Can The Look Of A Film Be A Character?

Can The Look Of A Film Be A Character?

  • Yes.

    Votes: 20 64.5%

  • I think so.

    Votes: 5 16.1%

  • It doesn't matter.

    Votes: 2 6.5%

  • No.

    Votes: 4 12.9%
  • Total voters
    31
  • Poll closed .
GaryinCalifornia

GaryinCalifornia

Veteran
I believe so.

The reason I ask is this. I've been in ongoing talks with a funding group on a picture.

I have to shoot the film in either Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana or North Carolina.

Okay the problem is. I've been to all these states and non of them have that vast, barren, arid desert look as far as I know.

The film I've written is written like an old Clint Eastwood western, but instead of riding horses they drive fast cars.

Its that whole southwest look or at least in the old Clint westerns they copied that look be it either Spain or Italy.

My writer friend thinks I'm crazy for wanting to maintain the look (location) because the film is a homage to those films but updated to modern times. He thinks if I can work out a deal take the money and run.

I'm not sure if I even changed his mind even when I asked him why doesn't he take his New York City script and shoot it in a small town in Kansas. His answer "well it won't work Kansas is not New York City." I rested my case but I'm not quite sure I got the point across to him.

Again I believe the look (location) of the film can be a character.
 
The local youare looking for, is the Bonnevile Salt Flats in Utah. That's where they go to drive fast, nothing but hard flat desert all around.
 
I would strongly suggest contacting the film commission for each of the states that you list. They should have links to location information.

An industry trade magazine that would be an excellent resource for this is P3. Nearly every issue has an article on a given states locations and amenities for the film industry.
 
khmuse said:
I would strongly suggest contacting the film commission for each of the states that you list. They should have links to location information.

An industry trade magazine that would be an excellent resource for this is P3. Nearly every issue has an article on a given states locations and amenities for the film industry.
Click to expand...

Did some internet searchs over the weekend. The Ohio office has been shut down. Plus I looked up or tried to look up images but nothing came up.

Now I did think about this today after I posted tis. If I could shoot in a vast farm land that is dry and tan because its winter. Either through a Harry or through CGI paint out the few houses, barns or trees that would dot the area that might work. But not fully.
 
Absolutely it can be a character... it can help the audience understand what a character in the film is feeling, thus supporting the other character.
 
GaryinCalifornia said:
I have to shoot the film in either Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana or North Carolina.

Okay the problem is. I've been to all these states and non of them have that vast, barren, arid desert look as far as I know.
Click to expand...

You might want to check out Indiana Dunes. Not exactly Arizona, but with the right framing it might pass as a desert. They also have a residency program for artists, so you may be able to get a free stay if you decide to shoot there.
http://www.nps.gov/indu/

And sure, locations can be characters.
 
you really need to scout. Let me give you an example: I live in a heavily populated (and developed) suburb of new york city. Here you can find relatively large tracts of farmland and even desert-like settings. If you frame wisely you can certainly fake it. But if you have in mind the films you mentioned (shot in extremely widescreen) you may run into trouble. Keep in mind that you may also run into trouble if your in the middle of nowhere and their are no facilities nearby.
 
scorsesefan said:
But if you have in mind the films you mentioned (shot in extremely widescreen) you may run into trouble.
Click to expand...

That's the idea.

In John Ford's Stagecoach. He shot all the interiors very close and then all the landscape shots very wide. He wanted to give the impression that these people were trying to tame an untamed land. But in the end they were very small.

Chris thanks for the link. I checked that out last week when someone told me about it.

And I've been in upstate New York were they shut down Taco Bell, Burger King, etc. at 9pm (or at least they used to) so I know that you have to be prepared.

I'm not worried about pulling off the production or being prepared for that with any project that you undertake.

What I'm concern about would be the look of the film.
 
Hmmm interesting. I dont think the look of a film is a "character" per se. And then again I dont think look is entirely location either. The look has to do with many factors, editing, composition, location, lighting. These are all tools used to assist in telling the story and enhancing the CHARACTERS position, weather it be as a scared child, a hero cowboy on a horse or (your version) in a car. The CHARACTER drives the story while our LOOK supports it.
 
If you can go one more state up. Not that far past the border, you'll find silver lake sand dunes in Michigan on Lake Michigan - which they allow cars to drive on. Very Desserty - more saharah dessert than nevada.
 
Location or look of a film can definitely be a character. I don't think Before Sunrise would have been as good without the Vienna settings. And that's probably not even the best example. Location can have a major impact on a movie.
 
How about Sleeping Bear Dunes, if we're talking about Michigan...?

Dune1%5B1%5D.jpg


44135736.sleeping_bear08.jpg
 
While I truly believe that locations and the look of a film are extremely important, I would not call it a "character".

The Merriam-Webster dictionary says: 7 a : a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits <quite a character> b : one of the persons of a drama or novel c : the personality or part which an actor recreates d : characterization especially in drama or fiction e : PERSON , INDIVIDUAL <some character just stole her purse>

A character is a person. The look of a film can still be extremely important and have a huge influence in the telling of the story, without calling it a character.
 
jonnyh1968 said:
If you can go one more state up. Not that far past the border, you'll find silver lake sand dunes in Michigan on Lake Michigan - which they allow cars to drive on. Very Desserty - more saharah dessert than nevada.
Click to expand...


Thanks...

And thanks Sad Max for the pictures. It might not matter. The company I've been talking to wants just to hire me as a director for hire.

But its always good to keep it in mind, just in case.
 
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