1. Cinematography II: Elephant (Gus Van Sant, 2003)

2. After today’s section we will be able to…
be able to talk about and use cinematographic techniques in order to…
1) perform a film analysis of Elephant, and ultimately,
2) make and support interpretative claims about the film

3. Review Cinematography Last week: movement and framing This week:
Other techniques
zoom, dolly zoom, rack focus/pull
Lenses
telephoto lens, wide-angle lens
Composition in depth
deep space – foreground, middle ground, background
deep focus
Shot duration - the long take
*Please note: deep space, deep focus, and long take are different!

4. Andre Bazin on film realism
“The Ontology of the Photographic Image” (1960)
“mummy complex” (106)
The photo is indexical, depending not on the human hand but the “instrumentality of a nonliving agent” (168)
Film can serve to “embalm time” (169)
“The Evolution of the Language of Cinema” (1967)
“those that put their faith in the image” vs.
“those that put their faith in reality” (42)

5. Clip analysis - worksheet
Looking at the football scene and bedroom scene
While watching the clips, please pay particular attention to the cinematographic techniques of the long take, deep space, and deep focus
Other techniques? (zoom, dolly zoom, rack focus/pull)
Lenses? (telephoto lens, wide-angle lens)
Framing? (aspect ratio, masks, onscreen and offscreen space, camera distance, angle, height, or level)
Movement? (pan, tilt, tracking/dolly shot, steadicam, crane shot, helicopter/airplane shot, drone shot)

6. Essay prompt
What is the effect of Van Sant’s deliberate style (especially the use of long takes) for this particular narrative?
Establish ideological theme/s of the film
Support your interpretative claim with a filmic analysis of his prominent use of long takes, as seen in particular scenes
Contextualize your application of long takes in a discussion about Bazin’s ideas of film realism
Optional: support discussion of use of long takes with other salient cinematographic elements that convey the theme/message stylistically?