Quentin Tarantino is one of those filmmakers other filmmakers love to study. Partly because his movies are successful and critically acclaimed, but also because he takes old rules and formulas then turns them on their head to create something entirely new and unique. 

He's a filmmaker's filmmaker. 

So we're back at it again here looking at another little thing QT does that makes his scenes so provocative, and often iconic. This time it's with cinematic tone. 

The Lone Chemist created this great video essay breaking down the idea of conflicting tones in cinema, and then specifically how QT uses this formula 

Tarantino isn't the only filmmaker to do this, but he certainly has his own unique way of implementing it. What other writers and directors do something similar? Let us know any cases where we can see it done on different levels.  

For example, some cinematographers like to use a lens in a subversive and unexpected way, maybe for a shot typically handled with a different focal length. Or maybe we'll get a camera movement that one would expect to be leading to a certain type of 'emotional moment' lead to a very different one, just to keep audiences on their toes. 

The tropes of filmmaking and visual storytelling become more and more familiar with time, but his lesson in Tarantino and tone is another reminder that one of the best ways to stand out in the crowd is to employ the principle of contrast and keep your audiences guessing. 

 

 

Source: The Lone Chemist

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