Because 2001: A Space Odyssey has little dialogue during the
introductory scenes, the camera angles and filming techniques are of
utmost importance. The opening of the movie is a simple black scene
followed by an image of the earth from outer space. The purpose of the
blackness is to create suspense and make the first actual image that
appears be all the more dramatic. The scene following that of earth
consists of various shots of the animals and apes that inhabited the
barren planet some time ago. These shots are mostly wide frame shots
with the focus on the group of animals rather than any one individual.
In the background of many of the shots is an expansive landscape that
allows views to see the vast emptiness before humans inhabited the
earth. As the story progresses a large black monolith appears and the
apes surround it. The shot is taken from the bottom of the monolith;
the angle roughly where the apes are standing. As one ape discovers
how to use a bone as a tool, the camera begins to focus on this
leader. Because of the strong focus on this individual ape, the
filming emphasizes his dominance and importance. As the other apes
catch on, the camera shifts back to a wide shot showing their
inclusion with the lead ape. The camera shifts back and forth between
both ape factions to show each reaction. The scene ends with iconic
shot of a bone flung into the air that transforms into a space craft.
Alex Belak
Several filming components of this movie work to emphasize key themes in 2001: A Space Odyssey. As the reading pointed out, the utilization of the editing technique "match on action" edits two key images- the bone and the spaceship- together, providing a smooth transition from one time period to another. However, this not only acts as a transition shot but also suggests one of the prominent themes of the whole film: man's tendency to turn tools (the bone) into weapons, and further hints that our implementation of knowledge into technological tools (the spacecraft) is becoming dangerous.
ReplyDeleteAfter our discussion in Monday's class, I went back and re-watched the scene in which Dave destroys HAL. Here, shallow focus is used to focus in on Dave's face, which is shot very close up, emphasizing the lack of expression or emotion over HAL's demise. This technique helps furthers the realization of the humanization of HAL, singing a children's song in the background, and the dehumanization of Dave, who appears empty and robotic.
I think Alex did a great job in her discussion of the introductory scenes. As she said, the lack of dialogue (and of image at the very beginning) forces the viewer to focus on first sound without image, and then on image without sound (aside from the sound of rambunctious apes and the music). During these scenes, the filming and editing techniques become even more influential in our interpretation of the movie.
In the Film Analysis text, Corrigan discusses various elements used to analyze a film. Among these were such things as the shot, photographic properties and editing techniques. 2001: A Space Odyssey was a great example of how a producer can use these many types of elements to intensify meaning in his or her film. For example, Kubrick used mainly slow film speed shots from a long and high perspective. By doing this, he created the idea of how immense the earth is, how much time was going by and how small the viewer feels from the wide perspective. He also uses a unique variety of shot and reverse-shots, specifically in the little dialogue there is between Dave and HAL. Instead of flipping the camera back and forth during their conversations, he usually leaves it from Dave's perspective. Obviously, this gives the viewer the Dave's point of view. However, as HAL became more humanized, the perspective occasionally shifted to that of HAL's. For example, when Dave and the other astronaut were discussing shutting HAL down, the shot was from the perspective of HAL. This gave the character even more humanized, emotional characteristics, as well as making the viewer feel for HAL more compassionately. Finally, in the famous scene when the ape's bone morphs into the spaceship, match-on-action technique is used to show how over an extremely long period of time, one tool evolved into the latter.
ReplyDeleteKubrick also uses a variety of sounds, music and space shots to create depth to his film. The lacking in normal, person-on-person dialogue, is compensated for by the intense meaning in the various sounds and songs played in many scenes. The epicness of the music creates a sense of profoundness. We hear these grand orchestral pieces during parts of the movie when astronomical evolutionary changes and advancements take place. Without these, the view would be left with a misunderstanding of what happened in the gaps.
I don't know if I did the blog right:
ReplyDeleteMise-en-scene: the use of space-how it is arranged and how the actors and objects relate within it
o 2001-lots of open space with the actors comprising relatively little of it. The actors are the main focus of the shots.
o Creation-a more personal use of space and the actors. Closer up on the actors in the shots and the camera acts to capture the actors lives. Unlike 200,1 in which the camera appears to be set up and the actors are contained within it, in Creation, the camera moves with the actors and is subject to them
o the shot: a single image you see on the screen before the camera cuts to a different image.
o 2001-most of Kubrick’s shots were done with much deliberateness. He used many metaphorical shots to link scenes together, such as the bone and the spaceship
o Creation-in many of Darwin’s dream sequences and during his sickness, shots conveyed chaos and captured Darwin’s frailty by rapidly changing
o camera usage
o 2001-Kubrick uses the camera angle to confuse the viewer. He plays with space dimensions and has many shots portrayed grandeur, like the ape with the bone smashing. 2001 has long pans across the screen and shows wide vistas, like the spaceship moving through space. Kubrick’s shots are provocative and entice the viewer to engage with the film. This happens when we see the astronauts from HAL’s point of view and when Dave is flying through the time-space light tunnel.
o Creation-most of the film’s camera angles are normal in that they are merely to portray what is going on. At times, like when Darwin is getting a water cleanse, the camera angle is much closer to fill the screen with his surprise and anxiety. This also occurs when he awakes from his nightmares.
o Sound:
o 2001-Kubrick uses sound minimally. His sound only comes into the movie when its necessary, for the spaceships or smashing of bones.
o Creation-honestly i can’t remember the use of sound but I’m guessing it was used normally
o Music:
o 2001-The music is used more in this movie than any other aspect on the list. Music facilitates scene changes and dictates action. The music in 2001 forshadows crucial parts of the movie and walks hand in hand with the story line.
o Creation-The music is used to fit the time in which this movie takes place. The music isn’t particularly intrusive like 2001 but provides clear guidelines for Darwin’s triumphs as well as his tragedies.
When we go to a movie we often don't think about the cinematic aspects of the film but in this text Corrigan challenges the reader to think more closely about each frame, shot, musical interlude, etc. in every movie because they all have some meaning.
ReplyDeleteIn 2001 as the people above has mentioned Kubrick uses a more simple filming technique. Nevertheless, it is effective. He uses more open shots in order to show the whole scene especially in the space sequences. This is important because he is trying to portray the marvel that is outer space, something the audiences of 1967 had never seen before. Even in the beginning Kubrick begins with a pan out scene of a "prehistoric" world maybe to show that this world is as big and inconceivable as outer space.
In Creation there are less open space shots because the film is more focused on the characters rather than the concepts. The characters drive the plot of Creation and that is also why there is more dialogue. In 2001 the dialogue is sparse in order to emphasize each concept and phrase said. And although there is less dialogue in 2001 I would say there is more action. It may not be action that we are used to seeing, there are no car chases are fights, but each action has more meaning such as the metamorphosis of the bone in the beginning or the death of HAL.
In 2001: A Space Odyssey camera angles/perspectives play a heavy role into how the audience interprets the action and dialogue. The opening scene places the audience in the overwhelmingly infinite darkness of space. Ordinarily, the viewer would be left with a sense of emptiness, but the accompanying music adds a sinister tone that turns the blackness of space into something of a nightmare. The screen transitions do a good job of regaining the viewer’s focus. I noticed that the scenes in which the monoliths appear the camera angle is from far away. I think that this happens in order to emphasize the sheer size of the monolith, or instead, to stress the insignificance of man. The size contrast puts into perspective the power of technology. Also, the director frequently takes shots from a distance to place the focus of the scene in the middle of the vastness of space. The music that the director employs in the scene with the space station revolving around earth establishes the surreal, almost comical, idea of man in space. Especially given the context of the time this scene is significant because at the time no one had ever even been on the moon.
ReplyDeleteIn the film Creation, Amiel uses a much closer up lens to create a more personal tone in the move. After all, it is Charles Darwin’s personal struggle. The camera angle does a fantastic job making Charles the subject of the film and making the other characters background characters, almost as if they are behind Darwin. I noticed that the color green is prevalent throughout the entire movie. This is to be expected as Darwin was observing nature. The emphasis on the color green engages the audience because the laws of nature are taking place all around Darwin throughout the movie. This is makes more of a natural transition into the provocative scene with the dying bird. As the laws of nature brutally play out all around Darwin, they begin to surround him menacingly. They are inescapable, as are his thoughts; he is in engaged in a constant unrelenting inner conflict. The camera angles and colors do a good job presenting this.
-Alex Leeds
After I read the assignments and re-watched the movie, I understand the reason why I am writing film review. There are meanings beyond the movie. This movie not only brings the happy moment to people but also demonstrates some serious issues, like environment or political issues. In the Movie 2001：A Space Odyssey, the director uses slow shot to show the time when they were in the space, especially when David sent his friend away. That part made me sad. In that fraction, we can feel that how hard it is to make decision in that situation. If David did not send his friend away, then he was not able to get in the spaceship. That part showed the perspectives of both David and the HAL. In that way, the director wants to tell us that HAL is also emotional and HAL is not just like the machine.
ReplyDeleteThere is a scene shows David wants to get in, however, HAL does not want David to get in. The director gave us a whole picture of that opposite position. In that scene, we can get the sense that technology controls the bigger part than human do because HAL controls the whole space ship. However, David just runs a small part of spaceship, which shows how the World is like recently.
When David is killing HAL, there is a children’s song, indicating the power of HAL getting lower and lower. The thought of HAL is simple at that time because HAL is singing a children song, and before HAL sings a song, HAL asks that if he can sing the song for David. The conversation here usually takes place between Dad and children.
In the end of 2001, the movie did not show the death of David, but there is a baby appeared. Director took close shot of the Baby, especially his eyes. It seems tell us that the new evolution already done.
Also the interesting part is about chimpanzee throwing bone to the space, and then the spaceship appeared, which were used to fly to Jupiter like the bone. Since the bone is used as a tool for chimpanzee, so the shape of spaceship reflects a new technology for people. I think the chimpanzee part could be the anticipation of what will happen in the space.
In Creation, there are less full shot about the movie, but there are a lot of close shot about Darwin’s facial express, in that way audience will understand Darwin’s emotion better. We can watch Creation as a story, because there is a coherent plot in the movie. Director uses flashback about Darwin’s memory about his daughter. In that way, audience will understand the importance of his daughter. Basically, that movie shows Darwin’s inner movement.
In 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick immediately sets the "frame" of the film by emphasizing the overwhelming vastness of space.
ReplyDeleteDramatic music, which almost fills out the emptiness of the camera, plays us into an image--a long, landscape shot--of a sunrise.
The image remains long while we gaze upon the apes, but the camera does move in every so often to showcase the reds of their eyes. Because the apes are clearly actors in-costume, their eyes are decidedly--and creepily--human.
In space, Kubrick frequently has the camera pan over technology-space ships, monitors, and the like--which are all of a gleaming grey or white. The technology is emphasized because it is almost shining throughout the film, always there, always prominent.
In his transitions, Kubrick has one object flow into the next, like the tossed-up bone turning into a space ship.
Whereas Kubrick emphasizes vast spaces, however, the movie "Creation" focuses internally, as is expected from a film that analyzes individual characters more than the collective human race. More attention is paid to soft browns and neutrals--the tweed of Darwin's coat, example--and the emotions of characters.
I agree with Andrea that when we go to the movies we often do not think about nor appreciate the cinematography. We are too often fixated on special effects and big actions scenes to take a moment to evaluate some of the more simple stylistic tools that dramatize the movie and make it enjoyable. In 2001: Space Odyssey there were no big action scenes that distracted us and as a result we were able to observe and note some of these cinematic aspects. In 2001, the shots were predominantly wide-angle shots that displayed vast amounts of both foreground and background. In these shots, people take up a relatively small amount of the screen possibly trying to convey that in the over all scheme of things, the human race is only a small piece of the puzzle that makes up our universe. In contrast, the shots in Creation were more directly focused on individual and facial expressions perhaps insinuating that there is more of a focus on the individual and humanity in our world.
ReplyDeleteChasen Bender
--The Shot: As in 2001, the first shot is black adding to the suspense of the opening shot. Most other shots in the film consist are wide frame shots containing mostly space and little actors. In Creation, the scenes were more filled with characters and organisms, and the camera is one with the characters.
ReplyDelete--The Edited Image: 2001, the creator did not really link different scenes. The linkage was rather an abrupt switch from one time period to another. In Creation, scenes are more continuous despite the dream sequences.
--Sound: In 2001, the sound was also very abrupt. It would alternate between silence, a breathing sound, and music. In Creation, the peoples voices, the music, and all other animal sounds were all very fluid, making the movie more watchable.
--Music: In 2001, the music was epic, my favorite part of the movie. It really added to the overall tone of the movie. In Creation, the music had a similar effect but because the movie was entertaining, it was less noticeable and more of a background noise rather than the focal point.
--Word Choice: In 2001, the word choice of the humans was intentionally meant to be made with the time period. Being created over 50 years ago, the writers had to create language in which would be appropriate in the future. This was obvious. In Creation, word choice was also important because it was somewhat the opposite as 2001, in that it is a newer movie which is set in the past.
--Word Repetition: I don’t remember repetition in either film, except when Huxsley(?) said how he wanted to kill God. In this case it was used for obvious emphasis.
--Significant Places/Settings: In Creation, the scene where Darwin is with his children in the forest and they witness a rabbit killed by a fox.
This article definitely enhanced my understanding of the movie, 2001: Space Odyssey.
ReplyDeleteThe music: This was by far the most memorable part of the movie 2001. If it wasn't incorporated into the film, the dramatization would not have been effective. In Creation, I didn't notice music too much.
The Word Choice: Because in 2001 there was limited talking to begin with it was important for the word choice to correspond with the time. In creation it was the same thing, just the opposite time frame.
Setting: In 2001 because the movie is in 4 parts, the setting is crucial. In creation the house where the daughter dies becomes a significant place.
The Shot: In creation, most of the scenes were filled with objects and people in the background whereas in 2001, it was mostly just one or two people with not much going on elsewhere.
I also found that reading this article helped me appreciate and better understand 2001: A Space Odyssey. When I watched it before, I was bored as the camera fixated on a certain object or scene and the long pauses were somewhat meaningless to me. From our discussion in class and reading this article, I now know that this is not the case. The wide shots of the camera are meant to emphasize the vastness of space. The simplicity of some scenes is meant to focus you more intensely on the one or two people in the scene. The sparse dialogue, something that seemed odd to me at first, makes you appreciate each word that is being said more. I think that the use of wide shots and the sparse dialogue is also meant to showcase how technology is becoming more important than human interaction in this movie. The long spaces without dialogue make you want for human interaction.
ReplyDeleteAll of these aspects are much different than what is seen in Creation. In this movie, closer shots are used in order to emphasize the human emotions and struggles that are taking place. Dialogue is more frequent although there are periods without dialogue that center on nature. I think that this shows competition and interaction between humanity and science in this movie.
After reading Corrigan's "A Short Guide to Writing about a Film", it helped me to understand 2001: Space Odyssey a lot better. For instance, things that I thought were a bit strange in the film while watching, I now realize made the film that much more intriguing.
ReplyDeleteMusic: The music was one of the first things that I noticed when watching the movie. Because as a whole there wasn't a lot of action in the movie, I realized that in 2001 the music added a lot more excitement to the film. In Creation, more things were going on and the music wasn't as loud or bring very much attention to itself.
Shot: 2001 was filmed in what I felt were many different angles. Creation on the other was more straightforward, and because there weren't as many different shots it seemed easier to follow.
Word choice/repetition: In 2001 there wasn't very much dialogue therefore the word choice definitely stands out--especially if there was any repetition (and I didn't notice any.) In Creation there was more word choice and more repetition, for instance the repetition of calling out Annie's name.
Corrigan pointed out elements of film that I never thought about as being such influential pieces of the movies tone. The director has the ability to change our perception of each scene simply based on the perspective and style of the shot, transitions, sequences, setting and even the type of music used.
ReplyDelete2001:
The shot→ In 2001, I noticed how the director used perspective to give the monolith a very supreme essence, characterized through the low angle of filming the monolith with the sky and the moon positioned directly above it. The monolith, being the physical representation of knowledge is always portrayed in a grand scale. For example the scene in the metaphysical bedroom the black slab contrasts the white room with a presence that is overwhelming. One shot that depicted some elements from Corrigan’s article was the bedroom shot from the side that depicted the grand monolith standing in the right side of the shot with the doctor in bed on the left side, looking comparatively small and frail in comparison to the slab. This side angle puts the two “characters” in contrast.
Music→ The Music throughout 2001 was also a vital component to set the mood for the scene because the dialogue was limited. 2001 utilizes grand symphonies and overwhelming audio to add a sense of grandeur, tension, or confusion to space.
Setting→ the setting is broken into 4 distinct phases that correlate to the progression of mankind.
Creation:
The shot→ The director assumed the perspective of an observer who is present with Darwin. This gives the viewer a sense of personal relation in the situation. The director also focuses on faces to emphasize the emotion and struggle Darwin and his family faces.
The Edited Image→ the director also uses edited transitions to show Darwins struggle with the memories of his dead daughter.
Setting→ most of the movie is set with Darwin at home, showing the clash between his studies and his personal life.
After my first viewing of 2001: A Space Odyssey, I really enjoyed it. Now after reading the piece A Short Guide To Writing About FIlm by Timothy Corrigan, I also see the film as a piece of art. Looking back, I really appreciate the wide angle shots that were used throughout the movie. The way in which Kubrick shot the scenes of space and of the earth really makes the viewer feel almost insignificant in comparison. I think it is pretty obvious that Kubrick picked his shots carefully. Every frame has something important to the storyline. There was never anything in the background to distract the audience either. This movie has definitely made its way into my top ten.
ReplyDeleteZoya Mufti
ReplyDeleteReading Corrigan’s article really helped me comprehend 2001: Space Odyssey more then I did before. There were multiple things that I noticed happening while I watched the movie but I could not understand the significance until I read this article. As many people have noted, the music was used in a way that was deeper then just a pretty noise in the background. In 2001 music was used to add more emotions to scenes that were full of empty scenery. Another technique the director used which I noticed was a certain use of perspectives. The scenes with the monolith were filmed in such a way to create a feeling of supremacy around the object. With the new view I have of the film I would like enjoy watching it again to be able to recognize the other techniques used by the director.