Editing

Editing also plays a very important part in the final edit of the film. Editing is used to create a film that makes sense when watched by others.

Shots are selected and edited together so they flow into a sequence. Editing is used for many reasons, like placing in CGI (Computer-generated imagery), or placing two separate scenes in to one big action scene, doing this can build atmosphere, emphasize at moment in the film, bring a new element to the film or just bridge one part of the film to another. An example of CGI would be King Kong. The reasoning for doing this is to let the viewer perceive what the director wanted them to view, in turn this also makes the viewer think about what they are seeing and provoke emotions from the audience.Another form of editing is time and sound editing, for example slowing down a scene can add effect and also let the audience take in the full scene, again this also emphasize and builds atmosphere at a point in the film or a change of mood e.g. like in any cliché romantic film you will have the slow motion run, this normally occurs after feelings have changed for a person and they want the other person to know. Slowing down the time of a scene gives the audience time to think about what will happen. Slowing down and speeding up scenes can also have a different effect depending on the genre of film. If you wanted to have a scary film, which creates a lot of tension and suspense you would have lots a slow shots. However having slow shots means that you can have more to create the tension and time which will build up the suspense for the next scene where everything comes together and falls into place.

Costume and Makeup

Costume and make up is very important in the film industry. It is able to transform an actor/actress into the character they are playing. Make up is able to characterize the person as old, ragged, young, or even like a monster. A good example of use of costume and make is in the film ‘Mrs Doubtfire’. Robin Williams who plays the house keeper Mrs Dountfire and also plays Daniel (the father of the family he house keeps for) in the film is miraculously made into a woman. This is done in hope for him to spend more time with his children in becoming the house keeper for them. Williams is transformed into a women by using heavy makeup and prosthetics. The prosthetics help to make his face more feminine and to have more defined features, such as his jaw line and cheek bones. However he is also made to have a few wrinkles to create the effect of an older woman. The wrinkles are painted on to the prosthetics so that they are the right colour tone to what he is wearing. Costume also plays a big part as it builds the character up and adds to their personality of the role. In ‘Mrs Doubtfire’. The costume he wears reflects his role; it is also stereotypical clothing of what an old women would wear.

Leon-Luc Besson

‘Leon’ is a film released on 3rd February 1995. It was written and also directed by Luc Besson. The film is set in the Little Italy suburb of New York.

Leon is a thriller based crime film. The film is based on the emotional relation ship between Leon (Jean Reno) and Mathilda (Natalie Portman). Leon is brought to the attention of Mathilda when she comes knocking on his door hysterically crying after her family have been caught up in a dealing with drugs and shot by a DEA officer. Leon has it forced upon him to help Mathilda out. She is a young girl of 12 who wants to know the trick of the trade of being hit man. She is inspired to learn Leon’s ways in an attempt of getting revenge on the DEA officer who killed her family, especially who little brother. Whom she had an extremely close relationship with. Leon is very reluctant to introduce Mathilda into his job. The two start to bond, a strong father/daughter relationship soon develops. I think this happens because Mathilda finds Leon more of a father figure than she ever did with her own father. The relationship builds between the characters throughout the film, and becomes stronger and stronger. Leon tries to protect Mathilda and be responsible for her. However the more the relationship builds up, the more Mathilda ‘falls’ for Leon which does become cringey at certain parts within the film.

There are many significant items through out the film, on of which is a plant. The plant is like a friend to Leon. Something he looks after, cares for and makes sure its watered everyday. He has a ‘special’ bond with it. The plant is almost like a real friend, or child to him. The plant is taken everywhere by Leon and is never really out of sight. It is almost as if the plant gives him strength, and to live. Another significant prop in the film is the guns used. The film is based around guns, drugs, and money. The guns are not any guns, they are big mean and powerful. As the film gets towards the end, the guns become more powerful and even lead up to the used of a grenade. A glass of milk is also a reoccurring item too. I think the milk is meant to represent the fact of growing strong and healthy. This may suggest that hit men are also strong and healthy, and this may be why Leon is so faithful in drinking at least a glass a day.

In conclusion I thought the film was absolutely fantastic. Leon would never be a film I would choose personally to watch, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The minute the story line began to unroll I was engrossed. The editing, the props, the lighting, it was all perfect. Camera angles made the important parts stand out to the audience. In my opinion the best bit was the ending, I liked this because there is no music to the death of Leon it just cuts silence to a point of view shot and you can tell exactly what has just happened to him.