Two faces, two connected souls. We never had two cameras actually. Whether its one of the many tracking shots following Chirons back through his world or watching his reaction, one can sense a precision in every shot. 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. Which is a scene I think we have seen. This notion of being bathed in a primarily pink environment as she screeches away at Chiron was very much a necessity for it reveals a different side to her and insight to a different aspect of her life. Barry Jenkins' Moonlight (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. 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. Its sort of funny that this moment is happening at a time when those two things could not be further apart from one another., Moonlight moves away from the coldness on anything impersonal and uses a well-worn authenticity along with a small handful of the films recognized by the Academy this year. Moonlight Film Review and Analysis | by Hunter Albert | Medium The sights, sounds, and smells of a summer day in your hometown. Paulas anger at her son, Kevin and Chirons sexual intimacy and the resulting violence, as well as Chirons ultimate self-acceptance at the end of the film are relayed to us in silent gazes. The camera circles around Chiron, but it is extremely close to the character, unlike how it was a comfortable distance in Juans scene, another way of showing how different their worlds are. We walk through the film's structure, cinematography, sound and symbolism to show you . The use of color in the film to provide context for emotional moments, and eye-catching lighting in an expressionistic mode can also be seen in films like Chungking Express (1994), and In the Mood for Love (2000). In moonlight black boys look blue. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper. The whole thing was one camera, says Laxton. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of his life. 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. Your favorite summer hobby and how you got into it. Im very proud of and very happy with the diner scene in story three, says Laxton. He borrowed elements from the work of photographers Earlie Hudnall Jr and Viviane Sassen. Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. Moonlight Film Analysis - 793 Words | Bartleby Look no further! A man teaching a boy how to swim turns into a powerful moment of . Continue with Recommended Cookies, An avid reader and a life-long lover of blue skies,. To communicate this in a visual manner, the camera frames the subjects such that they fill up the majority of the screen, thus drawing us into their emotional landscapes. Moonlights cinematography uses bold colors and stunning shots to create an emotional experience. Cinematography Analysis - Politis copy.docx - Moonlight But the film is an absolute triumph on both counts for its vibrant storytelling. has been beaten up and bloodied by his bullies. Lighting is used to challenge stereotypes by juxtaposing the dark things that happen to characters with bright and beautiful lights in the background. The same weakness is shown to immobilize Chiron, however, his ability to remain static throughout the situation represents some degree of mental toughness that was unseen before this scene. When Chirons mother begins to leave, she continues to stare at Chiron and walk into the door where the pink lighting was coming from. Currently besotted with Maupassant, art history and all things Nolan, you can find me spacing out to Queen while I look for new things to obsess with. Moonlight Cinematography Analysis - The Odyssey Online Moonlight: A Masterpiece of Cinematography - Cinematography with Chloe Lets deep dive into some of the elements and cinematography techniques used in the film. Read More22 Must Watch Films For Great Cinematography21 Iconic Shots Of The 21st CenturyCinematography Vs Videography: Whats The Difference? (2000). , as he is bullied serves to subvert audiences expectations and sets the right tone. While I think audiences are actually chomping at the bit for really personal unique visions of things. Then they [], Anthony Burgesss A Clockwork Orange is a novel pervaded by a multifaceted and intrinsic musical presence. The close-up of Chiron after Juans offer clearly shows his anxiety. At the end of the film, the last shot is Chiron standing in front of the Atlantic in the moonlight. 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. 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. Want to spend your summer being creative and making some money on the side? Those things were calibrated for white skin. Its for grand stories and big-scope thoughts. Moonlight is a story about seemingly contradictory things. 100% Customized to Your Need with Expert Writers Similar themes are present in both films, but Jenkinss sophomore film shows how much the filmmaker has improved. How you are depicting someone. When describing the look of the characters within the location Jenkins told TIME last month, Cinema is a little over 100 years old, and a lot of what we do is built around film emulsion. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. At the end of the second part, Chiron has been beaten up and bloodied by his bullies. Later in the film when Juan teaches Chiron how to swim, the camera is level to the water so that the audience feels like they are swimming with the characters. The theme, being who we truly are and what our environment expects us to be, is the protagonists main conflict. I mean Moonlight is not necessarily a realist movie by any stretch of the imagination. The non-linear storytelling is enhanced by the visual choices of the film. Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins - GradesFixer 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. Cinematographer James Laxton shot every scene in Moonlight with clear purpose; to capture and express Chiron's inner world from moment to moment. This essay has been submitted by a student. I think whats happened is that the realistic aesthetic applied to drug addiction, or lower socioeconomic classes, portrays the characters as having dark or depressive mentalities, Laxton said. Bullied at an early age and seemingly outcast, Chiron knows he doesn't fit in because of his sexuality. Let's fix your grades together! We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. They also used anamorphic lenses, which normally allowmultiple characters to play out a scene in the same wide-screen frame. Moonlight was filmed in Liberty City, Miami, where the neighborhood houses are pastel-colored and trees a tropical green. Its sort of a fake-out, the films director of photography, James Laxton, said recently. There is at least one unifying element, though: the films insistence that the humanity of every character be brought to the fore. understand that identity is often shaped by ones circumstances, and people only see the person shaped by their lot in life, not who they truly are. Your work will be featured on our homepage and in our weekly Overheard on Odyssey newsletter. Let us write you an essay from scratch, Order a custom essay from our writers and get it on time, Structural Analysis Of The Movie Moonlight Essay, Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins Movie Moonlight Essay, The Main Message Of The Film Moonlight Essay, Comparing Barry Jenkins And Richard Linklater's Works Essay, A Comparison Between the American Psycho and a Clockwork Orange Essay, A Study of the Character Alex in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The Role of Music in Bringing Out the Theme in a Clockwork Orange Essay, Free Will vs Morality in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The theme of morality and ethics in A Clockwork Orange Essay. Which is a scene I think we have seen. Similarly, the photographic realism of Hudnall Jr. results in the framing of the characters with a quiet dignity. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. THE IMAGES THAT INSPIRED JAMES LAXTON | BY PAUL MOAKLEY. 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. 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. So much is happening behind their eyes. In the color correction, we embraced the brightness and high contrast, intending to emphasize the heightened sense of extremes., We needed an image that had the aggression of our characters state of mind. It is important to remember that this scene was after Kevin touched Chiron both physically and emotionally. I started talking about this movie 17 years ago when I first met Barry, Laxton tells TIME. In Moonlight we follow Shyrone in three chapters of his life, following three phases of his life that stands out for its form and execution. Growing up in his early days, Chiron does not have a male or fatherly figure in his life. Moonlight: Behind the Making of the Oscar-Nominated Movie - TIME.com 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). The top five things on your summer bucket list this year. When Kevin notices Chiron sitting at the bar the shot cuts to a close-up of Kevin looking directly looking into the lens. Jenkins uses all the tools there are in camerawork to create a story thats personal to each and every person. See the powerful images that inspired Cinematographer James Laxton. Barry Jenkins's first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. And they allow my mind to sort of relax and just let a story be presented to me., This idea of being really personal and unique with the way in which you tell your story. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. Jenkins used his own experience, growing up with mother struggling with addiction, to write the screenplay. So we used oil. Moonlight, which is up for six Golden Globes and is likely to earn as many Oscar nominations, leaves a lasting impression on your mind and eye, and its impact is not limited to yourpresent field of vision. Without saying a lot, the film creates dramatic tension as well as a sense of intimacy that can so often get lost in the viewing process. All of these things speak to judgment. But Moonlight is more Wong Kar Wai than The Wire. sexual intimacy and the resulting violence, as well as. 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help you just now, Berry Jenkins intimate film Moonlight, follows the struggle of a young sensitive black man trying to find himself against his society's expectations of masculinity and identity. We see him immerse his face in an ice bath, framed by flickering lights. tripartite narrative and non-linear storytelling is also reminiscent of the latter. The frame is set up in such a way that the viewer only experiences the calm waters of the Atlantic and the rush of the waves as Juan holds Little above the water. Its most prominent themes are love, stereotypes and identity. To communicate this in a visual manner, the camera frames the subjects such that they fill up the majority of the screen, thus drawing us into their emotional landscapes. 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. Moonlight Explained: Symbols, Camera & More - YouTube 2023 Oscars Analysis: Academy, 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Win The attempt was to promote those emotions, not just to present them, but to promote them to a place where you can sense the intensity by which Chirons character is going through these things. The camera, said Laxton, is playing with our associations by saying, in effect, Heres something youve seen before. Juan relays this anecdote to make Chiron understand that identity is often shaped by ones circumstances, and people only see the person shaped by their lot in life, not who they truly are. Laxton and Jenkins shared lots of photography including the work of Earlie Hudnall, Jr. Another photographic inspiration was the work of Dutch artist Viviane Sassen. GradesFixer. We used it as the opposite of that, to show the character alone within this vast frame, to emphasize the isolation. Laxton added, Its a format, a kind of lens, that is associated with large blockbuster movies: the Star Treks, the Star Wars. Jaws follows the police chief Brody, along with scientist Hooper and shark hunter Quint, in their attempt to protect the town of Amity against a Great White shark that is terrorising . 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. That being said, I dont think the movies untrue. Before Chiron walks into a diner the lightbulbs outside were changed to give off a blue hue instead of the natural green to make Chiron look softer. The camera is sped up and closing in on Chiron and his friend, trapping them even further. story. In moments like these, a cinematographer has to try to deliver images that match the strength of the performance and emotional value of the story. Laxton cites director Spike Lee and Claire Denis as inspirations as well as Wong Kar-Wais work on films like Happy Together and In the Mood For Love. Laxton used Hawk V-Lite anamorphic lenses, throughout the film to help amplify the emotional state of the characters within the majestic widescreen format. Rather than employing a realist, documentary style, Moonlight is filled with elements of visual design such as contrast, color, camera angles, lighting, and slow-motion that immerses the audience in a dreamlike . I first did not understand the scene, analytically as well the cinematographic choices, but the more I look into it, the deeper I realize it is. Best of all, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home or wherever you happen to be spending your summer. The idea of the opening sequence to have these two highly disparate shots welded together is the essence of the film. The spinning has a dizzying effect, which intends to put our audience in a state of tension, uncertain as to how the scene will play out. The contrasting sound design in both scenes also shows each characters place in their community. Where because movies are costing so much money these days that theres so much at stake and therefore everyone, every sort of person involved with the film chimes in with their of personal feelings. 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. The light in Miami is so specific, Laxton said. Moonlight is a fever dream of emotionality, . Many critics view Laxtons cinematography as visual poetry, through his use of techniques to further tell a sophisticated story. Sensitive topics such as race and sexuality, staged against the backdrop of the hood are automatically assumed to follow the convention of realism. Its most prominent themes are love, stereotypes and identity. We were lighting them with a style that was more realistic than flattering and we wanted the skin tones to feel warm and not harsh. (James Laxton Creates Poetic Look). Protagonist Alexs fondness for classical music imbues his character with interesting dimensions, and resonates well [], Following the publication of his most notable work, A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess commented on the function of literature in a mutable society. to swim as a transcendental moment. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. 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. But as the film ends, the final image is that of Little, barefoot on the beach, soaked in blue moonlight, these motifs merge to create one final image of healing. David Bornfriend/A24. The main characters self-discovery is told through these chapters, each through a different developmental phase of his life. Among these boys is Kevin the only one who looks at Chiron like a person and in Chirons point of view he looks at Kevins bruise instead of him staring back like the other boys. This arc shot is a motif that is used repeatedly throughout the film and has two meanings. Jenkins approached the scene where Juan teaches Chiron to swim as a transcendental moment. 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. The Photographic Inspirations Behind Moonlight, 2016's Best Picture But my memory of growing up in Miami is this moist, beautiful black skin. Barry Jenkins' Moonlight is a movie about Chiron, the protagonist, through three significant periods of his life. Moonlight Cinematography | LensCulture Moonlight is shot in anamorphic format, which made it when the characters stare into the camera that much more dramatic. We balance between sensuality and violence, and in this moment, violence triumphs. Then when Kevin enters the scene, the camera stands in front of the doorway and now it looks gigantic. Gradesfixer , Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins., Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins [Internet]. I think the color pink can have a lot of associations but I think one of them can be beauty. Home Essay Samples Entertainment Moonlight Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins. It's an intentional move away from the aloof style and perfection of most big budget. Especially visually, it isnt. Lets consider the sequence where Juan teaches Little to swim. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Moonlight exquisitely uses light and color to enhance the immersion of the audience into Chiron's thoughts and feelings. 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 scene is about a dealer interacting with his guy on the corner, right? The location of teenage Chiron provided the audience with this darkness and grotesque feel due to the green tone of his bathroom. 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. Natural light is also used during the diner scene. The film is separated into three chapters, Little as his youth, Chiron as his adolescence, and Black as his early adult life. Laxton pushes the camera closer and closer towards the characters so as to create moments of intentional bonding between them and the audience. I think its really funny that the business generally is sort of moving towards a directing by committee approach. Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton focused on drawing the audience into the inner lives of the characters and creating a consistent visual language to tell a story of fractured identity. 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. to swim. This also brings the film to a symbolic full circle, ending with the nascent stages of Chirons story. Another scene where the camera circles around the characters is when Chirons bullies are forcing his friend to hit him for being different. It allows the audience to almost be disarmed in the first three minutes of this opening shot, says Laxton. This is where the association with water is relevant. Its like Lion, Arrival, and La La Land, these are really personal visions of things., Your browser is out of date. 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. Moonlight was directed by . The result is an immersive sequence that allows the camera to capture each splash and stroke of the water, which was achieved by filming partly underwater. Moonlight was loosely adapted from an unpublished [], Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Barry Jenkins's first film, Medicine for Melancholy, has a similar theme to his second feature film. Unlike other films, Moonlight does not use a realistic aesthetic that other films that deal with drug addiction and lower socioeconomic classes. For one, this scene accomplishes this visual confirmation of the weakness that Kevin holds due to his closeted insecurities. Fear, love, and hate all coexist at the same time. Roy was someone that I think shaped a lot of how Barry and I sort of approached the film at the very, very beginning.. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. I think that younger audiences are more accepting of this than older audiences. 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. Laxton was also heavily inspired by photography. The Main Message of The Film Moonlight - GradesFixer As Juan releases him to float, Chiron quickly steadies himself and Juan says, Right there, youre in the middle of the world. On the phone Laxton is modest about his work and credits the films success to his close friendship with Jenkins. Its something that allows an audience to really sink into a story.. Image Source: lensculture.com ( Earlie Hudnall, Jr., Viviane Sassen, courtesy of PDNB Gallery). September 5, 2020 by The Editors Leave a Comment. It makes the audience absorbed into the scene and sees the intensity of what the character is feeling. Sassens work possesses a wonderful blend of color and the saturation of natural textures and hues of skin that, While the story is told in three distinct parts that correspond to different parts of, , these are united by the expressionistic use of color and certain motifs. On set it rounded out this character in this moment that is very dark and very intense. The color blue and water are the most prominent throughout. So was McCraney, 36. And all those things, oddly enough, I think what they do in a way is they disarm me. Immediately after the first scene, the camera moves to Chiron being chased by his bullies. 30 Best Italian Movies Of All Time, Ranked. 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. Cinematographer James Laxton films Ashton Sanders. Backpacking across Europe? This circular shot encapsulates the Chirons teenage bully Tell as he initiates a game of knockout as he directs Kevin to punch Chiron. They remind me that Im watching a movie. Moonlight Film Analysis. The film has a retroactive effect. Moonlight Movie Discussion Questions | Study.com , barefoot on the beach, soaked in blue moonlight, these motifs merge to create one final image of healing. These find correlation in both the Objective Story Throughline and the Main Character Throughline: Little deals with the Past and Being (Objective Story Transit 1 and Main Character Transit 1) The composition of this notable scene juxtaposes the ingrained idea of Juan being a gang affiliated drug dealer as he takes on the role of father of the protagonist. Moonlights setting in Miami was essential to the story. 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 idea of judgment. Actors Andr Holland and Trevante Rhodes from Moonlight. 22 Must Watch Films For Great Cinematography. Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight Essay. For their singular vision for storytelling, Moonlight famously won Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. Color is one of the first things I notice about the sequence. It is said that this scene was originally intended to be six hours to fully capture this scene but due to a storms untimely passing it was done within 90 minutes. Analysis of Cinematography in Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight ultimate self-acceptance at the end of the film are relayed to us in silent gazes. Moonlight's Cinematographer on Filming the Most Exquisite - Vogue Moonlight follows Chiron, an African American living in a rough neighborhood of Miami. The bright colors used are different than the usual dark and harsh colors American indie movies that tackle social issues usually have. Thats an idea that kind of came out of our process on the set. The immersion in water is reminiscent of a baptism, and this motif is repeated throughout the film. The camera is always placed as close to the actors as possible, so as to put the viewer in the scene. The last sequence particularly stands out; upon breaking down in, , standing in front of the sea and looking right back at the viewer, awash in moonlight and hinting at self-acceptance. Analysis of The Structure of The Film Moonlight - GradesFixer Every shot is rife with emotional heft and a definitive artistic composition. Your California Privacy Rights. When looking at the cinematography section at the Oscars, Laxton says, Its amazing to be on that list. Both films use color to reflect the mood of the scene and what the characters are thinking. But presenting it in maybe a way thats providing a larger lens to look through.. In the next scene, the child, Little (Chirons nickname when he is young), played by Alex Hibbert, interacts with the dealer we have already met, Juan, in a way I will characterize only as unexpected. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. Get custom essays. An Analysis of Barry Jenkins' Moonlight "In moonlight, black boys look blue," Juan relays to Little in one of the early scenes of Moonlight, the Oscar winning screenplay by Barry Jenkins. In Moonlight, clichs and tropes exist only so they can be upended. When Juan beckons Chiron to teach him how to swim, it is a long shot as Chiron decides what to do. Join our team and let's create something amazing together! Cinematographer Laxton used an Arri Alexa digital camera that displays skin tone more vibrantly as skin tone was an important aspect of Moonlight. Moonlights focus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. Cinematographer James Laxton and director Barry Jenkins on location in Miami.
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