Film Response: “The Five Obstructions”

Film Response: “The Five Obstructions” Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Name/Number Instructor’s Name Due Date Film Response: “The Five Obstructions” Released in 2003 by Lars von Trier and Jorgen Leth, The Five Obstructions is an eighty-eight minute-long Danish film in which von Trier dares Leth to create alternative versions of his epochal short film titled The Perfect Human. As challenged by von Trier, Leth has to remake the film five times, and each time, he has to do it according to a different obstacle. In the first obstruction, for instance, Von Trier dares Leth to shoot the film in Cuba with no sets, and all cuts had to be less than twelve frames. In another obstruction, Leth had to act in his own film, and the film had to be set in the most miserable place he could think of; and so on. Each obstacle is called an “obstruction,” and it provides a fascinating look at filmmaking, problem-solving, and the creative process. Lars von Trier, together with Thomas Vinterberg, started the Dogma 95 Manifesto. The Dogma 95 Manifesto consisted of filmmaking rules based on values such as theme, story, and acting, as well as excluding the use of technology and daedal special effects. The Dogma 95 Manifesto is purposed to remove all forms of artifice from the process of making films. My Own Five Obstructions 1. Shooting venues cannot be changed Once a location is chosen for the shoot, there is no changing it. If the shoot is scheduled to take place indoors or in a studio, the scenery cannot be changed. This obstruction can affect my work because location is vital in filming. Deciding to shoot at one location will force me to identify the challenges in a location so that I can find the best solutions before the day of the shoot and ensure that the quality of my video is not jeopardized. Filming in contained spaces such as hotel rooms or living rooms can be beneficial. This is because it provides unlimited control to set up the location that best suits my needs. However, shooting in contained spaces such as these can force me to get creative with lighting. It may require me to make some last-minute alterations such as lens filters, gels, or white balance settings. 2. The film should be made using one piece of gear Only one gear should be used to make th...