Composition

[Gbabymogul]

Since I'm doing a spring cleaning on my computer here, i thought i'd show some examples of composition. Just a few ones i'm filing, just for fun. The more extensive file is on my other comp ;)


Antonioni's "L'Eclisse"


so many artistic principals at work here, especially the use of perspective and gradations to focus the audiences attention.

love how he framed this one, and used the dynamism of the frame with Monica, and water mist creating another layer - it also fits the story amazingly well (thematically)

notice the blond hair dark dress, brown hair white shirt. Use of contrast, and also Antonioni was a fan of texture (tree, ex.), i think ;) I haven't seen all his films.

Henri-Georges Clouzot's "Quai Des Ofevres"

This film was a wonderful surprise, and this is a still of a particularly good reason -> not only does he use all the tools of a director but there's multiple themes and story playing out gracefully.

[Gbabymogul]

A few more

Stanley's

I dig this film more for his consumate directors touch than the material itself, but this scene stood out to me as pretty fine - i read how Stanley had them do this one a lot and had them physically change positions until he got their body positions perfectly right, almost like telling the story, even without dialogue. He was also very specific with the paintings in the film. Wonderful art direction.


And one that i want to try and emulate in an upcoming short film set in Tokugawa era Japan (yes, ambitious, i know)
"Vidocq"


and from one of my fav painters, F. E. Church Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives 1870


That's one of the things i'm looking forward to with RED; digital painting possibilities. Any pro colorists/fxperts want to volunteer ?haha ;p

[Tom Lowe]

When it comes to composition, Wong Kar Wai is the current master, IMO. In the Mood for Love and 2046 are unmitigated masterpieces. It will be interesting to see Wong's first picture shot in America, My Blueberry Nights, which will be in competition at Cannes.

[Gbabymogul]

When it comes to composition, Wong Kar Wai is the current master, IMO. In the Mood for Love and 2046 are unmitigated masterpieces. It will be interesting to see Wong's first picture shot in America, My Blueberry Nights, which will be in competition at Cannes.

Very funny coincidink. WKW is my favorite director, so I thought i'd show something else for a change :)
Undoubtedly, he is a master - you could frame stills from his movie so easily. I'm still hoping he gets around to The Lady From Shanghai (with either Rachel Weisz, or less likely Nicole or Naomi). I can't wait to see his first full American feature.

[Tom Lowe]

I think he has a busy schedule over the next couple of years. Instead of Shanghai, I heard he will be shooting a "lesbian romance story set in high school" in Taiwan... Count me in!

[David Mullen ASC]

I'm a big fan of Kurosawa's widescreen deep-focus compositions using long lenses:

[Gbabymogul]

Love Kurosawa.

I remember I introduced my Dad to foreign films with "Ran", which he loved. Some of my fondest memories are the delight at us catching a new (for us) Kurosawa flick. I only wished I could have shared with him some of my favorite Kurosawa films (that have come out on DVD) before he passed away.

Btw, Norfolk is another fav for compositions of mine. Not to be a kiss ass, but a lot of it shares the same sense of...grace?...I don't know the proper term.

My favorite compositions are ones that are both evocative, but leave some room for contemplation. IMO, it's one of the hardest things to accomplish with subtlety.

I don't know how Kurosawa accomplished it so consistently. I would still like to get "Drunken Angel" out in a Criterion DVD

[Poi Boy]

deep focus, how videoish ! lol
-A

[David Mullen ASC]

Love Kurosawa.
Btw, Norfolk is another fav for compositions of mine.

Thanks -- here are some random frame grabs from the DVD... I was sort of inspired by John Ford movies and Andrew Wyeth landscape paintings.

[Gbabymogul]

Lovely.

I can see the Ford inspiration. None of the frame is wasted. I was watching the Searchers the other day, and every time I see that porch shot at the beginning and the end of the movie, it reminds of the end to a great score of music - all the elements amplified to create resonance.

I wish more directors would push the envelope compositionally, but I suppose there are market conditions to think of. Maybe the skill set for deep focus composition/traditional art/production design/sets has been replaced by more exigent concerns? like attention deficit disorder audiences (kidding ;))
Whatever the reason, when I see great composition that fits thematically and aesthetically with the greater pic; it's refreshing.