Using the Camera for Interpretation

I loved how this article focused on the mechanical and technical aspects of creating a film. I personally live for analog photography, and most if not all of the rules for composing aesthetically pleasing video come from this art, cinema's predecessor. Without being able to include sound, dialogue, or actually capture motion in real time, photographs must succinctly tell a story with one singular, quiet image. Within the realm of film composition, focal length, and all the other variables for good photography are all still crucial in telling a story on screen, though I do believe this is a neglected mode of relating a narrative to the audience.

While overall I would argue a fair amount of directors don't put nearly as much emphasis of camera placement and shot composition, there are an elite core of directors that are so engrossed in, so controlling of, and so particular about their craft that they pay special attention to the story the camera itself is telling. Behold, the auteur! Yes, this exalted class of director has plagued many a film scholar, especially those who don't speak French. Merde, these nerds are held in high esteem, and for what? Artsy fartsy movies that focus on the most mundane actions or items in the hopes of being considered more poetic than their contemporaries. All jokes aside, the almost obsessive relationship these filmmakers have with their movies facilitates an acute focus to detail. When it comes to cinematography, this manifests in the attention given to each pan, zoom, and track. The beauty inherent in the majority of these films is how close to the action the audience finds themselves. Even with sparse dialogue, the grand scheme of emotions are portrayed. Likewise, character development can take place visually. What viewers know of the characters of a film could come from where their gaze is directed, or if they are looked at from a low angle or not. The importance placed of cinematography doesn't make or break a film, but when utilized, it can transform a regular story into an all-engrossing tale. I think Wes Anderson does this beautifully, just for example, and I enjoy how in the short Hotel Chevalier all these particulars are combined to set a mood as well as tell a story with few words. The space as well as the feelings of those who occupy it are captured masterfully with the camerawork. Most notably is the way in which Natalie Portman's character seems to be in the foreground when in comparison to Jason Schwartzman's as well as how in stature she towers over him, giving an early signifier to their relationship's power dynamic.