It removes Edgar Wright - author of "Kids on the drive" and "Shaun of the Dead"
Educational Program Cinema / / December 19, 2019
In the arsenal of Edgar Wright's only five films released in wide release. All this comedy with different additives: stylized horror, movie, or even a police film adaptation of the comic book.
But in spite of such a small number of high-profile work and seemingly lighter genres, Wright already It has become a cult director who loves to film fans and critics, and ordinary fans "Spectator" movie.
Every time he recalls that even light genre movies can and should take a closer look, and not just laugh gegami and ridiculous actions. His tapes are combined correctly built image, unusual shooting, soundtrack and humor. Therefore, the films of Edgar Wright can be reviewed over and over again, constantly finding something new in them.
Analyzing career director, can be traced back as his style was formed, and at the same time to understand the basic techniques he uses. After all, with this knowledge of Wright's movies will look more interesting.
Youth: the first video camera and "A Fistful of Fingers"
Like many future directors, Edgar Wright loved movies since childhood. Relatives gave him an 8-millimeter camera, and he constantly filmed various scenes in the spirit of popular cinema. The names speak for themselves: Rolf Harris Saves the World (something in the style of "Die Hard") or The Unparkables (an allusion to the "Untouchables").
Then he learned about the contest from the animation TV show Going Live!, sent his job and won. The prize was a video camera. Later, the director found a recording of his first TV broadcast. In these frames him for 16 years.
The new acquisition has opened up more opportunities for the imagination of the young Wright. Since then, he has appeared several times on television with his funny shorts.
Each time operation became longer and takes the form of full stories. Although the idea remained the same: Edgar took scenes from famous films and turned them into grotesque parodies.
So there Superhero Movie Carbolic Soap and stylized crime films in the style of "Dirty Harry" called Dead Right. So, incidentally, it is called the "Dirty Harry" at design time, but later on this title declined. The latest short film director later released as a bonus on the DVD to one of his films.
Well, then Edgar Wright swung to a full-length format. However, the same "home" production. The first such film was called "A Fistful of Fingers," - this was a reference to the legendary Western "A Fistful of Dollars." A ribbon plot parodied all the clichés of the genre. There's even the main character Unnamed name and he stole a horse villain named Squint. And then events turn into perfect phantasmagoria. The result was something like "Naked Gun", just shot on amateur camera.
In fact, this movie can now be found only in a poor quality, and its hard to watch. Although filming Wright already collected 70 extras. Still, the tape has played a decisive role in the future director career. "A Fistful of Fingers" bought for the rental channel Sky Movies, allowing Wright noticed television personalities and invited him to shoot several episodes of various TV shows.
So he got into comedy series Asylum, where he met with the actors and scriptwriters Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson. For this couple, and related breakthrough in Wright's career.
Spaced: custom sitcom and counter references
Pegg and Wright Stephenson was invited to shoot a sitcom Spaced. The Russian language it is most often translated as "Weird," but actually the name ambiguous: it alludes to the fact that the characters share an apartment, and in the space. With the transfer of the names of Wright's work then will have constant problems - he loves the game of words.
It would seem that the plot of the series is typical sitcom: almost unknown Tim Bisley (Simon Pegg) and Daisy Steiner (Jessica Stevenson) decide to rent an apartment together. And for this they have to pretend to be a couple.
Well, after the characters communicate with friends, including a regular guest of the apartment, Mike Watt (Nick Frost), fall into a strange, almost surreal situations and really slowly fall in love.
If it took any other author, "Weird" would probably have been lost among dozens of other similar stories. But Pegg and Stevenson were able to add to the plot of the necessary share of madness and Edgar Wright has created a unique visual imagery.
The fact is that at the end ninetieth most of these were taken sitcoms about the same. The decorations put multiple static cameras (usually four), and the actors playing in the theater. The difference was only possible to retake failed doubles. This simplifies operation, but made visual range as simple as possible: either show a general plan, or a large one or two characters.
Edgar Wright offered unusual for the time approach: shoot sitcom, using techniques that are typical of drama and science fiction. Its camera is moving all the time and changing the camera angles are not stuck in one place. And installation is synchronized with music and sound effects and adds brightness. Wright could zamiksovat even the most ordinary actions to show a man possessed rave.
But it is not only in unusual shooting. The second distinguishing feature of the "Weird" - an incredible number of references to movies, comic books and other pop culture. And, again, this is not just a mention, such as in "The Big Bang Theory", namely the visual imitation of a work of Stanley Kubrick, George Lucas and other legends and direct quotes from them. Heroes can just look in the fridge, and comes out of it, "Space Odyssey 2001".
In the second season, there's a whole episode parodying the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Also in the visual range of added traditional horror Screamer, sharp approach in the spirit of westerns, forcing a dramatic sound style nuarny films. The result was "The Big Bang Theory"Which supposedly filmed by Quentin Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick.
And even more interesting that Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg do not even try to hide the fact that copy scenes from the classics. On the contrary, they have made it almost the center of the story. When the publication of the series on DVD writers even add the Homage-o-Meter ( «Ommazhemetr"), considers each sending on the screen. Therefore, to remember or guess a particular quote - a separate pleasure when viewing. This dedicated and numerous' video.
By tradition, the British TV series "Weird" is not too spoiled Number of episodes - only two seasons left on seven episodes. But it was enough for the project to become a true cultural phenomenon. Fans are still dreaming of his return, but Edgar Wright is already set to more creativity.
"Blood and Ice Cream": the creation of visual comedy
The very unofficial term "visual comedy" many people associate it with the work of Wright. This is the opposite of the classic "physical" comedy in the spirit of silent filmWhere everything is based on the characters and their awkwardness unusual activity, as well as traditional text jokes when most of the humor is based on the characters words.
And most clearly manifested in the three major works of Wright, united in the trilogy of "Blood and Ice Cream".
In these films, the majority of jokes does not answer the question, "What?" (Which is shown on the screen), and the question "How?" (As it is removed, installed, and to beat). You could say that this approach Wright ruled out "Weird." From there came the love of reference, as well as playing the main roles in the entire trilogy - Simon Pegg (he was the co-writer) and Nick Frost.
The name itself hints at the epic "Three Colors" Krzysztof Kieślowski. Wright only took as a basis not the French flag colors and different tastes favorite ice cream Cornetto.
Each film is a different story, and the actors playing new roles. And each piece is stylized as a certain genre. But all the movies used about the same techniques to interest and amuse the audience. Having examined the vivid scenes of these pictures, you can see from what has developed as a recognizable style of Wright.
"Shaun of the Dead" - a combination of picture and sound
Again, the problem with a play on words. In the original, it is easy to notice that Shaun of the dead - a copy of the title of the film Dawn of the dead ( «Dawn of the Dead"), George A. Romero. This is one of Wright's favorite films. But most importantly, that it was after he appeared on the screen are the same zombies, which we know - risen from the dead, flesh eaters (previously the term "zombie"I referred to the voodoo magic).
The film is also somewhat reminiscent of the original: a group of people led by the infantile trade consultant Shawn escapes during a zombie apocalypse. But already the first scene it is clear that the theme is played up rather similarities with everyday human thoughtlessness walking dead. For example, Sean himself goes classic "zombie walk", but in fact he just did not get enough sleep.
By the way, Romero said originally about the same thing, but Edgar Wright turns the story into a stunning visual attraction. Even the beginning of the zombie apocalypse is not shown in the forehead. Just in the first frame of the film, Sean goes to the store on a familiar street. And after a while, in the moment, where it turns out that the city seized the living dead, he just went to the store after drinking.
In a two-minute scene, filmed in one shot without gluing in the foreground all the same everyday actions: Sean talking without looking at the familiar streets around, buys lemonade and the usual ice cream Cornetto and returns home. But in the background is crazy happens.
Displacement of accents creates a major comedic effect by using the so-called Chekhov's gun. The first steps are shown generally in the second - the invasion of zombies. And here it is necessary to look at what is out of focus: the hero actually only distracts from what is happening, revealing his carelessness.
But the main thing is happening at the end of the scene. On TV are not just talking about the invasion of zombies: on different channels leading, sports commentators and even the singers keep one phrase. However, Sean, and it's not interesting.
As is clear across the stage with a TV, a sound is played in the film is not less important than the visual range. At the right moment in the foreground displays soundtrack or some background noise. And it directly affects the perception. A striking example - the scene of the fight with the zombies in the bar. And again, like anything new - Dead Man's improbable beat billiard cues energetic music. But in the whole scene there is no action that would not fall into the rhythm of the song.
Characters waving sticks scholkayut switches, fall and even say exactly under Queen music. Unlike conventional soundtrack that adds the dynamics of action and brightness, especially in moments where the rhythm of the song changes, but the characters still do not get out of it.
And in the same way as the previous work of Edgar Wright, the film is literally full of references to popular movies. And the first hint of the "Dawn of the Dead" appears before the titles - the screen saver director copied the sound where you started painting Romero. Very few people notice, but when the author - a fan of his work, he can afford such a prank.
And then again, the characters literally quote old movies and repeat their movements in the fun variations. In this case, it is also works as cheating expectations. All have become accustomed to, that if such a character in the movie film turns the mirror, the reflection will be something terrible.
Later, with the film funny situation happened: the picture quickly became a cult, and fans have found it more and more references. And recently, in honor of the anniversary of the director himself has shared a video in which all real references of collected. And it turned out that many viewers cooked the rest for yourself - in particular hints at the series'Office"And" Brainless ".
The "Shaun of the Dead" is still the prime auteur cinema, which Wright took off with the youth. In it there is some global filming. In general, the crowd participated director friends and fans of the series "Weird" for a conditional payment.
By the fifteenth anniversary of the author picture shared on Twitter a lot of shots from the shooting, and at the same time and wrote a touching thank all those who participated in the work.
#shaunofthedead came out 15 years ago in the UK today. It totally changed my life. I can not thank anyone enough who had any part in making it - big or small. I'll get you a pint in the Winchester next time I see you x pic.twitter.com/4UXYNyKDGs
- edgarwright (@edgarwright) April 9, 2019
"Hot Fuzz" - an unusual installation and living heroes
The next joint work of Wright, Pegg and Frost - a parody of a police thriller with elements thriller. In the story of London's tough policeman Nicholas (Simon Pegg) is transferred in the quiet rural town of Sandford, where it becomes an awkward partner Danny (Nick Frost). But even in this wilderness begin crimes and shootings.
Edgar Wright has conceived this picture, when I realized that in the UK there is practically no on steep police movies. He decided to fill the gap, coined the name of two words (Hot Fuzz, for example, "Lethal Weapon") and began to collect stories for the new scene.
To make the story alive as much as possible, Wright and Pegg not only reviewed over a hundred policemen militants, but also We interviewed real police officers, learning about such strange cases that would not have occurred to no one screenwriter.
From these inquiries appeared in the movie storyline with finding an escaped swan and an amazing scene of dialogue with the farmer, who speaks so indistinctly that he required a translator.
This was one of the main differences of the film. Despite the fact that the characters are obviously parodies the stereotypes of these paintings, they look alive and sincere. Even references to other films Wright uses to reveal the characters: the companions together watching "Point Break" and "Bad Boys - 2", and Danny wants to be as cool as the characters on the screen.
In addition to film Edgar Wright chose the city of Wells, where he spent his youth, - it is a quiet place, he wanted to show in movie. And people often confuse Simon Pegg and Nick Frost with local police and turned to them for help. And it can be regarded as the best evidence of the realism of the characters.
But Wright did not forget about the visual flow. You could even say that the second film he has raised the bar even higher. The first striking an unusual installation.
Most vividly accurate work with the assembly shown in the moment of moving character Pegg from London to Sandford. The scene lasts only 30 seconds, there is absolutely no text, but it tells a story and creates an atmosphere.
Wright uses unusual visual techniques where many others would be limited to the text, or long travel plans. But because you need to show and change the atmosphere of the capital to the countryside, and the mood of the hero, and very tiring trip, it would have dragged on for several minutes.
And in the case of "Hot Fuzz" in the course are slicing and associations. Hero departs taxi with a modern tablet, and then transplanted into a car with a conventional lamp, the level of the signal on the phone all the weaker - it is removed from the capital.
Quick installation and changing time of day shows that in fact the trip lasts intolerably long and loud sounds in time sharpen the viewer's attention, working on the principle of Screamer in horror movies. The hero is all the time looking somewhere to the side and does not change the expression on his face - he was very sad. And all this is told in 30 seconds.
The same applies to action and even dialogues. In the scenes of car chases and shootings director uses a sharp change of personnel, the classic "nodules" and large eyes plans (remember the legendary moment of "Good bad evil"), But may consciously tighten them for comic effect, and then abruptly move to action.
A dialogue can be accompanied by techniques of the classic comedies. Favorite variants: in the picture there is something superfluous (the hero to face the tray cake), someone funny disappears from the frame, and even better - disappears, and then back again.
This approach does not allow scenes to talk to turn into a typical "eight" when the camera is in turn shows the interlocutors. Therefore, the characters movements and the use of the successful installation of Edgar Wright can be put on a par with the way Tarantino camera "flies" speakers. And then, and another turns the dialogue into distinct visual themes.
"The World's End" - complex genres and simple stories
The final part of the trilogy, "Blood and Ice Cream" also affected by the translators. In the original, the film is simply called The World's End. But again this ambiguity. On the one hand, an obvious allusion to Armageddon in the final, on the other - just the name of one of the bars in the plot.
This time, the authors decided to take up science fiction about aliens in the style of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Just before the start of the work they have done a considerable break, which allowed them not to go into samopovtor, gain experience and enrich ideas.
Simon Pegg well developed his acting career, Wright took the comic book adaptation "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (about it a little further). they gathered in the fall of 2012 for the filming of the trilogy is complete.
This film seems to be swung at the most ambitious theme - alien invasion. But it came out the easiest and life. After all, in fact Edgar Wright just took the story of five childhood friends who meet again years later and went for a walk in the local bars. The more so because the authors wanted to once again show the audience the real Britain - not a grand London, and small towns with pubs and small streets.
It would seem that such stories should be built on conversations. But for this film is best seen as the director is able to speak eloquently about the traditional situations, using visual techniques. Here is how he, for example, plays when one of the characters declares that quit drinking.
Such a scene is remembered much better, but still looks funny. In addition, the director gets rid of unnecessary tightened cliché. For example, moving the characters from one bar to the other at a time when they have learned that are surrounded by aliens, it looks certain music video.
Wright again uses his favorite move - move to the music. But this time, it turns out even more fun, because someone from the heroes of all time falls out of synchronicity.
And when it comes to action and science fiction, you can see how developed the skill of shooting. Special effects used in the most simple, but the fight looks perfect setting.
This is again a very long shots with a minimum of installation gluing. But unlike "Shaun of the Dead" here it involves many people, they all move clearly. Simon Pegg is also a time to laugh, protecting it from alien his unfinished beer. And most of all creates the drive seems to be totally prepared physically Nick Frost. It is unlikely that someone else managed to convey the spirit of "matrix", Featuring a fight in an English pub.
As a result, Wright reconcile the irreconcilable: in the framework of fiction about aliens, which also ends real apocalypse, he showed the simple story of friendship, and even put it into a stunning visual row.
Therefore, like the two previous films, "The World's End" a pleasure to watch several times. First entertain fun shooting and a strange story. Then you can enjoy a touching story. Well, finally, as usual, to look for references to the classics. They are not less than the rest of the paintings Wright.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World": the animated comic book to the big screen
Before you take up the shooting of the film "The World's End," the director decided to try himself as a director comics. Kinovselennaya Marvel at that time still only gaining momentum, but the film adaptation of the graphic stories for many years delighted the audience.
But here, Edgar Wright went to work outside the box. First, he took as a basis the unusual original. "Scott Pilgrim" is not a traditional comic book superhero who wins the world's evil. This is the story of the boom-student (Michael Cera), fell in love with a strange girl. And he regularly have to fight with her ex-boyfriend.
In the hands of another director, this story could turn into a teen comedy with surreal shares. Wright also set himself another task - he really wanted to show the screen real comic.
Of course, back in the sixties in the series of Batman during the strikes appeared inscriptions Bang! But in the movie "Scott Pilgrim" is perfectly inscribed in the action. The director divides the screen into parts, shows the speed with using strips behind the character, and even beats the drum vibration accompanies the cartoon. The next time this could be done only to the authors of the cartoon "Spider-Man: Across the Universe».
In addition, Edgar added by a member of a computer game. While most of the film adaptations of fighting games have failed because of the fact that they were trying to do too realistic in the "Scott Pilgrim" right on the screen show the scale of the characters health and accrued their glasses.
Surrealism became Wright's main driving force of the story. It eliminates the logic in favor of the visual range and zoom effect to the atmosphere of the comics. The hero can get out of his bath in the school corridor, his new friend skates straight down the street, and the snow is melting under her feet. Everything is a bit crazy, but very beautiful.
I do not forget here the author and music. According to the study of the subtleties of the soundtrack of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" - a work of art. The thing is that the main character playing the bass guitar in the youth group. And every voice a fictional band in the film have a separate real team. In this work we participated even such legends like Beck and Pixies frontman Black Francis.
As a result, every musical scene in the film - a self-contained movie clip that you can watch without knowing the contents. For example, Battle of two groups at the competition. Musical confrontation turns into a real battle magical creatures.
The atmosphere of "Scott Pilgrim" came just unique. After all, like it's just a school love story of teenagers. But it - fighting game in the world of cinema. And then he set music videos. And all this in an atmosphere of revived comics. Wright again proves that it does not matter what you show, but how you do it.
Unfortunately, the next attempt to work on a comic-movie ended unsuccessfully. The director had to shoot "Ant-Man" for kinovselennoy Marvel. He wrote the screenplay for the film and has already started, but then abandoned the project, as the company too much interfered with production.
"Kids on the drive": a declaration of love for music
But the real passion for the music of Edgar Wright revealed during his work on his first Hollywood film. Given that the content of the painting approached the typical American fighters, some felt that the director began to depart from its corporate identity. But if you look at the little things, "Kids on the drive" (again inaccurate translation: Baby driver - it is rather a "kid-driver") is completely "raytovsky" movie with the best displays his tricks.
And first of all it refers to the combination of action and the soundtrack. In the paintings of Edgar before the music itself fit into the action. But in the "Kids on the drive" without exaggeration, the whole plot is built around the sound. the actors were given soundtrack together with the script, so that they know in advance under what music will be this or that scene.
Thus, the protagonist of this film by the name of Kid (Ansel Elgort) works as a driver for different offenders, helping them to hide after the robbery. And after the accident, he was always trying to drown out the tinnitus loud music. Therefore, every action is synchronized with a song.
But to fully understand this film, it is necessary first to recall the fact that at the dawn of his career, Wright often directed clips for musical groups. And the very first scene of the "Kids on the drive" just copies the video of the band for the song Mint Royale Blue Song, which took off and Edgar Wright back in 2002.
And it does not copy itself: just an idea of the film, based exactly on the soundtrack, there have directed more at the time. But only after a few successful work he was able to obtain the necessary budgets and capabilities.
And already on the credits shows Wright that he decided to bring a combination of picture and sound to perfection. It's a long walk back the main character in the likeness of "Shaun of the Dead", and again, everything happens rhythmically - even sirens howl exactly in tact. But this time, only the movements and sounds is not limited. If you look closely, some of the lyrics written on the walls, windows and tablets.
In that film Music is not just sound background. This part of the action and part of the plot. Compositions play either in the car or on headphones kid. And if he pulls them out of the ears, the sound becomes quieter. Thus, the viewer can feel yourself in the place of the hero, and just to hear what he hears. Even a romantic scene here is built around the song.
But then it becomes even more interesting. And it is not in music, but in the text - the words of the main character. Wright was able to make references to movies and TV shows are not just comedic component. Now it's part of the drama. The bottom line is that the kid hardly communicate with people, it has brought deaf stepfather. And the hero favorite entertainment - watching television.
That is why, when the kids have to communicate with someone, he repeats the familiar phrases from movies and programs - almost all of his vocabulary. He cites a lot of movies, from "Fight club"To" Monsters, Inc. ". Fans have already collected in a separate video, almost all such moments.
This approach is both attentive and attracts viewers, and makes the character more moving: there is so much that it is cut off from the world. Then in the course of action he repeated the words that had heard from others in the elevator when the kid a character invites a girl to a restaurant. The main character plays the phrase literally, inviting to his new girlfriend.
And following an unusual technique director - a neat approach to color. We can say that each character has a "color code", which defines its character. Betsy villain wears a red, reflecting its cruelty, the other villain Buddy illuminated red light during the final battle. Kid dressed himself in black and white tones, with closer to the finale of his clothes becoming darker - an obvious allusion to the immersion into the world of crime.
As a result, "The Kid in the drive" again combines all of the favorite methods of Edgar Wright. Visual range, where long plans combined with quick installation and dynamics, allowed to create an exciting crime thriller with pursuits. And here it is necessary to take into account that the budget in the picture is not too large, and because most of the scenes were shot on real roads.
A combination of the soundtrack and the text allows you to fully immerse yourself in the world of the character. Behind him interesting to watch, interesting to listen to him, he wants to empathize.
Edgar Wright took only five feature films. And in order to become a legend, and he had the one. director's secret is that he again made people watch comedy. It drags spectacular visuals, create funny moments where no one else would have guessed, using music, sound and installation.
His scripts are built perfectly: any situation or phrases spoken at the beginning, be sure to play their role further. It seems that it is all - the basic classical techniques cinema. But Wright managed to achieve their excellent combination. And because of his work so interesting and, most importantly, easy to watch.
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