Glenn Shadbolt - Cinematographer

Film Studies evaluation by Glenn Shadbolt

In our group’s short film extract we decided to choose an opening scene from a neo noir film and in it keep the noir and neo noir styles. In our group I choose to be the cinematographer, as this role I wanted to keep the same shots as the scene we based the opening on. When we decided to do a neo noir and noir film we listed some noirs and neo noirs these included; Double indemnity, Sin city and Brick we also looked at some films that weren’t noir and neo noir these included; Blade, Fight Club and Blade Runner.

As the cinematographer I wanted to keep the shots flowing so that we would keep a noir feel to it, I decided to do this because I liked the filming in Double Indemnity as they had flowing takes and lots of good shots. I wanted to keep stylistic noir shooting to the film as if I didn’t use this in our extract it would look like we are taking the editing, dialogue and sound from a noir movie and mixing it with a action style of cinematography which would of included lots of movement of the camera and would of destroyed the noir feel to out extract.

From the film Sin city I wanted to include the majority of shots that they include as this was the main film we was basing out extract from. I wanted to recreate some of these shots as it makes it look like the characters involved have a genuine connection to each other this would therefore make the crowd react the audience will react differently but I want the audience to act shocked when the find out what happens at the end this reaction will happened due to the different shots used.

Another film that inspired me as far as cinematography goes is a scene in the film Road to Perdition

This inspires me as it includes lots of basic shots that put together make the scene what it is. I like how this camera focuses on the main character while the shootout is happening. Because of this scene I am going to try carry the camera work from this film into are film extract although this is going to be a lot easier to do in out groups project as there is only two characters to film. Although this film is not strictly noir based it still carries styles of noir, this being the crime that is in the film.

I especially like this shot from our short extract of a noir film as it looks very similar to one of the films that inspired me as cinematographer. I like how the couple aren’t shot in the middle of the frame. I did this my setting up the tripod and moving the camera to look slightly to the right of them. I done this as it shows the male figure looking out into the night sky. This will hopefully cause a reaction to the audience of them thinking why is he looking out to the night sky when he has the girl as he should be looking at her. Another shot that I was very happy with was the shot of the male figure walking away from the girl’s corpse I like this shot as it is from the girls point of view, it also shows what she is seeing from the last of her life, the guy she has fallen for walking away from her after he has done his job.

Another shot that I also think went really well is the shot just after the male figure has shot that girl and he has pulled his gun up to show the audience what he has just done. I think this will grab a good reaction from the crowd as they would have thought that he was falling for her and he wanted her but when they see this they would be shocked to see that he has killed her. I also think they will like the build up to this climax as how it is shot gives nothing away until you see the male figures gun.

Edit: wouldnt let me post pictures so will do them at a later date.