Essay Work
Essay
Critically assess the development and principle of editing, including the understanding of purpose, conventions and techniques.
To start this essay off, I will be going over different films and editing techniques which have meaning to capture the interest of the audience and how editing has evolved within the years of film. In this essay, I will be discussing the understanding and the development of editing for example montages, quick cuts, swipes and more generic camera techniques. However, I will also give an example of conventions of editing throughout this essay and give quotes and references of films to back my examples up. Furthermore, I will look at different film edits and explain the different meaning behind editing, for example Star Wars was one of the first early mainstream films to use the wipe transition, George Lucas found inspiration from George Albert Smith’s British film Mary Jane's mishap from 1903.
The Lumiere Brothers were sons of the French Antoine, a brilliant portrait painter who manoeuvred to photographer slowly through his life. Both brothers succeed in science in Lyon in school and want on to create a device called the Motion picture camera which is a projector called a Cinematographe. As everyone already knows the word cinema is derived from this device. Every image we see on the screen is an inspiration of the Lumiere Brothers idea and by 1903 the great Train robbery started with Hollywood’s first action film. The Great train robbery is one of the first classic action film in the world. It stands to be the first western and American action movie to make it on the big screen that engaged with the audience and pecked their interest. The movie was based on a theatre screenplay around seven-year before the movie’s release. Its running time is around ten minutes which at the time was long. Editing a film nowadays is much easier than it would have been in the old days, where you would actually have to get a person or physically cut the image meaning the footage and stick, splice or tape the footage together. This technique began in around 1895 and slowly faded away as editing software became more advanced for filmmakers. Another editing technique that I am very fond of is parallel editing. This Technique is when two different scenes are shown on the screen and where you cut away from one scene to the other. This is to establish a relationship between the two different scenes and actions that may be connected to one another. A great example of Parallel editing is the film by Christopher Nolan, Inception. This film shows two events happening at the same time but had two different action scenes playing on the big screen. You see in one scene that the actors are in a car being chased which cuts to the character Arthur played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, walking out into a hotel hall cutting back to the car being followed.
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According to history Edward Raymond Turner born 1872, was a British inventor who was one of the first people to have created colour by designing a camera with three fillers, red, green and blue which created the image of colour. However, colour became more Prominent in the early 1940’s as colour editing was used in many movies and more so in commercials motion picture productions at the time, fast forward to the last 1999’s and early 2000’s through to now, colour has become very much the one constant in every film or tv image in the world. Editing is a fundamental part of films as the product we watch cannot be seen without it.
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The first ever editing machine, Moviola was created by an inventor by the name of Lawn Surrier in 1924. The machine itself was used to cut and edit a scene like nowadays editing suites, and to this day is still being used in Hollywood in some shape or form. In the present time there has been many editing software like Hitfilm express which is a fairly new editing Software, Pro cut, DaVinci Resolve, and Premiere Pro. With many people having a wide range of software to choose from, Adobe's Premiere Pro is the most successfully used platform to date. A quote from Adobe Premiere Pro CC Classroom in a Book (2018 Release) states (premiere pro lets you place, replace, and move video, audio, and images anywhere you want in your final edited work). As a user of this editing system, I would say that it is correct and also true. It started in 1991 then called Adobe premiere was the first ever editing software to be introduced on computers. This lasted until 2002 where subsequently it ended and premiere Pro began 2003 and transformed the editing film industry and many directors into mainstream performers. A quote from the Book, On Film Editing, the writing states (A good director always has the leading influence on the editing of his film). This quote really resonates with me as I believe this is true and every director should not only influence but also inspire their colleagues to want to edit and showcase their hard work.
Technique and conventions are especially key in every movie scene. Some methods of editing can make the viewers feel emotion towards a course of action which could be violent, sad or dramatic depending on the director's vision. Most technical editing conventions consist of a variation of; The cut, which is a simple cut moving from one scene to the next with no transitions. Every film director has this style as it is a universal technique every single media professional knows. Cut away, this is a very useful technique which allows you to show a scene that has a cut away to another shot and then back to the original scene. This is a great way to build tension or provide a necessary shot creating maybe an emotional response from the audience. For example, the movie An American werewolf in London, debuted in 1981. The first scene where the audience sees his transformation into the werewolf the director, chooses to cut away to a small mickey mouse statue which grabbed at the audience's emotion. A quote from the book, Film Editing The Art of the Expressive states that Robert wise said. (as the editor, you’re the audience) and went on ( Often the director can also by the audience). These quotes really allow me to understand how to look at a film when editing becomes a problem or a worry. This will now be in the back of my head as my editing days are coming soon.
Continuity is more of a visual look rather than an edit, but it is still considered to be a technical edit as the full purpose of the meaning continuity is when every little detail from, shot to shot is consistent. This means the continuity between shots flow from one shot to the next with no mistakes, like lighting for the film or clothing, making it more believable and feel realistic from the audience's point of view. Another quote from the book, On Film Editing, the writer states that (in any creative effort, one must do one’s own thing, even if that thing is being done in response to another’s order). Cutting on action, where an action has been seen like a punch and the shot moves from one place to another showing the punch hitting the person, same events from a different point of view. This technique can be simplified like closing a door or a character turning or picking up a cup of coffee. For example, In the film The Matrix, which was released in 1999, Morpheus is standing with the camera pointed at him with a long shot set up. He (turns) cut to a mid-close up shot of him turning, this made the audience pay more attention to Morpheus. Jump cuts are really fun and interesting as they illustrate the passing of time in some scene. But can also be used as an act of crisis, like in an action scene or to build more tension within a scene. Cross-cutting, this is a simple technique that usually shows two different scenes that in a way are connected together. It is usually shown to the audience with one character maybe having a flash back into the past. A great example is the 1982 film, first blood where in a scene the police officers are trying to intimidate the main character Rambo who is being held by two officers with the third holding and sharpening a shaving blade. The cross-cut begins as the director shows the audience, Rambo’s flash back of being tortured in the Vietnam war focusing on the blade.
Another Technique conventions shot is the POV. This is when the director has chosen to allow the audience to see through their character eyes. A great example of this technique is the Korean film Villainess, where the opening scene is all filmed in a POV state allowing the audience to see and feel her emotions towards her enemies.
Transitions are used in every film possible, from action to drama, even romantic film. The most used one is Fade in or Fade out. This is just at the end of a scene or film the screen fades to black or a different colour depending on the director's choice. Dissolve is when you have blended or mixed one shot into another shot, this is also used in montages or to show a passing of time once again. A perfect example of Smash cutting is when you have seen a character in a movie having a nightmare and wakes up from the dream. In the film Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger wakes up from a dream where his head explodes. You can also use this transition when moving from a subject in the film which is rather intense to calm or vice versa. One of my Favourite transitions is the invisible cut, this is when you cut within a scene but give an impression to the audience of a long take scene with no edited cuts. You can also use a whip pan, moving the camera to the right cutting to another scene where the movement is still continued whipping to the right on to your subject. Another example of whip pen, the film birdman uses this transition as birdman throws a picture to the wall using his powers.
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After writing about this and learning more about the history of editing and transitions, I have come to the conclusion that it is all well and good if you want to direct a film or point a camera at an actor. However, I have come to appreciate editing more so after realising how much work goes into creating different kind of edits and transitions. A quote that really sticks with me is from the book, film craft: Editing where Anna Voase Coates states, (I like to have a few little arguments with the director), this shows that even if the director has a vision maybe the editor has a better or interesting idea which in the long run will work for the film. Coming from an ambition director, I see now that there is more to an edit then meets the eye and learning these techniques will only further my education and knowledge. I would like to end this essay with an interesting fact and with a quote from the book Film Craft: Editing, (Lawrence of Arabia director David lean originally intended to dissolve from a shot of peter O’toole blowing out the match to a shot of the sun rising over the desert).
Bibliography
Chang, J. ( 2 January 2012). FilmCraft: Editing. london: Octopus.
Dmytryk, E. (Originally published: 1984). On Film Editing. American: Taylor & Francis.
Jago, M. (18 January 2018). Adobe Premiere Pro CC Classroom in a Book (2018 Release). London: Pearson Education.
Orpen, V. (Originally published: 2003). Film Editing The Art of the Expressive. Great britain: Wallflower.
Essay
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REPORT IDENTIFYING AND INVESTIGATING THE ISSUES, CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL TELEVISION SHOWS, APPLY THEORIES OF REALISM AND AUDIENCE IN COMPARING TWO DIFFERING PROGRAMMES.
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I will be analysing codes and conventions of a TV factual programme such as camera movement, framing, sound and editing style. I will then apply theory of realism and audience by comparing two different Documentaries, one with a Mass audience and the other with a niche audience.
Near the 1920, John Logie Baird a Scottish inventor, created the television by demonstrating images with motion at Selfridges Department Store in London. Coloured television reached out to us as the 1940’s & 50’s creeped around the corner which started the world of broadcasting. The RCA achieved colour in 1953 and the RCA Laboratories invented the machine known as the television. Around the early 2000’s, TV started to change with the internet as it became easier to find great shows through streaming. Streaming took us into a different platform, becoming professional. Services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime have altered the ideas of (buying tickets and watching live movies with an audience) by streaming directly to your home.
Factual Television is a program which is non-fiction that records real and actual events of people. This is normally called a documentary and reality TV, another word for factual TV is fly on the wall, this is used when the camera is hidden or undercover.
Technical Codes consist of camera movement, editing style, camera placing and sound. For example, mid-shots, framing the camera in ways that illustrate interest for the audience. High suspense or low style of editing can also build and affect the audience and sway them in one direction to another. By moving the camera with meaning you provide an idea and planning which consists of technical codes.
Symbolic codes are more meaningful like body language, clothing, colours.
A common example is (Stacey Dooley investigates – My Hometown Fanatics) she investigates a group of Muslims in her hometown Luton, who are protesting for mona Thorney, wife of the Stockholm bomber. The documentary highlights right from wrong with Stacey wearing bright colours being positive and the Muslim women wearing black, negative. This illustrates an understanding for the audience by describing the Muslims view to be wrong. Another code is Luton, and the clothes Stacey is wearing which can also be called, Mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene can help with symbolic codes as it helps and implies the audience with feeling and motivates interest in the documentary.
Analyses factual programmes with applied audience theory.
I will be analysing two different factual programmes by applying audience theory.
First Documentary: BBC Stacey Dooley Investigates. Capital of the World
Name: New Drug Frontiers, Episode 1 of 3
Second documentary: Netflix Documentary, The Ivory Game
When it comes to audiences there are many different theories which describe and relay what the audiences feel and understand from TV or film.
You have the Abraham Harold Maslow theory, who was a psychologist and believed in motivation meaning (what motivates people and once they achieve their goals what goals come next) his theory is call Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, which relays on the idea of one person fulfilling his or her goal and moving to the next ambition one after another. He wanted to know people more than the average understanding and felt individuals of society are all motivated to want to achieve a goal and so forth.
Mass audience is a large amount of people meaning it is aimed at a larger audience of population. Niche audience is different from mass because it is focused at a smaller audience that is partially more powerful and influential. For example, films like Drive, Baby Driver, and John Wick have a particular audience who is aimed at watching it.
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The socio-ecological means Power, it is a system that illustrates to the audience that the class of people, meaning (lower upper cast) to (High upper cast). This class begins with group A, B, C1, C2, D and E. Group E, starting from the Lower class and group A, the High Upper class. The Demographic Model means the audiences Age, gender and race. It also consists of where they live, Geo-demographic. For example, UK, USA or Russia. Demographic Profiling also states that the audience that has chosen to watch the product has the same point of view and opinion therefore enjoying the product. Their income and class are also considered with their interests and faith. Psychographic models have four significant features. Values meaning your daily life, beliefs and politics. Culture, having high culture opposing popular culture. Attitude and lifestyle meaning interests and hobbies. Psychographic profiling also aims directly to the audiences needs and wants. This also helps with advertising.
First Documentary: BBC Stacey Dooley Investigates.
BBC, one gets their budget from a Television Licence that all households in the UK must pay according to the law. BBC Three is a network online channel with an audience from the ages of 16 to 36 and focuses on comedy TV shows and more documentaries. This illustrates that BBC THREE has a Niche audience meaning it is focused on a group of people that watch on this online network aged 16 to 36.
Stacey Dooley Investigates can very well be connected to the Uses and Gratification theory by Denis Mcquail. If you use the breakdown of audience motivation. You have information, learning, personal identity, integration and social interaction and lastly entertainment.
Stacey Dooley creates this documentary without breaking the 180 rule with every shot taken from the left. This makes sense with the audience and is a classic filmmaker rule. This is a great example of Technical Codes. Another is the way the camera is placed, there is one shot in a car that illustrates the respect Stacey is showing by having the camera at the same level of the interviewee. This shot is a mid-shot over the shoulder, while not seeing the interviewees face. This gives an unsettling feeling with the audience but heightened the interest for the interview.
A quote from Stace Dooley, “well established export business” shows the audience how she connects with the Colombian interviewee and is showing her professional opinion on the matter. Mode of address is used within this direction as Stacey keeps eye contact with the viewers as well as the audience. The B-roll is elegant in a stylish way, looking at Colombian green trees which keeps the audience fascinated. However, there are some drone shots that are used in this documentary that help set the scene. Stacey uses symbolic codes by expressing herself with her hands throughout the interview which helps her illustrate her passion about the subject of cocaine smugglers. The interview begins again in a house where close ups are used to explain to the audience how the smuggler uses bananas to smuggle cocaine. This is another way of describing Technical Codes. A quote from the interviewee, “cocaine paste can be made into sheets that go in the base of the cardboard box that can’t be detected by the bogs.” This gives the audience an understanding from the cocaine smuggler mind frame and work ethic. Using the Gratifications theory, she gives the audience the understanding of the cocaine smugglers and stills provides knowledge for the viewers.
The editing style is very slow which in hindsight is peculiar as she is dealing with a Colombian smuggler, this gives the audience a sense of relief in this difficult situation. The slow style is also one way the documentary appeals to the audience by decoding the sympathetic side of the smuggler meaning his reasoning and stone-hearted understanding. Referring to Denis McQuaid's theory, she showcases the smugglers values and mind frame identifying his personality to the audience which helps us understand his reasoning of the cocaine business, this is his personal identity. The beginning montage describes Colombian culture in a beautiful and mesmerising world. This helps the audience understand the culture within the documentary. B-roll shots that show a chain and lock which is used at the right time to describe how the smugglers hide the cocaine. This editing gives the audience a sense of a secret becoming known as this shot is played on screen.
The music in the background has a Colombian rhythm that is used in the beginning which illustrates to the audience that the documentary is in a different country. Another sound that is used in the video is a diegetic sound, as the interview is starting in the house you can hear birds chirping which in a sense puts the audience at ease although the documentary is about smuggling drugs through different countries. In one scene Stacey speaks over the birds chirping in the background and this Quotation from Microsoft Word - Code & Convention Booklet is a great example, “Sound can be used for dialogue, as a voice over to speak about the product is or music also to create mood.”
The setting is realistic as it is in the jungle, this shows the realism of the documentary. Stacey Dooley chooses her clothing very closely as she has decided to wear darker clothing in this interview which leads the audience to see her un-judgmental mind frame. Bringing the Theory (Gratification) back around, the documentary shows entertainment to the audience by showing culture and enjoyment, which helps and keeps the viewers wanting to know more. There is one prop that is used in this video that shows how the smugglers get the bags of cocaine into the containers. This prop in a way can be considered as mise-en-scene. Quote from Microsoft Word - Code & Convention Booklet, “Mise En scene can also be described as a look or style of a film (for example gothic), a mood or atmosphere in a whole film or an individual scene.
The Ivory Game is watchable on Netflix meaning its platform for illustrating it ideals is a payable subscription every month means this is a perfect example of Demographic. The income of how the audience pays applies and as Netflix is in the comfort of your own home, this suggests that the audience has the same opinion and beliefs over the documentary because they chose to watch it. However, Netflix has grown more throughout the years of production making it commonly used, meaning the aim is for a Mass audience.
The camera movement is very interesting as every shot is framed from a low perspective, angling up to the subject. This gives the audience the understanding and the feeling of the director giving respect to the animals as well as the people who have dedicated their life to change towards elephant poachers, this is a great example of Technical Codes. This is also intentional as the director moves the camera up, showing disrespect to those who want to kill the elephant. This is known as an issue and the director shows his opinion in this matter not caring if it is bias or not. A quote from one of the local tribes in Kenya is, “The elephants will die” although this was said in anger and frustration because of the elephants eating their food, it shows how Craig Millar the Head of security in the area changes their minds as they do not wish to kill the animals. Craig Millar’s quote “We will ask countries in Europe for help, but everybody will have to contribute something. You will have to protect the fence once it is erected.” Just by this statement Millar shows how he is determined to change their perspective as well as the audience. The first thought the audience sees is that they want the animal's dead, but then you realise they only want to protect their food for their children.
The camera is also handheld and gives the audience an unexpected feeling which is peculiar as the Documentary shows the elephants in a relaxed manner but then suddenly shows the aftermath of the emotional deaths of the elephants. Some of the movements are also hidden, the director uses the technique “fly on the wall” where the camera is hidden and in this case is undercover. Hong visits a shop selling ivory and asks the shop owner's questions. The shop owners respond by saying” I have several tons, I have four tones, not in the shop, in the storage” which Hong replies to saying, “You have four tones.” This is an elaborate and very thought-out plan to show the audience how normal it is to sell ivory. Hong uses his hands to express his emotion which also illustrates affect toward the audience and this is also call symbolic codes. There are many close up used in this documentary film to describe the bond between humans and animals, meaning elephants.
The director makes a very hard decision with the editing style, cutting the documentary in a movie way with master shots, close ups, and very elaborate B-rolls, meaning elephants and cut away. Another smart decision the directors has chosen to add is moving animation with every location transition.
The sound in the background is very intriguing as the director has chosen to use both diegetic sound and non-diegetic sound. Using real sound of cars, animals, and Africa's natural nature. However, the non-diegetic music in the documentary has a solemn feel, this combination gives the audience a heartfelt of emotion throughout the experience with the elephants. There is one shot that shows Craig Millar loading a gun, this illustrates the risk of his dangerous life, trying to protect himself from poachers. However, the gun being loaded sounds realistic meaning it is a diegetic sound.
The mise-en-scene of the documentary is from a realistic point of view, showing each countries locations and clothing culture. An interesting clothing idea, Hong the undercover journalist wears black during the undercover mission to blend in with the population. This shows the audience that Hong who usually wears light colours, is now wearing dark colours. This is a classic light being positive and dark meaning negative.
The Ivory game directors have chosen to create this documentary film in a way in which can relate to the (Frankfurt school) Effect theory. This theory is about filmmakers projecting their ideologies and beliefs onto the audience allowing their film to be less criticised, meaning we as humans will be kind and harming animals for luxury is inhuman. Now although most of the population believe that animal cruelty is wrong, the documentary stills plays on the emotion of their audience and frequently throws normal Beliefs at the audience. The Ivory Game audience can also be considered (societally conscious achievers) meaning they want inner peace and believe in a better world and are less worried about financial success.
Conclusion
My thoughts on comparing these two different documentary programmes is that both are very similar in the sense that one deals with cocaine smuggling and the other with ivory smuggling and animal cruelty. Both have the same ideals of violence in the air however the ivory game illustrates cruelty from a realistic point of view, but Stacey Dooley Investigates shows it in a relaxed manner focusing more on the cocaine and the people who provide it to the innocent. They are both directed very differently as the ivory game is mainstream film as well as filmed in a movie type look, but you can clearly see Stacey Dooley Investigates is a TV show on BBC one or Three. Both theories, (Gratification theory) and (Frankfurt school) Effect theory are very different but if you compare them, I believe that the Effect theory is much better in convincing your audience as it persuades the viewer in your ideals and beliefs. However, the ivory game interested and engaged with me in a way that Stacey Dooley Investigates did not. The (Gratification theory) did not really affect me as an audience member meaning, I have much more faith in the (Frankfurt school) Effect theory then the other theory.
Bibliography
Dooley, S. (Director). (Wed 31 Jan 2018). Cocaine Capital of the World Stacey Dooley InvestigatesNew Drug Frontiers Episode 1 [Motion Picture].
Rabiger, M. (1989). Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics. United States: Focus Press.
Richard Ladkani, K. D. (Director). (2016 ). The Ivory Game [Motion Picture].
word, m. (2019 ). Microsoft Word Booklet. Retrieved from Microsoft Word - Code & Convention Booklet.docx : http://www.mediaknite.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Code-Convention-Booklet.pdf
Into film.
Analyses the Codes and conventions, narrative themes and representation within Green Book and compare with one other film.
Green Book is a film directed by Peter John Farrelly that won an Oscar for best film. It came out in cinemas on November the 21st of 2018. The United Kingdom had to wait until February 1st, 2019. Starring Viggo Peter Mortensen, (Tony lip), Mahershala Ali, (Dr. Don Shirley)
The main character Viggo Mortenson (Tony Lip) also helps Mahershala ali (Dr. Don Shirley) with his understanding and connection with other black people and the jazz style of music, the soul of music. Both the characters develop a deep friendship, and both understand one another much more than the first encounter they had. 
I will be analysing Green book codes and conventions and comparing narrative themes representation issues using micro elements such as camera, sound, editing, and mise en scene.  
This film, Green Book is a single strand narrative film about two people who become friends. The narrative theme and genre are based on a true story about two independent people are from differing backgrounds. This film displays realism and is a closed narrative structure leaving the film with a happy ending which is a classic Hollywood narrative story for entertaining the audience.
The mise en scene of the film starts at the very beginning as an establishing shot is presented to the audience to show the time and place of the film Copacabana club New York city 1962. This helps the audience understand what type of genre period drama comedy this film is. Typical conventions including mise en scene are seen through Props like cars, clothing, and the club style Copacabana shows the viewers that this is a glamorous location for the rich. The music reflects to the audience watching an era where people considered themselves above one another. The music in the background is (that old black magic) by Sarah Vaughan who is a black female singer. In the movie a young middle-aged man is singing the song which implies an insult to black coloured people by the club in the opening scene and once again this allows the audience to understand the hypocrisy of that era.
The technical codes are interesting as at one point the camera movement follows the area's surroundings which show a calm and controlled environment. This allows that audience to know if and when something disturbs the order of balance. When a fight breaks out and Tony Lip is called to deal with it, the camera movements, shots are simple, mid shots and long shots. The Symbolic codes, helps this fight scene as Tony lip throws the troublemaker out of the club and fights him outside the establishment. The camera uses four different shots and the last one shows blood on
Tony lips face, this was a mid-angle shot. This is important for the structure of the story as it reveals Tony’s violent side which continues throughout the movie and implies his hot-headedness. Later, Tony is with two work friends talking. One of his friends say ‘I thought you were gonna kill that guy’ Tony responds, ‘yeah better him than me’ which make the audience know and understand Tony’s mind set. He is willing to kill if his life is in danger.
Another symbolic code is that the film plays with Tony's morals, taking a gangster's hat that was very important. The gangster acts racist by calling the owner of the club a fat Jew. This starts the racism structure that is followed throughout the film and this is key within the structure of the film. This is a way of letting the audience know about the realism of that time and how high and rich this gangster is, by showing, no one can say anything to him despite his racist remarks. Tony gives the hat back to the gangster and gets given money in return which implies to the audience that he stole the hat for the money and a job lined up for his future if need be. Then Tony is shown as a family man as he leaves work and goes home to his family.
After these events’ tony meets Dr. Don Shirley. Dr. Don Shirley is an upper-class, superior and sophisticated person who is highly knowledgeable. The conventions of the meeting between both of them are very interesting. Shirley sits on a king’s throne in his apartment which also gives the audience an understanding of a man that believe he knows best. Tony turns down Shirley’s job offer. Tony shows Shirley that he is not a cleaning boy but more of a bodyguard. After these events Don Shirley rings Tony’s wife, and asks if she will be ok with her husband gone for a long time. She and Tony agree but this makes the audience feel more empathy for Shirley and throws out the idea of a king who knows best sitting on his throne. Throughout the film Tony morals are being put to the test. His morals are very flawed in understanding what’s right or wrong. For example, Tony stops at a store on the way to a show. He picks up a rock off the floor which fell off of a table with a bunch of rocks for sale. This gives the audience a sense of theft from Tony who just stole a rock. Shirley makes Tony put it back or pay for it. The morals that the audience sees, is that Shirley is trying to do the right thing in his life, but Tony is used to surviving and sees no problem in it. Another code and convention are that not one close up shot is used throughout the film. The director establishes a new way of looking into directing. This also gives an authentic feel to the film itself as all the shots are mid shot rather than close ups shots.
The representation of Green Book.
I have decided to compare Green Book to Blinded by the light. Both films deal with the problem of racism and both films are set in the past. Green Book, 1962 and Blinded by the light, 1987. The comparison is very interesting as Green Book has racism on black coloured people and blinded by the light has racism on Pakistan people. The understanding behind both movies helps the audience know that in the past, people were very different and didn’t want to change with the times. In Green Book you see a lot of masculinity in the characters, where in blinded by the light you see a boy becoming a man and understanding his family views. One comparison is of a scene in both films. In Green book Tony bins two glasses that black people drank from this is where his resist side is revealed to the audience. In blinded by the light in one scene the main character is walking home and has an encounter with a white man who is doing graffiti on the walk. The white man spits at the main character, which uncovers the violent side of the film and the prejudice towards Pakistani people. Blinded by the light is more vicious and emotional with its characters where Green Book deals with more sentimental and emotional atmosphere. Both films are also heavy in music as Dr. Don Shirley is a passionate piano player in Green Book and the Main character in Blinded by the Light is passionate about music. This illustrates the response that the audience will feel about the films and the comparison is very similar.
Tzvetan Todorov theory structure.
Tzvetan Todorov theory is an idea that every story told has a five-structure act. The Stories begin with an equilibrium which means balance and order. Then you have the Disequilibrium which means something that happens that sets off a chain of reactions or events. The Realisation of disruption comes to light and recognising a problem and realisation of the mission. A resolution to the disruption is then found and a new equilibrium is then established, that is different to the first. This is a theory of a five-part structure of storytelling in films.
Equilibrium the balance and order of the beginning of the film is that Viggo Mortenson (Tony Lip) is a masculinity, muscled, and driven man that needs to provide for his family. This is shown as Tony hits before thinking about the consequences and how him and his wife have worries about money for rent. Mahershala ali (Dr. Don Shirley) on the other hand is a very upper-class, superior, calm person. He is very sophisticated person with great experience and is highly knowledgeable.  
The Disequilibrium of the film is when Tony shows his resist side. He displays this and shows it to the audience by throwing two glasses in the bin after two black coloured people came to Tony’s apartment to fix something that is not shown in the film and drank from the glasses.  
The realisation of disruption starts to show in the film when Tony is looking for a job. He goes looking and finds Don Shirley. First thinking he is a doctor, now knowing he is a piano player, Shirley connects with Tony's wife by ringing their house and asking if she will be ok for a couple of months without her husband. She agrees, Tony and Shirley go on tour and Shirley teaching tony to write and read. Another realisation is that Don Shirley is a heavy drinker.
The resolution of the film is when Tony stands up for Don Shirley which shows the audience his change of heart and how close they have gotten in friendship. For example, near the end Tony is offered a bribe to make Shirley play his last show but refuse the offer and get mad until Don Shirley stops him.         
The new equilibrium is when Tony and Shirley leave the last show on the tour and go to a black person's restaurant and don Shirley plays the piano and gets a round of applause. With this Shirley realises that he is connected with other coloured people through music. And the ending of the film Tony askes Shirley to sit down with his family and eat with them this is the main change for Tony where he wants a black person to sit with him and eat. Where in the beginning he throws away two glasses that two black people drank from.  
This is Tzvetan Todorov theory.  
The film was very bland in the sense that it didn’t pack a punch. But as the film went on the punch began to hit me in the gut as the prejudice towards coloured skin started to rise about in the film. The acting was five stars but the understanding behind the films gender was how black coloured people where living at the time and how a simple white man who has given into a little bit of dislike towards black people changes his opinion on people in general white and black. Both characters help each other deal with subjects like writing letters and changing with time meaning (sexually) with not being judgmental in that time so long ago where it was considered wrong and not normal.