[Filmmaking] Prompt 1

電影課：在每禮拜五午夜之前，都必須回答老師在課程網Noteborad問題，200字，一開始需以一句話寫出電影的Logline，並用老師指定的電影語言類別作分析，最後結論。是很好的練習，但也超累@@，因為常常需要花時間找電影、看電影！

PS 英文真的退步了 =(

WEEK1: Choose either a documentary or experimental film. Describe it in a logline first, and then analyze the film with attention to form and content relationship.

Movie: Bowling for Columbine, by Michael Moore 

Bowling for Columbine, directed by Michael Moore, tells the quest by director himself for the reason of Columbine massacre and other acts of gun violence, from the history background of the State, some objective comparisons, experiments and trial done by Moore, and abundant historical data, managing to reveal it is nothing but a fraud plotting by the State government and weapon industry.

Honestly speaking, it is a very entertaining documentary that I have ever seen. And its sense of humor and entertainment results from a precise control of shots and sequences. Moore uses lots of quick images and cuts, which is the simplest transition between images, to generate the rhythm of the film. Cut is widely used in the film, between archive footages, photos, and interviews. In the sequence with series of cut archives showcasing US government’s military acts, with number of casualties on it, definitely strikes the heartstrings of audience. Also, Moore seems to prefer hand-held camera, which appears a lot in this documentary. When the film firstly introduced Moore buying a gun account, the camera followed, a little bit shaky, but at the same time more lively. Moore tries to make the audience more related to the issue, which just occurs in people’s everyday life. It is more flexible, too. Moore can zoom in and close up to capture interviewees’ facial expression, but also use a wider shot to include himself as an interviewer. Furthermore, Moore is so skillful in juxtaposition, meaning put two distinct shots together, that he is able to tell a story which provokes emotions overwhelmingly. For instance, in the sequence of for and after Columbine massacre, the vacant campus of Columbine high school, TV recording of massacre, then-president of NRA’s speech, and protestors from Littleton are juxtaposed. Each of the shots and footages is sharply contrasted to one another, so powerful and sarcastic.

In conclusion, the ways Moore moved his camera and edited the film grant the film with an entertaining and thought-provoking power, which precisely contrasts and pinpoints his core idea. The fear among the nation comes from nowhere but government and those who sell guns.