Film’s Prosperity and Vitality

Isabel Gallimore

Mr. Alburger

English III Honors

22 February 2018

Isabel Gallimore
 Gallimore 1

Mr. Alburger

English III Honors

22 February 2018

Film’s Prosperity and Vitality

On a small dining room table sits a laptop open to a screen with dark greens and pale

blues. As trees whisper and rustle in the background, an abandoned house appears on the screen

and as the camera proceeds through the cracked door, a girl with dark hair dances to the music in

her head. The graffiti on the walls begins to move, as if it hears the nonexistent music, too. Soon,

the dancing graffiti slows to a stop, but the girl remains and music ensues, showcasing the

radiant ballet. This ambient and airy introduction lays a coat of expression for the audience to

interpret. A film holds the capability to put swirling thoughts into a beautifully shot motion

picture and reach an audience willing to open their eyes.

Whether it be centered around cultural likeness, a story, or a musical dedication,

cinematography has the purpose of presenting something that will make the audience feel, think

or wonder. A film may have a fallen meaning where the audience must fill in the gaps and

connect significant or minor elements together. The entire platform of cinematography has a vast

range of possible room for interpretation and expression. When a creator has a vision, the

creation must fulfill the need to accomplish and satisfy that vision. The angles, shots and cuts

hinge on where the producer wants to take the project and how these technicalities will affect the

overall portrayal. The infinite ways to depict ranges of diverse subjects allows for endless

insights, perceptions, and influences.

The fluidity of a film brings the audience in and can engross people. The content of the

video has to make sense and flow with ease. As a professional, one wants the viewer to perceive
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the intended implication without the poor quality of the fluency causing a disruption of this. In

cases of utilizing special effects, the logic and practicality will have an impact on the audience’s

perception of it. Special effects play a huge role in many movies to portray something in the

most realistic way. The camerawork has been greatly developed by many people and in many

different movies in order to accomplish this. In reference to The Jungle Book, “the primary

interest was not making a fantastic new world, but making one that feels like it was

conventionally photographed” (Grierson). The nature setting in the scenes had to carry

legitimacy and give the illusion of really happening there. Every aspect of a film must have a

purpose, whether it contains small, but significant details or big-picture concepts with a deeper

essence.

A career in filmmaking allows people to express a variety of approaches and ideas on

multiple levels and has developed through many years as technology advanced. The intricate

display technicalities bounced off of the basis of motion and depth. The effect of a film comes

from the density and the portrayal. To capture motion, developed instruments synthesize it as

well as depth perception. The basis of cinematography derives from the advancements of depth

and motion. What the viewer sees and how he or she sees it has developed over centuries. At

first, motion and depth had no capability for combination and creators added them together in a

different, more inefficient way (Wade). This had to happen before cinematography could arise.

The physical way people see a film plays a large role in what they feel while watching it.

Neglected minor faults or focus drawn to possible poor quality could diminish the film’s

concrete meaning.

Focusing on visual perception, the far-developed High Dynamic Range (HDR) video

gives way to a more realistic and saturated image on the screen. The brightness options have
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expanded to give a variety of displays for the video. It has become a prominent facet of the

camerawork. The exposure levels allow one to prioritize and highlight detail to make it

distinguishable (Baldridge). HDR focuses on the importance of correct lighting and the effect it

has on films. The details hold great importance and can make a valuable difference on the overall

film itself. Without the automation of the video production itself, the film may lose much of its

substance. A filmmaker must ensure that the representation of the film corresponds with the

intended portrayal in order to get the full impact of the predetermined idea.

The modern day technologies and opportunities stem from a complex, innovative, and

impactful history. With the new innovative technology from the invention of photography,

engineers had the ability to apply motion to photographs by combining still images of humans

and animals. Motion picture then developed as a form of entertainment. Film has influenced not

only its viewers, but also current events and their depictions.

The history of film begins in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. In

1891, Thomas Edison and William Dickson invented the kinetoscope, a device in which

someone could look through and see the illusion of a moving image. Viewers could see the

images from Edison’s film studio, where he staged performances and captured the moments.

These performances ranged from circus acts, dancing women, cockfights, boxing matches, and

dental work. People finally had the ability to see these moving pictures in an innovative way.

The kinetoscope rapidly gained popularity and people could soon find it in hotel lobbies,

amusement parks, and penny arcades. Each viewing of the kinetoscope cost 25 cents, equating to

roughly 6 dollars in value in the modern day. Without a patent on his inventions, the kinetoscope

duplicated all across Europe. The amount of people getting to utilize his invention grew

exponentially. With the success of the kinetoscope, inventors and engineers began working on a
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way to project the image onto a larger screen (Corliss). In 1895, brothers Auguste and Louis

Lumière created the cinématographe, a film projector as well as a camera and printer. The

cinématographe had a high mobility, allowing it to transfer easily and make outdoor filming

seemingly effortless. The first commercial film screening took place in December of 1895, in the

basement of the Grand Cafe (Karwatka). There became a trend - with influential inventors in the

filmmaking career - of seeing it having little to no success, but despite this, the film industry

boomed.

French illusionist and film director, Georges Méliès, became the first cinema

owner to use special effects in his films. Once, while filming a street scene, his camera jammed

and after he fixed it, he no longer thought about it. He fixed the problem and moved on with the

filming. When processing the film, Méliés noticed how objects appeared and reappeared because

of the jamming of the camera. This lead him to the idea of manipulating and distorting features

with complex special effects (Corliss). Due to many other technical and narrative developments

and having invented the trick film, Méliès contributed to the reason cinema now has its narrative

medium. George Méliés prevails as one of the ultimate contributors to the advancements of

cinematography. His works continued on to discover more opportunities that the industry had not

yet reached.

To become as notable as some of the most influential filmmakers, studying in college

will prove the most helpful. Schools such as the University of South Carolina, New York

University, and the American Film Institute remain some of the most popular and choice-worthy

to attend (Appelo). The University of South Carolina has a 65% acceptance rate and average

ACT score of 27. New York University, however, has an average ACT score of 30 and a 33%

acceptance rate. Choosing the right school sets a person on his or her path to success and allows
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them to thrive in their element. Attending an arts college or university allows for such

collaboration with a large and diverse amount of new people with new ideas.

A vast amount of filmmakers started out before college, though, and had numerous ideas

longing for screen time. The number of platforms to put a creation out for the public to see has

expanded greatly. The film industry has grown through the media and reached every genre

imaginable. YouTube stands as one of the most popular media platforms and most accessible to

the general public. Using this, short films have become heavily distinguished online and now

people create them for every subject matter. Because the video compacts the contents more than

a movie or other cinematography, it may make for a larger takeaway for the audience. Short

films have the ability to make a lasting impact and have extremely well developed content.

While vast progressions have paved a beautiful and durable path to the modern film

industry, some aspects have not caught up quite yet. A considerable issue in the career of

filmmaking pertains to the expectations put on the creator. Initially, the audience will set

judgements upon the type of person or even the film itself. Male and female filmmakers carry

different levels of significance based on the viewer. Furthermore, women in this career may have

a different experience than men in many cases. One may go as far to say that the connotation of

women in film draws a negative one. A content analysis conducted had the intention of changing

the portrayal of many women to the world in regard to film as well as influence young women to

strive for more than what people think they should do. Women should have the ability to have

whichever career they choose without people seeing it as unfitting if a man does not hold that

position instead. In general, “career choices can potentially be limited by societal expectations

for what is “right” and “traditional” for women entering the workforce,” (Hammer). Therefore,

the status of women in film will not exempt from this limitation. A study in the Journal of
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Creativity in Mental Health has reported to have the intentions of breaking the negative standards

of what women should and should not do. Though the career of film does not hold the place of

the most stereotyping of women, it continues to remain an issue.

Censorship persists as one of the most limiting barriers that filmmakers around the world

face. Varying cultures limit the representation of certain topics ranging from religion to politics.

Countless film productions have shut down as a result of the censorship placed upon them. A

conducted case study addressed the rules of censorship in Indian society. It describes the extent

to which Indian films may go to without violating regulations. Producers may not refer to or

describe a political situation neither directly, nor indirectly. Films also must abstain from

incorrectly depicting a person because of a lack of authenticity (Panda). In India, the censorship

laws kept people from distorting others’ images, especially in politics. Some politicians have

used films to get elected or even directly bash an opponent. These politicians utilize films in

order to make someone else look bad and, in turn, making themselves look better. The

restrictions put on creators does not allow freedom of expression in many cases.

Censorship inhibits filmmakers from creating anything they want to. It also affects what

people get introduced to because censorship limits what viewers will see. If the government is

constraining a film’s display of itself, people will not see it the way the filmmaker sees it.

Censorship has fluctuated in all countries due to economic situations or even religious

preferences within the country. Depending on where a filmmaker makes his or her film, the

effect will vary because of difference in location. A screening of a film in the United States will

have a different response than if the screening took place in parts of India. The cultural contrast

brings forth a type of division that some films may cross, while others stay behind it because of

how it could possibly affect people or people’s perceptions of it. In some places, the government
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does not prohibit filmmaking unless the creator has completely standardized it to the

expectations. Film censorship continues to be a lasting barrier for people everywhere.

Indonesia has played a leading role in the evolution of cinematography. The film history

of Indonesia began in 1900 in the Dutch East Indies when traveling projectionists screened

imported films. The Indonesian people retained films from other places and this inspired many.

Films produced locally gained popularity and resulted in more productions. Ratna Asmara, Sofia

Waldy, and Chitra Dewi drove the industry further by learning cinematography and becoming

directors. “Although these three women mark the beginning of female filmmakers in Indonesia,

their films have yet to be fully explored as historical documents” (Michalik). These women’s

films need more recognition and evaluation. Their husbands also worked in the industry and

supported their choice to become directors. The three women also worked as well known

actresses before branching off into directing. As more people, especially women, became

directors and producers, even Sofia Waldy’s scriptwriter, Ida Farida, soon moved onto television

where she also directed movies. She expanded her platforms and encouraged others to do the

same.

Under Indonesia’s second president, Suharto, the politics focused on

modernization and economic growth, so imported films became less monitored. The films

coming in had less censorship and people had access to more. The amount of local films

produced decreased and the market had an abundance of foreign commercial films. In the 1990s,

many young filmmakers began to voice their discontent with the country’s direction and produce

their own films again (Michalik). Women accounted for most of these filmmakers. Evaluations

have shown that the influences derive from expressions of feminism. More actresses introduced

themselves to directing and producing. With local films on an incline, more people caught
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interest and the cinematic productions grew increasingly successful, both locally and

internationally.

Countless inspirations come from uncovered films from years ago and creators integrate

these into their own productions. Unfortunately, many of the films created in Indonesia and

multiple other countries lack the availability for people to see them today. However, at the

Indonesian Film Archive in Jakarta, people may view them upon request. Since many other

places do not have such an archive, films produced in the past will forever remain

unremembered. This means most people will never know about possible missed techniques,

styles, or common patterns among varying films because no one will have the ability to see them.

Along with directing, other branches of this career include editing, producing, writing

and more. The role of the editor entails that one will put cuts and shots together to make the film

flow and fulfill the intentions. An editor satisfies the vision that the creator established. A

producer oversees the entire project and ensures that each aspect reaches its full potential.

Writers can create a script for any actors or actresses involved. The writer has endless

opportunities to portray numerous ideas and concepts. Film critics review the cinematic

productions and decide how well the filmmakers did based on their own criteria. Comparing

different actors or actresses in different films serves the purpose of reviewing the performance.

The motion picture industry accounts for the further depictions (Paraskeva). Each of these

occupations require skill and open-mindedness to have success.

A film’s purpose can come in abounding variations. It relies on the filmmaker’s intent

and drive to get the production to convey the picture in his or her mind. From the audio to the

visual choices, these come together to produce a wonderful motion picture for people to enjoy.

The camerawork may remain steady or shaky in parts, all part of the creator’s objective. Some
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cinematographers choose to center their production on what the audience will feel, while others

may choose to focus on a story told within the video. The artistic styles of filmmakers also vary.

Some lean towards the artistic, modern, and simplistic style. Others create beautifully shot horror

films, infiltrating the feelings the viewers will feel and the clever action shots. Many popular

films have the motive of encouraging young people in everyday life. As previously mentioned,

YouTube has grown immense popularity consistently. The informative, but relatable short films

on this platform provide a hopeful and helpful way for young people to be entertained and

receive help from certain creators.

A career in filmmaking requires drive, receptiveness, originality, and inspiration to make

it in the industry. The amount of preparation for this career starts with how much a person is

willing to put into it. It also starts with how much interest a person has in it. People start with

small films and low quality camerawork, but make their way to the top with dedication. One

must learn from his or her mistakes and build upon them. Everything takes time to work out and

if a person can be receptive to others, whether it be ideas or critique, and learn from each mistake

or mishap, then that person will get so much out of a career in filmmaking. The creativity and

motivation leads a creator in the right direction.

Over centuries, people have made a remarkable extent of accomplishments and

innovations. Modifications to society’s perspective on a variety of topics and approaches have

shaped filmmaking and everyone involved. The increase in representation of women has chipped

away at the preconceptions of women and what people think they should do. Filming gives the

creator a sense of accomplishment in something they created themselves. This accomplishment

projects onto other people and can influence certain ideas or changes to come into place. The
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effect of films varies exceedingly and reaches a height of representation that other platforms

cannot.

A career in filmmaking allows people to express a variety of concepts and ideas on

multiple levels and has developed through the years as technology advanced. Such advancements

have changed the way filmmakers produce films. The appreciation of the film production process

has expanded and reached countless people from every part of the world. Cinematography has

opened doors to other cultures, ideas, and advancements by bringing people together and

providing a platform where people can share such things with others and make an impact. The

representations of a myriad of subjects, people, concepts, music, dance, and stories make up the

substantial foundation that individuals from all over the world have shaped, built, and grown.

Works Cited

Appelo, Tim. "The Top 25 American Film Schools." Hollywood Reporter, no. 27, 09

Aug. 2013, p. 64. EBSCOhost,

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5861&db=f6h&AN=89664647&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

Baldridge, Aimee. "How Filmmakers Can Prepare for the High Dynamic Range Video

Revolution." Photo District News, vol. 37, no. 8, Aug. 2017, p. 76. EBSCOhost,

<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s845

5861&db=f6h&AN=124088918&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

Corliss, Richard. "Lights, Camera... Edison! (Cover Story)." Time, vol. 176, no. 1, 05

July 2010, p. 50. EBSCOhost,

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Grierson, Tim. "The Incredibly Special Effects Awards." Popular Mechanics, Feb. 2017,

p. 75. EBSCOhost,

<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s845

5861&db=sch&AN=120293251&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

Hammer, Tonya R. "A Content Analysis of Women's Career Choices in Film." Journal of

Creativity in Mental Health, vol. 5, no. 3, 01 Jan. 2010, pp. 260-274. EBSCOhost,

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43, no. 127, Nov. 2015, pp. 378-396. EBSCOhost,

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Panda, Aditya Kumar. "Case Study: Film Censorship in India." Scholedge International

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 Gallimore 12

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