Zachary Ferguson - Film Technique 


Bunny: 

In this film the writers did a great job of showing a scene about death and the afterlife in a very cute yet uncomforting way. The film depicts an older bunny who is clearly on deaths door. The bunny begins to follow a bug to a light she had on which resembles the light leading into the afterlife. The bunny then climbs into an oven which is the films way of depicting that she is moving on into the afterlife and passing on from this world. The films use of lighting and the granular nature of it makes it feel old. In doing so it provides a cozier feeling as the bunny is passing to the other side. 


Harold and Maude: 

This film uses close and far imagery in an excellent way to show the parallels between life and death. This is seen when Maude and Harold are in a graveyard and Maude is explaining to Harold the similarities between life and death. Maude begins by talking about the white flowers and the film is zoomed in on this area of white flowers. When the flowers are in view Maude is talking about life. But when Maude begins talking about death and how there are many parallels to life the camera zooms out to show tombstones that are also white which is excellent imagery demonstrating exactly what Maude is talking about with the parallels between life and death. 


Northfork: 

This film uses a very dark and grey color pallet as symbolism of death in its story. In this film a house was split in two and the son and the father take two different teams to explore and rescue the owner. Both teams make it to the top but there is a barrier of snow in the way. The son urges the father to jump to the other side and the father almost falls doing so. The father sees angels which are also all grey and does a great job of showing the imagery of death and the grimness of the situation. 


Paris, Texas: 

In this film, the camera pans over many different highways and winding roads that seem to go on forever. This imagery depicts a message of searching for meaning in communication and suffering. The film even makes you feel lonely as you are constantly being surrounded by people but none pay attention to you as you go on this seemingly endless path. Eventually the main character meets his former wife but you can still see there is a broken communication and suffering in that that may have caused the reason  for their separation and it still is there. 


The Wall: 

This film follows a young boy who lost his father in world war two. This film shows how the death of his father slowly consumes him to the point where he becomes a neo-nazi. The film uses animation and real life as a way to parallel this mans life as he becomes apart of British society, which are the people who took his father and constantly reminds him of the war and his father. The imagery of the animation is fantastic and does a great job of being parallel with his life

 

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