(FILM STUDIES)
Introduction
The film industry is one of the areas in art and theater that are necessary to look at and focus on, since they are established and based on different theories and schools of thought, based on the film director’s opinion and perfection towards various aspects in the entire arts and theatre industry. This is the reason why different authors and film analysis have come up with different ways and strategies through which directors approach their movies, particularly, from script writing to the actual movie directing. The movie directors determine how the final outcome of the entire product will be, and therefore, play a major role in determining the final outcome of different shots and scenes in the movie (Coleman, 2011).
Andre Bazin ( 1918-1958), which is one of the world’s French renowned film writers and critics, has had varied and established opinions concerning film writing, scripting and directing, and this is one of the factors that led him to writing various opinions and criticisms concerning the same. He has been credited as one of the most influential and prominent figures in the French film industries, and that played a major role in shaping it into being the industry that it is right now; fully grown and advanced. There are several aspects that are necessary to note in this case, since they are some of the ideologies that he closely held and shared concerning the film industry (Pipe, 2007). One of these views includes the psychological view and outlook towards the industry. In his view, Andre Bazin explains that some film directors put much of their faith and concentration on image, while other focus much more on reality. This is due to the fact that the film audience has different perceptions and understanding on the movie context, and the movie image that the movie creates during its direction is different from the actual reality. At the same time, it is necessary to note that these are two different aspects that have varied impacts on the film viewers.
In order to understand this theory, it will be necessary to look at the case from an objective perspective, by understanding the opinion that the audience have on a movie, and the impact that the psychological depiction have on their attitude towards the movie. I have selected the movie The Titanic, a 1997 movie produced and directed by James Cameron. By selecting this movie, it will be easy to demonstrate the director’s psychological perception towards the film direction. At the same time, this paper will look at the theory of realism, and how it is applied in the movie. This will make it possible to understand how realism affects the director’s direction of the movie, as well as the audience’s perception towards the same (Coleman, 2011).
Critical exposition
It is necessary to start by understanding the theory of realism, and how it has been applied in various films, especially in the directing of the movies. This will assist in understanding how this affects the audience’s perception of the movie with the foundation of the movie’s script, and how the film relates with the script. Realism is the theory that seeks to express a given issue under scrutiny to the truest, realest and in the most logical view, without exaggerations, artificial implications and exotic perceptions. In this case, therefore, the theory seeks to present any given matter from a very applicable nature, and in its natural and most believable settings (Pipe, 2007).
Realism theory
Realism is one of the theories that were developed in France in the 1850s, by an artistic movement, and its most influential aspect that led to its development is the 1848 French Revolution. This was a counter theory that rose against romanticism, which is one of the artistic theories that had existed in not only France, but also the entire European continent between the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. This is because the realists sought to develop a strategy through which they would be in a good position to present art and theater in its most natural and realistic way possible. This was based on the fact that romanticism was based on a lot of exotic aspects. In this case, therefore, this led to the lack of identity in the French theatre and art industry, particularly due to the fact that romanticism introduced the entire European art and theatre setting (Coleman, 2011).
In the realists’ bid to introduce and develop realism as the most influential strategy and theory in the entertainment and art industry, there led to the development of photography, as a new form of art and entertainment. This is due to the fact that photography was not based on imaginative and exotic setting, rather, on a realistic and natural setting. There are several areas that realism concentrated on, and these included emphasis, detail and precisely accurate presentation. Towards the end of the nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth century, photography has developed and joined mainstream art and theater industry. This led to the development of the film industry, which has developed to the current day into the movie industry (Stam, 2004).
The Titanic (19970 and realism
Considering the fact that The Titanic (1997) is a movie that was set based on a true story, this means that James Cameron has a major task of making the movie appear as real as possible. At the same time, considering the fact that the film is set in an ocean setting, making the movie appear as real as possible if one of the most essential factors to be considered in this case. In this case, therefore, effective application of realism is necessary in the film, and this is due to two factors. The first reason is the fact that the movie was based on a true story. Considering that most of the audience watching the movie is aware of the early twentieth century’s sinking of The Titanic, it is necessary to bring it out in a way such as the audience can relate the film with the actual sinking of the ship in the twentieth century.
Plot
In order to understand how realism has been applied in this movie, it is necessary to start by understanding the movie plot, and how it has effectively adopted and incorporated realism, among other minor theories and concepts. In the movie plot, it is 1996, and a treasure hunter by the name Brock Lovett sets on a mission to look for a treasure necklace called Heart of the Ocean in the RMS Titanic wreck which sank in 1912. In the process of the search, he finds a preserved photo of a nude lady and the news immediately flood the media, and an elderly lady by the name Rose Dawson Calvert calls him to claim the picture, saying that she is the lady on the picture. Following the same, she is compelled to accompany Brock Lovett and several other treasure hunters, alongside her granddaughter. Asked whether she can remember where the diamond necklace was, she goes ahead to narrate to the listeners the happening of the sinking, claiming that she was the owner of the necklace, whom people thought died a long time ago (Editors of Life, 2007).
Having boarded the titanic ship at Southampton in 1912 with his fiancé Cal, she goes ahead to narrate how her family, having a royal background, aspects such as engagement and maintaining a modest class are some of the factors that the society highly regarded, and this is even depicted upon boarding the Titanic ship. However, since she is not happy with the engagement, reasoning from her adolescent state, she goes aloof the ship and attempts to jump into the sea. Just in time, Jack, an ordinary boy sees her, and convinces her not to jump. A casual friendship develops between the two, to the disapproval of her boyfriend Cal. With time, however, the two fall in love to the disapproval of Cal and Rose’s mother. The two, however, defiant of their rivals’ opinion, continue developing their relationship. As they have fun aloof, the ship hits an iceberg, which leads to gradual sinking of the same. However, considering that Cal and Rose’s mother amongst other passengers aboard are from a royal family, they are given the first priority in using the life boats. However, Rose doesn’t want to leave Jack behind, and she goes back into the boat, trying to save him. However, Jack eventually dies as he tries to get her aboard and balance her on a raft, after which, Rose is rescued. Many years pass, and she finally gets married to a different man. However, the search for the necklace brings back all the memories, and Brock Lovett and the other treasure hunters are moved to tears when Rose Dawson Calvert finishes narrating the story that took place a long time ago (Richardson, 2001).
Realism application
At the same time, there are several scenes in which the director, James Cameron has played as major role in ensuring that they are as real as possible, and these include the ship-sinking scene. The cries of the passengers as well as the falling of the people are one of the aspects that have played a major role in bringing out the realism theory in the movie. At the same time, it is also necessary to note the fact that lighting is another essential area to look at, since it has played a major role in vividly bringing out the film’s realism (Richardson, 2001).
Conclusion
One of the most essential things to note concerning the film industry and filmography is the fact that it should be as convincing as possible. This is due to the fact that as much as movies and films seek to educate, their prime goal and purpose is to entertain, and entertainment should be brought out in the most possible realistic way. According to Andre Bazin, the perception that the audience have on the film will determine how effective the message is passed, and how thrilling the movie is. This is due to the fact that acquiring and gaining the audience’s perception is the most essential thing that should be put into consideration in every film, and in this case, it is necessary to create a setting in which the audience will feel involved in the film, as well as a setting that will appear realistic, and understandable and not sophisticated in any way. In this case, for example, James Cameron, Titanic’s (1997) director, has played a major role in making sure that the bases the movie on reality. Though effective scenes’ coordination, lighting and directing/basing the film on a practical and natural platform, Titanic effectively brings out realism in the film.
Bibliography
Coleman, S. 2011. Filming the Nation: Jung, Film, Neo-Realism and Italian National Identity. New York: Harvard University Press.
Editors of Life. 2007. LIFE Titanic: The Tragedy that Shook the World: One Century Later. New York: Harvard University Press.
Pipe, J. 2007. Titanic. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Richardson, C. 2001. Autopsy: An Element of Realism in Film Noir. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Stam, R. 2004. Literature Through Film: Realism, Magic, and the Art of Adaptation. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
