Moving Image Part 3- THE WORK OF DIRECTOR CHRIS CUNNINGHAM

1) How did Bjork and Chris collaborate on the All is full of love video?

Bjork and Chris Cunningham had mutual friends in London and they suggested to Bjork to cooperate with Chris as they thought he was a genius in what he does. Bjork sent the track to Chris who loved it and decided about this collaboration. Bjork wrote the song and came up with the clear idea of what she wanted. Her unusual vision was a mini film, kept in white and hard surface which would describe heaven and involve ivory characters who makes love and melt into each other. Chris on the other hand obsessed about engineer and robots since he was kid. Bjorks idea gave him the opportunity to fulfil his vision. Bjork didn’t like first version of the video but after a few weeks Chris came back with the new sample. He brought it to another level which was exactly what Bjork was looking for.    

 

2) What techniques were used on the portishead video to create the unusual slow motion effects.? Research this.

It was very hard to find exact technigues used in the Portishead. The video was shot under surface in the tank full of water. The underwater effect created distorted faces and specific mood. The floating person is presented in slow motion.

3) What other music video directors have gone on to direct feature films? Name two and the feature films they have made.

Marc Webb- he directed music video for Sanatana, Anastacia, Fergie, Pussycat Dolls feat Timbaland, P. Daddy, Maroon, Nelly and film such like ,,The Amazing Spider-Man’’.

Michael Benjamin Bay- he directed music video for Tina Turner before he started a career in film director for: ,,Armagedon”, ,,Transformers”, ,,Pearl Harbor’’.

 4) Which famous sci - fi film did Chris Cunningham work on before he became a director?

Before Chris Cunningham became a director he worked on the famous sci-fi film with Stanley Kubrick in the 1990s. The film was called ,,A.I’’ (Artificial Intelligence) and later was completed by S. Spielberg. Chris spent a year working on the film before leaving to pursue his career as a director.   

5) What makes his work different or original compared to other similar directors?

Chris Cunningham work is different and original compared to the other directors. It starts with a right approach to the client and idea. However he turned down many offers in the past which couldn’t have given him the opportunity to express his own vision. He always tries to create something new which hasn’t been done before. He is very passionate about his work and constantly comes up with ambitious idea. Each of his design is unlike the previous one. In his creation we can see scary, surreal and a dark side (Aphex twins video) but also clean and beautiful pieces (Bjork ,,All is full of love”). 

Moving Image Part 2- CINEMATOGRAPHY

 1) What is the role of the cinematographer in film making?

The cinematographer role is more than an artist, it is rather a ‘visual master’ during film making. He needs to understand the story and find those illusive images to tell it. He also needs to understand the subject matter and add to the obvious which involves language far more complex than words. He tells people where to look. He is required a good knowledge of photography and in charge of lighting, composition, overall visual presentation and movement. The cinematographer’s role is to connect with the audience and make them think how he wants them to think. Without him the film will not happen...

 2) Why did director Roman Polanski insist on using hand held camera in the film Chinatown?

Roman Polanski insisted in using hand held camera to achieve a very intimate and spontaneous behaviour from the actors. One of the examples from the film ‘’Chinatown’’ is when the scene takes place in the bathroom and involves two people. The camera which is close to the actors could have been intimidating. That technique is supposed to encourage people involved in the film to act naturally but also to engage with the viewer.

 3) Name two films which use colour in a very symbolic way, and describe what they suggest.

,,Sin City’’ –This film was initially shot in full colour and it was converted to black-and-white. Apart from some certain subjects which were colourised ie blue eyes and clothing; red blood, dress, lips; golden or green eyes. Also in post-production the contrast of the film  was decreased to clearly separate  blacks and whites. All the techniques were used to make the film appear more like the original comic.

,,Days of Heaven” - most of the movie was filmed during the early morning or late evening right before the sun had set, during what became known as "magic hour", creating a backlight. This was done to achieve a magic quality in the visual presentation and structure of the film.

 4) In the film Raging Bull why was the fight scene filmed at different speeds?

The fight in the film ,,Raging Bull’’ was filmed at different speed to control feeling of the viewer. It changes from 24 fps up to 48 fps. The actual time of the fight is 24fps. It leaves out the parts ie when boxers are not fighting, the action is slower and the close up gives more dramatic and intimate expression. It helps to keep the attention of the audience.

5) Who is the cinematographer for the film Apocalypse Now, and what is his philosophy?

The cinematographer of the ,,Apocalypse Now’’ is Vittorio Storaro. His work methodology is like poetry and he uses light and colour to express himself. To present his vision and meaning he uses different kind of lights: sharp, soft, warm, cold, artificial, natural.

See “Visions Of Light, The Art Of Cinematography” Arnold Glassman

Moving Image Part 1 -THE WORK OF SAM TAYLOR WOOD

1) List two specific key relationships between Sam Taylor Wood's photography and film work?

Sam Taylor Wood’s work has a huge element of her in it. It includes the thoughts how she sees the world. Self Portrait as a Tree 2000 was made during the period when she was going through her chemotherapy treatment. At first she didn’t recognised the meaning of this picture. Later on she realised she had captured the way she was feeling. Sam’s work is strongly affiliated with her life and reflects her thoughts and feeling which make it autobiographical.

2) How does the use of multi-screen installation in her work reflect narrative?

Sam Taylor Wood uses multi-screen installation to reflect her vision but more importantly create high emotion and decadence for the viewer. It also might confuse the viewer who is  part of the environment. For instance in a piece ‘Travesty of Mockery’ (1995) the audience is situated in the middle of arguments between two people which may feel claustrophobic. The narrative usually is unfinished which encourages us to think creatively  and make our own story.

3) What other photographers use film as an integral part of their work. List two with examples?

Bill Viola is a contemporary video artist. His artistic expression depends on electronic, sound, image technology and are distinguished by their precision and direct simplicity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJQmV8aPNao

Andy Warhol was an American artist who was a leading figure in the visual art. He used many forms of media including hand drawing, printmaking, photography, silk screening, sculpture, film and music. One of his pieces, the 35-minute film ,,Blow Job’’ is one continuous shot of the face of DeVeren Bookwalter  supposedly receiving oral sex from the filmmaker. The camera never goes down to see this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBI2y-QlnHo

4) Research three other Video artists and explain their working philosophy

Bill Viola

His works focus on human experiences like birth, death and aspects of consciousness. His videos strongly communicates with the audience and allows them to experience them directly but also in a personal way.

Matthew Barney

An American artist who works in sculpture, photography, drawing and film.  His purpose is not to produce works of art, but to build a new arts culture by exploring and exceeding new boundaries and mixing art with philosophy, psychology and fetish. The ,,The Cremaster Cycle” is the perfect mixture of these elements.

Gary Hill

An American video artist who internationally exhibited installations and performance art which includes innovative language. Hill's work thoroughly exploits the capacity of video to offer complex nonlinear narratives that encourage active engagement on the part of the viewer.

5) Show an example of a specific gallery space or a site specific location where a video artist or film maker has created work specifically for that space and been influenced by it

Matthew Barney has created this specific gallery space in the piece called ,,the Cremaster cycle’’. The exhibition took place in 5 different locations which eventually would come together as one body. Once the locations were selected Matthew started to write the stories. Most of the images and characters where created and influenced by available methodologies that exist in these places. Other characters come from Matthews own narrative. The way he works is the way he absorbs thing on a daily basis. The location and the entire team completed the project.

The Genius of Photography- Part 6 ,,Snap Judgements"

1) How many photographs are taken in a year?

Nowadays most people own their own camera, whether that is a phone camera, compact camera, SLR or a camera built into any other device. Photography is the easiest, fastest and most common way of recording our life. 80 billion photographs are taken every year.

2) What is Gregory Crewdsons modus operandi?

Gregory Crewdsons modus operandi (method of operation) is a set up of object and people to create this perfect image (6 exposures are taken and merged together digitally to achieve the final outcome). There are many people involved in that operation and the entire scenery looks like the production of a film. Gregory himself doesn’t even press the button to take a picture. He is very much interested in just the picture he wants to create and for that he needs to use a camera.

3) Which prints command the highest price & what are they called?

The highest price prints are usually the ones that were made by a photographer himself, closest to the time the picture was actually taken. They are very often old and a little bit destroyed but they are original and authentic. These pictures are known as ‘’vintage prints’’.

4) What is a Fake photograph? Give an example and explain how & why it is fake.

A Fake photograph is a photograph reprinted from the negative by someone else other than the photographer who took the image. Very often the Fake photo is printed in a vintage style however the market value is lower than the original vintage print.

The above photograph by Ansel Adams was taken and the negative made in the 1920s. It was reprinted in the 1940s however the vintage print was done in 1927.The monetary value of the vintage print to the copy print is 2/3 less. Also the vintage image has darker mountains.

5) Who is Li Zhensheng and what is he famous for?

Li Zhensheng is a Chinese photographer. He was a Red Army news soldier, a photojournalist who in the 1960s and the early 1970s found himself covering the Cultural Revolution. He secretly photographed events which took place during that time. The first exhibition with this photo-reportage was opened in America. They are still forbidden for viewing in China.

6) What is the photographers “holy of holies”?

,,Holy of holies’’ is the most prestigious photographic agency in the world and it is called Magnum. The agency is run by members who are also the photographers.

7) How does Ben Lewis see Jeff Walls photography?

Ben Lewis says that Jeff Wall didn’t re-invent photography. He took photography back to 19^th century to painting where everything is created. The people, the light, everything is kind of constructed for meaning. He includes much contemporary and theoretical concerns ie gender or racial stereotype. 

8) Which famous photograph was taken by “Frank Mustard”?

The Famous photograph taken by Frank Mustard is called ‘’The river scene, France’’. This photograph is an example of 19^th century photographic manipulation. People on this photo were posing, the sky was created artificial and it was added. He also introduced white clouds and leaves on the tree. Originally it was believed that the photo was taken by Camille Silvy.