by Trevanian
First published 1970
Trevanian explores how film communicates through its own distinct vocabulary, separate from spoken or written language. Cinema operates more like dance or painting than traditional linguistics, the author argues, requiring its own analytical framework. The book examines filmic expression from both the creator's and viewer's perspectives, covering mechanical and artistic development of the medium. Trevanian analyzes how image and sound create meaning, explores editing and montage techniques, and investigates how plot, theme, and narrative structure work together. The text addresses modern filmmaking elements including color manipulation, jump cutting, and experimental logic patterns. Technical aspects receive detailed treatment, from camera angles and lighting to lens types and film stock properties. The author considers contributions from actors, directors, and the underground cinema movement. This analysis serves filmmakers seeking terminology for instinctive processes, moviegoers wanting evidence for their director preferences, and critics who might reconsider approaching cinema through its native artistic language rather than borrowed frameworks.
Genres: art, reference, non-fiction, film
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic
178 pages · Hardcover · Prentice Hall