This week we discussed the evolution of the frame, and how much it has changed from being servant to the “rules” of cinema. We specifically focused on the gradual disappearance of the invisibility of style trend initially, leading to the French New wave led by Goddard and Truffaut. This resulted in the period of New Hollywood (which I have been learning about in my popular cinema class), which in turn led to the revolutionary idea of throwing all the “pointless” shots in the mix. I must admit however, the idea that shots could be “pointless” seemed kind of foreign to me. Sure, they expand the possibilities of what you can do, but no shot should be pointless. Every shot within a film or sequence should mean something, or even contribute to the narrative. Otherwise what’s the point?

We also looked at media materialism in relation to this week’s reading, Wasson’s The Networked Screen: Moving Images, Materialism, and the Aesthetics of Size. In this, Wasson notes that “the past and the present of moving images are unthinkable”, and that the contexts and modes for film are ever changing. I personally think this is something very positive for cinema. It has long been something of a tradition to watch films in a cinematic fashion, but now we find that there are many more systems and modes by which film can be enjoyed. This for filmmakers is something I think is quite important to keep in mind, the spatiality of a film at an IMAX cinema is completely different to the various streaming methods on one’s phone, ala Netflix for example. This also brings into play the “control” aspect, especially in mobile viewing. Being able to pause, rewind and play films by swiping your fingers certainly affects one’s viewing experience. Whilst the concern of many purists is that audiences may not grasp the content in the same way as they are used to, I think for a new generation of audience it is not a bad thing. No more do they have to wonder or have the thought of “wait, what did he say?” and instead can now redirect their focus to the story. It’s not detrimental to the viewing experience, it’s just different, and worth trying to keep up with as technology develops

I hope I can continue to take on board developments in technology in regards to the way I can make films.