St. Elmo's Fire

813 Words4 Pages
They Have the Fire St. Elmo’s Fire centers on a group of friends that have just graduated from Georgetown University and their adjustment to their post-university lives and the responsibilities of encroaching adulthood. The theme of St. Elmo’s Fire is about the hardships the seven friends face after graduation when they are trying to grow up and become adults. Director Joel Schumacher uses angles, color, and editing to pull this movie together. The combination of these different techniques in each scene completes the total effect of the movie. In the opening scene you see Recent graduates of Georgetown University Alec (Judd Nelson), girlfriend Leslie (Ally Sheedy), Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), Jules (Demi Moore), Kirby (Emilio Estevez), Billy (Rob Lowe), and Wendy (Mare Winningham) are waking hand and hand after just recently graduating. During this scene you see different camera angles, such as low angles and medium shots. While watching this scene you get a feeling that their lives are going great and perfect. This is a contradiction to the problems they face throughout the film. Another scene where we receive different angles is towards the very end of the movie. Wendy has moved into her own place, where Billy comes to visit and he informs her that he is getting a divorce and is moving to New York City to pursue a career as a saxophonist. The two make love as a going away present. During this scene we a very point from many different angles varying from low angle to high angle. This scene is bittersweet because yes, Wendy has finally gotten a chance to be with her longtime best friend and crush, but it is sad because Billy is leaving to pursue his dream. Coloring is a big part in this film. Schumacher uses color it emphasize the mood you feel in a certain scene. An example of when Schumacher uses color to emphasize the mood of the scene is after the party at Mr.

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