Saturday, July 1, 2017

What film techniques does Tate Taylor use to portray the real spirit of The Help?

Tate Taylor uses camera work to establish the spirit of the book. For example, when neighbors drop off toilets in front of Hilly's house (as Skeeter plays a trick on Hilly with the newsletter that she is editing and asks neighborhood women to bring toilets to Hilly's house), a long shot takes in all the toilets on Hilly's otherwise perfect and well-manicured lawn. This long shot establishes how ridiculous Hilly must appear to her neighbors and how humiliated she must feel that her perfect lawn is dotted with toilets.

Taylor also uses close-up shots to show the faces of characters such as Minny, an African American maid who detests Hilly and delivers her a feces-filled pie. When the viewer is able to see Minny up close, he or she understands the venom Minny feels towards the hateful Hilly. Another close-up shot captures Skeeter speaking to the New York editor about her book. The camera zooms from a mid shot to a close-up to show how ardently Skeeter feels about the book she is writing. 


In addition, Taylor uses the technique of mise en scène, or the way characters are arranged in a scene. For example, there is a shot of Skeeter, dressed in blue, on the left of the frame, reaching her hands across to Aibileen, an African American maid, on the right of the frame. Minny, another maid, stands between them. This arrangement conveys the alliance between Skeeter, Minny, and Aibileen across the divide of race.

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