Dreams of Spring Break

Last class was a blur. Partly because me trying to remember it now is like trying to remember your 3^rd birthday party, it was a very long time ago and I was too excited about the presents that awaited me to pay attention to anything else. Spring break was whispering “come hither” in my ear and I just couldn't sit still. I guess that is why our class notes are posted for all to see :)

So now that I've reviewed last class' notes, I can briefly discuss my experience that Thursday night, so very long ago...

Cory presented to us his Honors Thesis film that he has been working on for quite some time now. I thought the actual filming of it (the cinematography I guess you would call it) was great. It looked good. There were a few things story-wise that bothered me. The “break-up” scene didn't feel real to me, whereas everything else in the film did. The confusion of that scene followed by what seemed like an abrupt ending just threw me for a loop. I think watching it again might help make some more connections. But overall, knowing what I know now about film-making, I thought it was absolutely incredible! Congratulations Cory for all your hard work!

We watched a few clips that highlighted the significance of editing. You can get the shots for a particular story line but if it isn't editing with that same story line in mind, you could have a whole different film! It's like the man looking at the woman in a bikini smiling, ha.

Well, it's done. Our first round of filming is done. I really can't believe we pulled it off. I mean, I can, because I have a great team who has worked really hard to pull things together, but it was definitely more than a mo hill to climb... This is the part in the project where I can relax for a few weeks, let the other members do their thing, and I can in the bleachers and just watch and perhaps make a few comments :) It feels good.

Tips for other groups:

-Scheduling was biggest problem, try not to depend on more than 2 or 3 main actors, unless the actors are in your group and you know you can rely on them, everybody is super busy with finals and if you think your friend would love to be in a movie, I'm sure they would, but it's a huge time commitment.

-We didn't necessarily need the editor and sound editor while filming. Let them put in their two cents when making script and storyboard and then director and camera-operator can do their job more efficiently.

-It helps to map out shots (take camera to the places you are planning on filming) to make sure it's what you want and everything fits how you imagined it

I think that's all I got.

I hope everyone enjoyed their break, I know I sure did!

Reality Bites

I don't think I like film noir. I don't like it for all the reasons that it exists. Because I like happy endings and feeling good about movies. I like looking up to someone in a film and cheering them on as they fight crime or win the girl/boy. I don't think this means I am any less in tune with my own reality.

I understand that happy endings aren't always the reality, but I think they are a glimmer of hope for those stuck in shit-town. For example, Juno gets bored, has some sexual fun, and winds up pregnant (I'm sure there are thousands of real case scenarios such as this). Juno has a happy ending. Being pregnant almost seems fun because she treats herself to supersuper sized blue slushies and rock'n'roll at that couple who wants her baby's house. While most of us know this is not the reality, the happy ending of the “everything working out” could give hope to the preggo teenager stuck in that kind of a situation. False hope or not, it's hope.

With that said, The Player was quite the film-noir experience. I was definitely uncomfortable the entire time I was watching it. I was squirmish and really couldn't hold my focus on the film. I don't know if that was just my mood Thursday night or if it was the movie itself making me feel that way. Griffin was straight up creepy. What did Bonnie see in him anyway? Ja;lskvn I just get chills thinking about it.

The film definitely paints a nasty picture of Hollywood. I'm pretty sure the security guy knew that Griffin killed the writer, but for the sake of keeping the peace, kept his mouth shut and helped Griffin keep things quiet and controlled. I don't even want to know the reality that this film is trying to portray. It's scary.

We've starting filming! (and it's very, very difficult) We've already had to reschedule filming twice for conflicts and miscommunications. It's a very stressful process and it is definitely tearing me out of my comfort zone. However, my teammates and I are working very well together and seem to be on the same page. Our actors are flexible and patient (so far!). While I'm beginning to enjoy the process, I will be glad when it's over.

Nervous, Excited, Nervous

I was nervous at first, but after learning a little more technique and talking with my small group about our small film, I was excited. But now that the deadline is quickly approaching, I'm NERVOUS!

Im in team 2 and our footage is due the Thursday we get back from Spring Break. That doesn't give us but 4 days to film, unless we check the camera out before Spring Break. Our team was planning on trying to do all (or most) of our filming on a Saturday. I'll be gone Friday-Sunday of Spring Break which means, that this Saturday, March 13 might just be our filming day. That gives us, as of today, 4 days to get our actors and location filming permits together. I'm just a little stressed about it...

Despite my nervousness, I am still very eager to film and see what our group is able to produce. Will it be like Blow Out and be exactly what the director had in mind? Will we be able to reproduce the shots we have in our head and in our storyboard? Will our audience be as convinced as we intend them to be? I. CAN'T. WAIT.

I am also very eager to find out how we did on our box o' footage assignments. It will be great to get some feedback on those that we will be able to apply to our short film.

Having a regulations like location agreements and sound copyrights is kind of unnerving. I really don't want to get sued and this is complicated shit. I know we need to cover all the bases and make sure we are legal in the world of filming and rules, but I just hope someone in our group is more confident in this area of our film than I am...

I know this post is kind of whiney, but that is how I feel at this point in the game. Until everything is lined up, I'm going to be nervous and whine. That doesn't mean I won't work to make things happen, I will just stress about it. I hope I'm not the only person in class feeling this way!

I Didn't Hire Her For Her Scream, Jack...

The movie Blow Out was definitely a change of scenery from Sunset Boulevard and Singing in the Rain. It was what some might call, “more exciting.” It had sex, nudity, action, cursing, and all those other intriguing elements that make movies entertaining. While it was of more modern subjects and situations, there were many shout outs to historical film features.

One of the things that struck me the most about the film was the plot. There were many important details and important facts revealed throughout the story that answered questions that arose at the beginning of the film. For example, why was Sally in the car when the tire blew out? Story lines like this that gradually answer questions and reveal a more detailed story are great for pulling audiences in and keeping their attention. The film makers did a good job of this and keeping the story moving so as to not lose the audience. The film was action packed, with suspense and anxiety hanging on every scene. It was nice to see a movie that didn't necessarily have “a happy ending.” Sally escaped death once but didn't quite make it the next time. John Travolta’s character did get what he wanted in the end, “a real scream.”

It was really interesting to watch a scene from Blow Up, and compare the two films. Both of the protagonists in the films started off doing trivial things such as taking pictures in the park or collecting sound clips for a movie. However, in both cases after detailed analysis of the photographs and sound, the protagonists believed they had stumbled upon something fishy. In class discussion we mentioned the fact that the movie Blow Out stole a lot of ideas from other films and directors. There are only so many original ideas, and why reinvent the wheel? If Alfred Hitchcock was able to create a unnerving scene by dollying in and zooming out, why not just mimic it?

Blow Out was a great film to watch as we gear up to make our own short films. It had a lot of really great shots in it like the vertigo effect, 360º rotation, shots from ceiling, chase scene (in the jeep) etc. It will be interesting to see how the small groups are able to incorporate some of these ideas into their own films.