As many scenes in our film present groups of students exhibiting identical behavior to create an eery sense of conformity, this scene from Midsommar is a great example of how that cult mentality can be depicted. While the group of people in this particular scene don’t move in perfect synchronization, their movements and their facial expressions still create an unsettling sense of conformity and mindless following.
Cue
Notes
How could we potentially use a bird’s eye view of a classroom without the capabilities that this film had?
Could a wide angle lens be effective in showing the number of students in the classroom?
Should we show our protagonist/stranger to the cult starting to give into the group behavior or should we only present a rejection of these norms?
Entire scene is completely devoid of music – making the audience uncomfortable with silence
Establishes relationship between cult leaders and followers with costume and set design (different outfits, leaders sit in throne-like chairs)
Slow dolly out to reveal the number of followers involved in this cult
Movements of each follower matches the movements of the leaders – not in perfect unison but still establishing that cult mentality and the weirdness of their mindless nature
As leaders pick up silverware and begin to eat, camera angle changes to a bird’s eye view and then pans across the table set-up to show the consecutive movements of each follower – kind of like a ripple of movement
Character seating placement at table establishes rank
All of the “follower” characters seem to be in a trance throughout the scene, all following the same behavioral patterns and moving based on the leaders’ movements
Even the characters that are strangers to this cult begin to follow the behaviors of the others – giving into that cult mentality and conformity in fear of standing out too much in this foreign environment
Blocking in every shot is almost never focused on one single character – there’s always multiple people in the shot to communicate their belonging to this group/lack of individualism
With the exception of the leaders and the strangers in this scene, the followers are depicted as a group, not as individuals – representing their loss of identity to this brainwashed cult
Sound effects: emphasis on the visible sounds of the scene like forks scraping and the minimal dialog that exists – no presence of external sounds like wind
Majority of characters are entirely emotionless, clearly in a trance
Overall, this scene is a great representation of how to shoot a large group of characters moving simultaneously, as it successfully communicates the lack of individualism in the group and the notion that this is a cult. On top of the various angles, edits, and blocking choices that add to the success of the scene, the lack of music and the emphasis on isolated sounds creates a very eerie and unsettling feeling in the viewer.
Storytelling is joke telling Stories cross the boundaries of time and allow us to connect to each other Stories affirm who we are Make me care with your story The beginning of a story should give a promise that it’s going to go somewhere A well-told promise can propel you through the story
Links into anticipation and building tension – don’t make things predicatable
Storytelling without dialogue is the purest form of storytelling “Make the audience work for their meal [but don’t let them know they’re working for it]” Unifying Theory of 2+2: don’t give them 4, give them 2+2
Every character has an itch they want to scratch – the spine of the character This “itch” could be positive or negative, but we all have it
Can tension be built even in a “dull” scene?
Stories die when things go static, because life is never static “Drama is anticipation mingled with uncertainty” Anticipation is tension – audience wants to find the conclusion but don’t make it predictable
Links into Hans Zimmer’s idea of finding the “rules” of the film and then breaking them
Storytelling has guidelines, not hard and fast rules A strong theme is always running through a well-told story
In other words, make people connect and care!
Most important part: can you invoke wonder? The best stories are able to infuse wonder in its audience
Draw from what you know Capture a truth from your own experience
Summary
Andrew Stanton’s basic, overarching principle of storytelling is to use what you know and make your audience care about what you’re trying to say. Stories are meant to make us feel connected on a deeper level, and according to Stanton, being successful in this means invoking wonder and creating anticipation that keeps an audience engaged.
By May 10th, as part of team 5, I will have added detailed notes to the script and storyboard on music choices and the use of tension building through music using Robin Hoffman’s “What is The Function of Film Music” and MasterClass’ “6 Ways to Create Tension and Release in Music”.
John Williams is one of the most well-known and highly regarded American film composers, having composed over 100 films and having 52 Oscar nominations, five Oscar wins, two Emmy wins, three Golden Globes, and 25 Grammy wins. Some of his most well-known compositions include the score for Jaws, Jurassic Park, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, the first three Harry Potter films, and nine Star Wars films. Williams’ ten rules for success are mostly related to working hard and finding joy in everything you do. Throughout his career, Williams has stayed incredibly humble despite his extensive success and recognition, as he cares deeply for his work as a musician and finds immense joy in his every interaction with music.
I acted as composer – my evidence is on slides 25 and 26.
POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION
21st Century Skills
Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)
Considering the number of actors we used in multiple scenes, creativity and problem solving was crucial to the success and completion of our film. The class we were originally going to use in those scenes was unavailable the day of shooting, so we had to problem solve to try and find a new class last minute. We also had to overcome issues related to the time constraint, as we changed our original filming plans and cut hallway running scenes. On top of this, our editor was absent the entire week of editing, so we had to problem solve in order to ensure we had a finished film with all the necessary components.
Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)
Throughout the entire production session, our team was in constant communication, which was especially necessary because we are a six person team. When our editor was out for the entire week of our editing process, we all had to collaborate to make sure we ended with a finished, well-done film. Decisions on cutting scenes, sound design, and music were all a collaborative effort, as we checked in with each other every day and each watched our film before publishing it. We also had to communicate during filming to finish our scenes efficiently, and we collaborated by helping each other out with our individual roles when someone was gone or had to be an actor in a scene.
Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)
Due to the limited time we had to edit the film, add sound effects, and create music, I had to learn how to use a music composition site other than GarageBand so that I could work in the classroom and from home. The website I used was called Soundtrap, and I had to learn all of the details and specifics of the site in order to make progress on our film’s music and complete the finished product in time. As a learning tool, I read about the purpose and potential of music in film with Robin Hoffman’s article “What is the function of film music?” and researched how I could create conflict and release in my music with MasterClass’ “6 Ways to Create Tension and Release in Music”. As a team, we used Celtx to write the screenplay, Google Drive to share files, and Trello to keep track of our progress.
Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)
In this production session, I gained a lot of life skills regarding collaboration, teamwork, and general creativity. Because this was our last film and every team was given the same prompt of “community”, my team and I pushed ourselves to come up with something unique and creative that would stand out among all the other films. Especially during our pre-production and brainstorming process, I learned how to effectively collaborate, and express and communicate my creativity and ideas successfully within a group. When new, often conflicting ideas were proposed, we had to blend them together and work through everything as a team, which I feel is a very important skill to have in the real world. In a more specific sense, I continued my learning about music theory and composition, which is a skill I would like to build upon in the future.
Reactions to the Final Version
“The music built very successfully, starting with a wholesome feeling and then shifting as the tone of the film shifted. The inclusion of the heartbeat sound was also really effective to portray the panic of the character, even though it was a smaller, background noise.” – James
“The music flowed really well and matched the tone of the film, which helped move everything along and provide clarity in the plot.” – Moira
Self-Evaluation of Final Version
Our final film was simple, as we only included shots and scenes that were necessary to develop the plot of the film and communicate our story. It was also emotional, as we used sensory language and specific film techniques to instill fear and create suspense with our audience. Additionally, our film was concrete and unexpected, as we shocked our audience with a final plot twist and addressed the prompt of “community” from a unique perspective.
What I Learned and Problems I Solved
During this project, I learned a lot of technical skills, especially regarding music composition and the specificities of the Soundtrap software. Before this production session, I had only ever used GarageBand, but now that I am well-versed in an entirely new program, I feel more prepared for any music I compose in the future. In a more general, real-world sense, I continued to gain skills relating to leadership and group collaboration, which will be very helpful in the future. I also solved many problems alongside my team members during this production session, as we had a large task including nearly 50 actors that needed to be completed within a relatively short period of time.
Grammar and Spelling
Grammarly, Edublogs Spell Check
Editor
Merja Haatanen
Story of Film – Episode 3 – The Golden Age of World Cinema
Rather than capture the emotion with well-lit, close-up shots, Mizoguchi uses dark lighting and cuts away to further distance between actors and camera (shot of woman’s back – we soo no emotion)
By March 2nd, as part of Team 5, I will explore the sound designer’s skill pathway by following The Visual Story by Bruce Block and will have created scenes that demonstrate the visual story structure of rhythm.
Richard King has been the sound designer for multiple highly successful films, including Interstellar, The Dark Knight, Inception, and Dunkirk. He has worked with directors like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and M. Night Shyamalan and for his exceptional work in sound design he has won four Academy Awards. For new sound designers, King suggests starting with broad ideas and important moments before diving into finer details. He emphasizes trying to put yourself in the scene to gain a better idea of which sounds are most important, and to focus your time on those particular noises.
Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)
Similarly to our last production session, my team members and I had to overcome issues with Premiere Pro. We used video tutorials and asked for help from people around us to recover lost edits and attempt to share the project with other group members. I also had to adapt to time constraints when adding the appropriately intense music and had to apply my creativity while recording and adding sound effects to the film and paying attention to small details.
Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)
Throughout the entire production session, my team members and I collaborated on many aspects of the film, including lighting, location, dialogue, delivery, camera angles, and many other things. When I was adding sound effects to the film and figuring out what music would best suit each scene, I communicated with my team members to evaluate which creative decisions would work for our final film. As one of the actors, I was constantly communicating with my team members, especially our director, to ensure that blocking and movements were correct and that my delivery matched the emotion of the scene.
Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)
During this project, I used a Zoom audio deck and boom mic to record the audio for every scene. As a learning tool, I read the chapter on visual rhythm from Bruce Block’s book The Visual Story. As a team, we used Trello to organize our timeline and keep track of our progress, Google Drive to share files, and Celtx to write the script.
Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)
While creating this film, I gained collaboration and teamwork skills that will be helpful to me in any future group project. Considering the size of our group and how many new team members joined us, I had to put even more effort into collaborating and ensuring that everyone felt included. We had many opinionated and creative perspectives that needed to blend to create our final product. I also learned various sound editing and music creation skills that could not only be useful in the film industry but also other projects and assignments.
Reactions to the Final Version
“The music building at the end of the film was very effective in communicating the rising intensity.” – James
“Overall, each of you did a great job contributing something unique to an interesting and well done film.” – James
“All of you did a great job showing your preparation and how much work you put in during pre-production with the evidence in your advanced storyboards.” – Michelle
Self-Evaluation of Final Version
Our final film was simple, as we only included scenes that were necessary to develop the plot. It was also unexpected, as we introduced a new exploration in the sequel to our first film Peanuts, and used an intense final scene to shock the audience. Additionally, our film was emotional and concrete, as we used sensory language through intense music and shots to create suspense.
What I Learned and Problems I Solved
During this project, I learned technical skills, like how to record audio with a Zoom audio deck and edit audio recordings in Premiere Pro. I also learned real-world skills, like how to successfully work within a large team and work around creative differences. Through working with my team, I found what kind of workflow, collaboration, and style of organization works best for me, and what kind doesn’t work. I was also exposed to small technical skills in other roles from watching other team members work and witnessed a great deal of leadership and creativity that I can apply in my own life.
What does it mean to emphasize the longitudinal plane?
How can the setting of a scene create emotion?
Space: Affinity – Limit space, make ambiguous, eliminate perspective, stage objects parallel to the picture plane, remove relative movement, reduce tonal/color separation, use telephoto lenses, and let objects blur
Contrast – Deep space, make recognizable, emphasize longitudinal plane, stage objects perpendicular to the picture plane, move the camera, take advantage of tonal separation, and use a wide angle lens
Why does diagonal to horizontal to diagonal build intensity?
How can shapes communicate character development?
Line and Shape: Affinity – Horizontal or vertical line, straight line
Contrast – Diagonal line, curved line
Controlling line and shape – squint, evaluate the lighting, stage movements carefully, create a linear motif storyboard, evaluate the shapes (actor, scenery, set dressing), control the lighting, and simplify
Tone: Affinity – Coincidental
Contrast – Non coincidental
Controlling tone – find the subject, don’t confuse color with tone, and hide or reveal objects
Besides cyan and red, how do other colors on the color palette communicate emotion?
Color: Affinity – Desaturated, cyan
Contrast – Saturated, red
Controlling color – color palette, filters (lens and lighting), time/location, and digital capture photography
How do we control movement in production?
How does continuous movement and separated movement differ in story telling?
Movement: Affinity – Horizontal movements
Contrast – Diagonal movements
Involves the objects in the frame, communicating and creating feeling with movements
What is the difference between rhythm and movement in relation to film?
How can rhythm be shown with stationary objects?
Rhythm: Affinity – Slow rhythm and pace
Contrast – Fast rhythm and pace
Controlling rhythm – watch the lines, don’t confuse rhythm with movement, find rhythm in movement, find the rhythm for a scene, and plan the editing
By January 28th, as part of my film team, I will further explore possibilities in editing by following Vince Opra’s Premiere Pro Tutorial for Beginners 2022 and the Videomaker articleWhen Editing a Horror Movie or Thriller, Timing Is Key and will use edits to create suspense over the first 3 scenes and develop the emotions and personalities of the character throughout the film in our session 3 project.
Michael Kahn is primarily known for his editing work on films directed by Steven Spielberg, including Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three Academy Awards for Best Film Editing. On editing, Kahn has expressed the importance of editing based on feeling rather than knowledge and that you can’t find the best cut unless you edit every cut. For other editors, he suggests using the theory of 3’s for reaction shots and walking away from your work to keep a fresh eye on each shot.
Use timing and pacing of clips to build suspense and evoke certain emotions
A succession of fast-paced, short clips can disorient the audience and create a sense of urgency and panic
Extended, uncut clips can build suspense and anticipation
An uncomfortably long shot should usually be part of a faster sequence and should end with a big reveal
Be aware of the purpose of every detail of every shot
Take advantage of what the audience hears (or doesn’t hear)
Be intentional with the music, timing crescendos and decrescendos with the film’s subject matter
Sound effects should build a rhythmic pace and create unseen tension
Don’t follow the usual rules of audio mixing, where dialogue is always prioritized – don’t be afraid to utilize the silence in a shot
Ten basic steps to a good scare
The protagonist is in an isolated area and their vision is limited (usually a dark shot)
The protagonist reveals their anxieties about the current situation, sometimes calling out to express their concern.
The antagonist is revealed, unbeknownst to the protagonist.
The antagonist is hidden from view again as the protagonist’s anxiety builds and they are unaware of how close the antagonist is.
Rise in tension, either by means of a rise in music or a slow move-in by the camera.
The scene blocking has the protagonist positioned for surprise.
Something happens in the background, like a falling object or a door slammed shut. The protagonist is startled and the audience is briefly scared, but the true scare from the antagonist has not yet been revealed.
There is sense of calm from the audience and protagonist because the scare was small and explainable.
As the protagonist’s courage starts to build, the pacing of the edit reveals to the audience that there is still an ever-present threat.
The big reveal! The antagonist is fully revealed to the protagonist and the audience gets the true scare.
Project Timeline
Brainstorm ideas
Create storyboard
Present storyboard to class
Create slideshow and share with all team members
Write screenplay
Decide on location and character roles
Gather/make props, costumes, equipment
Prepare blocking for each scene
Set up shots
Film all scenes
Put all scenes in a shared Google Drive folder
Decide which scenes to keep, get rid of, or even re-shoot
Label final shots
Record all sounds/dialogue and create music
Put all recordings in shared Google Drive folder
Transfer audio and clips into Premiere Pro
Put clips in order and make all edits
Put audio in and sync up to video
Make all finishing touches
Add evidence to slideshow
Export final film
Present film and slideshow to the class and receive feedback
Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)
When editing with Premiere Pro, I had to problem-solve multiple issues that I naturally encountered while using new software. There were many obstacles, as edits were randomly deleted and it was difficult to share the project with other group members. I also had to apply my creativity while adding visual and auditory tones to the film, as I gave every scene a deep, cloudy blue hue and composed music with crescendos and decrescendos that matched the rhythm of the film.
Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)
I edited the film with the visions of my other team members in mind and we constantly collaborated on large and small aspects of the final product. When I was creating the score for the film and choosing the color and intensity of the hue for each scene, I communicated with my team members to evaluate which creative decisions would be the best for our final film.
Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)
During this project, I used Premiere Pro to edit the film, which gave me further creative expression than previous editing software with options for special effects and color editing. I also used GarageBand to compose the music for our film, which allowed me to explore the program extensively and apply my skills as a musician. As a team, we used Trello to organize our timeline and keep track of our progress, Google Drive to share files, and Celtx to write the script.
Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)
Through creating this film, I gained collaboration and teamwork skills that will be helpful to me in any future group project. I also learned various editing skills that could not only be useful in the film industry but also in other projects and assignments. I can apply the skills I learned regarding cutting unnecessary components of any piece of work and keeping things concise, yet interesting and detailed.
Reactions to the Final Version
“The choice to edit along to the crescendos in the music was really effective in building tension.” – Coletrane
Self-Evaluation of Final Version
Our final film was simple, as we only included scenes and shots that were necessary to tell the story. It was also unexpected, as we used a final plot twist to shock the audience and leave them on the edge of their seat. Additionally, our film was emotional and concrete, as we used sensory language through music and dramatic shots to instill fear and suspense into our audience. Overall, we were able to tell a story completely and creatively in a way that resonated with our audience.
What I Learned and Problems I Solved
During this project, I learned technical skills, like how to edit using Premiere Pro and build tension with editing. I also had an opportunity to create music that matched my editing and our film’s genre. I learned real-world skills as well, like how to successfully work within a team and overcome obstacles. In working with my team members, I found what kind of workflow and style of collaboration works best for me and what kind doesn’t work. I was also exposed to small technical skills in other roles just from watching other members of my teamwork. All of these skills will be helpful to me in the future, and I will apply them to future projects.
Allows us to investigate whether works of art reinforce or challenge homophobia
Gives opportunity to expose the truth behind harmful myths/stereotypes
What myths exist that are perpetuated against queer people?
The myth that “gay people are sick or evil … and that it is therefore in their ‘nature’ to be insatiable sexual predators, to molest children, and to corrupt youths by ‘recruiting’ them to become homosexual” (Dr. Tyson).
Queer people make up a small portion of the population (despite being nearly 10% of U.S. population)
Those raised by queer people will thus grow up to be queer
What is the larger goal of queer theory?
To deconstruct, reveal, and draw attention to works of art where traditional categories of sex and sexual expression breakdown, overlap, or do not properly represent the range of human sexuality.
Questions that queer theorists ask when evaluating works of art:
What does this work contribute to our knowledge of queer, gay, or lesbian experience and history?
Is this work homophobic? If so, is the homophobia explicit or implicit?
How does a work illustrate the problems or complications in one’s sexual identity?
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Film’s lead, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, is openly displayed as a transvestite, allowing the film to represent a “non-normative” category of sexual expression
Lead is also describe as “sweet” transvestite, challenging the myth that queer people are naturally evil
Uses example of a heterosexual couple being attracted to members of the same sex to demonstrate that sexuality exists on a wide spectrum
Summary
In film, queer theory is applied to evaluate how works of art draw attention to and represent sex and sexual expression, especially in relation to the traditional binaries of heterosexual and homosexual relationships. Through this, we can assess how a film contributes to our knowledge of queer history and queer experiences, and how it expresses the notion that sexuality exists on a spectrum.