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Cinemotography

Director of Photography: Steven Poster

Steven Poster

Technique: Concentrated on the emotional impact and personal connection.  direct view of specific places and people in distinct social settings allows for that more emotional connection. Utilizing distinct contrast of light and dark increases the sensitivity of the unconscious  meanings of the moment to be revealed, beyond the surface impressions.  The intention is to invite the viewer to feel for  humanity. Steven Poster hopes to convey his love and respect for his subjects, without denying  their  pain. And he feels in this work, grounded in temporal reality, a sense of poetry and timelessness.

Citation:

unknown. (n.d.). Statement. Retrieved from http://www.stevenposter.com/

Examples from the Film

  • Natural lighting through sheer curtains and light fabric is often in the shot. Warm tones, glowing reflections, soft scattered light from the sun enhances the “easy” feeling of everyday life.

  • Angles of  morning sun light are often emphasized in the shot.

  • Warm ambiance  catches nicely on fabrics and skin draws attention to lively reflections, i.e., rosy cheeks, glossy eyes, soften hard surfaces.

  • contrast between light and dark objects more dramatic, enhancing the sensitivity of the situation being portrayed.

  • Different lens filters are used to emphasized the heightened emotion of the scene.

  • real life, no artificial colors or lighting. dusty, drab colors lead the viewer to feel the humanness of the scene.

  • Greyness of the sky and the reflection of the sun in the boys glasses, draws attention to the atmosphere and its  thickness. how far way now the warm sun is from the life left below. the atomic winter as set in.

-Elyse

Introduction to the film “Testament”(1983)

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Plot Summary            

Set in the small  town Hamlin,California, the Wetherly family and their everyday concerns open the story. While the children watch afternoon cartoons, the T.V. signal turns to static. It is then replaced by breaking news, sending out the broadcast of a nuclear attack on New York and the East Coast. Suddenly sirens alarm and a blinding flash engulfs the families’ home. The nuclear holocaust cuts Hamlin off from the outside world. Panicked, the community gathers at the local church.  Hamlin appears to have been spared. The reason behind the attack or who started it remains unknown. Life goes on for a while; the town tries to cope and work together. But before long, the cemetery fills up. The oldest son asks his mother if they should leave. When she asks him what he thinks, he tells her they should stay. The focus remains on the individuals and the way in which they adjust to the inevitable.

-Elyse

Recognition for Testament

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Awards:

1983         Christopher Award – Feature Film

 

Nominations:

1984

Jane Alexander : Best Actress in a Leading role (Oscar) – Academy Award

Lynn Littman      : Grand Prize                                                     – Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival

Jane Alexander: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Golden Globe) – Golden Globes

 

1985

Rossie Harris      : Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture    – Young Artist Awards

Roxana Zal           : Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture – Young Artist Awards

 

“Testament features not a single scene of destruction, but builds psychological and emotional horror few films sustain at this level. Schindler’s List did. So does Testament, a gut wrenching tale that imagines a domestic holocaust with similar power and meditation.” – Joe Valdez

 

Credits:

Valdez, J. (2008). Testament (1983). Retrieved from http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/03/28/testament-1983-2/

Awards for Testament. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086429/awards

Blog Conference Presentation

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Related works

General

  • No special effect
  • Simple plot
  • Not for entertainment
  • Haunting as a story

Comments on Shapiro’s criticisms

  • “Post-nuclear feminist weepie” –> hostile toward women
  • Movie celebrates the “meaninglessness of her life” –> it’s hard to be radical when in crisis

Documentaries – Influence on viewers and cast members

  • Film shown in a classroom (Nuclear thoughts)
  • Students share their thoughts
  • Lukas Hass (Scott) wrote to president against nuclear weapons (Twenty years later)
  • Jane Alexander active for nuclear disarmament

Take home message

  • Anti-war, anti-nuclear
  • Carol holds on to life -> hope in each of her child keeps her alive
  • Happy family in the beginning – destroyed -> Life is precious, take nothing for granted

Testament as an emotional wake-up call

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Cold War Movie

There are several types of films for illustrating the Cold War period:

1. Dr. Strangelove ( 1964)  as acerbic satire: an absolutely insane scientist starts to process nuclear weapon war


2. On theBeach ( 1959 ), it’s a film about the the conflict has devastated the northern hemishpere, polluting the atmosphere with nuclear fallout  and killing all life. While the bombs were confined to the northern hemisphere, air currents are slowly carrying the fallout south. The only areas still habitable are in the far southern hemisphere, like Austrialia as the last virgin land.  This film is also mentioned in Shapiro’s reading for the comparison of Testament.

As for Testament, it’s illustrated the” Cold War” in a very quite and senstive way.

It’s directed in such a ” normal” way, during the Cold War Era , things like this could literally happen. Women also play an important role in this type of the film,  Women are always the ones who wait for their husband to come back after the war ends. It’s a desperate film, hoping for the best would come but in the film the husband didn’t come back.

It’s more of an emotional wake-up because it’s so real, I believe it’s also happened to many widows during the wars.

Unlike other American films, it does not have a happy ending, it’s rather “realistic” in a way and sad. In my opinion, it’s illustrated the war movie in a more suitable way, women have to be strong to take care of the children and learn to be independent.

Air Raid America

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Air raid precautions

After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Americans became fearful of a possible attack on the United States mainland. Civilians volunteered to coordinate civil defense and home safety efforts in their local areas. Spotters studied aircraft silhouettes, blackout accessories were made available and air raid drills were practiced on a regular basis. This 1940’s WPA poster reminded citizens of the proper procedures to be followed during air raid drills.

http://www.loc.gov