The Art of The Docudrama

My plan for Tuesday night was to watch The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, but the episode was on until 11:20 and admittedly that is past my bedtime. However, I did get a chance to watch it the next day, and it was definitely worth the wait. In case you have no clue what I am talking about, here is a video to get you interested.

Blame it on my age, or ignorance, or a mixture of both, but I really do not know much about the O.J. Simpson case; so when I found out FX was releasing a docudrama miniseries about the case starring Cuba Gooding Jr., John Travolta, and David Schwimmer, I was all for it. The camera work and acting blended with the dramatic reality of the entire case made for great and informative television. It is almost too good to be true, but fact checkers across the internet have found the majority of the series' portrayal accurate. 

From a documentary production standpoint I took a lot of notes as well. Sure, a lot of the shots would not be realistic to achieve in an actual documentary, but the episode actually contained a lot of oners and handheld shots that would be possible in a documentary. A lot of times documentary shots tend to be a bit stagnant, but cinematographers can definitely (and should) study docudramas to find some inspiration for more dynamic shots. I wish I could find a clip online to explain what I am talking about, but I guess you'll just have to watch American Crime Story and see for yourself. 

New Sons of Anarchy Spinoff Gives the Mayans Motorcycle Club the Spotlight

Kurt Sutter, the man behind The Shield and Sons of Anarchy, is in development for a Sons spinoff involving a rival gang, the Mayan Motorcycle club. The Mayans were heavily woven into the plot of the original series as rivals-turned-partners with the Sons gang, SAMCRO. By the end of the original show's finale, the Mayans and SAMCRO built a working relationship between the two gangs as business associates and partners in crime. This daring and smart move gives room for Sons stars to pop in and guest star from time to time. While Sutter has not released details on who will come back and when they will be featured, we know it we are guaranteed to see some familiar faces.

Emilio Rivera will return as the Mayan's president, Marcus Alvarez, but from there will be a lot of new faces in his gang. Unlike the Sons who obtained their income by selling black market guns, the Mayans create their profit from dealing heroine. I can only imagine what kind of trouble heroine distribution will get this gang into.

Sutter is looking to continue the success that Sons grew into over its seven season course. It became one of FX's most watched shows the station had ever produced, and it's looking to feed off of that growing fan base. I find it a smart move of the network to step away from SAMCRO and the gun business, in light of all the recent mass shootings. A gang with heroine will definitely stir up trouble and we can expect to see a lot of people dead at the end of each season, but the focus will be off illegal guns. So cheers to every Sons fan who is going through SAMCRO withdrawal, and is ready for some more good old fashion Southern California gang wars.

'Wilfred' Final Season

Wilfred started as an Australian TV series, and this is the American remake that premiered on FX and FXX.  I watched the first three seasons of Wilfred on Netflix, and the last episode of season three finished with a big cliff hanger. When I saw that they added the final season, it felt bittersweet.  I wish I had more time to see the rest of the epiosdes!  The final season is ten episodes, that are supposed to wrap up this series. For anyone who hasn't watched this show it's about Ryan [Elijah Wood]; a neurotic, depressed man who in the pilot tries to commit suicide by drinking a cup full of mixed pills and cough syrup.  It doesn't kill and him he ends up waking up to a new neighbor, Jenna [Fiona Gubelmann] moving in next door. She asked him to watch her dog Wilfred [Jason Gann].  Ryan sees Wilfred as an Australian man in a dog costume but everyone else sees Wilfred as just a dog.

Check out these clips to get a feel for this show:     

I hope that they will fully explain how Wilfred is the way he is.  I really hope that Ryan isn't going crazy and that Wilfred is just pranking him.
If you don't get used to Wilfred's character after the pilot you proabably won't enjoy this show.
I rate this show 7.2/10; I find this show consistently funny! The chemistry between the two are great.

American Horror Story: Murder House

American Horror Story: Murder House is the first season of the FX television series American Horror Story aired between October 5, 2011 and December 21, 2011. The season was produced by 20th Century Fox Television, and the executive producers were Dante Di Loreto and series creators Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy.

The season centers its focus on the Harmon family: Ben, Vivien and their daughter Violet, who move from Boston to Los Angeles after Vivien has a agonizing miscarriage and Ben has an affair with one of this students. They move into a restored mansion, unaware that the home is haunted by its former inhabitants, most of which were murdered in the house.




The first season of American Horror Story was well received and praised by television critics and fans. The cast was generally praised, particularly Jessica Lange and Frances Conroy. The series drew consistently high ratings for the FX network, ending its first season as the biggest new cable series of the year. The first season was nominated for various industry awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series- Drama. In addition, Lange won many Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress, The Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.  Conroy was also nominated for the Supporting Actress Emmy. The main cast includes Taissa Farmiga, Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Evan Peters, Denis O'Hare and Jessica Lange.

*Spoiler Alert* 

The entire series is one thick plot unraveling itself and the Harmon family discovers the horrors and secrets of the house.  They try to get out and move from the house, but they are doomed from the start.  Ben sees patients in an office in the house, most of the patients he treats are spirits of the house trying to cope with their psychological problems.  Vivian is raped, and then carries for most of the season twins, one of which is her husbands, and one of which is her rapists son.  Violet, their daughter, who is the first of the family to die in the house, suffers from depression, and is in love with Tate, a spirit in the house, and little does she know, is her mother's rapist.  The sickening story unfolds with scary scenes and complex character development.

I highly recommend watching all seasons of this show.  I think that it is well made and executed terrifically.  

Always Sunny

A huge part of taking on the roll of director is to be inspired with other works of great films or television shows. For a raunchy comedy about incompetent, low class kids taking on a major heist, television show Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a major inspiration on the outlook of my film. They’re delusional, alcoholic losers with a superiority complex. They live in filth and huff glue and do many, many idiotic things. They live a very similar lifestyle to the characters in my film so a ton of the diologue and character relationships are based off of the three main characters in Always Sunny.  Mac, Dennis, Dee, Charlie and Frank are selfish, but they are honest to one another. They bicker and backstab and yell—and there is quite a bit of yelling. Yet, no matter how much blood is shed and bullets are fired in a twenty-minute episode, the gang sits around shooting the shit in the end. These people are the definition of BFFs. This show I can never get sick of, and apart of who I desire to be in the future stems from there work.

Syndication at its finest

The Simpsons, one of the greatest shows of all time is at it again with its debut on FXX cable network. With a whopping 530 episodes, the Simpsons can be played for 52 weeks without repeating one show.  As a conglomerate trying to air a syndicated show, the Simpsons is definitely one worth looking into, but how much is it worth it? The financial terms with FXX were not disclosed yet it is estimated that anywhere from 800 million to 1 billion dollars was spent on its purchase. Not bad for a animated T.V. series don't you think? The show has never before screened on a cable network so it is bound to grow an even larger audience than it already has. Other media conglomerates like Time Warner Cable Adult Swim, and Viacom bid for the show but ultimately left empty handed. To have a syndicated show is a cash cow for everyone involved. The owners of the show make millions off the 200+ channels who purchase rights to air the show, the affiliates make money off advertisement money, companies make money off the advertisements selling products, and the viewers are happy they get to view a popular T.V. series. It's not always as perfect as it may seem though. Many times in hopes of reaching syndication many shows are dragged out with poor scripts just so they can reach that 100 episode mark. Many could argue that the newer Simpsons episodes are not as good as they use to be but that comes down to personal opinion. Overall FXX made a very large purchase and I hope it works out the way they planned. 

New Comedy

Writing comedy for today's youth has become more of an art than a science. Some genres of television can be written by following a basic template and will not stray much from the norm, but comedy can't. Successful comedies like Workaholics and It's Always Sunny... have found success in chaos. These shows are unpredictable and sometimes incoherent. They will tae the smallest comedic idea or story and build an entire episode around it. This episode to Workaholics shows this perfectly.

In this episode the take the one prank of wrapping a dollar in poop and leaving on the street for bystanders to grab and draw it out into a whole episode. This in-cohesive and random seeming writing style is the new type of comedy. It takes less formal skill to write and allows many actor and actresses to break into the business by writing and starring in these types of shows and sketches.

Louis C.K.: The King of Comedy

                 Last week, FX announced that Louie, the show created, written and directed by Louis CK, would be airing in early March. I couldn't be happier. Louis C.K. is a man who regularly goes up on stage to talk about his bloated, overweight body. The comedian’s honest, vulgar style of standup has always made him one of the comedy’s most respected standups, but it only recently that he started to make a tangible difference on the spectrum of pop culture. If someone is to make a difference, they must have an impact; their actions must cause some form of tangible societal shift. Be it through his unique television show or groundbreaking way that he released his new standup special, Louis C.K. has managed to make a difference by making people laugh in new, groundbreaking ways.

                With his show’s unique production style, Louis C.K. has managed to change the conventional perception of how television production works. When FX approached him to create a show, they offered him complete creative control in exchange for a small budget of only two hundred thousand dollars. This deal meant that Louis would never have to compromise his creativity in order to please the network. However, the small budget results in Louie having an extremely small production crew, but he makes up for it by handling a lot of the work himself. In addition to his job as an actor, he also writes, directs and edits all of the episodes. He has even overseen the music production for most episodes The deal Louis has made has allowed him to pursue his creative vision on the show, but it is also the deal that is changing the television landscape. Typically, producing television means that the writers and directors often have to compromise their artistic vision in order to satisfy those in charge. Between the advertisers, the broadcasting channel and the production company, someone always has an issue with the show. But with so little money at risk, FX just lets Louis do whatever he wants. And the results are always amazing. 

               Louis C.K. always finds ways to make people laugh in unique ways. Be it  was on stage or through his sparse though creative television show. His show is one of the most exciting on television right now, taking creative risks both on screen and behind the scenes. And I could not be happier to see it come back.

Visual Effects Breakdowns

The amazing part about TV shows and movies today is how visual and practical effects can expand the scope of a story. The abundance of this accessible technology allows TV shows to use what was, for a brief period of time, a costly technique that was usually reserved for movies. Like most things in cinema and film, the less obvious the CGI, the more power it gives to the scene. Good green screen use can make or break a scene and in a show like "Game of Thrones" the CG makes scenes more than the actors do. The show employs a company called Spin VFX for their visual effects needs. Spin VFX have created visual effects for a number of TV shows and films that include After Earth, Max Payne, and Titanic. The men behind the magic are VFX Supervisor Doug Campbell and Supervising Producer Luke Groves. Campbell has been nominated for 5 primetime Emmys and Groves has 3 nominations. The following video is a deconstruction of the visual effects that appear in the show during its third season.

Crazy right? They do such a good job that you don't even know where the effect ends and begins until they remove the key. In certain scenes it's easier to tell than others but for the most part it's pretty damn good. One thing I noticed that was interesting is that in scenes where the final shot needs to take place at night (such as the man walking up the stair case with the green screen behind him or in some of the wide shots of the castle and surrounding camps) the scene is well lit and then darkened by the VFX team in post. I can only assume this ensures that no matter how much the brightness is affected in post, the lighting off the actor's face and surroundings are well lit for the viewer. For further viewing and reading the link to Spin VFX website is right  HERE. What I find fascinating is the ability to peel back a layer of a tv show and have an entirely new appreciation for the work that goes into what we watch. For instance, the scene in the video where they are climbing the 700 foot ice wall was composed of 80 shots...whoever figured these techniques out is a gosh darn genius. 

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Disgusting and Depraved or Ingenious and Hilarious?

     I'll save you some time, this show is one of the best modern comedies. I hesitate to say this, but it is almost like "Seinfeld" in the sense that it is a show about nothing. The series follows "The Gang" four friends (five once season two starts). The Members are Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie  (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Frank (Danny DeVito). Almost every episode can be watches as a standalone without ever seeing the episodes before it. The characters in the show, like "Seinfeld" solve the problems of that episode and move on in the next episode. However unlike "Seinfeld" where the problem is simply not wanting to wear a "puffy shirt" "It's Always Sunny" crosses the line and makes their issues a much more controversial. For example the episode entitled "Mac Fights Gay Marriage" is all about one of the main Characters, Mac (Rob McElhenney), discovers that his one time transgender girlfriend has gotten a sex change operation and is now married to a man. This results in Mac trying to win her back by trying to ruin their marriage because he claims it is a same sex marriage. 

     Although the show is morally inappropriate the jokes that are made and the events of each episode are mostly satirical and hides actual political issues and gives the points for the proponents and the opposition of these issues. For example the second episode of the series "Charlie Wants an Abortion". The members of "The Gang" flip flop their stance on abortion to better suit their needs, but deep down the actual issue is there and discussed.

     If you find your self watching this show just remember to check your moral compass at the door sit back and try not to be offended and you should have an excellent time.

It's Always Interesting in Philadelphia

Having just watched my 100th episode of the strange, hilarious, and disgusting "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," I thought that I'd write a post about it while things were still fresh in my mind. If you've seen It's Always Sunny, you probably know that it is almost exclusively nothing but terrible people doing terrible things; the tagline used to be "it's Seinfeld on crack." If you haven't seen it, here's all you need to know: a group of five people (the "gang") own a bar called Paddy's Pub, which is basically their home base for coming up with awful ideas and just generally being shitty people. I've seen every episode of the show, and I'm proud of it.

Which brings me to tonight. Normally, Sunny has no particular artistic value; the shots aren't interesting or well thought out, character development is basically nonexistent, and the show's main laughs mostly come in the form of shock value or the sheer stupidity/horribleness of the characters. Tonight's episode, however, was a little different. By celebrating their 100th episode in a way that only the cast of Sunny could, each member of the gang was posed with the question of what they would do while in a convenience store that was being robbed.

The episode is split up into five parts; one for the daydream of each character. It's really interesting to dive into the psyche of characters that can tend to seem so one dimensional, and while the episode had plenty of laughs, it was also somewhat thought provoking. Mac's dream is first, and in typical Mac fashion, it involves him karate chopping away at not only the robber, but also an army of ninjas that come out of nowhere. Interestingly enough, he dies in his own dream and eventually rises into Heaven, where he takes the right hand seat next to a very shirtless and very buff God, which is a weird way of reaffirming how twistedlly religious (and possibly gay) Mac really is.

Dennis and Dee, the two siblings on the show, each had two equally elaborate and weird daydreams. In Dee's, she befriends the gun man (who is actually a woman), shoots every single member of the gang, and then goes into the witness protection program. She eventually fulfills her life goal of becoming an actress and ends up marrying Brad Pitt, showing how even in the most dire moments, Dee is thinking of nobody but herself. Dennis, in his own dream, is shot in the head. He survives (seemingly due to his own extreme ego and creepy self confidence) and is nursed back to life by an extremely busty nurse. It's twisted, but you see some of Dennis' rationale behind why he's a bit of a pervert (to put it lightly).

Skipping over Frank's dream - he runs off and eats all the hot dogs in the store while the cops catch the thief - we get to Charlie's. I knew that Sunny would save the best dream for last, and I was not disappointed whatsoever. Charlie Kelly is the oddest member of the gang, and it only makes sense for his to dream to be a cartoon. It was perfect. Charlie saves the Waitress (his longtime crush) and then ends up running off with her and starting a dream life. In a very Pixar-esque (like, very Pixar-esque) sequence of events, the two get married, have kids, and live out their lives. I kept thinking that the whole thing would end with a deranged twist, some sort of horrible turn of events, but I was wrong. The two grow old together, and eventually the waitress dies. All of this was absolutely beautifully sentimental, showing a Charlie that we rarely see; one who, at his most innocent, wants this girl to fall and love with him.  It almost made me rethink his entire character.

Of course, the episode actually ends with everyone grabbing an armful of marshmallows and running out of the store, but for one shining moment, Sunny proved that it could do more than be the show that's consistently getting snubbed for Emmy's. This show has been around for 100 episodes, and while it may be crass and extremely rude, it knows it's characters as well as any other show (in part because the show's creators and writers, Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerston, play Mac and Dennis, respectfully). That was an eye opener for me, and I believe that this episode will earn some of the attention that It's Always Sunny really deserves.

American Horror Stroy

I recently just got through the first two seasons of the original mini-series "American Horror Story". The show is not just an excellent piece of television, but it in my opinion redefines the horror genre all together. The first season take place in the "Murder House" and tells one families journey to their ultimate demise while revealing an entire history of death that took place there over the years. American Horror Story tells a compelling story with well defined characters and a multitude of interesting subplots, all while being able to scare the complete shit out of you.

 The other thing I really enjoy about this show is the fact that the second season is literally almost an entire different show in itself. It contains an entirely new storyline with different characters and locations, taking place in a mental asylum. The creators decided to keep many of the same actors though, so the memorable performances from Season 1 are not only able to be replicated, but seen through a different character. Season 3 takes place in New Orleans and will be set in modern time. I can't wait. 

Wilfred... What?

Last week, I wrote my post about the pilot of Psych, a comedy about a man who claims to be a psychic.  I haven't watched any more episodes of it. Oops.

However, I watched another pilot of a show recommended by a good friend.  Wilfred, a show featured on FX, was hilarious but left me wondering so many questions- all coming down to one word.



What?

My expectations for the show were high in terms of comedic effect.  I heard that the show was very funny, and was expecting to laugh a lot.  And I did.  It was very well written.  The concept of a talking dog induced by overdose just screams one word.

What?

I really appreciated the deeper meanings behind the comedy.  The episode opens with the main character, Ryan, writing an edit of his suicide note.  He attempts suicide, fails, so tries again.  After overdosing on what looks like NyQuil and some pills, he begins to feel hazy.  In this haze, Ryan is asked to watch his neighbors dog, Wilfred.  Ryan, due to the overdose, thinks Wilfred as a talking dog.

Again, what?

But as I was saying before, there is a deeper meaning.  Ryan is depressed.  The blank stare in his eyes, the sinking inflection in his voice, and the lack of effort to make something of his life shows that Ryan just doesn't know where to go.  But somehow, through this hallucination of a talking dog, he learns to "live his life" instead of float through it.  I was reminded of my project that I did with Kyle and Jake, Sperm Bank.  There are two characters, one on the serious side and one on the silly side, and the silly character helps the serious character come to a realization.

Aesthetically, this show is pretty modern.  The lighting is bright and the colors are saturated, which I believe helps make light of the serious aspects of the show.  There is low depth of field throughout most of the show, allowing you to see every last thing in the frame.  It is shot in handheld format, putting the viewer in the show and making it feel like they're actually there.

I really liked this show.  It was really weird, leaving me asking "what?" a lot.  But I think it has potential to create some great laughs and a very meaningful story.  I'll definitely be watching more episodes.

It's Always Sunny= It's Always Funny!

This week I finally gave to my roommates’ advice and gave the show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia a real shot. Before this happened, I had only seen bits and pieces of the show and found what I saw to be very loud and too over the top for my liking, but little did I know that I would become instantly hooked on this series. The show takes place in a bar in South Philly and it is co-owned by the show’s leading characters. The show stars Danny Devito, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Rob McElhenney, and Glenn Howerton. The show is based on the crazy activities that go on in their pub and the hilarity that ensues shortly afterwards. Each character possesses a certain negative quality to themselves and combined they create a recipe for disaster. Regardless of their poor individual qualities the viewer often sympathizes with their actions because they are too funny to actually dislike.

What I enjoy the most about this show is its consistency. From seasons 2-6 I cannot think of an episode where I did not find myself laughing hysterically. If you are into a slapstick type of humor willed with many great punch lines and plenty of other comedic elements than this show is definitely for you.

Breaking Bad and Wilfred

I don't regret purchasing cable but now that my roommate gave me his Netflix password, I don't believe I'll turn the cable box back on in the near future. I don't watch many live sports and since the NHL is locked out, a hole in my heart must be filled with some TV show of equal or greater value. I've been watching new shows every day and a movie every other night. I recently watched the pilot episode of both Breaking Bad and Wilfred. I feel left out when my friends discuss what's new in their TV shows and I find the need to begin a show and catch up until the next season comes out. When the first episode of Breaking Bad was over, I was hooked and wanted to know what was going to happen next. The editing and movie-like filming hook the viewer and, like Professor Sinclair said, there are certain color motifs in each episode. It's strange that people would root for a meth dealer but the other side of the story and Walter's cause allows the audience to sympathize with him. It was also surprising to see Bryan Cranston play such a dynamic character because last time I saw him on television he was Malcolm's dad Hal. I may choose to watch every Breaking Bad episode in order to catch up for the fifth and final season.

After the first episode of Breaking Bad, my roommate told me to watch the Wilfred pilot. I was instantly hooked within the first ten minutes due to the clever lines and absurd plot line. From the first episode, it's hard to understand who Wilfred actually is. Elijah Wood's character Ryan Newman is asked to take care of his neighbor's dog and when she arrives to drop the dog off, it is an Australian man dressed in a gray dog suit. Ryan is depressed and Wilfred, in man form, can only be seen by him. The show is hilarious and every joke made me laugh out loud. The episodes are only thirty minutes long so I could watch both Breaking Bad and Wilfred. I plan to catch up to the current seasons by November so that when the next seasons premiere, I'll be able to follow the story and talk to my hooked friends about it. Also, the story line and movie-like filming can be closely studied and I hope to apply the techniques in my own films.

-Matthew Hadley

Network Styles

     It is a well known fact that networks play shows that are similar, specifically original series.  In todays world, with thousands of channels, they must work hard to get an audience, to do this they focus on niche markets that are interested in only a few story lines.  What I find most interesting however, is that it is not only the type of show, such as crime or comedy but the entire look and feel of the programming.  The color pallets are the same as is the over arching concepts and editing styles.  USA for example has  many original shows.  They all have the same concept of a main character who is good at what they do even though they are not accepted in the professional world.  A detective who must pretend to be Psychic, a lawyer without a degree, a doctor without a hospital. On top of that these shows all have the same colors, witting, and quick edits around witty comments.





Somewhat new to the mix of original series AMC has "The Walking Dead" "Hell on Wheels" and "Breaking Bad" all of which share the down and dirty feel with people on the brink of disaster just trying to hold on, again the same colors and cinematography.





FX does the same with shows like "Wilfred" and "Always Sunny in Philadelphia." I find it interesting that they don't necessarily stick to a topic, but a feel.  USA is witty whether it is a medical show or a cop show. AMC is dark and cinematic with a dying father or a world overrun by zombies.  This tells us that we don't really care what kind of show we watch, as long as it plays the same emotional tune.

Backyard FX

     I assume that most people reading this blog are emerging film makers who do not have much money to spend on production, especially effects, but that doesn't mean that you should avoid putting effects into your movie.  Effects can make a film look like it had a bigger budget and make it look more professional. I was wandering around YouTube when I discovered Backyard FX, a channel dedicated to showing you how to make good effects for cheap.

     One video that I thought was very interesting was the camera slider for under $20. You don't really notice how small things, like a gentle move in camera position, can really effect the mood of the shot, and being able to do such a move gives your film a a distinct feel.  Being able to do it for under $20 doesn't hurt either. I highly suggest watching the other videos that Backyard FX posts as well.  They are fun and can help bring a production to the next level. Enjoy.

Detonation Films

I forgot to mention this when we had that presentation on FX with the exploding head. For those who don't have Adobe After Effects or some other program with a blood-gush generator, there's a site where you can download blood, explosions, bullets, and a bunch of other SF stock footage put against solid backgrounds, making it easy to key into you videos. Most of the good stuff costs money, but you can get some pretty good free samples that work well. It's worked well for me in the past.

Video Filter

Arturo had a good idea for our GD where we play with the color corrector and video style of the movie to make the surroundings of our main character look dark and gritty while allow her to be bright and cheerful, emphasizing the point that she doesn't belong at this food company. On idea I had was using that effect--most often used in photography--where everything is de-saturated in color while a select one or two colors is bright and rich. That way, we could have our main character stand out by dressing her in a specific color not used in the background and then making all the other color de-saturated except that one, giving the video an interesting clash. My only problem is that I don't know what the effect is called, though I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about. Does anyone know what that effect is called or whether or not it is in Final Cut Pro?

Special FX: Also, call me Ishmael, plus Here she is, Miss Amerrrricaaaa

For some reason Google signed me in with an old account, so when I looked at my list of blogs it showed me two that I had created in high school. They each have one post. They're both awful. I'm gobsmacked, really.

Several people have been informed that I have rediscovered my love for Doctor Who. After watching a few episodes with David Tennant years ago and then forgetting to watch anymore, I decided to hop on Netflix and start from the beginning of the reboot. What amazes me most -- besides the characters, acting, story, soundtrack, visuals, and just about everything -- are the low-budget special effects. In one episode, the Dalek levitating seemed cheaply made, but it looked legit enough to make me go "Oh! So that Dalek can levitate and HOLY WHAT THE IT'S GONNA KILL EVERYONE AHHHH" instead of "Oh! So they didn't have enough money in the BBC budget! Way to go, you crumpet eating shmucks." It made me realize that if the production team behind one of the world's most loved shows can do awesome on a low budget, then so can we. Must investigate further.

Also, we're talking about microphone patterns in class right now; and the drawings on the board look like two parts of the male human body that I can't mention without sounding unprofessional/failing the class/sounding like a five year old. But it's rather hilarious nonetheless.

Now, a picture of a puppy: