The Invisible Art

I remember one of the first things Dawn Ford said back at the beginning of the year when all the DMA people had that meeting in the screening room. She said, "Editing is the invisible art" meaning that it's rarely recognized directly by an audience, but yet the editing process is an art form consisting of just as many creative people as the actors/writers/directors etc.

I loved the way she put that. A common misconception people had when I told them I was studying film in college is that I'm another wannabe Spielberg who wants to be a big shot director filmmaker. But I don't. As much as I enjoy directing, or even just filmmaking as a whole, as a professional I aspire to be an editor. Why? Because every time I edit a project together, I feel really good. I really enjoy it. I love the challenge, and I love the open canvas for creativity. I love how within hours upon hours of footage there's a movie. There's a movie within all that footage and I have to find it and make it.

It makes me think of Michelangelo's take on sculpting. He believed that the sculpture was already in the marble, and his job was only to find it and release it. That's what I see editing as. Within all that footage there is a film, and there is a message. Every great movie was at one time nothing but footage without a purpose. It's the editor's job to find it and weave it together.

So, as my last blog post, I just wanted to talk about the aspect of filmmaking I find the most interesting. As Dawn said, it is an invisible art. As I'm sure everyone has been exposed to at least once, bad editing can destroy a film regardless of how strong the performance/writing is. Filmmaking is a collaboration of talents, and I find editing to be just as vital as directing, producing, writing, acting, or working as crew.

I will say that editing for me has always been a time consuming and frustrating processing, but I learn so much every time I really work on anything. And the reward of finishing and exporting a video is the best. It's like the best feeling.

Anyway, this is, as I've said, my last post, and I hope everyone does great on finals and has a great Christmas. See you in the Spring!


- R.

The First Rule of Fight Club is...

You do not talk about Fight Club.

For anyone who had Dawn Ford for Digital Tools and Media Management (I'm not sure what the other sections of that class are doing) and are film pro or broadcasting, we had to create a trailer for a film we really enjoyed. I chose to do Fight Club, and I decided to write a post about the movie because I feel as if I've watched it maybe 15+ times now.

Firstly, it's also a book. A very good book. I know we're all film or animation people, but literature is really the foundation of everything we've learned this year. Without books, I don't think that story telling would be at the advanced level it's come to now. So Fight Club is also a book, and you should read it because it's excellent.

Fight Club is an example of a film that excelled in all meanings of the word. The cast was infinitely perfect for their roles. Initially, Brad Pitt was not going to be cast because the studio thought he wasn't talented enough to pull off such an emotional and disturbing role. Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter were almost not cast because they weren't super big names like Brad Pitt. I can't even imagine this film with any other cast.

Helena Bonham Carter has long been my favorite actress, but she excels in this role. I can't even imagine any other person assuming the role of Marla Singer. Trivia about HBC as Marla Singer: She had her makeup artist for the film apply all of Marla's makeup with her left hand because HBC didn't think Marla would be particularly skilled in makeup application.

Edward Norton was the perfect choie as The Narrator. He can pull of the boring white collar worker, and he also pulls being the secret badass who can fight. Here's some trivia: Norton had to actually drop body weight and muscle mass while preparing for this film. Prior to this film, Norton was heavy into body building and was actually more jacked than Brad Pitt. Obviously, because The Narrator is the "nerdy" one, Norton couldn't be more in shape than Pitt, so he stopped lifting weights all together, and took up jogging

Finally Brad Pitt as the infamous Tyler Durden. This is, in my opinion, Pitt's best work. I've seen a lot of his movies and nothing has come close to his performance in this film. Every time I watch it I am blown away by his performance. Seriously, every time. Maybe because I'm actually not too much of a fan, but this movie was the game changer for him. Trivia: In the scene where Tyler asks The Narrator to punch him, Edward Norton really did punch Brad Pitt in the ear. Pitt didn't know Norton was actually going to hit him, so the entire reaction scene is real.

I don't know how to go into how much I love this film without spoiling anything vital, but I recommend it to everyone. It's a movie that you will not easily forget.

-R.

Nobody's Mentioned The Nightmare Before Christmas

Besides Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story, both of which have already been discussed, I would say that The Nightmare Before Christmas is my third favorite Christmas film. And yes, I consider this a Christmas film. It is, after all, focussing on celebrating Christmas, not Halloween.

I am often timid in mentioning that I really do love this movie. It seems like in recent years, A Nightmare Before Christmas has become this weird punk/scene/emo/gothic/hipster cult classic obsession much like Invader Zim. Hot Topic has picked up on selling it's merchandise, and I see the above stereotypes wearing this movie's many absurd clothing items all the time. I feel like it's lost its cred as a truly good film because of how it's been exploited in pop culture today. And I hate that, because even though Hot Topic is trying to market this film as "scene" or whatever, it's not. It's a children's movie, and I love it.

Anyway, I like this film for two major reasons: 1) Danny Elfman and 2) Danny Elfman. Seriously, the soundtrack is amazing. I know every song by heart because the music in this film is beautiful and meaningful. Danny Elfman wrote the songs himself without much help Tim Burton, who focussed mostly on the spoken dialogue, not the musical stuff. And honestly, as much as I love the concept of this film and the works of Burton, it's Danny Elfman who made this film memorable. Imagine watching this without the musical being a part of it. It wouldn't be nearly as awesome. It was Elfman who added the splash of tasteful humor and emotional spice.

Every Christmas I wait for it to be the night that ABC Family shows it as a part of their 25 Days of Christmas thing. And then I record it on my DVR, and watch it again. I've been doing this since I was very young, in fact this is one of the first movies I remember watching. So, it's been a major part of my life. And, it's enjoyable for all audiences. In my eyes, it's a great Christmas film, and an ever greater piece of art (because stop-motion always has me impressed). I hope everyone takes the time to enjoy it at least once this Holiday season!

- R.

Bonus! Theres was an album released in 2008 called Nightmare Revisited, featuring popular artists from the last few years covering the songs of The Nightmare Before Christmas (Like, Marilyn Manson, All American Rejects, Flyleaf, Korn, Plain White T's, etc.) However, my favorite cover of a Nightmare song isn't on that album, and is actually a cover of the song "What's This" by Fall Out Boy. Take a gander!

American Horror Story

Season 2 Poster.

I just did a post on television shows yesterday, but I forgot to include another one of my favorite TV shows because it doesn't really fit into any specific category. American Horror Story aired last year on FX, and I only began watching it because my mentor had mentioned it was a breath of fresh air among TV dramas. And thus began my fandom with AHS.

It's a little dark, but I don't think the things featured in the show are any more explicit than some other shows on television. Ryan Murphy (Glee, The New Normal) completely shocked the world with this series. Think of the exact opposite of Glee, and you have AHS. The format of the show is different than any I've ever watched. Specifically, each season is a new "ghost story" if you will, even if the first season left me with several unanswered questions. Murphy has said that he plans to never fill in gaps like that, or revisit the first season. Rather, each season will feature a new story, but with the same cast playing new characters.

It is a scary show, and it can cover some rough topics like self harm, mass murder, suicide, miscarriages, and possession. I would definitely not recommend it to anyone who is easily offended or just doesn't like gross or uncomfortable situations. However, the story lines are excellent, and the production value is so far beyond anything I've ever seen before on a TV show. Murphy should really stop with the whole Glee thing and dedicate his time to truly perfecting this show.

Season 1 Poster

The first season is on Netflix, and the 2nd season is currently airing on Wednesdays. It's about halfway through. This season takes place in an asylum in 60's and is equally if not more so terrifying. Definitely check it out if you have an spare time and want to adopt a new fandom!

- R.

Stand By Me

Denton's presentation was all about coming-of-age movies, and made me think of one of my favorite films, Stand By Me, which I consider to possibly be one of the greatest coming-of-age stories. I'm not sure where it stands in terms of popularity; some people have heard of it, others have no idea what movie I'm talking about. Regardless, It's the story of four young boys who go on an adventure to find the body of another boy who had recently gone missing. The story is told as a long flashback  sparked by the narrator's witnessing of a murder as an adult, and him recalling the first time he ever saw a dead body.

Yes, the kid all the way on the right is the kid from
The Goonies and The Lost Boys.

The screenplay is based on the Stephen King novella, The Body, and contains elements from King's childhood. I believe this is one of the greatest coming-of-age stories, because although it doesn't touch on drugs or sex, it heavily touches on grief, misery, hopelessness, and loss of innocence. Each boy has experienced loss, or unfair grief, and is currently struggling with crossing the thin line separating childhood from adulthood. Innocence is a heavy theme in the film, and the boys are portrayed often trying to continue their carefree boyhoods, but also recognizing that they will soon have to grow up. The journey is the final step of their innocence.

Besides the very mature themes of the film, it is also quite funny. Stephen King has long been one of my favorite authors, not only because he writes excellent stories, but because he also has a very dark sense of humor. The film portrays that wicked humor, and I would even go as far to also consider this film to be a dark comedy.

I recommend it to those who are either fans of King's work, or are heavily interested in stories that examine loss of innocence and the passage from childhood to adulthood. This is one that is certainly going to leave you feeling contemplative and reflective on your own personal coming-of-age story.

- R.

An Indie Game for Fans of Horror

Emily's presentation was great. I love that she showed some of my favorite games (Dear Esther/Bioshock) and talked about how they really are visually stunning. I really liked her comment about Dear Esther, one of the best games I've ever payed, on how it's like a short film. That is exactly what I was thinking the entire time I was playing it. The story is beyond amazing, and the ambience is not only stunning but also engaging. It is truly like being in an interactive film. Bioshock is the same way, although darker and grittier.

Availble through Steam
PC/MAC only

I would just like to add my favorite Indie Game of all time to Emily's already very amazing list: Amnesia: The Dark Descent. I woud definitely say it's the scariest game I've ever played. Scarier than Bioshock, and even scarier than the Slenderman games. I only worked up the courage to buy it over the summer when Steam was having a really good sale on it's games. So I bought it, and did just as the game recommended: I turned off the lights, put headphones in, and hit play.

And I lasted 20 minutes before I was too scared to continue. 20 minutes. The game is absolutely psychologically horrifying. The basis is simple, you wake up in the scariest damn castle in the world without any memory or backstory at all. Unless you research the game before playing, you know nothing except that you, Daniel, have woken up here, in this nightmare of a manor.

From the second  you start playing, the game starts messing with your mind. You have two stats to maintain: Your health, and your sanity. You lose sanity from being in the dark too long, or from seeing horrible things, or having violent flashbacks. You lose health from being attacked by monsters. And you can't fight back. You get no weapons. Your only means of survival is stealth and the ability to outrun the things that chase you. And you get very limited light. And the game is dark. Literally.

The more your insanity meter lowers, the more the game begins to mess with your head. The walls will crawl. The faintest screams will be heard, but did you really hear them? Doors you swore you closed will be open when you turn around. Furniture will be rearranged. At a low enough sanity, you even begin to experience hallucinations, yet you never really know for certain if they're real or not.

This is a screenshot of your character, Daniel, crouching
behind some crates as a monster approaches. Looking at
them, or moving at all when they're close by, will not only
lower your insanity but also alert them to your presence.
And you can't fight back, you can only run.

Amnesia warns you at the beginning that this isn't a game where you should be searching every room, and this isn't a game where the goal is to win. The goal is to survive without losing your mind. And I know what you're thinking, "Yeah ok. Obviously I'm going to search every room for hidden items/easter eggs/spare tinderboxes/etc." and, "I'm gonna beat this game... duh. I bought it so I could beat it."I thought that too. Then, about two hours into the game, I realized that I had abandoned my normal routine of searching every room and drawer, and I no longer had the idea of winning on my mind. I was just running through this puzzling maze of terror that wasn't even always there. I was watching how fast I opened doors, and monitoring closely how much oil was left in my lamp. I was pausing to listen to the distant sounds to see if I could hear any clues as to what to do next, and I was hiding behind boxes as demonic creatures tried to find me.

This game is genius. The creators took every aspect of a good horror film and made it into a an interactive mystery. There are cheap scares, sure, but the real terror comes from the always haunting notion that at any moment, you could die. If you enjoy horror games, then this should not be a game you pass up on. The story alone is haunting. The visuals are simply amazing. the atmosphere couldn't be anymore equally beautiful and horrific.

As the game goes on, the atmosphere
changes from a typical
haunted castle environment...

...to nightmares.

The game also has a custom story mode, so users of Steam can upload their own little mini-games using the same atmosphere and designs from Amnesia. Some of the mini-games are pretty lame, but I've found several that are really good and really take advantage of Amnesia's haunting atmosphere. So, the replay value is infinite as long as custom content keeps being created. And, if you just replay the story, the monsters will spawn in different places, offering terror each time.

But don't be fooled, this game isn't easily beaten. It took me 5 months to actually beat the game. Not because it's excessively challenging either, but because it's really difficult to play for more than an hour or two at a time without feeling the need to walk away and recollect your thoughts. My constant struggle with beating the game was actually opening the game and knowingly facing the monsters and the terror that awaited me.

So if you're bored over Christmas break,don't mind a whole lot of disturbing themes and images, and you want a game that's going to rattle you and challenge you in a way you might never have been challenged before... this game is the game for you.

- R.

The Art of TV

We covered a lot of topics this semester in Leeper's class, but I feel as if not enough attention was given to the television genre. There are a lot of really good shows on TV right now, and even more really bad ones, but unlike films, I try not to open myself up to bad television. What does that mean? That means I don't experiment as much with TV as I do with films. I don't know why, but although I'm willing to (and often do) subject myself to bad films in order to expand my horizons, I'm not nearly as eager to open myself up to rotten television, like reality shows or "documentary" type shows that they show on TLC.

I do, however, love some of the shows that are on TV right now. I am a part of The Walking Dead fandom, both with the TV show and the comics (which, if you watch the show, you should REALLY read the comics to, they're excellent). I think The Walking Dead is an excellent example of a suspenseful drama/thriller series. The concept is not entirely unique (zombies) but the writing and acting is really well done. Plus, the special effects and makeup is extraordinary.

However, Breaking Bad is my favorite TV drama. I couldn't be more in love with that show. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have some of the best on screen chemistry since Zach Braff and Donald Faison in Scrubs. And yes I did just compare Breaking Bad to Scrubs. Honestly, I have never watched a show that is so... badass as Breaking Bad. The writing and the concept is beyond anything in the realm of perfect, and every single actor on the show takes it to a whole new level of great. Yes, it is about drugs, specifically meth, but the great part about the show is that it never glorifies anything within that "industry." There are some brutally harsh episodes depicting the cruel reality of meth on it's users. It's definitely a show worth watching. It's on Netflix, so you should just go watch it right now. Never mind finals.

Switching gears, the best comedy show on television at the moment is The Office. Unfortunately  it's ending this year with it's 9th season, but it's had an excellent run. However, if I had to pick a favorite tv comedy ever, it would easily be Arrested Development, which is not currently on TV (but it's on Netflix!) and is working on it's 4th season (FINALLY!) Honestly, it's the best show in the world. I got hooked a couple of years ago when my friend told me I had to watch it, and ever since it's been my go to show when I'm feeling upset and need a good laugh. Both The Office and Arrested Development are shot as mockumentaries, the only difference being that Arrested Development has a narrator. If you want a lighthearted comedy to fill up your winter break, watch either The Office or Arrested Development. You won't ever be disappointed again.

There's tons of shows out there besides these four that are just as great (Mad Men, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, Adventure Time, Lost) and are examples of really taking advantage of the television media. I wish we had discussed more about how television is prevalent in film making, because it seems like more and more sitcoms are going out of style and tv series are flaring up. I like to view shows like these almost as movies split into chapters. I think the story telling of these shows are sometimes even more extraordinary, because so much goes into creating them and keeping them running for season after season. I just wanted to share my favorite shows, because everyone should see them, and my views on television today.

- R.

Let Me Add To the Powerpoint Discussion!

I think they're dumb. That's my intelligent opinion. Since middle school, I've been subjected to hundreds of powerpoints by both teachers and students, most, if not all of, were composed of the default templates and really cheesy animations and transitions. I hated them. Always. I hated it most when teachers would force students to use a powerpoint in their presentation. Because as bad as the teachers were at creating powerpoints, students were a million times worse. With green script font on a bright blue background, or black words over a not even water marked picture... student presentations were actually painful for me. I would actually sit in the back of the room and bleed from my eyes.

It's actually one of the many reasons why I started making videos. In group projects, teachers would often request there be a visual aid. Obviously, every student was like, "YEAH POWERPOINTS FTW!" I had had it, and in 9th grade I asked if instead of a powerpoint, my group could do a video. And history was made. From then on, I always chose the video route over using that dumb program.

I think powerpoints are the safe route. Sure, they meet the required specs for a presentation. They show graphs and charts and pictures and the audience can follow along easily. But they're safety nets. I never find myself challenged when I'm forced to create a powerpoint project. I never feel like I'm working for the attention of my classmates or like I'm really even making an impact. When watching people (and by people I mean non-professionals) present powerpoints, I never feel particularly interested.

I don't think powerpoints have a place in student presentations. Unlike teachers, who know their subject matter and have years of experience giving lectures and presenting in front of groups of people, students usually BS their way through a presentation and use their powerpoint as a crutch. I can handle a teacher powerpoint presentation, even if I think teachers can find more effective ways to relay information, but students I think should never use powerpoints unless it's a last ditch effort or a presentation on mostly graphs and charts.

When I was a Junior, my Government & Economics teacher banned students from using powerpoint presentations when presenting anything. And you know what? It was the best idea, because all of a sudden people were making videos, making posters, dressing up, or thinking of other creative ways to relay information effectively that wasn't a powerpoint. With all the variety, we as a class actually cared about what our peers had to say.

I think powerpoints are effective for businesses. I think they're good for teachers when they know they have a lot to say and they need their students to take notes (as long as there aren't any stupid animations/transitions). I think they're the worst mistake a student could make when presenting to his or her class. There are a thousand ways to get a message across, and using a powerpoint to do it is generic and boring. No one perks up when they see a person open a powerpoint. No one goes, "YEAH A POWERPOINT!" Every one just prepares themselves to endure another powerpoint.

Of course, like everything, there are exceptions. But those exceptions are far and few. And that's my opinion on powerpoints. The End.

-R.

Watching "A Feather Tale" With Someone Who Hasn't Seen It

I blogged about A Feather Tale by Michele Cournoyer back when we first watched it as a class because it struck me on such a deep emotional level. Tonight, my friend asked me if I knew of any short films that could possibly make her feel upset and disturbed, because this is what we do at 2 in the morning on Tuesday nights. We try to find the saddest videos possible.

So when she asked me, I immediately thought of A Feather Tale. That film made me feel extremely upset and emotional and I pride myself on being relatively thick skinned. So I told her, "Yeah, let me show you this film we watched in one of my classes."

I didn't give her any details of the film, in fact I didn't even tell her it was an animation (which, interestingly enough, she was surprised when the film opened as an animation). As we watched the film I noticed how she slowly began to show understanding in what was happening in the film. During the actual "de-feathering" scene, her face was a twisted, disgusted mess.

I, personally, had forgotten the entire effect the film had on me the first time, and again found myself upset and disturbed by the entire thing.

At the end, all she said was, "That wasn't what I was expecting." and when I asked her how it made her feel, she said just mentioned that it was extremely sad and disturbing.

Basically, I wrote this blog because I always find it interesting to observe other people watching things I've already seen. This was especially intriguing because this film is lesser known, and contains pretty mature subject matter. I encourage everyone to share some films with their friends and family, because it's amazing how different people react to different things.

Just thought I would share!

Also, blog credit, yay!

- R.

Since TJ brought up American Psycho...

It's one of my favorite movies, and one of my favorite books. I like how TJ mentioned that Mary Harron didn't intend for it to be a horror film. It was, very much, a satire on the higher class and the materialism of young adults in America. Personally I find psychological thrillers to be extremely interesting especially when they portray mental illness so raw like American Psycho does, so this movie appeals to me. It also has a very strong social commentary. Bret Easton Ellis, the author of the book the movie is based on, writes in a way that almost makes the reader feel like they themselves are losing their minds. Ellis was also very involved with Harron during the filmmaking process, so a lot of his motifs are still visible in the film. One of the majore aspects Ellis wanted to keep was the feeling of the viewer themselves losing their mind.

I was just really excited that TJ showed 3 clips from American Psycho, all of which were clips depicting some of the best moments in the film. It really is a very good movie, but it is very disturbing and Rated R for very good reasons. TJ mentioned that Harron didn't get positive feedback because she directed a movie that at some points portrays women as sex objects and nothing more. (which is sexist in and of itself because if a man had directed AP, he would have gotten significantly less grief). It wasn't just the feminist movement though, many people within the industry were appalled by Harron, a woman, directing such an obscene film. She was blacklisted for quite some time until just recently when the film has become more of a cult classic.

I really do recommend this to anyone who finds this genre really interesting and intriguing. I think the worst mistake you could make is to pre judge this film as a slasher/gore film. It isn't just mindless killing and mindless sex. If you want an idea of what American Psycho is like, it reminds me of Fight Club (another excellent book/movie combo) and A Clockwork Orange (yet ANOTHER excellent book/movie combo). All of these films are dark, heavy, and graphic in different ways, but they are extremely interesting and thought provoking. Each one offers an insight into the human condition and how reality isn't always what it seems.

- R.

I'll Wait for the Next One

A little late, as we watched this in class on Thursday and it's currently Monday, but I think this film deserves a blog post.

I thought this film really packed a punch into a little over 4 minutes. At first, I thought the film was funny and a new take on the randomly-meeting-someone-that-changes-your-life theme that is so prevalent in films. However, it just threw me for a tailspin as the eager woman got off that train and the man realized she had believed him. The amount of pain and embarrassment on his face coupled with the pain and embarrassment on her face was only dulled by the fact that there was more to the story.

Except there wasn't.

The film ends with her watching the train leave the station, still alone, in the exact same situation as she was in when the film started. Except now she has been publicly shamed and embarrassed.

I actually laughed at first as the man said, "Miss it's only a sketch" and the subway doors closed. But when I realized that that was the conclusion I was like, "Oh, well that was actually not funny and actually very sad and depressing."Because this film is realistic in an incredibly sad way.

I thought it was very good, and I shared it with a few of my friends who also really enjoyed it. It's something that I think anyone can watch and take something away from it. It's funny, but has an ending that leaves you feeling like you're missing something.

- R.

Round 2 with The Tree of Life

Tonight marked my second viewing of The Tree of Life. The first time I watched it was with my parents. I decided way back in 9th grade that I would make it a point to see every film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar before the actual Academy Awards (it's always a fun challenge) and last year this was on the list. So a week before the Oscars last year, I sat my parents down on a Friday night and invited them to watch this movie with me (It was the last one I needed). They only agreed after seeing that Brad Pitt was in it, because as my mom said, "Anything Brad Pitt is in must be great."

My parents hated it. My mom stopped watching about an hour into it because she "hates when I make her watch artsy films that make no sense and have no story." My dad lasted the entire film, but I think he only kept watching with the die hard desire for there to be some kind of twist at the end where the entire thing suddenly made sense. When it was over he just kind of went to bed in a state of confusion without saying anything.

I, however, didn't necessarily hate it. I thought it was beautiful. It absolutely blew my mind. Between the incredible score and the amazing visuals, it was, like Leeper said, like watching a two and a half hour painting. I appreciated it for that one reason: that it was beautiful.

But I didn't understand anything. Granted, it was a Friday night at 8 o'clock when I turned it on, but regardless, I came away from that film awed by beauty but confused beyond anything. Of course, I never let my parents on to the fact that I didn't understand a damn thing, because I like to keep up this facade around them that I'm actually a cinema expert. But in reality... I didn't understand anything. Even countless hours of scrolling through The Tree of Life's IMDb page didn't help. Eventually, I decided I wasn't evolved enough to understand the film, and cast my vote for The Artist as last year's Best Picture winner.

Fast forward to tonight. It was interesting re-watching it. Definitely a lot less stressful the second time around. I'm not saying it still wasn't heavy, but at least this time I could focus more on the imagery because my brain had already accepted defeat and wasn't trying to piece anything together. It wasn't as overwhelming as the first time, but it still packed on quite a load. Again, I was blown away by how beautiful this film is. I noticed more things this time that were just beautiful.

But again I still feel as if I understand very little about this film. Maybe it's because, unlike a lot of people at this school, I do not know the Bible very well, and therefore the Book of Job is not something I'm familiar with. Obviously, because the entire film is kind of based on Job, that's why the film is so foreign for me. I did, however, agree with Leeper and Dawn that this is not necessarily a "Christian" film. In fact, I was kind of excited because everyone was talking about how The Tree of Life was showing Christian films in a new way and I just kept thinking, "I don't think Malick meant for this to be a Christian film." and then Leeper said that and I was like, "YEAH! I thought like him. I'm evolving."

Also, for some reason this scene has made me tear up both
times I've watched it. It breaks my heart.

I honestly have yet to really truly take anything away from this film that isn't awe with the beauty of it. In fact, I find it really amazing that some people can watch this and truly "get" what the director was trying to convey. I hope to one day be at that level of professionalism and understanding and knowledge to be able to watch a heavy film like this and digest it as something more than just "This is beautiful but I don't know why." Because I know that there is a reason this film is amazing, and I know that it's beautiful, but I can't seem to grasp why it is so.

All in all, I can't pretend that I enjoyed it 100% because it gets a little... tedious towards the middle. I didn't love it; I appreciated it, and I admired it, but I didn't love it because I have yet to understand it. I think this is one of those films that some people pretend to understand to try and look knowledgeable in what movies they watch, and I'm just comfortable admitting that I was confused for about 110% of the entire thing, both times I watched it.

But it's still a mind-blowingly beautiful movie.

- R.

Passing Hearts

I've fortunately never been involved in a situation where I or anyone I'm close to required an organ transplant of any kind. I've even more fortunately never been in a situation where someone close to me has died and donated those vital organs to another person in need.

I thought this film was really good. The only thing I found possibly strange was that Daniel was so secretive about him wanting to meet the parents of the child who had pretty much saved his life. I didn't really understand why he wouldn't want his own mom to know, but maybe when you undergo such life altering surgery they recommend not to connect yourself to the organ donor's past life. I get that we as the audience weren't supposed to know he had received an organ transplant and that he was planning to visit the donor's family, but I feel as if he could have still told his mom and we could have been kept in the dark.

I think I'm dwelling on something pointless, or rather something that did have purpose and I'm just missing it.

Anyway, I really liked how the audience was left to imagine what was happening in the film. We weren't directly given a plot, and I enjoyed the "twist" at the end. At first I thought Daniel was going to run away, and then, upon seeing the couple, I thought he was visiting his birth mother (As in he was adopted and his birth parents wanted to reconnect). I realized what was really happening when the donor's mother showed him her son's bedroom.

A very good film, and I feel like watching it as someone who dealt with this in their personal life would be heart wrenching and very emotional. Leeper mentioned a few years back a student watched this film and talked about how she was on a list for a donor heart. I would have loved to have been present during that conversation just to try and understand what emotions and thoughts must be going through one's body and mind during such a situation. Overall, I found this to be a very interesting and thought provoking film.

- R.

West Bank Story

A little while ago I posted a link to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. While watching this, I had that same feeling of glee and excitement that ensues with a short musical comedy. The writing was witty and kept me eager for the next punchline, and the music was catchy and a refreshing mock-up of West Side Story. However, like Dr. Horrible's, I feel like this film also had a darker side that is never really addressed directly within the film itself.

I am not overly informed on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, but I've been doing my best to stay on top of the news coverage in Gaza over the last few weeks. However, the conflict has been around for a very long time, so I easily find myself confused when I listen to coverage. I realize many Americans have established "sides" and that the common Evangelical choice is for Israel (obviously, it's the Holy land). I suppose that's personal, but as someone who believes in peace and pacifism  I lean neither with the Israelis or the Palestinians and rather I hope for the violence and death of innocents to subside.

I feel as if this film, however funny, was a representation of that desire for peace among certain people of the Israeli and Palestinian cultures. Obviously no one enjoys violence happening in their own backyard, and I feel as if this film was trying to bring to light how destructive the constant feuding can be for newer generations that truly have a desire for peace (i.e. Fatima & David).

I might just be fumbling around in the dark on that issue. I am aware that it's a very complex and involved situation, and although I want to be involved I have yet to find a night where I can sit down and really invest some time into understanding it. I do, however, really think this film was commenting on that issue, in the best way possible: sarcasm and music.

Overall I enjoyed it a lot, and I thought it was a great film!

- R.

I Haven't Seen Star Wars in a While...

But I thought the George Lucas in Love piece was brilliant. I'm not an overly dedicated fan of Star Wars, but I have seen them and I enjoyed them. I think the film was brilliant because it's the perfect fan video. The most iconic characters and moments of Star Wars were briefly mentioned in the film, and the director took a chance and even made fun of George Lucas in a very I'm-just-kidding-I-think-you're-great kind of way.

I read on IMDb that George Lucas has seen the film and thought it was absolutely fantastic. I can see why; This would be like the ultimate form of flattery to me.

On a different note, I really loved the creative thinking that went into portraying the characters of Star Wars as modern (or, 1999 modern) people. Easily, the Jabba the Hutt reference was my favorite, followed by the Yoda characterization. I think my favorite line was when young George Lucas said to Yoda/Professor, "Can you, um, talk forward?"

This is the type comedy that I find to be my favorite: simple, yet wonderfully clever. The deliveries were spot on, and the jokes were quick but packed a punch. I wish it had been longer, as I eagerly would have kept watching.

- R.

Dansa það af mér (Dance It Off)

None of this music video is in English, except for two swear words and a phrase at the end. The title, Dansa það af mér, means Dance it off in Icelandic. I came across this music video about three months ago, and it's probably one of my favorites, even if I have yet to come across an English translation and therefore I technically have no idea what they're saying. I love it because the video is just so funny, even if I have no idea what is being said.

This is considered "sketch comedy" in Iceland, and I would say the band, Steindinn Okkar 3, is similar to The Lonely Island (made famous by SNL). This song in particular is about aliens taking over the world, and the main character has lived a really rough (yet hilarious) life and has learned that when faced with troubles it's best to just dance it off. The song is riddled with puns and satirical jokes about Iceland, none of which I understand because I am American and speak only English.

This video doesn't really have a deeper meaning, it's just a dark humor piece, but I figured it's a lesser known music video that is done extraordinary well and I should share it. I love how even without speaking a lick of icelandic, I understand and still find humor in the majority of the video. I love when videos can cross cultures like that and still maintain a level of entertainment.

Warning, the video does have some disturbing elements, but not anything extreme. There's two swear words, one being the f word. I find it hilarious that the entire song is in icelandic but the swear words are in english. Even if you don't like foreign music, I would watch this anyway. It's really just fantastic, and I love it. Also, the beat is really catchy!

- R.

The Man Who Planted Trees

I'm really glad we focused mostly on animation for the last few weeks, as I think independent animation is something I don't personally get to see enough of. The Man Who Planted Trees was one of my favorite films that we watched, even though I truly enjoyed almost all of them.

What I liked so much about The Man Who Planted Trees was that it was told like someone reading a story. The entire film was a narrative, and I liked how I felt this connection to the reader/narrator. I thought that was a fantastic way of telling the story which was initially told as a narrative. Rather than giving the the characters a dialogue, the creator's of the film kept true to the initial narrative of the story.

The art was also beautiful. The film itself was gorgeous and set the mood of the film. The art made the film feel like a fantasy, but the film itself was told in such a way that I wanted to believe it was true. Which brings me to the story itself, and the message I got from it. One man's diligent work can impact and change many lives. I thought the film brought together that message in all areas of medium: story, visuals, and sound. 

I definitely found The Man Who Planted Trees to be one of the best films we watched during the animation unit.

-R.

A Feather Tale

The thing is, I want to write a blog post about this film because I have never in my life seen anything as emotionally devastating, but I am struggling with even recalling the most disturbing moments of the film itself. I think, instead of writing about my digestion of the film, I'm going to write about how much I respect and admire Michele Cournoyer for making this.

Leeper said the animation process required her to actually replay the role of a rape victim by stripping down naked and doing the motions herself. That she had to then sketch each and every moment, and relive that experience 24 times per second, is one of the most strongest and empowering things I have ever heard. The amount of emotional conflict that had to have gone into this work is honestly just breath taking. I can't even imagine myself being strong enough to ever do something so brave for the sake of informing others of how revolting and mentally distressful rape is. I just think it's absolutely the most admirable thing a person could do, is to look their demons in the eye so they can spread the word and help other victims.

I am just in awe of that strength, and I won't ever forget the film. We've watched so many films in Leeper's class, and honestly 20, 30, 40 years down the line I won't remember them all, but this one I will; I already feel it anchored inside me.

Putting that aside, I thought the entire discussion on how men could not make something like that is interesting. I agree, but would that make a man's film about rape not as powerful? I find it interesting that I probably wouldn't have had such a strong reaction to a film about rape through the eyes of a man. So that leaves me with a question: I wonder what the guys in the room were feeling during A Feather Tale?



- R.

What Makes a Movie "The Best?"

Obviously there is something that separates Hedgehog in the Fog from a Pixar movie or even Dreamworks, but what is it? Normally, I'm on board with trying to understand why a movie that Leeper shows us is so good, and I like to broaden the cultural side of my mind, but this one I didn't understand.

Let me clarify. I liked Hedgehog. I thought it was great. But what makes it better than Up or Finding Nemo? What makes it more substantial than The Lion King or Spirited Away? All of those animated movies are, in my opinion, the same if not more entertaining to watch, and I found a moral and lesson within their stories too. However, these are not the films that were dubbed "the best ever" and I find that more curious rather than infuriating. I can accept that the animation I grew up with isn't what the art world is considering as "the best." After all, I'm only eighteen and I'm willing to admit that my taste in films might not be up to par with Leeper or the rest of the film industry. But I really am curious as to what makes a film "one of the best" and why Hedgehog is seen as a truly artistic and amazing animated film, but those other movies were not even mentioned.

I wonder if it's about selective audience? All the films we've watched in Leeper's class have been relatively unknown to me. I think I have heard of maybe two films prior to watching them in that class. I feel like a lot of people could agree that for the most part, the films being shown to us are not something we have heard about a lot, if at all. So while they may be insanely popular in some fraction of the world and the art community, they are not widely popular among the average middle class American families such as mine.

Does that smaller audience have an impact on the film itself, and even the filmmaker? I mean, it can't be argued that any Pixar film is more popular and vastly seen that Hedgehog, yet it's Hedgehog that Leeper said was one of the best animated films of our time. I honestly don't know, and I hope Leeper touches on the mechanics of what makes the films he's showing us so substantial to the film industry. I truly want to understand, but right now I don't, especially with the animated films.

I think this all comes back to the conversation about mainstream vs. art house. What makes one better or worse than the former. Why are art house films so highly acclaimed, but it's mainstream that is pulling in larger audiences. Why can't the two cross sides? I think I'm just reopening old conversations, but the questions are truly fascinating: What is it that makes respectable filmmakers, film professors, and artists call Hedgehog in the Fog one of the best animated films? What is it that makes a film "the best?"

- R.

The Best 42 Minutes You'll Ever Spend on YouTube

I first watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog about a year ago, when my friend told me she had found a short film that would blow my mind. Indeed it did. The premise for Dr. Horrible's is simple: It's the story of a not too evil super villain, Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris), who is desperate to be accepted into the Evil League of Evil, led by the notorious Bad Horse. However, his plans to implement evil on the city are usually foiled by the "hero" Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion). Horrible's goal to be accepted into the League is thrown for a loop when he meets a saintly and charitable girl at the laundry mat, Penny (Felicia Day). His life is even more messed up when Penny begins dating Captain Hammer after he "saves" her from one of Horrible's evil plans.

It's not a "difficult" movie to understand. There are no hidden meanings or symbolism. The film doesn't ever take itself too seriously, and the writers understood that first and foremost this was a comedy. However, that doesn't mean it can't pack a punch. The genius of this film is that on one level, it's a fantastic comedy musical, but on a different level, it's a tragic story of lost love and sacrifices.

The actors are also perfect in their roles. The on screen chemistry between Neil Patrick Harris, Felicia Day, and Nathan Fillion is what makes the movie so real. Even though the premise is ludicrous, the actors make the story seem almost plausible. There are also an assortment of background characters that deliver some of the best one liners I have ever heard in a film.

If you have 42 minutes to spare, give this film a shot. It's one of my favorites, and the only bad thing I have to say about it is that it's only 42 minutes long. The writing is superb, the music is catchy, and the performances are beyond memorable. It's one of the best short films I have ever seen.

NOTE: It doesn't technically have a rating, but I would say it's rated PG-13 for some language and sexual innuendos. Nothing obscene.