Film Production, Formats, and Literary Analysis

Film Production: A Comprehensive Overview

In film production, there are three primary phases:

1. Planning

This phase includes the script-writing process and pre-production activities.

2. Filming (or Formation)

This involves capturing images through a series of technical procedures.

  • Takes: These are repetitions filmed on set, each one signed off.
  • Map: Represents a portion of reality shown on the screen and its duration.
  • Scene: A fragment that develops a narrative action within a single stage. The chronological development doesn’t necessarily need to be linear or continuous.
  • Script: A complete, meaningful narrative fragment that takes place in a specific scenario.
  • Block of Recording and Filming: Satisfies the criteria of organizing the work plan with cameras.

3. Mount (Editing)

This is the stage where filmed material is selected, commercials are created, and choices are made regarding planes and angles.

Cinematographic Formats

The ranking of a movie is based on its editing and the total length of the tape.

1. Short Film

A film exceeding 600m in length, suitable for internal projection, with a duration of up to 15 minutes.

2. Medium-Length Film

A film with a length between 600 and 2500m, with a projection time exceeding 15 minutes but less than 1 hour.

3. Feature Film

A film with a tape length of 2500m or more, with a projection time of 1 hour or longer.

Expository Text

An expository text explains an idea or set of ideas for informational purposes. It relies on the prestige or personality of the speaker.

Expository Structures

Expository texts typically follow this pattern:

1. Introduction

Setting the theme and making considerations about the method.

2. Development

Proper exposition of the topic, collecting main and secondary ideas.

3. Conclusion

Formulating the final thesis summary as a result of the development. Other structures relate to methods of formulating thought.

1. Inductive Method

Drawing general conclusions from observed data, moving from the particular to the general.

2. Deductive Method

Deducing other ideas or phenomena from an initial argument, moving from the general to the particular.

Naturalism in Literature

Naturalism evolved into realism, an experimental attempt to apply science fiction and show how natural and social laws justify human behavior.

Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920)

Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1843, he moved to Madrid in 1862 to study law but soon dedicated himself to literature, influenced by Cervantes. He actively participated in politics. He died in Madrid in 1920.

Galdós’s Work

He wrote articles and essays, but his novels brought him fame.

The National Episodes

Galdós dedicated 40 years to writing the National Episodes, aiming to recount the recent history of Spain from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 until the Restoration of 1875. The series comprises more than 46 novels grouped into five series of 10 episodes each, except for the last, which has 6. Thanks to the work’s unity, the chronology of historical events, and the reappearance of many characters, this way of narrating events exceeds the historical novel genre, giving equal weight to history and the story between the protagonists.

Leopoldo Alas Clarín (1852-1901)

Born in Zamora in 1852, he moved with his family to Asturias, where he studied law in Oviedo. He received his Ph.D. in Madrid and became a professor at the University of Zaragoza.

Clarín’s Work

He wrote numerous articles on literary criticism and novels. His narrative work includes short stories and two novels: Su Único Hijo and La Regenta.

La Regenta

Ana Ozores, who has a fiery temper, cannot find fulfillment with her husband due to his age. She seeks religious refuge with Don Fermín De Pas, her confessor, who falls in love with her.