There are many clues that one can get from just listening to the sound closely in this film. The music used and the rare sounds made here and there give "Citizen Kane" a more realistic feel. The audio in this film is so strong that it really makes you feel for Kane and the rest if the characters in this film. Welles did use a lot of dialog overlapping which made the film kind of hard to follow since sometimes all the characters in a scene were talking all at once, but it doesn’t taint it because this is something we all do everyday and kind of makes you ask further questions when trying to figure out what were they all trying to get across to the others. When a scene was transitioning to the next, you would hear an abrupt sound, the purpose was to illustrate that another scene was to be introduced. It made the film easier to follow.
I'm not so sure if I can say "Citizen Kane" is "the greatest American film ever made." There might have been better. I do believe, though, that "Citizen Kane" is a "classical masterpiece" and that it is "a discourse on film method. Someone can learn a lot from this film, especially future filmmakers.
In conclusion, I thought "Citizen Kane" was a great film and I learned a lot from it. It is a great film to watch, especially for those who don't really appreciate classical film. This film generally paved the way for future films and future filmmakers. I’ve been told constantly that in the industry most of these all time great movies are looked to as examples, and with that, there will always be some film lingo to go along with it. I’m amazed because before I decided to pick up this movie I never even thought of the idea of this having any visual effects at all which is why this probably shocked me the most that there was so much smoke and mirrors in a film as vintage as Citizen Kane. Overall the story obviously carried it along with the fact that it was based off a true story and that’s making it easy to relate to but, that doesn’t denounce that for it’s time the effects were well done for a small price seeing as though Welles kept it all to a close budget.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Camera & Composition
Welles also employed deep focus photography as a way to allow audiences to actively peruse a scene without implementing editing, for Welles a disruption of real space and time. The use of both detailed backgrounds and foregrounds also functioned to emphasize Kane's sense of isolation and distance from the activities of those around him.
Composition also was a critical part to storytelling in Citizen Kane. Characters were placed at opposite ends of the screen to convey distance and estrangement. Large objects are typically in the foreground and between characters at odds, while signs and fences seem to further emphasize the feeling of alienation Welles is exploring.
The large banner of Kane during the political campaign sequence displayed the character's importance in the story, while dwarfing the real man. This is similar to Susan when she seems engulfed by her surroundings within the Kane mansion.
Overall, Citizen Kane is a study in theatrical filmmaking. The many components of visual technique that accompany the mystery of Kane's demise serve to strengthen the overall themes of the film. Although modern audience may find Citizen Kane old-fashion or campy, by suspending disbelief, it is possible to see the impact and importance of visual symbolism in Citizen Kane.
They used a lot of shadowing. For instance, when Kane and Susan were arguing, Kane's shadow completely covered Susan. This implied emphatic dominance over Susan that ensured him being empowered. At the beginning of the movie, they also used fishbowl lens. The first scene in the movie where Kane was found dead, most of it was filmed with a fishbowl lens. It gave the introduction of the film a very unique look. I also noticed that they used mirrors in the scene where Kane was walking away from all his servants and guests that witnessed his anger outbreak after Susan left him to make the hallway he was standing at look like it was never ending. The storyline of the film was told in flashbacks. This is called a nonlinear story line, an approach many current filmmakers use, specifically Quinton Tarentino. I personally prefer a story told this way in a film. I feel that using this approach puts more emphasis on the plot and the main character. It enhances the storyline and is easier to follow the details that are important to some films
Composition also was a critical part to storytelling in Citizen Kane. Characters were placed at opposite ends of the screen to convey distance and estrangement. Large objects are typically in the foreground and between characters at odds, while signs and fences seem to further emphasize the feeling of alienation Welles is exploring.
The large banner of Kane during the political campaign sequence displayed the character's importance in the story, while dwarfing the real man. This is similar to Susan when she seems engulfed by her surroundings within the Kane mansion.
Overall, Citizen Kane is a study in theatrical filmmaking. The many components of visual technique that accompany the mystery of Kane's demise serve to strengthen the overall themes of the film. Although modern audience may find Citizen Kane old-fashion or campy, by suspending disbelief, it is possible to see the impact and importance of visual symbolism in Citizen Kane.
They used a lot of shadowing. For instance, when Kane and Susan were arguing, Kane's shadow completely covered Susan. This implied emphatic dominance over Susan that ensured him being empowered. At the beginning of the movie, they also used fishbowl lens. The first scene in the movie where Kane was found dead, most of it was filmed with a fishbowl lens. It gave the introduction of the film a very unique look. I also noticed that they used mirrors in the scene where Kane was walking away from all his servants and guests that witnessed his anger outbreak after Susan left him to make the hallway he was standing at look like it was never ending. The storyline of the film was told in flashbacks. This is called a nonlinear story line, an approach many current filmmakers use, specifically Quinton Tarentino. I personally prefer a story told this way in a film. I feel that using this approach puts more emphasis on the plot and the main character. It enhances the storyline and is easier to follow the details that are important to some films
Lighting
The use of light is an important theme throughout Citizen Kane. Kane's boyhood is bright. As he grows older, the lighting decays into patches that highlight the balance between decency and corruption that seem to follow Kane's life.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Orson Welles Bio (May 6,1915- October 10,1985)
Besides being an accomplished actor, director, writer, and producer; Welles comes from a family of talent. Between his Father (Richard Head Welles) being an inventor, and his Mother (Beatrice Ives) being a concert pianist, You can say the bar was already set high for young George Orson Welles. His Mother was responsible for teaching him the arts of magic, pianting, and piano. He went to many places but found his career plateau in 1931 when he traveled to Ireland to study acting in Doublin's Gate Theater. Needless to say, he returned to America with a vengeance as he perfomed as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet.
He up and married a fellow actor in 1934 (Verginia Nicholson)who was alos a socialite. They had one child who turned out to be Chris Welles Feder. In 1938, He produced plays at the Mercury Theater where he became rather famous and began work on Citizen Kane. From there on, there was a nice long and rocky road of success until his demise in Hollywood, California where he suffered a heart attack at the age of 70.
He up and married a fellow actor in 1934 (Verginia Nicholson)who was alos a socialite. They had one child who turned out to be Chris Welles Feder. In 1938, He produced plays at the Mercury Theater where he became rather famous and began work on Citizen Kane. From there on, there was a nice long and rocky road of success until his demise in Hollywood, California where he suffered a heart attack at the age of 70.
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