scene breakdown

The scene I chose to breakdown was the bank robbery scene from the film Heat. This is a long and very intense scene and the Director Michael Mann uses several different techniques to build the scenes suspense and intensity. Throughout the whole scene there are a variety of different shot sizes that Mann uses. The scene uses shots that range from ELS to ECU in no obvious pattern. The constant change in shot lengths gives a very unsettling feeling not allowing the viewer to get comfortable in any part of the scene. Along with the varying shot sizes making you feel unsettled the rapid rate of cuts is also very unsettling also, so not only are you bouncing in and out but your doing it very quickly. Some of the shots are steady and fixed and some are moving. The fixed shots sometimes have rapid zooms that also adds to the unsettling tone. Some of the moving shots, especially during the shootout in the street, appear to be hand held and follow the characters as they run or shoot in an almost documentary type of style, this makes the viewer feel like they are right in there in the middle of the gun fight. The sounds of the scene also do a lot for the feeling of the scene. Before the gunshots start going off the or any of the yelling there is a low and steady high paced beat going which keeps the viewers heart rate high, and then when the gun shots go off there seems to be a echo bouncing through the streets making the shots very loud and making me jump when they go off. In conclusion the scene is very high paced, exciting, and suspenseful and the film maker uses a variety of different techniques to achieve this.

Serpico Brasco

Sound walk

I did my sound walk from Hunter college to my subway stop but weaving up and down streets and avenues on my way. I heard all the normal loud sounds of walking through the city. I hear the sounds of the cars driving and the horns beeping as they cut each other off, the clanking of the man hole covers as people step on it or cars running over it. One thing that I noticed that I usually wouldn't are the sounds that I hear in result of not having my earphones in or paying attention to my phone. The people asking me to take whatever flyer they are handing out are actually heard instead of barreling past them without much notice or care. I hear people's conversations as almost half the people walking have a phone to their ears, something that I don't miss when I have my headphones. Walking between avenues is much more quiet then walking street to street. The loud car horn honking and man hole covers are only echo's in between a slow avenue, and you get a small piece of peace before you get to the next street and get bombarded with sounds of miscellaneous phone conversations and loud trucks rumbling next to you.

Museum of moving image.

While on my visit and tour of the museum of moving image I saw many different fascinating exhibits like the special effects, sound effects, sound recording, and one that showed the control room of a live tv show. This exhibit was most fascinating to me because I never really got to see how it was really done before. The exhibit showed a wall full of screens which all were showing images from a different camera at a New York mets baseball game. As the game would go on there was a director who would call out a number or name for the camera image that he wanted to be broadcasted to the public. While watching a game the cuts seem to be seamless and get to each player or area in time to see the action take place, and to see how high paced it is to get the right images out in such a seamless way was very impressive to me. As I watched for while I could pick up on the standard pattern of shots for the action in the game. You would see a shot from behind the pitcher towards the batter for the pitches, or a close up of a batter in between pitches. The repetition of the shots were almost a template of how the game should be showed. This was interesting to me because now I see how it is like the continuity system of shooting and editing which you can find the same kinds of patterns in the repetition of shots that you find when watching a live broadcasted baseball game.

Interview

Artist Statement

My name is oliver astone and I love to tell stories. I always did, even all the way back in elementary school trying to get laughs at the lunch table. I think it made it easier to make friends and I guess it still does. Somewhere along the way I found out that there is no better way 
to tell a story then through film. There is no other way where a story can 
unfold right before your eyes. A story teller can control every aspect of a story 
with film, from using music to create the tone of the movie, to the camera 
angle to give the viewer a specific feeling. This complete control of a story is 
what attracts me to make films. I like to be involved in all aspects of the film 
making process from directing to editing to writing, I believe this is the only 
way for a film maker to make a film truly his own.
 My favorite types of stories to tell are comedic dramas. I love the escape that 
comedy can give you from all the worlds problems, even if it's only for about 
two hours. On the other hand I love the journey that drama stories can take 
you on, pulling all kinds of emotions out of you on the way. But what I love 
most is what you get when you put these two kinds of stories together. You 
find out that in almost any situation, there is a way to find laughter and smile. 
Film makers like Wes Anderson and Martin Scorsese are strong inspirations 
in my love for comedic dramas, like them I strive to make audiences laugh 
even in the darkest of situations. So watch my films and join me on this 
dramatic journey, but don't forget to laugh on the way.