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John Ford?s Influence on Steven Spielberg
John Ford?s Influence on Steven Spielberg
Erik Gebhardt
Cleveland State University
COM 320: History of Film
Erik Gebhardt
COM 320
Professor Neuendorf
15 October 2015
Steven Spielberg Filmmaking is one of the most unique, creative, and innovative projects that someone can complete. The film industry is a true art form, and the appreciation for the industry from the actors and actresses, to the filmmakers, producers, and directors continues to increase. Attending a premier, or just going to the local movie theater on a Friday night to see a movie that looks enticing from the trailers that have been seen is one of the most fun parts of living.
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He has been known to talk about the influence that he received from the legend John Ford. One specific influence that he received, or followed along with regarding John Ford, were how his films were normally optimistic, minus a few such as ?Schindler?s List.? ?Saving Private Ryan? is a tragic movie, but it has optimistic perspectives throughout the film. This is an influence from John Ford. For example, in Ford?s ?The Searchers?, there is usually an optimistic tone in the film, especially from John Wayne. All along, John Wayne knows he is going to find his niece, in which he does and he brings her back where she belongs. In ?Saving Private Ryan? for example, many men die in the opening scene on D-Day at Normandy, but Tom Hanks? character is able to find and save Private Ryan at the end of the film. It is a hard film to watch because so many young men die while trying to save one person, but that one person is eventually saved and it shows the courage that the characters in the film represent. Spielberg got this directly from Ford. This creates a feeling of gratitude and happiness for the audience as they leave the theater knowing that the main objective of the film has been …show more content…
There is no doubt about this. But, it is the ways that make these filmmakers some of the greatest of all time. Ford uses optimism in his films; he represents the struggles in real life situations, like he does in ?Grapes of Wrath?, even though the film is based off of a book. This is a way for him that he can connect to the audience. He directed many war films, and they were authentic because he was in the war and he saw what happened in many different areas. For Spielberg, he believed in extraordinary circumstances, which is why he directed many movies about dinosaurs and aliens. But, in these movies, symbolism is portrayed because it asks if there is other life out there. This is what makes it enticing to the audience. Both of these men are some of the greatest of all time and they are both very familiar in many
He was the academy winning Western legend, recognized as one of the best filmmakers of all time, his name was John Ford. He started out his career in film in July 1914 as an assistant, labourman and actor for his brother Francis Ford. It was not until 1917 where he made his debut as a director with the lost film, The Tornado and ended his career in the early 1970s with his last film Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend. During his early years, he was making silent films where Westerns were very popular during the time. When the introduction of sound came and the birth of Talkies came, however, the genre started losing its popularity. Yet, that did not stop the director from working on the genre, eventually to the point where he is now credited today as the man who played a huge role in bringing the westerns back to popularity. So, in this video essay, I will be talking about John Ford’s take on Westerns and how he revolutionized the genre.
However, Spielberg is able see the “big picture” and treats his films as the piece of art in which they
On behalf of someone who thoroughly enjoys movies due to entertainment purposes, the importance of a movie following an historical plot or a literary work is of least significance. I watch movies for the sole pleasure it brings to myself. With endless genres and various actors/actresses, how does one not invest time into some of the greatest artworks ever produced by mankind. To have a movie prearranged on a set path by already shadowing another work is underwhelming and expected, to say the least. This belief is already widely represented among the majority of film directors. Historical events like Dunkirk depicting a famous battle in World War II, 13 hours showing the Benghazi raid on a United States operated compound, and Hacksaw Ridge exposing
The second step toward becoming a filmmaker is to create a short film. Creating a short film offers students a chance to apply on the set what they 've learned in the classroom (Study, 2017). Creating as many short films as I can, will give me more experience
His innovation, work ethic, and artistic perspectives in film hasn’t gone unnoticed. His legacy lives on as film directors today continue to use techniques he mastered through his
Director, screenwriter, and producer, Stephen Spielberg, has been often described by critics as being one of the trailblazers who paved the way for the new Hollywood era. In fact, one of Spielberg’s earliest films, JAWS, captured the audience’s attentions so vividly that the movie remains to be a cult classic even decades later. The audience sunk its teeth deep into the enticing combination of drama, thrill, science-fiction, and adventure the film obtained. At face value, JAWS appears to be focused on a giant monstrous fish, but with further analyzation of the plot structure, narration, and original music demonstrates the brilliance and complexity of why JAWS is a well deserving Oscar-winning movie.
The films he created allowed the new generation of movie goers to have their own movie, that everyone could relate too. Tying into the backbone of the American New Wave movement which was the realism within the films. The editing use within Star Wars was uncommon for films to incorporate the use of computers models, the use of the computer aided effects started to effect other films in the making, allowing them to add more to the story and attract the new age of the audience. Also lets take into account that Lucas was not only a one film director, he also had created the Indiana Jones series, another blockbuster film. Some on the trademarks used by Lucas in Star Wars and Indiana Jones are still used today within other films, some examples of Lucas’s trademarks are his use of battle scenes by a large pit, visual effects, and also the use of soft-edge wipes as transitions. In addition, everything Lucas was doing was to get the new generation of movie attenders to come and see the new film in the theaters. As a parallel too today, movies are coming out every week, each one different from the other, but if you look closely at each of the movies the use of visual effects within the movies have stayed the same, from having half of New York always destroyed or from having more
In 2016 alone, over twenty-two movies were created based on true events of World War II. These films depict the dramatic fighting and emotional stress that fell on soldier's shoulders. Over the years, many historic films have been created yet one movie has proven itself superior: Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg, a well known film director, first produced the movie to pay tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War II. With many occasions of graphic and realistic scenes, Saving Private Ryan allows viewers to gain an appreciation for the hardships troops experienced. This film gives the audience a glimpse into the intense battles fought in World War II, while also providing a heartfelt story about brothership and loss. Differing from the other World War II movies, Saving Private Ryan exemplifies a true war-drama with the help of the plot, historical accuracy, characters and setting.
Tim Burton’s Ed Wood focuses on a short period in the life of the filmmaker and director Ed Wood, but it is able to delve deeply into the character’s desires and motivations as both a director and a regular person. In a movie like Ed Wood where the action is slow and ordinary, it becomes clear that the story is more about the artistic passion and desire for acceptance and community that is driving this man forward rather than what he is physically doing in his attempts to rise up in the world of movie making. In film, the motivations behind a character’s actions cannot be seen, so the narrative space of the story can begin to seem pointless and disconnected. In movies focusing on some great quest or task, it is easier to see the mind and
. The technique of Spielberg’s face is to zoom in on a character as they are looking at something. Most of the time the face is fully surprised or amazed and the thing that they are looking at is not revealed until the character shows their expression. Spielberg was the first to show the technique and this is why its called the Spielberg face. “Spielberg face” is present in all his movies like Jurassic Park, Close Encounters and The Color Purple.
When it comes to movies, many directors are good at their jobs. However, other directors are great in the art of film making. There is no doubt such statement is considered utterly subjective, but what would life be without subjectivity, for it is our differences that make us thrive against a monotonic existence. By the same token, Alfred Hitchcock and Christopher Nolan utilize their singularities to create films that for decades have impacted the movie making universe. In fact, it is their differences that provide us with a high contrast to compare and scrutinize their job and find what made them great at it.
In 1998, Spielberg came out with Saving Private Ryan, which captured war in gory and shocking detail as his soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy. This again shows his willingness to deal with larger, more serious issues.
Steven Spielberg is one of the most successful directors of all time (in fact, may people would argue that he is the most successful director there has ever been) and his movies have been some of the most profitable and well known in history. His opening sequences are noted for being captivating, gripping and often scary, building tension and suspense. Born in 1946 in Ohio, Spielberg has become elite among directors. The gross of the films he has directed is estimated at $8.5 billion, and three of his films – Jurassic Park, Jaws and E.T. the extra-terrestrial – have achieved box office records.
There are many different elements of film that filmmakers can utilize to make a film. Direction, storyline, cinematography, mise en scene, as well as point of view and tone can all lend a hand in making a film great. One might say that the most important aspect of a film is the script. Others might argue the actors are the most important part. However, an impressive balance of all of the different elements of film are what can elevate a film to greatness. That is why the best film viewed this semester is Night of the Living Dead.
Every so often a movie is released with such tense anticipation and glamorous visual art that the public is drawn to this dramatic rendition of life in the theatre. For even just two hours or so, you are put into a different lifestyle. Action, drama or comedy it may be. We are thrust into a different way of thinking. We are forced to learn the characters thoughts and feelings. The hard work and artistic skill that goes into these magnificent films is not an easy thing to mimic. Out of the thousands of movies released worldwide each year only a handful are truly worthy of the label film art. Most of the great movies are either produced by a multi million dollar