Special Effects

This week in the discussion boards it was talked about special effects and weather they have a positive or negative impact in certain films.  Personally, I think special effects can make or break a film but there was discussion this week on how special effects can sometimes take away from a really well written film or simply make a really not so good film a decent film because of its special effects.

I wanted to use Avatar as an example as it was one of this weeks movie screenings with amazing detail and special effects. James Cameron's Avatar costing a total of $300 million extends the possibilities of what movies can do according to Rolling Stone Magazine 's Peter Travers. I found Avatar's storyline hard to follow, and the plot was dragged on.  I was distracted by the movies picture details and special effects. Don't get me wrong; Avatar was an amazing picture just not for me.


Do you think the special effects in Avatar took away from the story trying to be told? I think that the picture alone is what attracted such an audience.

Six Approaches to Writing About Film

One of my weaknesses as a writer is finding a focus. My first draft is usually all over the place.  I thought this chapter was particularly interesting and helpful because we are going to be doing a book review on a film next week and will need to be familiar with different approaches to writing about film. This chapter indicated the advantages as well as disadvantages of looking at a movie as part as a national cinema, it also described the difference between the auteurist  approach and a generic approach to a movie. Lastly, it gave some tips on the ways an ideological approach can be used in writing about film. 

Historical Approach

One of the most widely used methods in film criticism is the historical approach, which I think I would be most likely to use when writing about film.  One of the reasons I think that the historical approach is so popular is because it is easy to organize. Films can be related back to their place in a historical context. Historical film writers utilize techniques such as compare and contrast, make connections between conditions of productions, and make connections between U.S. films and the film trends during those years. 

Ideology

It is also an option to write about ideologies in films. The text uses an example of The Godfather II. A writer sensitive to the ideological values in The Godfather II may see this as a film concerned with the business of capitalism, and critisize the movie based on those ideologies. 

Chatham!

This has nothing to do with film history, but my Chatham episode is finally up on Cable! If you live on the Cape, you can catch it on Channel 99! Here it is. Harwich, Dennis, Yarmouth, & Barnstable coming soon. 

Chatham!

Foreign Films During the Golden Age

The time period we're studying this week was considered the "golden age" of art cinema.  Foreign filmmakers were forced to adapt in the television age and had to battle against Hollywood. European filmmakers began to seek alternatives and gave up on trying to beat Hollywood during this time.

European art films developed a unique sense of style. This style was purposely not easy to follow which was designed to be part of the pleasure. I appreciate the efforts by European filmmakers to do this because it was something that Hollywood would have never attempted so it was different and unique.  These films presented stories centered around psychological problems of alienation and the difficulty of communication.

Another strategy that European filmmakers used to break off from Hollywood is de-dramatizing. This was a storytelling strategy that focused on presenting both climatic and trivial moments to put an emphasis on the flexibility of film techniques instead of the norms of classical Hollywood films.

Lastly, the characters in European films were different than those portrayed in the normal Hollywood film. From studying storytelling plots for a while now I have absorbed the importance of a good story plot. In simple terms, the main character of the story is "supposed to" change, or find some resolution to a problem by the time the story is over.  Viewers of European films were encouraged to focus on the characters changing mental state throughout the film.  This happened through flashbacks, dream sequences and flash forwards to tell the viewer what the character was thinking. I personally think these characteristics  can make for a great film as they often keep the viewers in suspense.

JAWS

With all of the recent shark sightings so close to home...well for me anyway I live 10 minutes from Sagamore I thought it would be fun to blog about this weeks screening Jaws today!  Jaws is a classic. And personally, I like to view it right  around the time of  Discovery Channel`s Shark Week.  One thing I really like about Jaws is that it keeps the viewer wondering and in suspense.  After continuing to do some research on the movie; you may not have known the following from just watching the film;

• Jaws had a huge influence on the film industry. It wasn’t just the first ‘event’ movie, it also welcomed in a new era of mass movie marketing and merchandising. 
• Jaws was the first film to break $100 million at US box office.

Another element of Jaws that I think made it such a successful and well liked film was because it appeals to peoples fears.  People are terrified of Shark attacks so they were able to relate to the movie. The movie was also one of the firsts to portray such realism. Previously to Jaws, movies weren`t shot on the Ocean, which made all the difference in a more successful morning.

Behind the scenes

This week I was able to experience some down n` dirty behind the scenes work. As I have stated before I have an internship at a small television station down the Cape. I have had the opportunity to be a producer for my TV show, #LiveLikeALocal. This week, after three weeks of cutting, editing, and script writing, we were finally able to air our show!

This week I learned one very important lesson. That there is no such thing as too much footage. I had so much footage to chose from for my episode and I was so surprised I only used only six minutes of it.  Last year, TED 2 was being filmed just minutes from my house for weeks! the roads were all shut down and about two minutes of footage from that film location was actually used in the production! So, my first lesson in the field was learned. There is no such thing as too much footage!  I`ll be posting the link to my show as soon as it is up on the YouTube Channel!

Filming in Chatham, MA

 

Our #LiveLikeALocal Set!

 

Technological Developments in Film

I thought this would be a good week to discuss the technological developments in Film.  Hollywoods first choice for technological upgrades was television. First, in 1938 Paramount Pictures stepped forward. Paramount invested approximately $500,000 in DuMont television sets.  The Dominant radio networks at the time were CBS, NBC, & ABC as they still are today. 

One of the major developments in film and television at this time was wide screen images in color, and we are all thankful for that!  One of the first priorities in this time was to show movies in color.  By 1950,  the best known name in the field of colored broadcasts were Technicolor. Technicolor also supported the development of some of our cartoon favorites; Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck. 

I also was surprised to learn that 3D films have been around since the 1920s. I remember the first 3D production I had ever seen was the Muppets at MGM park in Orlando. 

For those of you students who read my blog...what are some of the other technological differences in film production that you have seen yourselves? As I am new to studying film by itself I am not all that familiar with all of the technology. I know some people prefer older cameras opposed to new ones. What are your thoughts?

GONE GIRL

SPOILER ALERT! I am about to rant about Gone Girl. So if you haven't seen it and want to, don't read this. Even though its been out well over seven months and chances are you've heard others talking about it. I need to rant about this movie. Gone Girl; one of the most anticipated movies of 2014 based on the novel. I was so disappointed. The storyline was great. The acting was great and painted an excellent picture of reality of some marriages and relationships. The whole film pretty much follows what the audience anticipates; that nick kills Amy. Then there is a major plot twist and Amy turns out to be the crazy one by faking her own death.  This was a good plot because there were multiple conflicts but rarely resolutions so it was easy for the viewer to get a bit lost or have a misunderstanding.  When it comes out that Amy fakes her own death I was disappointed in the way Nick handled the situation and the way the story ended.  I did feel that the conflicts were dragged on and the movie could have used a more intriguing ending which would have made for a better film all around.

 

 

 

 

For those of you who have seen Gone Girl, what characteristics of film and digital storytelling would you add or take away to make for a better story? And also what were your general thoughts on film all around?

The First Golden Age Of Hollywood

The Hollywood film industry reached its Golden Age by adapting the classical Hollywood Narrative style that we talked about earlier this week. During this time, more genres were developed by iconic actors and actresses such as Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, & Bette Davis. It was after World War II ended that Hollywood produced more films based on darker and realistic stories which is now called film noir.

 

Film is a form of communication. As a communication studies student who loves what I study, I have absorbed every communication model, everything I learned in interpersonal communication, and the importance of non verbal cues as communication. So I really felt connected and felt like I understood the information in this chapter.  I have talked over and over about the importance of good storytelling in this field. There are so many elements that produce a good story. In the Golden Age of Hollywood, producers relied a lot on sound and human voice as the center of the action to tell a better story. Sound added character traits where producers before the sound and audio development had to rely on facial expressions, and body language to tell the story.  And as we know, sound plays an important role in a genre.

 

 

What type of genre do you think this audio belongs to?

Beginning to Write

One of my weaknesses as a student is I far too often have writers block. I couldn't even imagine being responsible for writing the script for a film! As an intern I just had the opportunity to write the script for a TV show and it was so much fun but a lot of work and a lot of drafts.  Chapter 2 of A Short Guide To Writing About Film we are introduced to some important strategies and habits in writing critically about film. One important habit I think it is important to have is to write down some questions you want to have answered throughout the film. This way, it'll help the writer keep their focus and allow the viewer to watch the film analytically. Another strategy I think it so important is good note taking. I have struggled with this throughout school and I wish I had been a more organized note taker. Lately when I have been note taking, I break my notes into Plot/Setting: Characters: Conflicts. Etc. It`s easier to refer back to important events that way at least for me.

Another helpful writing motivator mentioned in the text is before watching your next film, write down a few expectations of the film and that will help prepare you for viewing such as connections between the film and reality.



What are some of your helpful film watching strategies?

Let there be...Sound!

In previous blog posts, I`ve talked a lot about good storytelling elements. We`ve talked about the importance of a good plot, proper lighting, setting, and script, but now lets factor in audio! Section 2 introduced the coming of sound in the order in which they were developed.  First, came the invention of new technology, innovation of selling talkies to the public, and the widespread adaptation of the talkies by the mainstream Hollywood cinema.  Interestingly enough, even after the new sound developments; silent black and white films remained the standard.  Sound did not only create a better finished product, but it effected Hollywood`s economy. The coming of sound had set in place a corporate structure that defined the studio era (1930s-1940s).  The use of sound was not only beneficial to America but on a global scale as well. Hollywood continued to distribute its films throughout the world which was also an economy booster.



We all know that horror movies have a distinct sound; or choice in music. What are some examples of movies that you`ve seen or a certain type of mood or theme that has a certain type of music or specific audio that is recognizable or symbolic?

What do you notice most 

when watching a film? I like to sit back and observe the way that characters are portaying reality. I recently just saw Ted 2 and enjoyed watching how they created a parody boston accent and basically a parody of how the world views Bostonians. I really pay attention to details of the film more than I do the plot more times than not. As a film, video and media student, I have learned to watch films with a critical eye. After completing a videography course last semester, I find that I often try to analyze a film in the sense of what angles their shooting at, the special effects used, and mostly pay attention to little details that I think can make my work better.

Switching Gears... 

Team Sweden

As a Swede myself,  I was interested in the Film Developments of Sweden in the early 1900s. 

Charles Magnusson

                              Swedish producer Mauritz Stiller`s most successful films used a combination of good storytelling, but camera techniques to help tell the story. I forgot to mention that before; that good storytelling is accompanied by good camera work. Lighting, music, depth of field, and the shots on the shot list make all the difference in the story the producer is trying to tell and the final product. The film The Outlaw and His Wife utilized deep focus lenses, complex lighting, double and triple exposures, slow paced editing, and long shorts which enabled the viewer to absorb the way the characters struggled throughout the story. 

I have the storytelling part down, I love to write and express my creativity. I would like to expand my knowledge behind the camera and during a production. I barely know anything about lighting but I do know that it is essential for good storytelling. 

Diving Into Film History

This morning, I had the opportunity to dive right in to material.  For starters, as I posted in our online discussion board, Movie History Rocks! the book is filled with photos, headings, and is really well written and informative.  We learn in this first section the importance of storytelling and one of its earliest methods involved using still images which is STILL a method used today. In fact, In my multimedia storytelling course I took earlier this year with David Copeland, I used still images to tell my little love story that you can view that Here!

 

 

 

It`s funny how today, many of us enjoy going to the movies, and pretty much anyone can be a part of the movie-goer market. In the early 1900s however that was not the case.  Children attended movies in record numbers, and the early movie theatres served much of the working class and not the middle class. I found it interesting that children and young adults ranging from the ages of 15-25 made up the bulk of the movie market.

 

 

I thought these facts were interesting in comparison to the statistics from the early 1900s:

 

 

• In 2013 the share of tickets sold to 2-11 year olds was at it`s highest point since 2009
• The share of tickets sold to 50-59 year olds were at an all time high
• Since 2010 the 25-39 age group had compromised approximately a quarter of all cinema tickets sold.

Statistics from the Motion Picture Association Of America.

 

 

Some popular films from 2013 included

•  The Wolf of Wall Street
• Frozen    
•  Despicable Me 2
• Lone Survivor    
• The Great Gatsby    
• 12 Years a Slave

What were your favorite films from 2014? What are your predictions for the 2015 movie market statistics?

 

 

 

About Me

Hi, I`m Breanna. 

Since we will be spending the next five weeks conversing via blackboard with eachother, I figured I would give everyone an introduction. My name is Breanna. I am going to be a senior at BSU and I couldn`t be more excited. Now, more than ever I am so eager to learn because I truly enjoy what I`m studying. NO MORE MATH. NO MORE SCIENCE, and that is truly music to my ears. 

I`m a communications studies major with an interest in media studies. I am an aspiring news reporter but I understand that you have to start somewhere, and I`m okay with that. I am currently an intern at Cape Cod Media Center Channel 99 in Dennisport, and loving every aspect of it. I am currently producing my own television show called the Cape Cod Update which highlights WHAT TO DO ON CAPE COD?! I have also gained a ton of experience editing, directing, and most importantly interviewing on camera and building a professional portfolio.

In January 2015 I took a course with professor Ingvoldstad and he assigned a book about the importance of internships. It scared me to death because I was a junior and I had yet to even look into an internship. In the meantime, I joined the school radio station #WBIM FM and joined a country music radio show as an intern. I am glad to be coming back as a co-DJ next semester and also continuing with my internship at the TV station. I think I will have a well rounded set of skills when it comes time to apply for jobs! which is always a good thing, 

Thats all for now! 

-BG

Ready, Set, Study!

It`s that time again. It`s time for online bonding with classmates lots of coffee and late nights, and for once a FUN course that sounds interesting! I am beyond excited to be studying film history this semester, for several reasons.  For one, my major is Communication Studies with a concentration in Film, Video, & Media. I have been so tied up in courses that I think will better prepare me to be a news anchor or as they call it 'on air talent,' I have overlooked the courses such as this one that I think would be a good class for everyone!  By no means am I a film critic. However, in this major I have learned that it is important to look at material such as films, and writing with a critical eye.  I think looking at things from a critical eye is extremely beneficial to my learning because I can apply what I have learned in class to real works of published media such as films, newspapers, photography, etc.  Studying history is important. Film History is important. Film has represented global means of communicating local and national stories that matter. Films are created by the most talented writers, producers, directors, artists, actors, and videographers in the profession. Honestly, I am taking this course because I need to as part as my curriculum and it was available this summer, but I could have taken photography. I am glad to be studying film history this semester where I will learn valuable material and allow me to explore artistic visions, technological developments, and social changes in other cultures and compare them to American films.

In closing, I`ll admit that one of my goals in life is to become a good storyteller. In the field I am aspiring to be in you need to have good storytelling skills. I have a large interest for digital and multimedia storytelling so I can`t wait to see what this semester will bring as far as stories on the screen.