Images from:
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Le Petit Soldat
References:
Images from
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/1528495450_78fc25b754.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/2114145129_d332e04f10.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/2114145129_d332e04f10.jpg?v=0
http://www.bifi.fr/upload/bibliotheque/Image/espace%20patrimonial/ARTICLES/2007/RAOUL_COUTARD/petit_soldat5.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F-A8LaIjvpI/SWyQSSkXREI/AAAAAAAAADg/v1LC-QsVFyg/s320/Petit_Soldat_-_corner.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F-A8LaIjvpI/SWyQSSkXREI/AAAAAAAAADg/v1LC-QsVFyg/s320/Petit_Soldat_-_corner.jpg
References:Saturday, September 5, 2009
My Sister's Keeper
Adapted from the novel of Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper (2009) is directed by Nick Cassavetes and photographed by veteran cinematographer Joseph Caleb Deschanel.
Production company: New Line Cinema
Worldwide distribution: Warner Bros (North America and selected international territories)
Producers: Mark Johnson, Chuck Pacheco, Scott L Goldman
Screenplay: Jeremy Leven and Nick Cassavetes, based on the novel by Jodi Picoult
Cinematography: Joseph Caleb Deschanel
Production design: Jon Hutman
Main cast:
Cameron Diaz
Abigail Breslin
Alec Baldwin
Jason Patric
Sofia Vassilieva
Joan Cusack
Evan Ellingson
A story about the relationships between a family and a dying daughter who is suffering from blood cancer (leukemia) where we could see how Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin), the little sister is always helping to save her older sister, Kate Fitzgerald (Sofia Vassilieva). Finally one day, Anna decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation and issues a summon to her mother Sara Fitzgerald (Cameron Diaz). As the hearings go on, Anna's decision of not donating her kidney to Kate is questioned by Sara (who is a lawyer herself), knowing there is a hole in her statements. The complications almost broke her family apart, so Jesse Fitzgerald reveals the truth to Sara by telling every one in the court that Kate wants to die and that is the sole reason why Anna issued the summon; Kate asked Anna to do so so that she could end her sufferings.
Cinematography-wise, Caleb Deschanel has used different lenses to create shapes with the lights in the background (for example, when Jesse walks alone on the streets, we could see the lights in the background shaped as rectangles and ovals rather than the normal circles that are out of focus). However, I have noticed that the same shot, shot only in different shot sizes (one in rectangles and one in ovals) made me feel uncomfortable because of the dicontinuity in this approach and it was quite obvious. I do appreciate his attempt to try new things and from what I've read in the reviews of the other bloggers who have commented on his works, Caleb Deschanel is a cinematographer who emphasizes on the beauty of his pictures. This I think is also important because it affects the audience's viewing and when they accept your images, it is easier for them to accept your story as well.
Besides that, My Sister's Keeper was filmed with a soft-looking effect where the light sources seemed to project bright but soft light to the characters, making the atmosphere very fantasy-like and light. I believe a center spot or warm center spot filter could have been used to do this effect to lighten up the heavy emotions of a cancer patient. Some of the scenes even soften the images of the characters so that they are more likeable subconciously; people look better and more attractive, especially girls. Since this is a heart-warming story, it is reasonable to use this effect to help enhance the storytelling.
References:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Deschanel
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/movie/drama/2009/08/14/220421/My-Sisters.htm
Production company: New Line Cinema
Worldwide distribution: Warner Bros (North America and selected international territories)
Producers: Mark Johnson, Chuck Pacheco, Scott L Goldman
Screenplay: Jeremy Leven and Nick Cassavetes, based on the novel by Jodi Picoult
Cinematography: Joseph Caleb Deschanel
Production design: Jon Hutman
Main cast:
Cameron Diaz
Abigail Breslin
Alec Baldwin
Jason Patric
Sofia Vassilieva
Joan Cusack
Evan Ellingson
A story about the relationships between a family and a dying daughter who is suffering from blood cancer (leukemia) where we could see how Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin), the little sister is always helping to save her older sister, Kate Fitzgerald (Sofia Vassilieva). Finally one day, Anna decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation and issues a summon to her mother Sara Fitzgerald (Cameron Diaz). As the hearings go on, Anna's decision of not donating her kidney to Kate is questioned by Sara (who is a lawyer herself), knowing there is a hole in her statements. The complications almost broke her family apart, so Jesse Fitzgerald reveals the truth to Sara by telling every one in the court that Kate wants to die and that is the sole reason why Anna issued the summon; Kate asked Anna to do so so that she could end her sufferings.
Cinematography-wise, Caleb Deschanel has used different lenses to create shapes with the lights in the background (for example, when Jesse walks alone on the streets, we could see the lights in the background shaped as rectangles and ovals rather than the normal circles that are out of focus). However, I have noticed that the same shot, shot only in different shot sizes (one in rectangles and one in ovals) made me feel uncomfortable because of the dicontinuity in this approach and it was quite obvious. I do appreciate his attempt to try new things and from what I've read in the reviews of the other bloggers who have commented on his works, Caleb Deschanel is a cinematographer who emphasizes on the beauty of his pictures. This I think is also important because it affects the audience's viewing and when they accept your images, it is easier for them to accept your story as well.
Besides that, My Sister's Keeper was filmed with a soft-looking effect where the light sources seemed to project bright but soft light to the characters, making the atmosphere very fantasy-like and light. I believe a center spot or warm center spot filter could have been used to do this effect to lighten up the heavy emotions of a cancer patient. Some of the scenes even soften the images of the characters so that they are more likeable subconciously; people look better and more attractive, especially girls. Since this is a heart-warming story, it is reasonable to use this effect to help enhance the storytelling.
I agree to some of the people who wrote a review on this film about some parts of it being very music video-like. That is because a lot of songs were used to exteriorise the characters' feelings at that certain moment and since there were a few of them, almost each one had a song. For example, when Jesse walked alone on the streets as well as when Kate was at the beach with her family, the song, Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk was played fully to portray her happiness (to me, it was a little draggy and some of the footages were repetitive). The editing was also very music video-like where continuity was not important in that scene; mood came first and then beautiful images. Sometimes I thought the music-videos were too much that it made the film very 'commercialised' in a way. However, that is only my personal opinion and no doubt the message was successfully delivered. There was hardly any moment my eyes remained dry.
References:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/movie/drama/2009/08/14/220421/My-Sisters.htm
Friday, September 4, 2009
Lighten Up and Light Up!
To start with...
I accidentally woke up in the middle of the night and saw that it was 3.30a.m.
I turned around and saw that parts of my table were lit with the light coming from outside the window. I took the camera and snapped it.
-A reference to the negative space studies in composition and minimalism in lighting (sorry it's a little out of focus; I was still half asleep hehe )
-Just bought a Sekonic light meter for $36xx and Ada helped me name it 'SekonicBaby' cause I told her I was going to call it 'my baby'. So, I'm going to take my baby for a walk tomorrow and see if I could discover something new!
This is just the beginning of some real good stuff!
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