Riley Scott on Directing P.2

Summarize three key things that are interesting about Ridley's advice on directing. What were the biggest challenges he found to being a director?

 He stresses the importance of doing a few good takes of one scene. He claims that jokes would get old and performance would be weakened if one shot is done too many times, even if it means that it is shot from a different angle or framing. Scott likes to be the operator instead of simply standing there and calling for action. He enjoys working with the actor on a personal level according to what he sees on screen. Start by lighting naturally, he says. Always start with what would be available as natural light, and add to it as necessary. His strategy in working on commercials to build up money to create a feature film worked. With his team of directors, he was able to build the company to be successful as it is today.

Riley Scott on Directing P.1

Summarize three key things that are interesting about Ridley's early career. What does he have to say about storyboarding?

Ridley's career in commercials started during his university days. There, he learned the distinct roles of a director and a producer and how they collaborate in order to create a project. His career in making commercials led him to pursue this kind of film for a while until he was in his 40s where he finally started working with real actors. The 18 years of training he had in the industry allowed him to have more experience but it also posed as an additional difficulty. During these years, he learned to be more comfortable with actors and how to direct them in order to create the desired vision. He claims the importance of shooting during the first take because the actors are most likely to deliver exactly what was asked of them.

Innovations of the New Wave P.2

What were some key stylistic innovations of the French New Wave? How did it change shooting?

The new wave also incorporated new styles of camera movement. They rejected the static camera, panning quickly, and shooting a scene handheld. This was also a result of new technological innovations that were available at the time. The new wave was not just about rejecting the old modes of cinema. It was about experimenting beyond the strict rules to see what techniques enhances the story. In this, it did not matter whether or not the scenes seemed realistic or continuous as long as the story was communicated effectively. One interesting technique used in the New Wave was changing the framing without zooming or cutting. They were free to incorporate as many films as they desired in one shot.

Innovation of the New Wave

What were some key stylistic innovations of the French New Wave? How did it change editing?

The French New Wave was primarily based off the philosophy that films can be made without the strict rules of traditional studio films. One of the main differences of these cinema was the jump cut, that was avoided at all costs previously. This type of cut that jumps through space and time was discouraged because it ruined the continuity of the shot. On the other hand, the films of the new wave wanted to make the editing abundantly clear. This style wanted to communicate to the audience that they were watching a film.

The French New Wave

How was the French New Wave connected to Auteur Theory? What was so different about French New Wave films from those that came before it?

The French New Wave came when the World War ended and the German control over film receded. It gave the filmmakers the opportunity to reach beyond the typical studio's filmmaking rules. They often used forbidden techniques such as jump cuts to express certain emotions that were thought to be inappropriate for the cinema. This movement allowed the filmmakers to prove that a great film can be made without the strict rules or high budget productions. The rejection of hollow replications of famous novels paved the way to the break through of the new cinema.

Beginning Director Advice

Summarize the key tips from this piece. What pieces of advice did you find the most useful from this video?

Key Tips:

Don't assume that the director is supposed to know every single move and facial expression of the actors. Instead, having a firm idea of the overall look of the final piece is more important. Rather than specifying the intonation of specific words and the small details of a movement, it is more effective to give the actors a certain feeling that they should replicate.

Always keep an open mind to suggestions. The original plan is not alway the best plan. If someone has a suggestions, there is a chance that their idea can make the scene better than the original

Choosing people who you enjoy working with is important in filmmaking as well. This makes it easier to communicate with one another and makes the filmmaking scene much less stressful at times when the time constraint is strict.

Auteur Theory P.3

Is the director's vision the only one expressed in a film? How much of a film is the director vs. the other artists who worked on it?

The director is not the only vision that is expressed in the film. In reality, all of the people working on set has a part in the overall vision of the film. The director firmly guides the people on set in order to create the basic vision, but the cast and cinematographer also has a say in what the artistic vision of the film will ultimately be. Ultimately, the director will have the biggest say in what the film will look like artistically. However, it is undeniable that others in production also have an important role in the end.