Film

Devan Julian
Film Noir commentary
4th period

For our film, The Hit , I did most of the cinematography and camera work.
Since only two of worked on the project, I did most of the technical work because I had more experience with the equipment then my partner, Mark Lutrell. Mark was more focused on the acting and characters because he was the main character of the movie.
We wrote the story together and all the ideas for the story after the main plot was decided was worked on together. Mark was very helpful in explaining his ideas to me and I did a good job of transferring those ideas to paper in the form of location diagrams and scripts. In the actual filming, I was the cinematographer for most of the movie. In all the shots I made a really strong effort to make the lighting very important. We did several takes on some shots because shadows were too dark or they were not there at all. An example of these really dense shadows can be seen in the shot below:
We also made an effort to keep all scenes at night to keep everything dark and mysterious. We made sure that dark background in the scene where Mark’s characters enters room reinforced the time of day and mood that goes along with it.
I really feel like this a good scene that reinforces the characters and setting. The lights in the background almost add a city like feel. We really had to take extra time to figure out when to film because we wanted to make sure everything was at night. With respect to Mark’s acting, I felt like I did most of the filmic work and “on set” decisions in the production of the film. Most ideas on how to shoot and where to shoot from were mine.

In regards to the finished project I feel like our project excelled in the images and story but lacked in the audio quality and some of dialogue. I really appreciate what Mark did with his character. He played the “badass” assassin very well and was able to keep in his character very well. In most shots, his seriousness and darkness are very apparent. I also believe his large jacket and sunglass help reinforce who he is as a character. His clothes give him much more of an edge and give him a threatening look
I also think Aaron‘s character, the man that has the hit on him, did a good job of acting. I especially like the scene when he is internally assessing his situation. I really feel like his monotone voice and straight face really shows his realization of what he must do.
He was also able to play a very serious part to keep that mood and tone constant through out the film. Aaron was also able to act with more emotion when it was needed like when he begs for more time or wants his girlfriend to stay. Both my main actors did a really good job of doing that. I feel like both of them worked well together and supported each other.
I felt like our film did the best with the very strong lighting. The shadows throughout most of the movie are very obvious and play a major role in the movie and production as a whole. They were one of the most important factors and we relied on our light a lot.
But I feel like the audio quality is where are movie struggled the most. Sometimes the audio levels will be off and it will be very noticeable. And some of the time our audio was too low and we had to redo them with a voice over. We struggled with it the most and I think it becomes apparent in the film.
Our Film reconnects back to the themes and feel of Film Noir best through the lighting and the story. The lighting I believe was the best part of the film. It really helps out the characters and story. Mark looks very evil and sinister in his last shot as well in most of his solo shots. This use of fast fall off and dense shadows is a very important charactistics of Film Noir.
The lighting also helps add the darkness and mystery behind my character. The lighting makes it so my face can not even be seen. My eyes are completely blacked out and it adds that darkness and mystery. The idea of the city underground, mafias, and mobs are important ideas to use when trying to gat that urban feeling. It really adds the idea of shady leaders that do not follow any set laws.
I also think the fact that Aaron kills himself is very film Noir. This story does have a happy ending and ends with an un wanted death. This idea that things to not always turn out how they are supposed to is a Film Noir Theme.

Script Reflection

1. How does the film start at a dramatic moment in the middle of the drama?

The Film starts in a very dark unknown place. It is very
dark cold and desolate and a not a place anyone would want
to be. The single lonely man in the room shows that he
is there for a very important reason.

2. What terrific scene will open, and what memorable scene will end the film?

The opening scene is very mysterious and dark with a
very unclear view of what is going on. The pitch black
windowless room makes it so the audience doesn't
know where they are or what the situation is.

3. What’s my character’s attitude and position in the events?

My character is the mysterious man that you never really
see. I am hidden in the shadows the entire time. You get
the feel of an evil business man that will do anything
to get the job and money he wants. He is not there to make
friends or to make anyone happy. He is strictly business.
He is only there for his personal gain

4. How do I introduce my character? If my character isn’t central
to the action, what do they witness that is?

My character is the first character in the film.
He never gets a name and you never get to see him.
The audience does understand that they dont know anything
about him because he is doing something that can harm
him if his identity is released. He is meant to be an
unknown being.

5. How can I help the audience discover what is happening,
rather than just telling them everything?
I tried to add as little dialogue as possible so
the the characters are seen through there actions
instead of what they say. You get the shadiness and
darkness though how everyone acts. No one is happy
or joyful and everyone seems very serious. Everyone
is alone and only thinks of themselves.

6. How can I reduce things to a minimum, but still have an impact?

Try to get the point across in a very simple way. I
try to get straight to the point. There isn't any need
for elaborate plots that the audience cant follow
and with such a short amount of time.

Film Noir treatment

Producers: Devan Julian, Mark Litrell

Title: The Hit

Log Line: An assassin is hired for a hit but experiences some conflicts with who he is trying to kill.

A dark room with a single ceiling lamp on. A man in a suit is sitting there with an his face in the shadows. Another man in a suit walks into the room. The man seems very gruff and dirty with a very serious look on his face he stops right in front of the the desk. There is complete silence for a moment.

He greets the man with a very low monotone voice, with little emotion. The man at the desk responds and calls him "Joe". He slides a folder across the desk. the gruff man opens the folder and slowly shifts through it looking at every sheet. The man at the desk then brings a large
leather briefcase and slides it across the table. the gruff man takes the case and opens it. the audience can not see what is in. The gruff man says "its been a pleasure" and leaves.

The gruff man is seen in his small apartment at his desk. He has a concentrated face and looks like he is working hard. He continues to search through the folder. He finds an address and sates it out loud.

The man is sneaking out on someone's porch. He peeks through the window to see the back of the man's he has been looking for. He is having an argument with his wife. They are screaming and yelling at each other. the women storms out. The man is left alone in his room and he sulks on the bed. The assassin then brakes in ready for his kill. The killer stops and realizes that the man is his brother. They argue and discuss why he is want dead. the target realizes there is nothing he can do to escape the mafia. He takes the killers gun and shoots himself in the head.

The body lays lifeless on the floor. His brother hanging over him. His phone rings. He answers it and says "its done".`

Chinatown

I felt our reasearch question did a good job of drecting itself to Chinatown as well as to Film noir as a whole. The ideas and themes of the characters dialougue of chinatown can also be seen in other film noir film.

I also felt like our examples where pretty strong. we were able tu use specialized characters and how they use dialougue. All the characters use dialougue to add something to the story.

We could have use more screenshots. That would have made it easier to explain my part and how getties uses his dialougue to advance the story.

Story of two men's battle over a childs money. Creates comedy without usind any dialouge.