Great Big Story: Interview with Landon Meier Essay (Movie Review)

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The video published by Great Big Story reveals an interview with Landon Meiera, a man who makes disturbingly realistic masks of other people’s faces. It is a part of the Human Condition series that make the representatives of the general public acknowledge the most extraordinary and distinctive individuals. Thus, it is not surprising that the discussed video has the same purpose. Great Big Story focuses on typical American citizens who have ordinary lives and are used to their routines. The videographer tries to reveal the interviewee’s point of view and shows people that the world is not just black and white. There are individuals who made great changes in their lives and became unique, and these are not some outstanding people but typical representatives of the community who had usual issues, such as those with employment. The videographer engages the viewers in the story emotionally, as he emphasizes the fact that an ordinary man managed to create something unordinary, which means that everyone has the possibility to do the same. In addition to that, he uses a lot of attributes, repeating that these masks are freakily and disturbingly realistic. Finally, he shows other people’s reactions to Landon and his family wearing masks, which makes the viewers empathize with passers-by.

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The camera focuses on the interviewee while he conducts various activities: walking, mowing the lawn, or making molds while wearing masks. In addition to that, it focuses on the very masks. Sometimes, other people are also in the center of attention, for instance, when their reaction is discussed. Background settings alter along with locations. They include a workshop, a lawn near the house, and the center of the city. Background settings are important because they provide the viewers with an opportunity to understand that Landon wears his masks in everyday life rather than only using them for some performances. The majority of close-up shots show how the interviewee makes masks and how they look like when they are ready (including every detail). While the video of Landon’s speech represents A-roll, B-roll depicts the process of making masks and wearing them.

Few natural sounds are used (noise made by a lawnmower, for example). They make depicted events more realistic and involve the viewers, providing them with an opportunity to imagine themselves participating in the situation. Sounds of the interview (Landon’s speech) allow receiving information about the story and understanding the sense of the viewed pictures. It also makes the viewers feel that they communicate with Landon, or at least listen to his speech, in real life. Additional music contributes to the overall emotions of the video, making it fun and appealing.

Action sequences look rather short because the videographer cut them, showing the beginning, the most interesting parts, and the end. Different types of shots are used. CU and XCU, for instance, are good for showing masks. MS, LS, and FS are utilized for depicting people when they do something. Angles do not differ much, but high angle shots are present, and they allow focusing on particular elements of objects and actions. Rule of thirds is used to place Landon in the most pleasing position and make the picture look dynamic. The eyeliner is also present, which allows the audience to see the same things the interviewee sees. The background is not blurred because it is used to emphasize the fact that the man is in an ordinary place and he belongs to it regardless of looking strange because of his mask. Rather often, the object is put in the very center of a picture, which makes the viewers focus on it and prevents possible distractions. Both horizontal and vertical images are present, as they are natural for the real world. The rules of direction are followed, and the audience can understand how people move on the screen.

The video consists of several sequences. For example, it is possible to trace the way masks are made, as several seconds of each stage are shown. In a similar way, the viewers can see how people in masks interact with others. Mainly, cuts are used to streamline actions and avoid boring descriptions. Lighting is rather effective, and those objects that are to be in the center of attention are well-lit. Thus, the viewers are attracted to them even if they do not realize it. Camera-motion shots are motivated by characters’ movement in the majority of cases. Emotions motivate movement when people’s reaction to masks is in focus.

A sequence that deals with making masks are focused on tools used, masks, and the interviewee. A CU on Landon’s hands allows understanding what is happening, XCU reveals who performs the action, and WS shows where it takes place. Finally, CU and ECU on a mask show the results of the performed actions.

All in all, the video is good, and the videographer did his best to make it interesting for the audience. Nevertheless, it would be better if he used pacing to show the process of making masks. It is rather exciting and can interest the audience. Moreover, a wider variety of angles might have been used. The video depicts weird masks, so it would be beneficial to show them in strange compositions.

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Thus, the video under discussion is formed using a wide variety of composition elements. The way it is both filmed and edited contributes to the message the videographer wants to tell the audience. However, it is possible to improve some aspects of the video to make it better.

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IvyPanda. (2021, February 26). Great Big Story: Interview with Landon Meier. https://ivypanda.com/essays/great-big-story-interview-with-landon-meier/

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"Great Big Story: Interview with Landon Meier." IvyPanda, 26 Feb. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/great-big-story-interview-with-landon-meier/.

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IvyPanda. (2021) 'Great Big Story: Interview with Landon Meier'. 26 February.

References

IvyPanda. 2021. "Great Big Story: Interview with Landon Meier." February 26, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/great-big-story-interview-with-landon-meier/.

1. IvyPanda. "Great Big Story: Interview with Landon Meier." February 26, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/great-big-story-interview-with-landon-meier/.


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IvyPanda. "Great Big Story: Interview with Landon Meier." February 26, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/great-big-story-interview-with-landon-meier/.

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