Oh I should go back and find it but I just saw a Tik Tok with Ethan Hawke on a slight rant about how directors who only care about cinematography set up shitty shots in films lol. He said Denzel Washington always asks why a director wants him to go a certain place. He said that the audience isn’t dumb and will pick out when shots don’t make sense.
I love Ethan Hawke. I have a feeling his crotchety old man phase is going to be amazing. He's right, though. A lot of directors, frankly, don't understand cinematography as anything other than "pretty" shots. For really good cinematography enhances and underscores the film's narrative. Bottoms, for instance, is a hideous looking film but it's deliberate. The lighting is flat, which only enhances the institutional feel of the school, and the shots are not interested in making the stars look better or prettier, instead it's all about revealing their worst sides. We only get a hero shot at the end, when the girls have reconciled and everyone's had their actualization moment. The cinematography is not pretty, but it's very good from a story point.
I just have to say it: I can’t deal with anything Downton Abbey related, but Julian Fellowes deserved that screenplay Oscar just for the line “Difficult colour, green...”
Green actually is a difficult color! A lot of people can't perceive it very well, not even to the extent of color blindness just lacking receptors to see it as clearly and richly as other colors. It also doesn't photograph well. Blue and green are notoriously terrible for capturing on film. It has to do with the way they absorb and refract light, so if you're trying to achieve any kind of effect with those colors you have to be really careful about what light you're using, what lenses you're using, how long your exposures are etc. It's not a coincidence the green dress scene in Atonement happened at night. If that scene had to happen during the day, that dress would have been another color.
Wes Anderson does SUCH a good job with cinematography in his movies, the colors are always gorgeous. I also feel like Sofia Coppola doesn't get enough credit for how beautifully framed and shot her movies are (and how hard that is to do on the budgets she typically has!)
Real Genius!!! Oh, Sarah, we really should be friends! My college roommate and I had it on video cassette (👵🏼) and it was a semi-regular hangover companion. I love that you gave it a shout out here. I don’t want to say that Hollywood never knew what to do with Val Kilmer cuz he’s in some great movies...but his comedy chops were def underused
Real Genius! One of my all time favorite movies. Lines from that movie are in my vernacular to this day. "It was hot and I was hungry". IYKYK. Val Kilmer had such great comedic talent. Top Secret was so good too (well, it might not be so good now but at the time it was freaking hilarious). And Blazing Saddles! UGH! That totally should have won Oscar after Oscar but I think the quality of it was too good for it and watching it today, it's amazing the stuff they got away with. And Lucille Ball. She was such a huge influence on me as a child. I watched I Love Lucy when it was in syndication - it was on twice a day and I'd watch it faithfully both times. She and Desi changed television. She wouldn't make I Love Lucy as a television show without Desi playing her husband. The studio wanted her white guy radio co-star but she held firm. Desi and Karl Freund made the three camera sitcom set up an industry standard. They were amazing.
So much respect for Lucille Ball ✊ A pioneer. @Lil you mentioned 3-camera set up. I have trouble understanding why they choose to shoot that way. Expediency? Or is it for artistic expression?
From Wikipedia: "Generally, the two outer cameras shoot close-up shots or "crosses" of the two most active characters on the set at any given time, while the central camera or cameras shoot a wider master shot to capture the overall action and establish the geography of the room. In this way, multiple shots are obtained in a single take without having to start and stop the action. This is more efficient for programs that are to be shown a short time after being shot as it reduces the time spent in film or video editing. It is also a virtual necessity for regular, high-output shows like daily soap operas. Apart from saving editing time, scenes may be shot far more quickly as there is no need for re-lighting and the set-up of alternative camera angles for the scene to be shot again from the different angle. It also reduces the complexity of tracking continuity issues that crop up when the scene is reshot from the different angles."
Karl Freund & Desi didn't invent the three camera system but they were the people who brought it into the mainstream. It worked incredibly well for I Love Lucy since they shot live. Also it was always a treat to be able to hear Lucille Ball or Desi Arnaz laughing in the background at a particularly funny scene.
Thank you, Meghan and Sarah, for the question and answer on color in films! I just finished watching the series CULPRITS, and the set designers, makeup artists, and costume department did an amazing job using color in their storytelling. The mysterious Gemma Artherton was always in cool blues, greens, and purples, and most of the shots were fairly neutral but punctuated with bright red (and now I know why!).
I am fascinated by this because I rarely notice. What is wrong with me? I’m a details person, too! I always notice when people make even small changes to their appearance. I can tell when celebrities have work done. Why don’t I notice things like this???? I feel like I’m missing out on something.
Now that I think about it do we think that party at BCoops house was a private screening of Maestro? It was right around TV 1989 so I assumed that the cause for the gathering but maybe it was maestro related?
You’ve named a ton of actors who got recognition later in their lives - had no idea Lucille Ball was 40! Somehow Brendan’s first act completely escaped me and I loved Encino Man. Maybe the hustle continues well into life as it’s never too late to “be recognized” or just generally be successful in your career, whatever that success looks like. Also gives me hope that it’s not too late for Greta in particular, I’m excited to see what she’s doing next. Also had no idea that Kate and Max were in an open relationship and that she dated Elliot! I was also fascinated about that situation and i wholeheartedly agree we should be more open minded towards differnt forms of relationships.
I don’t really pay attention to use of color except on red carpets . I focus more on the use of symbolism in movies though. Thats where the storyline really is for me. Color can be translated in different ways.
You present a ‘hall pass’ to your partner or introduce an ex as a friend and suddenly people think your whole relationship is a hoax. In some scenarios it’s sus but not always. People really do NEED to be more understanding with unconventional love frrrrrr!!!! What Kate and Max have/had is not unusual.
I have to admit, I'm curious about the angle on the Page Six tips re Selena and TS. I'm always fascinated by the PR games.
BeeKeeper review was great, so great.
Re red, I do need to pay more attention to use of color these days, I used to be better at picking up on those details I equate red with Almodovar; red is not a color I'm drawn to, but I love the way he uses it.
Re: Ryan Seacrest being safe... what ever happened to his #Metoo moment? Was it discredited, swept under the rug, or did we all just (sadly) forget? I remember he denied it, and I don’t recall hearing anything about it after that.
What I remember is that his accuser was a former makeup artist or stylist, someone in that vein. It came out, but I don’t recall there being specific details. I think he was off of Ryan & Kelly for a short time, after announcing it in a way where he was the victim (maybe he was?). I don’t consume any of his media/content, so it just sort of slipped by.
Oh I should go back and find it but I just saw a Tik Tok with Ethan Hawke on a slight rant about how directors who only care about cinematography set up shitty shots in films lol. He said Denzel Washington always asks why a director wants him to go a certain place. He said that the audience isn’t dumb and will pick out when shots don’t make sense.
I love Ethan Hawke. I have a feeling his crotchety old man phase is going to be amazing. He's right, though. A lot of directors, frankly, don't understand cinematography as anything other than "pretty" shots. For really good cinematography enhances and underscores the film's narrative. Bottoms, for instance, is a hideous looking film but it's deliberate. The lighting is flat, which only enhances the institutional feel of the school, and the shots are not interested in making the stars look better or prettier, instead it's all about revealing their worst sides. We only get a hero shot at the end, when the girls have reconciled and everyone's had their actualization moment. The cinematography is not pretty, but it's very good from a story point.
I saw that clip on instagram. He made such good points imho.
I just have to say it: I can’t deal with anything Downton Abbey related, but Julian Fellowes deserved that screenplay Oscar just for the line “Difficult colour, green...”
Green actually is a difficult color! A lot of people can't perceive it very well, not even to the extent of color blindness just lacking receptors to see it as clearly and richly as other colors. It also doesn't photograph well. Blue and green are notoriously terrible for capturing on film. It has to do with the way they absorb and refract light, so if you're trying to achieve any kind of effect with those colors you have to be really careful about what light you're using, what lenses you're using, how long your exposures are etc. It's not a coincidence the green dress scene in Atonement happened at night. If that scene had to happen during the day, that dress would have been another color.
It sounds like it's all the more impressive that dress in Atonement ended up being so iconic.
Wes Anderson does SUCH a good job with cinematography in his movies, the colors are always gorgeous. I also feel like Sofia Coppola doesn't get enough credit for how beautifully framed and shot her movies are (and how hard that is to do on the budgets she typically has!)
I'm suddenly reminded of Zhang Yimou's movie Hero and its use of color. I think there was a blue/green section.
Real Genius!!! Oh, Sarah, we really should be friends! My college roommate and I had it on video cassette (👵🏼) and it was a semi-regular hangover companion. I love that you gave it a shout out here. I don’t want to say that Hollywood never knew what to do with Val Kilmer cuz he’s in some great movies...but his comedy chops were def underused
Real Genius! One of my all time favorite movies. Lines from that movie are in my vernacular to this day. "It was hot and I was hungry". IYKYK. Val Kilmer had such great comedic talent. Top Secret was so good too (well, it might not be so good now but at the time it was freaking hilarious). And Blazing Saddles! UGH! That totally should have won Oscar after Oscar but I think the quality of it was too good for it and watching it today, it's amazing the stuff they got away with. And Lucille Ball. She was such a huge influence on me as a child. I watched I Love Lucy when it was in syndication - it was on twice a day and I'd watch it faithfully both times. She and Desi changed television. She wouldn't make I Love Lucy as a television show without Desi playing her husband. The studio wanted her white guy radio co-star but she held firm. Desi and Karl Freund made the three camera sitcom set up an industry standard. They were amazing.
Top Secret holds up! He's just a little horse!
So much respect for Lucille Ball ✊ A pioneer. @Lil you mentioned 3-camera set up. I have trouble understanding why they choose to shoot that way. Expediency? Or is it for artistic expression?
From Wikipedia: "Generally, the two outer cameras shoot close-up shots or "crosses" of the two most active characters on the set at any given time, while the central camera or cameras shoot a wider master shot to capture the overall action and establish the geography of the room. In this way, multiple shots are obtained in a single take without having to start and stop the action. This is more efficient for programs that are to be shown a short time after being shot as it reduces the time spent in film or video editing. It is also a virtual necessity for regular, high-output shows like daily soap operas. Apart from saving editing time, scenes may be shot far more quickly as there is no need for re-lighting and the set-up of alternative camera angles for the scene to be shot again from the different angle. It also reduces the complexity of tracking continuity issues that crop up when the scene is reshot from the different angles."
Karl Freund & Desi didn't invent the three camera system but they were the people who brought it into the mainstream. It worked incredibly well for I Love Lucy since they shot live. Also it was always a treat to be able to hear Lucille Ball or Desi Arnaz laughing in the background at a particularly funny scene.
Thank you
2 Selena thoughts/q’s:
- does she have the uhhh...chops (vocal and acting) to pull of Linda Ronstadt?!
- if Single Soon had been released in July it would have been the song of the summer
Single soon is such a good low key banger!
No. Nope. Does not have the chops. I honestly don’t get it.
My first thought was how could she possibly sing like Ronstadt???
I thought the same thing! Linda's voice was out of this world.
This is an excellent reminder to re-watch Blazing Saddles.
Thank you, Meghan and Sarah, for the question and answer on color in films! I just finished watching the series CULPRITS, and the set designers, makeup artists, and costume department did an amazing job using color in their storytelling. The mysterious Gemma Artherton was always in cool blues, greens, and purples, and most of the shots were fairly neutral but punctuated with bright red (and now I know why!).
I am fascinated by this because I rarely notice. What is wrong with me? I’m a details person, too! I always notice when people make even small changes to their appearance. I can tell when celebrities have work done. Why don’t I notice things like this???? I feel like I’m missing out on something.
Now that I think about it do we think that party at BCoops house was a private screening of Maestro? It was right around TV 1989 so I assumed that the cause for the gathering but maybe it was maestro related?
Oh I would assume it's Maestro related.
Fuck yeah Real Genius! A criminally under-appreciated 80s movie.
You’ve named a ton of actors who got recognition later in their lives - had no idea Lucille Ball was 40! Somehow Brendan’s first act completely escaped me and I loved Encino Man. Maybe the hustle continues well into life as it’s never too late to “be recognized” or just generally be successful in your career, whatever that success looks like. Also gives me hope that it’s not too late for Greta in particular, I’m excited to see what she’s doing next. Also had no idea that Kate and Max were in an open relationship and that she dated Elliot! I was also fascinated about that situation and i wholeheartedly agree we should be more open minded towards differnt forms of relationships.
I don’t really pay attention to use of color except on red carpets . I focus more on the use of symbolism in movies though. Thats where the storyline really is for me. Color can be translated in different ways.
You present a ‘hall pass’ to your partner or introduce an ex as a friend and suddenly people think your whole relationship is a hoax. In some scenarios it’s sus but not always. People really do NEED to be more understanding with unconventional love frrrrrr!!!! What Kate and Max have/had is not unusual.
Thank you for recommending Self Reliance on Hulu. Just watched it. So fucking good!!!
I have to admit, I'm curious about the angle on the Page Six tips re Selena and TS. I'm always fascinated by the PR games.
BeeKeeper review was great, so great.
Re red, I do need to pay more attention to use of color these days, I used to be better at picking up on those details I equate red with Almodovar; red is not a color I'm drawn to, but I love the way he uses it.
Re: Ryan Seacrest being safe... what ever happened to his #Metoo moment? Was it discredited, swept under the rug, or did we all just (sadly) forget? I remember he denied it, and I don’t recall hearing anything about it after that.
Same--I don’t remember hearing about any Secreast #MeToo stuff!
I think I either missed that or forgot about it...what was the gist of it?
What I remember is that his accuser was a former makeup artist or stylist, someone in that vein. It came out, but I don’t recall there being specific details. I think he was off of Ryan & Kelly for a short time, after announcing it in a way where he was the victim (maybe he was?). I don’t consume any of his media/content, so it just sort of slipped by.