BTW* some of the posts, for my blog, are on older posts. So, click older posts because I don't want you to think that I didn't do those blogs and I don't want to lose marks.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Shutter Island
A recent film that I watched and really liked, would have to be, Shutter Island. It is a psychological mystery-thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel of the same name. When I saw the trailer for this film I knew that I just had to watch it. This film takes place in 1954. Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck, go on a ferry to Shutter Island, a mental hospital housing the criminally insane. They have been asked to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Solando. As Teddy asks questions to the doctor, he beings to think that the people on the island are not telling him the whole truth. He decides to take charge and figure out what is really go on. The whole idea for this film is so creative, even though it is based off a book. It had a unique way of tricking the audience into what they were watching and believing in what the main character was saying. At the end of the film it is a total shock to find out what is really going on. This film is filled with a twist at the end that you won't believe coming. I, watched this movie on a stormy night, and I couldn't even sleep well because all I kept dreaming was about the film. This is one my favourite movies and luckily I own it so I get to see it over and over again anytime I want to.
HelloGoodbye
The major project for the film course, was making a short film. This seemed like such an easy task when we just thought about it. We were so wrong. There are so much different things that have to go to through making a successful movie. You have to think about post-production, then filming, and then editing. There are so much different planning that has to be thought of.
HelloGoodbye, was a film that Patricia and I made together. The script that we used was Patricia's, we also used her as our actress. Filming was a bit of a difficult task because there was so much going on because one our actor did not go to our school, and we all had different priorities that we had to stick with. Filming was at times a bit stressful because we just really wanted to get over it. We would spend hours filming things but at times we just did not even need it. Editing was the hardest and stressful part because there are so many shots that we took. We would spend so much hours on the editing part because it would take forever to render and sometimes the computer that we were using would be used.
I think overall making a short film is very stressful. You should not leave things to the last minute and make sure you stick to a plan. I suggest that you should start filming as soon as possible and get people that you can work with and have flexible schedules. Make sure you get a good computer and to save everything. I hope, next year there will be a short film with my name on it.
Psycho
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During the year, I learned about some old movies that were classical hits. Movies that I really wanted to watch but just could not seem to find the time to do so. Luckily, for the video course we got to watch Psycho.
Psycho, is a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is about a woman, Marian Crane, who is trying to find a way to be with her love, Sam Loomis. She is able to get $40,000 by robbing it from her workplace and travels off to see her lover. She ends at a motel, where she finds a shy but nice manager, Norman Bates. He offers a room, a meal, and even spends time with her to get to know her. Marion talks about her life with Norman and she realizes that she should give the money back that she robbed. Later that night, while she is taking a shower she is attacked by Norman's mother. People started to look for Marion, such as her sister and her lover. They realize that Norman did not have a mother alive anymore. That he was pretending to be her because he was just to emotionally attached. We find out that Norman has a psychiatric condition and that he was the one that killed Marion.
I looked into some background information about this film and found out that is based on a true event that happened. This whole story is completely scary to think about because it can happen to everyone. I really enjoyed this film because it is not what I thought it was going to be about. I thought it was going to about Marion and what she has to go through to try to get to her lover. When I played the video i thought i was actually watching the wrong movie cause everything seemed so normal in the the film. I`m really glad that I got to watch this movie because it was filmed really well.
Alice In Wonderland
Alice In Wonderland, has always been a book that I love to read. There are so many imageries in that book that it just makes you want to be like Alice, and travel to Wonderland. When I first saw the trailer for the new Alice in Wonderland movie, I was so thrilled. It looked so amazing with all the graphics and the visual affects that were used in the film. Then when I found out it was going to be in 3D I just could not wait to watch it.
This film had such an amazing cast and crew. It had one of my favourite directors Tim Burton. His films are always one of my favourites to watch because they are so out of the ordinary. They look like something out of a dream and something that I want to be part of. The Mad Hatter was portrayed by Johnny Depp, who always suits every character that he plays. Helena Bonham Carter, played the Red Queen and the way that she looked in the film was so amazing. Her facial expressions were just so out there and it felt so real. Anna Hathaway played the White Queen and she looked just beautiful in the film. With a director like Tim Burton and the most famous bunch of actors out there in one film, you jut know it's going to be a success again.
Alice In Wonderland is a film that I could watch over and over again. Watching this film for the first time made me feel like I was a kid reading Lewis Carroll's book. This film was a great take on what Alice would be like when she is grown up and watching it made me want to keep seeing more. I did not want the film to end because I wanted to see what other adventures Alice was going to get herself into.
Jamie Lo
Jamie Lo, small and shy is directed, written, animated by Lillian Chan. It was released in 2006. This animation is about a little girl named Jamie Lo. The story is told through narration. She is a small little who is shy and small. She lives in Canada and has a normal life. One day, her father is sent to Hong Kong for a year-long work assignment. She uses her creativity to cope with his absence. In the end she is able to get passed the fact that her dad is not there. She learns to grow and not become as shy as she was before. This film uses limited animation techniques, including animation cycles, and motorized movement. Limited animation involves using the use of less detailed stylized drawings and methods of movement. I thought that this animation was very cute. It has a touching story because it shows how families deal with someone in the family that has to work overseas and what families have to go through.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/jaime_lo_small_and_shy
Wordle
Wordle is a new thing that is a lot of fun to play with. The IDP class first learned about this new form of art, around the middle of the year. We were all confused of what this was. We were confused about the whole project because it seemed long and confusing and such a challenging task. When I first look at the different examples of wordle art, I was totally amazed. The way that the words just all came together and made this picture of these words. There are different styles, fonts, colours, and the placement of words that make the wordle art. There are so many possibilities that could be used that it took me awhile to chose the right settings. I had to do different examples of what I wanted my wordle to look like. I thought that making the text white and different shades of grey would be appropriate for my poem. The style of font that I used, I wanted it to be similar as the font I would use on LiveType. I`m really happy with my wordle. This is a really fun program to use.
Novel Vs. Film
Doing an adaptation of a book is usually hard to do. You have to get the right feelings and expressions. The director has to get a true sense of what is going on in a book by depicting the story of a film. Whenever an adaptation is done, the director usually changes some parts of the story, so that is easier for them. This may not be a good thing because it might change major parts of the story.
Children of Men, is originally a book by P.D James. It was made into a lose film adaptation, directed by Alfonso Cuaron. There was a big-deal changes were made in terms of plot, political message and characters in the updated film. I thought that the film was going to be a long and boring film because of the book was not that interesting. It is not a book that I would read. So, when I found out that we were going to watch the movie, I thought it would be like exactly like the book. I was not excited at all to watch it. To my surprise I actually liked the film. The plot for the film was an interesting take on the original story. The movie seemed to have more action which allowed me to enjoy the film more.
I usually enjoy watching adaptations of films because it allows me to get a visual of a story that I really enjoy. At times it would be exactly like how I depicted it but at times it can be totally different. I know that making a film adaptations will not have every single detail that was in the book. Sometimes that disappoints me because the best parts can sometimes be missed out and are not shown at all. An adaptation of stories that have a series to them are always the ones that I get excited for. Overall, I think that film adaptations are a creative way of expressing someone's point of view on a story that they love. Children of Men was very enjoyable to watch because it was not like the novel.
Tempest Memories
The Mary Ward Art Show came around the very first week of May. It was great success with all the amazing artwork, photography, and other wonderful creations. Whenever the art show comes around the biggest hit is usually the films that are shown. There are always a lot of variety of films this year. From the animations, to full length films, to the short films. The video class were all able to take part in making something for the art show, and having the chance to show it to everyone.
The films that were in the art show were all amazing. They all had different stories and different techniques that were brought on to the screen. Everyone was able to experience new concepts and new ideas. The film that got the most reaction from me would have to be, Plug In, Baby! The first time I saw this film was on the opening day of the art show. It was one of the first films that I saw it. The moment I saw it, I was in totally awe. The look of the film was just amazing. It was so clear because of the high definition. This made watching the film even more enjoyable. The choice of music for this film was just really great. The songs suited every scene well and when I found the playlist for the song I just had to download it. The whole idea for the film was so original and it just kept making me want more. I was so sad when the film was over because there were so many questions that were just unanswered in my head. It was a funny, cute, and emotional. The way the director made the film is very unique. He put the MSN conversations as text on the screen, while there was a voice over reading the texts, and you can see the emotions of the actors too. This film is just amazing to watch, and you should totally check it out on YouTube.
Having anything in the art show is always an exciting feeling. I remember coming to the Mary Ward Art Show when I was in grade eight and I thought the coolest part were the films. Coming into the grade 11 film course it was exciting thinking that a film I made would get to be in it. That people would be talking. Sadly, the film that I was working on did not get to be in the art show. I wish i was able to experience the feelings that my fellow friends got to experience when their films were shown. I know next time for sure a film that I will be working on will be in the art show.
Overall the art show was a great experience to be part of. From the long hours working on the films, to all the set-up that was being done. To the all the long hours in the video studio, never being a dull moment because of all the jokes that we all got to share. To screening the films and hearing all the reactions. From making new friends to getting to know people even better. The 2010 Tempest Art Show is an experience I will not forget.
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