[Filmmaking] Last Prompt

Your final thoughts...

Now that quite a bit of that invisibility has been removed, how has your viewing experience changed?

Please re-watch one of your favorite films, consider the above with focus on one particular aspect (ie…mise-en-scene, sound, editing, cinematography or acting style).

Before Sunrise (1995) is one of my favorite romantic films. Directed by Richard Linklater and starred by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the film tells a romance of a day and a night, when Jesse (starred by Hawke) asks Celine (starred by Delpy) to get off the train, chatting for a whole day, with some very inspiring dialogues sparking about love itself, life and future.

In the perspective of acting style, it is simple to tell that the cinematography and editing shape most of the two major roles’ acting. Linklater strictly follows the 180 degree rule (shooting at a chosen side of 180 degree line, making the frame balanced and consistent). And without those weird slanted angles, these ways of shooting persuades audience to focus on Jesse and Celine more. Furthermore, with long take (shot without pause) and shot/reverse shot (taking two objects, making them seemingly acting at the same time), director indirectly encourages Hawke and Delpy to chat and interact without halt, which shapes a more naturalistic, even improv performance. Take the scene in light rail at the very beginning for instance. Their Q&A interaction is a superb long take. The director doesn’t even move the camera. They are just asking and answering, but it has the huge power to bring all the audience to be more concentrate and vibrated by their lively and personal sharing of their own lives. Besides the editing as well as cinematography that shape the performance, it is important to know their acting is naturalistic mainly because they are acting themselves. The age, background and experience for either the actor/actress or the characters are almost the same. It costs no great effort to polish their acting. Hawke and Delpy are partly telling their story as well.

In conclusion, with easy composition, plain but thoughtful cinematography as well as editing skills, plus the characteristic of the roles, Hawke and Delph are able to “play” in front of the camera without certain burdens of acting. And it is the main reason why “Before Sunrise” strikes the chord of young generation. They are just like every young man and woman in love, genuine, sensible, but sometimes sensitive and searching for a bright future in their own ways.

P.S.

It is my luck to meet all of you at my first formal film class (never took such class before back in Taiwan). And it definitely triggers something deep within. =) How great it is that everyone has huge passion about what we are learning this summer. And wish can meet you guys in the film-related field in the near future. I will do my best. 

這篇有點隨興/便。UCLA的同學說，老師不應該在考完試後還出功課。我也是覺得奇怪。但還是很認份的寫了！

找個時間來看Before Sunset。 =)