At the end of the film, the last shot is Chiron standing in front of the Atlantic in the moonlight. Those things were calibrated for white skin. Sassens work possesses a wonderful blend of color and the saturation of natural textures and hues of skin that Moonlight employs as well, to define a new idiom of beauty for black bodies in cinema. Moonlight's cinematography hubs on the contrast between Littles's place and Juan's in this world (Aguirre, Abby). Your California Privacy Rights. Maybe subconsciously we chose it for Moonlight in an effort to depict this community in a brand new light.. Cinematographer James Laxton shot every scene in Moonlight with clear purpose; to capture and express Chiron's inner world from moment to moment. Unlike other films, Moonlight does not use a realistic aesthetic that other films that deal with drug addiction and lower socioeconomic classes. How the cameras moving through a space. Ad Choices. Instead, the camera simply allows the audience to see them at their most humane moments with their flaws and hopes laid bare. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of [.] Light bulbs were changed from green to blue during a diner scene later in the film. Sensitive topics such as race and sexuality, staged against the backdrop of the hood are automatically assumed to follow the convention of realism. The frame is set up in such a way that the viewer only experiences the calm waters of the Atlantic and the rush of the waves as Juan holds Little above the water. The director and cowriter, Barry Jenkins, won praise for his empathetic depiction of complex characters. But my memory of growing up in Miami is this moist, beautiful black skin. Similarly, the choice to shoot in 35 mm anamorphic lens was borne out of a desire to tell a story with majesty and an immersive experience. (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. The result is an immersive sequence that allows the camera to capture each splash and stroke of the water, which was achieved by filming partly underwater. Barry Jenkins narrates a swimming sequence from "Moonlight" featuring Alex Hibbert and Mahershala Ali. The expertise of cinematography in this movie is fluid. . 100% Customized to Your Need with Expert Writers They remind me that Im watching a movie. The natural light gives the characters a soft glow and presents the characters in a way that does not feel fabricated. When he washes off his bloodied face he is simultaneously washing away the old Chiron, thereby ushering the audience into the third chapter in which we see a parallel to the bathroom scene, only now with Black. That it should feel so radicalfor a kid from the projects to be portrayedwith a complete, three-dimensional portraitstirs up a heightened, devastating awareness of how rare a thing this is. This is where the association with water is relevant. This challenge arose regarding safety precautions that were in place for the actors; with Mahershala Ali having the water hit just above his waist and for the boy to be able to stand up as well without being submerged entirely by the curling and crashing waves. The last sequence particularly stands out; upon breaking down in, , standing in front of the sea and looking right back at the viewer, awash in moonlight and hinting at self-acceptance. Many of Moonlights moving moments happen when actors look directly into the lens, letting the audience look into the characters eyes and have a deeper emotional connection with the characters. While Juan is respected by his peers, Chiron is persecuted by them. Shes yelling at her son. Plot is not so much the concern as an intensive character study is. This shot of Tyrell is menacing, adding a dizzy effect due to the erratic spinning of the camera which is the direct result of the audience feeling a sense of uncertainty; uneasy about how this situation will play out. The two men didnt know each other at the time, but they have together brought the hyper specificity and full emotional heft of their lived experience to bear on the story of Chiron, a poor, black, and gay boy who comes of age in a Liberty City housing project. This scene is much more than the light fixture, however, but also the engrossed colors that illuminated the shots. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. "Moonlight" Exclusive Image Courtesy of Color Collective and A24 Testing the Limits of Contrast To capture Miami, Laxton knew he'd want the actors' skin to have a big shine, so the audience could. The movie begins with Chiron as a neglected 9-year-old where he is exposed to. I knew that relationship like the back of my hand because thats where my life and Tarells overlapped, he told the Hollywood Reporter. We will occasionally send you account related emails. We didnt talk about Moonlight of course, but I think on some level those conversations about what it is to be a filmmaker, who our voices are as filmmakers. It becomes clear that Terrence is an employee of Juan's who deals . Ad Choices. Moonlight was loosely adapted from an unpublished play from Tarell McCraney called, Black Boys Look Blue. Backpacking across Europe? Water is used as a symbol of transformation and reborn, it precedes every important choice the protagonist makes. Moonlight doesn't just look and sound great. I think whats happened is that the realistic aesthetic applied to drug addiction, or lower socioeconomic classes, portrays the characters as having dark or depressive mentalities, Laxton said. The camera is always placed as close to the actors as possible, so as to put the viewer in the scene. Which is a scene I think we have seen. Dollars from the household of a dealer may end up in Chirons pocket and later in the hands of Chirons mother, who doubtless will return them to a dealer. Manage Settings The film opens with a very stylized, swirling shot of a drug dealer, Juan, played by the magnificent Mahershala Ali. sexual intimacy and the resulting violence, as well as. Maybe subconsciously we chose it for Moonlight in an effort to depict this community in a brand new light., These choices may be subtle, but their cumulative effect is why theNew York Times film critic A. O. Scott described Moonlight as a poem written in light. In this poem, there is little place for commentary. While its a tender coming-of-age film, it never shies away from the harsh world of gangs and drug use that it is set in. 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help you just now, Berry Jenkins intimate film Moonlight, follows the struggle of a young sensitive black man trying to find himself against his society's expectations of masculinity and identity. Its most prominent themes are love, stereotypes and identity. The low immersive camera is combined with this authentic fluid motion that gives the audience the sensation that we are immersed within this endless horizon of water, much like Little, thus enabling the audience to experience Chiron's baptism as he does himself. Image Source: lensculture.com ( Earlie Hudnall, Jr., Viviane Sassen, courtesy of PDNB Gallery). Cinematography Vs Videography: Whats The Difference? This is done substantively, with the emotional terrain of the characters, and its done visually, with angles and light. Where because movies are costing so much money these days that theres so much at stake and therefore everyone, every sort of person involved with the film chimes in with their of personal feelings. To do this we went for some soft, overhead dramatic lighting with accents of color, one of those being the pink light in the background behind the character Paula. Let us write you an essay from scratch, Order a custom essay from our writers and get it on time, Structural Analysis Of The Movie Moonlight Essay, Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins Movie Moonlight Essay, The Main Message Of The Film Moonlight Essay, Comparing Barry Jenkins And Richard Linklater's Works Essay, A Comparison Between the American Psycho and a Clockwork Orange Essay, A Study of the Character Alex in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The Role of Music in Bringing Out the Theme in a Clockwork Orange Essay, Free Will vs Morality in a Clockwork Orange Essay, The theme of morality and ethics in A Clockwork Orange Essay. Unlike the ugliness that was showcased with the green walls with Chiron, the blue light emphasizes this cold feeling that represents that moment in his life emotionally. When Chirons mother begins to leave, she continues to stare at Chiron and walk into the door where the pink lighting was coming from. After the bullies leave, Chiron wanders around and finds a syringe, foreshadowing his profession in the third part of the film. The theme, being who we truly are and what our environment expects us to be, is the protagonists main conflict. All rights reserved. A prominent scene depicts this where the protagonist is taught how to swim in the ocean by his father figure Juan. Laxton used Hawk V-Lite anamorphic lenses, throughout the film to help amplify the emotional state of the characters within the majestic widescreen format. For their singular vision for storytelling, Lets deep dive into some of the elements and, is a story about seemingly contradictory things. THE IMAGES THAT INSPIRED JAMES LAXTON | BY PAUL MOAKLEY. The non-linear storytelling is enhanced by the visual choices of the film. An Analysis of Barry Jenkins' Moonlight "In moonlight, black boys look blue," Juan relays to Little in one of the early scenes of Moonlight, the Oscar winning screenplay by Barry Jenkins. In moonlight black boys look blue. This was not the only challenge that Laxton faced while filming this scene. Our idea was to present them visually with that same amount of intensity. By continuing well assume you board with our cookie policy. Its a very familiar interaction. Jenkins reflects on the theme of prejudice through an array of symbolistic features to illustrate the evolution of Chiron from a man to a child. Barry Jenkins Moonlight (2016) has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age stories on celluloid. The idea of judgment. For their singular vision for storytelling, Moonlight famously won Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards. As Juan walks over to say hello to the young men, the camera slithers behind him. Kevins look of shock of seeing Chiron again is clear in his eyes and the audience feels it with him. Jenkins approached the scene where Juan teaches Chiron to swim as a transcendental moment. Since one of the concepts of our visual language had to do with being immersive, it was a must to put the camera in the water, within the tides and waves of the ocean, to experience the swimming lesson as the characters do. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. Read More22 Must Watch Films For Great Cinematography21 Iconic Shots Of The 21st CenturyCinematography Vs Videography: Whats The Difference? Laxton was also heavily inspired by photography. Nevertheless, the brutality and explicit [], "The woman looked at the tree: the fruit would be good to eat; it was pleasing to the eye and desirable for the knowledge it could give. Analysis of Cinematography in Moonlight by Barry Jenkins Essay. Moonlights tripartite narrative and non-linear storytelling is also reminiscent of the latter. The scene in which Chiron comes face to face with his largest enemy (himself) through a clean glass mirror serves as an interesting shot for cinematographers and audiences. The angle of the shot exaggerates Chirons gaze and makes it look more heartbroken than if it was an eye-level shot. Every shot is rife with emotional heft and a definitive artistic composition. The story of Moonlight invites the audience to follow the life of a character whos young, black, queer and who feels so alienated from the world around him that he cant see himself as he is. The camera is sped up and closing in on Chiron and his friend, trapping them even further. The main characters self-discovery is told through these chapters, each through a different developmental phase of his life. Laxton pushes the camera closer and closer towards the characters so as to create moments of intentional bonding between them and the audience. Chiron is changed forever in the preceding scene. David Bornfriend/A24. The color blue and water are the most prominent throughout. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/analysis-of-cinematography-in-moonlight-by-barry-jenkins/. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of his life. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of his life. But the film is an absolute triumph on both counts for its vibrant storytelling. A person may deal drugs for money, but no moral baggage is ascribed to this detail; it recedes into the background, having nothing whatever to do with their value system. I started talking about this movie 17 years ago when I first met Barry, Laxton tells TIME. Jenkins has said that, the film being a fever dreamand that the audience is part of the dream. Jenkins and Laxton uses the way characters are lit and how neighborhoods are shot to challenge many stereotypes about black communities. The camera goes to a low-angle shot as Chirons glare becomes harder and the sound of his harsh breathing becomes louder. In moments like these, a cinematographer has to try to deliver images that match the strength of the performance and emotional value of the story. The film is driven by the internal conflicts of the characters, instead of a plot. Moonlight is a coming of age movie of a young African American man through three stages of [], What I believe the film Moonlight is attempting to communicate to us watching is not simply the acknowledgment of homosexuality inside African American neighborhoods, yet additionally grasping young men who exist outside of that [], The semi-autobiographical bildungsroman films Moonlight and Boyhood, directed by Barry Jenkins and Richard Linklater, explore comparable themes through the use of cinematic and narrative techniques. But the film is an absolute triumph on both counts for its vibrant storytelling. Before Chiron walks into a diner the lightbulbs outside were changed to give off a blue hue instead of the natural green to make Chiron look softer. Moonlight is a story about seemingly contradictory things. The composition of this notable scene juxtaposes the ingrained idea of Juan being a gang affiliated drug dealer as he takes on the role of father of the protagonist. Blue serves as a source of solace and peace for Chiron Juans first introduction and their subsequent meeting are framed in the vivid blue of his car, and his apartment. The last sequence particularly stands out; upon breaking down in Kevins arms, Chiron sees himself as Little, standing in front of the sea and looking right back at the viewer, awash in moonlight and hinting at self-acceptance. So she took some and ate it; she also gave some to her husband and he ate it. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com. This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before, Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts. Moonlight was loosely adapted from an unpublished [], Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins, adapting the unproduced play called In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Moonlight exquisitely uses light and color to enhance the immersion of the audience into Chiron's thoughts and feelings. Growing up in his early days, Chiron does not have a male or fatherly figure in his life. Realism was avoided, with an understanding that when a setting is visually pathologized, so too are the human beings in it. But a community can also be a cage. In both of these films, space and framing of the characters provide a coherent visual guide to the plots impact. Bullied at an early age and seemingly outcast, Chiron knows he doesn't fit in because of his sexuality. Join our team and let's create something amazing together! (The teenage Chiron is played by Ashton Sanders in the second act, the adult Chiron by Trevante Rhodes in the third.) But it allowed us to understand that shes a whole character as well., When asked about his favorite scene in the film Laxton immediately turns to the third act where the shift in style in subtle and more nuanced. Now, it represents his world, one of anxiety and persecution. Maybe you think you know whats about to come in the next hour and a half., You dont, and thats the point. Above: Roys work from his book from Out Of The Blue. It is said that this scene was originally intended to be six hours to fully capture this scene but due to a storms untimely passing it was done within 90 minutes. Which is ever so fucked up, actually., They decided to use a digital camera called the ARRI Alexa, because with non-actors in the cast, they did not want to be inhibited by film stock, and because, of the digital options, the Alexa is best at rendering natural skin tone, Laxton said. Analysis Of Cinematography In Barry Jenkins' Movie Moonlight Essay. The bold color palette and bold lighting choices, rife with lens flare that communicated the sweltering heat of Miami were inspired from the films of Wong Kar-Wai. But this idea that the medium is always present when watching something I think is a good thing. The effect is such that we are not watching them swimming; instead, we are right there next to them. The idea of the opening sequence to have these two highly disparate shots welded together is the essence of the film. focus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. Colorist Alex Bickel achieved a vibrant film by increasing the contrast and saturation while preserving details and color. The film has a retroactive effect. At the beginning of the film, Chiron is bullied during a soccer game. Tell us about your travels! Roy was someone that I think shaped a lot of how Barry and I sort of approached the film at the very, very beginning.. My morning routine is I make a cup of coffee and Ill just like scroll through Tumblr images for the first 20 minutes of my day, says Laxton. Through his association with the color blue, Juan is introduced as a guardian, and a much-needed father- figure that has been missing from Chirons life. "I think for all of us around there, and especially for Barry because this is so personal to him, that just . We transition from handheld to dolly, from dolly to steady cam. In 2017, the film Moonlight was awarded Best Motion Picture at the 74th Academy Awards. There are these sort of lonely frames that exist, even when hes a grown man. Jenkins uses all the tools there are in camerawork to create a story thats personal to each and every person. This lighting gives the character depth and not just a negative stereotype of an abusive mother. There is a greater meaning to all the seemingly unimportant saturation of colors and camera angles. Through three acts, the film Moonlight (2016) explores three periods of the life of the lonely and sensitive Chiron, who faces the difficult intersectionality of growing up poor, black and gay in late 1980s Miami. The waves distort the lens to accentuate the feeling of being present at such an intimate moment. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. At the end of the second part. Your favorite beach reads and binge-worthy Netflix shows. Both mother and son are partially broken. This scene utilized Miamis natural lighting (that would be later touched in editing) which is said to do wonderful things to ones skin and kinder due to the humidity and moisture in the air. The result is an immersive sequence that allows the camera to capture each splash and stroke of the water, which was achieved by filming partly underwater. I think that younger audiences are more accepting of this than older audiences. What thats done over the last, say, 30 years is it has made the audience assume that of these communities. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Two faces, two connected souls. Moonlight, and its ocean setting is a significant motif in this film that illustrates the coming of age of a young black man in Miami. The sights, sounds, and smells of a summer day in your hometown. When you walk around the city, perspiration is inherent to the experience. Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, takes a look at a young black male growing up in Miami named Chiron. Its funny how much license you can get with some choices like that pink light, says Laxton. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The whole thing was one camera, says Laxton. Rather, there is classical music playing which allows himself to disconnect from his external reality, for the music that often plays is a direct signifying factor of his inner self. Moonlight'sfocus on telling a well-realized story is evident in its camera movements as well. Their filmmaking style developed after they met in college at Florida State University. Students who find writing to be a difficult task. The camera, said Laxton, is playing with our associations by saying, in effect, Heres something youve seen before. Many critics view Laxtons cinematography as visual poetry, through his use of techniques to further tell a sophisticated story. He borrowed elements from the work of photographers Earlie Hudnall Jr and Viviane Sassen. has been beaten up and bloodied by his bullies. Your work will be featured on our homepage and in our weekly Overheard on Odyssey newsletter. Laxton and Jenkins drew from varied sources to create a singular cinematic language for. While the story is told in three distinct parts that correspond to different parts of Chirons identity as Little/Chiron/Black, these are united by the expressionistic use of color and certain motifs. According to Laxton, We wanted to make sure our black-skinned actors would look natural and interesting skin tone. Director Barry Jenkins, behind the scenes with actor Mahershala Ali. While its a tender coming-of-age film, it never shies away from the harsh world of gangs and drug use that it is set in. Other photographers like the great Earlie Hudnall Jr. were found on Tumblr shared in dropbox folders along with the work of Dutch art photographer Viviane Sassen also had a huge influence on Laxtons choice of colors for some of the films most iconic scenes like the swimming lesson, set in it high contrast colors and crystalline blues. The use of natural and ambient light throughout the film mixed with small warm fill lights and touches of color play on the films dream-like sense of reality. The duo also shares a lot of photography. This circular shot encapsulates the Chirons teenage bully Tell as he initiates a game of knockout as he directs Kevin to punch Chiron. He. first introduction and their subsequent meeting are framed in the vivid blue of his car, and his apartment. To communicate this in a visual manner, the camera frames the subjects such that they fill up the majority of the screen, thus drawing us into their emotional landscapes.
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