When the day breaks

This time we spent focusing on animation was a lot of fun, because there is no limits to what can happen in an animated film as opposed to a live action film. This unpredictable style has always been the highlight of animation has a genre to me. Since the definition of comedy as we read earlier in the year is "unforeseeable"; animation can reach comedic heights with no limit.When Leeper showed us "When the Day Breaks" and i saw that chicken getting dressed and ready for the day i could not stop laughing; there was just something about seeing a chicken acting like a human that cracks me up; and don't even get me started on the pig singing! Anyways, i think this film is so great because it was not written just to appeal to children although at first glance one would cast it off in the children film genre and never watch it. There is a level of enjoyment and content that is age appropriate for adults as well. The ending of this film portrays the guilt experienced by the pig after the chicken is killed. Adults, much more than children, can relate to what that poor pig is feeling.

Rock Fishing

My favorite of the animations we've watched in the past five weeks is RockFish by Blur studios. This was my favorite partially because the style of animation was my favorite, and partially because I love a good "don't let go" type of story.

This animation ties into the readings primarily for the CGI, but I think it also is a good way to communicate some cool ideas to those who watch it including children. I think this short is a great way to talk to children and tell them what it's like to want something bad enough that you hold on even if you lose a thing or two--sometimes really important things too-- in the process.

In the end, the fisher still had all he really needed: himself and his little creature friend. He got his fish too, and really getting the fish wasn't about getting the fish, it was about the chase and catching it. Sometimes it's not about the reward or goal at the top of the latter, but rather the steps it takes to get there. We learn so much more in the process of getting to where we want to be than we do once we're there. And while that's a lot for a little kid to take away, it's still a pretty cool theory one can draw from a well-done short like RockFish.

The Big Muddy

http://bigmuddyfilm.com/

I thought I could write a little about the festival I was involved in. The Big Muddy is the oldest student run festival in the country. It is an international festival with the categories of animation, documentary, narrative, and experimental. From what I have heard documentaries are the most prominent at Big Muddy.

I was on a committee made up of students and faculty that screened films and voted on which ones to include. Faculty gave the final say, but our votes showed them what was better received. I'd say there were about 20-30 students in a screening at one time.

What was most interesting about judging a film, is you learn very early on the vibe it gives. What I mean is you already have a positive or negative feeling within the first 10 seconds to a minute of a film. Honestly, there were so many submissions we hardly ever watched the entire thing. Sometimes it was a full length movie, or sometimes a very short film. Of course, the final submissions were watched in their entirety. But you can tell a lot about the quality of a film very early on.

I learned something very important. If you can't capture someone's interest within the first minute of your film, can you really blame them for losing interest? Even if you have some amazing truth to reveal at the end, it may not matter because they've already tuned out or moved on. It's like what you hear about meeting people, you've already decided if you like them within the first 10 seconds. Is this good? Probably not. But if you can't keep the interest of the audience for your film, who cares what you made?

The Stain

My favorite film that has been shown this semester would have to be The Stain. Not because I particularly enjoyed it but because it challenged me more than the other films. It put me in a place that I   no nothing about and want absolutely want nothing to do with, which is exactly why I needed that film to open my eyes a bit. I do not remember the question exactly for the test but I just really got pushed when it came to the stain and I guess the power of that film just blew me away for just some cut outs and animations it broadened my opinions on a few issues such as family and let me see another side of this experience that we call life. My concluding thoughts on this piece is that it really showed me what amazing film making can do, it can do things that no conversation or lecture could do because it is both gentle but can be as harsh and cruel as you interpret it.

The Man Who Planted Trees

The Man Who Planted Trees (French title L'homme qui plantait des arbres), also known as The Story of Elzéard Bouffier, The Most Extraordinary Character I Ever Met, and The Man Who Planted Hope and Reaped Happiness, is the short film I would like to blog about.
I thought it was really cool that it has so many different names, all of which fit it quite well.
I have a deep appreciation for this film primarily because of it's simplicity. It's so endearing to see it, because it's message is not one to attempt to motivate. It is merely to say, "look what humans can do" and more specifically, "Look what just one human can do" 
I feel like the ability of one human is often over looked, which is really quite sad, just because we all have a uniqueness to bring to the experience of life, which should be highlighted.
For this reason, as well as the hopeful attitude it brings, I really enjoyed The Man Who Planted Trees from a personal standpoint. 

SandCastle... again!

• My favorite film from the past weeks was Sand Castle by Co Hoedeman. To be honest, I'm a sucker for stop-motion films, I couldn't imagine having to take on the extreme task of creating one, but boy do I love watching them. They are visually pleasing to me, I don't know why, just the way they awkwardly move and the sincere innocence of it all brings out the child within me. Most people liked Tchou Tchou more than this one, and I seriously have no idea why. Tchou Tchou was great, and Co had to use a lot of tricky animation techniques, which I admit were really cool ( seeing the block people jump was awesome) however I still think that SandCastle was a little more impressive with all the visual effects being made from sand. I stated this in an earlier blog post, but with the whole "wind" thing going on, it was super impressive. I was completely immersed in this world of crazy and silly creatures, and although after most films in this class I am upset when they are over, I felt like I wanted this film to go on even longer. Every film has it's appropriate length, but I wanted more SandCastle. I like the connection between "God" and the "Creator" in this film, I think it's an awesome interpretation, and I really enjoy Co Hoedeman, even if I'm a live action guy and not an animation junkie.

Frustrations- AKA The One About Facebook.

According to recent studies, the average American takes in about 3,500 to 5,000 marketing messages a day and spends about 41 hours per week using technology such as cell phones, TV, video games, music and the Internet.  Everyone is spending vast amounts of time engaged in mediated reality and less time engaged with each other. For the past couple of weeks, all I have heard about is relationships and who is with whom, and who has cheated on whom and drama on why.  Where did I find most of this crap? Pasted all over my freaking Facebook feed of course!! There was literally one girl whom wrote on Facebook about how she wanted people to stay out of her crap and to stop asking her about the breakup and then the next post 5 minutes later was her vaguely discussing about how she wish could go back in time and understand what she did and change her wrongs!!! Another girl I know started posting about her breakup about the same moment  every couple minutes a video, quote, picture, and/ or status about how she hated her ex and how he did her wrong and that she was glad he broke up with her.  ALTHOUGH the DAY before she had written on his wall about how she loved him and was so happy with him.  Then today, my friend was talking to me about all of these text messages that he was sending to this girl and then how she totally rejected him in person although they got together so well over text.  Another guy was sending dirty pictures to a girl whom he lives 16 hours away from and doesn't plan on seeking any type of relationship with her.  
Our generation has developed some of the most advanced communication devices ever and instead using it to strengthen our relationships that we have, we use it as a barrier to complain about our lives and use it to gain attention that we other wise never would have used it for.  Like the comic above, no one would act in real life like they do on Facebook! If we lived as Facebook portrayed us, most girls would be needy sluts, drunks, and on vacation and our faces would be stuck making permanent duck faces while making peace signs in the air.  Guys would be random memes, vacations, and swearing ranting posts.  We become much more brash and open with this digital barrier between us that leaves everything open for interpretation and no solid ground to work with.  My question is, with the path that we have gone down so far, is it possible to come back from this lack of ability to communicate outside of the digital age? I know the second part of Wall-e was sketchy to say the least, but it is the best way to visualize what I feel like our society is coming too.... A complete lack and disregard for the Human situation and issues.  We get so wrapped up on Facebook and in our own little digital worlds that we hardly notice the rest of it....  I watched Hotel Rwanda, a movie about the Rwandan genocides, for my mid-term paper and one of my favorite quotes was this,

"Paul Rusesabagina (A FILM MAKER BTW): I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene. 
Jack (main character): Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show? 
Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities? Jack: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "oh my God that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners."

this is how we often live out lives. We post about our own small "first-world problems" and live our lives without a thought of others and how what we say actually affects the relationships that we have around us.  My plea to my generation is simply this, look outside your own bloody shallow and self-absorbed bubble and actually make an attempt to talk to someone face to face.  You have NO idea the impact that simply listening and respecting someone can do.  Think before you post that status.  What are you ACTUALLY saying? Would you say this in person? THINK BEFORE YOU SEND THAT POST OR TEXT! It's not that hard! Golden rule first and you have it! :))