tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post8130142348521558351..comments2024-03-27T11:18:53.456-07:00Comments on Temple of the Seven Golden Camels: Flat = Funny and Depth = Dramaticmark kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953166248647413142noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-10205723165819092022012-07-21T18:51:51.756-07:002012-07-21T18:51:51.756-07:00Excellent and helpful post! The pub scene in "...Excellent and helpful post! The pub scene in "Tangled" is great example. The tension in that scene was beautifully managed.<br /><br />Commenters pointing to the Cohen Brothers use of dramatic angles depicting absurd situations are spot on.<br /><br />I would also like to point out Stanley Kubrick's use of flat composition to depict serious or horrific situations. He has used this to produce uneasy comedy in "A Clockwork Orange", almost daring us to laugh at things that are simply not funny. He also uses very flat compositions to generate horror and unease in "The Shining". By placing something truly unsettling in a shot composed to make us at ease he is actually increasing the tension.<br /><br />These filmmakers are quite aware of the rules of shot composition and are deliberately subverting them to catch us off guard.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16925348852695004185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-9949441015714045412012-06-15T09:07:11.703-07:002012-06-15T09:07:11.703-07:00BRILLIANT OBSERVATIONS !!!BRILLIANT OBSERVATIONS !!!K.B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01089630751930937295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-48759520429925821622012-04-26T15:21:48.927-07:002012-04-26T15:21:48.927-07:00I agree for the most part. Wes Anderson's fil...I agree for the most part. Wes Anderson's films like the Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore are definitely very flat. <br /><br />However, in the Coen Brother's Raising Arizona, there are quite a few dynamic shots that still come across as hilarious. In situations like that they are shooting a ridiculous situation in a dramatic way, and I think they are spoofing what would be a dramatic scene in another story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-38569922772620731132012-04-25T04:52:18.029-07:002012-04-25T04:52:18.029-07:00Nice gallery and i think these are rare collection...Nice gallery and i think these are rare collection really awesome.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://cvswebs.com/temple-vijayawada-sri-durga-malleswara-kanaka-durga-indra-kiladri-ammavaru-sri-mathrae-namha-dasara-sarannavarathrulu-bhavani-mala/" rel="nofollow">temple</a>Info hubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01501487696210988270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-7604095741325631052012-04-25T04:51:38.318-07:002012-04-25T04:51:38.318-07:00Nice gallery and i think these are rare collection...Nice gallery and i think these are rare collection really awesome.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://cvswebs.com/temple-vijayawada-sri-durga-malleswara-kanaka-durga-indra-kiladri-ammavaru-sri-mathrae-namha-dasara-sarannavarathrulu-bhavani-mala/" rel="nofollow">temple</a>Info hubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01501487696210988270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-41949998592884558512012-04-22T04:09:25.848-07:002012-04-22T04:09:25.848-07:00That's a very astute observation there James, ...That's a very astute observation there James, really Smart & a great contribution to the wrangling of thoughts on this topic. Thanks for that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-77098724149093568392012-04-20T09:50:11.887-07:002012-04-20T09:50:11.887-07:00Great insight. Your'e a fab teacher!
Isn'...Great insight. Your'e a fab teacher! <br />Isn't it partly to do with how we actually interact with/moving through the world as well:<br />generally when we're travelling or looking around and the perspective is constantly changing there's less time to take in everything and so a lot 'goes by'. <br />But the minute something grabs our attention, we lock focus and concentrate on that one thing (usually some sort of body/object) and hence in sort it becomes flat(we're not concerned with the distorting view beyond that object. <br />For anything to be funny it has to have our locked focus in that respect before it can be read or make impact and then finally, if need be, funny.<br /><br />Also danger/awe/omnipotent/ struggling views tend to be replicating when we're not in control/less understanding and hence more searching around for the key things which CAN lock our focus and tell us the situation we are in.<br /><br />I'm learning a great many things from this blog and its' readers comments. <br />Thank you all.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08035479971432265812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-54384412606491091772012-04-18T19:26:55.891-07:002012-04-18T19:26:55.891-07:00i can think of an example where the exact reverse ...i can think of an example where the exact reverse of this rule is true.<br /><br />take a comedy. maybe one of those awful cutaway clip shows like family guy. very flat.<br /><br />and then WHAM they hit you with a dramatic and depth-ey parody of something. maybe the dad wants a donut and the son won't give it to him- then we jump to a mexican standoff sequence complete with revolvers- with camera angles presented in extreme perspective along the barrels of the guns.<br /><br />this visual contrast is AMUSING. because of the context, there's no real drama here, but the implication of drama is what makes it even funnier in context...Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09207063837902016568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-54381899873387268832012-04-14T06:17:25.353-07:002012-04-14T06:17:25.353-07:00Super interesting post once again ! Thank you for ...Super interesting post once again ! Thank you for sharing.Quentin Lebeguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780101710412702578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-88150270529417346382012-04-13T21:49:39.414-07:002012-04-13T21:49:39.414-07:00Absolutely love this post! Thanks a lot! Definitel...Absolutely love this post! Thanks a lot! Definitely makes me look at scenes a whole lot differently now.<br /><br />I have to agree with the first comment. A lot of otherwise good movies were ruined for me for suddenly bringing in unwanted humor in a serious climax. I was just beginning to get involved in that scene when BOOM! Someone just told a fart joke!Dapoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12943900976179327292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-46056333588707729062012-04-13T14:29:16.125-07:002012-04-13T14:29:16.125-07:00interesting post thank you!interesting post thank you!tommhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14873825388294932594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-54962293834301700432012-04-13T10:26:13.973-07:002012-04-13T10:26:13.973-07:00What a great post! Thanks so much for the advice, ...What a great post! Thanks so much for the advice, that really answers a lot of questions... Pitching is fun but its not so when the audience reacts different. Good examples too! thanks again! :)Nikhita P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650911976220657830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-50490097906159615652012-04-13T09:00:03.423-07:002012-04-13T09:00:03.423-07:00Fantastic post! You've shared something that ...Fantastic post! You've shared something that I've never heard before, that will stay with me for the rest of my career. Thank you! The Peanuts example is amazing. Just brilliant.Chris Cormierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10437279651726950694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-70955215591929773512012-04-13T04:25:05.599-07:002012-04-13T04:25:05.599-07:00Very well put Richard! Man, the comments here are ...Very well put Richard! Man, the comments here are really adding valuable little bits of insight to the main Article. Great stuff guys! Wow, the power of the internet, communication & the collision of minds & ideas sparking off one another. <br /><br />…makes me happy.James Carvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-83524885872120763662012-04-12T22:43:26.581-07:002012-04-12T22:43:26.581-07:00Great post.
The flat compositions are really grea...Great post. <br />The flat compositions are really great for emphasizing the staging of the action- the actual stage itself almost appears to be irrelevant as the action dominates; whereas in a dynamic composition it appears to be the stage itself that grabs more of the attention to create a sense of mood.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08102950888265856546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-39480143156500104192012-04-12T16:07:17.614-07:002012-04-12T16:07:17.614-07:00I really enjoyed this. I am story boarding out a s...I really enjoyed this. I am story boarding out a short right now and I kind of instinctively followed your guidelines- I'll be a little more aware of what I am doing now. I would really hesitate to call 'Nacho Libre' a comedy, though. I guess it's intended as one but in this case the signifier does not equal the signified.velocityofmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07028989413028830593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-6378429532631367012012-04-12T13:37:34.606-07:002012-04-12T13:37:34.606-07:00Really enjoyed this write-up. It's something ...Really enjoyed this write-up. It's something that on the surface seems so simple yet is so hard to keep in mind when setting up a scene. As you say, considering it in the early stage should save a lot of rework after others have watched/tested the scene out.<br /><br />Tony,<br />I appreciate your insight. In a Disney film that's got to be designed in or else risk the scene being too intense. I confess that I like those little moments that take you out of the intensity for a moment. It lets you relax a little even while we are anticipating getting back into the action. That anticipation is all important and helps to keep everyone in the moment for a long as we can possibly stand it.<br /><br />and Hey Matthew Bell... nice commentary and breakdown of the terminology. I really enjoyed that.Rodney Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17953461648033310302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-6493296080103865072012-04-12T13:14:37.793-07:002012-04-12T13:14:37.793-07:00Of course there are always counter-examples. Coen...Of course there are always counter-examples. Coen brothers movies are full of dynamic and deep shots that are hilarious (think Nicholas Cage being pulled by his feet out from under the car).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-27554560622767360582012-04-12T02:59:46.336-07:002012-04-12T02:59:46.336-07:00How can you talk about flatness making a scene fee...How can you talk about flatness making a scene feel humorous and not mention any Wes Anderson movies, that guy is a master flatter.<br /><br />Awesome post your stuff is allways so helpfull, it makes me understand how to turn simple to special.Afonso Ferreirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06797872156082129079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-5357860033644231572012-04-12T00:52:06.189-07:002012-04-12T00:52:06.189-07:00Depth = a longer time to read, it lets the eye won...<b>Depth</b> = a longer time to read, it lets the eye wonder & soak it all up. The complexity & visual relationships, the light, shadows, staging, form etc. Intricate images that can hide little pleasures or detail & ideas within them, reviled to the viewer through timely perusal & multiple viewings.<br /><br /><b>Flat</b> = Quick & Clear, not only for depicting "funny". But because it's often understood in a heart beat. It's the "Light Bulb" going off in your head moment, that's the power/trick/pleasure of simple & readable communication of the image. It heightens your sense of immediate connection to it for solving & understanding the image & grasping the concept of it relatively straight away. All the visual relationships are direct & presented or staged in a relatively simply & clearly understandable way.<br /><br />There are two parts to DRAWING & they are, Design and Draftsmanship <br /><br /><b>Flat</b> is <i>Design</i>, <b>Depth</b> is <i>Draftsmanship</i>. Ideally an artist should be superb at both & be able to play & meander all along the scale from one to the other and any sort of wild combination somewhere in-between. Nowadays in 3DCGI the computer does the majority of our frame by frame draftsmanship of the forms for us and we really only have total controle over the design of the position of those forms, & it’s not from scratch every new frame the way it is in OLD 2D.<br /><br />There’s a quote somewhere that talks about looking at a map <i>Vs</i> looking at the real & complex geography around you relative to your real position. It’s not always the best situation to have all the information & real terrain & its details spread out vaguely in front of you, what you need to know are the specifics of where certain things are that matter to you are. And so you pull out and look at a map with all these little flags or points on it instead. No, it’s not reality or exactly what is directly in-front of you, it’s only a visual approximation, but <i>[in quite a few instances]</i> it works better.<br /><br />Do you see? This stuff applies 110% to us artists; whose concerns are how we could go about painting & drawing <i>[i.e: depicting]</i> things, & the powerful & wonderful abilities of simplification & abstraction that come from playing with styles of visual representation & the loose association of different shapes within your images just as much as it does with those folks who’re using the above sentiment in regards to surveying & documenting lands & locations on a grand scale.<br /><br />Here are two poignant short films both with little Boats & flat, graphic & simple front-on or "stacked" dimension to them. To be honest with you, I think in a lot of instances they almost rival features in many ways with some of their strengths. Perhaps even outperform them in a few areas too. <br /><br /><a rel="nofollow">vimeo.com/22894261</a> Little Boat - nelson boles<br /><a rel="nofollow">vimeo.com/13483867</a> On The Water - yi zhaoMatthew Bellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-60643843068495058892012-04-11T22:45:14.094-07:002012-04-11T22:45:14.094-07:00this was very helpful! thanks for the awesome post...this was very helpful! thanks for the awesome post :DJasmineTannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18240183819639940337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-52412720602897795342012-04-11T22:35:44.609-07:002012-04-11T22:35:44.609-07:00Great post. I was really thinking about this when ...Great post. I was really thinking about this when I went to see the re-release of The Lion King. In the final battle sequence between Simba and Scar, Pumba and Timon crack jokes during what is really the emotional climax of the film. It totally takes you out of the drama and made the situation feel not so important. Like, "Oh, they're making jokes, so the situation isn't <i>that</i> dangerous." The stakes were watered down.<br /><br />I'm guessing they were hoping Timon and Pumba would be distractions from the serious tone the first act of the movie had, somewhat like Baloo in The Jungle Book. But Baloo eventually comes around to the sad reality of his situation, while Timon and Pumba remain essentially oblivious. They stayed two-dimensional and it hurt the emotional punch the film could have had.<br /><br />I was watching Aladdin on TV recently and the same thing happened during the climax with the Genie making impersonations of a celebrity I don't even know. It's just unnecessary.<br /><br />I'm all for mixing comedy and drama throughout a film, but I've seen it done badly too many times during the climax. It's when the film should be taken seriously for 5-10 minutes, holding my breath in anticipation. Make jokes during the dénouement.<br /><br />Ok, getting off my soapbox now.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01504843258890704533noreply@blogger.com