Music in Short Films

Growing up I had numerous influences of music in my life. From playing the saxophone from 4th-12th grade, to listening to my classically trained sister sing in concert. Music has always been prevalent and I have found that melodies are what drives my mind. For the life me I couldn't remember lyrics without studying a printed piece of sheet music. But the way music progressed was something I could always follow and even predict.

I've always wanted a good musical accompaniment with any video work I've done. For the video below I had found a song I enjoyed the melody to and from there all I needed was something to put on screen. With a little help from a friend, I was able to make one of my favorite pieces of work.

Air from Skyler Bocciolatt on Vimeo.

Using both the hits of the choreography and the music I had a blast editing and the possibilties of which direction  I took the short were endless. While this was just a small project I shot on a whim. I applied the same idea of music being a character in the film with my Junior level film "Before Your Eyes." 

"Before Your Eyes" follows a young man who is given the opportunity to look back on his life. Drawing upon the strong bond that can exist between father and son, this story looks at the actions we make when pushed to our greatest limits. Throughout the film there are only two scenes with written dialogue. Music was able to fill this space and help evoke any emotion from the film that typically would be exposed through dialogue. 

Last night I also began to watch "Walt Disney's Animations Studios Short Films Collection." Each short animation was introduced with interviews of the creators of the short. They talked about how music inspired them and that for a specific short "Lorenzo" they searched hundreds of tango scenes just to find a song to use, and in the end it was the first one they had listened to. The trailer can be scene below and all of the shorts are available on Netflix.

It was so interesting to me that the creators were able to make a story out of music they found. Even if there aren't lyrics the melody and progression of any song is a story. For me, I want to continue to find these stories and provide a moving image for as many as I can. The ways music and film complement each other is like no other thing in this world. These mediums are what people turn to to escape there problems and worries; they are necessary for society to function and I want to create them for the rest of my life.

A History of Animation: Pocket Version

I signed up for ACP: Animation next semester, and I've just been curious about animation as a whole ever since. I know that I have quite a few cartoons that I've consumed under my belt, but that doesn't mean I know the first thing about animation or it's complex histories. How long is the "history" of animation anyway?

Turns out, the first animation came out fourteen years after the first film (Fred Ott's Sneeze, 1894). Straight out of France, Fantasmagorie is known as the first animated short film by Emile Cohl. (1908)

Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed in class next semester and want nothing more than to throw in the towel, I am going to remind myself that when Walt Disney was my age (20) he had begun his first animation company. He called it "Laugh-O-Grams" and it crashed and burned very shortly after taking off. Four years later good ol' Walt made Steamboat Willie which featured the famous Mickey Mouse for the first time. It may come as no surprise that Walts newest creation took off big time. I know it may be cheesy to see Walt Disney as an inspiration, but we all know how easy it is to give up when things don't work out. And personally, I'm pleased as punch I have a plethora of animated princesses that pranced their way through my childhood. I'm going to try and let the fact that he didn't let Laugh-O-Grams discourage him, to get me through learning new and complicated software.

Speaking of Disney, did you know that The Looney Tunes was originally a spin-off of Silly Symphonies; an animation produced by Disney? However, it just so happened to grow into it's own giant franchise and life of it's own like wildfire.

I also had no idea that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first official feature length animated film to be released. That's less than 80 years ago!

The biggest game changer to the animated world was easily when Apple computers created 3-D films. In 1995 Toy Story was released as "Babies First 3-D Film" and it's done so well a fourth one is rumored to be released. The animated world has never been the same since. It's debatable as to which reigns supreme (3-D or 2-D?). What's undoubtable is how incredibly far animation has evolved in less than a century. 

Tangled Up In Disney

Tangled is an American, computer animated, musical comedy produced by Disney and released on November 24, 2010. The movie was directed by Nathan Grenco and Byron Howard (from Bolt), written by Dan Fogelman and produced by Roy Conli.

            The movie is about a young, naïve teen, Rapunzel (voice by Mandy Moore), who lives with her mom in a large castle restricted from the rest of the kingdom. One day, Rapunzel is beginning to think her dreams of leaving the tower are unachievable when the kingdom’s most dangerous thief, Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi), seeks refuge from the authorities in Rapunzel’s tower. Up to this point in the movie, the predictable storyline matches that of the well-known folktale. It was at this point that I figured that Disney’s adaption had simply glamorized an unoriginal version of an already told story. Instead, when the “knight in shining armor” climbs into Rapunzel’s tower, the feisty blonde’s first reaction is not to run and welcome her new guest, but rather, to hit him over the head with a large frying pan. Then, her pet chameleon helps her stuff the unconscious body into her closet. From this moment on, the story unexpectedly takes off on a hilarious, thrilling escapade with the help of a moody stallion and a silly chameleon. Walt Disney Pictures describes the movie, “With the secret of her royal heritage hanging in the balance and her captor in pursuit, Rapunzel and her cohort find adventure, heart, humor, and hair... lots of hair”.

The role of art direction was another key aspect in the making of Tangled. Many of the settings including the tower, the village and the forest, include thousands of details. The tower, for example, was covered in swirling garland and hidden by clouds and branches and flowers. These details set this movie apart from other animated Disney movies in the past. Scott from the NY Times praised the difference, “the décor is shinier, the pace a little faster, the overall atmosphere slick and efficient, with a few welcome grace notes of self-conscious classicism.” The art direction in particular has received praise for its specified accuracy and improvement from past Disney movies. Scott went on to say, “To watch “Tangled,” in three dimensions or two, is like entering a familiar old neighborhood that has been tastefully and thoroughly renovated. Not gentrified, exactly, and certainly not razed, but modernized.” This praise proves how far Disney has gone to improve its use of details and art.

Another key aspect that goes hand in hand with the art direction is the use of animation. In Tangled, directors choose to use the 3D CGI to control the audience’s emotions. The animation controlled emotions ranging from enthusiasm to sympathy. The animation also added details to the characters such as Rapunzel’s slight overbite, which made her come off as innocent and endearing. Scott describes the animation, “there are sequences that have some of the ravishing beauty and exquisite detail of the great, old hand-drawn Disney features, including a few that make gorgeous use of 3-D technology.”

The animation also captured the symbolism associated to lighting. Whenever there were scenes with Rapunzel’s mother, they were dark and you could barley see the character or the scene, implying her malicious intentions. However, when Rapunzel was set free from the castle and was exploring the kingdom, the scenes were brightly lit and sunshine was always a large symbolic tool. During one scene in particular, the storyline we think Rapunzel will be disappointed, and the scene is dark, but then a thousand animated lanterns sparkle, and her wide-eyed facial expression is well-lit, making us feel surprised at the change as well as happy for her.

            “Tangled” represents Disney’s 50^th animated feature. I believe that this film proved to be a traditional Disney movie while also positively modifying the story structure and production of most Disney films. Although it continues to be the typical romantic musical fairy tale that we are used to seeing from Disney, the story has taken a many risks with its genre. The idea of a traditional “damsel in distress” tale has been thrown out the window. Instead, Rapunzel maintains the innocence of a traditional Disney princess, and yet represents a feisty, back-talking, sassy, independent, modernized spirit that is rare to find in a Disney female heroine.

All in all, Tangled includes all of the crucial elements of a beloved Disney classic, with a modernized infusion of improved technology and widely accepted humor. This film truly does deliver the best to both people who enjoy Disney and to people who criticize Disney. At its core, Tangled includes the typical storyline, the one we’ve heard a thousand times about a young girl restricted to the darkness and loneliness of a tower. Overall, it is a coming of age tale that we have seen over and over again. At the same time, the story was built with flourishes added by Disney, including jealous pets, hormonal teenager rants, and singing thugs. These are aspects that I had not expected to come from Disney, but have obviously enjoyed and believed to make this film one of my favorites.

Paperman

Another Disney related post... sorry guys.

I had the pleasure of watching Paperman today. I had heard awesome things about it and finally got the chance to sit down and enjoy it.   Paperman is a short, black and white animated Disney film.

I appreciated this film for a ton of reasons.  First of all, I really took time to appreciate how the black and white shading of the film affected how the story was told, since our first project is being shot in black and white.  It really added a "classic" aspect to the film.   It helped stray away from when the story took place.  With the exception of some telephones that were a little "old fashioned", it was difficult to tell when the story took place.  Everyone was dressed in business/work attire, which also remains relatively the same among generations.  

Next thing I noticed was the use of many different aspect ratios we discussed in class.  I noticed a lot of the "Golden Ratio" being put to use.  A lot of the shots were very aesthetically pleasing.  Since this is animated, the animator has true control over where everything is placed.  One of the first shots in the filmed shows aspect ratios... 

See?

And probably the thing I appreciated most about this- the relationship between Paperman and Mickey The Sorcerer's Apprentice.  I liked how there was a relationship in the sense that there was life given to inanimate objects.  It was definitely cool to see a reference to an old Disney film. 

Lastly, the amount of characterization to a person who isn't even real.  I never stop being amazed at how characters that are animated touch my heart so close.  This film tells a compelling story, without dialogue, but through emotions of animated characters. 

Needless to say- I really enjoyed Paperman. Job well done. 

Too critical?

I have always been a fan of Disney movies.  Always.  I still go to see Disney and Pixar movies in theaters, and still feel the same amount of joy I did when I was a little girl.  I contribute this feeling to two things - 1) me being such a child at heart and 2) because Disney is doing something right.  I came across a blog that brought up a lot of points that I didn't necessarily agree with, but at the same time sort of understood.

"I want my children to be able to experience the same movies, however, as an informed adult I am not sure I want to support a company that produces racism, sexism, violence and many other politically incorrect issues."

*Sigh* Alright... first of all, we need to consider the time that most of these movies were created.  Most classic Disney movies came out decades ago, where these issues of racism, sexism, and violence were relevant to the time.  Not to mention, the "offensive" characters are usually the villains.  A huge controversy began over the line "Where they cut off your ears if they don't like your face" from Aladdin.  I have seen Aladdin many times on VHS (aka BEFORE the line was changed to "where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense") and never did I find that line offensive until I actually read about it and became and informed adult.  Five year old Courtney didn't even notice this line, she was more concerned on the music and the color and the animation.  

"Perhaps the most offensive and ignorant part of any movie is simply the size and body image of Ariel in "The Little Mermaid". Her figure is completely unrealistic and the it also gives the message that if a girl is beautiful, skinny, and has large breasts and long flowing hair she can date any man no matter what her personality may be."

Sure, Disney favors the attractive.  I have never watched a Disney film with an ugly princess or where the prince wasn't chiseled to perfection.  But let's open our eyes- that's media.  Media favors the "attractive".  The focus in these films is never about how the characters look, but what they achieve.  It's their attitude and their perseverance that takes them far, not their good looks. 

"Even though I loved Disney movies as a child and would not give up watching them even because of all the politically incorrect and inappropriate messages I still think they are valuable to children's imagination and fantasies. I will have to grapple with the idea of showing them to my children, and it will be a difficult decision"

Alright.  Take a deep breath.  They're not that bad.  Most children don't comprehend the more "adult" based content in these movies.  I know I didn't.  None of my opinons on races, politics, or sex stem from Disney films.  Not to mention, Disney is improving their variety.  Example: "The Princess and the Frog" features an African American princess... see?  They're making strides.

Media is media.  It's always going to be skewed.  

The new Wizard of Oz!?!

  Walt Disney Pictures recently announced that they will be coming out with a new film called "Oz the Great and Powerful" a prequel to the classic 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz."  The story is that of a man named Oscar Diggs a struggling magician for Kansas who is transported to Land of Oz.  Once there Oscar, played by James Franco, is told he has been prophesied to take down the evil witch and must use his powers of illusion and "magic" to defeat her.

  This new film pay homage to the original and directly incorporates aspects and even characters in order to give a fuller understanding of how the Land of Oz from "The Wizard of Oz" came to be.  I personally think that this film has a very interesting storyline and will cleverly tie together the story of "the man behind the curtain" aka Oz, a character who was super important in the original but was very mysterious and never fully developed.  The potential for a solid plot combined with Disney's excellence in special effects and most recently 3D advances are all aspects that could make this movie very good in its own right.  However there is another aspect of this to consider.  Even if this movie is terrible, and I mean awful, I will still make a substantial amount of money primarily because it is tied to the original.

  I think that this movie in all likelihood will be pretty good and enjoyable, although I'm not entirely sure how I like the idea of trying to add to a great and well known film that has stood alone for over 60 years. Regardless of how I feel about this, I will go and see it to check on how it matches up in comparison…something I think almost anyone who has seen the original "Wizard of Oz" will do.  So although I do not know for sure if this movie will actually be good or not I am certain that it will be a box office hit.