Week 4.05- 8.05

Monday- holiday

Tuesday- Editing assignment of the other group's project. I found it challenging to put together shots that usually would not match, but a good editor should be able to do magic with these matters. A long but enjoyable experience!

On Wednesday we watched Paradise Now and we blogged about it. The film was definitely engaging.

In the afternoon a representative of Film G competition came to talk to us. It all seems quite inspiring and motivating, but somehow I am not attracted to the idea. I'll need to do a bit of research to find out more about the Gaelic culture and therefore come up with an idea for a short. Something tells me it's not going to happen though. If only if it was another language it would be much easier for me. 

On Thursday we discussed the misrepresentation of muslims on screen and how it affects us as film makers. To sum up, there are plenty of topics explored in films which are extremely controversial, so it's not easy to please everyone. Religion is one of the most dangerous subject matters because it directly affects a major or minority group, which is going to express an opinion afterwards. As a whole, I do believe muslims should be presented in a brighter light.

In the afternoon we watched some webisodes, my favorite one is Sofia's diary. Adams expects us to some up with an idea for similar platform.

Friday was a TV class, we watched 2 documentaries on how TV reflects or challenges the society, sometimes even changes it. Channel 4 has an interesting history, especially those years when they've aired a sort of pornographic films, for bigger ratings maybe? 

In the afternoon everyone had a tutorial with Abigail to discuss the schedule strip for Floating is easy. She seemed satisfied with my efforts. Generally I hope for the future we do that kind of work with a software, so it will save us plenty of time.  

Paradise Now

I guess we the reason we watched this film is to spot the misrepresentation of islamic culture and the stereotypical concept of fanatic terrorism. The 2 main characters, however, are represented in a positive way, people that we would like to meet in the beginning and therefore, understand their motivation afterwards. Said and Khaled are childhood friends who have grown up in Nablus, Palestine and feel that their whole life has been oppressed by Israel. Their heroes are martyrs whose main goal is justice and tolerance, so they decide to go on the same path. Said's father has died as a collaborator, something he doesn't see himself as. In this difficult atmosphere of political incorrectness, Suha tries to convince Said in more peaceful methods of fight and struggle. She is a daughter of a famous martyr and doesn't see the point of such death, since it hasn't changed the injustice Palestinians are living in.  At first she reaches his heart and he's unsure of wether is right to continue on this path, but later on he's the one who pulls the cord and blows off the Israeli bus. Khaled eventually changes his mind and steps back  from the whole operation, tries to save his friend too but fails. One of the scenes where Khaled is about to be recorded holding a gun and a powerful speech is very interesting regarding the perception of such occupation.  His comrades are eating, the camera is not working as if it's not a big deal to the people who organize the whole event. Probably that's a hint that the mission matters only to our main characters, who are actually manipulated by their weaknesses.

I am not sure what the message of the film is supposed to be: for example, what makes the martyrs choose this path? Is it the posters in the town center that makes them heroes,  the honor to be chosen for such mission, or the endless hope that their sacrifice is worth. Suha is depicted as a strong female character, she has her own believes and stands up to them. Probably Said's reasons to carry out the operation despite the first obstacle, is his lack of desire to go back into the same old reality. I was hoping both characters (Suha and Said) to end up together :( In terms of character development, Said and Khaled swapped their roles and believes, they both suffered changes which made me buy into it. 

Are aliens misrepresented on screen?

 To begin with the space ships, and going through the alien's extraordinary body, face and sometimes extreme hostility, Hollywood has a lot to explain if the DO show up to ask for reasons why they are presented in such a way. 

Moreover, do all aliens suck the blood out of people and kidnap them for experiments? Or is it just in War of the worlds with Tom Cruise saving the world. 

(For all alien lovers, do not take this blog too seriously)

Week 27/04- 3/05

On Monday Kim was off , so our Coronation Street pitch did not happen. Instead, we watched all the footage from March's shoots with Gavin, from which some shots are quite satisfactory (Melissa's Mail)

Tuesday was an editing assessment- logging sheets into Final Cut Pro, capturing a few clips and logging into the Edit Share. Not bad!

On Wednesday we watched "In the heat of the night", a film staring actors who revolutionized acting. I find it entertaining to watch those films with the class because their is always an occasion for a good laugh! Besides, it's one film less from my list of films  I MUST see.

Thursday was long day- 1 lecture on misrepresentations on the screen; starting from females and going through race, ethnicity etc. Megan Fox was mentioned, I googled her images and I've no idea where Andy found that one, totally missing her full beam of light and glitter.  Then we watched a TV pilot about a few working class people from Liverpool and their constant struggle to become rich and successful.  

On Friday Adam covered mobile media and its potential for film platforms. In short, the only disadvantage of webisodes is they are not making any money yet. LOL is an example of well-made webisodes with professional technical values.

In the afternoon we had Abigail assigning us to do a strip board, which each one of us will discuss with her next Friday. It's more like a schedule with strips, but extremely helpful for the next shoots.

The best years of our lives

This film is directed by William Wyler, and displays the difficulties of 3 servicemen to readjust to home after returning from World War 2. From all of them, Al is the luckiest one, being surrounded by 2 strong women in the face of his wife and daughter Peggy and a secured job waiting for him. Despite having these wanderful things at home, he still doens't feel comfortable and refuses to accept his children have grown up and are much more responsible since he last saw them. Al is childish in a comic way, especially in situations with a drink in his hand when he looks the happiest. His wife is next to him all the time, making sure he's ok and providing all the support he needs.
Homer, the youngest of all, has lost his arms during the war and has hooks as replacements. His readjustment seems the most difficult one, because he feels like a burden to his family and future wife Wilma. Homer remains blind to their complete love and support for a long time, but when he faces his own problems and insecurity he finally lets Wilma closer to him.
The three fellows often see each other. Their spot is a pub which Homer recommends, and in fact they, end up there on the very first night. Fred, who has reached a high rank during the war and has exceptional achievements, refuses to come back to the pharmacy where he has previously worked. He meets Peggy, Al's daughter, at the pub where they end up by chance. She is very different from his wife, much more tactful, caring and stepped down to earth. As his wife sees in him only the "smooth pilot" who she has fun with, when the money is gone she is off too. The best years of her life, are in fact, the years when he was gone and she was living in luxury. Peggy accepts him the way he is, with a low paid job and no fancy officer clothes. I really wanted them to end up together ever since they met! When the wife was introduced I got a bit worried.. but luckily it moved forward in the right direction as everyone hoped.
In "The best years of out lives" many details are omitted, others are summed up in one shot, but the audience is clever enough to figure out the whole plot and doesn't suffer during the two and a half hours at all! Brilliant ideas that we could all benefit from- like the long deep focus shots. They save up time and most of all bring style to the who film.

Just to mention that Peggy is played by Teresa Wright, who I've watched in "Shadow of a doubt", my first Hitchcock film :)