Two Alfred Hitchcock treats for you this weekend, to cover a range of creative topics such as suspense and filmmaking.
The first is an interview he did in 1972. I love listening to him talk, and he has a very dry sense of humor.
The second is an analysis of the way he blocks out a single shot in one of his films.
(Your challenge this weekend is to make a film as good as Hitchcock makes them.)
blocking
For people who make media, watching films can often be a lot like work. It’s hard to let go and just watch. Too often we’re being distracted by colors, sounds, camera angles, camera moves, staging, character development and special effects to simply enjoy the film.
With really good films, the work doesn’t show. The craft is hidden and the story is what is noticed. It looks natural and effortless, and the work required to do it is immense. That’s why I like this little bit about blocking out a shot.
Blocking isn’t even the full story of this scene. You’ve also got other elements and directorial decisions going on. But the blocking works.
In animation, it is a big waste of time and money to do any shots that aren’t essential to the story. Animated films are edited before they begin. Hitchcock seems to do the same thing. There’s no fluff.