Monday, May 25, 2015

THOSE WE DON´T SPEAK OF

For every person you see on a frame of film, there are at least 40 you are not watching at work.
Carpenters, set designers, make up artists, production designers, editors, etc.

We wont´ talk about the directors brilliant twists or the all star cast, the fear factor of the film , or how nobody expects the ending .

This is an example of how just 3 people that aren´t in frame or as famous as the Director of the film influence directly on plot and this experience of story telling. 

How those who are behind the frame are talking directly to our senses. Let Us speak about those we don´t speak of....



The movie is M. Night Shyamalan´s  (2004)"THE VILLAGE"
It’s centered on a group of villagers who live in a misterious, isolated place from the rest of the world. 


Film critic Roger Ebert put it in his "Most Hated" list.
He said the film lacked originality and the plot was predictable. The film was originally titled The Woods

The village seen in the film was built in its entirety in one field outside Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

"They live a very simple life in what seems like the end of the 19th century. Despite this idyllic setting the villagers are afraid of what lies beyond their boundaries. They keep guard at watch towers to make sure the monsters, whom they refer to as “Those We Don’t Speak Of”, don’t cross the lines that are marked by oil lanterns. They themselves don’t go beyond these lines. "

The first person we will speak of is CINEMATOGRAPHER: Roger Deakins

USING in his main palette gold and red to mark the tone of the film. Red EVIL Yellow GOOD you can sense the presence of this two characters fighting all movie long. You just know both colors collide at some point.




The second person is CREATURE DESIGNER: Mark "Crash" McCreery

He is a concept artist, visual artist , character designer, art director and creature designer  Mark "Crash " Mc Crerry




He has worked with , Stan Winston, Steven Spielberg´s JURASSIC PARK, James Cameron´s TERMINATOR & TERMINATOR 2, in M. Night Shyamalan´s The Village

"you need to believe some of it, 
you need to believe that this creature exists"
-Mark "Crash" McCreery   

The THIRD person on this list is the one who brought the most to the film's score. Yes,James Newton Howard composed the score but it features a solo violinist, Hilary Hahn.

Almost unnoticable, the slight touches of violin, the hints of music we hear and accent several steps through the film are brought to life by 24 year old (back then) Hilary Hahn.



Being the same age as the film protagonist, it brought a different kind of sensisbility to the score. James Newton Howard and Shyamalan had begun working on the score. But when Hilary´s parts they took the decision of starting all over again and have Hilary´s imput be more significant.She began playing the violin one month before her fourth birthday and her violin is an 1864 copy of Paganini's Cannone .



Each one exploring their talents and craft. Each one bringing their pressence to a team effort. Yes the director is the one who directs this symphony. But it is very valuable to remember those who we usually not notice.

I recomend watching "The Village" again or if you haven´t It Is a must. Maybe now you will notice even more the work of so many others.