Comparing Le Jetee, the Short, and 12 Monkeys, the Full-length Movie

    Hey guys! After watching 9, our group decided to compare the short film Le Jeter and the full-length movie 12 Monkeys. This helped a lot in developing our understanding of the two types of films, and our findings are down below. 

Part 1- A Comparison

The concept of these two stories and how they’re similar yet different really interests me. Le Jetee is vastly different from the types of films we see today, and vastly different in style from the 12 Monkeys. It was the first in a series of photo novels that would eventually give way to stop motion movies. The images in this ominous, psychological thriller were all in black and white. However, it was still able to tell a coherent story, which is quite a feat. One reason this film was still so intriguing to watch, despite its unique style, is the types of camera shots and editing techniques that were used within the film. Another aspect that allowed this film to be so popular was the soundtrack of the movie. The creative sounds and music used helped to evoke different feelings within the viewer which elevates the film. Those are the aspects that help transform the film from a series of pictures to a story with meaning, emotion, and drama. This is definitely a key takeaway that our group has learned from this film. We will make sure to always keep in mind during each stage of our production process the importance of angles and sound when it comes to creating a cohesive story that captures the audience. 

While "12 monkeys' ' managed to depict a narrative that was somewhat similar to Le Jetee, it was unable to accurately replicate the experience of viewing the harrowing photo novel. This truly goes to show the power that mise-en-scene, camera angles, camera shots, and editing can all have on a film. These are the aspects that bring the film to life. These aspects, when incorporated correctly, can create a tone and meaning within the film from even the most basic of scenes. In our short film, because we have limited equipment and technology, we will have to rely on concepts like this to create a film that is inspiring and thought-provoking. 

Part 2- A deeper Look

After watching both films, I also decided to read the article below to further my understanding of the production process. This is because I think that these films can provide a lot of insight into how we should be approaching the evolution of our story and plot. 

https://filmicmag.com/2015/12/29/a-comparison-of-12-monkeys-la-jetee/

After reading the article, I realize that I wholeheartedly agree with the author's observations. He accurately pointed out that the two movies have a similar plot since "12 Monkeys" was a tribute to Le Jetee, but the director used creative methods to offer a fresh viewpoint. It was a lovely homage to Chris Marker's genius. Its plot, effects, and overall execution were very exceptional for a motion picture. By blending genres and drawing in diverse crowds, it broke down barriers. I think this is an interesting approach to creating a short film, as our group had originally decided to stray away from this path. We didn’t want to copy another film and wanted to create something original. However, our research on other films has shown us that there’s a difference between copying a prior film and drawing inspiration from it. This was an important revelation to us as it changed our mindset about our current film. This information has opened up a realm of avenues that we can now explore to find inspiration and create a truly fantastic film. All while still being true to our own vision and style of course!