Monday, December 12, 2011
Film Project
My film project began as a glimpse into the life of drag in Tuscaloosa; a world I found fascinating. Eventually this project became a character project, but after multiple set backs with the character of the film, it has once again become about drag. I did not realize how hard it would be to interview someone. I cannot imagine how hard it is for directors to work with high maintenance, finicky actors, when I can't get one person to work with me. It has also been hard to take a film I have laid out in my mind and bring it to life. In my head, interviews are perfectly filmed and edited to fit the mood, the music is timed perfectly to photos, and the footage is as if it was filmed professionally. However, in reality, it is much harder to create a smooth and interesting film that is enjoyable to watch and informative as well. The music sets the mood of the film, and I am struggling with which mood to set. Imovie seems to have many options for editing and transitioning, but I have found it hard to decide what fits perfectly. This is the first movie I have made that is not simply a slideshow of photos, so it has definitely been a learning process. Although there have been a few set backs and a learning curve, I have really enjoyed learning how to make a film and the creative process. Who knows, maybe I will do it again.
Crazy, Stupid Love
Crazy, Stupid Love was the first movie I ever saw by myself in a theatre. I really loved the experience of sitting alone in a theatre with my popcorn and escaping into another world. I thought this movie was pretty funny and heart warming. The film is about a couple who separates after the wife cheats on her husband and the husbands journey into the beds of many women. Steve Carell and Julianne Moore star in the film along with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. I thought the plot line was interesting with a fun twist at the end. The director made some interesting choices, such as the shot between Marissa Tomei's legs seen in the advertisements. The scene where Carell is looking through the window at his wife calling him is so touching and the views through the window let the audience experience what carell's character must be feeling: a sense of disconnection from his family. I enjoyed the overall mood of the film from the funny moments between Carell and Goslings characters to the more serious moments between Moore and Carell. The love triangle between the son, his babysitter, and her crush on the dad was hilarious to watch unfold. The different story lines eventually came together in the end in a twist I did not see coming. This is a movie I could watch over and over.
If I Had to Start Over Filming
Things I would do different:
I would have covered an even simpler script, having been given such a short time frame.
I would not have turned my camera sideways during video capturing, as this has caused more than a couple of headaches.
I would have been more prepared with specific questions for the interview.
I might have considered interrupting the actor's interview responses, during original capture, every time I realized he was getting off track from what I was trying to accomplish. This would have cut down heavily on the amount of total video minutes I initially began working with.
Instead of making sub-clips of raw clips and using all clips to organize my storyboard, I would just throw all the raw clips into a single sequence, and used the 'razor' to edit them from there, and after they were edited individually, I could go back and puzzle piece together a storyboard.
I would have used Adobe's 'story' function to incorporate my script in to the editing process more efficiently.
I would delete everything but the highest quality clips/footage right up front... first thing. Instead, I chose to keep way too much crap footage "just in case" which just made the whole editing environment more cluttered.
Surprises While Making Short-Film
Things that surprised me:
Filming felt endless.
I became fairly obsessive with capturing multiple angles of the same shot.
I am enjoying the editing as much or more than the initial footage capture.
The 'razor' tool in Adobe Premier Pro is legit at shaving clips and allowing for fluid reattachment.
How often a camera, in a single-camera filming, is required to move, just to capture simple shots!
Lighting is a freakin' big deal.
Background/ambient sound is often worthless.
Much of the audio heard in major films must be soo edited to sound that sharp/crisp.
Auto-focus on a camera might be the best bet at this level of film making, but I imagine that a shot's quality of focus/rendering is a big topic in higher levels of film making... especially when the objects being filmed are in motion, requiring constant adjustment of focus.
Things I have learned about film making
Things I have learned:
Capturing moving shots is very hard without a shoulder stabilization device or equivalent.
Many shots would be better off without camera movement, but this requires the film maker to use multiple cameras, or film the same scene over and over.
Cutting shots may be the most effective way to tell a story; if I could only have one tool for editing, it would be the ability to 'cut.'
Adobe Production is a massive piece of software that can do about anything you want to do.
I am not yet talented enough with this software to make efficient use of it's capabilities.
Therefore, I often felt like I was using an elephant gun to shoot a squirrel.
How to use a boom microphone, and portable recording device attachment.
How to overlay audio with different video sequences embedded.
The importance of camera angle.
Making my Short-Film
I have been working on my short film for a couple of weeks now. I am down to the final editing, and really getting down to the wire with subtle touch-up work. With the deadline almost here, I would like to use this blog to first, state that I have enjoyed all of my time spent working so far, and second, reflect/discuss some of the experience:
Capturing the raw footage and audio went very well, but I do wish I had used my mono-pod more. The result of not using this stabilization device when I should have is that a lot of my action shots are shaky. However, I have been able to iron these out via Adobe After Effects software (part of Adobe Production). I also wish I had been able to allot more time to capturing even more looks/shots. I had a great experience with the one actor in my film. He was my friend though, so this may have something to do with his patience, effort, and willingness to help. It was strange filming a setting that I would have, under any other circumstance, definitely been an active participant within, instead of behind the camera.
I enjoyed using the Cannon 7D, but I don't know that anybody is going to be able to tell that I used such a quality machine. If nothing else, it made things easier.
Wimp.com
There is a website called wimp.com that simply posts interesting videos for people to watch. It shows videos from lectures at TED conferences to people sculpting a bust from clay. There is a particular video on the website of mountain bikers riding a trail they have made through the woods. The trail is full of twists and turns and the video is really cool. I am not sure how many cameras they used in the making of the video, but there are multiple angles, awesome shots of them flying through the air, and it is perfectly timed to the music. It is amazing what people are able to produce on their own. Not only is the trail an amazing creation, but the video is as well. The lighting is darker which gives the woods a magical feel with parts of the sun coming through the tree tops. The camera must be of good quality since it is so clear, but I do not think it is professionally done. It is truly amazing the way it is edited to show the best parts of the trail, using close ups, long shots, and anything in between. The video is exciting and also beautiful to watch.
Bones
I love the show bones. I love the language I do not quite understand, but feel makes me smarter. I love the sexual tension between Booth and Bones. I love that they always find new and interesting ways to solve cases. I think the show has done a great job of developing these characters and their backstories. The eternal realist Bones is greatly juxtaposed to Booth's ideas on life and the world. This season, they are finally together after season after season of questioning, "Will they or wont they?" I think the episodes are well directed and include interesting points of view and camera angles. Although, it is similarly the same formula each episode, I am still interested. I think the personal lives mixed with their jobs adds a layer to this show that some other crime shows do not have. The fact that the stories are based of of real story of an anthropologist makes the show even more fascinating. The show follows basic crime scene drama, but makes work scenarios that would seem too far fetched for a lot of primetime television. Currently, the show is dealing with the different ways Bones and Booth approach having a child together. Bones struggles with the emotional side of being pregnant, always resulting in a list of the scientific reasons she is feeling a certain way. I can't wait to see what happens when the baby arrives.
Millionaire Matchmaker
This show is based on a women named Paty who has millionaires who come to her and pay her to set up a group of ladies that obtain to their likings. What an amazing life she has right? Most of the millionaires are guys who have more money then they know what to do with. I 'm not really sure if most of the clients dates end up being long term but it must because she has an amazing reputation and only millionaires uses her business. The women and the different men she chooses out for her clients are funny and make the dates filmed humorous. The dates are always very extreme and over the top. Including helicopters, limos, amazing restaurants and even some yachts. I'm not sure if the people on this show are being serious or not but for some reason I get addicted to the show and can not stop watching it once I start. It is one of my favorite reality t.v shows out there today.
Criminal Minds
My roommates and I have been watching the Criminal Minds marathon on A&E all day while studying for exams. Even though I have seen practically every single Criminal Minds, I can watch them over and over. And when a new one comes on I get really excited. The way they play out the investigation, keep me intrigued and wanting to know what is going to happen. The team also plays a major role in the making of the show, Penelope is my favorite. She plays this computer nerd that can hack, find and look up anyone through her computers. They always catch the criminal through profiling; with all of the team's smart minds put together they think through the minds of the "unsub" or the unknown subject. The writers of the show also do an amazing job at thinking of all of these different scenarios, I am not sure if most of these happen in the real world but after watching a few I pay a little more attention to the people around me. Even if you haven't ever watched one, you can jump in any where in the series and become a fan!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
1950's Classics
Like I said before I've been on an old school film and TV show rampage I recently watched "How to Marry a Millionaire" featuring Marilyn Monroe. She plays the pretty ditzy gold-digging blonde I must say she is a total babe I could see why she was so famous she definitely made people go to the movies. The plot of the movie is that all 3 girls, models, are looking for a millionaire to marry as soon as possible & it's hilarious to me how all the men know this & I suppose expect it. First of all the intro was just the orchestra playing for like 25 minutes (it felt like) I almost turned it off. I'm glad I didn't though I ended up really enjoying the film so much that I've decided to watch all the movies Marilyn Monroe was casted in. But back to the movie, during the whole movie all three women met different in different social gatherings only where the millionaires were of course. At the end of the movie Marilyn and Betty ended up marring poor men and only one of them married a millionaire. I recommend it to everyone but be careful you might get hooked! :D
The Cosby Show
That 70's Show
That 70's Show is a sitcom about a group of friends living in a fictional town Point Place, Wisconsin. It was written by Bonnie Turner. They go through a lot together over the number of years that they are together from relationship problems to friendship problems they work everything out with a little help of their basement and illegal weed that they smoke occasionally. The sitcom is hilarious and has had a lot of good views over the past years. Some of the different episodes don't have stabled plots and stuff normally seems to happen out of nowhere.
Creativity
I am an engineer and when I found out what this class was about I wasn't really sure if I was going to stay in it. I didn't really see how learning about movies would help me in my future, but I was wrong. This class was not just about moves but opening your eyes to view things for how creative they really are. I think that this class has allowed me to see that it doesn't matter what you are doing, but as long as you do it so that it is your own work, with your own personality/originality you can be happy with what you produce. In this class we looked at things related to movies that most people never notice or take a second time to rethink. The amount of creativity put into one film is off the scale but when you look at each individual shot you see that there is the same amount of creativity needed to make it look the way you want it to. It shows that when you are working on a project not to focus on the whole project but instead break it up into "shots" so that you can put an infinite amount of energy throughout the whole project.
Camera Angles
Learning about the the different angles involved in filming a movie and the process if editing a film will change how I watch movies from now on. I've noticed already, since being in this class, that when I watch movies I seem to focus on the small details including planning and angling of the shots/scenes. I don't know if this is going to stay with me forever but if it does I will become annoyed at myself for not being able to just enjoy a movie. The amount of information we learned in this class on the different camera angles and distances was more than I had already known about the movies. It gave me a different appreciation of the movies and how they are made. I know that there is a bunch of creativity that is put into making a movie and trying to think up new methods that will make their movie different from the rest. It is a shame that Hollywood is all about the molded movies right now, but I feel that it will only take one bold director to change the way movies are created and filmed.
Law Abiding Citizen
Lack of Quality Horror Films Today
I am a huge horror film fan, but lately I am getting torn away because of the lack of quality horror films that have been recently produced. The horrow movies that I actually find scary are usually older films because I feel that all the newer films have become predictable. The latest joke horror film has been the three waste of time Paranormal Activity movies. Thery are based on "ghost" attacks on innocent families, and rely on quick scares to actually call it a horror movie. It was a joke of a series of movies and I found it to be an insult to the horror genre. It really bothers me that people are okay with accepting some garbage movies even when it is apparent the film lacks any true art of horror. Hollywood is just filled with cookie cutter horror ideas, and until that mold is broken I am sure that I will only have trash movies to watch.
How I Met Your Mother
I am a big fan of sitcoms, and love Seinfeld, King of Queens, and have just recently gotten hooked to How I Met Your Mother. I remember watching some of the first season of this show, but really didn't like it because it seemed like a stupid concept to base a television show on. I have Netflix and this is one of the shows I can view on my PS3 so I gave it another chance. It has all the components that any good sitcom has, but it has its own original twist with whole purpose of the show. When you think about it, you wouldn't believe that a show could be based about how your father met your mother, but this show is able to pull of the quirky idea. I think the reason why they are able to pull it off is because of all the sub stories they can think up of that allow for each individual show to have its little piece to the complete story. The cast of the show have all stayed with the program, which is another reason why this is a strong sitcom. If you think about all the sitcoms that lasted a long time and were successful, each cast stayed together and there were few changes to the crew. I look forward to continue watching the seasons on Netflix, so that I can get caught up to watch the final season that'll reveal the truth to behind How I Met Your Mother.
O' Brother Where Art Thou
I had seen this movie once when I was younger, and I didn't really remember what it was about or if it was any good. I recently watched it with a couple of my friends who kept saying it was such a great movie, but I thought to myself that I would've remembered it if it actually was so great. I stayed with them and watched the whole thing, but as I watched I had a mix of feelings towards it. I wasn't sure if I was going to end up liking it because at first it seemed really slow and that it had a dumb plot. At the end of the movie I took that all back because I enjoyed the message of the film and how it was expressed. The actors in the movie did a great job and they made the characters relatable and I grew a connection with them and worried when things weren't going their way. It is compelling how much you can see The Odyssey within this movie. The director did a great job of setting up the story of the Odyssey in his movie, and allowing for the audience to think about the connections. At first this movie seemed like a drag to me, but if you pay attention you can learn a lot from it.
The Inside Story: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
I watched an insider show on the Biography channel on Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which was so interesting. I love behind the scenes shows and footage on movies and this movie is one of my favorites, so I enjoyed every second of watching this Inside Story. The movie, written and directed by 80s film superhero John Hughes, stars Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller, a fun loving high school student in desperate need of a day of fun. The behind the scenes talks about the making of the film with interviews from most of the leading characters. It was so interesting to see what went in to making this movie, and the different points of view. It also made me realize how important editing can be in producing the desired outcome. Apparently, Hughes was keen on filming a lot and cutting it down to a manageable amount was a challenge. I loved hearing about the famous scene on the streets of Chicago during the parade where Ferris sings. The construction worker dancing on the scaffolding was an actual person they caught on film just enjoying the music. Hughes was amazing when it came to writing and directing the teen movies of the 1980s, and Ferris Bueller's Day off is no exception.
The Real Housewives of...
There are now numerous shows on the "Real Housewives" of different cities from Atlanta to Orange County. The shows appear on Bravo, produced by Andy Cohen, a genius of marketing and production if you ask me. Each city has the exact same treatment of footage laced with intermittent interviews discussing the footage. The lives of these women are anything but real. They all live highly decadent lifestyles, surrounded by million dollar homes, expensive cars, and endless parties. Although I can sit here and critically dissect the formula for making "reality television," I can not help but be sucked in. I think the key to creating these shows is to put the participants in situations that would make emotions heightened leading to DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA. I am not usually one for these kinds of shows. I hate when people are mean to each other and when women are jealous and catty instead of supportive, but I am a sucker for these Bravo shows. I am not sure how the Bravo editors pick and choose footage, but the show is truly in their hands. I mean look given after a statement from one of the other women could have been given separate from the incident, but put together, it creates drama and tension. I think every viewer enjoys the fact that our own lives seem less dramatic after watching. The shows really serve as a what not to do in life, but they are certainly fun to watch.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Series
Okay, I know Call of Duty is a video game, but for those who have played the campaign you would agree that it is filled with movie-like characteristics. Just focusing on the Modern Warfare series (includes three games), the single-player story mode has stayed connected since the first video game. It is odd to think that Call of Duty is movie-like, but if you break it down you can see what qualities it has similar to those of a Hollywood movie. When you play the story mode, you don;t just play with random soldiers. It is set up to where you get to know a few main characters that you follow throughout the game, or until their time is up in the story. The game developers had to create ideas that they would be able to keep going as new games, to the series, were created. It is clear to see that the time put into the games is more than the time put into some of the bad Hollywood movies. It is sad to say but once you see the game and accept that it has a plot that is much better than some actual movies, you will see why I say Call of Duty is relattable to movies. I looked online and was able to find some of the storyboards that were created to help keep all of the sub stories organized. They were as detailed as the examples we saw in class, and that is when I really thought about all the time put into making the story mode of video games. If you look at any major video game that includes a solo story mode, I am sure that if you broke it down you would be able to compare it to how movies are made in Hollywood today.
Everything is A Remix
I stumbled across an incredibly interesting series of videos called "Everything is a Remix." There are 3 parts so far in the series. One about music, one film, and one on the elements of creativity. They can all be watched at http://www.everythingisaremix.info/watch-the-series/. The videos are all very well done and incredibly interesting. The videos are produced by Kirby Ferguson who takes clips from movies and parts of songs to explain the way ideas feed off each other, producing few truly original ideas. He looks at the evolution of ideas and creativity in a way that links ideas together, making you think, how did I not realize that? The videos are a thing of creativity themselves, leading the viewer to question each thought one once believed as original. Although the videos are informational, they are fun and interesting to watch. The simple idea of remixing something; be it a song, a movie, a painting, into something new is a way of being creative. On a higher level, it makes me realize how we are all linked. No one person or idea truly stands alone in this highly evolved world. If you have never seen these videos, I suggest watching them. They are eye opening.
SyFy Movies
When I was younger, on Saturdays and Sundays, my mom and I would sit and watch SyFy movies (when it use to be called SciFy Channel still). Each movie we would watch, she would comment on how cheesy they were but that she loved those kind of movies. I didn't really enjoy them at first, but when it turned in to a routine every weekend to watch at least one SyFy movie, I began to love the genre of movies. I know that the quality of the filming and special effects is subpar, and that the acting is beyond terrible. With all of these negative aspects I still love these films because it is just enjoyable to watch a movie that you might get scared in or just enjoy because it is scientific fiction, where things unexplainable can happen. The SyFy channel is one of those channels that is a niche for certain people. They enjoy all of the programs and movies that are played on the channel because there is an art for creating those B-Movie films. I hope that the SyFy channel keeps supporting these lower class production companies, who keep repping out those classic scify movies.
Film Project
The past week I have been working on my final film project, and trying to gather all of the footage that I need. It is difficult when you do not know that many people, and you have to work through scheduling everyone you need without messing up their schedules. I am enjoying the process of making a film, but have realized the amount of time needed to be put in if you want to create a product that is not a laughable mess. Im working on creating suspense because I know my horror film will rely more on that then it will rely on my actors. It gets difficult to create suspense when you are limited on resources and the difficulty to find places where you can film without interuption. I wanted to film at late night when no one was out, but my actors couldn't be convinced to do that. I had to scratch some of my locations and scenes in my film because people dropped out of the film or I wasn't able to get everyone at the place needed to film. Overall I know I will finish my film, but it won't be up to what I wanted just because of the lack of time and other pressures (finals) that have caused some of my cast to bail.
Tyler the Creator-Yonkers
I was watching the MTV VMAs and when the nominees for new artist of the year, I saw the name Tyler the Creator. I had never heard of him so I went on YouTube to watch the video he nominated for, Yonkers. The first time I watched this video I was like what the **** because it was kind of disturbing. We talked about creativity and being original in class, and I would say that Tyler the Creator is most definitely original. In this music video of his he has a unique sound of music and lyrics, but what is most disturbing is what is in the video. In the opening of the video he is just sitting and it seems that it is going to be a simple video, but soon after he is seen eating a cockroach and then vomiting. The video moves from being in focused to showing only silhouettes, so that the viewer doesn't see in graphic detail. The part of the video that really got to me was towards the end when Tyler ends up standing on the stool and then hanging himself. I was really confused at first because I really didn't listen to the lyrics, but after I watched/listened a coupld more times I realized that Tyler was seriously out there and just an original person. His popularity is split decision because there are the people who embrass the oddballs and then there are the people who don't like it when people act the was Tyler does.
Lord of the Rings
Thinking about all the different genres we discussed throughout classes, I'd have to save that I am most interested in the Fantasy/Adventure films. My favorite movie that is in this genre, and probably my favorite movie(s) of all time is Lord of the Rings. It has the perfect formula for a fantasy daventure movie because it contains both good and evil forces, a goal to save the world, and is set in a place we would call fantasy. It is filled with creatures and races we know never existed, but for those who enjoy the films, wish this world was real. Peter Jackson, the director, does such an amazing job with making sure the audience feels that they are actually in a real world. What he was able to accomplish with the technology available at the time, shows what an amzing director he is. Lord of the Rings is without a doubt one of the greatest film projects of all time. It is more than just a fantasy because it has much more plot and meaning and most other adventure films. The relationships built in the film are so life-like that the cast of the film deserves props too. They were able to take this script and turn it into a trilogy that swept the nation.
The Ides of March
A few weeks ago, I went to see The Ides of March in the theatre. Along with George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, the movie also includes some of the best actors in Hollywood like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood. The acting is great and the storyline was interesting and intriguing, especially with the Presidential race gaining momentum. The story follows a candidate played by Clooney, and the experiences of both he and the campaign workers from the psychology of elections to secrets and cover up, eventually ending in tragedy. I think the movie does its job in portraying politics as a high stakes game where people livelihood and lives are on the line. The characters present themselves as having integrity, but throughout the movie, events happen that challenge maintaining what is right and what is right for the campaign. Secrets run rampant throughout the political world, and although everyone knows all the BS that goes into politics, this movie really showed how deep the secrets go. The movie made me really think about the decisions we make and how each decision can change the course of life. I thought it was well acted, well written, and thought provoking.
The Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Okay, to start off, this movie was absolutely atrocious. I apologize if I offend anyone by that statement, but it was completely intolerable. I thoroughly enjoyed the first three in the series and thought it would be the same this go-around; it was not. The first five minutes into the movie I could see that it was not of the same quality as the previous three. Everything seemed to be off, from the camera angles, to the pauses, and most importantly the acting. There were many times when a character would finish speaking and there was a mediocre 'pause' that is usually exhibited when you have amateur editors behind the project. It was almost a joke; I would have laughed had I not been so disgusted that I wasted $5.99 on this pos. Every scene seemed to be rushed through, and I think that is what was wrong with this movie. After about 20 minutes of suffering through it, I turned it off and looked up some information about it. I understand that it is a billion dollar series that is suppose to include 5 or 6 movies, and it all made sense. They apparently rushed through this movie in order to meet either a quota or a deadline, but regardless, they produced trash. It was a disappointment for me having enjoyed the last 3, but I guess that isn't a rare sight in Hollywood--caring more about the moula than the finished product. I kid you not when I say that I could barely sit through 20 minutes of it. I will say they did produce a cool set like they usually do. But i'm sorry, bad acting (or in this case bad editing!) always ruins the production.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Bernie Mac Show
Hell Date
Hell date is a T.V. show that use to play on BET. The show is about different (none acting experience) people going on dates with the worst possible matches ever. In this date the person who they are dating (actors) makes everything that can possibly go wrong, go wrong. They mess with the non actors and make them truly believe that they are actually in a date sent from hell. In some of the episodes the actors are pretty amusing. In other episodes you can tell that they are acting and its just one big mess. In the end of the show a little midget devil run out and poke the none actor with a torch and announce that they are on the T.V. show Hell Date.Hot Tub Time Machine
Mobsters
Mobsters is a documentary type series that appears on discovery channel every night. Each episode focuses on a different mobster, from the most recognized and distinguished like Lucky Luciano, Al Capone, and John Gotti, to the lesser known mafioso that affected the industry like Franky "the bull" Gravano, who was a famous snitch who ended up practically destroying the Gambino crime family due to his court testimony. The episodes are usually an hour long, and focus on the beginning, middle, and ending of these mobsters careers. The show is interesting in that it shows real footage from the 40's and 50's when the topic is on older gangsters, and it's cool to see how things looked back then. It is a first hand account of the social attire and gaudy ways of these criminals in days past. The show also does interviews with famous witnesses and ex-mobsters that give a descriptive, first-hand account of murders and burglaries they performed or witnessed. The show's usual method of production is to show modern footage of locations where crimes occurred or where the crime bosses were based, and then switch to interviews, then cut to old footage, and continue in this manner. It provides much interesting material to learn while also entertaining us. Beware, though, as some of the images they show are gruesome. Sometimes, they will show pictures the police officers took after a bloody murder of a famous boss. Overall, the manner in which this show is produced impresses me. From the interviews to the real, old time footage, it continues to have me waiting for the next episode. The interviews with witnesses or ex-mafioso are my favorite, as we get to see these people aren't these made-up invincible characters we sometimes think after watching movies like the Godfather. They are everyday people who made poor choices and deserve to be in jail...forever.
The Hard Times of R.J. Berger
Apocalypto
Apocalypto is an excellent movie. The movie was directed as well as written by Mel Gibson. I personally think he deserves some type of award for this extraordinary movie. The movie is about Indian tribes that stayed on the land that is now the USA. One tribe tried to take over and make another separate tribe that stayed on the same land their slaves so that they could build on to their village. Within the movie a slave gets away and gives the movie a great twist. The movie had a 5 star rating on Netflix. I personally don't think this movie had any downs at all. The only conflict is that none of it wasn't in English, which made the movie harder to watch because you had to read as well.
The Reef
I've recently watched "The Reef" yesterday. The movie was basically about a group of adult friends who went out on a boat trip for a fun vacation experience. Their boat was flipped over and their only option was to try to swim to shore which was 12 miles away. One by one each of the them except one remaining female friend was eaten alive. The movie was pretty interesting more so toward the ending. The different angles shot while in the water made the movie a little more realistic than I expected. Unfortunately, I personally think the special effects director could have done a better job on each the death scenes. Not including the story was just terrible. The beginning of the movie was terrifyingly boring. I expected to have a little more entertainment in the beginning like most thriller movies, but this one started off just terrible. Also, maybe the director could have chosen better actors. More realistic actors. Other than the that this movie was an alright experience.
Friday, December 9, 2011
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a classic movie. It was made in 1947 and stars James Stewart (one of my favorite actors) and Donna Reed. I hope everyone has seen this film. I started watching this film when I was young with my father and it has become somewhat of a tradition on our house around the holidays. The story is much like Charles Dickens a Christmas Carol. You have the grumpy man dissatisfied with his life. An angel comes and shows him what life would be like if he were never born. Now, Ebenezer Scrooge did not wish this but he was still shown the past, present, and future. I for one old movies. I find them relaxing and just good clean entertainment. Yes I do crochet most the time when I watch them and get called a grandma, but who cares. It's a Wonderful Life is not filed with any kind of special effects that I can think of. The thing that I love about this movie is the timeless story. James Stewart is given a glimpse of what his life could be and is given a second chance. In the end he is grateful for the blessings he has been given. It is tempting to want to chase after riches and fame, but that is not what life is about. It's all about the relationships and love we have. Like the movie says, "No man is poor who has friends."
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Interactive Television
For one of my classes, I did an Independent Learning Project about talk radio shows. The revolution of talk radio shows occurred when the audience could participate in the show. Call-in talk radio shows are still popular, but television shows that include audience participation have become popular as well. There are many different types of television that are based on participation by the audience. Shows like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars are strongly based on audience participation. The outcome of the contestants depends on the votes that they receive.
An additional type of television show that depends on audience participation is a news or talk show. Some talk shows, such as Watch What Happens Live on Bravo, allow the audience to send in questions that oftentimes drive the show. Whenever Any Cohen is interviewing a guest, he can use the questions that the audience sent in which allows for audience participation.
Television shows are constantly evolving. The audience can now determine the outcome of some television shows or provide questions to be asked. Some other shows, like The Price Is Right, choose their contestants from their audience. Those contestants then compete for a chance to win.
There are many other different types of shows that are based on interactive television. As technology advances, I do believe that interactive television will continue to grow in popularity.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Breaking Dawn
I caved and finally went to see Breaking Dawn. When I was watching the movie, I kept thinking about the stereotypical Hollywood movie we all expect. Certain events must occur within a specific amount of time for the audience to remain captivated. Sure enough, within the first thirty seconds of the movie, something dramatic had happened. Jacob Black is seen changing into a wolf after he sees Bella and Edward’s wedding invitation. I had never realized how we expect new developments to be constantly occurring. The wedding was a highly anticipated event because the audience wanted to see what would happen. Then, shortly after the wedding, the honeymoon scenes are played which is made the biggest deal of all. These scenes last for a decent amount of time. As they are ending, a twist occurs--Bella is pregnant. After that, the drama is never ending. Bella’s baby is slowly killing her, but she will not give up her child. Jacob must then leave his wolf pack to help protect Bella.
The movie follows the stereotypical Hollywood film because there is constant action occurring. There is never a dull moment. Before our discussions in class, I did not realize that I personally expected to be entertained in a specific way. Whenever I see movies that do not fit this mold, I do not find them truly satisfactory or entertaining. This class has made me more aware of how I perceive movies and what I inherently expect.
TLC's My Strange Addiction
"My Strange Addiction" on TLC is about different people who have more than different hobbies & just plain strange addictions. I remember the first time I saw this they had a girl who ate toilet paper, then it was a lady that ate chalk, in their most recent season they turned up the volume way UP! They had this girl who was obsessed with acting, dressing, and basically living like a baby. She had her bed look like a giant crib, she drank out of oversized baby bottles, she even wore footies but the strangest part was how she wore adult diapers! She said it was comforting being able to feel the warmth of your own urine... yah. Now I can see where this would make for "good TV" & possibly just having stuff like this recorded shows human behavior and process of psyche but don't they think about who's going to see this? What if a young child watches this & thinks it's ok... they never have a disclosure saying "Don't try this at home" or at least not for this one. Well just when I thought it couldn't get any worse they had this lady (& it's sad that most of these people are women not that many men) who was obsessed with carrying her recently deceased husband's urn everything she went. She would take him out to lunch, to the movies, to the park, anywhere she went she carried the urn. She would talk to it as if he were alive asking him questions & laughing with the urn. One day as she was cleaning the urn the lid came off & sprinkled some ashes on her hand she was afraid to wash it away so she decided to lick it & now she's addicted to eating his ashes... in my honest opinion TLC has gone bonkers. I could see if the people that appeared on this show shared their story bc they decided to quit their crazy ways but they are getting rewarded for it. I guess the producers tactic is to get people's attention & watching the show other than that I don't think this show has any other purpose or meaning.
The Polar Express
Once again Disney and Pixar did an amazing job with the characters, plot and how real everything looked. The Polar Express is about a young boy who is losing his faith in Santa and Christmas all together. It all begins on Christmas Eve when the little boy is laying in bed listening for Santa, when all of a sudden everything begins to shake and a train horn blares. He immediately jumps out of bed and runs out side to find a huge train waiting for him to board. At first he is a little hesitant but after some persuasion he gets on the train. The train makes one more stop at this run down, little boy's house until they proceed on with their journey to the North Pole. On the way there they encounter many difficulties such as slippery ice and a very step slope. Pixar did an amazing job at making these obstacles look feel like a real roller coaster for the viewers. When they arrive in the North Pole the magical aspects come to life. For example Santa's workshop, the elfs, the huge christmas tree, and of course Santa and his slay. The moral of the story comes up when the main character, the young boy from the beginning of the movie gets chosen to ask Santa for the first gift of Christmas. He walks up to the enormous slay and whispers in Santa's ear. You later find out that he asked for a bell off Santa's slay, which you can only hear if you BELIEVE. The whole meaning of christmas. I found this movie to be a great Christmas movie that will go down as a classic!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Film Project (Final Decision)
Over the past week, I have been working on my Film Project with little progress. Specifically, I have struggled to get any idea off the ground and moving at all, with regard to a plot line that would be entertaining to watch, yet simple enough to complete within the 5 min. maximum allotment for the short film categorization.
Initially I was going to make a film called Google Me Gone. This was going to be a documentary that detailed many of the new technological advances that currently exist as driving forces in our global economy. It was going to be interesting (at least in my opinion) because the overall point/opinion that this film would project was that the economy is currently changing at a pace that many adults over the age of 40 will never be able to catch up with. Moreover, this suggestion was going to hold particular relevance now, in 2011, as the United States currently has more than 13.1 million Americans remaining unemployed, even though we have technically been out of recession for 2+ years. In layman's terms: shit is hitting the economical fan.
These ideas were to be tied together via an explanation that would draw a linear correlation between machine learning/technological automation, and the jobs that these unemployed citizens used to perform manually. Point blank, I was making the claim that they will never be qualified to re-enter the American economic workforce, because their job is now being done by an automated process/machine, for a fraction of the cost that used to be paid to them. And, the longer these unemployed Americans remain unemployed, the less likely it becomes that they will ever re-enter the workforce... 'What 55 year old is going to go back to school to learn computer programming, in order to regain the needed relevancy his former position now currently demands, all for less pay than he was earning before the financial meltdown?'
Anywho,
any half-minded person could see that such a plot-line would take far more than 5 minutes.
So,
I have since modified my intentions 3 more times, and have now finally settled on a completely new plot-line/subject matter.
My Final Film Project will be called Boulder Project, and it will be about a climber, and his current/most recently completed boulder project (at Horse Pens 40, in Steele, AL). I have personally been climbing for 6 years and am looking forward to completing this much more doable, and action oriented, short film.
It will focus/rely less on theoretical reason/logic; and will instead gain its traction from the entertaining scenery, action screenplay, and the quality of shot/scene selection and sequencing. The final cut should inevitably appear very simple, and easy to watch/follow, with its primary goal being little more than the detailing of one 'athlete profile' with natural scenery throughout. This is my intended perception: easy viewing/enjoyable idea... and potentially a new sport being introduced to some of my fellow classmates.
Good Will Hunting Closing Scene (Elliott Smith- Miss Misery)
This is the last scene (and my favorite scene) in my all time favorite movie: Good Will Hunting
Now that I have taken this class (NC212), I must say, I do look at this scene much differently. Or, maybe not so differently, but by far more observantly. I notice every time the scene cuts. I notice when scenes might not flow that well. Or, not as well as I remember them flowing before having taken this class... I also was continuously drawn to the types of camera movements and shot angles that were included throughout, with a particularly new-found interest in transitional shot decision making. As Robin Williams is reading the letter (OTS), when Affleck is walking to and from the house, as well as all of the around and around the camera goes, trying to keep up with Affleck looking through different windows etc.
Really, from a technical viewpoint, I can say that the very last part of this scene impresses me the most. And it has always impressed me the most, even before this class; not sure what that part means though. Probably just a strong opinion of mine that wasn't easily effected by additional learning/a more technically critical viewing attitude.
Finally, I have to go back to the fact that I still believe this film is my favorite because it has an excellent plot line, and 3+ brilliant actors, with a great supporting staff to tote. And, while I now know that without editors, none of that would have mattered, I do hold fast to the belief that for myself, these things truly do make the most difference in my personal viewing experience.
Elf
This is one of my favorite scenes from the movie! Elf is one of my favorite movies. I could watch it anytime of the year. The story reminds me of the classic 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Buddy the elf/Will Ferrel is a misfit much like Rudolph and the island of misfit toys. There are also some cartoonish characters that look like the ones from Rudolph. Leon the snowman/narrator is one of them. The special effects crew did a great job of making Will Ferrel look huge next to the other elf actors. They used a lot of extreme low angles and also over the shoulder/high angles to create this effect. It also looked like they may have used a set/props that were really small to make Will Ferrel look big and out of place. I like that this story has elements of fantasy/cartoon and reality. The scenes that are in the north pole feel fantastical, almost like they came from a story book. As the story progresses into New York City, the scenery looks more realistic. This make Buddy the elf look extremely out of place and leads to some hilarious moments in the movie! |
Sunday, December 4, 2011
How many of you have seen Coraline? It is a movie that is done entirely in stop-motion. It has won academy awards and golden globes. Stop-motion is one of those things that is just outrageous to think about. Also, the acting is done solely by the tiny characters created- with just voices needed from actual actors. There was even a person specifically hired to knit miniature sweaters (the needles were as tiny as human hair"--said the behind the scenes)! The soundtrack was also superb, sidenote. But, the fact is, if the editors and people making the scenes hadn't been good at their jobs, the movie could have been a flop. There weren't actors to mess it up but a director and a whole bunch of a production crew. It is so interesting to see nowadays with any kind of animated movie whether it be animation or claymation or whatever, there are still aspects of there actually being a camera there. Over the shoulder, over the head, birds eye view, etc. It is another interesting fact about this movie being brilliant. There are several scenes where you'd think there was actually a camera crew filming.
Forrest Gump...nuff said.
Forrest Gump was on tv the other day. I love this movie. But now that I've taken this class, it really brings me to respect this movie much more. The effects (such as the super imposing historic events etc) and also the way they are able to really get you to connect with the character really ups the respect I have for this movie. Making you feel for a person that is actually fictional is extremely impressive. The development of Forrest into an actual believable role is incredible. The over the shot of Bubba dying makes me tear up every time. Now that I've been in this class, I am more likely to watch movies I love and it just makes me respect them even more. Especially since I mostly despise cookie-cutter movies (which can include romance and action).
"Brides of Beverly Hills"
Recently, reality television has transformed from a genre that was meant to be more like a documentary into something that is scripted, like a fiction show. An example of this is TLC’s new show “Brides of Beverly Hills.” Unlike the station’s hit franchise, “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Brides of Beverly Hills” sounds like it is scripted. For instance, about 90% of the brides featured in the new show are “famous” and seem like they are acting. It looks like TLC carefully selects who will be shown on the program. Furthermore, the show seems scripted, or like the producers are telling the brides, consultants, and owners what to say. Isn’t reality television supposed to show what really happens? I am sure that there are brides that shop there who aren’t famous. Why aren’t they featured?
I think that this show is just one of the many “reality” television shows that are scripted. I think that TLC could suffer from this show, because many of their other programs do not seem scripted. This could not only harm TLC’s reputation, but also the public’s perception of reality television. TLC is known for its nonfiction shows, so having a scripted show goes against everything that the channel stands for. Additionally, people watch TLC to learn something, not to watch fiction. In my opinion TLC should stick to nonfiction, because after all it is The Learning Channel.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Pretty Woman
The other night I watched the movie "Pretty Woman." While watching the movie I realized that the main characters, Vivian and Edward, were extremely dynamic. Even though the plot is similar to that of "Cinderella," the characters in the two movies are very different. In "Pretty Woman" the audience can see how Vivian’s and Edward’s personalities change as the movie progresses, whereas in "Cinderella" the characters are static and do not change. The character development in "Pretty Woman" not only made the movie interesting, but also made the characters more relatable. For example, in the beginning of the movie, Vivian is a prostitute without self esteem, but by the end of the movie she transforms into a self assured woman. Another example is Edward, in the beginning he is too engrossed in his work to build relationships with people, but at the end of the movie he learns that creating and maintaining relationship can be equally as important as his work. The characters in "Pretty Woman" change just like people do in real life, which is what the make the movie more relatable and more realistic than "Cinderella." Dynamic characters are very important to the success of a movie because they allow the viewer to build relationships with the people he or she sees on screen.
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