My creative realization essay involved me
researching the hypothesis of film noir being a genre of film rather than a
style. The research that took place involved me looking at older 1940 and 50s
noir films and comparing them to more modern neo-noir films, noticing the
similarities and differences in both of them. Style was carried through but so
were other things like characterization and iconography – which are areas one
would expect to see in a film genre. I selected six key primary texts, half
being influential classic noirs: Double Indemnity, Sunset Blvd. and The Maltese
Falcon,and the other half being neo-noir films: The Departed, Drive and Brick.
Through the influences from these older noir films that are embedded into more
modern ones like loss of identity, similar narrative patterns with motif and
tone – this is what made me decide film noir to be more a genre rather than
style. I also took into account the typical cinematography of film noir with its
dark low-key lighting and the chiaroscuro technique used. Along with the characteristics
that make up film noir like narrative patterns, themes of identity loss and
dark tone, and archetype characters.
The visual style was something that held a lot of significance in the argument in whether film noir is a genre or a style. The use of low-key lighting was explored within the study through my 20 key frames. I decided to have half of the shots fully composed through natural lighting and the other done through artificial lighting and then colour graded to appear more like a noir film. This was to experiment with how significant the key frames visual style is in regards to the accompanying screenplay that the frames were inspired through. Additionally I wanted to see how much the visual style was significant in enabling the story to be a neo-noir. Through the use of both primary and secondary texts this research all agreed with my hypothesis of film noir being a genre. These clear characteristics through things like narrative and characterization showed there was more unique as just stylistic features within noir. I then used typical noir elements I found like themes of identity within the narrative of the screenplay and then visualized this into the 20 key frames. I also tied identity into the mis-en-scene with the engineer character wearing the same work wear throughout even when unemployed and then with his new role as a hacker. This was done to convey his identity loss with him in still trying to hang on to his initial persona as the engineer. I used photoshop in adjusting the already used artificial light and colour graded half the pictures to give them the traditional noir style. I then just brought out more of the colours used in the other natural light shots so they appeared more real life documentary style.
I also went in to detail with researching characterization in noir films. Common characters like hard boiled detectives that were found in older films, like Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon transferred into all the neo-noir films in my study. This then gave inspiration in the use of the engineer then acting as a detective and finding out Laura’s role in stealing money from him and her general operation motives. The role of women was something I extensively focused on with appearance attractive women often cast in roles involving being a threat to men. I then used the threat along with the sexual aspect I also found within my research in constructing the character of Laura – casting an attractive and curvy women to match the typical noir female. The only negative was the original girl I had cast was not able to be present on shoot day and I replaced her with another girl who was not blonde, which is the hair colour quite a few femme fatale characters within my primary texts had. I was able to capture the role of Laura visually through having the actor wear a black dress that brought attention to her body. This was to also explore the theory of the male gaze that I found was subtly included in both classic and modern noir films. Although not through dressing sexually revealing, the gaze more appears through the choice in casting attractive women and furthermore ‘dolling them up’. This was what I also was able to achieve in my key frames, although I could have used some more make-up on the female actor to emphasize more of the male gaze. I also captured the character of Laura through quite a few close ups and mid shots to get a mix of her body and face in shot to enforce the cameras POV from a man.
The narrative was another key part within my study that I considered. The narrative of the 5 minute film is based around the ideas of early noir with themes of identity loss, and a femme fatale being a mans lover whilst deceiving him. The modern neo-noirs aspects arise from having the engineer character as a computer engineer; and the technological crime of hacking bank databases being involved. I also examined the use of the melancholic mood that often follows the protagonist, creating a narrative in which a negative resolution is inevitable. A lot of the dialogue was informed by the mood often set in noir and I wanted to capture the hopelessness characters often feel through dialogue. I also used canted angles to represent a characters distorted state of mind, which also links to the melancholic mood I was trying to set. Additionally canted angles were also used to foreshadow negative events through them representing characters unstableness which eventually leads them to making disorientated decisions. An example is key frame 14 when the engineer decides to join Laura’s line of work and the canted angle is used to foreshadow a disorientated ending. The choice in having a linear narrative was more of a choice informed by neo-noir films within the study, which seemed to depart from the older non-linear flashback type noir films.
The research into visual style, narrative and characterization have been the three aspects that have helped me to define film noir firmly as a genre, rather than just a style. The ubiquitous conventions of film noir mixed with its own visual style was something I attempted to get across in my 20 key frames. Due to some lack of planning, the frames did not communicate as clear and congruent a story as I wanted it to. Although, the visual style was effectively conveyed visually and there was a good mix of the classic and neo-noir elements embedded in. The characterisation was well visualised with the characters clearly being influenced by past noir characters and the actors that played these roles also appear believable. Overall there was a clear communication of film noir being established as a genre, but I could have shown this more effectively within the key frames. This could have been done through more creativity and attention to detail through mis-en-scene.
The visual style was something that held a lot of significance in the argument in whether film noir is a genre or a style. The use of low-key lighting was explored within the study through my 20 key frames. I decided to have half of the shots fully composed through natural lighting and the other done through artificial lighting and then colour graded to appear more like a noir film. This was to experiment with how significant the key frames visual style is in regards to the accompanying screenplay that the frames were inspired through. Additionally I wanted to see how much the visual style was significant in enabling the story to be a neo-noir. Through the use of both primary and secondary texts this research all agreed with my hypothesis of film noir being a genre. These clear characteristics through things like narrative and characterization showed there was more unique as just stylistic features within noir. I then used typical noir elements I found like themes of identity within the narrative of the screenplay and then visualized this into the 20 key frames. I also tied identity into the mis-en-scene with the engineer character wearing the same work wear throughout even when unemployed and then with his new role as a hacker. This was done to convey his identity loss with him in still trying to hang on to his initial persona as the engineer. I used photoshop in adjusting the already used artificial light and colour graded half the pictures to give them the traditional noir style. I then just brought out more of the colours used in the other natural light shots so they appeared more real life documentary style.
I also went in to detail with researching characterization in noir films. Common characters like hard boiled detectives that were found in older films, like Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon transferred into all the neo-noir films in my study. This then gave inspiration in the use of the engineer then acting as a detective and finding out Laura’s role in stealing money from him and her general operation motives. The role of women was something I extensively focused on with appearance attractive women often cast in roles involving being a threat to men. I then used the threat along with the sexual aspect I also found within my research in constructing the character of Laura – casting an attractive and curvy women to match the typical noir female. The only negative was the original girl I had cast was not able to be present on shoot day and I replaced her with another girl who was not blonde, which is the hair colour quite a few femme fatale characters within my primary texts had. I was able to capture the role of Laura visually through having the actor wear a black dress that brought attention to her body. This was to also explore the theory of the male gaze that I found was subtly included in both classic and modern noir films. Although not through dressing sexually revealing, the gaze more appears through the choice in casting attractive women and furthermore ‘dolling them up’. This was what I also was able to achieve in my key frames, although I could have used some more make-up on the female actor to emphasize more of the male gaze. I also captured the character of Laura through quite a few close ups and mid shots to get a mix of her body and face in shot to enforce the cameras POV from a man.
The narrative was another key part within my study that I considered. The narrative of the 5 minute film is based around the ideas of early noir with themes of identity loss, and a femme fatale being a mans lover whilst deceiving him. The modern neo-noirs aspects arise from having the engineer character as a computer engineer; and the technological crime of hacking bank databases being involved. I also examined the use of the melancholic mood that often follows the protagonist, creating a narrative in which a negative resolution is inevitable. A lot of the dialogue was informed by the mood often set in noir and I wanted to capture the hopelessness characters often feel through dialogue. I also used canted angles to represent a characters distorted state of mind, which also links to the melancholic mood I was trying to set. Additionally canted angles were also used to foreshadow negative events through them representing characters unstableness which eventually leads them to making disorientated decisions. An example is key frame 14 when the engineer decides to join Laura’s line of work and the canted angle is used to foreshadow a disorientated ending. The choice in having a linear narrative was more of a choice informed by neo-noir films within the study, which seemed to depart from the older non-linear flashback type noir films.
The research into visual style, narrative and characterization have been the three aspects that have helped me to define film noir firmly as a genre, rather than just a style. The ubiquitous conventions of film noir mixed with its own visual style was something I attempted to get across in my 20 key frames. Due to some lack of planning, the frames did not communicate as clear and congruent a story as I wanted it to. Although, the visual style was effectively conveyed visually and there was a good mix of the classic and neo-noir elements embedded in. The characterisation was well visualised with the characters clearly being influenced by past noir characters and the actors that played these roles also appear believable. Overall there was a clear communication of film noir being established as a genre, but I could have shown this more effectively within the key frames. This could have been done through more creativity and attention to detail through mis-en-scene.
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