Cinemotography

Director of Photography: 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

Cinematography

I have found bit of back ground info. on the cinematographer for the film..

“Steven Poster was born and raised In Chicago, and was first interested in still photography. He studied at Southern Illinois University, Los Angeles Art Center College of Design, and the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He first filmed commercials and documentaries. He then worked on “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Blade Runner”. He is currently filming “Une Chance Sur Deux” in France under French director Patrice Leconte. He currently lives in Los Angeles”

“Cinematographer Steven Poster is the ex-President of the American Society of Cinematographers, current president of the Local 600 (the International Cinematographers Guild), a still photographer and DP of many films, including Rocky V, RocketMan, and Donnie Darko. He is possibly the only American Cinematographer ever to shoot a French movie for a French director in France.”

-Elyse

Soundtrack

-Elyse

Review

I read through some film reviews on AMAZON.com. Here is what I found, I tried to pick out quotes that I personaly liked and also ones that I thought would make for a good contribution.

“there are no harrowing scenes of nuclear explosions or people ravaged by radiation sickness. In that regard, “Testament” is almost naive; radiation sickness is nothing more than dark shadows around the eyes of the characters. But this is not a movie about special effects; …The rhyme and reason for the war is of no consequence in the final analysis. Instead, this is a story about facing the end of the world,”

“Death is inevitable in this film, and ultimately the question is how it should be faced. Director Lynne Littman provides scenes that become unforgettable because of their simple eloquence, most notable, one in which Carol finishes sewing up the shroud in which she has wrapped one of her children. “(The most disturbing film about surviving a nuclear holocaust,December 2, 2002.By Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota)).

“Watching “Testament” is a very upsetting experience because at the end it is impossible to avoid asking yourself a horrifying question…what would you do in Carol’s place?”

-Elyse

Oh Facebook…

This has a few other related movies and topics. maybe you will find something ..?http://www.facebook.com/pages/Testament/105480399484402?v=desc

 

-Elyse

“The people of Hamelin dont have much of an opportunity to voice grief, panic, rage or any other of the emotions they might be expected to have. For the most part, they just persevere quietly and wait for the worst. ” I havent seen all the movies from the Japanese prospective,but he ones I have seen all seem so passive about the Bombing and the events that followed. I often question why.  Through the torture and pain of the after effects, was there no real anger or  acting out? Is it all just a culture difference? I feel Testament’s tone was designed in regards to some Japanese films. Seemingly broken, to persevere quietly and wait for the worst. Perhaps the director saw these reactions and understood them to be reasonable. After the realization of the situation sets in, what else id there to do. Perhaps this seems like how everyone would act out the rest of there days after such a horrific event. However, it can be see in retrospect I think. What if, just  because your time is so short, and because the common things lose their  value, humans were to react in almost opposite matter. A more extreme level of emotions takes over; anger, passion, or one might just act more on whim and with out thinking of any repercussions. Perhaps this is how it can define a culture difference. I feel things would have really happened differently in America. Or at least I would have lived out the last days in a different manner.

Just a thought! 🙂

Elyse

My thoughts on the cinematography

During the first 20 minutes it was hard for me to really “get into” the story. Especially the parents intimate scene.. I didnt realize my understandings until the scene in the church, showing how so many of the towns people had died. only a small hand full of people where left sitting in the seats. Or that is how I perceived it. I suppose they could have left town or just stopped relying on the community of the church. After that, i felt much more attentive to the story line. The mothers narration through her diary and the flash backs she would have like old family movies really help draw me in. the pace of the movie was slow from beginning to end. A reflection of ‘real life’, you dont understand the messages while the event is happening, but after, once you have had a chance to revisit your memories and discover how you felt about that moment. I experienced this same process when thinking back on the not so interesting first 20 min of the movie. I enjoyed the humanness of this movie, and the way the director portray that human experience. I also enjoyed it because it effected me and changed me a little.

-Elyse