Scene Deconstruction

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers- The Host of the Eldar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sML-AgbL2RE&feature=related

             I think the theme of this movie is courage and friendship. The friendship theme is exemplified toward the beginning of the scene, when Aragorn was getting ready to go into battle against the orcs, he had a conversation with Legolas and Gimli.  In the conversation, they told Aragorn that they were all in this together and that they would be going into battle with him. The themes are didactic because the director makes it obvious as to what his intentional meanings are through the characters actions and words.  

The scene I chose to critique was a scene from the movie, Lord of the Rings, the Two Towers. The scene is where Aragorn and his allies are getting ready to go into battle with the Orcs. This scene illustrates the theme of courage and friendship. Two of the topics that help to reinforce these themes are movement and space.

                Space is used several times throughout the movie representing both of the themes mentioned above. The director used space toward the beginning of the scene when Aragorn approaches a scared young boy holding a sword as they were getting ready for the battle.  Aragorn moves closer to the boy and tells him that “there is always hope.”  This reduction of space illustrates the bond between Aragorn and the boy.  Space was also used when Aragorn was preparing for the battle and Legolas shows up along with Gimli. At first, they were sort of separated by space, but once Legolas says that they would help fight, the space between them decreased. This showed how their friendship grew at that moment.

                In addition, movement is used several times throughout the movie representing both of the themes. When Aragorn went over talk to the young boy, he put his hand on the boys shoulder and got eye level with him, showing him compassion and to tell him that he won’t be alone during this war and that there is always hope, trying to encourage him.  Another time , movement was used when Aragorn was talking with Leoglas and Gimli. After Legolas and Gimli told Aragorn that they would help fight in this war, Legolas put his hand on Aragorn’s shoulder representing their friendship and how they were all in this together.  Another use of movement was when the ally elves came to help in the fight. They were all in step with each other and moved sharp and swiftly. This showed how much courage they had.  This use of movement is didactic as the audience can see that Legolas is giving Aragorn his support in the coming battle.  There is also tension and release in this scene.  Aragorn exhibits tension as he prepares for battle, strapping on his weapons, etc.  As Legolas approaches and says he was “wrong to despair” and touches Aragorn’s shoulder, the tension is released as Aragorn knows he has his support in the battle.

Animation Deconstruction

Durarara 

Shizuo Heiwajima

     

Izaya Orihara

For this blog I decided to use two characters from the anime, Durarara. The two I chose are two of the main characters, Shizuo Heiwajima and Izaya Orihara. These two characters are very different from each other. Shizuo is considered one of the heroes in the series and is usually shown in light places, but sometimes they put him semi in the shadows which symbolizes that he is sometimes treated like as an outcast and everyone is afraid of his super strength. He is actions are very misunderstood. He actually really just wants to get rid of Izaya. Izaya is considered the bad guy in this series. He hides in the shadows a lot of the time spying on people. He sometimes is shown in the light which gives the audience the feeling that he is actually a good guy. This light gives him the ability to trick people, which is what the character is known for. He makes others feel he is just like them, and then he uses their own emotions against them to gain what he wants. Even though their lighting symbolisms are different their use of shadows and light are the same. They are always either in the shadows or in the light.

                Another thing that is similar and different with these characters is the colors. For Shizuo, they use a mixture of dark and light colors. They use brightness in his blond hair, blue glasses, and his white shirt. They also use black vest and pants. This shows the mixed emotions the audience may receive from this character. Is he a good guy or is he really a bad guy?  For Izaya, they use all dark colors. They use black for his hair, jacket, shirt, pants, and shoes. They use these colors to symbolize evil and mysterious this character really is.

                The hues of these two characters are very different. Shziuo’s facial color gives off more of a warmer hue to signify that he is in fact a good guy. Whereas Izaya’s facial color gives off more of a colder hue signifying that he is in fact a bad guy.    

Trip (in class project)

Storyboard Imitation

Storyboard:

The director followed the rule of thirds in the first cut scene. The scene shows a young adult sitting in the woods up against a tree, reading a book. The cut has the character off to the right side of the screen instead of directly head on to give the audience a feel of openness. To get this feel he used the technique called the rule of thirds. In cut 2, the director switched from using the rule of thirds to using the 30% rule. In the transition from cut 1 and 2, the director went from a wide screen shot to a close up of the character. This gave the audience a feeling of excitement because the expression on his face was that of excitement and joy at what he just heard. The director also used the rules of third in cut 3 of the scene. Starting out the scene, the camera pans up some to show another character enter on a wagon drawn by a horse, but we only see the back of him. This camera angle and technique gives the audience another sense of openness and as well as the curiosity of whom this man is and where he is going. This then leads us to the 4th cut in the scene which does not use any of the rules. This scene has the character we don’t know yet, dead center surrounded by trees and is still in the dark. The camera angle now shows us the front side of the wagon and man. The 5^th cut in this scene is a cut of the young man running downhill through the woods. This cut also did not use any of the rules. They had their camera on a dolly and followed from a side shot while the character was running. This gave the audience a since of rush/urgency, as if they were that character and also wonderment as to where he was heading so fast. In conclusion the director broke the 180 degree rule, but followed the rules of thirds and a little bit of the 30 rule.

Durarara stick animation

Song Deconstruction

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Versions:

Isreal "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DKWlrA24k&ob=av2e
                http://www.scribd.com/twilight_2011/d/81310521-Listening-Framework-2#

Wizard of Oz (Judy Garland): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U016JWYUDdQ&feature=related
                http://www.scribd.com/twilight_2011/d/81310443-Listening-Framework

The song’s I’ve chosen are two versions of “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” The first version was recorded by Isreal ‘IZ’ Kamakawiwo’ole in 1993. The second version was sung by Judy Garland in 1939, for the movie “Wizard of Oz.”

Both versions of the song share the emotion of hope. They both describe, through the vocals, a place where there are no worries, troubles, or problems; a place full of beauty and peace where dreams can come true. In addition, the width is simplistic, with no stereo panning left and right.

There are far more differences then similarities in these two versions of the song. All though both songs use the same melody, the tempo in IZ version is more medium, while the Garland version is slow. This adds to the groove of the songs. IZ’s version is poppy, fun, and light. In contrast to Garland’s version which is soulful, melancholy, and wistful. The source of the rhythm is also a reflection of the groove. A ukulele is the source of the rhythm in IZ’s version. A ukulele has a happier, peppier sound than the bell used as the source of the rhythm in Garland’s version. A bell has a more sad quality to its tone.  

Another difference is the instrumentation. A ukulele is the only instrument used in IZ’s version. The instrumentation in Garland’s version is more complex. Bells, strings, and horn(s) drive the song. The structure and organization of IZ’s version begins with an intro followed by two verses, a chorus, a third verse, the chorus, verse four, and the finale. The pattern and the choice of lyrics show the hopefulness of the song. This hopefulness is maintained throughout the song. The structure and organization of Garland’s version begins with the verse followed by another verse, chorus, a third verse, a woodwind solo, and the finale. The song begins with a yearning feeling to both the vocals and the music. As the song progresses, the emotion in the song becomes more hopeful. Both songs use similar lyrics, but IZ’s version mixes up the verses.

Balance is also different in each versions of the song. In IZ’s version the height is mid-high to high frequency which reflects the hopeful feeling of the song. In Garland’s version, there is a blend of high and low frequency, both vocally and instrumentally. The horn(s) are low frequency and show yearning, while the woodwinds are higher and show hopefulness.  The depth in IZ’s version is simple and just uses his voice and the ukulele, which is just like the emotion in the song- simple. The depth in Garland’s version is more complex with layers of instruments throughout the song.

The version I prefer is IZ’s version.  I like the island feel and the simplistic quality of using just one voice and one instrument. I like the sound of the ukulele and the groove of the song.  

Reflections on Sound Design

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB43-9rtThk (beginning - 1:12)

file:///C:/Users/Shelby/Desktop/LOTR%20script.pdf

In the beginning of the scene, they use a lot of casual sounds, like having the birds chirping throughout the scene. They use the sound to give off a sense of calmness. Gestalt principal was another sound element they used while developing this scene. The use of stopping the song in the background when Frodo and Gandalf are just staring at each other for 10 seconds creates tension. We, the audience start to feel the tension between the two and not knowing if they are truly mad at each other. How the music starts back up quietly when they start to laugh, gives the audience, the feeling that they were just joking with each other and that they are friends, who are meeting for the first time in a long time. When they hug the song gets louder and more swaying like which makes the audience become more comfortable with the scene and more calmed.  The song sort of demonstrates what is probably going on inside their minds, a since of ease. This pretty much is the Shire, where they are at, is portrayed. The Shire is a calm peaceful place. Anyone who goes there will get a since of belonging and relaxation. Which this song and the birds chirping gives the audience a sense of.