Every Frame a PaintingThere are filmmakers we love and then there's Michael Bay. Even if you dislike him (as I do), Bay has something valuable to teach us about visual perception. This is an exploration of "Bayhem" — his style of camera movement, composition and editing that creates something overblown, dynamic and distinct.
For further reading/viewing, I recommend Letterboxd user sydney's review of Bad Boys 2: http://bit.ly/1iZe7SX Michael Bay watches West Side Story: http://nyti.ms/Vg7ErY Werner Herzog Talks About Wrestlemania & Anna Nicole Smith: http://bit.ly/VfQ9Iu
Music: The Sound Defects - Take Out Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story Overture Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong
Michael Bay - What is Bayhem?Every Frame a Painting2014-07-03 | There are filmmakers we love and then there's Michael Bay. Even if you dislike him (as I do), Bay has something valuable to teach us about visual perception. This is an exploration of "Bayhem" — his style of camera movement, composition and editing that creates something overblown, dynamic and distinct.
For further reading/viewing, I recommend Letterboxd user sydney's review of Bad Boys 2: http://bit.ly/1iZe7SX Michael Bay watches West Side Story: http://nyti.ms/Vg7ErY Werner Herzog Talks About Wrestlemania & Anna Nicole Smith: http://bit.ly/VfQ9Iu
Music: The Sound Defects - Take Out Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story Overture Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong
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http://amara.org/v/EwssWhat Would Billy Wilder Do?Every Frame a Painting2024-10-07 | In the annals of filmmaking, we have great writers and great directors, but then there is Billy Wilder – one of the greatest who did both.
CORRECTION: The sketch @1:05 was written by I.A.L. Diamond & staged by Billy Wilder in honour after his passing. The onscreen title card is wrong.
A Video Essay by Taylor Ramos & Tony Zhou End Title Music by Sean William Stock Music provided by Pond5
You can support the new run of video essays & the short film at patreon.com/everyframeapaintingThe Sustained Two-ShotEvery Frame a Painting2024-08-26 | What do you do when you’ve got two actors, a bunch of dialogue, and only enough time to get one camera angle? Consider one of the oldest tools in the filmmaking toolbox: the sustained two-shot.
You can support the new run of videos at Patreon here: patreon.com/everyframeapaintingThe Second (2024) — A Limited Series TrailerEvery Frame a Painting2024-07-03 | Coming soon: A limited series featuring new video essays, followed by a short film - The Second.
The Second is a short film starring Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Ethan Hwang, written and directed by Taylor Ramos & Tony Zhou.
The Second will be premiering at Fantasia Int’l Film Festival on July 20th. Followed by a special 45-min talk from Taylor Ramos & Tony Zhou, along with a Q&A session.
Cast: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Ethan Hwang, Aaron Schwartz, Richard Wes, Colton Royce, Martin Ortega, Sam Osei, Tyrus Hwang
TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (2011) Zack Hemsey - “Mind Heist” from Inception Trailer #3 (2010) Steve Jablonsky - “It’s Our Fight” Inception owned by Warner Bros. Pictures Transformers owned by Paramount Pictures
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014) Alan Silvestri - “The Avengers” from The Avengers (2012) Tyler Bates - “The Kyln Escape” (contains Guardians main theme) Avengers and Guardians both owned by Walt Disney Studios
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - “LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS, PT. 2” (2006) John Powell - Nach Deutschland” from The Bourne Supremacy (2004) Bear McCreary - "One Year Later" The Bourne Supremacy owned by Universal Pictures Battlestar Galactica owned by Universal Television
STARDUST (2007) Wojciech Kilar - “Vampire Hunters” from Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) Ilan Eshkeri - “Lamia’s Inn" Dracula owned by Columbia Pictures Stardust owned by Paramount Pictures
WRECK-IT RALPH (2012) Ilan Eshkeri - “Yvaine” from Stardust (2007) Henry Jackman - “You’re My Hero" Stardust owned by Paramount Pictures Wreck-It Ralph owned by Walt Disney Studios
THE ANT BULLY (2006) James Newton Howard - “Going After Rourke” from Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) John Debney - “Launching the Attack" Atlantis owned by Buena Vista Pictures (Disney) Ant Bully owned by Warner Bros. Pictures
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW - “MONSTERS AMONG US” (2014) Mica Levi - “Lipstick to Void” from Under the Skin (2013) Mac Quayle - “Elsa’s Theme" Under the Skin owned by StudioCanal/A24 American Horror Story owned by 20th Century Fox Television/FX
THE MYTH (2005) Klaus Badelt - “Barbossa is Hungry” from Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) Nathan Wang & Gary Chase - “The Discovery" Pirates of the Caribbean owned by Buena Vista Pictures (Disney) The Myth owned by JCE Movies Limited
TRANSFORMERS (2007) Thomas Newman - “Already Dead” from American Beauty (1999) Steve Jablonsky - “Sam at the Lake" American Beauty owned by Dreamworks Pictures Transformers owned by Paramount Pictures
UNSTOPPABLE (2010) Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard - “Why So Serious?” from The Dark Knight (2008) Henry Gregson-Williams - “The Stanton Curve” The Dark Knight owned by Warner Bros. Pictures Unstoppable owned by 20th Century Fox
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (2010) Harry Gregson-Williams - “Water Over Troubled Bridge” from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) Danny Elfman - “Blood of the Jabberwocky" Prince Caspian & Alice in Wonderland both owned by Walt Disney Studios
Off the top of your head, could you sing the theme from Star Wars? How about James Bond? Or Harry Potter? But here’s the kicker: can you sing any theme from a Marvel film? Despite 13 films and 10 billion dollars at the box office, the Marvel Cinematic Universe lacks a distinctive musical identity or approach. So let’s try to answer the question: what is missing from Marvel music?
Daniel Pemberton - Orchestra Tuning Up (from The Movies (2005) video game) Ramin Djawadi - “Test Day Eleven” (Unreleased from Iron Man) Patrick Doyle - "8m52 Warriors Find Thor ALT” (Unreleased from Thor) Henry Jackman - “The Smithsonian” (from Winter Soldier) Danny Elfman - “Heroes” (from Age of Ultron) Danny Elfman - “Farmhouse” (from Age of Ultron) Patrick Doyle - “Ride to Observatory” (from Thor) Henry Jackman - "A New Recruit” (from Civil War)
Temp Music Examples:
300 (2007) Elliot Goldenthal - “Victorious Titus” from Titus (1999) Tyler Bates - “Returns a King" Titus owned by Fox Searchlight Pictures 300 owned by Warner Bros. Pictures
THOR (2011) Steve Jablonsky - “Einstein’s Wrong” from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) Patrick Doyle - “Hammer Found" Transformers owned by Paramount Pictures Thor first owned by Paramount Pictures, then transferred to Walt Disney Studios
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015) Henry Jackman - “Captain America” from Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Junkie XL - “Brothers in Arms" Winter Soldier owned by Walt Disney Studios Mad Max: Fury Road owned by Warner Bros. Pictures
DRIVE ANGRY (2011) Hans Zimmer - “Mombasa” from Inception (2010) Michael Wandmacher - “Mass vs. Acceleration" Inception owned by Warner Bros. Pictures Drive Angry owned by Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment
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http://amara.org/v/VfyuHow Does an Editor Think and Feel?Every Frame a Painting2016-05-12 | For the past ten years, I’ve been editing professionally. Yet one question always stumps me: “How do you know when to cut?” And I can only answer that it’s very instinctual. On some level, I’m just thinking and feeling my way through the edit. So today, I’d like to describe that process: how does an editor think and feel?
A very special thanks to David Poland for the use of DP/30 clips. And a very special thanks to Aso for the use of his music.
Music: Aso - Soul Traveling (Freddie Joachim Remix) Harry James - I’ve Heard That Song Before Harry James - You Made Me Love You Shigeru Umebayashi - Yumeji's Theme Aso - Jazz Intro Nujabes - Perfect Circle (Instrumental) George Benson - On Broadway (Live)
http://amara.org/v/IWcWJoel & Ethan Coen - Shot | Reverse ShotEvery Frame a Painting2016-02-25 | How do you film a conversation? Most likely, you’re going to block the actors, set up the camera, and do shot/reverse shot. But where do you put the camera? What lens do you use? And how do you cut back and forth? Today, I consider the Coen brothers — Joel & Ethan — and see how these choices lend a particular feel to their version of shot/reverse shot.
And follow me here: Twitter: twitter.com/tonyszhou Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everyframeap...
Music: Carter Burwell - Way Out There (Raising Arizona) Carter Burwell - A Serious Man Oscar Isaac - Green Green Rocky Road (Inside Llewyn Davis) Carter Burwell - Little Blackie (True Grit) Carter Burwell - End Titles (Miller’s Crossing) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Run Through the Jungle
http://amara.org/v/HuuZMemories of Murder (2003) - Ensemble StagingEvery Frame a Painting2015-12-31 | How do you emphasize to the audience that something is important? Well, you could always cut to a close-up, but how about something subtler? Today I consider ensemble staging — a style of filmmaking that directs the audience exactly where to look, without ever seeming to do so at all. NO SPOILERS.
Eight Ways to Get the Audience to Look at a Character: 1) Let Them Speak 2) Make Them Brighter or Bring Them Closer 3) Let Them Move (Especially Hands or Eyes) 4) Put Them in the Center of Frame 5) Turn Them Towards the Lens 6) Separate Them from the Group 7) Isolate Them by Moving the Camera 8) Have Other People Look at Them
http://amara.org/v/HcA8Buster Keaton - The Art of the GagEvery Frame a Painting2015-11-21 | Before Edgar Wright and Wes Anderson, before Chuck Jones and Jackie Chan, there was Buster Keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, we’re still learning from him. Today, I’d like to talk about the artistry (and the thinking) behind his gags. Press the CC button to see the names of the films.
Music: Alexandre Desplat - Escape Concerto Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Mark Mothersbaugh - Piranhas Are a Very Tricky Species Mark Mothersbaugh - Bookstore Robbery Alexandre Desplat - The Lutz Police Militia English Chamber Orchestra - Playful Pizzicato Alexandre Desplat - Kristofferson’s Theme Devo - Gut Feeling
http://amara.org/v/H0nwVancouver Never Plays ItselfEvery Frame a Painting2015-09-13 | Perhaps no other city has been as thoroughly hidden from modern filmmaking as Vancouver, my hometown. Today, it’s the third biggest film production city in North America, behind Los Angeles and New York. And yet for all the movies and TV shows that are shot there, we hardly ever see the city itself. So today, let’s focus less on the movies and more on the city in the background. Press the CC button to see movie names and locations.
http://amara.org/v/HFWKChuck Jones - The Evolution of an ArtistEvery Frame a Painting2015-07-16 | If you grew up watching Looney Tunes, then you know Chuck Jones, one of all-time masters of visual comedy. Normally I would talk about his ingenious framing and timing, but not today. Instead, I’d like to explore the evolution of his sensibilities as an artist. To see the names of the films, press the CC button and select “Movie Titles.”
Music: Raymond Scott - “Powerhouse," "Minuet in Jazz,” “Twilight in Turkey,” “The Toy Trumpet" Carl Stalling - "Scentimental Romeo," "Guided Muscle,” "Feline Frame-Up,” “Rabbit Seasoning," “Duck! Rabbit, Duck!” Milt Franklyn - “One Froggy Evening,” "Robin Hood Daffy,” “What’s Opera, Doc?"
Interview Clips (from Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Vol 1): Chuck Jones Interview: EmmyTVLegends.org (http://bit.ly/1J2ZXuW) Chuck Jones: Extremes & In-Betweens (http://bit.ly/1SpUb7i) A Chuck Jones Tutorial: Tricks of the Cartoon Trade (http://bit.ly/1HxxRG5) It Hopped One Night: A Look at “One Froggy Evening” (http://bit.ly/1RC3plV)
http://amara.org/v/GqOWIn Praise of ChairsEvery Frame a Painting2015-05-29 | One of the great things about detailed production design is that it pays off in unexpected ways. So today I explore the weird possibilities of that most common of objects: the chair.
Music: Black Star - Respiration (Flying High Instrumental) Kendrick Lamar - HiiiPower (Instrumental) Black Star - Respiration (Instrumental) Raekwon - Wu-Gambinos (Instrumental) Black Star - Respiration (Dr. Luke Remix Instrumental) DJ Shadow - Why Hip Hop Sucks in ‘96
Audio Clips: Francis Ford Coppola - The Godfather Part II commentary track
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http://amara.org/v/Gfd5Lynne Ramsay - The Poetry of DetailsEvery Frame a Painting2015-05-07 | What can one detail tell us about a scene? If you’re Lynne Ramsay: absolutely everything. Today I consider the poetic possibilities of cinema and one of our finest contemporary filmmakers.
Music: Nick Drake - Cello Song The Beach Boys - In My Room (Instrumental) Aphex Twin - Goon Gumpas The Mamas & the Papas - Dedicated to the One I Love
Interview Clips: Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher Criterion DVD) Martin Scorsese (Dinner for Five S03E16): http://bit.ly/VV0fhD Martin Scorsese (1970 WNYC Radio): http://bit.ly/1wZ2BhH
http://amara.org/v/Gfd7F for Fake (1973) - How to Structure a Video EssayEvery Frame a Painting2015-03-31 | If you want to make video essays, there’s no better film to study than Orson Welles’ 1973 masterpiece, F for Fake. There are a million lessons to take away from it, but today, let’s see what it has to teach us about structure. NO SPOILERS.
Music: Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus & Max Roach - Very Special Michel Legrand - F for Fake (Cinéma) A Tribe Called Quest - Oh My God (Instrumental) Michel Legrand - Orson’s Theme (After the Rain Version) A Tribe Called Quest - Oh My God
Interview Clips: Trey Parker & Matt Stone at NYU: http://nyti.ms/1bNx6xf John Sturges' legendary audio commentary: http://bit.ly/1C2Jq1J
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http://amara.org/v/GWnDAkira Kurosawa - Composing MovementEvery Frame a Painting2015-03-20 | Can movement tell a story? Sure, if you’re as gifted as Akira Kurosawa. More than any other filmmaker, he had an innate understanding of movement and how to capture it onscreen. Join me today in studying the master, possibly the greatest composer of motion in film history.
Music: Yoko Kanno & Seatbelts - N.Y. Rush J Dilla - Untitled Track 03 (from King of Beats) J Dilla - Untitled Track 14 (from King of Beats) Nujabes - Sea of Clouds Nujabes - Transcendence DJ Shadow - Why Hip Hop Sucks in ‘96
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http://amara.org/v/GSn4Drive (2011) - The Quadrant SystemEvery Frame a Painting2015-01-31 | One of the many pleasures of Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive” (2011) is that the shots feel both tightly composed and weirdly unpredictable. Even though most of the images follow a simple quadrant system, Refn puts plenty of subtle touches within the frame. Let’s take a look.
http://amara.org/v/GJaMThe Bad Sleep Well (1960) - The Geometry of a SceneEvery Frame a Painting2015-01-29 | One of Akira Kurosawa’s many gifts was staging scenes in ways that were bold, simple and visual. I’m working on a longer essay about him and this piece didn’t make the cut, so I’m releasing it as a short standalone video. Thanks for watching!
Music: Yoko Kanno & Seatbelts - “Too Good, Too Bad"
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http://amara.org/v/GI1MJackie Chan - How to Do Action ComedyEvery Frame a Painting2014-12-03 | Some filmmakers can do action. Others can do comedy. But for 40 years, the master of combining them has been Jackie Chan. Let’s see how he does it. (Note: to see the names of the films, press the CC button!)
The 9 Principles of Action Comedy 1. Start with a DISADVANTAGE 2. Use the ENVIRONMENT 3. Be CLEAR in your shots 4. Action & Reaction in the SAME frame 5. Do as many TAKES as necessary 6. Let the audience feel the RHYTHM 7. In editing, TWO good hits = ONE great hit 8. PAIN is humanizing 9. Earn your FINISH
Music: Jackie Chan - Police Story Theme Ash - Kung Fu Chow Fu-liang - 8 Drunken Gods (Main Theme) Jackie Chan - Who Am I? Theme David Tao - Fantasy Mission Force
http://amara.org/v/FjAnSnowpiercer - Left or RightEvery Frame a Painting2014-10-29 | Characters make choices which they cannot take back. The question is: how do you show it visually? Here’s one solution from Snowpiercer. Warning: SPOILS ENTIRE FILM.
Music: T.I. feat. UGK - Front Back (Instrumental) Marco Beltrami - We Go Forward The Revels - Comanche
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http://amara.org/v/GJaLThe Silence of the Lambs - Who Wins the Scene?Every Frame a Painting2014-10-15 | In drama, two characters walk into a room. Each wants something from the other. The question of the scene is: who gets what they want?
http://amara.org/v/Fo3XDavid Fincher - And the Other Way is WrongEvery Frame a Painting2014-10-02 | For sheer directorial craft, there are few people working today who can match David Fincher. And yet he describes his own process as “not what I do, but what I don’t do.” Join me today in answering the question: What does David Fincher not do?
Music: Nine Inch Nails - Closer (Precursor) Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Magnetic The Dust Brothers - What is Fight Club? Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Procedural Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man
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http://amara.org/v/FWZNRobin Williams - In MotionEvery Frame a Painting2014-09-10 | Robin Williams was a genius, but he was also a dedicated craftsman who explored how an actor could express character through movement. Join me in honoring this tiny facet of his work.
Music: Martha & the Vandellas - Nowhere to Run Ray Conniff - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Frank Sinatra - How About You?
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http://amara.org/v/GJaJA Brief Look at Texting and the Internet in FilmEvery Frame a Painting2014-08-15 | Is there a better way of showing a text message in a film? How about the internet? Even though we’re well into the digital age, film is still ineffective at depicting the world we live in. Maybe the solution lies not in content, but in form.
Music: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - In Motion David Arnold & Michael Price - On the Move Daft Punk - End of Line Al Hirt - Green Hornet Theme
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http://amara.org/v/GJaISatoshi Kon - Editing Space & TimeEvery Frame a Painting2014-07-25 | Four years after his passing, we still haven't quite caught up to Satoshi Kon, one of the great visionaries of modern film. In just four features and one TV series, he developed a unique style of editing that distorted and warped space and time. Join me in honoring the greatest Japanese animator not named Miyazaki.
Music: Susumu Hirasawa - Meditational Field Susumu Hirasawa - Chiyoko's Theme Susumu Hirasawa - A Drop Filled with Memories
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http://amara.org/v/FQUMMartin Scorsese - The Art of SilenceEvery Frame a Painting2014-06-15 | Even though Martin Scorsese is famous for his use of music, one of his best traits is his deliberate and powerful use of silence. Take a glimpse at fifty years of this simple technique from one of cinema's masters. SPOILERS for Shutter Island (2010), Superman (1978) and Man of Steel (2013)
For bringing this idea to my attention, credit goes to John Pozer: twitter.com/Pozervision Written interview with Scorsese about silence (& other things): http://1.usa.gov/1lAq00I Video interview with sound designer Randy Thom: http://bit.ly/1qOkbwQ
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http://amara.org/v/GJaHEdgar Wright - How to Do Visual ComedyEvery Frame a Painting2014-05-27 | If you love visual comedy, you gotta love Edgar Wright, one of the few filmmakers who is consistently finding humor through framing, camera movement, editing, goofy sound effects and music. This is an analysis and appreciation of one of our finest comedic voices.
Music: Sex Bob-omb - We Are Sex Bob-omb Primal Scream - Loaded Tubthumper - Kick Out the Jams Rob Viktum- 4/17/75 Pete Woodhead & Daniel Mudford - You've Got Red on You / Shaun of the Dead Suite DJ Shadow - Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96
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http://amara.org/v/FQRaWolf Children (2012) - The Lateral Tracking ShotEvery Frame a Painting2014-05-16 | Looking for a unique lateral tracking shot? Consider this example from Mamoru Hosoda's excellent film Wolf Children (2012). NO SPOILERS. Happy (Late) Mother's Day.
Music: Takagi Masakatsu - All the Warm Lives Yeong-wook Jo - Jailhouse Rock The xx - Intro Paul Simon - Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard Xavier Cugat - Perfidia Michael Giacchino - Married Life
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http://amara.org/v/GJaGThe Spielberg OnerEvery Frame a Painting2014-05-07 | One overlooked aspect of Spielberg is that he's actually a stealth master of the long take. From Duel to Tintin, for forty years, he has sneakily filmed many scenes in a single continuous shot.
For educational purposes only. English & Portuguese subtitles by Akemi Mitsueda. You can donate to support the channel at Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/everyframeapainting
Music: The Crystals - "Then He Kissed Me" Nujabes - "Aruarian Dance" Air - "Kelly Watch the Stars" DJ Shadow - "Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96"
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http://amara.org/v/GJaFThe Imposter (2012) - Looking into the LensEvery Frame a Painting2014-04-26 | A brief analysis of Bart Layton's The Imposter (2012). WARNING: SPOILS EVERY GODDAMN THING.
For educational purposes only. English & Portuguese subtitles by Akemi Mitsueda. You can donate to support the channel at Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/everyframeapainting
Music: DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like, Pt. 2 Philip Glass - 100,000 People Anne Nikitin - Spain DJ Shadow - Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96
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http://amara.org/v/GJaEMother (2009) - The Telephoto Profile ShotEvery Frame a Painting2014-04-17 | A brief analysis of one aspect of Bong Joon-ho's great film Mother (2009). WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS. For educational purposes only.