Chapter 5 Personal Expression and Studio Production 197Th e ways in which motion pictures communicate to us depend greatly on
their intended use, the skills of the fi lmmakers who are creating them, and our
ability to interpret their various messages. Th ese meaningful and expressive
possibilities form the extraordinary range of informational, aesthetic, and
enlightening experiences that moving images can bring to us. Whether a brief
sequence intended to promote a product or an epic tale that takes place over
many hours of episodes, images can be used to clarify or to distort, to off er
a clear narrative or to weave a rhythm of light and color.It’s a Wrap!
In Chapter 5, you have investigated a number of essential questions about
moving images: “Who makes motion pictures?” “Why are movies made?”
“How do they get to us?” “What types of movies are there?” As you have
seen, motion picture sequences can be broadly categorized into narrative
and non-narrative formats. Many expressive traditions exist within and
between each type, and fi lmmakers use these forms to convey a vast range
of ideas and imagery. In the work to follow, you will have opportunities to
develop analytical and creative skills that build on the broad communicative
possibilities we have explored in this chapter.VIEWFINDER
“I want to thank anyone who spends part of their day creating—I don’t
care if it’s a book, a fi lm, a painting, a dance, a piece of theater, a
piece of music—anybody who spends part of their day sharing their
experience with us. I think this world would be unlivable without art.”–Steven Soderbergh-
Director, cinematographer, and writer whose fi lms include Traffi c (2000), Erin
Brockovich (2000), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), and Th e Informant! (2009)Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).