Moonlight is a film of few words. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below: By clicking Send, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. When looking at the cinematography section at the Oscars, Laxton says, Its amazing to be on that list. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you what you might have missed about this immersive. Those things were calibrated for white skin. Jenkins uses all the tools there are in camerawork to create a story thats personal to each and every person. Unlike other films, Moonlight does not use a realistic aesthetic that other films that deal with drug addiction and lower socioeconomic classes. Other photographers like the great Earlie Hudnall Jr. were found on Tumblr shared in dropbox folders along with the work of Dutch art photographer Viviane Sassen also had a huge influence on Laxtons choice of colors for some of the films most iconic scenes like the swimming lesson, set in it high contrast colors and crystalline blues. Jenkins, 37, was raised by a single mother who became addicted to crack. All rights reserved. When Chiron finally joins him, the camera jump cuts and it is no longer a long shot as Chiron begins to have fun. Everything that should feel familiar and gritty is photographed in the bright mid daylight and blown out whites. We balance between sensuality and violence, and in this moment, violence triumphs. Laxton and Jenkins drew from varied sources to create a singular cinematic language for. While I think audiences are actually chomping at the bit for really personal unique visions of things. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. The immersion in water is reminiscent of a baptism, and this motif is repeated throughout the film. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Its merely a feature of the landscape, where air is humid, birds chirp, people disappear, and small bills flow in a circle. Above: D.N.A., 2007. When Kevin notices Chiron sitting at the bar the shot cuts to a close-up of Kevin looking directly looking into the lens. Back at school, after Kevin was forced to beat up Chiron by his bullies, Chiron sits in an office and tunes the principals voice out. Color and light are tools for transcendence, used to reframe and illuminate. While its a tender coming-of-age film, it never shies away from the harsh world of gangs and drug use that it is set in. I mean Moonlight is not necessarily a realist movie by any stretch of the imagination. Professional Writers that Guarantee an On-time Delivery. Barry Jenkins narrates a swimming sequence from "Moonlight" featuring Alex Hibbert and Mahershala Ali. Blue serves as a source of solace and peace for. Every shot is rife with emotional heft and a definitive artistic composition. Laxton was also heavily inspired by photography. Your favorite summer hobby and how you got into it. They also used anamorphic lenses, which normally allowmultiple characters to play out a scene in the same wide-screen frame. Miami is a sublime fever dream of pastels and neon, lush greens and glistening, perspiring skin tones. The film opens with a very stylized, swirling shot of a drug dealer, Juan, played by the magnificent Mahershala Ali. sexual intimacy and the resulting violence, as well as. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. So did Tarell Alvin McCraney, who wrote the play on which the movie is based, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. As the sky progressively turns grey, it contrasts against the clear ocean, presenting how the characters feel emotionally. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. The color blue and water are the most prominent throughout. Its my job to depict judgment, yet Im ultimately searching for a way to get the audience to relinquish that judgment and to just be watchful., We asked Laxton to describe his approach to shooting four of Moonlights most striking scenes, moments in the film when color and camerawork are particularly integral to the story and evocative of the place and people. Near the end of the film, Chiron is standing in a doorway but the camera has skewed the perspective by not standing directly in front of the doorway, making Chiron look small and confined. Barry Jenkins's first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. Laxton creates pure poetry on celluloid that is perfectly equipped to conjure a story of self-discovery and acceptance. It makes the audience absorbed into the scene and sees the intensity of what the character is feeling. Nevertheless, the brutality and explicit [], "The woman looked at the tree: the fruit would be good to eat; it was pleasing to the eye and desirable for the knowledge it could give. I dont mind being reminded that Im watching a movie, says Laxton. We open on the curb of a street in Liberty City, a tough neighborhood in Miami, as a souped-up classic car, its dashboard decorated with a miniature crown, pulls up and parks. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you . Your California Privacy Rights. Based on the unpublished play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney, it tells the story of a young Black man coming to grips with his attraction to other men. And thats still true today.. From the very first shot of drug dealer, (played by Mahershala Ali) arriving to meet with his subordinates, we are greeted with a bright color palette that is infused with rich blues, bright yellows and tropical reds. Its like Lion, Arrival, and La La Land, these are really personal visions of things., Your browser is out of date. The choice to portray what looks like a stereotypical drug deal, and then swiftly move towards the vulnerability of. Moonlight is shot in anamorphic format, which made it when the characters stare into the camera that much more dramatic. This film was the first with an all African-American cast and LGBTQ-based storyline to win an award of this prestige. Join our team and let's create something amazing together! The assumption is that the story will be told in a tonality that prioritizes the gritty and bleak real-ism of their world. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. How high-angle is something? . Its most prominent themes are love, stereotypes and identity. In 2017, the film Moonlight was awarded Best Motion Picture at the 74th Academy Awards. The second chapter of the film uses German film stock which is known for adding cyan to its shots, which alludes to the films name. In moonlight black boys look blue. Later it is the friendship between young schoolboys during a ballgame. The film, which was critically acclaimed for its fresh take on race, African-American queer sexuality, and nuanced understandings of masculinity was told through bold colors and realism in the mode of cinematography. The concept of prejudice is also recreated to portray the mistreatment of the coloured. The expertise of cinematography in this movie is fluid. Light was placed within a tree by Laxton to cast speckled obscurities on the main character as he strode underneath, generating exclusively new photographic attentiveness from the . The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. Juan has burst into Chirons sanctuary, literally and metaphorically, and offers him food as a source of comfort. Laxton recalls his experience, carrying a 200 pound underwater housing with the camera inside and wrestling the tide trying to make sure [they] were at the right height to see the performances above water to be difficult. We all have a way in which were viewing the story that were telling and I think who we are dictates so much of how we see the world. In Moonlight, its the process of keeping the audience aware of the makers hand and of the actors playing. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. CN Fashion & Beauty, Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 5/25/18) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 5/25/18). A prominent scene depicts this where the protagonist is taught how to swim in the ocean by his father figure Juan. first introduction and their subsequent meeting are framed in the vivid blue of his car, and his apartment. Look no further! THE IMAGES THAT INSPIRED JAMES LAXTON | BY PAUL MOAKLEY. There is at least one unifying element, though: the films insistence that the humanity of every character be brought to the fore. The use of the circular motion is used to provoke a specific pressure, especially that in which comes from the in-group. Plot is not so much the concern as an intensive character study is. This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before, Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts. Here, we wash away the old Chiron, and introduce a new one., Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 5/25/18) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 5/25/18). Right afterwards, as. The natural light gives the characters a soft glow and presents the characters in a way that does not feel fabricated. Sassens work possesses a wonderful blend of color and the saturation of natural textures and hues of skin that Moonlight employs as well, to define a new idiom of beauty for black bodies in cinema. Moonlight is an American drama film that chronicles the life of African-American male Chiron, who is being raised by a careless mother in a harsh Miami neighbourhood. But "Moonlight" is a film about faces. Theres a few reasons I think why that pink light doesnt sort of ring false for people, says Laxton. When he washes off his bloodied face he is simultaneously washing away the old Chiron, thereby ushering the audience into the third chapter in which we see a parallel to the bathroom scene, only now with Black. The most mesmerizing scene immerses you in the blue-green water of the Atlantic as Juan teaches Little to swim, complicating notions of masculinity and fatherhood while overturning a racist stereotype. When in the first act, Littles mom, Paula, is saturated with pink light whist she yells at her son. But it allowed us to understand that shes a whole character as well., When asked about his favorite scene in the film Laxton immediately turns to the third act where the shift in style in subtle and more nuanced. Home Essay Samples Entertainment Moonlight Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins. There is not much point in writing a novel unless you can show the possibility [], Many philosophers have believed for centuries that no intrinsic meaning exists in the universe. At the end of the film, the last shot is Chiron standing in front of the Atlantic in the moonlight. Moonlights focus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. All of these things speak to judgment. Backpacking across Europe? Instead, the camera simply allows the audience to see them at their most humane moments with their flaws and hopes laid bare. Judgment is something I think Im very concerned with in filmmaking, Laxton said. The effect is such that we are not watching them swimming; instead, we are right there next to them. Well known for its groundbreaking lighting of black actors, Moonlight embraces the tension of the location in what Jenkins calls "a beautiful nightmare" (Jenkins). Maybe you think you know whats about to come in the next hour and a half., You dont, and thats the point. My morning routine is I make a cup of coffee and Ill just like scroll through Tumblr images for the first 20 minutes of my day, says Laxton. Similarly, the choice to shoot in 35 mm anamorphic lens was borne out of a desire to tell a story with majesty and an immersive experience. The duo also shares a lot of photography. Its a historically black community where the majority of residents live below the poverty line. According to Moonlight cinematographer James Laxton, much of today's cinema has lost this subjective intensity. When it comes to depicting the lives of African American communities on screen, there is a precedent set by films that have come before Moonlight. (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. Your California Privacy Rights. Moonlight is a masterclass in expressive camera and sound. You blue, thats what Im gon call you.. That pink light behind her in that scene and within the film generally helps to express another side of her, says Laxton. Weve always placed powder on skin to dull the light. How you are depicting someone. Lighting focused on skin tone and making skin color look natural and appealing. In contrast from other movies about poverty that mostly is accompanied by jarring noises and severity, Moonlights soundtrack consists of beautiful melodies that are created with a number of violins, cellos, violas, and basses that are constantly being filtered through Chirons perspective. In by doing so Laxton was able to deliver an image that matched the strength of the performance by infusing the dramatic scene with a pop of color, often associated with beauty, which in turn allowed for a map of understanding with respect to who Paula is as a character and why her full existence is essential. Their 15-year history affords Laxton an intimate pre-production period not often given to a cinematographer., References were identified early on: Wong Kar Wais Happy Together, Hou Hsiao-hsiens Three Times, Spike Lees Clockers, the films of Claire Denis. It is through these very techniques that. Gradesfixer , Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins., Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins [Internet]. If the empathic power of Moonlight defies easy categorization, it can be trickier still to put your finger on what is singular about the cinematography. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of his life. We were at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, sitting at a table in an otherwise empty lounge. Jaws Cinematography Analysis 709 Words | 3 Pages. Theres a certain beauty to the sheen., For this scene we physically put ourselves in a scenario in which our environment had a massive influence on what kind of images we captured. This scene contains no spoken dialect from either character, although the scene solely consists of an angry yelling sequence from mother to son. Hes someone who I think Barry and I were actually familiar with from our college days in this magazine that we were obsessed with called Hobo, he says. The Atlantic Ocean is a bright blue while the scene challenges what black fathers are supposed to be. Im very proud of and very happy with the diner scene in story three, says Laxton. Which for us meant anamorphic lenses that express this heightened sense of existence that I think audience members sometimes associate with bigger tent pole films, but were presenting this sort of nuanced subtle story but with that same heightened value.. The camera goes to a low-angle shot as Chirons glare becomes harder and the sound of his harsh breathing becomes louder. Tell us about your travels! It just wakes my mind up., Photographers like Henry Roy inspired Laxton. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. As the cinematographer, Laxton explained that in order to strengthen the emotional value of this performance he was required to, create some soft, overhead dramatic lighting with accents of color, one of those being the pink light in the background behind the character Paula.. Get custom essays. Laxton also shot Jenkinss previous film, Medicine for Melancholy. 100% Customized to Your Need with Expert Writers story. This also brings the film to a symbolic full circle, ending with the nascent stages of Chirons story. While the plot proves for a strong base, the cinematography is what really makes the film stand out, winning an Oscar for Best Picture. There is a greater meaning to all the seemingly unimportant saturation of colors and camera angles. . Barry Jenkins, the screenwriter and director behind the beautiful new film Moonlight, grew up in Liberty City, the Miami neighborhood where the story is set. With rich hues that provide vital cues and swift camera movement, the film cautiously walks the line between realistic storytelling and a process of expressionist imagery. The life of Chiron is delicately revealed by cinematographer James Laxton who portrays him within a distinct pallet of blown out color photographs that set his life in a faded part of Miami where screenwriter and director Barry Jenkins was raised. Throughout Moonlight Chirons character maintains a sense of childlike behavior that carries into his adulthood. These frames provide a sense of loneliness that hes still struggling with as an adult and still permeate the visual language that we were using in story three., Thinking back to his own childhood Laxton says, I remember wearing out VHS tapes of my favorite movies as a kid and having the tracking being a mess and trying to watch movies that were faded. This tint was not done for pure aesthetic necessarily, but to speak to the emotional state that Chiron was experiencing. "I think for all of us around there, and especially for Barry because this is so personal to him, that just . Now, it represents his world, one of anxiety and persecution. Those conversations started when we were in our early 20s in college. This lighting gives the character depth and not just a negative stereotype of an abusive mother. Not only will you gain valuable writing experience, but youll get to choose your own topics and write one response a week to one of our top trending articles. Breaking the fourth wall. Shes yelling at her son. Moonlight Film Analysis. In the following, indispensable video essay from Screen Prism, the structure, cinematography (by James Laxton), sound . . 2 Analysis of cinematography in A Better Life and Moonlight Director Barry Jenkins uses cinematography in the film "Moonlight." From the beginning of the scene, lighting is at play as Chiron approaches the diner. It allows us to make choices later on in the film, that if we dont set up our language that way at the beginning, could possibly feel like not as organic.. The baptism scene illustrates a swimming lesson between Juan and Little in the ocean. Its something that allows an audience to really sink into a story.. I wanted everyones skin to have a sheen to reflect my memory., While trying to establish texture of the place, Laxton spent eight weeks studying the light and the humidity of the location. Their filmmaking style developed after they met in college at Florida State University. Let's fix your grades together! This scene is much more than the light fixture, however, but also the engrossed colors that illuminated the shots. Dark colors and harsh light is the appropriate lens, we seem to have decided, for dark circumstances and harsh realities. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of [], What I believe the film Moonlight is attempting to communicate to us watching is not simply the acknowledgment of homosexuality inside African American neighborhoods, yet additionally grasping young men who exist outside of that [], The semi-autobiographical bildungsroman films Moonlight and Boyhood, directed by Barry Jenkins and Richard Linklater, explore comparable themes through the use of cinematic and narrative techniques. The beginning of the film starts with establishing Chiron, the protagonist, and Juans, the mentor, place in the community. Although this put a damper in the intended shot and imposed several challenged on a technical level, you can gradually see the sky become progressively more gray and cloudy which unintentionally supported what exactly was occurring emotionally with the characters. While its a tender coming-of-age film, it never shies away from the harsh world of gangs and drug use that it is set in. Which is a scene I think we have seen. This scene utilized Miamis natural lighting (that would be later touched in editing) which is said to do wonderful things to ones skin and kinder due to the humidity and moisture in the air. I just feel satisfied that we got what we set out to get. David Bornfriend/A24. But Moonlight is more Wong Kar Wai than The Wire. Moonlight is an insightful and compelling independent film directed by Barry Jenkins that follows Chiron, a Black gay man, at three different points in his life. The film, which was critically acclaimed for its fresh take on race, African-American queer sexuality, and nuanced understandings of masculinity was told through bold colors and realism in the mode of cinematography. We didnt talk about Moonlight of course, but I think on some level those conversations about what it is to be a filmmaker, who our voices are as filmmakers. This is done substantively, with the emotional terrain of the characters, and its done visually, with angles and light. Jenkins and Laxton were aware of the fact that they were dealing with stories that had previously been depicted, and sought to destabilize the tropes associated with several elements of the narrative. Both Jenkins and Linklater [], The controversy surrounding Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho and Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange relates primarily to the central themes that are explored in both books. Here, it symbolizes the community and tight connection between the boss, employee, and customer. With rich hues that provide vital cues and swift camera movement, the film cautiously walks the line between realistic storytelling and a process of expressionist imagery. Dollars from the household of a dealer may end up in Chirons pocket and later in the hands of Chirons mother, who doubtless will return them to a dealer. Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins Essay. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. Moonlights camera work and mise-en-scene, specifically the lightning, is one of the films most important parts of its cinematography. Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight Essay Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Image Source: lensculture.com ( Earlie Hudnall, Jr., Viviane Sassen, courtesy of PDNB Gallery). Jenkins reflects on the theme of prejudice through an array of symbolistic features to illustrate the evolution of Chiron from a man to a child. Moonlight exquisitely uses light and color to enhance the immersion of the audience into Chiron's thoughts and feelings. For all of the modern marvels of special effects, 3-D glasses, even shaking seats and simulated experience, what these films lack is the capacity to engage our imaginations. The reason for using the flicker box was here applied to a fluorescent light, instead of its usual occupation which produces lighting effects. Since one of the concepts of our visual language had to do with being immersive, it was a must to put the camera in the water, within the tides and waves of the ocean, to experience the swimming lesson as the characters do. Another strategy in accentuating the films unique feeling is using a single Arri Alexa XT camera through the whole shoot. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/analysis-of-cinematography-in-moonlight-by-barry-jenkins/. The bold color palette and bold lighting choices, rife with lens flare that communicated the sweltering heat of Miami were inspired from the films of Wong Kar-Wai. It is difficult to sum up all that feels new about Moonlight, which puts a fresh lens on so many things at once. Its most prominent themes are love, stereotypes and identity. Moonlight is such a beautiful experience because of the way Director Jenkins uses color, camera angles, and lighting to connect the audience to the characters. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. We see him immerse his face in an ice bath, framed by flickering lights. The low immersive camera is combined with this authentic fluid motion that gives the audience the sensation that we are immersed within this endless horizon of water, much like Little, thus enabling the audience to experience Chiron's baptism as he does himself. The scene in which Chiron comes face to face with his largest enemy (himself) through a clean glass mirror serves as an interesting shot for cinematographers and audiences. Cinematographer James Laxton films Ashton Sanders. Then they [], Anthony Burgesss A Clockwork Orange is a novel pervaded by a multifaceted and intrinsic musical presence. According to Laxton, this was an idea that took shape in pre-production. Unlike the ugliness that was showcased with the green walls with Chiron, the blue light emphasizes this cold feeling that represents that moment in his life emotionally.
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