Drama Research: Technical Elements

 Week 2:

The Joker (2019) directed by Todd Phillips is perfect in embodying all technical elements in film production.

The following are the key elements -

Film Type
Film types are divided into realism and formalism.

Realism is a category of film that aims to depict real life as closely as possible. It is also known as "slice of life," as it tries to recreate the ordinary aspects of everyday life in a detailed manner. On the other hand, formalism is a film style that intentionally alters and distorts reality for artistic purposes. It is often seen as the opposite of realism.

The movie is realistically based as it examines how society treats those who have mental illnesses.

Shots
Shots are the building blocks of film, and shot selection significantly impacts how a viewer interprets the action on screen. The right shots must be chosen to communicate a film effectively.

One area of a picture is kept in focus while the remainder is out of focus due to a shallow focus. As seen above, it is utilized to highlight one aspect of the image over another.

Camera Angles
A cinematographer can create a variety of interactions between the subjects and even between the viewer and the subjects by adjusting the camera angle.

A low-angle shot is one that was taken with the camera looking up. It has the impact of making the subject appear powerful and strong. Arthur feels on top of the world as he descends the stairs because he can finally be himself, the Joker.

Lighting
Film lighting refers to various aspects such as the orientation, type, shade, or tint of light that are utilized to influence the viewer's focus, create a sense of depth, and establish a particular mood in the scene. These components work to achieve the desired visual effect or atmosphere.

The low-key lighting creates dark shadows and strong contrast. It is used to build suspense and set a grim tone.

Color
A scene's tone may be built and the audience's emotions can be evoked with the use of color. It is advised to utilize colors that are connected to that emotion to successfully communicate a certain mood. Desaturated or subdued colors are frequently used to imply unpleasant emotions or a dystopian environment, whereas bright and saturated colors are generally employed to evoke good sensations or show pleasant settings.

A somber and harsh storyline is conveyed through the use of colors in an expressionistic manner, particularly blues, and yellows. Arthur is frequently positioned against yellow backdrops or in poorly lit areas with a yellowish hue. Yellow typically represents hope and joy, but the film utilizes its melancholic aspects to allude to themes of sadness and insanity.

Sound

Sound design is a step in post-production that involves modifying a piece of media's audio components, such as dialogue, music, and sound effects, to improve the impact of a scene.

The clip above features eerie tunes and droning strings that wonderfully encapsulate the dark and menacing atmosphere as it gradually intensifies.

Editing

In film production, editing plays a critical role in creating a coherent and engaging story by selecting and combining different shots and sound elements. The purpose of editing is to create an emotional impact, control the pace of the story, and ensure that the film flows smoothly from start to finish.

The editing matches the intensity of the situation. Particularly when Arthur is on his way to kill a third victim, the editing imitates the same adrenaline rush he is experiencing. It produces instability for the audience through the use of jump cuts and rapid cuts. They visibly slow as the victim dies, representing the end of the chase.

Mise-en-Scene

The skill of planning and arranging the visual components of a scene for a movie or play, such as lighting, composition, art direction, costume, makeup, and texture, is known as mise-en-scene. It includes all aspects of what is shown to the audience, from the screenplay to the specifics of the visual components. It is an essential element of narrative storytelling through directing and visual arts. It is represented through themes, cinematography, and storyboards.

(Photographs of 1980s New York)

(City of Gotham’s reflection of 1980s New York City)

Sources:

Sarfaraz, Nehan. “The 8 Technical Elements Involved in Film Production.” Cinemagic, Cinemagic, 3 Mar. 2021, https://www.cinemagics.com/post/the-8-technical-elements-involved-in-film-production.

Das, Prachurya. “Analysing Lawrence Sher’s Cinematography In Joker (2019).” Flickside, 13 Oct. 2021, https://flickside.com/joker-cinematography-analysis/.

Filmmakers Academy. “Filmmakers Academy Premium Education.” Filmmakers Academy, Filmmakers Academy Https://Www.filmmakersacademy.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/2021/10/Filmmakers-Academy-Filmmaking-Courses.svg, 6 Aug. 2022, https://www.filmmakersacademy.com/look-of-joker/.

Höhnel, Philipp. “The Significance of Colour in Joker (2019).” Mooncube, https://www.mooncube.space/blog/the-significance-of-colour-in-joker.html.

Aldredge, Jourdan. “How to Use Realism vs Formalism in Film.” Royalty Free Music Library - Unlimited Downloads, Soundstripe Inc., 8 Apr. 2022, https://www.soundstripe.com/blogs/how-to-use-realism-vs-formalism-in-film.