As of the end of 2013 the all time box office top 5 films include Avatar, Titanic, Marvel's The Avengers, The Dark Knight and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. This is clear evidence of the audience growing appeal for Hollywood spectacle. But what is the Hollywood spectacle? From epic landscape to sumptuous interior; from visions of space, aliens and future cityscapes to explosive action and adventure: expansive vistas spread out across the width of the big screen, their presence magnified by the aural impact of multichannel sound. Everything is larger than life; not real but hyperreal, leading us into the imaginary worlds of the cinema but also leaving us to sit back and wonder at its creations. Geoff King The spectacular qualities within the contemporary films that use VFX became progressively important to Hollywood. The popularity of the ever growing special effects has been increased by a growing demand for products in different multimedia forms such as computer games, theme-park rides and many other secondary outlets that frequently generated more profits then the films they were based on. These and other developments have led some to a common criticism that they are all special effects without the ability to tell a compelling story. Many newspaper reviews of the latest blockbusters are filled with statements that they contain impressive special effects but the film fails to tell a good story or unfortunately there are no interesting characters. Critics claim that digital special effects caused story telling standards to fall rapidly, mainly in big-budget blockbusters. “the 'theme park movie' – a set of over-designed, hermetically sealed, tantalizing environments masquerading as movies “ ... ... middle of paper ... ...ted with CGI" (55) On the Contrary there are those scholars who argue that descriptions of special effects ruining narrative are severely exaggerated. Most prominently, David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson have argued in several books, articles and, more recently, blog entries, that not only is narrative present in modern hollywood films, but a specific type of narrative, characterized by cause-and-effect chains of events with psychologically defined characters who act on clearly laid out goals in – prototypically – a double plot-line of main mission and heterosexual romance. Other writers too like Geoff King(2000, 2002) and Shilo T. McClean (2006) largely echo this view. Geoff King also claims that narrative and spectacle can work together in a variety of changing relationships and there is no single, all-embracing answer to question how the two are related.
In Hollywood today, most films can be categorized according to the genre system. There are action films, horror flicks, Westerns, comedies and the likes. On a broader scope, films are often separated into two categories: Hollywood films, and independent or foreign ‘art house’ films. Yet, this outlook, albeit superficial, was how many viewed films. Celebrity-packed blockbusters filled with action and drama, with the use of seamless top-of-the-line digital editing and special effects were considered ‘Hollywood films’. Films where unconventional themes like existentialism or paranoia, often with excessive violence or sex or a combination of both, with obvious attempts to displace its audiences from the film were often attributed with the generic label of ‘foreign’ or ‘art house’ cinema.
Within every history class, English class, and even some science classes, the art of storytelling is a primary foundation for human communication and understanding. Whether it be through myths – Greek, Roman, Egyptian, you pick – or wives tales or even Grandpa telling his old war stories, stories have power. Now, through technological advancements in the last 150+ years (thank you Thomas Edison for your obsession), we have film as a mode to tell stories. Fictional or not, films tell a story; they have the power to give you not only entertainment but enlightenment too. Through continuing advancements, filmmakers have the ability to challenge and manipulate the power of the story through creative resistance; by exploring other elements of storytelling via film, filmmakers can create dramatically different films from similar ideas by using a multitude of techniques. Films are even used to create social commentary.
In an article written by Julie Turnock about the aesthetics of cinematography, she writes about how special effects and CGI appeal to the concept of perceptual realism. Cinematographers not only need to make the film realistic; they must make the fantasy notion aesthetically pleasing to the viewer in order to make the film “real life”. In the 1981 version of The Clash of the Titans, the special effects were limited to green screen and claymation. This put more pressure on actors to “play their part” to enhance the special effects. By 2010, when the remake of this movie was released, special effects and CGI changed the scene to where actors can minimalize their dramatization of scenes because the effects the fantasy world are seen and felt by the viewer. They extend the realm of realism to the viewer in their chair. Special effects have changed the perception of realism.
A set of practices concerning the narrative structure compose the classical Hollywood Paradigm. These conventions create a plot centering around a character who undergoes a journey in an attempt to achieve some type of goal (). By giving the central character more time on screen, the film helps the audience to not only understand the character’s motivation but also empathize with his/her emotional state. Additionally, some antagonistic force creates conflict with the main character, preventing immediate success(). Finally, after confronting the antagonist, the main character achieves his or her goal along with growing emotionally(). This proven structure creates a linear and relatively easily followed series of events encompassing the leading character and a goal.
I most definitely agree that non-linear narrative have deeply influence how subjects are presented and percieved in visual culture. In order to suppost this statement, I have chosen two films as examples; Memento written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan also being the director. (2000) and 500 Days Of Summer written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, directed by Marc Webb, (2009).
...ctual roles, or adding in exciting events that revise the storyline. These changes are beneficial to producers because they engage a large audience and generate massive profits. In contrast, they do not always have a positive effect on viewers. Although they are entertaining which is an important aspect of theatre culture, they also are often misguiding. Many spectators take movies at face value, without considering that they may not exactly qualify as primary source material. Even when an historical event is fabricated to teach or enhance a moral message, it still doesn’t compensate for bending the truth. Moviegoer’s may have a positive experience and gain some skewed historical perspective, perhaps better than what they knew before the movie, but they loose out on the truth and therefore, a genuine understanding of the historical event, and its significance.
that are disparate in works of fiction. The ultimate goal of non-fiction film must be
Film, as a traditional and beloved media, has been influential on people's life. We spend time in the cinema to be entertained, touched, scared and experience romantic love story and exotic places. As one of the most famous film industry base in the world, Hollywood, produces and sell their movie products all over the world.
Computer generated imagery has evolved and spread throughout cinematography and the film world like wildfire. Although computer generated imagery offers countless creative opportunities, the art form of special effects makeup should be practiced and preserved, as just that- an art form. Most people have begun to describe special effects makeup as anachronistic. Considering how long special effects makeup has been around, people are convinced that its existence is coming to an end.
...verything around us is made by our actions. Positive or negative they cause an effect that will ultimately lead to a different story base on how we interpret life. Narrative elements are used as a bridge by the directors in their film to create any master plot that is currently known. Any modification at any narrative element used by the director at important moments inside the story can help you portray a different master plot. This used of narrative elements can be best described as an ever changing process that takes place inside an individual’s head. Depending on the individual that may be exposed to those narrative elements can create different meanings. This new interpretation can be different for everyone. We have to be aware that one change in the surface scenery can lead to many ideal outcomes in our minds and that is the main power the audience has.
Though the storyline often takes back seat to the special effects and fight sequences, it...
Quentin Tarantino’s auteur is one that speaks of gore, racism, and certain shot techniques. Above all, the aspect that Tarantino is best known for in his long history of filmmaking is the fact that he only uses traditional, or analog, filmmaking techniques. In fact, Tarantino believes that digital cameras used to shoot film will lead to the eventual demise of filmmaking. His views and ideas of digital vs. traditional filmmaking and how his films could be impacted if they were shot in a digital format are explored.
Computer Generated Imagery began with awkward and dull effects in the early 1980’s. The 1982 film “Tron” was a desperate attempt from Disney to jump on the CGI bandwagon and start a revolution in film making technologies (imdb.com). Although this film showed an attempt at something that had never been done before in the history of cinematics, it was weird and confusing. This broke the door down for other companies to start up and aid films in creating better and better effects that appealed to a larger market. Although the effects were not good in the early days, the general film going public was astonished by computer generated effects and flocked to the theaters to see these cheesy attempts to use basic technology that did not transfer well to the silver screen. It was not until later films like “Jurassic Park,” “Toy Story,” and “The Lord of the Rings” until CGI became a film making powerhouse and the killer application for high budget movies.
The storytelling technique made use by Cameron in the film Titanic is special because history and fiction is inculcated within the plot. For example, Cameron made use of the history of RMS Titanic as the main plot of the film. But he was aware of the fact that mere history of a cruise ship will not satisfy the global viewers. So, he decided to inculcate fiction and romance to the main plot. Parisi (1998), states that “Cameron’s gift was to create a unique moviegoing experience, one audiences couldn’t get from any other film” (202). One can easily identify that inculcation of fiction and romance is helpful...
Computer Generated Images, or CGI, is a form of Computer Graphics design, and animations, that make a image look 3D. These images are shown all throughout the media world, industry, and business, such as print media, tv, movies, pictures, commercials, etc. CGI’s have improved rapidly on software that helps our world improve on computer generated imaging. CGI software’s is used to make graphical design for purposes like movies in the theater. CGI companies and software’s, has made the technology age, and its computer has increase in speeds, and has allowed computer graphics programmers, and other companies, to make better quality films, games, and electronic digital photos on their CPU’s, or laptops. Because of the new advancement in software technology in CGI, and graphics designing, it has brought new internet religious cultures, its own new experiences, such as celebrities, and newer technological vocabulary. Technology advancement has increased so much that CGI’s has lead to the new beginning or era of virtual cinema photography.