Jonathan Rivera- Final Exam

1)      “Citizen Kane” is one of the most influential films ever made.  Discuss this statement.

Citizen Kane is indeed one of the most influential films made. Up until Citizen Kane was made, films followed the same structure of narrating a story: a beginning, middle, and an end. Citizen Kane on the other hand innovatively told the story differently: the movie begins with Kane dying. Furthermore, the storyline is complex and very fragmented, keeping the audience captivated to find out what is going on. Going against the norm of film storytelling, Citizen Kane paved the way for succeeding films to follow suit and narrate the story in an unconventional way. Citizen Kane’s innovative shooting style, framing, and angles all assist the film in claiming its title as most influential. As John Belton discusses, the film can be categorized under different genres, because the film truly pushes the envelope of labeling and what was being created during that time.

2)      What had Orson Welles done in his first 23 years of life to warrant the Hollywood Film Industry offering complete creative control to a first time filmmaker?

Welles had worked in theater from about 1931 until 1940. He began his work in theater in London and slowly worked his way back to the United States, and more specifically the New York Stage. It was during his success in New York when he began working for the federal theater project. Under the umbrella of the Federal Theater Project, Welles directed and starred in Voodoo Macbeth, the story of Macbeth however it takes place in Haiti. After the Federal Theater Project, Welles moved on to forming Mercury Theater, where he became a producer of several plays. Welles then became director, producer and star of radio plays such as Les Miserables and Hamlet. However, it was his role in War of the Worlds that brought him fame and success. It was through his fame and success that Welles began to receive offers from Hollywood to direct and produce several films. Due to his background and experience directing, producing, and acting skills which is what gave Welles the liberty to creative control on his films.

3)      Pick an extended scene or sequence from “Citizen Kane” and discuss the storytelling technique by analyzing any combination of its component parts (direction, writing, performance, cinematography, production design, art direction, editing, sound, score, etc.).

The closing scene of Citizen Kane I found to be extremely interesting and well executed.  The direction of the last scene was done amazingly so. The high angle shot showing Thompson say he thinks Rosebud means nothing which then cuts to a long tracking shot which shows all of Kane’s useless and insignificant collections that were so significant to Kane to the final scene of the Rosebud being tossed into the furnace and zoomed into onto the burning sled and faded to black. It was awesome storytelling and an amazing way to end the film. The last scene was my favorite sequence out of the whole movie. It truly depicts the great writing and direction of the film.