Background:
1) Provide a brief background of the film.
Point of view:
2) From what point of view is the documentary speaking? What perspective is it offering on the event?
Conventions: (Elements that are common to movies and how they are used)
3) Does the film use voiceover, reenactments, archival footage, interviews?
4) Does it rely on one convention more than another?
5) Why does it use the conventions it does?
Structure:
6) How is the documentary structured? Does it follow chronological order? Does it use a different order?
1. This man wants to pursue his hobby of walking on tightropes at great heights. This documentary describes his journey of transforming this hobby into a career and the difficulties he came across while doing this daring act.
2. The documentary is taken from the point of view of the performer and often gets the insights of both him and his accomplices as they are going through the story. It gives the viewer a sort of idea about what they were thinking while they worked.
3. The film combines actual footage from the past with interviews and some reenactments and some current footage and voiceovers.
4. I feel like the interviews and voiceovers are a bit more prominent than the other conventions but all are used pretty often.
5. The voiceovers and interviews allow the people to go through what they were thinking at the time without interfering with the act as it was going on in the past.
6. The documentary goes back and forth in time by starting with the beginning of changing his hobby into a career and then goes into the walking across the wire between the world trade centers followed by how they broke into the twin towers and how they set it up.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Spinal Tap Movie Review
1) Provide a description of the film. Discuss the plot and characters and how they influenced the film. Was the plot line or character development more important? Why?
2) Think critically about how the film was shot, directed, use of lighting, etc. What do you think was effective in the making of the film? What took away or could have been done differently to enhance the film?
3) What is you overall opinion of the film? Would you recommend it? Why/why not?
The Spinal Tap was a mocumentary about an EU rock band who goes around touring the U.S. Two members in the band were childhood friends and there is a rift that grows between them which causes the band some difficulties. The plot line was more important than the character development because the characters only added a little bit of humor but the story line was what drove the movie forward. This film was shot very similarly to how Russell, Alex and I want to shoot our mocumentary by using interviews and footage of the people practicing or performing. The characters acted very serious but them taking everything seriously made the movie more funny. The film could have had a little better quality but it is not the fault of the creators of the movie because it is fairly dated. The film was pretty good, especially for a mocumentary. The comedy that takes place throughout the movie definitely kept me interested in what was going on and I would recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates mocumentaries and is fine with semi-crude humor.
2) Think critically about how the film was shot, directed, use of lighting, etc. What do you think was effective in the making of the film? What took away or could have been done differently to enhance the film?
3) What is you overall opinion of the film? Would you recommend it? Why/why not?
The Spinal Tap was a mocumentary about an EU rock band who goes around touring the U.S. Two members in the band were childhood friends and there is a rift that grows between them which causes the band some difficulties. The plot line was more important than the character development because the characters only added a little bit of humor but the story line was what drove the movie forward. This film was shot very similarly to how Russell, Alex and I want to shoot our mocumentary by using interviews and footage of the people practicing or performing. The characters acted very serious but them taking everything seriously made the movie more funny. The film could have had a little better quality but it is not the fault of the creators of the movie because it is fairly dated. The film was pretty good, especially for a mocumentary. The comedy that takes place throughout the movie definitely kept me interested in what was going on and I would recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates mocumentaries and is fine with semi-crude humor.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Saving Private Ryan Movie Review
1) Provide a description of the film. Discuss the plot and characters and how they influenced the film. Was the plot line or character development more important? Why?
2) Think critically about how the film was shot, directed, use of lighting, etc. What do you think was effective in the making of the film? What took away or could have been done differently to enhance the film?
3) What is you overall opinion of the film? Would you recommend it? Why/why not?
1. This film was about a group of soldiers in WWII who are sent to go retrieve Private Ryan because the mother of Ryan has already lost her other sons in the war and she wants at least one son. The plot was more important to the film because the development of the plot was what the entire film was emphasized around.
2. The film was shot in several scenes that were destroyed or falling apart and it gave the movie an overall since of despair. Most of the movie is dark except for one scene where they go to bury a lost soldier and the sun is setting in the background. The film didn't necessarily have as many visually unattractive scenes, but it added to the sadness of the film.
3. The movie was very well made and it clearly created the feeling of sadness. The way the movie ended with one of the main characters dying also contributed to a mixed emotion at the end of both joy for private Ryan and sadness for Captain John H. Miller. I recommend this film if you are looking for a movie that gives a realistic take on World War II or just a good war movie in general.
2) Think critically about how the film was shot, directed, use of lighting, etc. What do you think was effective in the making of the film? What took away or could have been done differently to enhance the film?
3) What is you overall opinion of the film? Would you recommend it? Why/why not?
1. This film was about a group of soldiers in WWII who are sent to go retrieve Private Ryan because the mother of Ryan has already lost her other sons in the war and she wants at least one son. The plot was more important to the film because the development of the plot was what the entire film was emphasized around.
2. The film was shot in several scenes that were destroyed or falling apart and it gave the movie an overall since of despair. Most of the movie is dark except for one scene where they go to bury a lost soldier and the sun is setting in the background. The film didn't necessarily have as many visually unattractive scenes, but it added to the sadness of the film.
3. The movie was very well made and it clearly created the feeling of sadness. The way the movie ended with one of the main characters dying also contributed to a mixed emotion at the end of both joy for private Ryan and sadness for Captain John H. Miller. I recommend this film if you are looking for a movie that gives a realistic take on World War II or just a good war movie in general.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Silent Film Questions
1) Describe one of Chaplin's films.
2) What do you notice about the style or directing of the film?
3) How do you think these traits relate to the silent film era?
4) What similar characteristics are you seeing in the silent films we have seen so far (Lumiere Brothers, Melies, Chaplin, Keaton)?
1. In the film called "Making a Living", it shows "The Tramp" trying to get money in numerous ways such as begging and getting into the newspaper. He continues to run into this man who he does not get along with and is constantly fighting with him.
2. The film has some funny elements in it and the character is a very likable person. The camera is always still because they had to crank it in order for it to actually record and film. There is also light-hearted music for the sound.
3. I think that these traits give a film the feeling of a silent film and should be used in my silent film.
4. They all have music in the background and they are all in black and white. They are all sped up and are made to seem that the people are moving fast and choppy.
2) What do you notice about the style or directing of the film?
3) How do you think these traits relate to the silent film era?
4) What similar characteristics are you seeing in the silent films we have seen so far (Lumiere Brothers, Melies, Chaplin, Keaton)?
1. In the film called "Making a Living", it shows "The Tramp" trying to get money in numerous ways such as begging and getting into the newspaper. He continues to run into this man who he does not get along with and is constantly fighting with him.
2. The film has some funny elements in it and the character is a very likable person. The camera is always still because they had to crank it in order for it to actually record and film. There is also light-hearted music for the sound.
3. I think that these traits give a film the feeling of a silent film and should be used in my silent film.
4. They all have music in the background and they are all in black and white. They are all sped up and are made to seem that the people are moving fast and choppy.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Meiles Film Questions
1) What did you notice/learn about Melies' style?
2) Were there consistent elements in his films? What were they?
3) Did you enjoy his films? Which ones? Why?
4) What will you take away with you from watching these films?
2) Were there consistent elements in his films? What were they?
3) Did you enjoy his films? Which ones? Why?
4) What will you take away with you from watching these films?
1. Melies uses many magical concepts and uses many start and stop scenes.
2. He consistently used magic to make the films very impressive for the time.
3. The films were interesting, and for the time it was amazing that he was able to these effects with the limited technology he had at his disposal.
4. These films gave me the idea of using more magic effects or other kinds of tricks in my movie-making.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Boredom Video
1. My film shows some activities that a person might do when he/she is bored.
2. Boredom
3. I did a decent job of representing the mood because the events are easily relatable.
4. I did not do anything special for the sound but the quietness and dullness of the sound helps portray the feeling of boredom.
5. I could have spent less time on walking around.
6. I think that some of the scenes have some comical elements.
2. Boredom
3. I did a decent job of representing the mood because the events are easily relatable.
4. I did not do anything special for the sound but the quietness and dullness of the sound helps portray the feeling of boredom.
5. I could have spent less time on walking around.
6. I think that some of the scenes have some comical elements.
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