The Spielberg Face

   I am a big fan of most films directed by Steven Spielberg. He has this ability to create such an amazing unpredictable amount of emotion in a single scene. I did not know exactly why that was until I watched the short documentary about the "Spielberg face". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS5W4RxGv4s
   After watching the way that Spielberg is able to "manipulate the audience" in any genre, to project any kind of emotion, whether it be scared, happy, surprised or many others, I can see one of the reasons he has been so successful in his career. The fact that the "face" is like an open slate, to be manipulated and seen as such by the audience, leaves surprisingly less to the imagination than I had thought. A blank stare, eyes open wide, looking into the distance, this looks sets the viewer up for the incredible emotion that follows it. As stated in the documentary, people can relate to the look of aw, because we have seen it on other's faces, so we almost know what is coming in the next scene. Our emotions build, preparing us for what we are about to see, knowing that it is going to be something amazing, dangerous, heart felt, or any other deeply felt common emotions. By Spielberg using the "face" as a tool to manipulate the audience, he is able to essentially draw open the audience's mind in preparation, and then, with closure, connect the following scene to provide the audience with the expected satisfaction following the face.
   This kind of manipulation exists a lot in the comic realm. Drawing a simple face, lets the audience imagine it as themselves, the more detail in the face, the less the audience is able to relate to it, thus lessening the emotions perceived. Another good example of this is when directors draw too much into the face of a character, too much facial expression. Since humans do not see their own faces, they have to truly attempt an out-of-body experience with the face seen.