Journal+Entry+3+-+German+Expressionsim

German expressionism is a very unique genre and many of its styles can be applied to almost any film. However, a romantic comedy may very well be furthest away from it on a stylistic spectrum.

Still, characters like Frank, who have somewhat of a darker side to their personality, could be portrayed similarly to the characters of German Expressionism. To go off on a brim, it might be very possible to portray me in the same way Caesar is portrayed in //The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari//, or Edward Scissorhands (Burton’s characters are very similar to German Expressionist ones), with pale skin and dark eyes. That could very well work to portray my differentiating personality and my societal uniqueness. A bit of makeup and a little postmodern flair is easily added into the film, fulfilling its purpose as an isolator of my character. It could even disappear over the course of the film to symbolize my overcoming my flaws and changing to a more confident personality.

German expressionism, in addition to makeup and costume design, also works with mise-en-scene on the area of set design. This may be a little harder than the previous point, but adding some geometrically impossible shapes to the backgrounds would increase the sense of awkwardness in the film. This could distance the viewer from the characters and introduce a melancholy tone, which, if not overdone, might prove very effective. The coincidental nature of the idea of fate in the film would be highlighted by these strange surroundings, dragging the piece even more towards a postmodern or magical realist setting.

Finally, German Expressionism uses lighting in the most interesting of ways, creating amazing contrast and unsettling images. In our film, we may be able to use light differently for the two main characters in effort to contrast them from each other. Chiaroscuro lighting and very low-key lighting could both suggest Frank’s distance from Lauren in the beginning and his insecurity. Perhaps even a more brooding and unnatural personality. Just like my make-up, this could progress over the film and actually create a reduction in contrasting light and pull the two characters closer together.  All in all, these could all be very interesting and unique additions to our film, but I have my doubts about the agreement and willingness of my group members.