laughingcrows
Member
Cinematographer = Andrew Laszlo
I'm hoping we can dissect and discuss some of Laszlo's methods from just a few scenes and hopefully learn a little.
First, if you haven't seen this movie - watch it. It's kick-ass. It was made back in the 70s with a bunch of nobody's on a tiny budget. And when this thing hit theaters ... man 'o man, things exploded - almost literally. Guys would get so torked up watching it that fights would break out. Theater's had to start hiring security. On to the discussion ....
Setup = the Warriors (a gang) are trying to get home. The problem is that the cops and all the other gangs are after them. In this segment they've crossed through another gang's turf (the Orphans.) Warriors are shirtless wearing vests.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nYrUYO8CmQ&NR=1
Notice all eyes are looking up which leads the camera to several rooftop shots. Each rooftop shot dollies in to draw us into what they're seeing. It seems like a no-brainer that they would be looking up, but if their eyes didn't match where the camera was looking, it would look WRONG.
Time to make their move. I like how Laszlo has them walk off screen then cuts to a wide shot to follow them. Also notice that he keeps the camera about shoulder or chin high. It makes them look more imposing. Had he ever shot the warriors from above, it would have made them look meek, less powerful.
Finally they come to a stop, time for a confrontation. Again the eyes are all looking the same direction, off the screen to the right towards the opposing gang. Now we have the 180 degree line drawn, from one gang across the street to the other. The camera never crosses or changes this line.
Until ....MERCY (the chick with the attitude) shows up. Now the 180 degree line has to be redrawn. It seems to now have both gangs on the same side against one girl. But you'll see she has that much power. Was that his intention?
The thing I don't get is there were obviously several different takes, each with a different camera angle. Did they go through the full dialogue each time or did Laszlo know where the cuts would be so he just picked up the action with each cut?
Your turn.
I'm hoping we can dissect and discuss some of Laszlo's methods from just a few scenes and hopefully learn a little.
First, if you haven't seen this movie - watch it. It's kick-ass. It was made back in the 70s with a bunch of nobody's on a tiny budget. And when this thing hit theaters ... man 'o man, things exploded - almost literally. Guys would get so torked up watching it that fights would break out. Theater's had to start hiring security. On to the discussion ....
Setup = the Warriors (a gang) are trying to get home. The problem is that the cops and all the other gangs are after them. In this segment they've crossed through another gang's turf (the Orphans.) Warriors are shirtless wearing vests.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nYrUYO8CmQ&NR=1
Notice all eyes are looking up which leads the camera to several rooftop shots. Each rooftop shot dollies in to draw us into what they're seeing. It seems like a no-brainer that they would be looking up, but if their eyes didn't match where the camera was looking, it would look WRONG.
Time to make their move. I like how Laszlo has them walk off screen then cuts to a wide shot to follow them. Also notice that he keeps the camera about shoulder or chin high. It makes them look more imposing. Had he ever shot the warriors from above, it would have made them look meek, less powerful.
Finally they come to a stop, time for a confrontation. Again the eyes are all looking the same direction, off the screen to the right towards the opposing gang. Now we have the 180 degree line drawn, from one gang across the street to the other. The camera never crosses or changes this line.
Until ....MERCY (the chick with the attitude) shows up. Now the 180 degree line has to be redrawn. It seems to now have both gangs on the same side against one girl. But you'll see she has that much power. Was that his intention?
The thing I don't get is there were obviously several different takes, each with a different camera angle. Did they go through the full dialogue each time or did Laszlo know where the cuts would be so he just picked up the action with each cut?
Your turn.
