10th December 2012 Reflection

Today in film, we spent most of the class finishing off a task from the previous lesson focussed on overhead diagrams. I used a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail to begin, before creating a shotlist and then creating an overhead diagram. I feel that this task has given me a great idea of overhead diagrams, which will be very useful for the upcoming assignment.

For homework, we were supposed to analyse an episode of the twilight zone for metaphoric value. The episode I chose was the episode "I Shot an Arrow in the Air", in which the launch of an experimental spacecraft goes wrong, leaving the survivors of the crash stranded on an asteroid. The survivors argue amongst themselves, before they seperate to scout out the area. After one of the three survivors does not return, the leader of the mission is suspicious when the final member returns with more water than he had left with. They go out looking for the missing member, only for the final member to turn on the leader, killing him so that hey may survive for longer. However, in a major plot-twist, it is revealed that they merely crashed in a desert on earth.

I believe that it conveyed its message well, that humans turn on each other easily. It also conveyed the futility of this, through the final plot twist. Another note of interest was that it managed to contain a somewhat meta attitude, having the "alien" landscape (clearly filmed on earth) eventually revealed to actually be earth.

20th November 2012

Today in film, we continued working on our Books to Blockbusters film, part of a school festival intended to highlight the complications and joys of converting books into films. However, having already collected and edited most of our footage, only one group member edited, while the rest conducted additional research into the Twilight Zone.

Also, here's our completed film noir: http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0cw8BC4Iog

2nd November 2012 Reflection

Today in film, having finished our film, we spent most of the period watching our work in front of the class, taking several minutes afterwards to reflect on it. I feel this helped us come to grips with our film, as well as compare it to the work of our peers in various ways. I look forward to seeing the few remaining ones on Tuesday.

Film Reflection 31st October 2012

Today in film, we had to finish shooting the last few scenes of our film. Having shot and edited the majority outside of class, we were able to do this with relative ease. I feel that we worked well together when filming this piece, and together made the film much better than I think it would have with other group members. I also think that parts of the unit were rushed, and this detracts slightly from the final piece; However, the somewhat rushed completion of our film has not detracted from it being an admirable piece of filmography.

3rd October 2012 Reflection

Today in film, we were redirected from film class to attend a workshop by the actor Nigel Miles-Thomas. Though acting in films instead of live drama, many of the activities he suggested could also be applied to film-based acting. Through several activities, we were taught the importance of making dialogue sound fluid, as well as the importance of saying dialogue exactly and correctly.
Though many of the concepts did not apply as much to us, I feel that this workshop was greatly helpful in regards to improving on the quality of our acting, as well as in reiterating the importance of saying dialogue correctly and of using body language to support dialogue.

Film Reflection 17th September 2012

Today in film, we began making final preparations before beginning to shoot. Not final final preparations of course, just final preparations. We spent some time observing scenes from Double Indemnity, Heat (1995) and Internal Affairs (2002) and speculating on what film noir traits they used. This helped cement many of the techniques we had learned of last class, as well as giving us an idea of how they could be employed. I feel prepared to begin shooting, though several planning lessons remain ahead of us.

Review:Dogma

Before I begin this review, can you promise not to tell my mother. I have been sworn to secrecy by my father concerning Jay and Silent Bob, due to her disapproval of the pair in general. We good? Ok.

Dogma's an interesting movie. It comes of as distinctly childish, despite its subject matter, and carries a somewhat hopeful tone with it, even in the face of the destruction of humanity and representatives of Mooby (basically Disney) being slaughtered by a vengeful Matt Damon. It also conveys an attitude to Catholicism and religion in general that will probably offend many (ironically true to some of the metaphors it gives).

The film opens with an abortionist (legal), who is a Christian despite her profession, and goes slightly into how she lost her faith (couldn't get pregnant, husband left her). Soon after this she is educated by Metatron (played by none other than Alan Rickman/Snape) of two banished angels attempting to reenter heaven. Though seemingly innocent, by doing so they will reverse a decree of god and thus end existence. Joined by two stoners (Jay and Silent Bob), she sets out to stop this from happening.

I won't spoil the ending. Its a good movie, if awkward at parts. And despite being predominantly a comedy and a work of fiction, parts of it seem to make sense within Christian doctrine. But again no spoilers. I give it a 7-8/10.