Category Archives: Thoughts

Comic Response

xmen titleWhat elements or considerations from Scott McCloud’s Five Choices apply to filmmaking?

All five of Scott McCloud’s five choices apply to filmmaking. While making a film, filmmakers must decide what they want to include in the film, defined by McCloud as the choice of moment. This is especially true in films being made from prewritten stories; such as novels or fairy tales. The filmmaker may want to portray the story exactly as written or give a entirely new perspective of the story, as is done with Maleficent (Stromberg, 2014). Regardless of what film one makes, deciding how to tell the story and what to include in the film are decisions that must always be made.

Choice of frame is also heavily involved in filmmaking. In fact, framing is a technique used by cinematographers in filmmaking to enhance the audiences experience with the film. Framing for films is identical to the framing used in comics as described by Scott McCloud. Choosing where to position backgrounds, characters, etc. to draw the attention of the audience, create feeling and identification within the audience, and much more.

Along with framing, choosing what to put in the shot is essential to cinematography in film. Filmmakers must decide what colors to include in a shot, to use a location or a studio for a scene, or how a character must dress within a certain scene. All of which is similar to the examples given by McCloud for choice of image in comic books.

Choice of word for comic books is used in script writing for filmmaking. Appropriate dialogue is essential in scriptwriting as it has to fit the mood, setting, and character while not sounding too cliché or unnatural to the audience. Inaccurate dialogue can ruin the audiences connection with characters or the film entirely.

Lastly, choice of flow is used in editing a film. Editors want to ensure that the film flows naturally from scene to scene and even cut to cut; unless the film is meant to be abstract or experimental, or the filmmaker is trying to make the audience feel uncomfortable. In either sense, filmmakers want the flow of editing to make sense to the audience. Without proper flow in the film, the audience will not be able to understand the story being told or the message that the filmmaker is trying to portray.

 

In what way is filmmaking different from creating comics?

Although filmmaking is similar to creating comics, it is far more complex. Since the images being portrayed are usually in motion, filmmakers must focus on actors movement, facial expression, lighting and sound. Filmmakers also have to rely heavily on others. In comic books the writer has full creative control over all characters, scenes, and effects. While a filmmaker must hire actors or actresses that would physically and emotionally portray the character they have created. Filmmakers must also decide where to shoot a scene based on several factors including the plot of the story, lighting possibilities, and how the location would sound. Filmmakers are also heavily restricted by money and equipment as they have limited budgets and must carry around heavy equipment that will need setup wherever they are shooting the current scene. The difference between creating comics and creating films is that filmmakers must make more complex decisions on how to tell a story.

In your comic selection, how did the artist utilize image and narration to advance the story? Did you find each element necessary to understanding what was happening?xmen page

The artist relied heavily on dialogue to advance the story; however the images were necessary in the stories advancement as well. The artist used the characters to describe what was happening within the story and linked each scene together. While the narration advanced the story, the artist used the images to visual connect the reader to the setting and plot of the comic. In the image to the right, the artists use of images allowed me as a reader to emotionally connect to the relationship between Kate and Peter. The artists use of image also allowed me to identify what was happening in the comics. For example, the last panel shown in the image to the right visually depicts Kate going back in time. As a reader, I felt that the images and narration where both necessary in understanding what was happening in each scene. The images where necessary to depict the actions taken by the characters such fighting, running, kissing, and going back in time. While the narration drove the story by announcing the characters intentions and describing the setting of the story.

 

Could you envision your comic selection being adapted into film? Why or why not?

I could envision this comic selection being adapted into a film. While the comic is short, there is a lot of story being told within each panel as well as a lot of action. The story being told within the comic is full of useful content that could be, and has been, converted into films. Comics within the X-Men series and other comics created by Stan Lee have already been converted to films because of this. There are several scenes within the 22 pages of this comic and each scene is filled narration, setting, and action all of which is used in filmmaking.

Goals and Dreams

Hello, my name is Jacob Stewart. I am a junior at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). As of today, my career goals are divided as I am interested in a career in film production, as well as a career in live studio production. Although film production is my primary choice, the latter of the two is the most practical. I have not yet dedicated myself to a specific occupation within the film world; however, I am most interested in editing, cinematography, and camerawork. I am positive that I will find my niche within the world of filmmaking as I gain more experience inside and outside of the classroom within the next two years at BGSU. Currently, my experience with film includes a video editing class in high school, the few classes I took my freshman year, and YouTube videos I created when I was younger. I am excited to pursue film production once again this semester and hope to discover my future and pursue all goals that I will establish throughout my final two years in college.