LA Confidential & Double Indemnity Shot Analysis

So I'm kindof cheating with this, but I have four shots to analyze.

These two shots compare the small town characters in the two films. Lynn and the Medford Man both look very simple and plain. Not low class but definatly not as formal as Keyes. This shows a side of Lynn that she shows only to Bud, because it is hard for a small town person, to make it in a big city like LA in this time period.

 But Lynn has two sides to her, the second is much more public and successful.

However, it is easier to make it in this world as a femme fatale. Notice how the eyes of both Lynn and Phyllis are brutally focused. This look shoots evil into the audience, and really gives a different look of Lynn. She looks like a completely different person when she is with Bud and when she is trying to get by.

It's a Bird by Steven T. Seagle Part 2 Analysis

Visual Parallels and Contrasts:

Seagle initially presents his feelings about doctors on page 7. He has a narration voice over saying that he never liked doctors, that they were plotting (in bold) against his family. The shot that is drawn with this narration shows 3 annonymous figures, with black eyes and scalpels. They are very intimidating and frightening, especially to a younger Steven. However, when Steven is back for his yearly check up on page 25, his doctor, Dr. Rosoff, is not drawn in such a manner. In fact, his friendly moustache and white coat red tie combo make him one of the most approachable and seemingly friendly characters so far.

Written Parallels and Contrasts:

The most used uncommon word I have noticed through the novel thus far is "genetic."Genetics have thus far been synominous with words like contagous, no cure, and other bad connotations. While he uses this word to describe Huntington's Disease, there are other obvious connotations. While he hasnt directly described anything, there seems to be some sort of tension between Steven and his parents, who he gets his genetics from. Could he regret his family or upbringing?

The Framing Thus Far:

The way the story has been framed over the first 30 pages of the novel has been far from consistent. That is not to say that there is no rhyme or reason for the framing though. The most interesting thing I noticed about the frames is the difference between the frames of current and young Steven. When he is having flashbacks to his childhood, the frames are the same, just not finished. I think this implies definite growth in the character, as his frames are now filled in

It's A Bird by Steven T. Seagle part 1 analysis

Visual Parallel and Contrasts:

One major parallel I noticed from the first section of this graphic novel is how the editor is drawn when talking to Steven. He always has all his weight on both arms and is leaned over a table or chair or something, even when the situation does not require such a stressed position. This consistent position, as well as how he is drawn (sketchy, faceless, the most distinguished part of his person is the black headset he wears) shows a static character.

Written Parallel and Contrasts:

There are a couple dialogue scenes in the first 13 pages, between a young Steven and his mother, and then Steven and the editor within DC comics. In both sections of dialogue, Steven has some significant anger thrown at him. His mother is projecting anger that she feels from his father's side of the family on him as his grandmother begins to pass away, and the editor is just generally angry with Steven about not taking Superman ("Pick it up pick it up pick it up" (11)), despite not understanding why Steven is unwilling to draw the iconic super hero. This could be a constant struggle in Stevens life, if he continues to have anger imposed on him, it could explain his mental inability to draw Superman.

The Images

There are some very interesting focus points in many of the frames so far. The focus points of the drawings themselves show some interesting points that Seagle wants to make. What's interesting to me is that through the first thirteen pages, children are drawn with the most detail and focus. Even more so than the main character himself. Young Steven and his brother are drawn with defined lines, and the child telling his mother to slow down has his own frame and has a very defined character with many different colors.

Self Taken Photo Analysis

I took some pictures of my dog to play with the rule of thirds and the effects of different framing of an object

This picture puts the focus on my dog's nose and leads to the computer screen. He is focused in the center of the line between the left and center third of the frame

In this photo, my dog's eye is pretty close to the intersection of the top right segment and the lazy frame

These two pictures are pretty similar, but by focusing my dog on different sides of the frame it gives a different perspective of the rug/hardwood under him.

This arial shot gives cool shadows, and places the focus on the intersection of the top right quad and the lazy frame