Filming Techniques http://www.everywoodyallenmovie.com/images/the-purple-rose-of-cairo-5.jpg
This movies filming was not nearly as complex and interesting as Annie Hall, which I found upsetting. All the scenes appeared to me as being extremely cold and dreary. However, there is an explanation to this. Allen uses the mood of these scenes to emphasize that this film directly follows the Great Depression. Without directly mentioning it, he uses the setting to show the poor and depressing time period. The outdoor scenes are empty and quiet, with never more than a few people and everyone is always bundled up for the cold weather. One thing that stood out in particular was the similarity between this movie theater with the Byrd Theater downtown, and the film being projected in this one was in black and white. At almost all point throughout the movie, everyone was dressed, even at the movie theater, in coats and ties. This is extremely different from now, where people go in sweatshirts and sweatpants.
Woody Allen does utilize the fourth wall and the breaking of the fourth wall, when Baxton comes out of the screen from the movie we are watching, of other people watching. It is extremely interesting to watch him walk out, taking note of him trying to figure out the real world. For example, he has to learn to pay with real money, keeping in mind he does not have endless amounts of money, he attempts to unsuccessfully drive a car, and even when he kisses Cecilia, he waits for the curtain to fade out afterwards.
There were some filming techniques in particular that appealed to me. First, was the breaking of the fourth wall. Second, was the switch between Cecilia sitting in the theater watching the film and her at work at the diner and other places, always bringing it back to her at the movies which helped shape it as the focus of the movie. Also, the way Woody Allen allowed Baxton to walk in and out of the screen and the ability of the actors in the film to interact with the members of the audience. Next, the lighting was another interesting component. Perhaps it was to set the mood of the romantic movie, but all scenes were fairly dark, especially the indoor scenes. There was constantly limited lighting and little light besides an occasional lamp and the natural light from outside, shining in. Allen puts a big emphasis on his choice of music as another way to set the scene. There are constantly trumpets, old time music, and of course clarinets (like all his other movies!) between the scenes, serving as transitions. Even when there are scenes without talking, there is music playing in place of the talking. Lastly, there's interesting word diction and phrases used in this film. For example: "peach of an actor," "fetching personality," "flash in the pan," "stockings are just divine," and others. I suggest watching this film and seeing what other interesting phrases you may take note of!
Woody Allen does utilize the fourth wall and the breaking of the fourth wall, when Baxton comes out of the screen from the movie we are watching, of other people watching. It is extremely interesting to watch him walk out, taking note of him trying to figure out the real world. For example, he has to learn to pay with real money, keeping in mind he does not have endless amounts of money, he attempts to unsuccessfully drive a car, and even when he kisses Cecilia, he waits for the curtain to fade out afterwards.
There were some filming techniques in particular that appealed to me. First, was the breaking of the fourth wall. Second, was the switch between Cecilia sitting in the theater watching the film and her at work at the diner and other places, always bringing it back to her at the movies which helped shape it as the focus of the movie. Also, the way Woody Allen allowed Baxton to walk in and out of the screen and the ability of the actors in the film to interact with the members of the audience. Next, the lighting was another interesting component. Perhaps it was to set the mood of the romantic movie, but all scenes were fairly dark, especially the indoor scenes. There was constantly limited lighting and little light besides an occasional lamp and the natural light from outside, shining in. Allen puts a big emphasis on his choice of music as another way to set the scene. There are constantly trumpets, old time music, and of course clarinets (like all his other movies!) between the scenes, serving as transitions. Even when there are scenes without talking, there is music playing in place of the talking. Lastly, there's interesting word diction and phrases used in this film. For example: "peach of an actor," "fetching personality," "flash in the pan," "stockings are just divine," and others. I suggest watching this film and seeing what other interesting phrases you may take note of!
Breaking the Fourth Wall http://www.standbyformindcontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/936full-the-purple-rose-of-cairo-screenshot.jpg?9d7bd4
The fourth wall is an imaginary wall, located at the front of the stage, where the audience can directly watch the action of the play. The idea of the fourth wall is credited to Denis Diderot, a philosopher and critic. This technique became very popular of nineteenth century films, magnifying the boundary between the audience and the fictional piece. The art of directly acknowledging the audience by use of the camera is referred to as “breaking the fourth wall.” Breaking the fourth wall is essentially when the character speaks directly to or at the audience. This person is no longer in his or her own reality of realm. In contrast, the fifth wall is an extension of the fourth wall that shows the invisible wall that exists between the critics and the people in the theater.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall
Here's an example of breaking the fourth wall in Woody Allen's film, Annie Hall.