Citizen Kane

Orson Welles and his collaborators played with cinematography to make the film far more interesting. He did an excellent job of using deep focus to let the viewer see what was going on far away and near and lets you in on what is more important. One example of how he used deep focus is at the very beginning of the story when Kanes parents were debating over giving Kane away to live in a rich world with Mr. Thatcher. Kanes parents and Thatcher are divided on both sides of the screen in the shot and Kane is in the middle. You can still hear Kane in the background. Mr. Welles was showing that Kane is still the most important character eventhough he's not in the room with them. Another place where Orson Welles uses deep focus is when Kane is speaking with Leland and Thatcher and walks to the window. He's shot in the middle of them and is further away, but still in focus to show his superiority over them. Orson Welles also uses camera movement in the right way to make the story flow. For example, he uses the tilt method when they are in the big auditorium and Kane is giving his speech. It's showing all the people he is speaking to (eventhough it's a painting).