Defining new waves - introduction
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New wave films reject the conventions of mainstream cinema by having lower production values, using unknown actors, and making narrative secondary to innovative film techniques. Unlike mainstream films that have high budgets, established stars, and clearly define genres, new wave films emphasize visual style over script and are harder to categorize. They require audiences to appreciate the films as art rather than only for entertainment.
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Defining new waves - introduction
- 2. What is Mainstream Cinema? High production values. Concern with the quality and ‘gloss’ of the finished products; Usually high budget; special effects technology Use of established stars. Expensive, but strong draw for audiences. Observance of the conventions of a genre. Clearly defined and easily identifiable, easy to market The script rather than the visual language is the main way by which communication takes place. Narrative is the main way in which the audience derive pleasure.
- 3. Often associated with a geographical location Reject the conventions of the mainstream Low budgets - Lower production values, sometimes amateurish feel The use of unknown (or lesser known) actors Less easy to categorise into a genre, or play with genre Narrative is secondary to unusual film language - Often innovative use of cinematography (lighting and camerawork), editing, mise-en-scene, sound and performance. New wave film is a moving piece of art Requires a different audience approach Defining features of New Waves
Editor's Notes
- The Mainstream In order to identify exactly what a new wave film or movement is, it makes sense to look at what we mean by the term mainstream. A useful identification of the features of mainstream film is offered by Warren Buckland (2003) in his book Teach Yourself Film Studies. Buckland identifies mainstream cinema as having the following general features (p.75): High production values. This means that the film makers are concerned with the quality and ‘gloss’ of the finished products. The films will usually have a high budget and the money is there on the screen in the special effects technology, sound and editing. Use of established stars. The cost of established star actors could prove prohibitive with many of them charging and receiving up to $25 million for their participation in a film. Nevertheless, it is generally agreed that the presence of a star in a film will give it a much better chance of making money since many people will see the film simply because of the main star. Although budgetary considerations need to be taken into account, most directors would like to bet the most famous actor and the biggest star they can to be in the film. Observance of the conventions of a genre. Most mainstream films can be pigeonholed into a genre or perhaps they demonstrate some of the generic features of more than one genre but these are usually clearly defined and easily identifiable at first or perhaps second viewing. The script rather than the visual language is the main way by which communication takes place. In the mainstream world, the script is the basis by which the story is told and to be telling that story through the narrative remains the prime function of the film and the main way in which the audience derive pleasure.
- A New Wave New wave cinema is usually associated with a geographical location, hence the French, Spanish and Hong Kong New Waves are among those most commonly examined by Film Studies students. Since they are by their nature in opposition to the mainstream, new wave movements reject the conventions of the mainstream and so new wave films are seen to have the following features: Low budgets. This naturally leads to lower production values, in some cases so much is this the case that the film retains an amateurish feel to it. The use of unknown (or lesser known) actors. Some of whom such as Antonio Banderas whose career began in the Spanish new wave of Pedro Almodovar went on to find a wider audience. The films are less easy to identify as belonging to a genre, or they use genre in new ways. Script is of secondary importance behind the use of interesting and often unusual film language in the cinematography (lighting and camerawork), editing, mise-en-scene, sound and performance. This final point remains one of the key features of the new wave and a useful way of thinking of a new wave film is as a moving piece of art. The audience is not meant to approach the film in the same way as it does with a mainstream film where most of the pleasure comes from the narrative, instead the employment of the film language is more important.