The Duchess

This film was recommended by a friend and because I was bored on Saturday night... I sat down and watched it. I must say that I usually adore periodical dramas for all the fancy costumes and the effort to make them. As far as I remember, "Marie Antoanette" has pretty good costumes too. Regarding the plot of the Duchess... I was trying really hard to find a reason why those people thought necessary of making a film in which nothing really exciting is happening. For 1 hour and 43 minutes you would expect at least a war involved :( Moreover, the film lacked of originality and new ideas. In short: ONLY THE COSTUMES are worth seeing.

McAvoy came as well

Today we were helping some 4th year students cinematographers in their "blocking exercise". It was quite interesting to learn more about all those projectors, for instance one was specifically producing soft light on female faces (how cool!) Charlotte was our model so the cinematographers and Ana, the director, were experimenting with the light on her face. Actually they were trying to produce a different light effect on Charlotte in comparison to the other 3 guys sitting behind her at a distance of 3 feet. This preparation lasted for 1 hour! Then the second year actors came in with James McAvoy and were trying to help the performance in a short scene. He was giving some advice on what the actors should do; there was also a lot of talk about in and out of focus. Regarding which character stays in focus can manipulate the eye of the viewer. So we had to decide how the "spread" the focus; eventually we switched it from one actor to another to achieve the wanted effect. Oh god there were so many decisions to be made even in a simple scene as that. Probably James was trying to give more confidence to the actors and to the rest of the DFTV students.

I had a lot of fun :) After all, I am a fan of McAvoy and I am glad he came to the Academy.

Attenborough's Masterclass

We were so lucky this week to have Richard Attenborough visit the RSAMD and talk to us about his practice and experience. I was astonished at this 85 year old wonderful director, who still has passion and ideas to make films and despite his age feels vigorous. We can learn a lot by someone as inspirational as he is. One of the questions that was brought up was why Richard chooses to present reality in his films and avoid fiction. He simply answered that he was fascinated by human nature, people as they are, therefore focused maily on performance that is as natural as possible. Richard has worked with a lot of famous actors and talked how important is to communicate with them, try to bring the best out of them, because they are the connecting element with the audience. It is those simple facts that everyone is aware of, but somehow forgets about them at the set. I hope I remember most Richard's advice when I make my films.
The other thing that made a huge impression on me was Richard's highly political film topics aiming at justice in society. As I was watching "Cry of Freedom" I though of the many barriers and obstacles ( by the South African Government) he must have had to release this film. And even though it has been difficult and probably dangerous he has managed to bring change in that society and contribute to the cause of freedom.

Choke!

I wish we watched Changeling, but probably Andy didn't want us to be influenced by the great number of reviews already written about it. So he chose Choke! The film focuses on its central character Victor Mancini (played by Sam Rockwell) and his journey of finding his true personality and earning some sort of morality. A loving son and in the same time shallow on his views about women, Victor is struggling to retain balance. The story reveals details of his lonely childhood to justify his nature of a sex addict but in the same time presents him as an ordinary man lost his direction under the circumstances. In some places the plot goes a bit too far including unnecessary and implausible details such as "The Jesus" part. Also the efforts to give Victor an Italian origin are hackneyed, and not very successful in trying to make a point of that. Regardless of some clumsy parts in the film, "Choke" offers the viewers original ideas and brings entertainment.

Ongka's Big Moka: the Kawelka of Papua New Guinea

Today after seeing 2 films in the cinema and in the Academy, I was invited to a documentary in Glasgow Uni! The screening was in an anthropologists class and a thoughtful student brought wine as "moka" means a gift, sharing and exchange. So after my first glass, I was prepared to see a film on a subject completely unknown to me. The film was made by Andrew Strathern in 1974 and explores the life of a New Guinean tribe, an honoured member Ongka and his opinion on traditional and western exchange. For these people the most important thing is taking care of their pigs because later on they are going to make them as gifts to another tribe (The Moka Ritual) and would expect a bigger return. That's the way their society works. In Ongka's view, a man can survive without pigs, because his people eat mainly sweet potatoes and barely need clothes. But a man on that island needs pigs for everything else- to get merried, make a name, keep the tribe together and hold the piece in it. Ongka considers himself a man of honour, therefore he is about to prepare a grand "Moka" no matter what it takes. As the story develops, we get to know that 10 years ago his tribe has received 400 pigs, but for his Gift he decides to give away 600 to add an extra prestige and interest. Looking at that scantly clothed man one can hardly assume that he actually has money in an Australian bank.

The whole time I was thinking how the filmaker and his crew got access to film such important events in that tribe (funerals, attacks). At some point the enemy tribe was running with axes in their hands and I got the feeling that someone was about to throw one at the camera! It was so real...

The Network : I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”

The 1976 film 'The Network' tracks out Howard Beale's moments of madness and sincerity from the period of his dismissal from television until the end of his number one show, full of "bulshit" and parody. The satire falls not as much on Howard who has lost his mind, but on the producers and presidents of the Network. Moreover, the great culmination comes when Beale cease to bring high ratings for the channel, therefore the most reasonable alternative seems to be his elimination. ON AIR! And why not? If the producers can put a looney on telly they can always bring him down so it will be memorable! Recently we've watched "Good night and good luck", a film about Edward Murrow, a journalist with priciples and ideals. Both films share the same conviction that the golden age of Television is over and it's getting worse every year. These people thought so in the 70s, how about 38 years later ? Probably now there're 38 times more manipulative producers or whoever puts that content out there.

"We Are the Illusion"
"Don't Trust us"

The Dark Side of Comedy

"Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime. Thank you. Thank you. "

This quote pretty much summarizes the ideology of most of the reality show stars nowadays. While I was watching the King of Comedy, I kept thinking who else could possible play the role of Robert De Niro better than him? :D He was so good that at some point I got really nervous with his character! Even though the dark humor was amazing and unique, a feeling of anxiety arose in all of us. Rupert Pumpkin is the perfect embodiment of a dreamer who is willing to do anything for a little prime time on TV. His delusion of being talented takes him to the point that he forgets to live his own life in search for the attention of the audience. As if every following situation he is in is more and more unbelievable and in the same time... a little bit familiar. This was in 1982! Let's not forget that people usually don't want to talk about uncomfortable truths and often ignore them. The king of Comedy is definitely not Scorsese's most discussed film for these exact reasons. We all know how far Television has reached and stalking TV presenters is nothing new.

By the way I just though how often Scorsese uses "schmuck" in his films! It must be a favorite word :)