By Robert Quist & Mark Hamilton The Manipulation of Standard Hollywood Film Techniques in Citizen Kane Edited by: Dr. Kay 2002

Purpose To outline the basic film techniques in comparison with Citizen Kane using John Belton’s “Classical Hollywood Cinema: Style” and “The Studio System.”

Film as a Character- Centered Art “ “Classic Hollywood cinema is a _________- ________ cinema.” Both the narrative and the techniques focus on the main characters. Choose the correct term for the missing word: camera-centered, spectator-centered, character-centered Choose the correct term for the missing word: camera-centered, spectator-centered, character-centered

Film as a Character Centered Art “An example of the narrative centering around the main character is given at the beginning of Shadow of a Doubt.

Film and Narrative “Until now, we have talked about the narrative of film and how it seeks to involve the viewer, treating him or her not as an audience member, but as a ________ or _______. Choose the correct term for the missing words: audience member, spectator, character, witness.

Film and Narrative  In other words, the viewer is transported into the action in a more life-like way.

Film Techniques “Now we are going to discuss the techniques that filmmakers use to focus on the characters and more importantly to get the spectator to adopt the main character’s psyche.

Film Techniques “During the early Soviet Cinema, a man named Lev Kuleshov developed an editing method that was so influential that filmmakers and film scholars call it the Kuleshov effect.

The Kuleshov Effect “The Kuleshov effect can be loosely summed up in the fol- lowing formula: Abstract + Abstract = Concrete “It is the juxtaposition or the edit- ing of two non-relating images to create a psychological effect.

The Kuleshov Effect “Basic examples would be: a shot of a man, followed by: a shot of a snowy landscape. “Instead of thinking of these as two unrelated images we fill in the gaps in our minds and put this man in the landscape settings.

The Studio and the Kuleshov Effect “Since most film were shot in a studio, this was an inexpensive way of making the film ___________. Choose the correct terms for the missing two words: more / less and realistic / unrealistic.

The Studio and the Kuleshov Effect “By clever use of Kuleshov effect Wolfgang Peterson, the maker of Das Boot (The Boat) makes us believe that these men are actually in a sub in the ocean.

The Studio and the Kuleshov Effect “He edits in shots of the ocean and shots of charges exploding in the ocean. Then we put two and two together or fill in the gaps and believe that these men are actually there.

The Mise-en-Scene “The mise-en-scene is the most obvious part of film. There are four parts of the mise-en-scene.  The costumes and makeup  The sets  on location  in the studio  figure expression and movement  The lighting

The Camera (in 5 Acts) When discussing camera, scholars use five areas:  Angle  Distance  Height  Level  Movement

The Camera (Act 1) Angle shots are those in which the camera is either: “ placed high and looking down “ placed low looking up. ANGLE

The Camera (Act 2) Distance shots can be a(n):  extreme long shot (panorama shot)  long shot (landscape outside of a house)  medium (person from waist up)  medium close up (person from chest up)  close up (a person’s face) or  extreme close up (eyes / nose fill frame) DISTANCE

The Camera (Act 3) “Height refers to the level at which the camera is positioned. “Most Hollywood films are on ________. HEIGHT Choose the correct term for the missing words: head level / eye level / chest level / full body in view level.

The Camera (Act 4) Most Hollywood films are level rather than canted. Canted refers to the tilt of the camera to either the right or the left side, i.e. One is higher than the other, even though they should be the same level. LEVEL

The Camera (Act 5) Movement terms include:  Tracking —a mobile framing that travels through space in any direction.  Pan —a camera movement which produces a horizontal scanning.  Tilt —the camera moves up or downward while remaining in a stationary position.  Crane —camera is high above the ground, moves through the air in all directions. MOVEMENT

Three Point Lighting »Three point lighting  _____ Lighting All can use either Low or High Key Lighting. Find the three missing terms from your reading.

Three Point Lighting »The Three-Point Lighting favors ________ lighting. »Most Hollywood films use ________ lighting. Choose the correct term for the missing words: 1) high-key / low-key 2) high-key / low-key

Sound »Most Hollywood films mix the sound »This allows the spectator to _______________________ which normally would not stand out, but be a part of the “noise.” Find the missing phrase from your reading.

Sound »Hollywood films also edit the sound to include effects which would not be heard in a real setting. »Sound, therefore, is both a part of the Mise-en-Scene and the editing process.

Music »The musical score helps to _________________. »The initial live music in the Silent Era of film was an attempt to ________________ ___________________. Find the missing terms from your reading.

Music »Music in both silent and sound films used and use Leitmotif techniques to aid the narrative. » The Bride of Frankenstein provides an effective example.

Editing “In order to make smooth transitions from edit to edit, filmmakers use:  Fades  Fades a shot gradually brightens (i.e. Fade-in) or darkens (i.e. Fade-out).  Dissolves  Dissolves the first shot gradually disappears as the second shot appears at the same rate.  Wipes  Wipes a line appears across the screen, wiping out the first shot as the second follows behind the line (i.e. dragging an image into the picture like a curtain)

Editing »If the edit exists within the scene, editors will often just join the parts together in a cut. »Editing is also useful in struc- turing the narrative. »Citizen Kane, for example relies on flashbacks.

Summary of Techniques »To make a good film, all the above are part of assuring that the spectator lives vicariously through the main characters.

Citizen Kane and Standard Hollywood Film Techniques “Citizen Kane (abbreviated CK) shows a departure from the Standard Holly- wood style by using:  _______________________ Find the five missing terms from your reading.

CK’s Narrative Structure »Bordwell and Thompson discuss how the film revolves around the reporter’s (Thompson) search. »“The very beginning of the film sets up a mystery.”

CK as a Mystery? Even though the narrative resembles a detective-like mystery, the film is not a Sherlock Holmes “Whodunit.”

CK as a Mystery? The most noticeable difference appears at the end where Thompson gives up his search. Yet, the mystery is solved for the spectator.

CK as a Mystery? Thompson’s discoveries regarding Kane’s life provided more meaning to the spectator than the reference to Rosebud.

A Psychological Point of View Bordwell and Thompson note that although we follow Thompson’s search, the camera functions as an _____________________. “the style also suggest the narrations’ ability to plumb the characters’ minds.” (54) Choose the correct term for the blank: dependent character, omniscient narrator, independent character.

Conclusion »Reading 6 provides an introduction to conventional cinematic techni- ques, »while Reading 7 shows how these technique may be manipulated or even broken. »Together they facilitate a better understanding of cinema.

The Use of Camera in CK »Hollywood is well-known for its “invisible camera” technique where the camera’s presence is meant to be as innocuous as possible.

The Use of Camera in CK »The normal spectator hardly notices the camera at all because of relatively less camera movement and shots and scenes inconspicuously edited together.

The Use of Camera in CK »How does Citizen Kane break the conventions of the “invisible camera?” »How is the camera a character in this movie? QUESTIONS:QUESTIONS:

»For each one of the following scenes I will show, think how the camera works as a character by itself, going where very few humans go. The Use of Camera in CK

The Opening Sequence  Establishing Shot How is the camera a character here?

Match Dissolve  Match Dissolve  Also called a “Graphic Match”

The Death Sequence How is the camera a character here?  Death Sequence

The “El-Rancho” Scene How is the camera a character here?  El Rancho Scene

The “El-Rancho” Scene  Question: How does the camera show us the night-club? How is the camera a character here?  Death Sequence

Angle Shots  High-angle shot and low- angle shot  The camera looks _____ upon or ______ to the character respectively. Choose the correct term for the missing words: 1) up / down 2) up / down

The Breakfast Montage How is the camera a character here?  Breakfast Montage

The Mise-en-Scene How is the camera a character here?  Mise-en-Scene

The Warehouse Scene How is the camera a character here?  Warehouse Scene

The Last Scene  Only a camera can zoom in like that, not a human being. The close up of the words “Rosebud” at the sled’s head make us very well aware of one of Welles’s projects.  This is a movie, not a filmed stage production with a stationary camera.

Parting Shots...  Make sure to learn the technical terms that experts use when talking about film.  Enjoy your next movie! THE END THE END!