READING & WRITING:
As Schroeppel explains in the final chapter of his book The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video, there is no right or wrong way to make a film. Some of the films that have been regarded as the greatest films of all time helped to push the barriers of filmmaking by introducing new and non-traditional techniques. But while the choice of the matter is entirely up to the filmmaker, that doesn’t mean they should ignore the fact that there are guidelines and proven theories to help create the best films possible for both the filmmaker and the audience. Film is meant to take people away from reality and put them in a distant world, distracted from the real one. But not following the proper techniques such as the 180-degree rule can put at risk the audience losing interest and focus in the film. Use what you know works but also be open to new ideas and comments from others. You don’t necessarily have to use their ideas but it doesn’t hurt to sometimes try them out and see where it leads you.
RESEARCH TO INFORM:
The Godfather (1972)
At 1:03 in the video we hear the Baptist priest reciting a prayer during the baptism of Michael Corleone’s Godson. What makes this a j-cut is the prayer then carries over into other shots around the city showing the corpses of the men just murdered by Corleone’s henchmen. This cut helps to symbolize Michael’s transition into the Godfather role that his father once held for both the Catholic church and his Godson but more importantly as the lead crime boss in the city after taking out the other leaders.
The Departed (2006)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRk0mSl6u_s
(Warning Spoilers Below!) At 1:24 in the clip we see Colin cleaning off his gun after shooting one of Costello’s men and leaving the crime scene, but with an l-cut we hear the playing of bagpipes begin. This bagpipe song, then carries into the shot of the paramedics arriving outside along with Colin narrating his “story” over the scene which is then revealed he’s lying to a detective about what happened. And finally the bagpipes are revealed to be from William’s funeral which was shown to be coming up by this bagpipe song played at funerals and showing Colin as being responsible for Williams death.
CREATE
Link to documentary I created on my mom’s company WubbaNub
