Appreciating Euphoria - Cinematography, Storyline, Etc.
As we see in the show, television has become a major form of entertainment. Shows like The Office, House of Cards, and This Is Us have built large followings due to their incredible cinematography.
Their vibrant colors, unique filming styles, and overall aesthetic appeal have made them very popular. Many other TV shows now copy this style and use it as part of their look.
Most people are familiar with the color schemes used for dramatic stories, but there are many more types! In fact, there are eight main categories for creating beautiful shot sequences.
This article will go into detail about each one and some examples from Euphoiry will be included. Make sure you watch all the way through before moving onto the next one! 🙂
General Effect
These shots just make us feel good. They may be bright, bold, or both. A common example of this is when someone gets a big promotion at work. It can be because they proved themselves, they worked hard, or both.
This feeling is totally dependent on the individual person, but it does give you an advantage over others who might not get this reward. It makes you happy and gives you a boost of self-confidence.
It’s also interesting to note that sometimes employers will use general effect shots during interviews. Because they want to know if you are happier than you were yesterday, they will ask how your day went.
Visual effects
A ton of media these days is filled with graphics, shapes, patterns, and photoshopped images or videos. This is due to people using Photoshop and other similar editing software to create your own pictures or films!
This is called visual effecting or creating imagery via graphic design. The most common way to do this is by incorporating textures into your film or picture.
Textures are like studies you have in art where you learn how to draw different types of lines and curves but only use one shape. Textures are not drawn as lines or curves, they are just things such as paper, fur, etc. that influence the look and feel of what you are filming or painting.
There are many ways to add textures to your filmed material, some more professional than others. Some ways include spraying milk onto something, rubbing dry meat across a surface, and scratching away at the surface with a pick or nail!
Another way to add texture is through lenses! Many cinematographers experiment with various materials and sizes of lens when filming so that there is an element of texture to what they are shooting.
Art direction
Another important part of the show’s aesthetic is its art style or artistic approach to setting and styling the scenes. The settings for most episodes are urban, so there are very little references to nature or rural environments.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as we often see films that use an urban environment as their backdrop look really beautiful and striking.
However, in Euphoria the opposite happens, which sometimes makes the scenes feel more like a drag.
There aren’t too many instances where this doesn’t happen but when it does the scene feels more naturalistic. There was one episode where Vee and Ansel got into a huge argument and she wanted to break up with him, he convinced her not to though by taking her to a secluded beach.
The camera slowly moved through the lapping water while they spoke until it reached the edge, creating a nice sense of tension. It also gave off some sort of feeling of relaxation after the argument had ended.
Who is the director?
As mentioned earlier, the person in charge of the project or episode as a whole is usually referred to as the “director”. This individual oversees all aspects of the show including writing the script, hiring the other crew members such as cinematographers, editors, sound engineers, etc., and motivating them while they work.
The director also typically has an idea of what style he/she wants the movie to have before filming even begins. For example, someone with less experience might want to use very natural light for some scenes, whereas someone who has done this type of shooting more times could instead use strong lighting.
The director helps create the mood of the scene by choosing the right tone and environment, and knowing when to include these elements into the film.
Who are the cast members?
The show is set in the future, where people have advanced technology to use for communication. They can communicate via text messages, chat apps, and even holograms!
The show focuses on three main characters- Dane (Iqbal Vaid), Katia (Kimberly Brooks) and Alex (Nicholas Gonzalez). All three of these characters go through significant changes as their stories unfold.
Dane begins the series as someone who has lived his life according to social norms. He goes through various experiences that shift his perception of what is “normal” and how he should live his life.
Katia is an aspiring journalist who does not quite know what her career path will be. She makes many mistakes along the way, but she keeps trying until she finds something she feels passionate about.
Alex is struggling with some personal issues. He thinks he has found happiness in being married with kids, but it is hard staying stable when others around you don't seem to get this. He wonders if there's more out there for him.
These individuals come together and form strong friendships which help them grow and learn from each other. Having fun together is another important part of the show.
What are the themes and stories?
There’s one major theme in The CW’s superhero drama series, which is to emphasize friendship as the key to saving the world. This was made very clear during season 1 when Barry (Garry Chrystyn) and Caitlyn (Danielle Panabaker) broke up due to his job as the Flash and her being stuck in Earth-2 with Iris (Candice Patton).
Barry then embarked onto his life alone while Cisco (Carlos Valdes) and H.R. Wells (Hartley Rathaway) tried to help him find happiness again by encouraging him to look into the future for possible relationships. Even though he didn’t see any hope of that happening, they were still able to make him feel better about himself.
This show really uses its cast members effectively. Almost every scene features at least two or three characters who are actively working on their personal journey. Each person’s storyline becomes part of the larger overarching plot, creating an immersive experience for viewers.