Edge of Hollywood

When the time that mainstream films dominated Hollywood and the decline of it in the 1950’s and 1960’s, young directors who are new in the industry begun to make independent films. These directors make films primarily because they introduce a different kind of film making that does not require too much money and the help of the big studios. With the limited budgets they have, these directors are able to make films mainly to introduce the audience to the different side of storytelling. They dramatize things that depict the reality of the society by means of sexuality and violence. They began to introduce to the audience the unusual approach of dramatization and characterization of its plots by means of its jumbled chronology of events and characters and its twisted endings. This kind of storytelling might even reach to its superiority as its plots have not been the usual storytelling. This movement might be considered as free because directors are able to take risks in experimenting different kind of storytelling to open the minds of its audience the reality of life.

Star System

cary grant

joan crawford

Star system is a method in Hollywood wherein they would select young actors and create personas and even new backgrounds. It was concern on the image of the actors rather than the acting. Women were expected to act and dress properly while men to act gentleman.  Some of them were Cary Grant which was born as Archie Leach and Joan Crawford born as Lucille Fay Leusseur. Morality clauses are very important.

Studio System

Hollywood Studio System is the method of film creation, production and distribution dominated by the big studios in Hollywood from 1920’s to 1960’s. These studios produce movies primarily on their own filmmaking lots and locations. It is where the actors are under long term contract where they should only work for the studio they are signed in.

French New Wave

French New Wave was the name coined by film critics for a group of French filmmakers during the late 1950’s and 1960’. It was greatly influenced by Neorealism (a film movement started in 1943). The movement itself never became a formal movement but the characteristics itself define what the movement is all about.

Filmmakers rejected the idea of classical or the traditional kind of stories. Shooting on location became a norm. Instead of studio lighting, they replaced it available light. The protagonists often lack goal. Because of tight budget, Directors often have the method of experimenting with the film. They introduce fresh approach of creative storytelling. They have established expressing humanly approach stories than those who are in mainstream films. It has more realistic approach.  They often used improvised things for props and even involved and take part itself in the film because they major concern is their budget. 

It has a documentary style because it requires no set up time and it usually have long takes which at the end of the movie, the problems it established are not answered in the end. Finally, the French New Wave is focused on the technique and style itself. The film makers shows his vision and understanding on the world.

True Love...Romeo and Juliet

Considered the most tragic love story written by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet will forever be one of the greatest tragic love story in the world of literature.

The story of Romeo and Juliet was one of the best stories of young love and how situations and actions change the outcome of the story. Their love story proved how powerful love is. Their love against all odds proved how cruel life is to every individual in the world.

It is about fighting for your love and being able to conquer the obstacles that will come in your way. The story makes us realize how love can change everything and how it makes every individual overcome everything for the sake of love.

This reminds me how intelligent Shakespeare was for he was able to write such story. This was probably the best story in the world of literature.

The actors are also able to play well their characters and they execute the right emotions that are necessary for every scene.

This film makes us realize how love can be for it causes the two character’s lives. It may be a tragic story of young love but the learning it gives was excellent especially in family affairs.

This can be relate to present situations as to many teenagers are being into early commitment where they are being into relationship which they really don’t know how to handle it because they are just doing what they think is right.

In overall perspective, the film gives us better understanding of youth related problems such as communicating with family, love and true meaning of life.

German Impressionism and Surrealism

After the World War 1, the French film industry was ruined. It was then the directors firmly intended to restore it. It was then the French impressionism and surrealism started.

Impressionism was a French Avant-Garde Film movement that was made by the French Film industry and was profitable. Young French directors after World War 1 saw film as art and thought cinema should express feelings. Narration has lots of psychological depth manipulating plot time and subjectivity. Rhythmic editing and subjective shots emphasize the characters inner feeling. Although not commercially successful and ceased by 1929, but was very influential to certain filmmakers, styles and genres.

Surrealism was literary and artistic movement to become seriously associated with cinema. It is a modernist approach to film that originates in Paris in 1920’s. Surrealism was made independently of the French System and did not prove financially successful. The Surrealist filmmakers relied on private patronage. Their works was screened into small cinemas. These films confused and shocked audiences. Filmmakers worked outside the film making system. It seeks to bring the unconscious way to film and is anti narrative. The movement seeks to human awareness like the one that was shown in the film Un Chien Andalou (French film written by Salvador Dali and directed by Luis Buñuel in 1929), where the eye was being slice. On that part, we can see that it was realistic because we have the feeling that it was real and effects are not available on that time. Surrealism shows a repetition of elements. It has a recognizable formula that describes every scene. It is diverse movement that lost unity after 1930 but individual filmmakers continued to work for many years.

"The Fourth Man"

The fourth man movie is a suspense film about a man who is in the name of being the “fourth man” whom was seduced by a woman who was seemingly has dispatched her first three husbands.

This movie makes us understand the underlying principles of being a man and how he involves himself to others and to god. It shows the aspects of believing in god. The film also shows the reality of life through the temptations and affairs happened between the characters and how it evolved into deeper understanding about the nature of life and god. It is somewhat associated with the present time for temptation is all around not only sexually but also spiritual temptation.

The film shows many signs and symbols which can be determined as a clue to what the character is trying to expose. With this arrangement to story, it is understood that the movie wants to show to its audience that those signs and symbols in the movie are can be used in life that can be portray that god gave us many signs in order to protect or warns us in danger. It also means to be sensitive with the matters around us and to be careful with whatever decisions we make.

In general perspective of the film, it shows the value of believing god and how it will change the life of every human who believe in him.