The Purposes of Different Cinematographic Techniques
Explain how the director uses cinematographic techniques to realise
the scenes which are not/only referred to in the text
Amidst today’s high-budget, multi million pound cinema, there are a
huge number of cinematographic techniques used for many different
purposes. In the box-office hit, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,
which was directed by Mike Newell, the flying Horntail dragon and
other mythical creatures, as well as the illusion of playing Quidditch
on a magic, flying broomstick, are created using all kinds of advanced
digital effects. In animated films such as Shrek, the characters are
all computerised and enhanced, and are produced using extremely
sophisticated equipment and the latest technology.
As a low budget film, Educating Rita is not associated with these
cinematographic techniques. Lewis Gilbert, uses very few of these
techniques, although he does use them successfully. As Educating Rita
is a realistic slice of life set in a Liverpudlian town, all of the
amazing techniques in today’s cinema are not needed so there is
nothing fantastic about the film. However, Lewis Gilbert in 1983 uses
the camera very effectively. While Willy Russell focuses on Franks
study, Lewis Gilbert takes it outside and shows the viewers what is
going on inside of their lives when they are not together. He uses the
camera to emphasise certain ideas and to add depth to the scenes.
Lewis Gilbert exploits the camera to show what he anticipated the
scenes to be like. One cinematographic technique used by Lewis Gilbert
is foregrounding, which is used during the opening mise-en-scene. When
...
... middle of paper ...
...e diegetic
sound of thunder. When she reaches the pub, there is a different kind
of diegetic sound as her family and friends sing along to the
jukebox. As Rita looked in at the dinner party, she looks in at the
pub, and through the cameras close up we can see that she doesn’t want
to be there either. Through Julie Walters’ facial expressions, Rita
does not need to say how she is feeling; we can see this through the
full shot of Rita and she can’t go backwards.
Even though Lewis Gilbert uses only a small number of cinematographic
techniques, and not the same ones as the big blockbusters of today, he
has used them well to create a successful and effective yet realistic
film out of Willy Russell’s play, Educating Rita. They help to address
and emphasise the issues and problems which Lewis Gilbert feels are
important.