Blog #6

I as the director and writer of this film decided that the two characters in the first couple shoots of this scene should meet in a dark alley way where Captain Oblivious is searching for a villain that he can fight to better his reputation in the city he strolls along one of his many enemies Mr. E. who is about as clumsy and clueless as they come. For the first shot I have Oblivious searching for the villain as a medium shot to show where he is and his action as well as you being able to see he face clearly enough to see what it is that he is saying, he is standing next to a couple garbage cans under streetlight looking in the direction of the street light. The second shoot was a close up of Oblivious turning towards the camera and looking afraid this isn’t not breaking the 180 rule and because he is turning it allows the camera to move 30 degrees without even moving as well as the close up working to expand the shot 30 percent. The next shoot is a wide shot to show Mr. E. under the light not breaking one 180 still and backing up enough not to break the 30 law either as well as showing you the character and his darkness. The next shot is a medium shot of the two fighting the still not breaking the 180 line and moving the camera to meet the two as they meet all the while moving in to show the action of the shot the actual action. The last shot of the five shots is a wide shot of how Oblivious has left Mr. E on the ground now under the light between the two garbage cans exposing him for what he really is, trash. Because Oblivious punches Mr. E away from him it allows the camera to move not breaking 180 or the 30 degree rule. I only used the rule of thirds in the third shot because it is dark and Mr. E is hidden within the darkness so to draw your eye to him I put him there.

outkast
parker

I analyzed the song “Hey Ya” by Outkast and a cover of that song by a Indie performer by the name of Obidiah Parker. The two songs were very different in everything except for lyrics, where we’ll start. The lyrics of this song are actually profound and when listening to this pop song dropped by Outkast in the earlier years of the 21^st century you wouldn’t have thought that you truly unless you sat down and read through the lyrics wouldn’t be able to see the beauty of them, which is one of the reasons I liked the cover of this song so much, he concentrates more on this song in a lyrical fashion, almost as if it were a playwright where you read the lyrics and sing them based on their meaning not just to sing them to sound good, so that’s the lyrics. The melodies of this song for the most part vary very (haha) little, the cover stuck mainly to the melodic structure of the original song which is nice because it does give it that sort of poppy feel while remaining acoustic which you hardly ever see these days. Thirdly, and the thing that varied this songs the most was within the actually qualities found within the music, the rhythm was get the same a steady flow which captures the ear and forces the mind to lose itself, the intensity of the song is different and can be shown greatly through the cover because of the way he sings the chorus in the beginning and how he changes it and puts a lot of force behind the second chorus while in the original the intensity throughout it is maintained at a pretty high level. The pitch of the songs are around the same in the highs of the vocals so there isn’t much variation in pitch between the two. The timbre is the same as is the organization. The speed of the two has a great variation which I like about the cover because it allows you to really eat over those words and think about their meaning. Ultimately I actually like the cover of the song better because I am a sucker for acoustic and I feel it has a greater meaning which only moves the listener more.

Blog #8

truffle shuffle

The theme of the movies is about a bunch of kids who get caught up in something bigger than themselves while all the same remaining kids, whether that is through rituals that you may have (the truffle shuffle) the kids who may force the others to do those things, the sympathetic voice of reason who does the right thing and just the way they go about doing it is even childish in letting him in, the theme is didactic you can see how it is through the characters.

The scene I chose was from the movie “The Goonies”. The line between the speakers is the main line but also the line leading from the fence up into the characters face to show that is where you eye is to be going. Shape would be behind him in the shot there is a wind catcher that is round and moving foreshadowing what the character is about to make is shape become. The space between the two characters is vital in this scene it is what give the scene it’s sense of urgency the boy who needs to get in can’t because of the fence and because of the distance between the two characters the boy at the door is able to force the boy at the fence to do the truffle shuffle, it also forces them to yell which adds some to the embarrassment of it all. The rhythm between the two is important as well with the chanting back and forth really keeps the scene moving but also gives it a pace and allows you to know that it is headed in some sort of direction. The movement is what is most important in the scene ultimately the movement is the truffle shuffle there is also some movement in the sense that the boy at the door is calm and standing in a relaxed manner and the boy on the couch has to get up and help them. Tension and release is evident in this shoot through the yelling and ultimately allowing the boy at the fence in. There is also contrast and affinity between the two, contrast because one is in and the other is not, and affinity because one is equal enough to allow the other in.

Blog #7

I chose two pictures from the Toy Story series one from the first and a second from the third, in the first photo it appears as though Woody is angry at the rest of the group or jealous at Buzz, and in the third it is Woody appearing more concerned for the rest of the group than anything. Starting on the color of these pictures it is obvious in the first picture where the rest of the group seems interested in Buzz he is much flashier with lime green and white colors while Woody is more of a bland red yellow and brown. It also years with the brightness where Buzz is brighter than Woody making him standing out and Woody is more saturated sending him into the back, in the second picture though they’re he same brightness and saturation and one doesn’t seem to stand out more than the other. In terms of lighting in the two shots Woody is dimly lit in both shots but for two different reasons in the first it is to show that he is jealous and almost evil whereas in the second it is signifying the danger that the rest of the group might be in, while Woody is dimly lit the rest of the group seems to have almost an overwhelming light that is seems to be obnoxious full of either hope in the second shot for excitement in the first. In the first picture there is some parallel movements between Buzz and Mr. Potato head showing that he is interested as him while Woody contrast that movement with his arms crossed. In the second photo there is a lot of parallel movement again while Woody has his arms spread trying to reason the others have their arms spread but the expression on their faces is what throws you, because their arms are all spread but for different reasons.

Blog #4

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

FADE IN
INT. INTERRIGATION ROOM – NIGHT
HOMER sits in a chair and watches a MAN TOKE on his cigar and BLOW the smoke out, the camera pans out and there is DETECTIVE sitting at desk in front of a lie detector which is RUNNING paper through as the mark SCRATCHES lines on the sheet while a man WALKS in the background SCRIBBLING on a clipboard.
DETECTIVE
Now we’re going to run a few tests, this is a simple lie detector I’ll ask you a few yes or no questions and you just answer truthfully. Do you understand?
HOMER
Yes.

The lie detector BEEPS to signal it’s a lie and EXPLODES to show that it can’t comprehend how untrue the statement is.
FADE OUT

I like how the scene is set up where Homer seems to contrast everyone in the room one based on how he’s dressed and two based on how he’s acting he tries to make up for how he’s acting by trying to act smart which is ironic because it back fires and does just the opposite of that by him lying on the test. The speed and loudness in the detectives voice shows that she knows what she is doing and is very confident in her job once again contrasting the stupidity and foolishness of Homer Simpson making the scene funny. When the shot fades in it is of Homer watching what looks to be another detective smoking a cigar very nonchalantly acting very calm and relaxed showing the difference between the two characters once again only to set up the scene for the big joke at the end which makes Homer look like a fool, he is surrounded by people who purposefully are all doing something asking questions jotting down notes even the guy smoking a cigar who really isn’t doing anything is acting like he is doing something these characters are all put here to do something and that is to make Homer look like he’s not doing anything. Also the distance from which each of the detectives is shows that Homer is self conscious and alone.

Blog #3

http://changethis.com/manifesto/66.01.Brainwashed/pdf/66.01.Brainwashed.pdf
Acknowledging the lizard, I’d say that each of the seven pillars are equally important as they coincide with each other and in order to perfectly reinvent yourself you will need all of them. The lizard however I would say is the most difficult to do, humiliation I would say can trigger a greater response than pain so in order to know this may happen and to go after it anyway is like playing Russian roulette. Connect I feel is equally as important however I feel this is the easiest to accomplish by just utilizing the internet and other tools around you with your talent. I liked how Godin talked about making art, where it is creating something that wasn’t created I think this draws a different and better light to what the average person thinks art is.

These tools will definitely help with our blogs and with that I would say that these blogs are important, whether it’s someone who is just now learning how to use this vital tool, which will be essential to many of us involved in media in the future, or just with learning how to better your writing. Using this blog to connect is pretty simple in the fact that we are using the blog to connect simple as that, we post how we feel on different things trying to make a difference and that is for the rest of the world to see, connecting you to the world around you like it or not. Generosity is important to the pillars because it keeps much of the arts around and has for the past hundreds of years with patrons and fanatics alike helping out the cause, in these blogs we’re generous through the giving of our information. Make art: it’s really as simple as that, creating something is exactly what I am doing at this very moment by typing on this keyboard bringing my thoughts and ideas to life, bettering myself through self expression. Acknowledge the Lizard is also what I am doing write now like in making art you’re susceptible to the critique of your peers and or laughter putting your work out there to be judged, which we can all continually get better at. Ship was my least favorite of the seven pillars and I feel that while it’s important to get the product out there I think it’s equally as important to just create the product, which I am doing right now, sound familiar? Fail I feel while all the pillars are equally important this may edge out the competition by a hair just ahead of learn, to know how to fail is to be great. Failing is the most important part of the learning process and knowing how to deal with this failure is really important. I don’t know if I’m going to fail this blog assignment but if I was to I’d like to think that what I’d take from that failure was more than what I would receive from the success I may receive if passing the assignment. Lastly learning is very important to the pillars with out it you can take nothing from any of the pillars the act of understanding is one of the most beautiful things that can happen in life. Through this blog and the readings that come along with it I am learning about the material as well as learning about myself.

Blog #2

http://changethis.com/manifesto/51.01.YourHowl/pdf/51.01.YourHowl.pdf
In the story I read there are a group of wolves that are going extinct so they're bred and the pups are released into the wild. Only the new wolves don't know how to howl so one of them, Mumon, goes off into the wilderness to find it. He is tried by himself until he is at his lowest and from within finds his howl and brings the pack as one. The main point of this story is hard work and persistence will ultimately get you what you want.


Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”

This quote from Sylvia Plath’s book The Bell Jar is just a wonderful story apart from the actual book which I truly feel could relate to anyone but for me it is even more so a warning, a personal warning. If I could forewarn you that this personal snippet of my life is going to sound like I am boasting I truly hope you see that in no way do I feel I am better than anyone and am more than thankful for any talent given to me by my parents or God or however I’ve come to receive any gift I now possess. With that being said from a young age I almost felt as if I was destined to be something great and I truly believed that I was capable of doing anything I set my mind to, mainly because I had been told I could from those around me. Now what I was destined to do great things in was far beyond me. I was never actually diagnosed with any sort of ADHD but I never seemed to be able to stick with one thing. Luckily like I said, I was blessed with wonderful genetics and was pretty naturally gifted. I picked up piano and started taking lessons at the age of five started with sports and was fairly successful at a young age and moved into theatre in high school as well as was a good student and was involved in student government and really anything else I could get myself into, to say the least my future looked somewhat bright. I could see myself going places and felt as if I could pursue whatever it was I pleased. However like in this story that Sylvia gives us, sometimes too many options can leave you with only one and that is to choose nothing. As I aged I spread my talents across the fields of athletics, music and of course girls, excuse I mean education. However I was never devoted to just one these things I had spread myself thin, whether it was being a lead in the musicals, being the captain of the football team, being an honor student or pursuing the life of a musician I couldn’t settle down with one thing and this stimuli threw me a curve because while I was good at these things I could not choose one and try and make myself the best I could be at that one thing, like I said the ADHD. Even now as a nineteen year old I have so much life ahead of me and I just couldn’t decide, and there lies the problem like the protagonist of The Bell Jar indecision. Choosing one thing means losing the rest, and “What if I choose wrong?” then pops into my head and knowing I don’t have the balls to know I am good enough at this to make a happy life out of it. All these things have lead me from where I once was, sitting at the crotch of the fig tree to where I am now seizing what life I have and going at it with everything I have got. Essentially when something presents itself in front of me I take it and run. I refuse to be in one spot, and it is from this that I derive my creativity by just going for it, don’t think a mile ahead of yourself, because thinking a mile ahead of yourself is not going to get you a mile from where you sit. I feel this decision has lead me to be more creative as a person just by allowing myself to not be afraid to pursue something really holding nothing back and knowing that I will get one of those figs.

Blog #1

Protagonist’s Color, Light and Shape

Color: Red, white and blue
I these colors for my protagonist because they are synonymous with the America being that they are the colors of the American flag, what we see as the American flag representing is what my character is. There is that the colors represent who my character is based on what the colors themselves represent as a whole as well as my character being very patriotic, being kicked out of the CIA and having the desire to be reinstated. The colors red and blue are both bold colors showing strength and white being that of integrity all of which my protagonist is.

Lighting: Lone spotlight
My characters lighting is represented through that of a lone spotlight shining down on the one single person surrounded by darkness. This shows that the character is alone in that he doesn’t have many allies being that he is sort of a pariah after being outcast from the CIA which is had dedicated it life to be in in the first place leaving friends and family to dedicate himself to the agency and to be ousted. Also the spot light many times casts a shadow on the characters face making them very mysterious, which is one thing my character portrays.

Shape: Smooth kite like
I chose this smooth stone in the shape of a kite to represent my character because one my character is very smooth when it comes to conversation and can easily get his way around people by manipulation in all the right ways. I also chose a rock to be what this shape takes from because a rock is very sturdy and strong both which my character shows. Most importantly the kite shape shows strength and intimidation while also demanding a sort of respect. Many times when a woman is looking for a man one thing she finds very attractive is the fact that his shoulders are very broad and is taper the rest of the way down, my characters has this sort of appeal.
Protagonist: Andrew Fox

Antagonist’s Color, Lighting and Shape.

Color: Orange, Green and Brown
The antagonist had these colors chosen mainly because one they are the most attractive colors when all thrown together and they contrasting the protagonist of the story’s colors that of red and blue. Well green and orange contrast red and blue and brown was chosen are a third color because many things we associate with brown are dirty and disgusting I don’t think I need to list any examples. Brown, green and orange in the way they used with this is character as all bland as well which out antagonist is, being an insurance salesman. These colors together represent everything that the protagonist isn’t.

Lighting: very little
The antagonist of the story isn’t lit every well he wants to remain hidden and ominous. Essentially this character wants to rule the world by starting a war and selling all the nuclear warheads, however he doesn’t yet have the money for that quite yet so, he, as an insurance salesman basically screws the weak, old and stupid out of their money by many of the loopholes that he knows in the system. Yes, while this character is the antagonist he is not often seen hiding behind the many loopholes he has set which is why I chose this lighting.

Shape: Grotesquely Round
This doughnut represents the antagonist in this story because one he is round like the doughnut and fat like the doughnut can make you. The shape of our character is misleading in some ways however when you see someone overweight you may see sloth or gluttony both associated with the seven deadly sins, giving you one idea, however our character, while yes is overweight and you may think these things, is a genius. He uses his mind to do the work setting loopholes and tricking people out of their money, which of course has lead to his shape because he has his loopholes, do all the work. While the round shape does represent his overweight and things that go with it, it also doesn’t make him very intimidating.
Antagonist: John Lifetaker

sham on

first blog post
trying to get the hang of how exactly to do this,
so i'll start off nice and slow
but with some sort of class