Blog Assignment 8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMuam1MObtI

Clearly the theme in this movie is the classic prison break/escape film, and one of the best to boot. This theme is didactically expressed in the film's plot. Shawshank Redemption is about an innocent man that did the wrong things at the wrong time and wound up with two life sentences in the prison of Shawshank. Obviously this doesn't sit well with him, therefore he plans his escape over the 20 years we was in the clink. Then he disappears and ends up escaping in the middle of the night; a timelessly classic film plot.

There were a lot of basic film strategies used in this scene; the manipulation of movement and space. First off, movement was a large playing factor because it helped create the representation of power; the back and forth of the mopping represented the weak prisoners, and the slow walking represented the powerful guards. You can see a hint at the imminent power shift when Andy starts walking towards the guards and stops mopping. Space was also an important part of the scene because of how it made characters seem; the scene started out with the prisoners farther away, making them seem smaller or weaker, as opposed to the closer, more powerful guards. The contrast in apparent size of the characters is what set up the scene, because later there was an affinity because of the power shift after Andy talks to the guard. This film contains a lot of subtext, because the narrator (Freeman) helps the story along as it unravels, but he doesn't always explain everything. There is also a lot of stuff that someone has to figure out, like when Andy and the Sisters have their run-ins... They don't show what happens, but you unfortunately know.

Blog Assignment 7

These two still images obviously differ quite a lot. The first one was taken from Adventure Time, and the second from Batman Beyond. First I'll talk about color; one of the biggest differences between these two images. The hue and brightness are the two biggest factors here; Adventure time has much brighter hues like light blue and pink, and Batman Beyond much darker hues such as dark purple and black. The lighting is also a big player because the first image has very bright lighting, as it is during the day and it makes you think about happiness and other crap like that. The second image has much darker lighting because it's obviously in a dark room, which is trying to make you feel scared or intimidated by the Joker. Movement in these images however was very limited. In the first image, there is literally no movement... The group is just sitting there. However in the second image, you can see the Joker pressing firmly into Bruce, meaning that he's trying to get Bruce to listen to him. Even though there is movement, there's no overlapping movement, as in there's only one type of movement happening. But, then again these are still images... I didn't expect much movement anyway.

Blog Assignment 6

The director Casey La Scala did a fantastic job with the camera work in this scene, even though it was already really easy. Seeing as the entire scene took place in a van, it would've proven difficult to break the 180 degree rule, and La Scala used it the 180 degree rule by clever zooming. Many of the shots involved the camera literally just zooming in and out. However when Matt throws the CD out of the window and when Sweet Lou puts in the Poison CD, La Scala adhered to the 180 degree rule, and just used good zooming skills. These shots also utilize the rule of thirds very well because all of the important things in each scene reside in the in the spots that agree with the rule of thirds, such as Matt, the Poison CD, and Sweet Lou. Although, La Scala didn't really use the 30's rule, except for when Matt throws the CD out of the window. When Matt does throw it out of the window though, the camera does indeed move by 30 degrees... Otherwise the 30's rule isn't really used often. La Scala filmed this scene really well, but then again, it wasn't hard to in such a small place like a this van. However, with every shot that was important, La Scala executed quite well and adhered to the rule of thirds, 30's rule, and the 180 degree rule.

MY FIRST iMOVIE :D

My Animation

Blog Assignment 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9pf3omyGzw

Listening Framework:
Phase 1:
Tempo - Andante (Slow)
Source - Drums
Groove - Flow, smooth

Phase 2:
Instrumentation - Drums drive the song, but guitar guides it
Structure - Intro, verse, chorus, verse, bridge, guitar solo, outro
Emotional Architecture - Mostly sad during the song, but builds up during bridge and solo to be happy

Phase 3: (Balance)
Height - Relatively low
Width - Wide, with a lot of panning
Depth - Somewhat standard with a - Singer, Two guitars, and Two drum kits


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyjV9hDNRvQ

Listening Framework:
Phase 1:
Tempo - Allegro (Fast)
Source - Drums and guitar
Groove - Alt. rock, poppy

Phase 2:
Instrumentation - Drums drives the song, but guitar guides it
Structure - Intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus
Emotional Architecture - Somewhat sad until the build up at the end

Phase 3:
Height - High with the guitars
Width - Wide, panning
Depth - Standard, Two guitars, Two singers, Bass, Drums


These two brilliantly created songs by Bloc Party are quite different from each other, but also share some similarities.  The first song (Sunday)'s lyrics are clearly talking about two lovers that happen to be sharing an unfortunate hangover from the night before. However, unlike most songs, this song has two drum kits being played instead of one, driving a slow yet intricate tempo; this fits the song perfectly.  The guitar in the song is (what I personally think) sets the mood of the song, because until the end of the song the guitar is slow and somewhat sad, then right after the bridge it becomes happy and sounds somewhat triumphant even.  The second song (Two More Years)'s lyrics really just reiterate the saying "Keep on truckin'".  The song tells you that the worst will be over (after only two more years) and that you need to just "hold on". The drums in this drive it with a relatively fast beat, and I always find myself tapping my foot to the beat of quick kick drum. The guitar uses the beat of the kick drum to guide the song with it's clever use of and low toned chords.
These two songs are quite similar in the way that the drums drive the song, and in the way that the guitar helps guide the songs through their somewhat sad majority and triumphant endings. Another way that these songs are similar is that the lyrics fit each song incredibly well; it's as if I could determine the underlying meaning of each song even without the lyrics. The way that all the instruments in each song come together fit the lyrics perfectly.
 However, these two songs are also quite different. One difference is that that the tempo of Two More Years is much quicker than that of Sunday's. Another difference is that the groove of Sunday is much more flowing and slow, while Two More Years' is much more choppy and quick, making it sound pop-ish and alternative rock-ish.
Personally, I prefer Sunday because I love the guitar parts in the chorus and find the solo to be quite enjoyable. Also I love how innovative it was to compose to drum parts, thus leading to the playing of two drum kits at the same time. I find it very nice to listen to.

Blog Assignment 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiFbPqIn0HI

 

The use of casual sound in this scene is completely relevant to the scene in its entirety. Without the song playing in the van, the scene would've been completely pointless. Also, the constant fighting between Matt and Brendan holds the group dynamic together. With Brendan being the responsible one, and Matt being the irresponsible one, clashes are nearly expected. Therefore, these would be nothing without the loud packing of the punches exchanged between them. The semantic sound of the punches represents their relationship throughout the film.  Also, the distance between the group at this point time was essential when creating this scene; with the gang singing "Nothing But A Good Time" and the joyous group overtone, it was hard not to picture the group as a team.  The movement of the group also accentuates image of the group being a team; the way they all moved together while they sang the song really made the group seem like they were together as more than a group of skaters.