Introduction to Film Directing

Director Job Responsibilities: Turn the writer’s screenplay into a motion picture Deliver that motion picture to the editor(s) Communicates with: Producers Cinematographer Principal talent

Director Directors approve the following: Location and set design Casting Sound & Music They create the shot list: A list containing all scenes and the shots needed to make the film

Directing Misperceptions The director is the boss Directors tell the actors what to do The director is behind the camera Directors are slobs

Storyboarding Graphic organizers, such as a series of illustrations or images, displayed in sequence for the purpose of previsualizing a motion picture

Storyboarding Example: The Fellowship of the Ring Directed by Peter Jackson

Mise-en-scene Translation: Put on stage or set Originally applied to theater Director accounts for everything that will appear in the shot

Mise-en-scene 1. Production Design 2. Color 3. Lighting 4. Actors’ performance(s) 5. Framing 6. Sound

Production Design Sets, Props, & Costumes Example: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Color Use of color(s) for emotion or symbolism Examples: The Sixth Sense Pleasantville

Lighting Color, amount of, type, and positioning of lights Examples: Film Noir Blade Runner Hard Boiled

Actor’s Performance Casting, make up, blocking (movement) Example: Any Tom Cruise movie

Framing Camera position (height & angle), depth of field, and aspect ratio Examples: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Sound Sound that comes from the scene (not added later) Example: Psycho

Mise-en-scene Let’s see if you can find the elements of mise- en-scene in the opening sequence of The Fellowship of the Ring

Psycho

Based on Ed Gein “Dressed out” body of Bernice Worden Skulls on corner posts of bed Skullcaps as soup bowls Lampshades made from skin Chairs upholstered with skin Socks made from flesh “Woman suit”