Friday, April 12, 2013
Modern Family
Last week I went to the Dan O'Shannon, Executive Producer of the ABC sitcom Modern Family, for the Park Distinguished Speakers event. His talk was very interesting and it made me watch a couple episodes of Modern Family afterwards, which I have always been a big fan of. One of the things that Dan O'Shannon talked about during his speech was how he used experiences in his real life for episodes of the TV show. For example, Dan said that the episode where Phil and Claire find a cigarette burn in the couch on Christmas was based on his real life. This idea made me realize that it is probably much easier to make a realistic story if it has actually happened to you or someone you know.
After going to see Dan O'Shannon, I watched a couple of episodes of Modern Family. I think the thing that I enjoy the most about the sitcom and also what sets it apart from other TV shows is the character development. Every single character in the show is unique and original. Phil is the dad who always try to be the cool dad. He always tries to stay young and act like the kids are his best friends. Claire is the mom who is constantly cleaning up after the kids and taking care of them. Jay is the oldest and the head of the family. Jay is also married to the much younger, Gloria, a Colombian woman. Jay has two children Claire and Mitchell. Mitchell is gay and recently adopted a baby girl with his partner Cam. Not only are the adults tremendous characters but the kids are as well.
Modern Family is a hilarious sitcom that appeals to a wide variety of people. I think the reason it is so popular is because the characters are very different but still in the same family. They are all very different but similar at the same time. Many families can probably relate to the characters in some way, which makes Modern Family different from other tv sitcoms.
Unexpected Production Values
The piano guys takes full advantage of the visual medium that they are using and tells a story that is just as entertaining to watch as the music is to listen to. They have dynamic lighting, well done shot selection and editing, and superb art direction. Even the instruments have been selected to match the tone of the entire video. All in all, very impressive, and it is a testament to all the wonderful content creators on Youtube.
The Doorway
This Sunday season 6 of TV's brilliantly mod drama Mad Men premiered. I'm a bit of a fan. If by "bit of a fan" includes owning 3 seasons on DVD and dressing up as Don Draper for halloween. I think AMC's 4 time Emmy winner is the smartest, sleekest, and best TV show ever. Taking place in the 1960's Mad Men follows the advertising world of New York City's Madison Ave.
The show's creator Matthew Weiner didn't just suddenly appear with a hit drama, he served as producer and writer on the HBO hit The Sopranos for 2 years prior to taking his talents to AMC in 1960. The stories are elegantly told, with brilliant cinematography and a cast of characters that really make you wonder who is a good guy and who is bad.
One of the things I love about this show is it's historical accuracy and it's depiction of a totally different world than we live in today. Other shows attempting to set their drama in the 60's era (The Playboy Club and Pan Am) seemed to use minor details to convince audiences of the world around them such as hair, clothes and cars. Mad Men gives the look and the feel that you have literally time traveled for an hour and stepped into the world of social change and cultural phenomenas. One of my favorite scenes from season 1 that really shows you how the world has changed is during a birthday party for one of Don's children. A child who is attending the party is running around the house playing and accidentally knocks over a drink. A man who is not the child's father immediately slaps the boy across the face as punishment. The real father of the boy then comes over and asks the child to apologize to the man who slapped him. He then scolds him and tells him to run along and says "and tell your mother to come clean this up."
The show brings up very topical issues but puts them in a completely different context and shows the struggle with these issues from a different decade. It deals with African-American rights and equality in the workplace. Women's rights and a woman's struggle to enter into a career path. It discusses divorce, homosexuality, single parenting, and adultery. But it shows these topics how the 1960's handled them. I really feel like it's a history lesson every week when I watch.
The characters are what really keep the show going, and all actors give equally compelling performances. Overall between the 6 acting categories at the Emmy's the cast of Mad Men has earned 25 acting nominations yet has not won a single one. Jon Hamm and John Slattery are always nominated, as well as continuous nominations for Christina Hendricks and Elizabeth Moss. Although the show it's self has won Best Drama Series 4 years in a row (Only to be beaten my Homeland just his year) It's actors have not gotten the full recognition they deserve.
I will continue to watch Mad Men and hope to show my children this utterly phenomenal show because I think I've learned more about the 60's watching an episode of this show, than I ever did in my high school US History class.
The show's creator Matthew Weiner didn't just suddenly appear with a hit drama, he served as producer and writer on the HBO hit The Sopranos for 2 years prior to taking his talents to AMC in 1960. The stories are elegantly told, with brilliant cinematography and a cast of characters that really make you wonder who is a good guy and who is bad.
One of the things I love about this show is it's historical accuracy and it's depiction of a totally different world than we live in today. Other shows attempting to set their drama in the 60's era (The Playboy Club and Pan Am) seemed to use minor details to convince audiences of the world around them such as hair, clothes and cars. Mad Men gives the look and the feel that you have literally time traveled for an hour and stepped into the world of social change and cultural phenomenas. One of my favorite scenes from season 1 that really shows you how the world has changed is during a birthday party for one of Don's children. A child who is attending the party is running around the house playing and accidentally knocks over a drink. A man who is not the child's father immediately slaps the boy across the face as punishment. The real father of the boy then comes over and asks the child to apologize to the man who slapped him. He then scolds him and tells him to run along and says "and tell your mother to come clean this up."
The show brings up very topical issues but puts them in a completely different context and shows the struggle with these issues from a different decade. It deals with African-American rights and equality in the workplace. Women's rights and a woman's struggle to enter into a career path. It discusses divorce, homosexuality, single parenting, and adultery. But it shows these topics how the 1960's handled them. I really feel like it's a history lesson every week when I watch.
The characters are what really keep the show going, and all actors give equally compelling performances. Overall between the 6 acting categories at the Emmy's the cast of Mad Men has earned 25 acting nominations yet has not won a single one. Jon Hamm and John Slattery are always nominated, as well as continuous nominations for Christina Hendricks and Elizabeth Moss. Although the show it's self has won Best Drama Series 4 years in a row (Only to be beaten my Homeland just his year) It's actors have not gotten the full recognition they deserve.
I will continue to watch Mad Men and hope to show my children this utterly phenomenal show because I think I've learned more about the 60's watching an episode of this show, than I ever did in my high school US History class.
Boston's "Big Three"
When watching the Red Sox game the other day I couldn't help but notice that the Boston "big three" when it comes to movie making were in attendance. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Mark Wahlberg were all in the stands during opening day at Fenway Park. Those three hold a special place in Boston's heart. They have always made movies about Massachusetts (Good Will Hunting, The Town, The Fighter), and they never forget that they were all originally from different suburbs of Boston.
I have to admit that my personal favorite out of the three would have to be Affleck. That really has nothing to do with him as a person, because I like all three, but more because I think that it's amazing that Affleck writes, produces, and acts in his movies. Movies such as "Argo" and "The Town", Affleck did all three of those and those movies are known as some of the best to come out in recent years. I watched "Argo" for the first time last weekend and wasn't disappointed. The story itself is remarkable, but the movie is also well made and Affleck is great as usual.
Wahlberg and Damon are no slouches either. "Ted" is a comedy phenomenon, and the fact that Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane (from Connecticut which is basically Massachusetts), decided to shoot the film in downtown Boston just adds to the humor for people from the city. Damon hasn't done as many films in Boston as Affleck and Wahlberg, but he still will always have "Good Will Hunting" to fall back on.
Maybe people in Boston care too much about the fact that Mark and Donny Wahlberg can be found court side at a Celtics game once a month, but people enjoy seeing these huge stars back home. I hope that Damon, Affleck, and Wahlberg continue to make movies in the Boston area. I think they realize that people from Boston do appreciate the fact that they return home to make these blockbusters. Hopefully 2013 leads to big things for Boston's "big three".
I have to admit that my personal favorite out of the three would have to be Affleck. That really has nothing to do with him as a person, because I like all three, but more because I think that it's amazing that Affleck writes, produces, and acts in his movies. Movies such as "Argo" and "The Town", Affleck did all three of those and those movies are known as some of the best to come out in recent years. I watched "Argo" for the first time last weekend and wasn't disappointed. The story itself is remarkable, but the movie is also well made and Affleck is great as usual.
Wahlberg and Damon are no slouches either. "Ted" is a comedy phenomenon, and the fact that Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane (from Connecticut which is basically Massachusetts), decided to shoot the film in downtown Boston just adds to the humor for people from the city. Damon hasn't done as many films in Boston as Affleck and Wahlberg, but he still will always have "Good Will Hunting" to fall back on.
Maybe people in Boston care too much about the fact that Mark and Donny Wahlberg can be found court side at a Celtics game once a month, but people enjoy seeing these huge stars back home. I hope that Damon, Affleck, and Wahlberg continue to make movies in the Boston area. I think they realize that people from Boston do appreciate the fact that they return home to make these blockbusters. Hopefully 2013 leads to big things for Boston's "big three".
Violence in Media
Let us stop portraying the media consumed by a murderers as the cause for their crimes.
I was sitting in my family room with my Dad, discussing the Newtown mass shooting. I brought up the rampant scapegoating being condoned by the mainstream media with my father and he agreed, while adding "except that one game... what's it called?"
I guessed "Grand Theft Auto". That and Mortal Kombat are the two games that have been getting panned by the media for years for allegedly creating psychotic killers despite the fact that millions of people play them and they are just fine.
He said "Yes. That's the one where you shoot cops and rape prostitutes, right?" My Dad has never played the game, and based on what the media has communicated to him about the game, that's literally what he believes the game is about.
To set the record straight, the Grand Theft Auto series consists of loosely connected open-world games set against a sprawling story in the criminal underworld, more easily compared to Goodfellas than "raping prostitutes". You are given the ability to explore the game's world, always a parody of a major American city, at your leisure. If you want, yes, you can shoot a police officer with a bazooka. But where the media seems to stem away from the truth is that you are not rewarded by this or given "points" (I heard that once). Rockstar, the game's developer and publisher, spends millions of dollars making the best story they can tell in these games, all of which are critically lauded for their intricacy, plot, and humor. But my Dad, because of the media, believed it was about "shooting cops and raping prostitutes".
Likewise, since the culprit of the 2011 Norway mass shooting, Anders Brevik, mentioned that he prepared by playing Call of Duty, the media exploded, condemning its existence and essentially identifying it as a motivation in the cases of other murders.
The Call of Duty franchise is one of the highest sold video game properties of all time, with millions upon millions playing. Out of all of those people, literally a handful of people end up being mass murderers. I believe that you could find a different commonality between the murderers that actually identifies with a smaller demographic that could prove as an even better scapegoat. Maybe they all belong to yacht clubs, and only 6 million U.S. citizens belong to yacht clubs. YACHT CLUBS CAUSE MURDER!
It comes down to personal responsibility. If there is a violent game, it may desensitize your child a bit. I admit that I am somewhat desensitized to violence. But my parents did not neglect me growing up, and took the time to explain to me, I don't know, morality.
I was sitting in my family room with my Dad, discussing the Newtown mass shooting. I brought up the rampant scapegoating being condoned by the mainstream media with my father and he agreed, while adding "except that one game... what's it called?"
I guessed "Grand Theft Auto". That and Mortal Kombat are the two games that have been getting panned by the media for years for allegedly creating psychotic killers despite the fact that millions of people play them and they are just fine.
He said "Yes. That's the one where you shoot cops and rape prostitutes, right?" My Dad has never played the game, and based on what the media has communicated to him about the game, that's literally what he believes the game is about.
To set the record straight, the Grand Theft Auto series consists of loosely connected open-world games set against a sprawling story in the criminal underworld, more easily compared to Goodfellas than "raping prostitutes". You are given the ability to explore the game's world, always a parody of a major American city, at your leisure. If you want, yes, you can shoot a police officer with a bazooka. But where the media seems to stem away from the truth is that you are not rewarded by this or given "points" (I heard that once). Rockstar, the game's developer and publisher, spends millions of dollars making the best story they can tell in these games, all of which are critically lauded for their intricacy, plot, and humor. But my Dad, because of the media, believed it was about "shooting cops and raping prostitutes".
Likewise, since the culprit of the 2011 Norway mass shooting, Anders Brevik, mentioned that he prepared by playing Call of Duty, the media exploded, condemning its existence and essentially identifying it as a motivation in the cases of other murders.
The Call of Duty franchise is one of the highest sold video game properties of all time, with millions upon millions playing. Out of all of those people, literally a handful of people end up being mass murderers. I believe that you could find a different commonality between the murderers that actually identifies with a smaller demographic that could prove as an even better scapegoat. Maybe they all belong to yacht clubs, and only 6 million U.S. citizens belong to yacht clubs. YACHT CLUBS CAUSE MURDER!
It comes down to personal responsibility. If there is a violent game, it may desensitize your child a bit. I admit that I am somewhat desensitized to violence. But my parents did not neglect me growing up, and took the time to explain to me, I don't know, morality.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
KAME HAME HUH?
So in my quest to keep my youth and immaturity I have started to re-watch some cartoons I use to watch as a kid. This brings me to Dragon Ball Z. I loved the show as a kid and can remember watching the episodes on Toonami and playing with the toys with my brother. I was worried that watching it as an adult would taint the memories that I had of watching it as a kid. I hoped that I was as good as i remembered, and luckily I was. Yes the dialogue is a little cheesy and the fights take longer than they should, but that's the DBZ I remembered and the one I loved.
It also pleased me to hear that they just released a new movie Dragonball Z Battle of the Gods. I couldn't wait to see how the animation and the show would change over the long hiatus.
But to my dismay and the dismay of the all the English speaking fans the producers have decided not to release a dubbed version of this movie. This is odd considering that every other episode and movie was allowed to be dubbed with no problem. There is a petition right now and a strong online protest of DBZ fan-boys asking that the movie be released with dubs. It is not that I am opposed to reading subtitles, but I do not want to watch it for the sole reason of "I know their voices". If i were to watch it and hear completely different voices, the actual way the characters sound, the whole experience would be ruined for me. So I will wait.
There is a silver lining however. Now this is only hearsay, but from what I have read, the movie did so well over in japan that the producers of the show are thinking of making 100 new episodes. If this happens then I would be forced to run into campus center dining hall, smash the register, and scream until I go Super Sayan.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Same War, Different Battles
My newest TV addiction is Canada's Bomb Girls.
Set during the beginning of WWII, Victory Munitions is building bombs to help the cause. A richer, well to do woman, Gladys Witham, wants to help out with the cause and not just by making appearances at her father's fundraisers. Instead of taking the office job at VM, she decides to go against her parent's wishes and ends up working on the floor. Her dad ends up using to his advantage and uses her as the spokeswoman for his grocery store chain.
Set during the beginning of WWII, Victory Munitions is building bombs to help the cause. A richer, well to do woman, Gladys Witham, wants to help out with the cause and not just by making appearances at her father's fundraisers. Instead of taking the office job at VM, she decides to go against her parent's wishes and ends up working on the floor. Her dad ends up using to his advantage and uses her as the spokeswoman for his grocery store chain.
At the factory, we meet a wide array of characters with great background stories for each of them. Like Kate, a woman on the run from her abusive bible thumping father. From the first episode, you know that she's had issues trying to fit in and keep the past, the past. She also gets the nickname "Church Mouse" for her gospel-like singing voice.
And my personal favorite character is Betty McRae. She's sassy and very strong willed and one of the best workers at the factory. She ends up taking Kate under her wing and falls in love with her. She tries to be a girl and dates one of the boys at the factory but it ends up more like a bro-mance with hanging out in bars and talking about hockey with him. She also is a farmer's daughter with three brothers so when someone twists her the wrong way, she can handle what's thrown at her. In an episode when three German POWs escape, she ends up finding one in her boardroom's basement and we learn that other than being a lesbian, we find an even bigger secret. She's actually German and her family has hidden fellow German's from internment camps. Although the escaped Nazi believes that she's fellow Nazi, she ends up ratting him out explaining that just because she's a German, doesn't make her a Nazi. She also beats him up a little bit which was pretty awesome to watch.
Vera Burr, due to a factory accident she's now slightly disfigured... well, has an awesome scare on her face, is known as a "Patriot-tute", a woman that sleeps with soliders for gifts. She's also sassy and very on her toes due to the accident.
Floor matron Lorna Corbett, whose two sons are pilots in Europe, her daughter is working as a nurse at the local hospital and her husband is a veteran of WWI and was left disabled and in a wheelchair after a bomb exploded near him. This all leads to affairs and stress at work... But she's also one of the strongest women next to Betty.
There are more characters in the show that really bring to life what it was like to really be fighting on the homefront during WWII. They try to show that this isn't just a man's war and that everyone can pitch in some how. With some great acting, cinematography and costuming, this is probably one of the best TV shows I've watched in a while.
Also... I need all of the shoes and dresses this girls wear...
Friday, April 5, 2013
And Do I Dream Again...
I will be blunt in saying that I was raised in a musical home. For as long as I can remember my Mom had some form of music playing somewhere in the house. At the age of seven I picked up this habit, and have yet to drop it (I doubt I ever will). In theory this lead to me liking movie musicals. My favorite of these is Les Miserables (the music, there are no words to describe it), but we already have too many posts about that particular film. Therefore I shall blog about one of my runner up favorites, "The Phantom of the Opera".
I was first introduced to this movie probably around the time I turned thirteen. Story wise I had no patience for the romantic plot, but I loved anything and everything that had to do with the Phantom. I found his character utterly fascinating. He desired to create beauty to spite his physical ugliness, so he wrote music, played music, composed operas, and he even gave Christine singing lessons (admittedly he was obsessed with her, but he didn't have to help her with her singing career). But his darker aspects were just terrifying once you think about them long enough.
He was a murderer, it's hinted at in act 1 of the movie and by act 2 you see him choke someone to death. He was also obsessed with Christine Diaae, and the more he was denied his obsession (or when he saw other competitors for he attention) he caused chaos (holding the state opera hostage, vocally poisoning the Prima Donna, ect).
But aside from the awesome character of the Phantom, it was the music that made me love this movie. While it doesn't have the emotional umph of Les Mis, certain songs captivate the imagination. The first among these is "The Phantom of the Opera", which is where you really get a feel for the relationship between Christine and the Phantom. Another is probably "Wishing you Were Somehow Here Again". Which is basically the emotions of everyone who has lost a loved one put to words.
I was first introduced to this movie probably around the time I turned thirteen. Story wise I had no patience for the romantic plot, but I loved anything and everything that had to do with the Phantom. I found his character utterly fascinating. He desired to create beauty to spite his physical ugliness, so he wrote music, played music, composed operas, and he even gave Christine singing lessons (admittedly he was obsessed with her, but he didn't have to help her with her singing career). But his darker aspects were just terrifying once you think about them long enough.
He was a murderer, it's hinted at in act 1 of the movie and by act 2 you see him choke someone to death. He was also obsessed with Christine Diaae, and the more he was denied his obsession (or when he saw other competitors for he attention) he caused chaos (holding the state opera hostage, vocally poisoning the Prima Donna, ect).
But aside from the awesome character of the Phantom, it was the music that made me love this movie. While it doesn't have the emotional umph of Les Mis, certain songs captivate the imagination. The first among these is "The Phantom of the Opera", which is where you really get a feel for the relationship between Christine and the Phantom. Another is probably "Wishing you Were Somehow Here Again". Which is basically the emotions of everyone who has lost a loved one put to words.
Evil Dead is Bat Shit Crazy
I figure since my group is doing the Slender man idea a blog post about the new "Evil Dead" movie would be appropriate. First off, let me just say I dont think I can think of a horror movie more gruesome and horrific, holy shit, just watch the trailer. The quick scene at the end after the title was unimaginably disturbing. I'm not a particularly a big horror fan, but I'm happy to see a horror flick that has an evil demon that's as bat shit crazy as "Evil Dead"'s. It's truly horrific to watch.
The best part is the last 30 seconds or so, where the torture almost begins to feel comical. Its just adds to the feeling of hopelessness and horror. .Just imagining being in that situation and seeing what is being done to the victims is just plain wrong. There's no beating around the bush, no hiding in the closet or under the bed. They're gonna get you.
Kaboom! Update
Good news, Kaboom is almost done with production. I would estimate that with another hour or so of some last minute editing that we will be done with our project. One thing that will take some time will be adding the vocal track to a phone conversation scene in our piece. I am very excited to show you all on Monday.
Cheers
Cheers
Good Mood Food Update
The post-production period of "Good Mood Food" is nearly finished! We have most of it edited, the last scene is the last one to be finished. The audio is also completely synched, which made the process of editing so much easier. We've chosen a nice color grade to use in color correction which really adds to the depressing feel of the piece. I'm extremely excited to see how the final product turns out!
As for the final project, our group decided to go with the slender man idea. We really started to bounce off a ton of cool ideas with what we can do with this premise, including how slender man kills his victims and where we could shoot this to be the absolute creepiest.
As for the final project, our group decided to go with the slender man idea. We really started to bounce off a ton of cool ideas with what we can do with this premise, including how slender man kills his victims and where we could shoot this to be the absolute creepiest.
Bates Motel
I have been following the new psychological thriller TV
series "Bates Motel" and so far it’s very, very good. Vera
Farmiga provides a wonderfully nuanced performance as Norma, Norman's
domineering mother. Freddie Highmore is a dead-ringer for a young Anthony
Perkins. The series begins after the death of Norma's
husband, when she purchases a motel located in a coastal Oregon town so she and
Norman can start a new life.This is no American
Horror Story. There are no ghosts or goblins here; Just one boy's forming
psyche that eventually turns him Psycho. I am very excited to see where the
writers take it. The stock is very cool. The show looks old but has a fresh and
21st century feel to it. It is well shot and the plot twists so far have been
incredible. The hints at the movie are awesome as well. They are so subtle but
really do it justice. Every monday night at 10 P.M. on AE a new episode
premiers and I am very excited to watch the progression of this.
Color Correction and "Memory Colors"
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| Your brain is lying to you. On the left, the top blue tiles are the exact same color as the top yellow tiles on the right. Throw this into Photoshop if you don't believe me. It's trippy. Source |
Since we discussed color correction in class on Wednesday, it brought to mind this article by Stu Maschwitz over at prolost.com. It's been around for a few years now, but if you haven't read it before, I would encourage you to take a look. It is a very good look at color correction and color grading, and how the two interact to create beautiful films. It also dives into some of the details of why being a colorist is so hard.
The main point that Stu brings up is the idea of "memory colors". What are memory colors? I'm glad you asked. To quote:
Memory colors are colors that are, in the minds of your audience, inseparable from certain common objects or events. For example, the sky is so associated with blue that you might feel that you see those two words together as often as you see them individually. The same goes for green and grass.The article goes on to explain how to use those memory colors. Usually, they are so ingrained in our brains that even if they are not accurate, our brain compensates. But they look even better when they are actually accurate, which is where color correction comes in. It is the colorist's job to make sure that any memory colors are faithfully reproduced, both in the color correction process, and in the color grading process. Even if there needs to be a distinct color "look" in order to set a certain mood or tone, the memory colors need to remain accurate. Check out the article for more detail, and lots of good examples from various films. Actually, just check out his entire site. He's got lots of other good posts on color correction, as well as camera reviews, filmmaking tips, and general all around interesting stuff.
Source: Prolost.com
Oz the Great and Powerful
A few weeks ago I went to see Oz the Great and Powerful. It is a prequel to the amazing Wizard of Oz and tells the story of how Oz came to the world of Oz and became the wizard. I thought the film was very imaginative and appealed to all types of people. It was a movie that anyone can appreciate at any age. One of the coolest things that I liked in the film was how they began with a 4:3 aspect ration and in black and white rather than widescreen and in color. I thought it was very clever how they did that like in the original Wizard of Oz, although it probably wasn't as shocking as seeing a film in color for the first time.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about Oz the Great and Powerful was the animation and special effects. The animators and special effects team did a fantastic job creating the world of Oz. The animated landscapes were incredibly beautiful and I also thought that the flying monkeys were very cool looking. Another place in the film where the special effects team excelled was turing Mila Kunis into the Witch. It was very interesting seeing someone like Mila Kunis play the ugly Wicked Witch of the West.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about Oz the Great and Powerful was the animation and special effects. The animators and special effects team did a fantastic job creating the world of Oz. The animated landscapes were incredibly beautiful and I also thought that the flying monkeys were very cool looking. Another place in the film where the special effects team excelled was turing Mila Kunis into the Witch. It was very interesting seeing someone like Mila Kunis play the ugly Wicked Witch of the West.
Overall I thought that Oz the Great and Powerful was a good film but did not live up to and certainly was not better than the original Wizard of Oz.
Project Update
Hannah, Courtney, and I finished all of our shooting on Wednesday. Due to the wind and the time of day, it was a difficult shoot, but we were able to get all the shots we needed. Even though it was sunny on Wednesday, the angle we were shooting from caused us to need to wait for cloud coverage. As a result, some color correction will be needed for a few scenes, but they are very brief shots, so it should not be too difficult. We are going to work on that portion together and use the processes we learned in class in order to make sure we do it correctly.
I have most of the project edited together as a rough cut and the only scenes missing are the two new scenes we shot on Wednesday. So I will be making our final edits to the rough cut and then editing it down even more today and tomorrow. Once I finish the editing process, Hannah, Courtney, and I are planning on getting together to work on final corrections, transitions, and color correction. I want to make sure we are all happy with the outcome since we have dedicated so much hard work and effort to the project, so that's why we will definitely have a group meeting before the project is due. We will also be working on all the necessary paper work and plan to be done by tomorrow night so that if anything goes wrong, we have Sunday to fix it. Overall we are on track to finish by tomorrow night, and as a group are very happy with our overall content and product.
I have most of the project edited together as a rough cut and the only scenes missing are the two new scenes we shot on Wednesday. So I will be making our final edits to the rough cut and then editing it down even more today and tomorrow. Once I finish the editing process, Hannah, Courtney, and I are planning on getting together to work on final corrections, transitions, and color correction. I want to make sure we are all happy with the outcome since we have dedicated so much hard work and effort to the project, so that's why we will definitely have a group meeting before the project is due. We will also be working on all the necessary paper work and plan to be done by tomorrow night so that if anything goes wrong, we have Sunday to fix it. Overall we are on track to finish by tomorrow night, and as a group are very happy with our overall content and product.
Finding Dory
This week, Ellen Degeneres announced on her show that the sequel to Finding Nemo will be hitting theaters in November 2015. The sequel will focus around the quirky, forgetful Blue Tang, Dory. The title? Finding Dory.
Immediately, I was thrilled. Me being the Disney fanatic that I am, I was excited to see that Finding Nemo was going to return to the big screen. I was also very excited to see that the movie would be focused on one of my favorite characters from the original movie, Dory. Since Dory was my favorite character from Finding Nemo, I can't help but be excited for this film that is to premiere in two and a half years. I think it will definitely be a treat for my generation to see the story that we saw as children continue as adults.
But then I started to get wonder if this may be an unnecessary extension of the classic Pixar film. Part of what made Dory so lovable was the fact that she was a supporting role. I feel like an entire feature length film of Dory being forgetful may be too much Dory. The basic story line for Finding Dory is still unknown, but I have a feeling it will be a LOT of Dory. I hope Pixar can keep the line between funny and too much uncrossed.
Regardless, this movie comes out the day after my 22nd birthday, and I'm already hoping that I get tickets for my birthday....
But then I started to get wonder if this may be an unnecessary extension of the classic Pixar film. Part of what made Dory so lovable was the fact that she was a supporting role. I feel like an entire feature length film of Dory being forgetful may be too much Dory. The basic story line for Finding Dory is still unknown, but I have a feeling it will be a LOT of Dory. I hope Pixar can keep the line between funny and too much uncrossed.
Regardless, this movie comes out the day after my 22nd birthday, and I'm already hoping that I get tickets for my birthday....
Game of Thrones
I have to admit I was skeptical at first about "Game of Thrones". Not because I didn't believe it was good television, but because I thought it was entertaining to people because there was a lot of blood and gore. I'm not against some blood, but I just don't enjoy movies and television shows that are only about that. I was wrong about "Game of Thrones" as it is about so much more than killing people. Although that is a major theme in the show, there is so much more to it than that.
For starters, the complicated story line that follows many different prospectives and many different people trying to accomplish a number of different things is fascinating. It's hard to follow at times, but the complexity of the different characters is my favorite part of the show. Each and every character in the show has ulterior motives and every move they make is planned out. In this time period, backstabbing and making deals is the name of the game. And the audience doesn't really know what any of the characters overall plan is.
The other great thing about the show is that every episode ends with an insane cliff hanger. Some people like this, while other people are bothered by the fact that they have to wait until next week to find out what's going to happen. I love the cliff hangers, they are always extremely surprising, and when they are revealed, the audience sees that the characters involved in the surprise were planning this move all along. That is the type of show that it is, right when you think you've discovered a characters secrets he changes his approach right at the last second.
Like I said earlier, I'm late to the party when it comes to this show. I kept on hesitating starting to watch it until my roommates finally convinced me to do so. Now that I'm into it I can't wait to watch the next episode. The story line really pulls you in, and it becomes more than just a show about war.
For starters, the complicated story line that follows many different prospectives and many different people trying to accomplish a number of different things is fascinating. It's hard to follow at times, but the complexity of the different characters is my favorite part of the show. Each and every character in the show has ulterior motives and every move they make is planned out. In this time period, backstabbing and making deals is the name of the game. And the audience doesn't really know what any of the characters overall plan is.
The other great thing about the show is that every episode ends with an insane cliff hanger. Some people like this, while other people are bothered by the fact that they have to wait until next week to find out what's going to happen. I love the cliff hangers, they are always extremely surprising, and when they are revealed, the audience sees that the characters involved in the surprise were planning this move all along. That is the type of show that it is, right when you think you've discovered a characters secrets he changes his approach right at the last second.
Like I said earlier, I'm late to the party when it comes to this show. I kept on hesitating starting to watch it until my roommates finally convinced me to do so. Now that I'm into it I can't wait to watch the next episode. The story line really pulls you in, and it becomes more than just a show about war.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Picking up a fan-favorite
This week I've started to watch a fan-cultivated show Community. The NBC sitcom centers around an eccentric Spanish study group at a community college. The show was created by writer Dan Harmon and premiered in 2009. The show focuses on comedian Joel McHale and his fellow group of actors getting into crazy situations, and often referencing and parodying pop culture. I'm now on the 6th episode and enjoying it quite thoroughly. Despite it's critical acclaims and cult following, the show is not very popular among viewership. Ratings have been above 4 million viewers but did not reach much more than that. This has caused much controversy over the show, since NBC would not proclaim the show a success, however it has a very big core fan-base that really enjoy the show. Season 4 which was scheduled to premiere in October was delayed to premiere in February and Dan Harmon stepped down as show-runner.
I am enjoying the supporting characters more than I enjoy the main 2 characters. Joel McHale (Jeff) who host's The Soup on E! is a hilarious comedian and I really enjoy him, but his character is not very likable, and he's sneaky and kind of mean. His leading lady Gillian Jacobs (Britta) I do not find very likable either. I find her snarky and annoying, and find it hard to connect with her. Hopefully as the show goes on, these characters will grow on me. The supporting characters are all wonderfully developed. Of course Chevy Chase is a comic classic and can't do wrong, Danny Pudi and Donal Glover are remarkable, and Yvette Nicole Brown is hysterical. My personal favorite is Alison Brie of Mad Men. I find her character refreshing and love seeing her span of talents from a show such as Mad Men to a comedy like this one.
Their show is filmed in a single-camera format, and was even picked up into syndication in 2013 by Comedy Central. It's been noted that some of the actors like to improvise lines while on set. Chevy Chase has been particularly noted to improvise and Joel McHale and Donald Glover are known to like to come up with their lines as well.
What I really enjoy about this show is that it is based off of creator Dan Harmons actual life. This is just like my ICTV show I created that is based off of my own life. I was always told to "write what you know" so I was very pleased to see that other people follow that rule as well. I'm sure it was a lot of fun to produce a national television show based off of your life. I will continue to watch the show and maybe they will convert me to becoming a cult follower.
I am enjoying the supporting characters more than I enjoy the main 2 characters. Joel McHale (Jeff) who host's The Soup on E! is a hilarious comedian and I really enjoy him, but his character is not very likable, and he's sneaky and kind of mean. His leading lady Gillian Jacobs (Britta) I do not find very likable either. I find her snarky and annoying, and find it hard to connect with her. Hopefully as the show goes on, these characters will grow on me. The supporting characters are all wonderfully developed. Of course Chevy Chase is a comic classic and can't do wrong, Danny Pudi and Donal Glover are remarkable, and Yvette Nicole Brown is hysterical. My personal favorite is Alison Brie of Mad Men. I find her character refreshing and love seeing her span of talents from a show such as Mad Men to a comedy like this one.
Their show is filmed in a single-camera format, and was even picked up into syndication in 2013 by Comedy Central. It's been noted that some of the actors like to improvise lines while on set. Chevy Chase has been particularly noted to improvise and Joel McHale and Donald Glover are known to like to come up with their lines as well.
What I really enjoy about this show is that it is based off of creator Dan Harmons actual life. This is just like my ICTV show I created that is based off of my own life. I was always told to "write what you know" so I was very pleased to see that other people follow that rule as well. I'm sure it was a lot of fun to produce a national television show based off of your life. I will continue to watch the show and maybe they will convert me to becoming a cult follower.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Die Hard 5? <--- Really?
Okay so one of the most well known acton series is the Die Hard series. Bruce Willis plays the role of John McClane, a New York cop saving the world. The first Die Hard movie was unlike anything the theaters have seen before. The non stop action and comedic language that Bruce Willis is noted for makes this movie a classic in action movies. Since the first movie came out 4 others have followed. The second film was not as good as the first but they came back with a third where Samuel L. Jackson co-starred with Bruce Willis and was a slight continuation of the story line from the first movie.
<---FIRST MOVIE
The story of John McClane ended in 1995 until in 2007 when a forth movie came out to try and re-amp the series that everyone loved. Live free of Die Hard was a good forth movie for not filming anything in 12 years, but that should have been it, there is now a fifth Die Hard movie! There is a sense of over kill that has hit this well known and respected series. A Good Day to Die Hard has been hammered by the critics and the script is said to be uninspiring. Making Bruce Willis look like a bad ass has been done before!!! For most of the time on set, articles have said that Bruce Willis barely acted, he really didn't care at al about the film, the producers should have just stopped then, if your starring actor doesn't care about the movie then there should be no movie.
<---FIFTH MOVIE
(See the difference)
I am disappointed in the sense that a fifth movie was done, they should have left the series at 4.
<---FIRST MOVIE
The story of John McClane ended in 1995 until in 2007 when a forth movie came out to try and re-amp the series that everyone loved. Live free of Die Hard was a good forth movie for not filming anything in 12 years, but that should have been it, there is now a fifth Die Hard movie! There is a sense of over kill that has hit this well known and respected series. A Good Day to Die Hard has been hammered by the critics and the script is said to be uninspiring. Making Bruce Willis look like a bad ass has been done before!!! For most of the time on set, articles have said that Bruce Willis barely acted, he really didn't care at al about the film, the producers should have just stopped then, if your starring actor doesn't care about the movie then there should be no movie.
<---FIFTH MOVIE
(See the difference)
I am disappointed in the sense that a fifth movie was done, they should have left the series at 4.
Projects
Today will be our last shoot of our 2nd project. We'll be filming in the Tops parking lot and hopefully the weather controls itself. Yesterday, the wind was so bad that our actress Ellie almost fell over.
I'm super excited about filming these last two scenes because everything will come together nicely. Haley will be editing the majority of the project which makes her the best person ever.
Ellie is so excited for this project that she wanted to know when the DVD would come out and also her little brother Duncan will be in the credits as audio. He's going to be the next big audio thing to hit the southern tier.
I'm super excited about filming these last two scenes because everything will come together nicely. Haley will be editing the majority of the project which makes her the best person ever.
Ellie is so excited for this project that she wanted to know when the DVD would come out and also her little brother Duncan will be in the credits as audio. He's going to be the next big audio thing to hit the southern tier.
Argo
I watched Argo this past weekend and loved it. An exciting political thriller played out almost like a heist movie, the story follows the CIA's attempt at extracting six hostages from Iran. As I watched, I thought to myself "Wow! This is incredible! I can't believe this actually happened!"
Well, to a degree, it did not. The Canadian government actually helped out far more than the movie lets on, scouting out the airport in advance, purchasing the tickets, coaching them on Canadian accents, and more. Not to say that the actual Argo rescue was all fun and games, but writer Chris Terrio puts the movie's protagonist through many late-game trials that may or may not have happened in real life.
Why change the truth? My screenwriting professor had a saying that he said we should always ask ourselves when we write scripts: "How can this get worse?" Very simple. This adds more conflict and more excitement for the audience, and generally makes for a better script.
Argo is a perfect example of this concept in effect, providing a nail-biting thrill ride where the viewer honestly starts questioning what will happen despite knowing the end result. The changes made did not affect the message of the film, and instead made it much more enjoyable for the wider audience (at the expense of absolutely historical accuracy).
Also, this is a funny spoof of the ending - WARNING: SPOILERS
Well, to a degree, it did not. The Canadian government actually helped out far more than the movie lets on, scouting out the airport in advance, purchasing the tickets, coaching them on Canadian accents, and more. Not to say that the actual Argo rescue was all fun and games, but writer Chris Terrio puts the movie's protagonist through many late-game trials that may or may not have happened in real life.
Why change the truth? My screenwriting professor had a saying that he said we should always ask ourselves when we write scripts: "How can this get worse?" Very simple. This adds more conflict and more excitement for the audience, and generally makes for a better script.
Argo is a perfect example of this concept in effect, providing a nail-biting thrill ride where the viewer honestly starts questioning what will happen despite knowing the end result. The changes made did not affect the message of the film, and instead made it much more enjoyable for the wider audience (at the expense of absolutely historical accuracy).
Also, this is a funny spoof of the ending - WARNING: SPOILERS
Friday, March 29, 2013
Project Update/Final Project
Last weekend we finished the filming for our second project. Right now I'm finishing cleaning up the sound and figuring out what type of music, n be suitable for this film. Tomorrow we're supposed to finish editing the whole thing.
My idea for a final project is still mostly in the works, however what I've got so far is an odd mix between an Irish ghost story, "Night on Bald Mountain" (from Disney's Fantasia), and the kids book "The Bunny's Ball".
The basic premise is that in a small town, there's a local legend about the dead rising from their graves and dancing on a certain night of the year. As usual the younger generation doesn't believe this and one night a couple of them go out to prove the stories wrong.
However around midnight they DO see the dead dance, and are caught spying on them. The Devil who precedes over the dance sets up a court case to damn the teens. As they are about to be sentenced, the suns rises and church bells ring. Banishing the ghosts, devil, goblins, ect, back to the darkness, from whence they came.
My idea for a final project is still mostly in the works, however what I've got so far is an odd mix between an Irish ghost story, "Night on Bald Mountain" (from Disney's Fantasia), and the kids book "The Bunny's Ball".
The basic premise is that in a small town, there's a local legend about the dead rising from their graves and dancing on a certain night of the year. As usual the younger generation doesn't believe this and one night a couple of them go out to prove the stories wrong.
However around midnight they DO see the dead dance, and are caught spying on them. The Devil who precedes over the dance sets up a court case to damn the teens. As they are about to be sentenced, the suns rises and church bells ring. Banishing the ghosts, devil, goblins, ect, back to the darkness, from whence they came.
Arby" Project Update 2
Our project is really coming along well. We have a good chunk of scene 2 editing and looking really nice. Kyle put a nice color grade on the film and it really looks amazing. The blues in the scene really add a darker image for the audience.
We are filming the rest of the film on Sunday for 6 hours or so. We are going to go right ahead and start editing. We are excited to see the final product. We were supposed to film Thursday night but the house plan fell through and we had to reschedule. Can't wait to finish!
For my final project I want to go along with the Chinese myth about the first dream of the new year comes true. I think the original premise of the story is for the main character to forget what his dream was about and he/she has to encounter his dream first hand by surprise. It needs to develop more but that is my idea for now. Could be very fun!
We are filming the rest of the film on Sunday for 6 hours or so. We are going to go right ahead and start editing. We are excited to see the final product. We were supposed to film Thursday night but the house plan fell through and we had to reschedule. Can't wait to finish!
For my final project I want to go along with the Chinese myth about the first dream of the new year comes true. I think the original premise of the story is for the main character to forget what his dream was about and he/she has to encounter his dream first hand by surprise. It needs to develop more but that is my idea for now. Could be very fun!
Final Project Pitch
For my final project, I would like to do a story about a girl waiting for her fiance to come home from work. He is an hour late, and she has been calling his phone constantly, but there is no answer. She has become concerned so she has contacted family members and friends. Then she calls his boss to see if he stayed late, and the boss says he left on time per usual. Hundreds of ideas cross her mind: is he cheating on me? is he ok? does he have a surprise? Then, she gets a phone call and answers the phone immediately. After a few seconds, she drops he phone on the floor and runs out of the room.
Later on she appears in a hospital, asks the receptionist where to go, and then follows the doctor down the hallway to the room. She enters the room and sees her fiance laying in the bed, half conscious. They talk and the plot develops (not entirely sure on all of the details of this portion). She takes a break from the room as he gets more tests done and meets a couple in the room next door. As the conversation develops between them and the nurse gives her new information, they come up with an idea. The couple next door lets the girl and her fiance borrow their wedding rings and the chaplain comes up from the chapel. They get married in the hospital room, but as they say their vows, you can hear the fiances breath getting heavier and heavier and see his health deflating in the monitors. Finally, after their kiss, he ends up dying.
Later on she appears in a hospital, asks the receptionist where to go, and then follows the doctor down the hallway to the room. She enters the room and sees her fiance laying in the bed, half conscious. They talk and the plot develops (not entirely sure on all of the details of this portion). She takes a break from the room as he gets more tests done and meets a couple in the room next door. As the conversation develops between them and the nurse gives her new information, they come up with an idea. The couple next door lets the girl and her fiance borrow their wedding rings and the chaplain comes up from the chapel. They get married in the hospital room, but as they say their vows, you can hear the fiances breath getting heavier and heavier and see his health deflating in the monitors. Finally, after their kiss, he ends up dying.
Final Project
What Mike said. I helped him with a few of the details and plus, I would love to edit a psycho-horror drama...
Final Project Pitch
For my final project I would like to make a Golden Doorknob. The protagonist of the story would be a male in his early twenties. He comes back to his apartment from class and finds his girlfriend packing up her belongings. The girlfriend leaves the apartment and hands him an engagement ring. The protagonist is both depressed and furious. He goes over to his closet and looks in the shoebox full of memories that he has of the two of them. A little while later he goes back into the closet but when he opens the door, he does not see his clothes hanging or anything. He sees a moment from his past that he shared with his girlfriend. During the film, he will see multiple memories that he shared with his girlfriend. I was thinking of using the time they first met, their first kiss and when he proposes to her. The final moment that the protagonist will see is the time that his girlfriend cheated on him with another man. I still have to develop the idea more but I want to have the protagonist kill the girlfriend and the other man. When he is about to do it, there will be a flash and the final shot will be the protagonist hanging in the closet and all you see is his legs. The protagonist imagined killing the two others but actually committed suicide.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Final Project
The Purple Cobras shot 90% of their footage last week and everything came out amazingly. Our editor Mike has been working diligently on the film as we are all excited to watch it come together. We will finish shooting the footage probably next thursday and move into the final steps of post production.
For my final project I was thinking about doing something military related. Not using actual people in the military but instead the story of the friends of those who are in the military. This story comes from my own personally life in that one of my best friends is in the army and could be shipped to duty within the next 2 years. I have had many talks with him and his family and all of our friends, it is not always easy to know someone who will be going on active duty soon. I need to develop the idea more but this is the basis for what I might do.
For my final project I was thinking about doing something military related. Not using actual people in the military but instead the story of the friends of those who are in the military. This story comes from my own personally life in that one of my best friends is in the army and could be shipped to duty within the next 2 years. I have had many talks with him and his family and all of our friends, it is not always easy to know someone who will be going on active duty soon. I need to develop the idea more but this is the basis for what I might do.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Final Project Idea
I have a small idea for the final project. It's going to need some more elaboration, some more thought and some time to develop, but I think it could become something better than just an idea.
The premise? A movie playing inside someone's head.
I'm thinking the typical kid, probably no younger than 13 and no older than 20, not realizing what they have. Life gets "rough" for the character, and by "rough" I mean maybe they don't score with their love interest or they're doing poorly in a class- so nothing too tragic but enough to put our main character down in the dumps. But then, all of a sudden, he sees camera's around him accompanied by lights, microphones, and an entire film crew.
Why? His life is being made into a movie.
The director keeps changing what he doesn't like about the character's life, as if he is changing what he doesn't like about the film he is creating. Sometimes, the kid likes the changes the director makes and sometimes he doesn't. Eventually, throughout the story, the character realizes that he is in charge of his own life. He learns through the director that he enjoys his life just the way it is, and that he can do whatever he wants. He also learns that the drama in his life is nothing too tragic, and definitely isn't anything a movie could be based on.
The premise? A movie playing inside someone's head.
I'm thinking the typical kid, probably no younger than 13 and no older than 20, not realizing what they have. Life gets "rough" for the character, and by "rough" I mean maybe they don't score with their love interest or they're doing poorly in a class- so nothing too tragic but enough to put our main character down in the dumps. But then, all of a sudden, he sees camera's around him accompanied by lights, microphones, and an entire film crew.
Why? His life is being made into a movie.
The director keeps changing what he doesn't like about the character's life, as if he is changing what he doesn't like about the film he is creating. Sometimes, the kid likes the changes the director makes and sometimes he doesn't. Eventually, throughout the story, the character realizes that he is in charge of his own life. He learns through the director that he enjoys his life just the way it is, and that he can do whatever he wants. He also learns that the drama in his life is nothing too tragic, and definitely isn't anything a movie could be based on.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Can You Call Back Please?
So far, our group is doing awesome. We've got everything organized except one thing... The parking lot. Tops hasn't gotten back to me for filming in their parking lot on Tuesday. Hopefully they call me back tomorrow so we can make sure that we have our place to film!
Also, I've been thinking about our last project... I really want to do a horror film of some sorts sooooo... I'm just going to put that out there.
Also, I've been thinking about our last project... I really want to do a horror film of some sorts sooooo... I'm just going to put that out there.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Production is Kabooming
In the production of comedic explosions, we're about two thirds done with filming. With certain parts (the end of the running montage) we used the built in microphone to pick up sound. Mostly because, if we had used the boom mic to pick up sound in the main area we were filming in, we would have gotten a plethora of foley traffic noise and not much else. To the good in regards to the sound, it was easy to pick up for the opening scene.
Tomorrow we finish with the filming of this project, with any luck the editing will be just as smooth.
Tomorrow we finish with the filming of this project, with any luck the editing will be just as smooth.
Good Mood Food Update
Well, we just finished our first shoot for "Good Mood Food", and it went absolutely fantastic. This particular scene was of the main character, Jake, being bullied by a group of preppy douchers because of his immense love of Arbys. The bullies also be sure to throw in jabs about his alcoholic father and mother who was killed in car accident because of him on Christmas Eve. Sounds like a heartwarming story right? We are really excited to further explore this incredibly melodramatic story that centers around a boy's intense affection for the fast food conglomerate.
Despite a few hiccups, (we had to completely re-route all our lights when each one went out in the middle of a take) I thought the shoot went pretty smoothly. Kyle did a great job as our DP and got some footage that I can't wait to take to the edit room. We also had one of our actors use an iPhone to record the bullying first hand, which will provide some gritty first person footage to cut back to. I am really excited to keep the ball rolling and get going on our next shoot, which will probably be in the next coming week.
Despite a few hiccups, (we had to completely re-route all our lights when each one went out in the middle of a take) I thought the shoot went pretty smoothly. Kyle did a great job as our DP and got some footage that I can't wait to take to the edit room. We also had one of our actors use an iPhone to record the bullying first hand, which will provide some gritty first person footage to cut back to. I am really excited to keep the ball rolling and get going on our next shoot, which will probably be in the next coming week.
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