illusion of spaces in "the shining"

   

The myths and deification that have arisen around Stanley Kubrick and his legendary secrecy would probably present the ultimate challenge to any 'behind the scenes' documentarian. Vivian Kubrick's documentary, Making The Shining (1980), while unparalleled in its visual access to her late father's working methods, proves as frustrating for what is left unexplored as it is fascinating for its moments of revelation. Indeed, for all of its historical value, throughout this short peek into the court of one of the century's most elusive film-makers one is invariably left contemplating the gaps in the jigsaw that outnumber the pieces present and correct. On the other hand, it is worth remembering that Ms. Kubrick was just 17 years old (and, in her own words, "lacking credibility") when she made the film. It is perhaps a little too much to ask a film-maker barely out of school that she provide a penetrating insight into the working methods of one of the cinema's most enigmatic figures.



With the help of Vivian we are going to look at a number of spaces to see how we could create illusion of being in different spaces with the help of CORRECT EDITING, CHOICE OF GREAT SETS.
We are going to start right at the beginning of her documentary;

 1.We are in the EMI Elstree Studios, Herdfordshire, where the set for the Overlook Hotel was build (the largest ever) including interiors and some exteriors of the hotel. 

 

 we can see Jack Nicholson chatting on the phone

 

 and we are following Jack through a corridor..

 

another turn...

 

  and we are in a Colorado Lounge! Still clogged with people and equipment but we are in a famous hotel where Jack Torrance took his winter-season job. 

 

 A few exterior shots by a second unit crew were done at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon. They are noticeable because the hedge maze is missing. Some of the interiors are based on those of the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

 

2. Heeeeeeere's Johny!

we can see Jack and Shelly preparing for the scene, with some of the crew on the set

 

 

 

In Vivian documentary here we are being taken to the original scene of the movie, which gives a very realistic feeling of us being on the set and seeing the scene live. 

 

first shot, from left; 

 

 quick cut and we are outside watching Wendy struggling to get out from the bathroom window

 

one more cut and we can see the the hotel from the distance, what emphasize the Wendy's solitude in the building and in her desperate situation

 

cut, and we are back in the bedroom seeing Jack going more and more mad,  

from now on the shots are getting longer, to rise the tension 

 

Wendy's reaction

 

her desperation

 

 

and quick change of perspective, 2 more different shots, to get more dynamics 

into the scene

 

 

so here we have 4 different location, brought together by perfect and quick editing. The dynamics and tension of the scene is kept by longing of the moments just before the culmination.