We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

Cinematography in Birdman

essay
The whole doc is available only for registered users

A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed

Order Now

The film Birdman directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu stresses the importance of cinematography in filmmaking and creates fluid transitions from one scene to the other, making the movie seem like it has been filmed all in one take. He also uses the motion of the camera, whether shaky, fast or slow moving, to stress certain people and certain scenes. He creates this fluidity to reflect the importance of fluidity in plays, giving the audience a deeper connection with the film.

The film Birdman starts with the camera moving slowly and gradually gaining speed, warming the audience up to this certain style of cinematography. It also gives the audience a better and clearer look at the “behind-the-scenes” of a theatre.

During the film, when the actors are on stage and are having a dialect with each other, the camera is constantly in motion, and circles the actors that are speaking. This entices the audience and gives them perspectives of each of the actors speaking.

Off stage, when there seems to be an intense, but brief pause, the camera stops moving to give emphasis on the emptiness caused by that silence. But when a conversation becomes argumentative and angry with lots of emotion, the camera shakes and moves quickly if the actors are walking.

One of the reasons for keeping the film in seemingly one shot may be because Iñárritu wanted the film to be as close to what a play might feel like to the audience and to the cast members where in a play, one cannot stop and redo a scene. Iñárritu could have also wanted the audience to feel a sense of exhaustion from watching the film. By making it seem like one camera shot, the audience could have felt that they could not relax.

In the last fifteen minutes of the film, the audience can see recognizable scene changes in quick succession of one another. This signifies the end of the play and reiterates the stress the main actor had while producing and acting in the play but has now been lifted off of him.

Birdman emphasizes fluidity in cinematography and uses that fluidity to create a film that does not have a dull moment where the audience is left sitting on the edge of their seat. It dramatizes the actors and scenes by producing faster or slower camera movements and by shaking or stopping the camera as well. This cinematography gives the audience a whole new language to interpret which sets it apart from other films.

Related Topics

We can write a custom essay

According to Your Specific Requirements

Order an essay
icon
300+
Materials Daily
icon
100,000+ Subjects
2000+ Topics
icon
Free Plagiarism
Checker
icon
All Materials
are Cataloged Well

Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email.

By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.
Sorry, but only registered users have full access

How about getting this access
immediately?

Your Answer Is Very Helpful For Us
Thank You A Lot!

logo

Emma Taylor

online

Hi there!
Would you like to get such a paper?
How about getting a customized one?

Can't find What you were Looking for?

Get access to our huge, continuously updated knowledge base

The next update will be in:
14 : 59 : 59