Drama This chapter compares theatre and movies, focusing on the differences in the two media. Audiences of film need not be as active as audiences in theatre because camera angles and movement, close-ups and long shots, and editing assist film viewers. The actors on film do not interact with audiences, as theatre performers may.

The elements guide the viewer and help the viewer interpret the information presented. While the shot above acts as an establishing shot, it is a cluttered image. Lucas uses increasing close-ups to draw viewers’ attentions to the important information.

The Auteur Theory In the mid-1950s, the auteur (French for author) theory became popular. It stressed the dominance of the director in film art It holds that whoever is responsible for the mise en scène—the medium of the story—is the true “author” of the story.

The Role of Director The talent of the director is still what can “make or break” a film. Well known directors can request “final cut” privileges, which allows them complete aesthetic control of the final product that is the film. Without that, producers can make editing decisions.

The truest examples of Auteur theory are writers who secure the rights to direct their own work George Lucas John Patrick Shanley Andrew Niccol M. Night Shyamalan

Mise en scène in Star Wars In these shots the angles of the shot help create a fantasy world for us as well as helping us almost subconsciously interpret the information within the frames. In addition to seeing the “reality” of the characters’ existences, we see that like Luke, the Tatooine world seems small and confining and that from Leia’s perspective Darth Vader is extremely menacing.

Film directors have more freedom in selection of settings and décor Film directors have more freedom in selection of settings and décor. It would be hard to reproduce the desert expanse that makes the C-3PO shots so humorous and memorable.

Directors can use special effects and miniatures to create moods and mimic realities. It is hard to imagine a theatre production that could exploit effects to this degree.

Set Analysis Exterior or Interior Style Studio or location Period Social Class Size Decoration Symbolic Function

Directors often determine the costuming of characters The costuming in Star Wars has symbolic implications as well as having been original enough to become well known and easily recognized, stereotyped, and mocked.

Costume Analysis Time Period Social Class Sex/Gender Age Silhouette Fabric Accessories Color Body Exposure Function Body Attitude Image