Darren Aronofsky - Director Research

In this entry I will be discussing the director Darren Aronofsky and how he has influenced by own creative process, with 'Alice' in particular. Aronofsky is a very intense director who approaches his subject matters with an intense ferocity. Black Swan and The Wrestler are two films from Aronofsky, which in the creation process of Alice from script to visual realisation, have both impacted it greatly. Black Swan and The Wrestler have a lot of similarities which I will be focusing on in relation to 'Alice' yet it is worth mentioning that they are two very different films. Black Swan is almost a psychological thriller posing quietly as a horror, whereas The Wrestler is a subtle yet extremely powerful drama. Whilst the subject matter within 'Alice' is far from the level of intensity in any of Aronofsky film, I previously discussed in an earlier entry the importance of tracking shots. 

Tracking shots within Black Swan and The Wrestler are examples of the kind I wish to implement in my own production. They are perfectly executed throughout each of the films. This kind of tracking shot Aronofsky uses tracks the subject from the back in a mid-shot style, framing them from the waist upwards. This type of shot essentially places the audience within the scene, allowing the camera to feel the audience following the subject with their own footsteps. This is further achieved through slight shake from the camera. Despite it being a tracking shot, the subtly unstable nature of the camera adds layers of realism. Without handheld style shake to a tracking shot it can feel unnatural and mechanical, therefore distancing the audience and allowing them to understand that this is just a camera movement. In 'The Wrestler' I have found an example of a scene that executes this style of rear tracking shot. Below are some screenshots from said scene. 

Black Swan is also a good example of how Aronofsky uses rear tracking shots to follow his subjects. I could not find the scene I was thinking of however. I intend to use a rear track shot several times within 'Alice' to heighten the production values and expectations from a student film, but also because I think it is a fantastic way of placing the audience within the scene. By using this type of shot you essentially bind the audience to the character. They see the same world around them the character is seeing, they are essentially walking in their footsteps. This can have a profound impact as it enables the audience to see and know the truth of a film without the manipulation of cuts or editing. It is a simple way of inviting the audience to be part of this world and to follow a character on their journey. 

Going back to Aronofsky, Black Swan has recently been compared to Damien Chazelles 'Whiplash'. I fully understand the comparison for a few reasons. The obvious reason being that both of these films are about the virtue of obsession, and the lengths that an individual will go to in their stride for greatness. Both films have the tendency to view their characters as central minded and only focused on one goal - their passion. Within Black Swan it is ballet, and in Whiplash it is drumming. The similarities do not end there. I believe that in discussing how Aronofsky has inspired my creative process, he has also inspired Chazelles. 

Below are some screenshots from a scene within 'Whiplash'. This turbulent sequence follows the aftermath of the car crash the character has just been in. Despite his obvious injuries he carries on toward his goal. Going back to my point of the film being about the characters obsession with drumming, he won't stop at anything. This scene makes use of the rear tracking shot that Aronofsky so frequently uses. The shot also adds significant amount of shake, which the audience can accept as it is a reflection of the characters mindset and how the world around him may look. As the shot places us in their footsteps, we interpret the subtle messages from a shaky tracking shot subconsciously in our minds as we know this in an unstable character who is worse for wear. 

Below are some screenshots from the scene I have just discussed in 'Whiplash'.