Acting and Acting Styles - ENG225

                               


Identify three actors from your film and classify each according to the types of actors listed in your text.

John Wayne (Ethan Edwards): For this role, and most of his other roles in film, John Wayne uses the realism style of acting.  

Jeffrey Hunter (Martin Pawley): For his role in The Searchers, Hunter uses the realism style of acting.

Natalie Wood (Debbie Edwards): For Wood's role in this film she uses the realism style of acting.

These characters use the similar style of realism acting in order to be appropriate for the setting and theme of the film. It is important to use realism for this theme since it is meant to be portrayed as a serious, true story that could have really happened in real life.

Explain your reasons for classifying the actors as you do. Use specific references to the film and pay special attention to how these decisions impacted characterization. Also, consider the impact of any realistic or stylized portrayals within the film.  

I classified these actors as realism actors because they are serious characters that could have realistically filled the roles that they play. I also classified these characters this way because of other typical roles they have played in films. None of these three actors are known for their roles in screwball comedies or other less serious films. John Wayne's character was impacted by this acting style because he was able to maintain the serious, macho, hero character. Characterization was effected by this acting style for the other two actors because they needed to maintain serious roles as well; such as Hunter's role of a man crazy in love and desperate to find the woman he loved. Also Wood's character as the terrified young woman who was kidnapped by the Comanche tribe.

Focus on one of the actors you’ve discussed. Based on other films the actor has been in, would this actor always be placed in the same category? If so, what does this say about the category or actor? If not, what can you infer about the flexibility of these categories? Provide evidence (references from other films, including film clips and stills) to support your argument. 

My focus is on John Wayne for this section. He would definitely be placed in the realism category for all of his films. Especially for his more famous roles, he played a serious character that was usually the hero in some form. He is one of the biggest names in the Western genre; which is typically a serious, more realistic genre (with a few exceptions). His most famous roles include The Searchers, True Grit, The Shootist, and The Son's of Katie Elder.










References

American Film Institute. (n.d.). AFI's 10 Top 10. Retrieved from

       http://www.afi.com/10top10/moreDetail.aspx?id=53577&thumb=1

Beasthound. (2015). Best John Wayne Movies. The Top Tens. Retrieved
       from http://www.thetoptens.com/best-john-wayne-movies/
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to
       seeing (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved from
       https://content.ashford.edu/

The Searchers - Categories and Functions of Sound - ENG225

     

Describe each of the three basic categories of sound (dialogue, sound effects, and music).

Dialogue
According to Jane Knowles Marshall, dialogue refers to the sound of the human voice. "Dialogue authenticates the speaker as an individual or a real person rather than the imaginary creation of a story teller." The voice of an actor will be associated with their character to the point that audiences cannot discriminate between the actor's own personality and the personality of their character. Dialogue is vital to characterization. (Marshall, n.d.).

Sound Effects
Jane Knowles Marshall also states that sound effects include synchronous and asynchronous sounds. "Synchronous sounds are those sounds which are synchronized or matched with what is viewed." and "Asynchronous sound effects are not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen" (Marshall, n.d.). 
Music
Lastly, Jane Knowles Marshall adds that "Background music is used to add emotion and rhythm to a film" (Marshall, n.d.).

Assess the impact of sound in establishing the theme.

The impact of sound in The Searchers relates greatly to the theme.  The background music in this film aids in establishing theme because of the music's genre. There is no new or modern music in the movie; all of the tracks are vintage country/western or orchestra music that sets the tone of the scenes. Since this is quite an old movie, it would not represent the theme well if there was modern music in the movie. Everything was meant to relate to the old west time.

How does the use of sound inform the mood of the scene, or the film overall?

The use of sound informs the mood of the different scenes in the film very effectively. The music will sound louder, more dramatic, and at a faster pace when there is action or pending problems and suspense. The music will be softer in tone and volume when playing in a slower, or more positive scene.

Can you identify specific sounds in your film that allow you to infer a particular genre?

   
There are many synchronous sounds such as characters walking in cowboy boots, spurs, horses feet on the ground, and the sounds of nature. These add to the realistic aspect of the film. Viewers expect horses, outdoors, and cowboys when watching a film in the western genre.

Since each category of sound may produce a range of effects, how might you characterize the effects in your film?

I would say that the characteristics of sound in this film are natural and expected. Most sounds are natural (boots on the ground, spurs jingling, leather creaking and horses hooves pounding the ground). There are also some effects that are exaggerated for dramatic effect (a gun being cocked to shoot, a gun being shot, or the background music being louder in an intense scene). 

Assess how the scene or sequence would play differently if you changed or removed a key category of sound.

The viewers interpret sounds such as boots on the ground and horses hooves in the dirt subconsciously; however if these sounds were missing it would definitely take away the realistic feel of the movie. If there was some kind of rock or rap song, or even modern country song, playing as background music it would take away from the genre and theme of the old wild west. If there was no appropriate background music the audience may not be relaxed or in suspense at the correct moments in the film; thus changing the emotional experience.

This clip from the movie, entitled "Let's Go Home Debbie," depicts the use of sound in this movie well. There are intense moments and soft moments within the same clip and minimal dialogue for dramatic, emotional effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3a4zc-40I
Resources

Marshall, Jane Knowles. (n.d.). An Introduction to Film Sound. Retrieved from

       http://filmsound.org/marshall/

Stephenaltobello. (2010, March, 20). Let's Go Home, Debbie [video file] Retrieved
       from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3a4zc-40I

The Searchers: Lighting - ENG 225

             

Identify the type of lighting used in the film (traditional three-point, high-key, or low-key) and assess the impact of the lighting used to establish the theme.

In the very beginning of the movie the door frame to the cabin is used to frame the setting and main character of the movie. Lighting is used effectively to completely black out the foreground (inside the cabin), so that all the viewer focuses on is the Texas setting outside and Ethan (John Wayne) as he approaches the cabin on horseback.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7hux8AgCCc

Most of this movie's setting is outdoors, so there is mostly lighting that is meant to portray natural shadows of light and dark depending on whether it is night or day. Day is very high-key lighting, and night is low-key with the added effect of a full moon. The same technique is also implemented in the body of the film, in a few other instances, to bring attention to the main characters again. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Xtn4JG2bQ

The closing scene uses lighting to frame Ethan (John Wayne) as he watches the family go into the cabin to reunite with Debbie (Natalie Wood). The foreground is completely dark, only what you would see out the door (the front porch, the Texas landscape, and Ethan) is visible as the movie ends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoDigplUtKU

What are the benefits of the style of lighting used? How did this technique contribute to the theme? How was the lighting technique suited to the genre of the film?

The benefits of the style of lighting used makes this movie seem real and natural. This contributes to the theme of a Western because it follows the genres conventional description of a man and his horse battling the natural elements of the land (Goodykoontz, 2014). This lighting also contributes to the theme of hope throughout the movie. It is high-key, not only to portray natural light, but to foreshadow the event of finding one of the missing girls. Also it is light for hope, as the searchers do not loose hope or determination of finding Debbie.

Compare how the scene would play if different choices had been made.

If the lighting was too low, when it should be high, the audience would be confused between night and day in the scenes. If the lighting was too direct, or too low, it would effect the natural lighting that one would expect to see outdoors. It could also effect the viewer's sense of the characters. Although the Indians are the bad characters in the film, they are not seen in a dark light. This is also in following with the natural feel of the lighting. When the posse meets the Indians it is always outside, in a naturally lighted place.

Resources

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

joe26155. (2013, September, 19). The Searchers closing scene [video file]
       Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoDigplUtKU

Scott Bradley. (2010, November, 5). The Searchers Clip - Setting [video file]

       Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Xtn4JG2bQ

yatesssss. (2008, March, 28). The Searchers - 1 [video file]
       Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7hux8AgCCc

The Searchers: Narritive/Storytelling - ENG225

Select a full-length film and identify the title, writer, director, major actors, and the year it was released. 

Title: The Searchers

Writer: Frank S. Nugent (Scr)
Director: John Ford (Dir), Wingate Smith (asst dir)
Major Actors: John Wayne (Ethan Edwards), Jeffrey Hunter (Martin Pawley), Vera Miles (Laurie Jorgensen), Ward Bond, (Capt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Clayton), Natalie Wood (Debbie Edwards)
Release Date: May 26, 1956
Summarize the story and plot of your chosen movie.

In 1868 Texas, Rev. Samuel Johnson Clayton, or Sam (Ward Bond) announces that there have been cattle stolen from Lars Jorgensen's ranch. In response to this, Ethan Edwards (John Wayne), Sam, and Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter) join a posse to find the thieves for their neighbor. Upon discovery of the stolen cattle, there are Comanche lances found as the weapon of attack. Ethan realizes that this was a trick deployed by the Comanche to lure the cattleman away from their ranches so that the Comanche may raid them. They return to the Edward's home to find that all have been brutally murdered except for Lucy and Debbie (Natalie Woods), who have been kidnapped. Once the search is under way, Brad Jorgensen goes on a scouting mission and discovers what he thought to be Lucy's blue dress in an Indian camp. Ethan then tells Brad that he discovered Lucy's body in a canyon where he buries her. Brad had loved Lucy and once he hears this news, blinded by grief, he rides into the Indian camp where he is killed. Lars Jorgensen tells the searching party of a Texas merchant who claims to know who is holding Debbie hostage. They exchange money for the knowledge and name of Chief Scar. When the men find Debbie, they are shocked to hear that she does not want to go with them, instead she pleads to stay with the Comanche. After some trials and tribulations back home, they are called upon by the Texas Rangers to join Col. Greenhill for a "join punitive action" against the Comanche. They execute an attack on the Comanche party, kill and scalp Scar, and rescue Debbie; even after Ethan's contempt towards her for wanting to stay with the Indians (American Film Institute, n.d.).

Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically, or non-linearly.

The Searchers is presented chronologically. It has one story line, with events that follow a chronological order until there is a resolution to the problem presented earlier in the story.

How did the aesthetic choice contribute to the general effect on the audience?

The aesthetic choice effected the audience by tying in a sense of family and love. The searchers are looking for women that were kidnapped from their families and to avenge the death of those that were already murdered. It also pulls the heartstrings with the love between the young men and the kidnapped women.

How are elements like character development, or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?

One example of the impact of the storytelling method in The Searchers is through character development. In the beginning of this movie, Ethan (John Wayne) is very bitter towards anything and anyone who has to do with the Comanche. Even people who now live with the white people, including Debbie (Natalie Wood) and Martin (Jeffrey Hunter). By the end Ethan goes from wanting to kill Debbie for wanting to stay with the Comanche, to feeling love and acceptance when she is finally rescued. It also effects foreshadowing. In the beginning it explains that Martin is part Cherokee and is treated coldly by Ethan because of this. However it was Ethan who saved him from an attack when his parents were massacred years before. This foreshadows the event of Debbie being saved by Ethan, although she too has a connection to the Comanche (American Film Institute, n.d.).   

If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different?

If the presentation of this film had been different, it would have seemed more barbaric; like men chasing down Comanche Indians for no reason; or even fun. With the sense of revenge for death of the rancher's family members and to bring back the others who were alive, their actions are justified in a sense. It poses a few questions to viewers; what would you do in this situation? How would you handle the loss of a loved one under these circumstances?

Resources

American Film Institute. (n.d.). AFI's 10 Top 10. Retrieved from http://www.afi.com/10top10/moreDetail.aspx?id=53577&thumb=1