The creation of a film is a meticulous process that requires the cooperation of many individuals. However, the basic unit of a film is the shot, and a complete film work is only accomplished by one shot after another.
Thus, the director plays a crucial role in the film-making process. The director's responsibility includes embellishing the script and unifying the creative ideas of all the staff through a director's exposition before the official start of shooting.
The director also leads the creative staff to set up the scenery and design the shooting plan after a preliminary communication with the film crew. Additionally, the director provides actors with a concentrated speech to ensure that they understand the plot and their roles thoroughly, and they can get to know their co-performers well.
The crew may also have one or more assistant directors, responsible for different preparatory tasks such as on-set assistance or assistance for actors.
As for recommendations, "Vertigo" by Alfred Hitchcock is an important work of his, though not necessarily his best film.
The film follows Officer Scotty, who develops agoraphobia during a mission and becomes a private detective to follow his best friend's wife Maren, leading to a suspenseful crime story.
The film's status has gradually been established, and some reviews suggest that this film is a veiled Hitchcock autobiography that replaces reality with fantasy and vents the heart's repression through a search for love.
The filming method creates a sense of vertigo using zoom and moving shots to effectively convey Hitchcock's point of view to the audience in a visual way.
"Citizen Kane" by Orson Welles is a recognizable masterpiece and a must-have in the top three of all-time movie charts. At 26 years old, Welles established his place in film history and proved his genius to the world with this film.
Based on New York newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, the film restores the life of its protagonist to the audience in a non-linear, drawn-out narrative. The depth of field shots, low-angle photography, and montage were all ahead of their time, and the jigsaw-like narrative format was also rare at the time, making this a very modern and landmark film from content to presentation.
"Tokyo Story" by Ozu Yasujiro tells the story of an old couple, Hirayama Chokichi, who travel to Tokyo to visit their children, leading to a simple but moving story. The film does not feature spectacular images or thrilling plots but instead portrays the simple life of a typical person.
Ozu Yasujiro's films observe life around us in a peaceful manner without criticism or opposition, conveying the director's human attitude.
As Roger Ebert says in The Great Cinema, "Everyone who loves cinema will eventually arrive at Yasujiro Ozu's vision and come to understand that the essence of cinema is not movement, but the choice between movement and stillness."
Films are made up of shots, and the director plays a vital role in bringing them all together.
The recommended films, "Vertigo," "Citizen Kane," and "Tokyo Story," are all significant works in the history of cinema, each providing a unique experience and showcasing the director's vision and creativity.
