Italian Neo-Realism

Italian Neo Realism films were created for short period of time after WWII. These movies were a strong contrast from the "essentially American" style they were present and promoted during the rule of Mussolini. Neo realistic movies strongly contrasted these in both the process of making the movie and their ideology. Neo movies mainly focus on the working class and their role in society. They support the theme of "individual vs. the society". They also go against the ruling regime and represent the "resistance" and their anti-fascist beliefs. Directors were often urged to "go into the streets, into the barracks, into the train stations" to spread their ideologies and create a new era of Italian movies. Their aim was "not to record the social problems but to express them in an entirely new way". Neo movies used new techniques that were not as glamorous as earlier movies. They relied heavily on non-professional as well as on location filming. Film makers also used the natural lighting that they were supplied and stayed away from the man made studios. These techniques were used to create a realistic feel and that kind of documentary styling. Rome: Open City was one of these films to accurately express anti-Fascist ideas. It accurately expressed the cruelty that man had to face and inhumanity in the world. Bicycle thief also connects with middle class ideas and how Ricci has to fight against the power of his society. Support for the creation for of these movies mostly came film journals like Cinema and Bianca e Nero. Writers like Alberto Moravia and Italo Calvino began to compare these new kind of movies to realistic writing.

Solitude Trailer

These are 3 screenshots taken from the trailer for a movie called solitude. This first shot above i felt like it had a very lonly and dark feel. I think this has lot to do with the lack of objects in the frame and only the girl. She is alone in a very empty area. The Solid cement wall and dirt ground also help give that desolite, unwelcoming feel. There i also a large amount of darkess all through out the frame. this adds a kind of mystery or unknowing to what is really going on around her.

The second frame was a very good use of a reveal. I actually did not realize the man taped to the wall until she turned that way. I felt like it also contines with using a large amount of darkness and danger. I also like that the shot was taken as a close-up. It really shows how the character is scared and the shows why she is scared. It really is able to show the effect on the character.

The last shot i felt like had a really good actor. You can really see the horror in his face. Him being dragged into the mysterious darkess is a great way to show the danger but hide what what is causing it. The audience doesnt know what is going but knows that it is harming the characters. I also felt like the low lighting and how it only covers the side of his face continues on with the theme of darkness.

Edit Demo Critique

I felt like our parallel action video did a better job at explaining our concept more than the Match Action cut Video. The Parallel action had the most story and also included the idea of how parralel action helps create suspense and the idea that my character could possible catch Anthony in the act of messing around. It really shows how this method is commonly used. I felt like our second movie could have had a little more story. I think it was a little confusing on what was really going on with iso many shots in sucha short period of time

I felt lke our actors did a pretty decent job in getting across the emotion and feelings that are commonly accosiated with parrallel action. Anthony's character does a good job of showing the sense of danger and jitteryness that he should get because there is a possibility of him being caught. The fast cutting as i got closer to the room helps increase this effect. In terms of parrallel action , it is evident that the two characters are in separte areas. I felt like the second video could have used a wide establishing shot. Looking at over again i feel like it was missing that and in result caused the scene to be a little confusing. But i did think the shot of me grabbing the coffee from a side view was really interesting because it is a view that is not commomly seen.

I think the hardest challege was making the movies short enough to have some kind of story, but still keeping it short. I had to cut a lot out of my first video but still had to have it make sense and demonstate the use of parrallel action. I think we needed a good set up to create suspence and that is why it ended up being so much footage. The second one felt like it was a little to direct and only showed the concept. I felt like it could have been longer and should have made the cuts a little longer so people could actually see them.