Comm2930/UGC2637 Understanding Movies

Worksheet 5
Name: Leung Cheuk Ying Chloe
SID: 1155175727

Singing in the rain

1. What were the functions of film sounds in the film history?

Film sounds can be categorized into three types: dialogue, sound effects, and music.
During the earliest period of film history, films were silent, and the only sounds came
from live music accompaniment or sound effects created by the projectionist. The live
music accompaniment served to create a background atmosphere for the narrative
while masking the noise from the projector and the surrounding environment. Live
music also served practical purposes such as humanizing the artificial images on the
screen, creating smooth transitions between disjointed shots, and strengthening the
impact of scenes that were dramatically weak.

Meanwhile, with the advancement of sound technology, film sounds have served
several important functions to the film. Using the example of the movie “Singing in
the rain”, first, film sounds are used to enhance the realism of the film. Such as, in the
opening scene, natural sounds of a bustling 1920s Hollywood Street that served as
sound effects are heard, including car horns, people chatting, and the commotion of
the city. This effectively establishes the film's setting and contributes to the overall
sense of realism and authenticity. These film sounds make the scene becoming more
vivid and authentic, allows the audience to get immerse into the film.

Moreover, film sounds are also used to create mood and atmosphere, establishing the
emotional tone to the movie. In the movie, the song “Singing in the rain” creates a
joyful mood. Don Lockwood in the movie celebrates his love by splashing water
during the rain. Singing the lyrics “What a glorious feeling I’m happy again”, “I’m
laughing at the clouds so dark up above” ,“The sun’s in my heart and I’m ready for
love”. The song is used to express the character’s emotions that heightened the happy
mood of the movie.

Lastly, film sounds could be used to deliver information to the audience, the
information could be the plot, or character traits, or even the scene setting. In the film,
the character Lina Lamont is distinguished by her high-pitched, nasally, and grating
voice, conveying her characteristics of dull-wittedness and lack of intelligence.
Nonetheless, her voice is utilized to generate a comedic effect. Her efforts to sing and
speak in her exaggerated voice frequently led to amusing misunderstandings and
miscommunications with other characters.

2. Do you agree with Eisenstein that film sound was only subordinate or secondary
to the visual elements in this movie?

I don’t agree that film sound was only subordinate or secondary to the visual elements
in this movie. Although visuals play a critical role in conveying the narrative and
creating a cinematic experience, sound is equally important to me. It can intensify the
emotional impact of the film, establish mood and atmosphere, and add a sense of
realism and depth. Furthermore, sound can be used to communicate essential
information such as dialogue and sound effects, which are necessary for the audience
to comprehend and follow the story.

First, in terms of creating mood in the movie, there are several examples in the movie
“singing in the rain”. Such as when Lina Lamont is constantly moving while
recording, the microphone could not fully record the sound of her. The director feels
so angry that he closes the door strongly. He also uses an angry tone to blame Lina.
Through these film sounds, audience could know that Lina in acting is not performing
well and the director is very angry. Use one more example, when Don Lockwood is
starting the speech in one scene. Camera zooms in on Don at the microphone, he
begins to narrate his backstory, providing the shot with dialogue. In addition, a
sentimental piece of non-diegetic violin music plays as the camera zooms in, while
Don looks almost directly into the camera lens. The music sets a nostalgic tone for the
shots (Nick, 2010). We can see that film sounds not only enhancing the atmosphere of
the scene, it also can collaborate with visual elements to shape the situation of the
scene well. Hence, film sound is not subordinate to visual elements but equally
important with them.

Next, in terms of conveying useful information, information can be delivered to the

audience through various forms. For instance, during a brainstorming session for their
new talkie film, Don and Cosmo have a conversation that reveals significant plot
points and character motivations. Additionally, in the scene where Lina is scolded by
the director for improper microphone recording, the microphone accidentally captures
the sound of Lina's heartbeat. The sound effects of the heartbeat are emphasized to
depict the situation and advance the plot. Without film sounds, only visual
elements cannot convey what is happening to the audience. Therefore, film sounds are
crucial in conveying useful information in this case.

Citation

Nick , R. (2010). The functions of sound in the film “Singin in the rain.” The Functions
of Sound in the film “Singin in the Rain.”
http://soundingoffonfilm.blogspot.com/2010/04/functions-of-sound-in-film-sing
in-in.html

Apocalypse Now
3. What are the purposes of using non diegetic music in this film’s opening?

In 1979, the war film "Apocalypse Now" was released, which takes place during
the Vietnam War and follows the story of Captain Benjamin Willard, a US Army
officer tasked with assassinating a rogue Special Forces officer. The film is renowned
for its exploration of themes related to the futility of war, the human condition, and
the darker aspects of human nature. In the opening scene, the non-diegetic use of the
song "The End" serves two purposes.

Firstly, the non-diegetic music establishes the film's mood and atmosphere. The song's
somber and melancholic tone, coupled with its slow tempo, conveys a sense of
sadness and loss. The lyrics, "Desperately in need of some stranger's hand," and "No
safety or surprise, the end," foreshadow the dark and violent events that will unfold in
the film. The melancholic music and desperate lyrics create a somber atmosphere,
setting the tone for the film.

Secondly, the non-diegetic music serves as an informative tool in the film. Notably, it
provides a sharp contrast to the on-screen action, as the slow and peaceful tone of the
music juxtaposes the breathtaking view of a helicopter soaring over a jungle in flames,
with explosions and gunfire everywhere. This scene is imagined by the soldier,
reflecting the wars that have occurred before. The audience is given a glimpse of the
situation of wars, creating tension and anticipation for what is to come. The singer's
strong and intense voice allows the audience to empathize with the soldiers' feelings
and pay attention to the scene. This creates a sense of fear and dread for the audience,
while also signaling that the following story revolves around wars.

4. How did its diegetic/non-diegetic sound echo to the film’s theme/ motif?

"Apocalypse Now" is a war film that explores themes related to war, human nature,
and the human condition. The film critiques the futility of war while portraying the
corrupting influence of power. It also highlights the psychological toll of war on
soldiers and civilians and suggests that all humans have both good and evil within
them. The film raises questions about the meaning of life and the purpose of existence,
particularly in the character of Colonel Kurtz. Overall, "Apocalypse Now" is a
thought-provoking exploration of the human experience during war, and its themes
continue to resonate with audiences today. Both diegetic and non-diegetic sound are
utilized to express the theme of the film.

In "Apocalypse Now," diegetic sound is used to convey the film's themes. The sounds
of war, such as gunfire and explosions, lose their human quality and become
mechanical, reflecting the dehumanizing effects of war on soldiers and civilians.
The air cavalry attack scene creates a sense of losing control, reflecting how war can
lead to madness. For example, in the "Ride of the Valkyries" scene, the continuous
sound of helicopters emphasizes the cruelty of the soldiers. Another scene, where
Willard says "Saigon...Still in Saigon," conveys the character's desperate feelings,
reflecting the harsh realities of war. These uses of diegetic sound in "Apocalypse
Now" contribute to the film's themes and help immerse the audience in its world of
war and chaos.

The non-diegetic sound in "Apocalypse Now" also plays an important role in

conveying the film's themes. For example, it creates the mood and atmosphere of the
scene, such as in the opening scene where "The End" song sets a sad and desperate
tone, giving the audience an expectation of the film's mood. During the "Ride of the
Valkyries" scene, the non-diegetic sound of the orchestra adds tension and
nervousness to the war attack. These uses of non-diegetic sound help to create the
mood of the film and express its theme of dark human nature.
 Com 2930/ UGEC2637
Understanding Movies
Worksheet 7
Name: Leung Cheuk Ying Chloe
SID: 1155175727

The movie business

1. What does it mean by ‘synergy’? How does the movie industry make use of
synergy to maximize its profit margin?
“Synergy” means releasing two or more products at a time to give the film company and
the film more popularity and higher budget. Movie industry could make use of the synergy
to maximize its profits through two ways. The first way is that the conglomerate's various
subsidiaries are utilized to promote the primary content. The second way is the promotional
items used are interconnected with one another.
To talk about the first way, using the example of Avatar. Avatar was produced by 20th
Century Fox, which is a subsidiary of News Corporation. Here are some examples of using
subsidiaries to promote the film. In terms of broadcasting TV, News Corporation leveraged
its subsidiary, the Fox Network, by airing a trailer for Avatar during the telecast of
the Dallas Cowboys' American football game on November 1st, 2009. More than that,
the Fox Network incorporated a promotional element for Avatar into the storyline of an
episode of the TV drama Bones. The episode featured Joel David Moore, who portrays Dr.
Norm Spellman in Avatar, expressing his excitement for the film's upcoming release. In
terms of print subsidiaries, The Scottish News of the World – newspaper owned by the
News Corporation, capitalized on the release of Avatar on Blu-ray and DVD by offering
its readers a free Avatar gift set. Nonetheless, News Corporation's publishing subsidiary,
Harper Collins, was utilized to publish books associated with Avatar too (Convergence &
Synergy in the Film Industry, n.d.).
Move to the second way, the News Corporation ensured that all facets of the Avatar
marketing campaign were interconnected and relevant to one another. Examples would be
the poster of the film contains the website address of Avatar as well as some shots shown
in the trailer of the movie. At the same time, at the end of the trailer, the website link was
displayed along with visuals featured on the posters (Convergence & Synergy in the Film
Industry, n.d.).
The advantage is that News Corporation could utilize its subsidiaries, whenever feasible,
to minimize marketing expenses of promoting Avatar, hence maximizing profit. Also, the
collaboration could increase the film’s exposure too. It is very crucial in production
because it allows for a wider reach and greater consumer appeal than a single conglomerate
could achieve. By the higher exposure rate of the film, there would be more potential
customers from different aspects, increasing the chance for watching the film, hence
increasing the revenue, and maximizing the profit.
(The Scottish News of the World offering free gift sets)

(Poster of avatar contains the website address of Avatar official website)

Citation

Convergence & Synergy in the Film Industry. (n.d.).

https://flhsmediasite.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/convergence-and-synergy.pdf
 2. Why very few investors are interested in producing art movies? How did art
movies survive in a hyper commercialized movie market?

Art movies are known for their artistic and experimental approach to filmmaking, setting
them apart from mainstream cinema. They typically have low commercial value and
explore different themes than Hollywood movies. While Hollywood has standardized
procedures and strict control over production, art movies have more creative freedom.
They engage with modern philosophy and aesthetics, emphasizing active and
contemplative forms of spectatorship. On one hand, Hollywood-style movies cater to a
wider mainstream audience, while art movies pursue an unconventional and experimental
approach to filmmaking, making them less appealing to the general public. Consequently,
art movies face challenges in gaining wider acceptance and distribution, resulting in high
risks for investors, with only 10% of such films proving profitable. In contrast, mainstream
popular cinema offers a greater likelihood of generating profits, with 90% of these movies
being profitable. As a result of the higher investment risk associated with art movies, only
a limited number of investors are interested in producing them.

For instance, "Zola" is the 14th highest-grossing independent movie of 2021, but with a
budget of only $5 million, it grossed only $4,844,399, failing to recover its production costs
(Erbland, 2021). In comparison, "Halloween Kills," a Hollywood-style movie with a $20
million budget, grossed approximately $131 million and ranked 14th in the box office,
demonstrating that, even with higher budgets, Hollywood-style movies tend to earn more
revenue and have a greater probability of financial success than art movies (“Halloween
kills” n.d.).

To thrive in a hyper-commercialized movie market, there are various strategies that can be
employed. Firstly, changes in society such as advancements in education and social
mobility have led to the emergence of new audiences, including cinephiles, film students,
critics, and other enthusiasts who seek out unique and thought-provoking cinematic
experiences that diverge from mainstream offerings. These niche audiences are more likely
to appreciate art movies (O’Brien, 2018).

Secondly, there are now more platforms available for art movies to gain exposure beyond
the traditional art-house theater circuit. Film festivals, for instance, attract large audiences
and provide opportunities for art movies to gain recognition and broaden their appeal.
Winning awards can also help to enhance the film's reputation, create potential partnerships
and attract new audiences. In addition, social media has enabled art movies to reach a wider
audience across different regions, providing new opportunities for survival (O’Brien, 2018).

Citations

Erbland, K. (2021, November 9). “French Dispatch” and “Last night in Soho” start to
lift stagnant specialty box office. IndieWire.
https://www.indiewire.com/feature/highest-grossing-indie-films-2021-
1234607448/
Halloween kills. Box Office Mojo. (n.d.).
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl319063553/?ref_=bo_yld_table_14

O’Brien, Margaret (2018) The rise of art cinema in postwar film culture : the exhibition,
distribution, and reception of foreign language films in Britain 1945–1968. [Thesis]
The Golden Era 2014

3. How does this film display the characteristics of literary cinema?

I will start by discussing the distinctions between cinematic and literary movies. Cinematic
movies typically try to show off their creative merit. Since the message is displayed directly
and plainly on the screen, it is generally simple to understand. However, literary movies
focus more on describing than on revealing the true meanings and values. As audiences'
subjective consciousness affects the story's mental picture, they must think deeper to
comprehend the value (Scot, 2019).

The movie "The Golden Era" shows a number of literary cinematic traits. This biographical
movie depicts the life of Xiao Hong, a well-known Chinese author of the 20th century. The
goal was to capture the essence of Xiao Hung's life in order to convey what it means to
survive. In the film, Xiao Hung encountered numerous obstacles in both her love affairs
and her day-to-day existence during World War II (Rosati, 2022). Nevertheless, despite
how bad things were, she never lost hope.

The film used a variety of artistic techniques to express the characters' feelings and
thoughts in order to prod the audience to consider the inherent virtues of humanity. For
instance, it made use of a number of literary techniques, including voice-over, stream-of-
consciousness, and flashback, to illustrate the interior thoughts of the characters.
Additionally, symbolism was employed in the film to express its deeper significance. To
express the characters' inner thoughts and feelings throughout "The Golden Era," the
director used a variety of symbols. For instance, the usage of water in the movie symbolizes
Xiao Hong's internal conflict. Her love of writing is symbolized in the movie by the usage
of fire, another significant metaphor. These things help the viewer comprehend the
characters' motives and feelings on a deeper level.

In short, "The Golden Era" 2014 is a great example of literary cinema. It employs various
artistic techniques to create a visually stunning film that delves deep into the characters'
inner thoughts and emotions.

Citations

Rosati, A. (2022, February 1). Film review: The Golden Era (2014) by Ann Hui. Asian
Movie Pulse. https://asianmoviepulse.com/2020/11/film-review-the-golden-era-2014-by-
ann-hui/
Scot, P. (2019, March 6). Ways of storytelling in Hollywood cinema vs. literature.
Chautauqua Journal.
https://chautauquajournal.wixsite.com/website/post/2019/03/06/ways-of-storytelling-in-
hollywood-cinema-vs-literature
4. Sina Entertainment commented that this movie is
“《黃金時代》是一部糅雜了偽紀錄片、舞台劇和傳統電影風格的影片”, do you
consider this film a successful case of recent Chinese production? Why and why not?

I think that this movie is a successful case of recent Chinese production for four reasons.
For one thing, this film showcased the talents of the director, Ann Hui. Hui was already a
very well-known director in China before beginning to shoot this film. Her distinctive
approach, which combines realism with poetic images, gained recognition all around the
world after she filmed The Golden Era. The movie not only had outstanding
cinematography that perfectly depicted the grandeur of the Chinese environment, but it
also made use of color and light to create a dreamy ambiance that heightened the story's
emotional impact.

For another reason, "The Golden Era" successfully resonates with the audiences. The
movie showed how Xiao Hong's life was characterized by tragedy and adversity and how
she was able to maintain her desire to become a writer. Her uplifting tale appeals to a
variety of audiences that are going through difficult times. The movie also tackles
universal themes like love, sorrow, and the search for one's identity that appeal to
audiences everywhere.

More importantly, it highlights key facets of Chinese culture and evokes memories of
Chinese history. The movie, which takes place during a period of significant transition in
China, sensitively and authentically depicts the essence of the time. In addition to
highlighting the splendor of Chinese art, it honored legendary authors like Lu Xun, which
aided in fostering a better knowledge of China and its people.

The last justification is that it made a big difference in Chinese cinema. The movie is
well-known for its artistic value, but it also encouraged a new generation of filmmakers
to experiment with novel subjects and aesthetics. The popularity of "The Golden Era"
increased awareness of Chinese cinema on a global scale and sparked interest in Chinese
society and culture.

In summary, "The Golden Era" is an example of a recent Chinese production that

succeeds for a number of reasons. It is a skillfully made movie that displays Ann Hui's
abilities as a director. It is a stirring tale that strikes a chord with viewers and honors
Chinese tradition and history. Last but not least, it is a movie that has made a big
difference in Chinese cinema, encouraging a new generation of directors and boosting the
stature of Chinese cinema internationally.