Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum

Red and green

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Lynne:
Those are great observations, Barb!  And terrific analysis too, Barb and Meryl.  I'm going to watch for the additional trinity placements and for red after Jack's death the next time I watch the movie, maybe tonight...It's been months!

RossInIllinois:

--- Quote from: ednbarby on December 05, 2006, 12:23:00 am ---So...  I just watched the last half hour of the movie on HBO, and damned if I didn't notice something else I never had before.  In the Lightning Flat scene, when Mrs. Twist offers Ennis the coffee and piece a cherry cake, in the kitchen, not only is the cherry in the cake red, but a jar filled with some kind of red liquid above it, and what looks like a metal can painted red above that.  Then I look to the right, and on the counter is a large vividly green ceramic bowl with something red peeping out of the top of it - an apple, maybe?  And I think... Christmas.  Not because that's what time of year it is (it was October or so, wasn't it?), but just... Christmas.  Then the camera pans to Ennis at the kitchen table saying "Can't begin to tell ya how bad I feel..."  Above his head just slightly to the right hangs his hat on the wall.  Mrs. Twist is to his right, Mr. Twist to his left.  The composition suddenly strikes me as looking like... a cross.  Or maybe three crosses, like in the beginning of the movie.

Coincidence?  I think not.


--- End quote ---

I think its a Coincidence.  ;)

HerrKaiser:
Nothing (with some exceptions) on a movie set is a coincidence. all details are painfully set up by the props folks, set designers, director, lighting man, etc. So, the use of the props noted above and their color was well thought out, I am sure, in order to stage the set in the most artistic and appropriate tone possible.

that said, their underlying or metyphorical or mystical meaning is very hard to ascertain. Most film sets and their directors actually do not want 'hidden' or very abscure things in their films that are hard to find or see. they want the message to hit the mass audiences in a direct or semi direct way. If such things go unnoticed, so is their message, and no director I know would want this. Yes, some may have an idea that he/she wants their audiences to 'think' or 'study' their works for the hidden meanings, but hmmmm, that seems like a long shot for this particular scene, in my opinion. thanks!

RossInIllinois:

--- Quote from: HerrKaiser on April 12, 2007, 02:38:56 pm ---Nothing (with some exceptions) on a movie set is a coincidence. all details are painfully set up by the props folks, set designers, director, lighting man, etc. So, the use of the props noted above and their color was well thought out, I am sure, in order to stage the set in the most artistic and appropriate tone possible.

that said, their underlying or metyphorical or mystical meaning is very hard to ascertain. Most film sets and their directors actually do not want 'hidden' or very abscure things in their films that are hard to find or see. they want the message to hit the mass audiences in a direct or semi direct way. If such things go unnoticed, so is their message, and no director I know would want this. Yes, some may have an idea that he/she wants their audiences to 'think' or 'study' their works for the hidden meanings, but hmmmm, that seems like a long shot for this particular scene, in my opinion. thanks!


--- End quote ---

I have worked in the Motion Picture business for 25 years now. Yes sets are "Designed" but set dressing never is. Nothing you see as part of a set is a "prop" its set dressing. Props are used by actors. The toaster the bowls etc are all set dressing. The Cherry Cake and coffee however is "the property departments." responsibility and is considered a prop as is all food seen on movies. The placement of furnature and wall hangings are done by the set decorator working from a master plan from the Production Designer and Art Director head of the art Department. The Movie Director seldom gets involved with set decorating or furnature placement unless something looks grossly wrong to him. In most cases the Director will communicate to the Production designer his vision of what he thinks the sets should look like early on in the pre production process. Most Directors give there Art Department full responsibility to decorate the set according to the script and the Art Directors vision of it. The Director is usually way to busy with the talent and keeping the movie on time and on budget to worry about set decorating, props, etc. thats why the Production and Art Director exists. The Director never has total controll of any big budget film he just has "some creative input" contribution to it as does the Studio, the Producers and the Department Heads. Its a much more complex process than it seems, and much more of a group collaboration than you would think.  ;)

HerrKaiser:
I was trying to simpliify the process for everyone; I've also been in the industry for over 35 years never have seen a project with that lack of directorial control. Nonetheless, and perhaps regardless, what was seen on the screen and the placement of background items and the juxtaposition of such was very unlikely to have been intended as mystical or hidden-meaning type stuff.

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