Movies are a powerful tool that can inspire empathy, bolster social movements and change our perception of the world. From educating audiences about historical tragedies to entertaining them with blockbusters, movies have an incredible impact on society. But what exactly are they communicating? This section will take a hard look at what cinema has to say, whether it’s through characters, plot or the way it’s shot.
Invented in the late 19th century, motion pictures allow us to see the world through another person’s eyes. The earliest films were simply static shots like workers leaving a factory gate, or the view from the front of a train traveling through town, but once filmmakers started stringing together scenes, they began to communicate more than just images of the world around them.
While many of the earliest films lack a narrative, they are still able to hold our attention because of their concrete nature. The illusion of movement and the accuracy of film imagery creates something mildly hypnotic that may lower critical resistance. For example, Charlie Chaplin’s silent film The Circus, lacks the ability to convey emotion, but its enthralling and often humorous story still has the power to touch our hearts.
The emergence of sound in cinema changed the experience and brought new layers to storytelling, making it possible for viewers to feel more invested in a film’s characters. The addition of audio allows for new emotions to be conveyed through a character’s voice, body language or facial expressions. Sound also allows for more complex film editing, adding music and background noise to the picture.
It is now common practice for directors to use multiple microphones on a set in order to capture as much of the dialogue as possible and make it easier for audiences to understand what is being said. Directors can then edit their film to remove any unnecessary information, and choose which parts of the dialogue they want to include in the final cut.
For those with an interest in filmmaking, understanding the different elements that go into a movie can help us appreciate the process and craft of creating a piece of art. Movies require a lot of planning and preparation, from writing the script to casting the actors. A director needs to have a strong vision and be able to communicate it clearly to their team so that they can achieve the desired results.
From sexy thrillers to sweeping epics, there is something for everyone when it comes to movies. From classics like Schindler’s List to modern day blockbusters like Black Panther, movies continue to shape our opinions and inspire action. With the ability to capture global issues and appeal to an international audience, film is a medium that has the potential to reach everyone.