Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope – Acting and Acting Styles

[1. Identify three actors from your film and classify each according to the types of actors listed in your text.]

The three lead actors of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope are Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford. Actor types for Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford at the time of Star Wars (1977) was that of character actors.

[2. Explain your reasons for classifying the actors as you do. Use specific references to the film and pay special attention to how these decisions impacted characterization. Also, consider the impact of any realistic or stylized portrayals within the film.]

Mark Hamill fit relatively invisibly into his role as Luke Skywalker, where he was more or less unknown by the audience at the time. He received the leading-role for this small-budget film, a characteristic of his specific actor type. Likewise, Carrie Fisher adapted well to the script and direction of George Lucas. In fact, George Lucas intentionally casted the roles of Luke and Leia with the intention of using actors without long-time experience. Harrison Ford was a bit actor for the film, playing a supporting role as Han Solo. These three actors were well suited to the auteur theory of George Lucas, where his thematic recurrence involves that of science-fiction and/or fantasy.

[3. Focus on one of the actors you’ve discussed. Based on other films the actor has been in, would this actor always be placed in the same category? If so, what does this say about the category or actor? If not, what can you infer about the flexibility of these categories? Provide evidence (references from other films, including film clips and stills) to support your argument.]

Harrison Ford would prove his flexibility as an actor as he changes actor types throughout his career. “Harrison Ford was a bit actor who got a lucky break with Star Wars, going on to become a major action star and later a respected character actor” (Goodykoontz, 2014, p. 123). Because of his ability to adapt to different roles, he’s not immediately recognized by the public, and took many years for him to achieve “star” status. All this while he was consistently in demand. The film, Indiana Jones, is an example of how Harrison Ford went from a bit actor to a character actor. Some would now even consider him a personality actor, further displaying the flexibility of actor categories.

Resources

Daniel M. Kobayashi (2011, Sept. 2). Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) – Trash Compactor [1977]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U3Oti2L8S4

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Kurtz, G., (Producer), Lucas, G., (Director). (1977). STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE. [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox

Weinman, J. J. (2014). How Star Wars Conquered The Universe: The Past, Present and Future of A Multibillion Dollar Franchise. Maclean’s. Vol. 127(39), p66-66. 1p. 2 Color Photographs. , Database: Corporate ResourceNet. Retrieved from the Ashford University Library.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope – Categories and Functions of Sound

[1. Describe each of the three basic categories of sound (dialogue, sound effects, and music)]

Dialogue, characters talking to one another within a film, has become so mainstream within the film industry that audiences take it for granted. Dialogue from a film can become so well known, it can be considered culturally influential. Star Wars has even gone so far as to have created a “”planet of fans,” people who love Lucas’s characters and world and, sometimes, seem to understand them better than he does” (

Sound effects within a movie serve to enhance the film’s genre specific theme (drama, romance, action, western, etc.). In essence, sound effects don’t allow the audience to passively watch the film, instead it invokes interest and intrigue.

Music is a basic element in constructing a movie, where scores are played at specific times to enhance the audience’s reaction to the scene[s]. Though not an easy task to incorporate music into a film, if done properly, it provides great success to the movie as a whole.

[2. Explain how the different categories of sound are being used in your chosen film.]

[a. Assess the impact of sound in establishing the theme.]

During specific scenes, especially those involving gun fights/chases, dialogue can play a critical rule in the film. Dialogue from Star Wars has become part of our everyday conversations. For example, the quotes “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for” (Obi Wan), and May the Force be with you (Han Solo) have been repeated over the years in both television and film, not to mention the schoolyard playground.

Sound effects are one of the most significant aspects of the movie. “Once the film starts, it’s not just the music that thrills us. The sound effects are also essential to our enjoyment of Star Wars—the mechanical, menacing breathing of Darth Vader; the electronic hum of the light sabers; the roar of the enormous space ships; even the silence of space” (Goodykoontz, 2014, p. 190).

Music has greatly impacted the success of Star Wars. Specifically, the scene involving the spaceship battle where Luke attempts to destroy the Death Star. An up-beat score is played, signifying the trill and suspense of flying through space while bad guys shoot lasers at you.

[b. How does the use of sound inform the mood of the scene, or the film overall?]

The opening scene where the Empire ship slowly flies by is an excellent example of how sound can inform mood within a movie. During this particular scene, ominous doomsday type music set the mood/undertone for things to come. The audience can expect bad things to happen in the near future.

[c. Can you identify specific sounds in your film that allow you to infer a particular genre?]

The most significant sound[s] in Star Wars is that of the lightsaber/laser. Being that such technology doesn’t currently exist, but may feasibly in the future, the sounds created by these devices are indicative of a science-fiction genre film. Furthermore, the sound of Chewbacca also indicates sci-fi, seeing as he’s an alien.

[d. Since each category of sound may produce a range of effects, how might you characterize the effects in your film? For example, realistic and expected sound effects may have a different effect on a viewer than exaggerated or unexpected ones.]

Combining all the categories of sound, the effects on the film seem to be realistic and expected. The sounds of explosions weren’t overbearing/unrealistic, the clashing of lightsabers wasn’t unexpected, and the blast of the spaceship engines seem genuine (though sound doesn’t travel through outer space).

[3. Assess how the scene or sequence would play differently if you changed or removed a key category of sound.]

Scenes in Star Wars would play out quite differently had any aspect of sound been altered. For example the lightsaber duel between Obi Wan and Vader would have been confusing and non-stimulating had the clashing sound been removed. Also, the magnificently explosive sound created by the destruction of the Death Star would’ve been puny without the sound effect.

Resources

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Kurtz, G., (Producer), Lucas, G., (Director). (1977). STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE. [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox

Weinman, J. J. (2014). How Star Wars Conquered The Universe: The Past, Present and Future of A Multibillion Dollar Franchise. Maclean’s. Vol. 127(39), p66-66. 1p. 2 Color Photographs. , Database: Corporate ResourceNet. Retrieved from the Ashford University Library.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope – Lighting

[1. Identify the type of lighting used in the film (traditional three-point, high-key, or low-key) and assess the impact of the lighting used to establish the theme.

a. What are the benefits of the style of lighting used?]

In the film titled Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977), the lighting used in the production process mainly followed a low-key style, with a few scenes falling somewhere in between the extremes of high-key and low-key lighting. This is a benefit in creating the intense dramatic scenes, terror, and mystery present within the film. Take for example the opening scene[s] aboard the rebel ship, where low lighting and shadowy contrasts creates instances of tension and drama, with an ominous and dooming undertone.

[b. How did this technique contribute to the theme?]

The lighting techniques used in Star Wars enhanced the character development throughout the film. With dramatic scenes being so intense from lighting, it becomes easy for the audience to empathize with the protagonist[s].

[c. How was the lighting technique suited to the genre of the film? For example, documentary films tend to rely on natural light as a way of creating an overall tone of authenticity.]

Low-key lighting techniques especially enhance the look of sci-fi fantasy films such as Star Wars. This gives the film a more surreal look, and creates an outer space feel that has an alien look. There are instances of strange over-exposed colors and a lot of shadows, further contributing to its genre.

[2. Compare how the scene would play if different choices had been made.]

The scene[s] in the beginning involving tension and drama would otherwise not exist if other lighting had been used. Furthermore, the special effects performed by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) would’ve been ineffective under less specific lighting techniques. All-in-all, the film wouldn’t have had the claustrophobic, intense, and fantastic feeling brought about by low-key lighting.

Resources

Kurtz, G., (Producer), Lucas, G., (Director). (1977). STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE. [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox

StarWarsGuy32 (2010, April 6). Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope – Lightsaber Duel – Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Darth Vader [1977] [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJfvEIFpvL4

STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE – Narrative/Storytelling

[1. Select a full-length film and identify the title, writer, director, major actors and the year it was released.]

Title: STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE

Writer: George Lucas

Director: George Lucas

Year: 1977

Actors: Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa), Alec Guinness (Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi), James Earl Jones (Voice of Lord Darth Vader)

[2. Summarize the story and plot of your chosen movie.]

Story: The story concerns a young farm boy from Tatooine named Luke Skywalker who discovers that the used robot recently purchased by his family plays back a message from one Princess Leia, begging for help from Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke asks his father’s friend Ben Kenobi about this, and he discovers that Ben and Obi-Wan are one and the same. Kenobi tells Luke of the battle of the rebels against the ruling Empire and the spiritual energy called “The Force.” Soon Luke, Kenobi, and a mercenary named Han Solo join forces and set out on an adventure to rescue Princess Leia from the Empire, and attempt to destroy the Empire’s vast warship, the Death Star, controlled by the evil Darth Vader.

Plot: Star Wars: A New Hope opens with a Rebel ship being boarded by Lord Darth Vader of the Galactic Empire (Setup). The plot then shifts to the life of a simple farm boy, Luke Skywalker. He and his newly met allies (Han Solo, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, R2-D2) attempt to rescue the Rebel leader, Princess Leia, from the clutches of the tyrannical Galactic Empire (Confrontation). The conclusion is peaked as the Rebels, including Skywalker, make an attack on the Empire’s most dominant and threatening weapon, the Death Star.

[3. Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly. In your discussion, address the following:

a. How did this aesthetic choice contribute to the general effect on the audience?]

Chronology: The film was told in chronological order. This helped make the ending of the film more climactic, because throughout the film you watch as Luke Skywalker and his allies try to stop the tyrannical Empire. It makes the resolution more action-packed and exciting when Luke Skywalker discovers “the force” and destroys the Empire’s deadly Death Star.

[b. How are elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?]

The chronological story telling also helped to develop the character of Luke Skywalker as we got to see his process of wanting to become something more than just a farmer, to someone who comes to make a difference to an entire galaxy.

[4. If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different?]

Had the film been told non-linearly, the end of the film wouldn’t have had the exciting impact that it did. It would have greatly changed the character development of Luke, Han, Princess Leia, and Kenobi. The viewer wouldn’t have been able to sympathize with many of these characters as they journeyed through self-discovery and battled with their destinies.

Resources:

Kurtz, G., (Producer), Lucas, G., (Director). (1977). STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE. [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox

MoviesHistory. (2009, April 12). Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope – Official Trailer [1977] [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba2TH-K7oiA.