Spotlights

Pan's Labyrinth - Directed By Guillermo Del Toro

The Director's Background:

Guillermo is an artist and director from Mexico, born in 1964.

Guillermo has always had a passion for art and drawing since he was a child. He often drew monsters from his wild imagination as a child, and has used these mythical visions and ideas in his films, including the particular film we studied, Pan's Labyrinth.

He entered the industry as a special effects makeup artist, and prefers to use physical effects instead of digital effects and CGI.

The Film: 'Pan's Labyrinth'

His work in the film of 'Pan's Labyrinth' is very distinctive as they use the unique themes of monsters and magic, and how this can be viewed from the perspective of a child. Furthermore, large parts of the film focused on the themes of heaven and hell, as well as, war and dictatorship. In my opinion, it felt as though his work was partly informed by real world issues, such as inhumane dictatorship, genocide; arguably the captain of the army in the film was comparable to Adolph Hitler.

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

A huge variety of shot types could be seen in the film; these included wide shots of landscapes, such as the forest, and extreme close up of the main characters at dramatic and key moments in the film, to clearly show the actor's emotions to the audience. As well as this, two shots were used regularly to show interaction between characters, particularly between the main character, Ofelia, and the monsters. I could incorporate these shot types in my own work, possibly in the television advert project later in the year, to help build certain emotions and to engage the audience.

Additionally, the soundtracks used in the film were very effective in building suspense for the audience. The ascension of pitch on the sounds before a climax, went a long way in achieving this, I will look to use these kind of suspenseful sounds and soundtracks in my 'Sound and Foley' project.

Also, Guillermo Del Toro used a lot of interesting lighting effects such as golden rays on the mythical objects to show their magical properties and importance in the film and also when Ofelia is in heaven with her mother at the end of the film; darker blue lighting was used for the sadder moments in the film, such as when Ofelia dies.

Lastly, the sets used and the different locations the film was shot in, included a variety of eye-catching textures that drew the audiences attention, such as chiselled rock faces and tree trunks in the forest. This made the film very visually interesting and I will definitely think more about textures during filming in the future, as a result.

Hot Fuzz - Directed By Edgar Wright

The Director's Background:

Edgar Wright, born 18 April 1974, is an English director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Wright is most famous for his humorous trilogy of films, 'Three Flavours Cornetto' which consists of the three movies: 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004), 'Hot Fuzz' (2007), and The World's End (2013). During these films, he frequently collaborated with Simon Pegg, Nira Park and Nick Frost, in producing them.

He is know for his unique and visually comedic style of directing and editing in his films, through his use of fast-paced and action packed editing style, including whip pans and crash zooms - which always provide a very entertaining film for the audience.

The Film: 'Hot Fuzz'

'Hot Fuzz' focuses on a policemen called Nicholas Angel, played by Simon Pegg, who is extremely successful in the London area, so much so that he is forced to move to a remote village, as he is making the other police officers look bad - remember it is a comedy. There is a large and extensive murder plot that occurs throughout the village, which features many comedic deaths through the use of a variety of visual comedy techniques.

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

Throughout Edgar Wright's films, visual comedy is used in a variety of ways for the viewer's entertainment. Some of the main techniques that I picked up on, was the way props and actors enter and leave the frame in funny ways.

For example, a phone will be passed into the shot from the side and then pushed away by the actor in the scene, so you don't see who is holding the phone. Furthermore, the editor timed actions in the film with the music, which provided comedic value in certain scenes. Also, lots of fast cuts and match-cuts were used to keep the pace of the films and to create smooth and entertaining transitions between shots and scenes. I have used a similar editing style to this in some ways in my Fashion Lookbook. Additionally, dramatic lighting effects usually from police car lights, were enhanced and incorporated into scenes to build drama and suspense.

Trainspotting - Directed By Danny Boyle

The Director's Background:

Born on October 20, 1956 in Manchester, England, Danny Boyle is a director and producer. The films that he is particularly known for are: 127 Hours (2010), 28 Days Later... (2002) and Slumdog Millionaire (2008). He often uses the actor Ewan McGregor for his productions, and is famous for his trademark of opening films with a shot from the middle of the movie.

The Film: 'Trainspotting'

Trainspotting is a film set in Liverpool, focused on the main character, Mark, played by Ewan Mcgregor, who spends the majority of the film as a heroin addict. The film focuses on drug addicts and the effects of drugs on people; sex is also a strong theme throughout the film.

Danny Boyle uses dark humour/black comedy combined with serious topics, to add comic relief to the film. whilst letting the audience know the serenity of these issues. Later on in the film, you see Mark going through the process of becoming clean and beating his heroin addiction and going on to become an estate agent.

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

Trainspotting-trainspotting-18607289-848

Danny Boyle used a variety of different editing and shooting techniques throughout the film. For example, he used voice-overs from the main character Mark, to tell the story of the film and to keep the plot-line flowing in an effective and entertaining way due to the talent of the main actor, Ewan McGregor. Furthermore, flash-blacks and changes in time were used to show his challenging past and to switch between reality and the drug-caused hallucinations and nightmares that Mark experienced.

Music is an extremely key part of the film, and is used to great effect by building tempo to increase suspense, usually after he has just taken an injection of heroin, to show the dramatic rush it builds within him - fast paced drum beats were usually used, the music then slowed by reducing the tempo and pitch when Mark passed out

on the floor, with a muffled effect applied to the sound, to symbolise the unconscious position Mark was in. I could use similar changes of tempo, pitch and muffled sound effects, to enhance my animation I will be re-scoring for my sound and foley project.

A large array of conventions could be seen in 'Trainspotting', for example, in one of the most famous scenes of the film, the convention of framing is used, as the width of the screen slowly becomes narrower and closes in, to mirror how Mark's life is slipping away as he is taken into hospital after taking an overdose of heroin.

Furthermore, from Danny Boyle's directing techniques, I can learn to use comic relief to emotionally break up scenes featuring dark and serious topics, to give the audience time to breathe, allowing them to enjoy the film/video more whilst still learning about the serious topics on show. For my own work, I have been inspired by Danny Boyle's directing skills to try and incorporate close-ups and extreme close-ups of facial expressions, as well as cutting out music in time with humorous occurrences in the scenes, when editing, for comedic effect. For example, poo was flung across the room at breakfast in the family home in the scenes of one of the heroin addicts, and the music cut out, so you could feel the disgusted atmosphere of the characters in the scene - making for a very funny moment in the film for the audience.

Donnie Darko - Directed By Richard Kelly

The Director's Background:

Born March 28 in Virginia, USA in 1975, Richard Kelly, is a film director and writer, most famous for for writing and directing Donnie Darko in 2001. During his childhood, his father worked for NASA on the Mars Viking Lander program. Richard Kelly won a scholarship to the University of Southern California to study Cinema-Television. At university, he made two short films, and graduated in 1997. He is also known for frequently casting, Beth Grant, Holmes Osborne, and Lisa K. Wyatt in his films.

The Film: 'Donnie Darko'

The film is set in 1988, Donnie Darko demonstrates a complex story-line, where Donnie Darko struggles mentally despite help from a therapist. Donnie Darko becomes interested in the concept of time travel and its history. One of the main sub-plots of the story is when Donnie falls in love with a girl who has had a difficult past with family issues.

Richard Kelly targets a teenage audience through the use of the relatable location of a high school being used throughout the film. Furthermore, the themes of parties, falling in love, loneliness, alcohol and education, are all something a stereotypical young person could experience and empathises with, targeting them as an audience as a result.

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

The music used in the films plays a key part in connecting with the audience's emotions, by building atmosphere, tension, sadness, etc. This symbolises how Donnie's views and emotions are changing throughout the film.

Richard Kelly implements several different conventions into Donnie Darko. For example, leading line draws the viewers eye into the portals shown during the time travel scenes towards the end of the film. Framing is also seen during the dance performance scene, through the curtains on stage, which can be used to represent a window into Donnie's chaotic mind and life.

Kelly switches between points in time in Donnie's life using flash backs and flash forwards, as a way of switching scene - creating a complex timeline for the audience to understand, engaging them in the film. A shot type that was used frequently throughout the film was the extreme close ups of Donnie's face to show his emotions in an artistic way; I could use this in my own shooting sessions for dramatic effect. Titles are also used throughout the film to convey how much time Donnie has left, counting down from 28 days, which builds tension throughout the film as the audience wait for the inevitable climax.

Wes Anderson

How does Wes Anderson use colour and composition?

Wes Anderson uses centralised focal points during camera shots, typically placing the character's or main object of the shot in the middle of the screen. He also uses a variety of atmospheric colours during his shots such as deep blues and purples. His directing features comical cuts and pans to add humour to the scenes of films. He is famous for directing Fantastic Mr. Fox. He also commonly uses framing and leading-line in his compositions.

Stanley Kubrick

How does Kubrick use colour and composition?

Stanley Kubrick uses vivid and concentrated colours to highlight certain spots in scenes, as seen to the right. This draws the viewers eyes to different areas of the shots in a visually engaging way. He also uses a lot of centralised symmetry in his work as well as framing techniques.

Wes Anderson vs Stanley Kubrick

Both directors use the compositional technique of framing to draw the viewers eye to places within the scene to add visual engagement. Leading line is also commonly used and the use of colour is important in conveying emotions and atmosphere in both of their work.

References:

Guillermo Del Toro Image: Taken from website: Second Union, article by Jeff Andrews, May 15, 2018

https://wearesecondunion.com/2018/05/15/guillermo-del-toros-10-after-midnight-coming-soon-to-netflix/#.Xeooo-j7SUk

Ofelia and Monster Image: Taken from website: 1001 Film Reviews, Article Posted on 12 November, 2016.

https://travisryanfilm.com/2016/11/12/pans-labyrinth-2006/

Forest Image Image: Taken from website: TheLiontheWitchandtheWardrobeMalfunctioned, Article published, 12 September 2012.

https://thelionthewitchandthewardrobemalfunctioned.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/pans-labyrinth/

Edgar Wright Research: Taken from website: IMDb By: omermertcanbolat

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0942367/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Edgar Wright Image: Taken from website: Showbiz Cheat Sheet By: Becca Bleznak, Published: 30 March, 2019

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/edgar-wright-cornetto-trilogy-idea.html/

Hot Fuzz Image: Taken from website: The Viewer's Commentary by CJ Steweart, Published 28 June, 2013

https://viewerscommentary.com/2013/06/28/review-hot-fuzz/

Mark Hot Fuzz Image: Taken from website: Fanpop, added by mosriteluv

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/trainspotting/images/18607289/title/trainspotting-screencap

Danny Boyle Research: Taken from website: IMDb

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000965/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Danny Boyle Image: Taken from website: Vairety, 20 February 2018, By Justin Kroll

https://variety.com/2018/film/news/james-bond-25-danny-boyle-director-1202705314/

Trainspotting scene image: Taken from website: the FILM EXPERIENCE, 23 April, 2011

http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2011/4/23/mix-tape-perfect-day-in-trainspotting.html

Donnie Darko: Taken from website: IndieWire, 20 December, 2016

https://www.indiewire.com/2016/12/donnie-darko-15th-anniversary-4k-richard-kelly-cult-film-southland-tales-1201758675/

Donnie Darko Image: Taken from website: Film Inquiry, 19 June 2017

https://www.filminquiry.com/donnie-darko-third-theatrical-time/

Richard Kelly Research: Taken from website: IMDb, published on March 28, 1975

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446819/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Wes Anderson shot: Taken from website: Best Movie Shots, published 4th Feburary 2016

https://bestmovieshots.wordpress.com/category/wes-anderson/

JAMES GUY

Practical Skills

Practical Skills

Spotlights

Pan's Labyrinth - Directed By Guillermo Del Toro

The Director's Background:

Guillermo is an artist and director from Mexico, born in 1964.

Guillermo has always had a passion for art and drawing since he was a child. He often drew monsters from his wild imagination as a child, and has used these mythical visions and ideas in his films, including the particular film we studied, Pan's Labyrinth.

He entered the industry as a special effects makeup artist, and prefers to use physical effects instead of digital effects and CGI.

The Film: 'Pan's Labyrinth'

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

Additionally, the soundtracks used in the film were very effective in building suspense for the audience. The ascension of pitch on the sounds before a climax, went a long way in achieving this, I will look to use these kind of suspenseful sounds and soundtracks in my 'Sound and Foley' project.

Hot Fuzz - Directed By Edgar Wright

The Director's Background:

He is know for his unique and visually comedic style of directing and editing in his films, through his use of fast-paced and action packed editing style, including whip pans and crash zooms - which always provide a very entertaining film for the audience.

The Film: 'Hot Fuzz'

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

Throughout Edgar Wright's films, visual comedy is used in a variety of ways for the viewer's entertainment. Some of the main techniques that I picked up on, was the way props and actors enter and leave the frame in funny ways.

Trainspotting - Directed By Danny Boyle

The Director's Background:

The Film: 'Trainspotting'

Trainspotting is a film set in Liverpool, focused on the main character, Mark, played by Ewan Mcgregor, who spends the majority of the film as a heroin addict. The film focuses on drug addicts and the effects of drugs on people; sex is also a strong theme throughout the film.

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

on the floor, with a muffled effect applied to the sound, to symbolise the unconscious position Mark was in. I could use similar changes of tempo, pitch and muffled sound effects, to enhance my animation I will be re-scoring for my sound and foley project.

Donnie Darko - Directed By Richard Kelly

The Director's Background:

The Film: 'Donnie Darko'

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

The music used in the films plays a key part in connecting with the audience's emotions, by building atmosphere, tension, sadness, etc. This symbolises how Donnie's views and emotions are changing throughout the film.

Wes Anderson

How does Wes Anderson use colour and composition?

Stanley Kubrick

How does Kubrick use colour and composition?

Stanley Kubrick uses vivid and concentrated colours to highlight certain spots in scenes, as seen to the right. This draws the viewers eyes to different areas of the shots in a visually engaging way. He also uses a lot of centralised symmetry in his work as well as framing techniques.

Wes Anderson vs Stanley Kubrick

Both directors use the compositional technique of framing to draw the viewers eye to places within the scene to add visual engagement. Leading line is also commonly used and the use of colour is important in conveying emotions and atmosphere in both of their work.

Contact Support

Spotlights

Pan's Labyrinth - Directed By Guillermo Del Toro

The Director's Background:

​

Guillermo is an artist and director from Mexico, born in 1964.

​

Guillermo has always had a passion for art and drawing since he was a child. He often drew monsters from his wild imagination as a child, and has used these mythical visions and ideas in his films, including the particular film we studied, Pan's Labyrinth.

He entered the industry as a special effects makeup artist, and prefers to use physical effects instead of digital effects and CGI.

​

The Film: 'Pan's Labyrinth'

​

​

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

​

​

Additionally, the soundtracks used in the film were very effective in building suspense for the audience. The ascension of pitch on the sounds before a climax, went a long way in achieving this, I will look to use these kind of suspenseful sounds and soundtracks in my 'Sound and Foley' project.

​

​

​

Hot Fuzz - Directed By Edgar Wright

The Director's Background:

​

He is know for his unique and visually comedic style of directing and editing in his films, through his use of fast-paced and action packed editing style, including whip pans and crash zooms - which always provide a very entertaining film for the audience.

​

The Film: 'Hot Fuzz'

​

​

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

Throughout Edgar Wright's films, visual comedy is used in a variety of ways for the viewer's entertainment. Some of the main techniques that I picked up on, was the way props and actors enter and leave the frame in funny ways.

​

​

Trainspotting - Directed By Danny Boyle

The Director's Background:

​

​

The Film: 'Trainspotting'

​

Trainspotting is a film set in Liverpool, focused on the main character, Mark, played by Ewan Mcgregor, who spends the majority of the film as a heroin addict. The film focuses on drug addicts and the effects of drugs on people; sex is also a strong theme throughout the film.

​

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

on the floor, with a muffled effect applied to the sound, to symbolise the unconscious position Mark was in. I could use similar changes of tempo, pitch and muffled sound effects, to enhance my animation I will be re-scoring for my sound and foley project.

​

Donnie Darko - Directed By Richard Kelly

The Director's Background:

​

​

The Film: 'Donnie Darko'

​

​

Techniques seen and how I can use them in my own work:

​

​

​

​

​

The music used in the films plays a key part in connecting with the audience's emotions, by building atmosphere, tension, sadness, etc. This symbolises how Donnie's views and emotions are changing throughout the film.

​

​

Wes Anderson

How does Wes Anderson use colour and composition?

​

Stanley Kubrick

How does Kubrick use colour and composition?

​

Stanley Kubrick uses vivid and concentrated colours to highlight certain spots in scenes, as seen to the right. This draws the viewers eyes to different areas of the shots in a visually engaging way. He also uses a lot of centralised symmetry in his work as well as framing techniques.

​

Wes Anderson vs Stanley Kubrick

​

Both directors use the compositional technique of framing to draw the viewers eye to places within the scene to add visual engagement. Leading line is also commonly used and the use of colour is important in conveying emotions and atmosphere in both of their work.

Contact Support