Answer to Question 1
The concepts of open and closed forms are generally used by art historians and
critics, but these terms can also be useful in film analysis. In practical applications, they are
best used in a relative sense rather than absolute. No film is completely one or the other, but
rather gravitates to one type. These terms are used only to help understand the level of reality
presented in the film's narrative.
Answer to Question 2
Anthropological studies of proxemic patterns, the relationships of organisms within
a given space and the influence of external factors such as light, noise, and climate, can be
applied to filmmaking. There are four major proxemic patterns: intimate, personal, social, and
public. Intimate distances range from skin contact to about 18 inches away. Personal distances
range from 18 inches away to about four feet away. Social distances range from four feet
away to about twelve feet. Public distances extend from twelve feet to twenty-five feet and
more.