Tyler Andrews

Stanley Kubrick

Through discovering the films and work of Stanley Kubrick I have gained a new

appreciation for the way he has directed his films but also how Mr.Kubrick was outside of

directing. Listening to stories told by Sydney Pollack and Steven Spilberg, Kubrick’s will to learn

about how other directors work, calling in the middle of the night to ask how they filmed a scene

in movies and other questions of curiosity. But what was also very clear was that Stanley was a

truth seeking storyteller and his passion and motive to tell his opinions in film is deeply inspiring.

A story told by Sydney Pollack, Mr.Kubrick directing the scene around the pool table in

the film, ​Eyes Wide Shut​ he stated that that scene alone was shot over a period of two weeks

because Stanley wanted it to be right and to add on to that Tom Cruise also said that when

rehearsing a scene with Nicole Kidman after doing the scene a multitude of times Tom asked

Stanley what he was looking for and he simply said the truth as he continued the rehearsal. I

think this accounts to how one is an artist and Stanley seemed to be an epitome of true artistry

because he only accepted what was real and was not hesitant to stay on one matter for

however long it took and that's why I believe his films are still withstanding the test of time.

On cinematography in his films the use of the wide shot and letting time pass on is seen

a lot, in films like; ​Dr.strangelove ​in the war room or the helicopter shot for the point of attack in

The Shining​. My interpretation of this and why he appeals to it so much is the use of the

environment in a story, especially in the war room scenes in ​Dr Strangelove, ​it adds an

immense amount of tension to the situation. With the wide shot he also uses it with a tracking

shot and I'm not entirely sure what the purpose is sometimes but it continues the story in long

drawn out sequences that are appealing to watch.

His use of a score and when he decides to use one or have no sound at all, especially in

2001 To Space Odyssey ​is executed perfectly. I think it is done very well in the scene of Frank’s
death where there is no score but just the sound of breath, until eventually no sound at all as we

cut back and forth from the space cabin, leaving you feeling hopeless, uncomfortable and

isolated from the space craft.

I admire Mr.Kubrick’s desire to work from home and be surrounded by his family,

sometimes as an actor I feel that I have less and less time to spend with family and Stanley

seemed to be able to do everything he had to do from the comfort of his home. Having this

personal space to work on his movies as he wrote them surely helps you resonate within the

story in a more personal way. But to be as an artist as he was it comes with a great sense of

devotion for what you are expressing and that is why he is one of the greatest directors to this

day.