Great film is alchemy, the result of an interaction between writing, performance, light, sound, sets, and editing. On each episode of Making the Scene, I’m joined by a guest as we work to understand that alchemy through the lens of a single scene, to understand a director’s approach to their film by examining how and why they built this one, specific moment.
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Great film is alchemy, the result of an interaction between writing, performance, light, sound, sets, and editing. On each episode of Making the Scene, I’m joined by a guest as we work to understand that alchemy through the lens of a single scene, to understand a director’s approach to their film by examining how and why they built this one, specific moment.
Making the Scene’s Month of Guillermo del Toro concludes with a special treat for Halloween. We’re back today discussing del Toro’s horror masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth with author and critic Kitty Chandler!
Kitty chose for us what is, perhaps, the film’s most terrifying scene: Ofelia’s second trial, and her confrontation with the Pale Man. It’s a sequence full of unsettling set design, atmosphere that alternates between the oppressive and inviting, and some of the best practical monster effects work you’ll find anywhere. This is the first and only time this season I had to re-watch the scene three times just to stop being scared so I could get into the actual analysis.
The full sequence isn’t on YouTube, but very nearly all of it is, and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSICJJq86ic. For those watching at home, the scene begins about 56 minutes in and concludes just before the 1:03 mark.
Kitty is the author of Black Ice, a fantastic urban fantasy braided novel. You can get a copy of Black Ice here: http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/kitty-chandler/black-ice/ebook/product-21234262.html She’s also partners with Anna Williams, our previous del Toro Month guest, at the critical review site Murderboarding. Check it out at http://murderboarding.blogspot.com/. Kitty’s personal blog, Kitty Ipsup, can be found at http://kittyspace.org/wordpress/.
Enjoy this fantastic discussion, and remember that we’ll be back in two weeks to talk Inglorious Basterds with Arlo J. Wiley.
Making the Scene
Great film is alchemy, the result of an interaction between writing, performance, light, sound, sets, and editing. On each episode of Making the Scene, I’m joined by a guest as we work to understand that alchemy through the lens of a single scene, to understand a director’s approach to their film by examining how and why they built this one, specific moment.
