Post #6 Extra Credit(:

Three movies from this class Art 115 that I found to be most compelling and had the most impact on me throughout the enitre course are as follows:

Double Idemnity, 1944 Directed By: Bill Wilder

Memento, 2000 Directed By: Chirstopher Nolan

The Godfather, 1972 Directed By: Francis Ford Coppola

For that of three movies in which we didnt see as a class that I think every film student should see would be as follows: 

Searching for Sugarman, 2012 Directed By: Malik Bendjelloul

Schindler's List, 1993 Directed By: Steven Spielberg

The Breakfast Club, 1985 Directed By; John Hughes

The question though is why did I choose these films well the reasons are as follows:

1. In choosing Double Idemnity I truly never thought I would see a film in black and white and actually like it. The story behind this film was so compelling and had me wanting to see more and wonder what is going to happen next. The narration in the story kept me in tact with what was going on if I got lost and the screen shots taken during the film had me see the expression and feelings that the characters were going through.

2. In choosing Memento, this film from the start had me confused. The reality of it is thought that it wanted and kept you wanting to keep watching because you wanted to figure out what the character was going through since we saw something so unsual happeing in the film as the main character tattooed himself with words to remember things. The film itself was very interesting and the way the camera shots were taken to understand the characters mind was even more interesting to me.

3. In choosing The Godfather, this film itself is famous and very well filmed. It has everything in one. It has drama, action comedy and even thriller. The film is long although it doesnt matter because of how good the story line is. The Godfather is similar to the film Scarface, 1983 Directed By: Brian de Palma, and has many scenes that has you look at the film industry aspect of how they made that happen. If you liked the movie Scarface you'll sure like this film. 

Now in choosing the films we didnt see as a class why did I pick these three? Well the answers are easy: 

1. Searching for Sugarman, is a Documentary. This Film is just amazingly done and is so well put together in my eyes. The music that is placed in every scene was just done so well and the scenes taken and chosen from long shots to close ups were just wonderful. This film provides such a great story line for not just music lovers but for anyone who wants to see a person who is so humble and doesnt expect anything from anyone because he did what he loved to do. I highly suggest all film lovers to see this one. 

2. Shindler's List, if you have never seen this film it is a MUST see film. Spielberg is such and amazing director that all his movies just have you leaving the theater in aww. This film has everything we learned in Film class a in one. From screen shots, to close ups, to music all the way to basic story line process. Shindler's List is a movie that will make you cry because it is a realization of something that actually took place in our world and it is based off a true story and events that took place in Poland after that of World War II. This to me is one of my favorites and a must see for all film lovers. 

3. The Breakfast Club!!! This is such a funny, drama film. It is an old film although the events that take place in the story line of this film actaully still exist today. Many young teens and adults can relate to this film in many ways from their current to past life. The Breakfast Club has many great scenes and has us view the film in takes of film shots here and there. The music too is so well placed that it goes with what the characters are doing to understand the meaning behind what they are thinking and feeling. This film to me is so funny and very fun to watch. As I have seen it over 10 times and own it I can say that it is a great film. 

Blog Post #5

Red: North by Northwest. Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock. 

Musical piece is called "Prelude" composed by Bernard Herrmann. 

The musical piece of this film was roughly a start off of realing in the audience to be intrigued in what is going on in the film. The music relates to the films story because as we see when the film starts off we quickly get that view of many people walking everywhere in a hurry one trying to catch a bus the others in a rush to catch a train and some just simply hurrying to get to where they need to. There are no obvious characters when we see the film but many film standbys are seen walking quickly to their desired destination. 

The music by Bernard Herrmann was used in such an intelligent way. At first starting off the film with such an up beat orchestra we are already being realed in to wonder what is going to happen next. The shots taken to go along with the music was so well played because it was so up beat it went with the film standbys walking around so quickly. For that of triggering specific memories or associtaions the music gets me and anyone watching that sense of quickness and some feeling of like wondering what is going to pop out or happen in the next scene. 

In my opinon this music choice was very effective in no words needing to be said to get what is going on and how the people are feeling in rushing to their destination. It definatley succeded in evoking the response of people in a hurry and a sense of mch suspence of what will happen. 

Yellow: Punch Drunk Love. Directer by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Musical piece called: "Tabla" composed by John Brion

The musical piece of this film was showing the audience Adam Sandler who in the movie he is known as Barry Egan in an anxious moment. Egan is a man who is determined in this film clip to get all the pudding he can. The music can relate to this scene in the film because it is so upbeat with the drums that shows the audience the anxiety that the character has. The drums then come to a stop when he speaks of the pudding and then continues after as he goes through the aisles and collects all the pudding there is. 

The music by Brion was used in such a great way as we too as an audience began to get that feeling of what is Egan going to do next. The triggering moment and memories for me in this film clip with the sound would be that of which when one is nervous and is in a rush to do something because of excitement and then you get that feeling of "oh no, where am I going to go now?" 

In my opinion the music that was placed in this particular scene was well done. As it created the feel of anxiety and thrill just as the charater was in getting all the pudding he can. In this we can be laughing as well as the music makes it comical in a way to. 

Blue: Raging Bull. Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Musical piece called: "Silvano: Barcarolle" composed by: Pietro Mascagni

Performed by: Ochestra del Teatro Comunal di Bologna

Conducted by: Arturo Basile

The context of this musical piece was suttle and slow a bit sad as well. The music relates to that of the films story because the character Jake la Motta played by Robert de Niro is going through a life crisis in his boxing career. In the film clip it is remenising on the life of Motta and how he was happy and enjoyed everyday he spent with his loved ones. 

The music by Mascagni was used in a way to create that of sadness and have the audience feel the pain that the chacter felt. In every now and then it would switch to the scene of Motta going into a fight and then flip back to the days he was so happy. The triggering moment in this film would be that the music make me and the audience get the sense of what Motta may be thinking why he is getting hit in the fight and therefore have you feel so sad and sorry for him.

In my opinion the music that was placed in this particular scene was placed at an okay part. Although I felt that the music could have been placed in another clip and another sound piece could have been played. As the music created that much more of a sadness feeling and and also created that feeling of happiness in the pictures but also had the audience memeber feel a bit like we get what is going on and the music gets to be a bit repetative. This of course is just my opinion. 

A Bug's Life (1998). Directed by John Lasseter, Andrew Staton

Musical piece: "Seed to tree" Conducted by: Randy Newman

In the context of this musical piece it was placed in a scene where the characters Flick and Dot are dicussing the planting of a seed and a rock. The music is uplifting and strong in showing the characters feeling of being accoplished and then going down to where Dot says its just a rock. Dot and Flick have a dream of becoming a great ant and know that one day they can do something big in planting just one seed to have food for the rest of their colony. 

The music by Newman was used to show the character Flicks feelings about his dream in becoming a great hero ant and the settles in to where Dot simply doesnt see his vision and just sees what she is holding as just a simple rock and nothing else. The triggering moment in this film would be that the film gives that uplifting feeling that yes one day Flicks dream will come true and creates a comical kid point of view in which Dot doesn't see it the same why. 

In my point of view the music in this film clip was placed very well. In which it showed the emotion that not only one character was felling but both. It also gave the audience that sense of "oh yay" feeling for Flick and "awww" feeling for Dot. The music is so great and is something that can for sure be placed in any happy encouraging film clip.

A Bugs Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mzas1vgcIo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_mgz_9XEI

Tim Burton-Frankenweenie

Tim Burton is an American Film Director, Producer, Writer, Artist and Animator. Burton has worked on the following movies: Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Dark Shadows and Frankenweenie, and forblockbusters such as Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Batman, its first sequel Batman Returns, Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland. Burton was interviewed on 
Wednesday, February 20,2013 by The Treatment. Burton's newest movie Frankenweenie which was jsut released was nominated for and Oscar Award. 

During the interview Burton tell the interviewer that his favorite part of making the film is not so much the realease date and how big the film will be. His favorite part of making the film is shooting the movie. Burton explains that his movies he never noticed had much to do with that of families till this interview., He states that "he and his family were never close". I found this so shocking in that of which I would think the complete opposite just the fact of hime being such a great film phenomenom. Burton states though that "parents are inspirations whether the rekationships are good or bad a child relies and looks for their parents". 

Burton stated that when making the movie Big Fish he made is just because of the fun of film making but he never realized that his film was based off something that occured in his life. He stated "my father passed away before the film Big Fish was created". Therefore there is a lot of explinatiton in which why his films are family based because he misses that area in his life. He also states that the death of his father although they were not close "struck him in a big way."

Burton goes o to saying that you can never "be prepared for someones death". In the film Frankenweenie Burton shows the child and his struggles of family life and we can see that half of his life is being brought out through his movies. He comes to this understanding and is in some sort of shock. Although he states "projecting is powerful". 

In conclusion Burton comes to talk about how the Films have made a great impact in his life. He states that there is so many things to do with that of animation in which you can do so many things. Burtons life stories come out through his films which is good because he doesnt discuss his life often. He never realized it till now that his movies express his feelings. Very rarely though do we see his films in color. 

Blog Post #3

Overall Look: "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" was an interesting movie. In speaking about the context of the lighting I felt that it varied. In certain areas the lighting was dramatic and in certain areas the lighting contained much of a suspense effect. In speaking of the angle direction I felt they were placed in the right directrion. The way they made the film had you intrigued in the film. The blurrness in certain scenes made it much more dramatic and had you wanting to watch the film rather then already know what will happen next.

Images: In speaking about the images that convey certain answers that arent given directly the film had quite a few of these moments. From a simple butterfly fluttering through the air. This showed the significance that the character felt free. These certain images in the film are as stated crucial in the fact that it explains and gives the audience a much more sense of what is going on what will happen and how the person may be felling at that moment.

Shot Lengths: In the film the shot lengths were showed to be long in certain shots they did. I felt the reason why this was done was to portray a much better suspensful feeling. This gave the audience a feeling that they themselves are in the film. The way the shot were done was great in the sense that it was giving more of a reason to keep watching and understand the severity of what is going on in the film.

Shot Types: The shot types in this film explain and give away a lot about the character and their personailty and fellings. The close ups they shot give the audience a better understand at the characters reactions. We can see the expressions and the emotion in their face and almost feel as thought they are looking directly at us. The long shots gave it that wondering feeling of the scenery and what does that have to do with what is going on. It gave that sort of questioning feeling.

Camera Angles: Now in the scenes of when the camera was shot from above in when the characters are riding in the car. This gave the impression and gave the scenery of how free the characters felt at that moment. This did give the characters their point of view.

Compositon: The composition of the shots in the movie are crucial. This gave the scene a look of what is going on what will happen and why it is happening. This was the area in which the audience can kind of understand the scenes and shots.

Camera Movement: The movement of the camer whether it be fast or very slow gave the audience that whoa feeling. You were so stuck in watching the film that whether it made you dizzy or not it was a good movement made to get the  point across. The movement of the camera makes you get different points of views of where and what is going on.

Cinematography Style: This is the part in which is the main aspect of the film. This intriguies the audience in. Makes you want to watch the movie. If there is no good story there is no good way to keep watcing the movie.

Blost Post #2 Film Noir

In the Documentary of Film Noir, Director Kathryn Bigelow states "The more he tries to radicate the situation the worst it gets". The way that I believe that this quote applys to the movie "Double Idemnity", is that Walter who we know is the killer is trying to cover up his tracks for the murderer of his lovers husband. The more and more that Walter tries to cover up his tracks with himself and his love affair with Phyllis the more and more worst the situation gets. In saying this he and Phyllis can no longer take such stress from it all that Walter murders not only her husband but her as well. In doing all this he cant keep covering up his tracks and soon throughout the movie we find out he has been recording the truth all along. This quote goes so well in fitting this movie as the more and more Walter tries to make everything seem as though it will be okay in the end he gets caught and just made the situation worst in him getting shot and dieing to at the end of the film.


In the Film "Double Idemnity" Phyllis comes across at first as a sweet innocent yet seductive character. As we get through seeing her character we realize she isnt so sweet and see her "femme fatale" come across. What makes her a femme fatale is that she is determined to get her husband killed but she wont do it without anyones help. She wants someone to do it for her and she is a person who will get what she wants no matter how far she has to go. In watching we find out she had killed her husbands ex-wife just so she could be with him. She is a typical femme fatal as she is attractive and seductive and whichever man she is with he will ultimatley be in a huge disater because of her. In the documentary Director Errol Morris states "We dont know whats going on but we know its something bad". This clearly goes with this film as we dont exactly get what is happening and why she wants this to happen and for what reason but we know they both are up to no good.


The camera angles used in "Double Idemnity" to help create the world of film noir feel would be when they shot the clip of Walter speaking into the mic of the recording of the events going on. This gave the audience the feeling of realism as if they are there next to him listening to him record himself. You can see the sweat dripping from his face. The next scene where this feel was when Phyllis and Walter were together in realism that they cannot get awat from the cops. The form of how they both have a look of suspicion keeps the audience guessing what are they going to do next and when is she going to pull out the gun.


To me I actually now like the black and white colored films because they give the audience more thinking of what colors are being disguised. Black and white gives it more of a suspicious and mysterious look to the film that keeps it interesting. I really like it because its main focus too is on the characters and not on whats going on around them. As this main focus can keep the person on top of what is going to happen next and stay on track of the film. Film Noir style gives that of a scary style. It keeps you wanting to watch. Never would I see myself watching such a film as I thought they were boring but to be honest they actually are more interesting than the ones being made today. You can see the details being made and the realism in the shots are shown in the form of the camera being placed.

       

Blog Post#1 What Makes a Movie Compelling

To me what I feel makes a movies compelling would be, how the directors are able to grasp the attention of their audiences. Through not only their previews on the commercials but also on how their movies start and grasp the full on attention of the viewers that makes them not want to leave their chair. The movie needs to have an interesting story behind it to make it seem as though it were something that is really happening. To have the movie be noteworthy it would have to have well written scripts and story lines. The movie to me would need to be filled with mystery and have the audience try and figure out what will happen next. Suspense is what the movie needs for sure. In the case of the movie being deserving of an award it would to me have to contain well played actors. Actors who are somewhat more famous, but are actors who do the job well. It would need to be well directed and well made. The actors who can portray the script well are too ones who deserve an award. The last reason why I believe that a movie deserves an award is when after watching the movie; you want to watch it over and over and over again. That for me is a well written movie and a movie that in my view deserves and award.

 In watching Le Voyage dans la lune(A Trip to the Moon), and The Great Train Robbery, the movie that most caught my attention and kept me wanting to keep watching more for what will happen was The Great Train Robbery. In regards to both movies how they measure up to my criteria, they both actually did a well job on making the movies with interesting story lines. Both these movies have a story behind it. To be honest the silent films so to say without the music, actually kept my attention in trying to figure out what they were saying. Each time they made a movement and moved on to the next scene I then figured out what they said. I never found silent films to be interesting but after watching both the movies I now look at them in a different way. The Great Train Robbery was my favorite of the two as the way it starts off I'm already so interested in what they are going to do next with the man they are tieing up.

 My criteria in movies isn’t much of a big list to look up to but by watching both movies, they clearly met up to almost most if not all my opinions on what makes a movie to great. Two of my favorite films would have to be Mean Girls, and End of Watch. These are two of many great films that I like to see. Now the reason I choose to use these two was because they both are of different genres. One is drama and comedy, as for the other is drama, thriller, and somewhat of real life incidents that occur. In speaking about Mean Girls, directed by Mark Walters, this movie meets by criteria by first of all its a comedy that caught me there, two it was and is a movie that when I first saw it on the commercials it was a for sure movie I wanted to watch. In watching the film it kept me so into watching it to see what was going to happen next with the so called "mean girls". It was a movie that made me not want to leave my seat and was a movie that in some ways was real life because things like that do happen in high school. Why it meets my criteria well the explanation is there. This was a film that had two famous actors, Lindsey Lohan and Rachel McAdams. It had a story to tell and it was told well. In speaking about the film End of Watch, directed by David Ayer, this film meets all of my criteria that I look for in a movie. This movie had me literally at the edge of my seat. I did not want to move nor blinlk, as I did not want to miss one second of this film. This film not only had action, great story, great acting, but as well had some comedy entied to it and the scenes shown in the movie showed exactly what a cop may be witnessing on their day to day lives in pertaining their jobs. This movie met my criteria by keeping my attention the whole time the movie was playing, after watching the movie I went back and saw it 3 times in the theaters and now I am going to buy the dvd. This movie kept me wanting more. Even at the end of the movie I was so intersted in finding out what is going to happen to the cop that survived. It kept me wanting more.

I have placed photos of both movies the first two are the cover photos of the movies
The next two photos are just simply from the film
The films placed are the trailers for both movies
The last two photos are quotes from the movies
                          

                             

My Interest in Film

 My interest in Film isnt to much of me being an avid film buff as stated but I do enjoy watching movies here and there. I normally on watch movies when someone else wants me to go view the movie with them or when I am interested and eager to see the movie. I dont collect movies but rather perfer watching movies on netflix or ordering them from redbox. My father is a real movie lover and almost goes every once a week sometimes twice to the movies to see the new releases that just came out. I am however very interested in learning about the art of film and learning about how films developed from a simple silent movie, to a 3D effect movie. I love to watch all types of movies but my favortie ones too see are, true life stories, documentaries, love story movies, comdey. Im not a big action film fan but I do watch them. My favortie movie for comedy would be mean girls, and dumb and dumber. One movie I am however addicted to watching a lot is the "End of Watch". I dont know why I find that movie so thrilling but I just cant get tired of seeing it. Well thats a little something about my interest in Film. I am eager to learn more about how movies are transformed into what we see on screen, as from reading the book on chapter 1 of intro to film I already am amazed at how I was not even looking at the small details that the movie makers do to grasp our attention toward the movies.