Production Design in the Contemporary American Film: A Critical Study of 23 Movies - Hardcover

Heisner, Beverly

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786402679 ISBN 13: 9780786402670

Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc, 1997

Synopsis

While the viewers eyes are trained on the actors, the production design sets the mood for the film. The design also subtly comments on the action and the characters, moves the plot forward and adds to its symbolic content. The production design of 23 films of the 1980s and 1990s is analyzed here. The films are divided into five areas: realistic films set in the present day, stylized films (including horror) set in the present day, period films, period films that move through several decades, and science fiction and fantasy films. Among the movies analyzed are The Silence of the Lambs, Shes Gotta Have It, The Fisher King, Ragtime, Barton Fink, Goodfellas, and Alien. The quality of the designs is assessed by a careful reading of the mise-en-scne. Often the designers own words are used to describe the effects and the process involved in achieving them.

About this title

Review:

"in-depth...detailed descriptions...insightful"--Choice.

Synopsis:

Analyzes The Silence of the Lambs , She's Gotta Have It , The Fisher King , Goodfellas , and Alien among others. Assesses the quality of the production designs, often using the designers' own words to describe the effects they wanted and the process involved in achieving them. Includes black-and-white stills. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portl

About this edition

• Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0786402679
• ISBN 13: 9780786402670
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 196