The 2 Ways To Film Stories

Summary

This video explores how filmmaking techniques such as camera work, lighting, sound, and editing influence the perspective of a film, either creating an objective or subjective experience for the audience. The video contrasts objective techniques like stable camera angles and naturalistic lighting with subjective methods such as point-of-view shots and expressive lighting. It highlights the emotional and psychological impact these choices have on the audience, citing examples from films like *La Haine*. The video also emphasizes how sound and editing pace further immerse viewers into the character’s point of view or maintain an observational, detached perspective.

Takeaways

• 😀 Objective filmmaking conveys a detached, omniscient perspective, where the audience is merely observing the action.
• 😀 Subjective filmmaking immerses the audience in the character’s point of view, evoking emotions and personal experiences.
• 😀 Camera techniques such as stable shots, wide angles, and neutral positioning help achieve an objective feel in the film.
• 😀 Tight shots, low/high angles, and handheld movements create a closer, more subjective experience by connecting the audience to the character.
• 😀 POV shots are commonly used in subjective filmmaking to directly show what the character sees, making the audience feel like they are in the character’s shoes.
• 😀 Lighting plays a significant role in conveying perspective—naturalistic lighting supports objectivity, while expressionist lighting with colored gels creates a subjective, emotional atmosphere.
• 😀 The pace of editing impacts emotional engagement; longer takes and minimal cuts feel more objective, while fast, rapid editing creates a more subjective, emotional response.
• 😀 Sound is another tool to convey perspective: objective shots have ambient, natural sounds, while subjective shots might share what the character hears (e.g., through headphones or a phone).
• 😀 Mental subjectivity in film can be expressed through techniques like voiceover narration, dream sequences, or visual effects representing hallucinations.
• 😀 The film *La Haine* is a notable example of blending objective and subjective filmmaking techniques, balancing detached observation with highly stylized subjective moments.
• 😀 MUBI, a curated streaming service, offers a range of films showcasing both objective and subjective storytelling techniques, providing great inspiration for filmmakers.

Q & A

What is the primary choice filmmakers face during the filmmaking process?

Filmmakers must decide whether to tell the story in an objective manner, detached from the character's emotions, or in a subjective way that replicates the character’s point of view or emotions.

What is the difference between objective and subjective perspectives in cinema?

Objective perspectives are detached and observational, showing the action from an omniscient point of view, while subjective perspectives immerse the audience into the character's mind, emotions, or point of view, often using techniques like POV shots.

How can camera techniques create an objective feeling?

Objective feelings are often created through stable, neutral shots such as those taken with a tripod or dolly, with wide shots that place the characters further from the camera, and by avoiding camera angles or movements that could imply emotion or bias.

What camera techniques are commonly used to create a subjective experience?

Subjective experiences are often created through tight shots, handheld camera movements, low or high-angle shots, and rigs like the Snorricam. These techniques bring the audience closer to the character, both physically and emotionally.

What role does sound play in creating objective or subjective perspectives?

Objective sound presents a general recording of the space, including natural dialogue and ambient noise. Subjective sound, on the other hand, shares what the character hears, such as through headphones or telephone calls, to immerse the audience in the character's experience.

What is 'mental subjectivity' in filmmaking?

Mental subjectivity refers to techniques that explore the character's inner world, such as using voiceovers, dream sequences, or visual effects to represent hallucinations, memories, or mental states that influence how the character perceives reality.

How does editing affect the subjectivity or objectivity of a film?

Longer, uncut takes tend to create a more objective feel by mimicking real-world time, while rapid editing or quick cuts often create subjective feelings of anxiety, tension, or disorientation by manipulating the pace and flow of time.

What lighting techniques contribute to an objective or subjective storytelling approach?

Objective storytelling often employs naturalistic lighting that mimics the light sources in a real environment, such as daylight. In contrast, subjective stories use more expressionistic lighting, like colored gels or RGB lights, to reflect how a character perceives the world emotionally or psychologically.

Can you give an example of a film that blends objective and subjective storytelling?

La Haine is an example of a film that uses both detached, observational shots and highly subjective moments to convey the emotional and psychological states of its characters.

What is MUBI, and how is it relevant to the video?

MUBI is a streaming service that curates and showcases critically acclaimed cinema. The video references MUBI as a sponsor and encourages viewers to explore their diverse selection of films, including La Haine, which is highlighted as an example of innovative cinematography.