Nicolas Winding Refn

This week, I watched Drive (2011) and Bronson (2008) back to back. Both movies are directed by Refn and feature unusual stylistic lighting, cinematography, and music. Drive, starring Ryan Gosling, is about a Hollywood stunt driver that supplies a getaway car for criminals as long as they pull off their scheme in five minutes with one minute extra and no exceptions. The main character, who is nameless, gets involved with a woman and the mafia. Honestly, Drive is the best movie I've seen in a while. Every shot, Refn uses pink, blue, and yellow lighting somehow and it creates a retro feel that goes with the music. The soundtrack includes modern music that is electronic and reminiscent of 1980s music. Gosling probably has about twelve lines throughout the whole movie but Refn uses music to drive the narrative (no pun intended).
 Bronson, starring Tom Hardy, is similar to Drive in its style. Once again, pink, blue, and yellow lighting can be found in every scene. The story is about Charlie Bronson, Britain's most dangerous inmate. The movie is extremely unusual and it is hard to explain, so just watch it. The music doesn't quite fit with the scenes but at the same time, it works perfectly. Refn uses music that doesn't seem to fit but in a strange way, it works perfectly. I suggest you watch both of these movies. Once you do, you will understand what I mean about the music.

Dog With A Blog...

Recently, while watching TV, I came across a commercial for the new Disney show called Dog With a Blog. What is the show about? This is the premise of the show as told by Wikipedia..."Avery Jennings and Tyler James are step-siblings who hate each other but come together in episode 1 . The family faces an even bigger adjustment when they discover that their new dog, Stan, can talk and also has a blog, unknown to the family. Stan uses his blog to discuss the happenings in the Jennings-James household. Avery and Tyler later learn of Stan's talking ability and agree to keep it a secret from their parents." Well that sounds like a rich idea. Are you kidding me? This is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard and when I saw the commercial, I though it was some kind of joke making fun of shows for kids. My post last week was about  how networks such as Nickelodeon and Disney fail to produce programming with quality writing and teach lessons that are age appropriate. More and more shows being produced on such networks are filled with undeserving laugh tracks and ridiculous plot lines. Disney original movies were once praised by viewers and taught meaningful lessons. For example, Disney's Johnny Tsunami (1999) taught about overcoming bullying and breaking racial barriers. Brink (1998) was about friends staying together, making right decisions, and working to beat the overpaid, egotistical inline rollerblade team. The list of past movies goes on and on but note that these movies weren't made recently. Disney needs to get their act together and produce TV shows that mold the minds of young children rather than turn them into mush. Here's an idea for Disney; how about there's a family that moves into an old house and everything is gone except the old refrigerator and when someone gets ice out of the freezer, it starts to talk and give advice to the kids. The father of the children would be played by Rob Schneider and the refrigerator's voice would be played by Sinbad or someone equivalent to his relevancy. Just kidding, this idea is awful but when Dog With a Blog exists, I feel as if I could walk into Disney and pitch the idea of a talking refrigerator. Mark my words, I will restore humanity and produce shows that teach lessons and impact children's lives rather than turn them into idiots. Where is the modern day Boy Meets World? I need to take what I've seen when I was a kid and recreate shows that are meaningful and age appropriate. 

This is Dog With A Blog...

The Adventure of Pete and Pete

People my age or slightly older often reminisce about nostalgic TV shows that are no where to be found on the tube today. Early 90s Nickelodeon shows are usually the topic of discussion. Late at night on TeenNick, old Nickelodeon shows such as Doug, Keenan & Kel, All That, and Rugrats air. I feel like a little kid as I watch the shows but I tend not to often due to their simple story lines and mediocre jokes. I think people watch old TV shows to experience that nostalgic feeling and travel back in time in a way. Although I stay up late once a week and watch the old shows, I miss watching The Adventure of Pete and Pete; a Nickelodeon show that aired from 1993-1996 and starred Danny Tamberelli and Mike Maronna. The story was about two red-haired brothers, both named Pete, that have a dad obsessed with bowling and a mom that has a plate in her head. Other characters include disgusting lunch ladies, scary teachers, and a local superhero named Artie. The show is narrated by the Older Pete, Danny Tamberelli, and their coming of age stories and hijinks are highlighted. What happened to fell good family shows with quality writing and dynamic characters? The shows that I watched as a boy shaped who I am today and nowadays, those shows are no where to be found. The shows featured more mature themes back then and today, it seems as if TV shows aren't exposing kids to real situations and instill a false sense of reality among the youth. I recommend you watch the feel good Nickelodeon show The Adventures of Pete and Pete. After watching the show, think about how it compares with shows on Nickelodeon today.

Off the Air

Last night, or morning rather, I stayed up until 5:00 am. Why you may ask? I wanted to watch the adult swim series called Off the Air that airs at 4:00am on Adult Swim. Off the Air, produced by editor David Hughes, is a 15 minute show that features online viral videos, various animations, archival footage, strange transitions, and psychedelic imagery. It premiered in early 2011 and has been on at 4:00 am since. Each episode has a theme that each short animation or video highlights. For example, last night the episodes were about color and falling down. My friend is a fan of the show and when I asked what it was about, he said I just had to watch it. After watching it, I don't exactly know how to explain the show; just watch it. The editing draws different videos and shorts together in a flawless and smooth way. The show puts you in a trance with the mix of the psychedelic images and spacey music. Adult Swim has always been one of my favorite programs but I'm usually in deep sleep by the time it airs. Some of my other favorite Adult Swim programs include Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Family Guy, and now Off the Air. If you're contemplating staying up all night, watch Adult Swim and you will either leave 1.) Extremely satisfied 2.) Confused with a headache or 3.) You will hate it. You don't know what you will get when you watch Adult Swim.

Watch an episode of Off the Air below. The theme in this episode is food.

Advice From Joseph Gordon-Levitt

I recently started watching interviews on makingof.com, a website I didn't know about until Arturo mentioned it in class. In an interview with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, he is asked about his company hitrecord.com and gives advice that I believe is the main focus and goal for Park students and should be my mindset. JGL says his advice starting at the 2:50 mark. He basically says that in order to be known, you don't have to move to LA, get an agent, and know people. He believes that you need to create an idea, go out and make something, and try to get it out to people. He uses the example of someone who had no agents, created a film, and was able to show it at Sundance. I think this interview with JGL is extremely valuable in terms of advice and insight into the movie industry. I've been saving up for a camera, possibly the Canon T2i, and I've been writing short skits and stories that I plan to create. Honestly, I've been slacking and like Arturo said, there's no reason why we shouldn't be creating something new every week or so. I'm also working on a script for a mockumentary that I want to film over Thanksgiving or Winter break. I used to make movies every week when I was younger with my friend Jason, a BU communications student, and we're collaborating again and hope to create the mockumentary.

CLICK THIS LINK TO WATCH JGL'S MAKINGOF.COM INTERVIEW


Also, check out www.hitrecord.org; JGL's website that features work from artists, filmmakers, and beyond. Maybe you can sign up and share your work there.
(P.S: Go out and see Looper. It's one of the better movies I've seen in years.)