Creating Reality

From a Non-linear PerspectiveFrom a Non-linear Perspective

The Illusion of Reality

Reality is what we Reality is what we perceive to be true. perceive to be true.

It can be transitory- It can be transitory- manipulated by the manipulated by the movie creator.movie creator.

The Illusion of Reality

A movie A movie creates a creates a reality.reality.

The Illusion of Reality

That That reality is reality is altered by altered by what is what is placed placed with it.with it.

The Illusion of Reality

Even, at times, Even, at times, allowing the allowing the viewer to see viewer to see more than is more than is physically physically present.present.

Perspective

Edible, Edible, adj. adj. : Good to eat, and wholesome : Good to eat, and wholesome to digest, as a worm to a toad, a toad to a to digest, as a worm to a toad, a toad to a snake, a snake to a pig, a pig to a man, and snake, a snake to a pig, a pig to a man, and a man to a worm.a man to a worm.

-- Ambrose Bierce-- Ambrose Bierce

Linear Perspective

Mathematically-based Mathematically-based technique invented in technique invented in 1425 by Brunelleschi.1425 by Brunelleschi.

This representational This representational vision is a historical vision is a historical invention.invention.

It is one way of It is one way of describing space and describing space and and has no absolute and has no absolute validityvalidity

Linear Perspective

People of different People of different cultures may not have cultures may not have the same perceptionthe same perception

Past experiences, Past experiences, memory and culture, memory and culture, all affect meaning all affect meaning derived from what is derived from what is seen.seen.

Linear Perspective

Paris street on a rainy Paris street on a rainy day as seen by the day as seen by the perspective of Gustave perspective of Gustave CailleboteCaillebote

Emotional Perspective

When the perspective is created so that the When the perspective is created so that the viewer is in the same dimensional viewer is in the same dimensional perspective as the movie creator, then we perspective as the movie creator, then we have also affected the viewer’s emotional have also affected the viewer’s emotional perspective.perspective.

Degrees of Formality

Degrees of formality are reflected in shot Degrees of formality are reflected in shot sizes.sizes.

In camerawork, there are three main kinds In camerawork, there are three main kinds of shot size: close-ups, medium shots and of shot size: close-ups, medium shots and long-shots with variations in the degrees of long-shots with variations in the degrees of distance in these shots.distance in these shots.

Degrees of Formality

A Big Close UpA Big Close Up (forehead to chin) (forehead to chin) conveys an even conveys an even stronger sense of stronger sense of intimacy and may intimacy and may add to the add to the person’s person’s perceived perceived importance in a importance in a scene.scene.

Degrees of Formality

Close-ups signify Close-ups signify intimate or personal intimate or personal modes.modes.

This would be This would be considered considered A Medium A Medium Close-upClose-up..

Degrees of Formality

Medium shots signify Medium shots signify a social mode.a social mode.

Degrees of Formality

Long shots signify an Long shots signify an impersonal mode.impersonal mode.

Emotional Perspective

Angles of view are also significant Angles of view are also significant indicators of social distance in movies.indicators of social distance in movies.

Angles of view also can create an illusion Angles of view also can create an illusion of strength or weakness.of strength or weakness.

Consistent camera angle may be necessary Consistent camera angle may be necessary to create a believable reality for the viewerto create a believable reality for the viewer

Angles of View

Low Angles (looking Low Angles (looking up at a person from up at a person from below) signify the below) signify the power and superiority power and superiority of that person.of that person.

Angles of View

High Angles (looking High Angles (looking down on a person down on a person from above) is often from above) is often interpreted as making interpreted as making that person look less that person look less powerful.powerful.

180 Degree Rule

Imagining a camera at a fixed point between two Imagining a camera at a fixed point between two speakers, it can turn on itself by any angle up to speakers, it can turn on itself by any angle up to and including 180 degrees, thus one person would and including 180 degrees, thus one person would be to the left and one to the right, even if they be to the left and one to the right, even if they were different shots.were different shots.

This applies equally to action, if a car leaves the This applies equally to action, if a car leaves the screen to the left and reappears from the left, the screen to the left and reappears from the left, the viewer will assume that it is back-tracking, if it is viewer will assume that it is back-tracking, if it is continuing in its route, it must always move to the continuing in its route, it must always move to the left.*left.*

180 Degree Rule

180 Degree Rule

Shot Consistency

In these shots, the size dimension of both subjects has been kept fairly consistent, but the brightness and contrast (especially of the stone) has not been kept consistent and may make the subjects seem disconnected.

Creating Reality

Like pieces of a puzzle, each piece of the movie can be arranged into your own reality…

Creating Reality

…whatever that may be.