American Film

Question 1

What are the two core studies for the American Film topic

Answer 1

Ideology and Spectatorship

Question 2

Captain fantastic- Year and Director

Answer 2

2016- Matt Ross

Question 3

La La Land- Year and Director

Answer 3

2016- Damien Chazelle

Question 4

Characteristics of Independent film

Answer 4

Independent films are often designed to make you think about certain subjects or issues, and feature challenging storylines that are more realistic and less
escapist than in studio films.

Question 5

Characteristics of Studio/Hollywood film

Answer 5

Mainstream films with big budgets made by major Hollywood studios. Studio films have high
production values and star actors. Also includes obvious characters, usually stereotypical

Question 6

Opening scene- Captain Fantastic- Cinematography

Answer 6

-Begins in media-res. Establishing shot of nature. Sets the naturalistic theme of film.
-We view the deer through leaves and trees, the audience are the predator. Who’s POV are we seeing this through. Enigma.
-We see close ups of each family member, introduction with community and family blond.
-Ben’s hand pull down to reveal the film title. Engima, is he CF?

Question 7

Opening scene- Captain Fantastic- Sound

Answer 7

-Hear nature and wind, ambient sound. Sound bridge following credits.
-Hear scream of pain from deer, sympathy and confusion. No dialogue or music, don’t know how to feel.

Question 8

Opening scene- Captain Fantastic- Editing

Answer 8

-Long shots, feeling of calm with peace and nature.
-Shots quicken during attack. Jump cut when Bo jumps on deer.
-Returns to long shots, normality of animal murder for the family.

Question 9

Opening scene- Captain Fantastic- Mise-en-scene

Answer 9

-Mud covering their faces, lack of identity and hard to relate to characters as barrier created. Enigma.
-Blood of animal and organ- disgust?
-Christianity, water/blood on head symbolising baptism, this is their religion.
-All emerge from woods in nature-like clothing, tribal and alternative.

Question 10

Captain Fantastic scene analysis- Noam Chomsky day.

Answer 10

-Celebrating his birthday like a national holiday- alternative celebrations of our society. They idolise him.
-Sound- ‘Uncle Noam’ they feel personally close to him+ his values.
-Humanitarian+ human rights.
-Family excited about things we perceive as ‘normal’. Squirty cream and cake.
-Dancing and singing- community and celebration.
-Almost parallel scene to end(funeral).
-Family take up full frame surrounded by nature (bar Rellian).
-Camera tilts down on Ben when Rellian confronts him to display how they believe no one is in charge.

Question 11

Closing- Captain Fantastic- Cinematography

Answer 11

-Draws attention to closeness’s of family.
-Contrast in light to earlier in film, bright yellow filter, dream like.
-Follows girl running through field. Peace and nature.

Question 12

Closing- Captain Fantastic- Sound

Answer 12

-Sound of nature returns
-Silence when all sat at table. Similar to opening Scene- cycle.
-Return of ambient sounds of pens and nature.

Question 13

Closing scene- Captain Fantastic- Editing

Answer 13

-Long shot of Rellian and Ben, rebuilt connection- happy ending.
-Close up of Ben’s face, content and proud.
-Continuity through lack of editing during eating at table.

Question 14

Closing scene- Captain Fantastic- Mise-en-scene

Answer 14

-House+ bus, makeshift and organic lifestyle remains. DIY and homemade.
-Compromised ending.
-Outfits still alternative although all in school.

Question 15

Captain Fantastic- Ideologies

Answer 15

-Ben lectures his children on the dangers of Capitalism (Jack and Harper’s family).
-Ben is Liberal left and alternative.

Question 16

Opening scene- La La land- Cinematography

Answer 16

-The camera acts as an additional performer during the dance sequence. When the woman from the car is joined by other dancers, the camera glides in front of them.
-Camera appears to anticipate the dancers next move.
-Camera to the beat.

Question 17

Opening scene- La La land- Sound

Answer 17

-Diegetic sound shifts into diegetic.
-Car horns and car radios, reality.
-Lyrics refer to characters that have left behind the safety of their ‘normal’ lives for a shot in LA.
-Car horns break up fantasy and return us back to reality.

Question 18

Opening scene- La La land- Editing

Answer 18

-Editing made to look like one continuous take, escapism and keeping us in the sequence. Maintains flow.

Question 19

Opening scene- La La land- Mise-en-scene

Answer 19

-Gridlock traffic could signify that the route to their dreams is slow paced. Reality of LA.
-Cloggy freeway and smoky landscape present the reality of heavily populated LA.
-High key lighting and primary colours romanticise the city. Vibrant and exciting place to be.
-Costumes are bright yet realistic, fantasy merging with reality.
-Diversity, ethnicity and gender- multicultural LA.

Question 20

SPRING pool party- La La land

Answer 20

-High-key lighting and bright colours. Natural lighting.
-Blue sky and trees.
-Costume- all bright, Mia stands out in her dress.
-Recognisable music for viewers- Take on me, I Ran and Tainted Love. Non-diegetic to diegetic.
-Pans down to party like a story book.
-Close up of Mia when she sees Seb, beginning of romance.
-Reaction shot/shot reverse shot of Mia and Seb before and during I Ran. Insulting each other.
-Guy, full of himself and dull, typical corporate guy.
-Connection between Mia and Seb is built through their faces.

Question 22

Fools who dream- La La land

Answer 22

-Room is bright and comfortable in contrast to earlier auditions.
-Colours are not bright and clashing.
-A musical in a musical- speaking to singing.
-Background fades out into blackness- in her head.
-Spot light, foreshadows later achievement.
-Lyrics ‘fools who dream’, people chasing dreams in LA often told they are foolish.
-Background remains dark, so we are immersed fully into the song.
-Song climaxes and performance becomes stronger.
-Room fades back in after song ends.