Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense - Essay Example

Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense For any script to be developed into a film, directors have to work at the top of their skills in order to meet the primary objectives of the script. Thus, every film requires diverse expertise ranging scripting, character orientation, scene development, setting, camera and sound setting. The final composition of several scenes does sum up the director’s objective, hence, a decent film. Focusing on films that we have covered this semester, namely, The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock, The Birth of Nation by David Wark Griffings, The Night of the Hunter by Charles Laughton, Sunset Boulevard by Billy Wilder, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari by Robert Wiene, Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock, Grand Illusion by Jean Renoir, Ossessione by Luchino Visconti, The Battleship Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein, The White Ribbon by Michael Heineke, The Song of the South by Wilfred Jackson and Harve Foster and Sunrise by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau there is a usual similarity to be observed. All the films are not set in the current modern setting, so one has to consider the fact that directors by then had serious challenges to technical skills and machine support. Nevertheless, one respects their works and seek to know how they accomplished their goals. For any successful film quality of Choice of characters, choice and quality of sound, camera angles and movement should not be compromised. This is based on the fact that camera angles and sound system show the actual objective of the film, its meaning and significance. The actual setting and the actual nature of the characters is also evident in the film. It is also through these three factors we understand the emotions of the writers and the intentions of the director. Though the case study did not exhibit modern technology in their development, the directors did beat the midnight oil to use techniques such as soundtrack system to explain their intentions. Sound is often measured in decibels. These are units which can be detected by a human ear when changed. Therefore, the composition of all these factors determines the quality of the film. This paper shows an analysis of the films that exist in the society. Any director worth their professional standards understand the importance of settings in film development. This is based on the fact that the setting outline the plot and other vital aspect developed into a movie. For instance, in the film, “The Birth of a Nation (1915),” showcase the reconstruction era in America. An individual is able to understand how time setting influences the development. The strategic use of camera and sound explain the plot development. This is evident through the use of cameras looking down Sherman’s March. It is significant to explain use of camera angles and placement since it opens the audience's mind. It also creates a level of suspense through political happenings. That is why we also view the director’s choice of sound that has the VHS and DVD formats in order to maintain the quality of sound. The film explains the occurrence of the American civil war primarily by the Klu Klax Klan gang. It also evaluates the effects of the death of Cameron’s brother in the war. During the painful experience, uses the direction of camera angles set strategically to capture the anguish and pain of Ben Cameroon when he receives news about his hanging. On the other hand, sound cements the director's objectives as strange mysterious sound can be heard when Ben is suffering the realization that his other family members had actually died in the war. The setting of the film actually explains that the outcome of events for instance crime punishable by murder through hanging were common in those times. The film La Grand Illusion (1937), focuses on the fate of a small group of French Soldiers after the outcome of the war. The characters were prisoners of war and were plotting an escape. The timing is during the middle of the world war II when a castle build in Western France appear in the film. The directors are more interested in presenting the setting of Europe. That is why they choose the castle to drive the point home.. Other successful works in depicting the importance of setting is the camera angles and movement employed by directors. It explains the plot development. For instance, the movement of the German officers before the escape is captured through the camera. It moves slightly back displaying the German officer moving away from the protagonist. Also, it creates the scene that builds suspense as the audience is left to gamble. The sounding of the scene can be described as that of hope for a better free future while the choice of characters explains the development of the film. One understands the characters as relentless and ambitious. The Song of the South (1947) was produced during the reconstruction era. This was after the world war II when America was entangled in social/political challenges of racism. The black communities were no longer slaves in Johnny’s family although they were still subordinate to their former masters. Though there is no complex development of camera angles, the director opts to use carton work as a source to ridicule the people and produce informative news in later development of the script. Musical sounds are also deployed in the development of the script. Different from the above film is Sunset Boulevard (1950). It was a Hollywood product meant to expose the skeletons behind the media scene. The setting is more relevant as one can experience watching the film. By then, Hollywood was facing serious competition from Television industry and it thought it was strategic to integrate with audience community and explain the true information on the ground. The setting of poor performance was attributed by their dirty linen. If rectified, they would actually bounce back to their glory. The geographical setting is in Los Angeles happens to be home of Hollywood and pins the point in the film. In addition, the choice of characters explains the nature of barbarism.. The suspense is consequently developed as the audience is not aware about the outcome of the lives of the once famous individuals. The choice of sound is also very vital, most part of the film is covered with fast musical scenes. The director seeks to explain the fast development of events as well as explain the social evils exhibited by the characters in the film. The camera angles are evident through a woman with strange eyes who is outlined throughout the film. Also, the film explains vices of greed, lust, immoralities, deceit and nocturnal camera shots to better elaborate about the skeletons in the film. The Birds (1952) film is characterized by a great deal of suspense and horror. The sound was vital for the audience to understand the basic concept that install a scary horrendous mood for the viewer to accomplish their objective. Remmi Gassman and Oskar Sala utilize a recorded sound of birds and a composition of sounds from flapping and screeching. Thus, the viewer is actually roomed into a sensation of real angry birds as the plot develops. One understands that sparrow birds actually invade Brenner home causing a death flapping and screeching sound. We learn that Lydia suffers emotionally and she is forced to leave the area due to terror. The script and directors create a scene where Sam Loomis and Marion Crane are in the bedroom in lovemaking in order to build interest in suspense development. In this case, sound is vital in suspense development. For instance, when the cop awakes a sleeping driver with forty thousand Us dollars in the car, dramatic sounds are used to raise the emotions of the audience. This is based on the fact that the audience is not meant to know the reaction of the cop when he learns about the money. Though the director doesn’t actually use music as part of sound technique, silence is applied to explain grief. The Camera setting of the film is most desired. For instance, in the Bird Shop, a bird can be seen flying loosely and arouses the audience suspense This lets the basic human thinking view the birds as friendly hence beating the overall objective of the horror perspective. In the Night of the hunter (1955), a thriller directed by Charles Laughton explains about the outcome of a corrupt Reverend who happens to be a serial killer. The setting is outright strategic of a rural depression impoverished and men overridden by greed and desire of material possessions. Charles realizes the nature of the script as a more of a dramatic thriller than a mere drama. Therefore, he uses sound and camera angles to explain suffering and the mystery of the victimized widows by Reverend Harry Powell. Sounds of grieve and mystery are also experienced when Powell Kills Willa, Harpers wife. Furthermore, the self appointed preacher learns about the money hidden by Harper after threatening John. The suspense is evident when dramatic sounds are experienced when Powell almost discovers the location of the hidden money Pearl and John flee with the money. To further explain the craftsman exhibited by setting, sound, camera and character, we critically review the Battleship (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein. The overall objective is to capture the sympathy of the audience. In this case, several sounding mechanisms were used to create an atmosphere of misery and suffering. For instance, when the soldiers are made to have their breakfast meat which apparently is infested with maggots, we experience the grieve, mystery and suffering of the soldiers through the slow and sad sounds. The film is characterized with a short - length camera to explain the timing of the film. For instance, a strategic camera angle is applied when a soldier is shot in his right eye. Therefore, it explains the mystery experienced by the soldiers. Though sounding is not sufficient to explain the atmosphere of mystery and Suffering, directors of the film have utilized the strong aspect of camera effects such as camera movement and camera angles. It is through the camera that an individual can visually interact with the script writer and the director in the desired objectives. The Rear Window (1954) is also a good example of the importance of Camera settings. Directed by Alfred Hitch Hock , it has settings of suspense. It is wise to note for every camera to be designated at a strategic point, the director has to understand the environment very well. Thus, Hitchhock knew about this information well. The rear window is a screen developed in a courtyard of a storied building probably apartments. We also understand that twelve of the houses were fully furnished. The Protagonist actually watches spies from his window and the camera angles are so strategic such that the basic audience can be able to see inhabitants of other houses from the rear window. This shows that the protagonist is actually spying on his neighbors. Thus, the audience is trapped in the scene too. Due to the risk practice of the protagonist, he is actually exposed to the possibility of being caught by his victims and raises the suspense of the audience. Furthermore, the choice of sound is full of grief and mysteries. The character of the person one that is crippled does actually explain the purpose of the right individual to be fixed in a given position and develop a spying character. The audience also learns the private life of the protagonist. In this case, he is limited due to his crippled nature . Hence, the mystery is experienced since the protagonist cannot be agile compared to his victims. His physical nature limits him to enjoy a normal life similar to that of his neighbors. In an exploration of camera setting others covered in this semester seeks to explain the usefulness of camera movements. For instance, The White Ribbon (2009) directed by Michael Haneke seeks to explain a community in northern Germany which is traumatized by social and political based terrorism. The story is a about a humble school teacher whose views cannot be absorbed by the prevailing beliefs whose staunch religion are based on ideology . In addition, it is rapid and express punishment to the children. Camera angles and movement seeks to share the mystery the young teacher experiences. In a particular scene, the camera literally follows the young teacher in the corridors of a building while the narrator talks about the grief and mystery she posses due to the composition of the entire system. Furthermore, the lighting of the film is black and white. In this case, use of candles and fire can actually explain the time setting of the film of between 1913 to 1914. Most of the soundtrack is done by an orchestra or guitar and the characters in the film happen to explain the whole scenario. The Ossessione by Luchino Visconti (1943) does explain several director concepts that lead to the development of the protagonist. He is expressed as a young man who actually falls into a trap of a woman who is married to an owner of a restaurant. The affair with the young handsome man develops and the director hits on several techniques. Some of the techniques being choice of lighting and camera angles, lower camera angles and slower movement. They are used to explain the romantic nature of the scene . At the same time, he director’s choice of sound is strategic as slow romantic sounds with no heavy beats are employed. This grabs the attention of the audience and puts across the basic ideology of the film. In conclusion, it is evident that all the movies express some aspects of mise en scene, movements, settings, lighting, sound, camera angles, and many other aspects. All these aspects are essential in making the film be perfect. Read More