Presentation Script

 Does the use of Wes Anderson's theatrical framing and cinematography make him a modern auteur? 
Speaker:

Auteur Theory is defined in Warren Buckland's Auteur Theory (4) as 'assigning the directors to the titles os artists rather than thinking of them as mere technicians.' A director becomes an auteur by repeatedly influencing their films in very similar ways.  In this way, their influence becomes like a trademark.  An auteur may influence a film in many ways, such as repeatedly using the same actors, or repeatedly using similar camera angles; and in the case of Wes Anderson, it's his use of theatrical framing and cinematography.

Speaker:

Wes Anderson is an American filmmaker. He has made a total of eight feature films and two short films along with many advertisements.  He is definitely an auteur due to the distinct and theatrical visuals of his films. He repeatedly goes for a “flat” look and sets up long scenes, often with tracking shots and without cuts.  In this way he achieves very much a theatrical look.  In the following video we hear Anderson speak about how the ‘two dimensional’ look of his work is influenced by the fact he has always wanted to work in theatre.

Projector:

Way Too Indie Mise-en-scene and visual themes of Wes Anderson. (6)

Speaker:   

“I have always been drawn to long takes in films and movies. I like the experience of seeing the actors play the scene through and maybe that's like the theatre a bit.”

“I have always wanted to work in the theatre but I've never actually done it, not since I was in the fifth grade. but I've had many plays in my films and maybe theatre is a part of my movie work.”

(quotes from item 6)

Speaker:

This look can be attributed to a major influence of his- theatre. For example, this Stella Artois advert, take notice of how everything is very 2D like and symmetrical. There is no attempt to make the cityscape outside the window realistic. In fact he goes for the very opposite effect, making it look like a cheap stage backdrop.  The theatrical feel is enhanced by the symmetry of the room, where the couch and the floor seem like a stage and the higher areas to each side are like the wings. When the girl starts pressing buttons, pieces of the set start moving around.  These are like special effects that you would expect to see in a clever stage production, whereas special effects in film would tend to be more digital.

Projector:

Stella Artois commercial- Wes Anderson (2010) (8)      

Speaker:

There are many theatrical connotations in Anderson’s most recent film The Grand Budapest Hotel (1). For example, the story is told in a conversation between an unnamed author and Zero Moustafa. They are situated in the same spot throughout the film which is seemingly a stage. Having stages visible on set is a common motif used throughout. In Mark Kermode's review of The Grand Budapest Hotel (10) he discusses how there are "Theatrical framing devices are everywhere" along with "miniature stages". The use of stages is common in Anderson's films, seen in Moonrise Kingdom (2).As spoken about in item 6, Anderson has always found great enjoyment and interest in theatre and so is reason why there are recurring examples of stage plays in his films.

Projector:

Show still of the stage production in Moonrise Kingdom.

Speaker:

And is also appears in Rushmore.

Projector:

Show still of the stage production in Rushmore.

Speaker: It is clear that theatre has influenced Anderson's films greatly, to the point that theatre actually makes common appearances across his films.

Speaker:

Dry/slapstick humour is often used across Anderson's films but features at its highest in The Grand Budapest Hotel.  Anderson’s films are gaining a more mainstream audience and he is one of the few directors in mainstream cinema to use this particular type of humour. In his review (10), Mark Kermode also discusses how traditional comedy from Chaplain's era is used in The Grand Budapest Hotel. Slapstick comedy was first recorded in Shakespeare's plays (19) so it is obvious to conclude this is a very theatrical device and so for Anderson to use it in his films, it brings a theatrical feel to it.