1. In class we discussed how Citizen Kane is a form in itself. Orson Wells, who was given complete control as an auteur director, star and producer for the film, had master artsy techniques. The movie makes use of a plethora of camera angles, lighting techniques and even heavily relies upon flashbacks to get the story across. Some of camera techniques that were used included the use of low and high angles. The low angles were shot from a lowered plane looking upwards. This presented the illusion of the figure being filmed to have a stance of power since the subject would tower above everything else. While the high angles are the opposite with the camera being used from very high up and aimed downwards. This gave the illusion of the subject being weak or powerless. Wells also made use of deep-focus lens. The effect of this presented en extreme depth-of-field which could make objects appears further than they actually were. This also allowed for the objects to remain in focus along with everything in the foreground. Some of the lighting techniques Wells used for Citizen Kane were considered unconventional or strange. However they certainly worked and because of it, the film gained great praise. An example of these lighting techniques would be the use of shadow. Shadow was used to hint at something happening later, or making sure the viewers focused carefully on whatever was in the light. Wells also used lighting to set the mood of the main character, Charles Foster Kane. Wells used high-key lighting when Kane was younger to show more energy and to show that Kane was in good spirits and the best time of his life. While low-key lighting was used on Kane as he aged to show that the life or the light in side of him was draining. This also ties into Wells use of flashback. Being able to go back and forth in time throughout the movie was not a technique commonly used when Citizen Kane was filmed. All of these techniques would pave the way for directors of the future, and perfected the way of some of the first auteur directors.
2./3. A website, that could utilized for further reading on Citizen Kane and his contributions to auteur directing can accessed at: http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html
The webpage, which is part of AMC’s website, is written and edited by Tim Dirks. The page starts off by praising Citizen Kane as “the fresh, sophisticated, and classic masterpiece, Citizen Kane, is probably the world's most famous and highly-rated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations in photography, editing, and sound” (Dirks). It then goes into some monetary figures about the movie along with its initial failure, and eventual success stories. It mentions how the movie closely relates to William Randolph Hearst and even provides a chart stating the similarities and differenced between the lives of Kane and Hearst. Then Dirks tells us the awards nominations and comparison to other films of the time, making sure to mention how it was nominated for many Oscars but only won Best Original Screenplay. The page then displays all of the film’s unique techniques that made Citizen Kane what it is today. Before closing with the screenplay, it also displays a list of all of the movies, documentaries, shows or specials made that were inspired by Citizen Kane.
4. For enjoyment, I don’t enjoy Citizen Kane at all. As for respect, I have all the respect in the world for the movie. There is a reason why this movie is so well regarded among cinema, and that’s because of everything it offers in terms of techniques and art. Wells didn’t just use various techniques to make Citizen Kane, he perfected them and paved the way for directors forever. I can certainly see this remaining at the top of rankings for years to come.
