Semiotics in cinema:
Inflation of images = recession of meaning
Visual Subtext example:
- Oranges foreshadowing death in The Godfather
- Fight Club: Starbucks coffee cup in every shot to indicate consumerism and globalisation
Rules of subtext:
- Subtext must be organic to the story
- The undefined is more powerful than the defined
- Think laterally
Undefined + Lateral = Universal
How to add subtext to film:
- Semiology (semiotics)
- Speculation allows audience engagement
- More subtext = more engagement
Alex Buono's 7 Ways to add subtext:
1. Art Direction:
- The Last Emperor: Grey to red to orange to yellow to green to blue to indigo to violet to white indicating stages of his life
- Guardians of the Galaxy:Hubble images inspired colour pallet of film
2. Costume Design:
- Used to expand characterisation (Gladiator when character's costume literally turns into the image of a deity)
3. Hair Design:
- Collateral: Tom Cruise's hair is grey to represent his character and is mirrored back to him from the grey fur of the wolf at the end.
4. Makeup Design:
- The Dark Knight: The Joker, Francis Bacon's art was Chris Nolan's inspiration
5. Sound Design:
- 80% of film is sound and helps us process what we see. (Raging Bull; animal sounds added for fight scenes)
6. Lighting Design:
- Reference Apocalypse Now
7. Camera Operating:
- Black Swan: Dancer was taught how to use a camera
Allegory = Telling a story through a story
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