Part 3: Epic Cinematography and Philosophy of 2001 Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick

0 walking through entry red suit

Continuing from Part 2: Epic Cinematography and Philosophy of 2001 Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick:

Also see Part 1 on 2001 Space Odyssey


Download/Access all the files/composition/PSD/jpeg images

You can download all the images used in this series here on Google Drive (274 MB):


Lesson: Confuse the viewer by changing perspective

The part which also blew my mind: the confusion of perspective:

perspective-1.jpg

2.jpg

3-1.jpg


Dynamic angle

1.jpg

The next transition scene: note the epic tilted (dutch angle) dynamic angle composition of the camera.

And not only that, but note the curved perspective (outlined in pink):

2.jpg


Mundane scene

Then the nice mundane scene of “DAVE” (main character) heating up his food, while his co-pilot is watching a live ‘BBC’ stream of themselves on planet Earth:

mundane scene-1mundane scene-2mundane scene-3mundane scene-4mundane scene-5mundane scene-6

Lesson: To make a movie feel more ‘real’ put more ‘everyday/mundane’ scenes into it.


Switch-up of angles and perspectives

Then we have a nice switch-up in the scene.

First, you get a head-on shot of HAL (the computer) // (I also like the grid design layout of the shot):

angles-1.jpg

Second, you see ‘Dave’ shot on the right side:

angles-2.jpg

Here are the angles:

2.jpg

Third, you see Dave’s co-pilot mirrored on the left side:

angles-3.jpg.

Also angles here:

2.jpg

Lesson: Switch up the camera angles, and play with symmetry to make more effective visual-storytelling.

Also a fun note: I guess Kubrick nailed the concept of the ‘iPad’ watching-while-eating cultural norm!

Shifting perspective

Then you see a nice shot of the crew in their ‘hibernation pods’:

angles-1.jpg

Note the orientation of the astronaut in the hibernation pod (quite horizontal).

2.jpg

This is important because in the next scene, the orientation of the astronaut in the pod changes:

1.jpg

2.jpg

Then a wider shot of the two astronauts on board, in their life pods:

life pods-1

Then a close-up of the UI of their life support (very important to pay attention to, when later on in the film something…bad…happens to them):

life pods-2life pods-3life pods-4life pods-5

And who is the benevolent individual looking over them? Oh, our trusty HAL computer:

life pods-1

Then this angle/perspective switch is great– you can “see” from HAL’s perspective, via his fisheye lens — looking (kind of creepily) at the crew:

fisheye-1.jpg

This is great as a technique, because it ‘puts you in the shoes’ (or in the eyes) of HAL. You can see what HAL sees– which makes you (the viewer) more engaged in the movie.


UV RADIATION

Then a nice fun scene: you get Dave sun-tanning (I guess this is how you need UV/sun radiation while in space), while he is calling his family back home (his parents wish him a happy birthday), and mention about his “earth credits/salary being increased” — which is hilarious, because what is the point of earning money, when you’re alone in a spaceship?

Visually, I love the colors of the hyper-orange sun glasses, and the shifting movement of Dave in the seat (he also asks HAL to constantly adjust the height/seat of the chair):

uv radiation-1uv radiation-2uv radiation-3uv radiation-4uv radiation-5uv radiation-6uv radiation-7uv radiation-8uv radiation-9


Color composition of the video call

This closeup of the video call terminal almost looks like a painting.

First of all, note the proportions of the squares (outlined in cyan and pink):

1234

Even note the beautiful compositional proportions in the close-up of the family in the terminal:

123

Even see the negative space between the mom and father’s head from the background:

4.jpg

Now see it abstracted, in terms of the color combinations and the composition:

5678


Color palette of Dave sideways

Love the aqua greens on the left of the frame, orange of his glasses, and the purple on the right of the frame:

1234


Up, down, up, down, shift in perspective

Another masterful Stanley Kubrick shot.

First, you start with a high angle, birds-eye-view (looking down) at Dave, of him sketching something. Then as you pan out, you get confused with the perspective of his co-pilot (that is shot head-on). Then Dave changes his position, and sits down. Absolutely epic:

up down up down perspective-1up down up down perspective-2up down up down perspective-3up down up down perspective-4up down up down perspective-5up down up down perspective-6up down up down perspective-7up down up down perspective-8


Epic leading lines, centered, orange-red suit:

Then one of the most iconic scenes, the first time Dave walks through the epic tunnel of lights, and the leading lines, with his red suit:

0 walking through entry red suit

All photos:

walking through entry-1walking through entry-2walking through entry-3walking through entry-4walking through entry-5walking through entry-6

More to come in Part 4…


2001 Space Odyssey Series:


CINEMA

ridley scott - all the money in the world cinematography

Cinematography and life lessons: