Settings are Characters, Too

Settings are vital to any movie and can provide just as much social commentary, movement of the plot, and character development as any actor. Let's see how filmmakers use setting as if it were an individual character.
My review of The Martian (2015): www.cavalierdai...
My Patreon: www.patreon.co...

[@lousalvador1632]

As a movie nerd and an aspiring writer-director-actor, I'm in love with your videos man. Extremely helpful and interesting. Look out for a special thanks in my credits one day, lol

[@richhartnell6233]

Hope to see one of your films one day! Good luck.

[@christiangomez320]

Hope all is well, brother

[@AhmadAneeq]

if u become a director one day i hope to be your screenwriter

[@Cocoalamocoa]

The amount of 'Emperor's New Groove' clips in here made my day!

[@houston-coley]

I think an amazing example of this is in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In the film, Walter lives in an extremely small and grey apartment that is very mathematically and un-artistically laid out. When he goes to visit Sheryl's (the woman he wants to date) house, the entire street is brightly painted and very unique, symbolizing the contrast and why he needs her. Of course, the other major contrast is the wide world he visits and its uncomfortable-but-adventurous circumstances.

[@georgecampbell3687]

+HoustonProductions1 THANK YOU! No else I know seems to like that film as much as I do.

[@layoverbear]

HoustonProductions1 i need a video on that movie, its breathtaking.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

I

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

Mr. Theta That remains one of the greatest movies I've ever seen and none can sway me otherwise.

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

Paul Olsen Or that a summer job at Papa John's could be memorable. Edit: I've not worked at one, I'm assuming. Please correct me if I'm wrong and Papa John's is more interesting than I'd thought. You've got amazing pizza!

[@kateglad2716]

So on the what happens to a setting note, in Heathers when Veronica saves the school from getting blown up she's also saving the idea of the school but then she destroys the social hierarchy with the scrunchie and going to prom with Martha who she used to make fun of with the Heathers. I this one is really interesting because it deviates from the message people normally take from Heathers which is "High school and high schoolers are cruel and stupid." this take away normally make people think Heathers an angsty teen movie really made for angsty teens. But I think that the school as character adds depth to the take away because it shows that the school itself was worth being saving, but Heather one and the jocks were not. We even see this idea of who deserves live when Martha's suicide attempt fails. So now that we know the school is worth saving and it's what's inside that was rotten the actual take way is more nuanced something like: "It's cruel and stupid to be mean." And that take way works better to help the film earn the title "an angsty teen movie for angsty teens" because it doesn't talk down to teens but instead illustrates something we are frankly tired of hearing in an interesting way.

[@LauM]

Wow, I love this insight.

[@SuperMaDBrothers]

If you pay attention to the number of times he says "setting" or "journey" (especially during the life of Pi part) you will not be able to watch this video.

[@jonathenross2742]

SuperMaDBrothers you ruined this video for me😂😂

[@nutmaster652]

SuperMaDBrothers I hate you

[@Cheska1]

SuperMaDBrothers made notice it, unbearable

[@Fedzza]

such a cool channel. Please keep it going.

[@t19040]

+whiplash112 Check out: Channel Criswell, Film-Drunk Love and Nerdwriter.

[@nioxic77]

+Fedzza Yes i watch all his videos with great interest! i love it!

[@Fedzza]

+AMFilms no i didnt! Thanks!

[@RYSEproductions]

Who else noticed the human body shape in the island at 3:20 ?

[@rookjameson]

+RYSE Your comment blew my mind. I actually haven't realized that that was an island. I thought it *was* a human body. :D

[@yashasvykanvas1407]

It represents a Hindu god, Lord Vishnu, whom he speaks about in the beginning of the movie.

[@ThiccInk]

It being a person is important to the plot.

[@boulshyte8932]

weird. the island being a body was really obvious to me :/ any more obvious and it would have slapped me in the face

[@carraicodonnell8134]

i just checked the comments to see if anyone else saw it ahaha

[@ezraavaliani2773]

I just noticed at 3:22 that the island really looks like a human. Wow.

[@eerieafro4250]

Damn, your videos are so well made and cut. Great job.

[@PppGameboy]

Being John Malkovitch

[@strongwise1255]

YEAH

[@maocharlisme]

YES! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes

[@Howesenberg]

this channel deserves 1M+ subs it's so insightful, I've not watched a film in the same way since, I love it!

[@jakemaringoni]

How did I not find this channel sooner? SUBSCRIBE BUTTON, ACTIVATE!

[@TaylorFoersterPictures]

Definitely your most undervalued video. Only 39k people watching you drop jewels smh~

[@DarkAngelEU]

This is very revealing to the underlying connection to my favourite movies (eg Antonioni films, Lanthimos films, 2001 Space Odyssey, Platoon), I really like it when there can be alot of variation in a rather similar or small environment because this way you can crawl deeper under the psychological skin of the characters. Ooh, Under The Skin is another one of them! Thanks for the vid, gave me some real insight

[@GuapoNinjaRyan]

Hi

[@NowYouSeeIt]

+Ryan Eid hey

[@munkeynut778]

+Now You See It Hello

[@GuapoNinjaRyan]

+Now You See It I found your channel a couple weeks ago and I instantly subscribed. I love your video's style and analysis, keep it up (:

[@dunnowy123]

+ryanoceros As another Ryan, who's been called "Ryan the Rhino" before as a kid, your username speaks to me, dude.

[@jordanmw94]

He's awesome. Another channel to check out is Every Frame a Painting which focuses more on film form.

[@reiokami]

I think one of the films to use setting most effectively is Fight Club. when looking at how the film progresses, the setting truly changes. there is lots of explosions, which as you mentioned here is a rejection of what the setting symbolizes (capitalism, modern living, and the society that the narrator's subconscious rejects). it also has some nice moments of things starting low and as the character becomes enlightened or aware, they are moved to a higher place.

[@imani877]

A bit surprised you didn't mention The Rear Window...

[@pagethreemodel]

Imani Hubbard Really great movie.

[@jordanhorsch]

Great video, but I wish you would have mentioned True Detective, as I think the setting is what mostly drives the show.

[@joseordoqui4056]

CHARACTER: action + body + behavioral structure SETTINGS are not CHARACTERS. They give context, they complete and affect the action, but they are not characters. I get the point of the video, but that title seems a bit off.

[@randomguy6679]

José Ordoqui what would you call it?

[@luigivercotti6410]

Try The Shining. Then come back and tell me whether settings are characters.

[@venomissocute3448]

José Ordoqui Have you heard of a Metaphor?

[@Pyraticalpunk]

Your videos have helped me more than years of film classes ever have

[@njmartybrodeur30]

Hey man, great vid! I was just reminded of this video after watching A Quiet Place -- which I also think successfully uses the setting as a character.

[@xblast196]

Hey man. Your videos are incredible. Truly. You do such a great job commentating these ideas, I'm learning how to watch movies in a different way and appreciate them much more. Keep it up man, really!

[@skateordie002]

You've gotten a lot better since starting. Great work!

[@N1rvanaGod]

Love your videos man. I hope more people start making their own channels with similar styles on video essays like you and Every Frame a Painting, it's the best thing i've seen on KZbin in years. Perhaps i'll make one but not before i put on practice what i've learned from you and others and make a movie, which is something i've been dreaming about since i was like 15. I'm not on film school but if such movie doesn't suck it'll be thanks to videos like this

[@cgenta11]

I always have thought one of the best settings in movies/TV is the New Orleans bayou. It seems to suck in characters like in Beasts of the Southern Wild or the first season of True Detective. It creates action, drama, and a main decision point (to leave or stay) when it floods in Beasts; the slow, winding nature of the backroads and ponds reflect the journey the main characters go on to investigate in True Detective...basically, when a setting in itself reflects and/or influences a main character or reveals a trait in that character, its a good use of setting. Not to mention the one of a kind culture of New Orleans...

[@novigod]

Dude, you are amazing!

[@summerw.1425]

Im pretty sure this was one of the vids that got taken down recently. Im glad to see it back. Its one of my favorites.

[@noiseandpictures]

Settings and locations are NOT characters! Characters make active decisions within the plot. Settings and locations are important in their own way. This does not make them characters.

[@shortcutDJ]

In The Wire the city of Baltimore is the main 'character'. can you do something with The Wire please?

[@davidamaro2485]

Great Video! Keep up the great work! Props from Portugal.

[@nicolasnarvaezcamacho3223]

Top 10 underrated characters in anime

[@raashiraghunath6889]

I loved this video, but also wanted to tell you that I really liked your review of The Martian! :D

[@GLASSB182]

SUBLIME

[@graciemarie4280]

I had to make sure i wasn't crazy and the only one that heard it bahahahahahah

[@anthonylee4350]

Hey, I really feel useful about your videos in my film knowledge, you should update videos more frequently! Really love your work!

[@miguelrealp]

The river in mystic river, Gotham city (and Wayne Mansion) in batman, Hill Valley (ad its clock tower) in back to the future

[@StewartFletcher]

Wind River is a perfect example of setting being a central character

[@AgglomeratiProduzioni]

0:29 That old man couldn't breathe, you know it right?

[@MarisaTorresValderas]

Would love a video about lighting or use of color in films! love your stuff (:

[@foxybingo1112]

Marisa Torres cough cough Blue Velvet.

[@maggyfrog]

spirited away

[@maxis2k]

Setting and music are the two overlooked aspects of a film. But I feel like they are over half of any given film. Except of course a minimalist movie which forgoes one or both of these. But by choosing to avoid these, doesn't that also create attention to the lack of it?

[@foxybingo1112]

I really noticed this in films like Bladerunner, Blue Velvet and Eraserhead, where arguably the depressing industrial setting is the most important character.

[@TheGODork]

I love what you're doing. keep it up

[@johnallardyce4164]

Thanks for the videos, I am enjoying them.

[@youtuber5305]

Concerning BLADE RUNNER, the 2014 book "Outer Limits: The Filmgoers’ Guide to the Great Science-Fiction Films" says: - The city becomes one of the protagonists and almost a distraction from the drama of the story.

[@paulpincemin5700]

This reminded me of Into The Wild. Even though the visuals are amazing, the landscapes amazing, they really portray Alexander's feeling of freedom, and what he's escaping from.

[@cultofeorzea]

These videos are genius. Keep up the great work!

[@startaconvosavetheworld]

STILL WATCHIN' , love the slightly stoopid track

[@stevemcgroob4446]

Wait what was that movie with the Woodmen tower in it? I see that tower everyday when I go out for a walk.

[@Superhero100s]

You're like my new favourite KZbinr😀

[@yasminemekhlouf7333]

Bruges became a silent character in the movie '' in Bruges''

[@InkHeart17]

When the vid mentioned lightning, I thought of Discworld's Otto Chriek. "If I were to say something portentous... there would be a sudden crash of thunder."

[@kingkillerstripe1211]

You should do a video about how important a car is to a setting and scene now that would be cool

[@Ermactor]

Thanks for the video!! Love your channel!

[@epz10704]

Great video! Keep it up man!

[@andrewhoward782]

Interesting ideas, love watching, but please breath between sentences, i zone out after a minute and you've lost me. Thanks

[@Olivermilne17]

Great video, nice things to keep thinking about as we go forward making films! :)

[@suburiboy]

Clicked the Martian link. Didn't realize you were from UVA. I just graduated last year, so that's cool. Wahoowa!

[@jakehorsburgh2878]

One of the best examples of this I can think of top of my head is the bayous and swamps in True Detective, they're unkempt and mysterious and wild and hard to completely figure out. Just like Rust

[@dumitrualexandru1463]

What's the movie in the blue empty room called again? I don't understand your pronunciacion

[@NowYouSeeIt]

+Dumitru Alexandru About Schmidt

[@dumitrualexandru1463]

+Now You See It thanks. Your pronunciation totally threw me off, cuz I'm not a native speaker.

[@TheMoggFREE]

+Now You See It one of my fave films

[@svelard7]

Your videos are awsome! keep it up man :)

[@garretbyrd3919]

i liked the "What i got" by Sublime instrumental backing track in this video

[@TheDukeWin]

these are all great man! keep it up

[@GiTxSHuM]

Fargo is the best example as the environment was the character.

[@fenixdown22]

Fantastic, thanks for the video!!

[@z-rex6068]

Tim Burton's Gothic Gotham City is a good example of this

[@nootnoot5838]

The first setting as a character I thought of was the island from "Lost."

[@davidm.johnston8994]

I absolutely *loved* this video.

[@MrTafyism]

love your vids! keep em going!

[@frtard]

Not even a mention of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining? Heresy.

[@scriptalchemist]

This was solid. Thank you!!! :)

[@TheShuffledDeck]

Haven't watched this yet, but if In Bruges isn't mentioned, I'll be disappointed

[@TheShuffledDeck]

I'm disappointed

[@Alex_gee_white]

+The Shuffled Deck it's like a fucking fairytale

[@valentemartinez8935]

I enjoyed the video and your content, but I couldn't help but be distracted by your use of music by playing Sublime at the 1:48. Just kind of pulled me out of the movie and the context of the scene in your video, otherwise keep up the good work.

[@GoneZombie]

+Valente Martinez Haha, I totally agree, it was all I could pay attention to. Then again, that might say more about me than the video...

[@mellowman7572]

Nice intro song

[@cristianb4502]

Great as always!

[@YvensReboucas]

Amazing video as always :) Keep it up \o

[@MidnightOrigins]

Is that sublime in the background

[@blancardn4636]

Love this. I thought you were going to talk about The Lord of the Rings

[@RJ-Isaac-TSOML]

I like your content but your delivery is VERY fast and doesn't provide any pauses to between thoughts. If you slowed down just a little it would improve the quality of your videos.

[@hazenwilson4944]

What movie are the clips at :43 - :47 from?

[@alissafigureskater2204]

Emperor Kusco! IT'S DINNER TIMEEEEEE! MWHAHAHAHAHAH.... *Ding* I got the spinach puffs! (Man I love that movie!

[@TheOnlyMilad]

I don't think there's meant to be a comma in the title.

[@alexisasheep6554]

Setting is my waifu

[@jodoco1732]

RIP Irrfan Khan

[@TheMoggFREE]

I'm curious. Do you put ads in your videos?

[@SamLovesMovies25]

In the book of The Shining, the Overlook Hotel is much more of a "character" than in the movie. It describes throughout the book how the character feel that the place is somehow "alive" and that all the ghost seen throughout have become part of the hotel's collective "being". By the end, it is made to seem that the hotel has an evil presence of its own and that it is trying to influence Jack because it wants to use him to get Danny and his power to add to its own. *BOOK ENDING SPOILERS BELOW* Also, in line with what you said, the hotel is blown up at the end in the book by Jack in a final sacrifice to save his family, as he comes back to his senses enough to reject the evil that the hotel stands for and make that decision. Interesting how that was changed in the movie, but from what I understand, it seems like Kubrick did not really want to put as much emphasis on the supernatural elements of the book. (By the way, I love your videos! As someone who loves film as well it's so interesting to hear thought-provoking analytical discussions about them like this ^_^)

[@DanielShao-p7m]

you're good

[@AllPurposeBaked]

Early in the morning... Risin to my feet...

[@manuam98]

Light me up that cigarette and I strap shoes on my feet...

[@GenralMonkey11]

What movie was the footage of Omaha from?

[@josedanielcastrofigueroa128]

where did you get all this information? is from some book in special?

[@ivo8312]

my guess is he went to film school or something, actually I think he did say this started as a school project so he probs did

[@miyavisam]

You like sublime so I like you

[@chorkiel]

Really nice story and very solid learning points. Overall a good essay. But you could really do with a second breathing room here and there. I wouldn't have minded this video to be a minute or two longer if that gives the time to really let the information sink in.

[@greaser3069]

Anybody else get distracted by the rx7, 300zx and 911

[@zemoeagle593]

He remides me of a bootleg nerdwriter1

[@mullarky]

Dig your video man

[@mariabumby]

this is so good

[@Re-lx1md]

Now Yuo See It...

[@mcfeelyat]

All this discussion of a setting being "almost like a character itself," and not a single mention of THEY CAME TOGETHER. Tsk tsk.

[@alexblomme1716]

Song in the brfinning??

[@mellowman7572]

What I got-sublime

[@spyrosgkoumas5339]

I really like emperor’s new groove too

[@DavidHunanyan]

fargooo