Winter's bone
How does independents differ to Hollywood Studio Films?
One way in which independent films are different to Hollywood Studio Films is their ability to appeal to the audiences intelligence. Hollywood Films have a straightforward plot to entertain their audience whilst Independent films use techniques to make their story something to think and question on a deeper level. An example of this would be Marvel movies, Marvel movies are upbeat and entertain they also answer the questions for you but independent movies such as Winters bone and Fish Tank these movie speak to you and make you question everything to engage and test your intelligence. Therefore the difference between Hollywood and independent movies are the ability to appeal to the audiences intelligence. Another way in which independent films are different to Hollywood Films are the ability to experiment with camera techniques to create a sense of realism. Independent movies challenge Hollywood movies, they do this by creating a sense of originality through the realism of camera techniques whilst Hollywood Films camera techniques and editing is invisible they do this to feed the audience with fantasy and dreams whilst independent films create realism and originality to challenge their audiences intelligence through the uniqueness of their camera and editing techniques. An example of this would be an expensive budget Hollywood action movie and a Independent low budget film that is about social realism and plot unclear to create this realism through the camera and editing techniques. Hollywood upbeat action movie makes the audience entertained and engaged with this 'fake' fantasies through making the editing invisible which is not original because every movie in Hollywood do the same thing, on the other hand independent films are unique and create a sense of realism and challenge the audience. |
Hollywood Movies
Usually made in the US Big cities (iconic, well known) global reach straightforward plot/story designed to engage audience through invisible editing want their audience to 'feel' not think expensive budgets rapid pacing conclusive ending same formula Sequences to satisfy fans of the movie Trends |
Independent Movies
made outside US low budgets do not go for mainstream audience social realism experiments with camera techniques slow pacing- gives more time to think and ask questions unclear plot/story line deeper meanings psychology of the character authentic suffering of everyday people appeals to audiences intelligence primary goal is art |
Winter's Bone.
The set Design in the opening of Winter's bone, the location in the Ozark's looks like they’re living under unpleasant, dangerous poverty. The area looks very run down and isolated and broken. This symbolises how underprivileged, demolished and collapsed Ree and her families lifestyle is. Also the bare nature and gloominess of the surrounding adds to the depressed atmosphere chillingness around the residents of Ozark's. This creates a sympathetic view for Rees family and the people around them and shows how unfortunate they are. All of this shows the hardship of daily life for the residents of Ozark. Another set design is Rees home, Rees house is very tarnished and broken this emphasises how collapsed their life is, the house is a standing metaphor for the conduct way life for Ree and her family. Ozark's are a isolated by the rest of the U.S wealth surrounded by them, regardless of how poor everyone in Ozark is and how independence is important to them but causes a lot of dangerous living for them all. This is emphasised by the set design in the opening of the movie.
The set Design in the opening of Winter's bone, the location in the Ozark's looks like they’re living under unpleasant, dangerous poverty. The area looks very run down and isolated and broken. This symbolises how underprivileged, demolished and collapsed Ree and her families lifestyle is. Also the bare nature and gloominess of the surrounding adds to the depressed atmosphere chillingness around the residents of Ozark's. This creates a sympathetic view for Rees family and the people around them and shows how unfortunate they are. All of this shows the hardship of daily life for the residents of Ozark. Another set design is Rees home, Rees house is very tarnished and broken this emphasises how collapsed their life is, the house is a standing metaphor for the conduct way life for Ree and her family. Ozark's are a isolated by the rest of the U.S wealth surrounded by them, regardless of how poor everyone in Ozark is and how independence is important to them but causes a lot of dangerous living for them all. This is emphasised by the set design in the opening of the movie.
Theories
Murray Smiths: The three stages of Empathy
- Recognition: Recognising a character fictionally (a process spectators do automatically), spectators are more likely to recognise a character if they have come across them before. This also depends on the spectators knowledge and experience of genre and narrative conventions, where the spectators will more easily recognise characters who conform to a particular type, such as a hero, a villain, a sidekick. Also if this character is played by a strong persona or star, this will more likely affect the way the spectators recognise the character. An example of this is would be Ree Dolly, she is played by Jennifer Lawrence a huge star with a strong persona, many spectators will recognise her work in one of her biggest successes (Hunger games) after Winter Bone. Winters bone came out during 2006 whereby Lawrence was not a big star yet, however if many spectators did not see Winters Bone back then, after recognising she plays a character in Winters bone they will recognise her and be a more passive spectator because they are a fan of her work.
- Alignment-Spectators align themselves with a specific character, the follow the story through the one character they have aligned themselves with. However Spectators might not agree with the characteristics, point of view, thoughts or feelings of the character they have aligned themselves with.
- Allegiance- This is when a character appeals to the spectators and they side with their ideas, feelings and outlook. some go to the extent to argue that this may be a passive process and we are manipulated into blindly showing allegiance to a particular character without questioning how we really feel about this character. However some argue that we actively use our personal judgements when forming allegiances.
Amy Coplans Theory
The prolonged use of a close-up on a characters facial expression can determine the emotions of a viewer, viewers can catch the emotions on display after a prolonged period of time.
The prolonged use of a close-up on a characters facial expression can determine the emotions of a viewer, viewers can catch the emotions on display after a prolonged period of time.
Stuart Halls- Audience Response Theory
Spectators
A Spectator is an individual member of an audience. Spectatorship is an important concept in film theory. Traditional models of audience response tend to treat viewers as groups, spectatorship suggests that the film builds a specific relationship with every individual who experiences it focusing on understanding the ways films produce pleasure through their viewers.
Passive Spectatorship- suggests that film texts have an effect on the spectator
Active Spectatorship- suggests that the spectators interact with the film to create meaning
A Spectator is an individual member of an audience. Spectatorship is an important concept in film theory. Traditional models of audience response tend to treat viewers as groups, spectatorship suggests that the film builds a specific relationship with every individual who experiences it focusing on understanding the ways films produce pleasure through their viewers.
Passive Spectatorship- suggests that film texts have an effect on the spectator
Active Spectatorship- suggests that the spectators interact with the film to create meaning