Final Project-Enjoy

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Blog #4 Parallel Editing in The Godfather

"The Godfather" one the greatest movies of American cinema largely owes its greatness to its brilliant editing techniques. The baptism scene in which Michael Corleone has agreed to become Godfather to his nephew, largely illustrates this point. As we see shots of the Corleone family at the baptism in a cathedral, sounds of prayer, and organ music fill the cathedral. As the baby is being prepared to be baptized we see crosscutting shots of Michael's henchmen preparing their guns to murder enemies of the crime family. As the music builds the crosscutting as well as the action becomes faster and the assassins move closer to their targets. This builds up until the priest asks Michael, "do you renounce Satan?." At this point the organ music climaxes, and we crosscut to the murders being carried out. We then cut back do Michael, who hypocritically responds, "yes I renounce him." We then crosscut to the assassins fleeing the scenes of the murders as the organ music continues to play. The priest then asks Michael if he will be baptized, and Michael responds that he will as we crosscut to bullet riddled bodies lying dead on the ground.

The brilliant editing technique of these adjacent shots, convey to the viewer the duplicity and duality of the character, Michael Corleone. On the outside he is a religious family man attending a baptism, but the adjacent shots of the murders being carried out concurrent with the baptism, expose the contrasting sides of Michael Corleone to the viewer.

Project 2

Project #2

https://soundcloud.com/drose980/david-final-project-2

Blog #3

One exhibit in the museum that really stuck out to me, was the demonstration of how baseball games are produced live which is similar to the way all live events are produced. I was unaware of the amount of improvisation that is involved and the utmost importance of timing throughout the whole process. The director must be quick to switch between 15 different cameras depending on where the live action is happening and he must choose the better angle of the 15 that might be capturing the live action. Additionally he must ready the cameraman before he goes live with them, as at the exhibit, the director is heard saying “Ready Bob”. There is very little margin for error on live television, and a properly edited and produced broadcast can make a world of a difference.

Another thing I liked about this exhibit is that it opened my eyes to other forms of media. As a film major you tend to have one vision of media and that is feature films. When you get locked in this tunnel vision, you grow more unaware about other great forms of media such as television, radio, and even live sporting events. All these forms of media also require a great deal of talent and should not be overlooked. Through this visit to the Museum of Modern Art I have been reenergized creatively, and will look to the museum as a vital source of creative inspiration in the future.

Blog #2: Sound Walk

As I walk through Washington Heights, the Spanish language fills my ears. I make my way up St. Nicholas Ave as the sound of cars whirring by merges with the Spanish language. The avenue is lined with delivery trucks double parked on the sides of the street. There is a constant clanging of bay doors of the trucks opening and closing. Taxi cabs fly up the avenue hitting potholes at high speeds which makes a sound the causes the axles and tires to squeal in pain.
Latin music fills my ears as I make a right on 186th street, heading east towards the Harlem River. The residential streets are much quieter as now I can hear the faint sounds of helicopters whirring nearby, and the slight squeal of the brakes on a car that needs changing. I pass through Highbridge Park that’s empty due to cold weather and the sound of birds chirping fills the background. I take the path down that leads to the eastern edge of the island and it’s the most quiet I’ve experienced since I began my walk. The only sound in the background are birds and the sound of my feet hitting the pavement. In the background I hear helicopters whirring and cars traveling at high velocity.
 When I finally reach the end of the island, I’m perched up on a cliff overlooking the Bronx as a strong wind hits my face. The Harlem River Drive is below me and the Major Deegan is in view across the Harlem River. Although I can’t see the Harlem River drive I know there’s no traffic because I can hear the cars traveling at high velocities directly below me. The traffic conditions are bleak for motorists travelling on the Major Deegan as bumper to bumper traffic is in effect, as the sound of car horns block out the birds chirping. I sit there a while taking in the sounds of the last authentic neighborhood in Manhattan, and wonder where all the sounds will go once this gem has been gentrified.

Blog #2: Sound Walk