The Design School BA (Hons) Interior Architecture
FINAL ESSAY ASSIGNMENT 03
DISSECTING FRAMES
Investigation on Spatial Design in Motion Picture March - July 2020
CONTEMPORARY DESIGN THEORIES DST60304 DST60803 AZHA MOHAMED YOOSUF 0335889 SEMESTER 4
“
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get
its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway
what humans think is impossible.
“
because bees don't care
CONTENTS
TABLE OF
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1.0 I N T R O D U C T I O N
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2.0 S P A T I A L A N A L Y S I S
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1.1 Justification on selection of the motion picture 1.2 Scope and background of studies 1.3 Philosophical ideals adopted in the motion picture 1.4 Character Analysis
2.1 Key spaces and relation to the overall storytelling 2.2 Sequence of space used 2.3 Color scheme and ambience used
3.0 C R I T I C A L C O M M E N T A R Y 3.1 How the space heighten the delivery of motion picture feel, message, world or mood 3.2 Conclusion
Bee Movie is a 2007 American computer-animated comedy film produced by DreamWorks Anima�on and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Its story follows Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld), a honey bee who sues the human race for exploi�ng bees, a�er learning from his florist friend Vanessa (Zellweger) that humans sell and consume honey. Barry graduates from college and is about to enter the hive's Honex Industries honey-making workforce. Barry is ini�ally excited to join the workforce, but his courageous, non-conformist a�tude emerges upon discovering that his choice of job will never change once picked. Barry gets almost killed on his first pollen-gathering expedi�on, but Venessa saves his life. Breaking the sacred rule that bees are not supposed to communicate with humans, Barry and Vanessa develop a close bond, bordering on a�rac�on. Later, Barry is horrified to discover that the humans have been stealing and ea�ng the bees' honey for centuries. Barry then wins a court trial with humans by exposing the jury to the cruel treatment bees are subjected to, par�cularly the smoker, and humans are banned from stealing honey from bees ever again. This causes a nega�ve shi� in the balance of nature. It put every bee out of a job, including the vitally important Pollen Jocks. As a result, without anything to pollinate them, all of the world's plant life slowly begins to die out. Armed with the pollen of the last flowers, Barry and the Pollen Jocks manage to reverse the damage and save the world's flowers, restar�ng the bees' honey produc�on. At the end humans and bees are seen working together, and certain brands of honey are now "bee-approved". The bee movie is an inspiring film, educa�ng people about the vital roles that bees play in the ecosystem. The main message of the bee movie is that without bees the world will eventually end. Evidently bees pollinate 70 of the top 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world, according to BBC. Without plants, animals won’t be able to eat. Without plants or animals, we won’t be able to eat. The bee movie helped an en�re genera�on learn about how vital bees are to the ecosystem, and that without them we’d be in serious trouble. For the above reasons, I chose bee movie for my inves�ga�on on Spa�al Design in Mo�on Picture. Apart from the spa�al quali�es observed in the movie, it also conveys a great message to the public.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 JUSTIFICATION ON SELECTION OF THE MOTION PICTURE
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1.2. SCOPE AND BACKGROUND OF STUDIES GENERAL PURPOSE OF STUDY Exploring diverse point of views in reviewing the study materials. As well as establishing own narra�ve and context of study, to reflect the sensi�vity of analyzing space in mo�on picture and maturity in understanding the concept of space in rela�on to other components of story telling or experience delivery.
Determining the objec�ves
2 Specifying the unit of analysis
4 Weeks ( Week 10 - Week 14 )
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TOPICS AND THEORIES DISCUSSED
Watching the movie
Philosophical ideals adopted, as well as period of mo�on picture world and spa�al characteris�cs. The key spaces with its rela�on to the overall storytelling and interac�on of space with the characters. Alao an in-depth anaysis on spa�al quali�es. Concluded with cri�cal commentary on how the space heighten the delivery of mo�on picture feel, message, world or mood.
THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION COVERED IN THE STUDY Two worlds of Bee Movie, New York City and New Hive City. 15 City blocks of Manha�an to used during the filming of the movie, based on the two main streets in New York City that the modeling department created.
4 Loca�ng & taking samples of relevant data 5 Analysing the data
1.3. PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS ADOPTED IN THE MOTION PICTURE The Bee Movie is a representa�on for the failures of communist revolutions. First, we begin in the wholly capitalist society. Bees represent the workers, the exploited proletariat; they slave away day a�er day without receiving any substan�al compensa�on for their work.
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00:04:42 00:07:55
00:03:35 Bees graduating College
“You’ll be happy to know that bees, as a species, haven’t had a day off in twenty-seven million years.” "So you'll just work us to death?"
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3
00:05:40
1.0 INTRODUCTION
DURATION OF STUDY
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"We'll sure try!"
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00:04:15 Honey Factory (Honex) Jobs Tour
Bees working in Honex
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1 Barry, the protagonist, is the revolu�onary leader of the communist uprising. He is dissa�sfied with the status quo and feels confined by societal expecta�ons. Vanessa is the empathe�c, reluctant bourgeoisie who seeks change, but is hesitant to risk their own livelihood. The taboo nature of Barry's and Vanessa's relationship speaks volumes about the difficulty of attempting to bridge the societal divide.
00:23:05 2
The hive represents factories. Honey serves as the symbol for the material products created (reluctantly) by the proletariat (bees). Humans are the factory owners, the tyrannical capitalists that take advantage of the despera�on of the proletariat. They force the bees to work in unsafe work condi�ons, as seen in the heart-wrenching smoke-gun scene. 00:40:01 Barry finds out mistreated bee workers 00:05:26 stress-testing a new helmet technology
00:05:30 stress-testing a new helmet technology
00:40:14 Barry finds out more 3 Beekeepers, who no doubt represent the police and bruisers who were instrumental in the oppression of the working class.
00:39:21 Bee smoker on bees
Barry convinces the judge and jury of the injus�ces taking place, showing the ideals of communism are spreading.
00:03:35 Bees sedated by smoke
00:23:05 4 A�er they reclaim their righ�ul resources, the bees lose their mo�va�on to work. Without any incentive to perform labour or seek higher educa�on, the proletariat ceases to work. Immediately, society begins to fall apart; this is conveyed by the wilting and dying of the flowers throughout the nation. 01:06:14
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1.4. CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Major characters Minor characters
BARRY B. BENSON
1.0 INTRODUCTION
One of the main characters in the Bee Movie. He wants to follow his dream to be a Pollen Jock, and also see the world of humans. Personality: Curious, loving, breaks many social barriers to be with the one he truly loves, does not care what others think. Appearance: Wears a pair of shoes and a yellow sweater, covers most of his black stripes. Very fashionable for a bee.
VANESSA BLOOME One of the main characters in the Bee Movie. Vanessa is a skilled tennis player and florist. She is the love interest of Barryand helps him in achieving his goals. Personality: gentle, kind, selfless, good-natured, caring, sympathe�c, pa�ent, asser�ve, and understanding Appearance: Casual blousers and pants. Likes toe rings and wears redwood wedge sandals and flip flops.
ADAM FLAYMAN Barry Benson's best friend in the movie Bee Movie. Cri�cizes Barry’s rela�onship with Vanessa, speaking that besides her be loving, humans are very dangerous. Personality: Nerdy, Clumsy but with good inten�ons. Adam is always trying to enforce rules when Barry is ac�ng up. Apearance: Nerdy look with a suit, �e and spectacles.
LAYTON T. MONTGOMERY Main antagonist of Bee Movie. He is Barry's arch-nemesis and is a lawyer for the food companies in America. Personality: Grumpy, Serious, Cunning, Intelligent, Greedy, but understands that the balance of nature is important. Appearance: Plump, middle-aged man with dark gray, balding hair. He wears a tuxedo with a red, yellow polka-dotted bow�e.
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MOOSEBLOOD A mosquito and one of Barry's friends. Lived in the typical, hos�le mosquito environment, in which each of them only cared for their own well-being. Mooseblood soon le� for Alaska to experience the taste of moose blood and ended up colliding into the windshield he met Barry and had a conversa�on about their lifestyles and current predicaments.
LAU LO DUCA A minor character Bee Movie. He is the general for the Pollen Jocks who get pollen for the honey. "Lou" as he is commonly known, is a decorated Pollen Jock who leads and gives the run-down to newer pollen jocks. Lou is not incredibly important un�ll the la�er third of the movie where he, a�er seeing the BNN broadcast of barry on the plane, gets all available bees in the hive to help get barry and the flowers safely to the tarmac.
KENNETH BLOOME The central antagonist of Bee Movie. He is Vanessa's ex-boyfriend. Ken is allergic to bees, which is why he hates them (especially Barry); as well, he doesn't like honey. He is mean, insensi�ve, rude, self-centered, selfish, impolite, cold-hearted and bad tempered and chivalrous. Jealous of Barry thinking that he has a rela�onship with Vanessa, so he thinks he can kill Barry and get Vanessa back.
LARRY KING Bee Larry King is a small role given to the famous news anchor Larry King. Barry expresses suspicion because of a Larry King in the human world looking exactly him. Barry comedically calls the real Larry King "very Jewish, always leaning forward all the �me, he's got the suspenders and the huge glasses, and all of the different colored dots behind him."
RAY LIOTTA Ray Lio�a is a minor antagonist in Bee Movie. He is also the founder of "ray lio�a private select honey" which is harvested and bo�led in scotland. He is devilishly handsome but with an inner turmoil that is always ready to blow, this is proven when during the Honey trail he has a breakdown where he threatens to murder barry.
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2.0 SPATIAL ANALYSIS
2.1. KEY SPACES AND RELATION TO OVERALL STORY TELLING This is the outer road from which Barry and his bes�riend is seen entering at the beginning of the mo�on picture
SECTION VIEW OF HONEX
00:02:44
HONEX OFFICE
01:05:10
This is where desk jobs take place AMUSEMENT PARK
Honex, a division of Honesco and a part of the Hexagon Group. Honey begins when Pollen Jocks bring the nectar to the hive. NEW HIVE CITY
00:03:01
Its part of their everyday life HONEX POOL/BEACH
This is the space portrayed as the cityscape in the bee world. Its darker at night and lighter during day�me just like human world
00:09:45
01:04:20
POLLEN JOCK STATION
Any relaxing scenes are in here HONEX JOB APPLICATION
All pollina�on related ac�vi�es take place from here and in here. This is also where the pollen jocks take-off and land in
00:11:16
01:05:50
They all gather to be assigned jobs HONEX HONEY FACTORY
BARRY’S HOUSE 00:56:12
00:01:25
Barry lives with his mom and dad
This is the largest space shown in the mo�on picture as all the honey bees are working here. It is where they produce honey 01:05:47
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VANESSA’S LIVING ROOM
00:23:03
Barry first talks to Venessa in her kitchen. His first �me talking to a human VENESSA’S KITCHEN
A conceptual drawing of Venessa’s living space including her living room, dining space and kitchen. A major part of the mo�on picture takes place here
In Venessa’s living room when Barry first accidentally entered her house 00:20:24
SUPERIOR COURT
VENESSA’S DINING AREA
Ken walks in to find Venessa having lunch with Barry instead of him 00:51:35
00:45:57 VENESSA’S TOILET
A major part of the mo�on picture takes place in this space Superior Court as this movie is about a bee sueing the human race (for taking their honey)
00:43:25 00:54:16
Ken a�empts to kill Barry for the second �me, in Venessa’s toilet un�l Venessa saves Barry, again.
‘VENESSA’S FLOWERS’
Venessa’s flowers is her flower shop as she is a florist. In his space Barry, Venessa and Adam does the prepara�ons for the law suit
00:44:12
00:43:34
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2.0 SPATIAL ANALYSIS
start
2.2. SEQUENCE OF SPACE USED
Amusement Park
end
00:56:12 ‘Venessa’s Flowers’
Honex Pool/Beach Venessa’s Living Room Honex Job Sta�on Venessa’s Kitchen New Hive City Superior Court Pollen Jock Sta�on Venessa’s Dining Room Barry’s Home Venessa’s Toilet Honex Honey Factory Honex Office
Majority of the scenes took place in the honex honey factory, Venessa’s home, Venessa’s Flower shop and in the Superior Court. This is because the mo�on picture is based around a law suit about honey and humans takng it without any permission from the bees. Also because it is based around the roman�c rela�onship that develops between Barry and Venessa, which resulted from them spending a lot of �me together at Venessa’s House BEE WORLD HUMAN WORLD
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2.2.ELEMENTS IN SPACE
01:04:54
This beehive shaped container labelled ‘honey’ is seen being used by Barry and a hair gel, mouthwash as well as a deodorant
The structure on the le� is a huge center piece in the Honex (honey factory). It’s design represents honey bees hovering around a flower for nectar.
Floors and walls have hexagonal pa�ern Wall hangings such as mirrors, clocks etc are also shaped like hexagons, represen�ng the shapes inside a beehive
00:01:28
00:29:32
Flowers are seen all around Venessa’s house. Clearly indica�ng that she is a florist and also showing her love for 00:56:12 the nature
00:21:03 00:56:12
00:20:24
00:51:30
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2.3. COLOUR SCHEME AND AMBIENCE
00:29:47
00:03:01 00:56:12
01:04:20
01:05:22
01:05:30
00:11:16
01:05:47
00:09:58
01:04:54
BEE WORLD
00:30:12
00:09:45
VIBRANT, WARM COLOURS
In the bee world, the main colours used are very vibrant. Shades and �nts of purple and orange are mainly used in this space. The orange colour is widely used as it is the colour of honey and the bee world is all about honey.
ORANGE The color orange calls to mind feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and warmth. This represents the bees as they are busy beings ac�vely moving up and about all the �me
PURPLE The color purple is o�en associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambi�on. This makes sense as bees are hardworking insects that are quite superior due to its significance in the ecological niche
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HUMAN WORLD
00:43:25
00:45:40
00:50:45
00:23:03
00:51:35
00:53:23
00:44:12
00:54:16
00:20:24
00:56:12
00:57:25
DULL , COOL COLOURS In the human world, the main colours used are dark and dull. Shades and �nts of blue and green are mainly used in this space. A dull green colour is widely used as it creates a contrast to the warm vibrant orange and purple in the bee world.
GREEN In the context of this movie, the green is associated with money, finances, banking, ambi�on, greed, and jealousy. It is also used in Venessa’s home, suppor�ng the fact that shes a florist.
BLUE As used in Venessa’s home, light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and so�ness. It is where she has made home for Barry. This meaning is also reflected in the blue colour of the hospital.
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3.0 CRITICAL COMMENTARY
3.1 HOW DOES THE SPACES HEIGHTEN THE DELIVERY OF MOTION PICTURE? The mo�on picture displays two dis�nct worlds, which are bees and humans. It shows to distinct visual language to differentiate the two. Rectangular or straight for humans, versus rounded for bees. These are evident in such things as the square human cars contrasted to the round bee cars, the shape of the buildings in each world. Even down to something as small as the pens that Barry and Vanessa u�lize in the courtroom. Everything in the beehive is made of either wax or honey and no other materials or elements are used. Bees love their honey and their world reflects that. They fry it, drink it, eat it, put it on their cereals, even use it to fuel their cars. There is also no glass in the hive, even the vending machines. Stoplights in the hive are always green. There are gyms, food stores, lounges, coffee shops and newsstands in New Hive City.
3.2. CONCLUSION All taken into considera�on, this was an interes�ng inves�ga�on on spa�al design in mo�on picture. Mainly because a�er analysing the scenes, I no�ced the amount of thought that had gone into it to make it as appealing as possible. Also to convey the message they intended to get through to the people. The colour scheme and ambience created accurately reflects the personalities, emotions and situations that took place in the movie. They were able to incorporate a deep philosophical concept into the movie without making it too literal. The spaces designed were detailed and had lots of important elements embedded. Eventhough it does not catch the eye at first glance, the further I analysed each frame, the more I no�ced the significant details put into it. When watching the movie, it also creates an experience for the viewer, as though there is a physical immersion into the space itself.
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