picture. The director demand to waggle the droplight. Thus, a flicker scene very fascinating.

Filters

In the film. three color filters be used,  blue, yellow and white. In the start, protagonist walk alone the street that is blue filter. The couple kiss and hug each other that make a warm and sweet atmosphere. It is yellow. The professor and his wife was killed in the forest it is white filter. The feeling makes a helpless and miserable.

Mise-en-scene

A unforgettable scene that is dancing. I can say that is a perfect Mise-en-scene. Dancers make a round and go out the restaurant. And the camera shooting outside people from window inside. The entire rhythm so fluency.

In this film I've seen many of beautiful shot. such as tilt tracking shot and held the camera by hand to follow up. I really respect the director and photographer that can make a great film in 1970.

Reference:

David, Z (2012) The Conformist – A Visual Master Class, Available at:http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2012/the-conformist-a-visual-master-class/ (Accessed: 30th August 2012).