Sick Jeffery: A Comedy about Battling Illness
By Dan Myers
This short film characterizes the struggle with fighting off a bug. It features humorous banter, puking noises, and a feather. It's pretty silly. Also I had fake blood on my face the entire first day of shooting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhCspWu_GSs
My final project discusses horror films and why people find them scary. Discusses certain films, horror genres and cinematic elements
Tommy Patterson
My Final Project is about the importance of foreign films and how we can use them as tool to diversify ourselves to other cultures and beliefs.
Jared Scott
'What Makes A Sci-Fi Film"
My Project focuses on a handful of sci-fi movies i've watched and i compare all of them based on angles,sounds and lighting to see what makes a science fiction film.
My final project is about the timeline of horror films and how they progressed overtime, I look at different genres of horror and how they differ cinematically.
My final film project is a power point presentation of the theme: hero vs. antihero; basically discussing the differences between the two and how films are able to portray them in various ways.
--Austin DeHaven
My final presentation on derivative works, more commonly known as film adaptations. I look at a lot more than just film. Comics, novels, video games, musicals, all sorts of entertainment mediums. They can all share a story but each has a unique way of telling the story and should not always be compared as to which version is better. - Mike Rapak https://prezi.com/2qq1_ryfdqpk/the-derivative-work/
For my final project I did a prezi on Steven Spielberg. I talked about the many ways he has made an impact on film today. https://prezi.com/8729ctjag7zq/edit/#4_24309637
-Lindsey Mast
_
My project is on fantasy and the role fantasy plays in film. Specifically, it looks at The Lord of the Rings.
~ Ryan Dougherty http://fantasyandlordoftherings.wikispaces.com/Fantasy+and+Lord+of+the+Rings
My final project was a short film that shows the progression of women leading roles through the decades of film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANBwoAz_FdM&feature=youtu.be
-Alanna Parker Keith Kilgore- Special Effects in Horror Films The use of special effects in film has been used for many decades, in order to help bridge the gap between what is real and what is fantasy. The best special effects are the ones that suspend you’re disbelief that what you’re watching isn’t real. Before the 90’s and early 2000’s, most movies used practical effects, while more movies recently have moved towards CG effects. The decision on which kind of effect is better is one that is important to every film genre, but maybe none are so important than in the horror genre. How has the changes in special effects affected how horror movies are presented. As with many movies, many of the early horror films used practical effects. These effects were gags that were used live on camera and added a sense of realism to what was happening on screen. In most movies these effects include suspending someone with a wire, some explosions, and stunts among other things. Horror movies used these as well as other gags such as fake cuts, dummies that can be manipulated or dismembered. The use of practical effects adds a sense of realism due in part to the fact that it has to look real for the effect to work. Another thing is that it gives the actors something to act against. The Slasher movie of the 1980’s were masterful at using such effects. The limitations kept the effects grounded and helped make them more believable. CG blood can sometimes be easy to spot and doesn’t interact all that well with the environment, whereas with fake blood, you can see how it soaks into clothing and drip and move in a very natural way. It also makes it easier on the actors. It is easy to react to someone’s death when it is happening in front of you, than when the director tells you what happens and you have to imagine what it looks like. Some would argue that practical effects work better than CG because the latter is easy to tell that it’s fake, whereas practical effects are supposed to look as realistic as possible and can even if for a brief moment, catch the audience off guard. CG effects are useful because it doesn’t limit filmmakers to what they can do on camera or time constraints. A CG effect can be made and tweaked and once it’s done, you don’t have to reset it while practical effects have to be cleaned up and reset for every take. Not having physical limitations can lead to more creativity which can be used to awe and/or shock the viewer. Having the effects be computer generated allows the director to have more control over how he wants the scene to play out, with a practical effect a lot can go wrong which can lead to additional takes and taking up more time. The main use of CG in Horror movies is for the added shock factor. More modern horror movies use the CG effects to try and surprise the audience usually by allowing for more graphic imagery. With many movies, it seems like a game to see how far each film will go and how far the envelope can be pushed. Whether or not this leads to a better movie or not is up to each person, but it is evident that the tactic is effective. CG also allows for grittier stories, with such things as a character losing an arm, is much easier to accomplish with CG than through practical effects. The argument for CG effects is that people can be surprised even more so than practical effects because literally anything can happen. When comparing the two, there are situations where practical effects can be more effective than CG but the opposite can also be true. For the first instance, I’ll compare the original A Nightmare on Elm Street versus its 2010 remake. The original had little to know Computer generated graphics which makes scenes like the death of Johnny Depp’s character all the more graphic because it was all done on set. Another icon scene, Tina’s death, was also done simply using a wire to levitate her on camera. A similar scene is in the remake, however, CG is used and it doesn’t feel as raw as it did in the original. Many of the scenes in the remake use a lot of CG, which works most of the time, but the scenes in the original feel so much more real due to the practical effects. A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984, Tina’s death scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MLLMASSXSg__ A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010, Kris’s death scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWLeJdDp8OA__ A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984, Glenn’s death scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3dt4zePvnE__ The reverse is also true, CG effects can be more effective than practical effects. The best comparison of this is between the original black and white The Wolfman and the 2010 remake. In the original, Lawrence Talbot’s transformation is done by simply using a fade from the actor with no make-up on, to a shot where he has the werewolf make-up on. In the remake, special effects are used to show his features twisting and contorting to that of a wolf. Comparing those two makes the CG in the remake look pretty good but, I also feel it is better than the transformation in An American Werewolf in London. In that movie, practical effects are used to show the main characters appearance shift from man to were wolf, but it still can’t do what the Wolfman remake does, which is show fur growing, teeth elongating and size increase, which is significantly harder to achieve with practical effects. It can be seen that in that comparison, the one that is more fantastical can be viewed as the better one because it helps the movie break even further from reality than it already has. The Wolfman 1941 transformation scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q4Wn63uof8__ The Wolfman 2010 transformation scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPfQjNQwXKY__ An American Werewolf in London transformation scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIad8e5iUnk__ Another thing to look at is how these special effects have impacted the popularity of the horror genre. The heyday of horror was around the 1980’s with films like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and a Nightmare on Elm Street being extremely popular at the time. The popularity of these films led to them getting a number of sequels, many of which were put out annually. These movies all used practical effects primarily, while later installments began to use some digital effects. More recent horror films, embrace the freedom of CG effects but, it is arguable that the horror genre is stagnant now, and not nearly as popular as it once was. Asking a lot of my friends why newer scary movies aren’t good in their eyes, they say it is because they don’t look real and are too over the top, two side effects of computer generated effects. Movies like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity have both been extremely successful, but these films use little to no CGI. Special effects are an important part of cinema because it allows for more to be done in a story than what an actor or director themselves can achieve. Though both Computer Generated effects and practical effects have their merits, both have been instrumental to the evolution of the horror genre and all film in general. Each person has their own preference on which kind of effect they like better, but it is hard to refute that both have their place and both can be extremely believable and effective. As time goes on both become even more life-like and helps make the art of cinematography even better. Works Cited: Imdb.com- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Imdb.com- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Imdb.com – The Wolfman (1941) Imdb.com – The Wolfman (2010) Imdb.com – An American Werewolf in London (1981) Youtube.com
For my project I looked at how lighting and camera angles affect the way we look at certain characters on screen.
Keith Hibbs
Lighting and Visual EffectsCreated and Produced by: Mark Kevin Stallman Jr.
Here is my short film describing the five types of lighting used on a film set and how visual effects are always used during the production of a film. Most of the filming for this project was done through the use of my digital camcorder.
For my final project, I studied and analyzed the famous prom scene from Carrie. I compared the scene between the original Carrie (1976) and the remake of Carrie (2013). Here is the final essay for it.
Trains are highlighted in film more than one may think. From real trains as used in the movie Unstoppable, to imaginary engines for kids, such as The Polar Express and Thomas And The Magic Railroad; diesel and steam engines alike have been calling viewers to go off on an adventure. There are many examples when it comes to trains in film. Different themes and genres are used to demonstrate some film aspects. Thomas And The Magic Railroad is an example of how trains are used for shooting a film. These other films also demonstrate in how trains are used; Unstoppable, The Polar Express and The History of Steam Locomotives. Each of them have their differences but trains are so used in many different genres.
In the movie Unstoppable, Tony Scott the director had some very unique challenges. In a video on IMDb.com, Scott said, "It was a challenge, but I love challenges, I love adventures and this has been the most challenging adventure and most brilliant adventure I have encountered." This film was based on a true story. The shots and angles were very detailed based on the action in the film. From following the train to the people on the runaway train and the two guys trying to stop the runaway. Something mentioned about the cinematography was they were the first crew to ever shoot a real train derailment on camera. The crews also placed explosions and wires around that area so when the helper locomotives come off the tracks, they explode. Explosions have happened in other films, however, they really wanted to elevate the experience and to make this so real as it would be in real life. Also, using cross cutting and fading within the heat moments of the train being out of control enhanced the realism of the scene. The lighting was overall natural from the outside and the sound was constantly very loud in nature with the music scoring. Tony Scott topped out with the overall production with this film. Interview with director Tony Scott for Unstopable.
Thomas And The Magic Railroad is an animated film. It was made based on its regular TV Show and the shots and angles were used like on the television show. However, the movie is different in comparison to the television series because the television program is animated and actually mixed with real life people. The animation and real life people interacted with one another by literally speaking to one another. In addition to that, this film cuts from real life to animation and vice versa. On dailymotoin.com, there is some behind the scene footage of how they shot this film. They had a camera that was on a crane to capture some shots as they were in motion. Some of the trains they shot were miniature size and some were the real standard gage size. One can only tell by watching the behind the scenes footage video. At one point, Thomas came into the real world while the three main real life human characters go to the Island of Sodar once they restored the lost engine. The real life characters helped her also return. In this case, the cimaphotohpers even used a little bit of The Strasburg Railroad. They did use some underscore for some drama and funny scenes in the film. Otherwise, real life sounds were used and nothing fancy was incorporated. The cinematography was overall basic except here and there with a low shot from up above facing down. This was a combination of animated and a regular movie with real people in it. Thomas and The Magic Railroad Behind The Scenes.
Another train animated film was based on a book. The Polar Express film was quite similar to the written story. The cinematography was overall typical for films along with the beautiful scenery. Here and there were some establishing shots when the train was on the ice and while at The North Pole. The sound was natural in nature, and at the times when appropriate the music scoring fitted this film. The acting was overall simple but unpredictable at times, especially when the dramatic scenes take place all of a sudden. In a YouTube video Tom Hanks mentions that he played five different characters. He played the main boy, his father, the hobo guy on top of the train, Santa Claus and the conductor for the train. All of the characters he played had different tones and speed to the voices with the exception of the conductor which was his natural speaking voice. In addition to that, he was an executive producer for this film. Every time a shot would end of him, most of the time he would have to swing the camera the other way behind the scene so he could play one of his other characters. The overall presentation of the film was animated but it had real people just like in The Polar Express book.You Look Familer: Tom Hanks Polar Express The genre of this next film was actually shown on TV called Trains Unlimited. This specific film was overall a documentary and is purpose is to understand train history. Steam engines were the main topic of the movie. There was no special audio during this film. This film used old pictures and video while it was being narrated. Along with that were primarily interviews, older pictures were displayed to show the audience what type of trains were used during certain times periods. No actors and actresses were in this one since this was a documentary film. No behind the scene footage was shown because of the reality of the content as it is occurred in real life. All of these films have their own unique ways in the way they each present themselves. All of them were in a different genres from documentary to animated, plus action and drama. The ultimate connection that these films have in common is trains are involved in one way or another to take the audience on a ride to someplace to explore. In these particular films, these iron horses were the main subject and not just an alternative means of transportation. The thrill of a train ride has always captured the attention of movie goers and most likely will always continue to do so. Works Cited __http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m47dg__ __http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3177355545?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_10__ __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwLCqVGHpTM__ __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tINxBuHojnQ__
The Classic Sports Underdog Story By: Reid Anderson
Question: What are some similarities and differences between underdog stories from different sports?
There is nothing is more exciting in the world of sports than a team or athlete rising to the top against all odds when nobody expected them to. This is referred to as an underdog. Hollywood has recognized this trend and has been using underdog stories to sell out theaters for many years now. One of the great things about these movies is that they cover a wide range of sports. You do not even have to be a fan of the sport to enjoy these movies and appreciate the story being told.
The focus of these movies can fall into two major categories which dramatically effects the way they are told. These categories are individual athlete and a team as a whole. These variations of the genre provide different aspects to the film, but also share common themes that are found in nearly every great underdog story.
Individual Athlete
Probably the most famous movie in this genre is none other than Rocky (1976). This is the story of a small time boxer trying to make it big. When the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, comes in to Rocky’s home town of Philadelphia, Rocky gets a chance to fight him. The fight is supposed to be an easy win for Creed but Rocky, seeing this as his one shot at the big time, trains harder than ever before to win the title. Even though this is considered one of the best underdog movies ever made Rocky actually loses to Creed in the match. The real triumph of the movie is that Rocky went all fifteen rounds and ended the fight better than he started.
It isn’t until the sequel, Rocky II (1979), when Rocky is persuaded by Creed to do a rematch where he finally defeats the champ.
Another example of the rise of an individual athlete is the movie Invincible (2006), the true story of Vince Papale. This is the story of a regular Joe who uses hard work and determination to compete with the pros. Vince was a 30 year-old bartender in Philadelphia who saw his life going nowhere fast when his wife divorced him. He and his friends always played pick-up football and when the Eagles held an open tryout he is persuaded by his friends to go out for the team. Vince makes the practice squad and eventually works his way up to special teams. In the final scene of the movie he creates a fumble on a punt and picks it up to run it in for a touchdown.
These films are very alike the sense that a no name athlete goes through struggle and hard work to exceed people’s expectations. Another similarity that these two films share is the addition of a love interest to the story. Rocky has Adrian who he meets during his training and Vince meets Janet who eventually becomes his wife. These characters serve as more than just a pretty face for these protagonists. They serve as the moral support that is needed for these athletes to succeed. Both Rocky and Vince have to deal with doubters that say they can’t achieve their goals.
In this scene Vince keeps a note in his locker from his ex-wife when she left him that says, “You’ll never go anywhere. You’ll never make any money and you’ll never make a name for yourself.” Right after he received that message in the first place was when he met Janet. Even Rocky tells Adrian that he does not think he will win the fight against Creed. These characters allow the audience to see another side of the main character and even show a soft side.
Unorthodox Team
The next category of great underdog sports films is the unlikely group of guys that turn into a team and eventually take down the powerhouse team nobody thought they could beat. A great example of this is Miracle (2004), the true story of the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team that beat the undefeated Russians. In this film former player Herb Brooks is selected as the US Olympic hockey coach and puts together a team of college players from around the country. Through unorthodox coaching methods he turns a group of misfits into Olympic champions.
Another example in this category is basketball movie Glory Road (2006). This is the true story of the Texas Western basketball team and their journey to a national championship. New head coach Don Haskins does what no other college at the time would even think of and recruit players based on skill and not race. This resulted in having more black players than white players on the team. In a time of racism this caused extreme controversy and caused people to doubt their ability. Against all odds they follow their coach and come together as a team.
A major part in both of these films and many others that fit this genre is the coming together as a team. Miracle starts out with players arguing with each other based on college rivalries. This even leads to fights in practice and drama between players off the ice. Selfishness is a common trait in the beginnings of these movies and players are mostly focused on their own success and not the success of the team. Glory Road follows a similar trend except it involves race. The mix of white and black players does not mend well at first because they do not see each other as teammates. The same exact scenario happens in Remember the Titans (2000) except with a football team was formed from an all-white school combining with an all-black school. Another common theme that actually is a reason for these teams coming together is a tough head coach that pushes them. Herb Brooks, Don Haskins, and Herman Boone are all extremely hard coaches that nobody on the team likes at first. They all scream and yell at the players when they do not hustle and make mental mistakes and do not take excuses. Each of these three movies also include scenes of intense conditioning and training to the point of near unconsciousness. In the end this method turns the young group of boys into matured men who have a different outlook not only on the game they are playing, but on life in general.
Scenes like these are also prevalent in the single athlete films as well. One of the most famous scenes in Rocky is the one of him running through Philadelphia while cutting back and forth to other intense training scenes. This is used to give the audience hope and make them believe that the underdog is working harder than their opponent and therefore will achieve their goal. This often also comes in the form of a montage and shows progress throughout.
Probably one of the most important part of nearly every underdog film has to be the addition of an inspirational speech that really sets the stage for the final battle. This is more common in films involving an entire team and the speech is done by the head coach or a player on that team. One of the most famous speeches done by a head coach is given by Herb Brooks in Miracle right before the US team faces the Russians.
Another similar speech comes from Hoosiers (1986) in the locker room right before the big game. Just like in Miracle, the locker room is completely silent until the coach walks in and starts the speech. This is to show the incredible amount of tension and anxiety in the minds of the athletes. Both speeches also comment on how it doesn’t matter how big or talented the other team is, but instead to focus on the way your team plays and to not leave anything out on the floor.
In other movies like Remember the Titans the speech does not come right before game time. Instead in this film Coach Boone takes his team on a run to the battle field at Gettysburg where he talks about the incredible tragedy and lives lost fighting the same fight they are fighting as a team. He does this to show the team that they do not have it half as bad as they think they do. No matter when the speech in the movie happens, it has become an essential part found in many underdog stories to have a speech that serves as a turning point or motivator.
Conclusion
The classic sports underdog story comes in many different forms and involves many different athletes and sports. There are even comedies that tell stories of teams rising up against the odds that use the same methods and concepts more original films use. They are feel good stories that show through hard work and determination anyone can break down barriers and achieve greatness. Whether it’s the undersized nobody who takes on a champion, the average guy who competes with professionals, the unorthodox group of boys or the racially segregated group that comes together, Hollywood will always love a great underdog story.
This is my film. It is a dark/suspenseful film dealing with levels of trust that we experience in our day to day lives, illustrated by a man and his serial killer neighbor. Enjoy
Austin Camacci Interstellar & Inception For my final project I compared two movies that have common themes and how they relate to one another. Interstellar and Inception are two great movies that make you think and question time and reality. Coincidentally the same person Christopher Nolan directs both of these films. His films are said to have sociological and ethical concepts, while also tampering with time.
LOVE
Cobb and Cooper are trying to get back home to their children, but the only way The first common theme between Interstellar and Inception is the power of love. Both main characters for them to do this is to complete their missions at hand. Cooper in Interstellar receives video messages from his kids and it kills him to see that they are aging and he is not there to see them grow up. Cooper’s love for his family keeps him motivated to complete the mission and return home. He must save mankind by relaying information he received in a different universe back to earth. Cobb in Inception is trying to get home to see his children as well but is unable to because he is under investigation for the murder of his wife. He is also motivated by his the love for his family to get home by completing his mission. The only way to do that is plant an idea in Fisher’s head that will stop a global monopoly from happening. HERO/PROTAGONIST ROLE
The second common theme will be that both Cobb and Cooper act as protagonist throughout the films. Almost like super heroes these characters can do things that your average person could not. Cooper in Interstellar is searching deep in the galaxy for another planet that mankind can live on in order to save the human race. In Inception Cobb is attempting to slip an idea into Fisher’s mind to stop him from creating a worldwide monopoly over energy sources. The characters not only are heroes for the world but personally they are trying to get to their families. Copper is trying to keep his word and return home to his daughter while working against time. Cobb’s promise a lot like Cooper’s, he said he would return to his children even though he is banned from ever coming back to America.
THE DISTORTION OF TIME
The last common theme between these two films is time distortion as a result of leaving their realities and entering different dimensions. As the characters of Interstellar travel beyond our universe and deeper into space, time on earth flies by. While seeking a habitable planet for humanity to recolonize on, he spends three hours on another planet which in return is twenty-seven years on earth. This was heartbreaking for Cooper. In Inception time works against Cobb in the opposite way. Five minutes in reality is five hours in the dream world. As you slip deeper into the dream world time in reality slows even more. Spend too long in the dream world and you cannot get out. Time has both Cooper and Cobb in a chokehold working against them as they strive to complete their missions. The first video shows how they enter the dream world in inception to distort time. The second video shows how they use a worm hole in inception to bend space and time.
These two movies having the same director definitely played a role in the similarity between the themes in both Interstellar and Inception. Love for their families keeps Cobb and Cooper motivated to complete their missions and return home. When down and out they turn to memories of their families to regain purpose and push through the adversity. Time, which I find to be one of the most relevant common themes between the two films, sets the pace as the two race to complete their mission. Time is working against Cooper as Earth is aging at the blink of an eye he is striving to return home to his daughter before it is too late. Cobb’s situation with time is that if he gets stuck in the dream world (not reality) he will be lost in this dimension with no return and he will not wake up. The protagonist theme or how Cobb and Cooper act as heroes is also very similar. Cooper trying to save mankind on a pretty much suicide mission. Cobb must plant an idea in Fisher’s head so that he does not develop a worldwide energy monopoly. The themes are both similar in the sense that the concepts and ideas are the same. However, the factors that construct these themes make them different in each of these films, making them unique in there own way. The concepts of love and protagonist present in many movies, but the way Christopher Nolan utilizes time is astonishing. The distortion of time makes the missions even more difficult and suspenseful. Resources •https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inception •https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_(film)•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHBlYJ-tKcs •https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MywwqjqKF6Y •http://screenrant.com/interstellar-ending-spoilers-time-travel/
By Dan Myers
This short film characterizes the struggle with fighting off a bug. It features humorous banter, puking noises, and a feather. It's pretty silly. Also I had fake blood on my face the entire first day of shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhCspWu_GSs
My final project discusses horror films and why people find them scary. Discusses certain films, horror genres and cinematic elements
Mike Eshleman
My final project is about apocalyptic films, their different themes, cinematic elements and why we love them.
http://prezi.com/dqf24knhh6k8/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Andria Walton
My final project is about american musicals and aspects of the genre that stands out from other genres - Micah
Tommy Patterson
My Final Project is about the importance of foreign films and how we can use them as tool to diversify ourselves to other cultures and beliefs.
Jared Scott
'What Makes A Sci-Fi Film"
My Project focuses on a handful of sci-fi movies i've watched and i compare all of them based on angles,sounds and lighting to see what makes a science fiction film.
My final project is about the timeline of horror films and how they progressed overtime, I look at different genres of horror and how they differ cinematically.
http://timelineofhorrorfilms.wikispaces.com/Final+Project
resources
http://www.horrorfilmhistory.com/index.php?pageID=early
http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/a-brief-history-of-horror/
http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms4.html
--Carl Wallace
My final film project is a power point presentation of the theme: hero vs. antihero; basically discussing the differences between the two and how films are able to portray them in various ways.
--Austin DeHaven
My final film project was a Prezi on all of the tools used to enhance film that we learned in class.
https://prezi.com/fegjyhrzadnz/untitled-prezi/
---Angela Prendergast
My final presentation on derivative works, more commonly known as film adaptations. I look at a lot more than just film. Comics, novels, video games, musicals, all sorts of entertainment mediums. They can all share a story but each has a unique way of telling the story and should not always be compared as to which version is better. - Mike Rapak
https://prezi.com/2qq1_ryfdqpk/the-derivative-work/
For my final project I did a prezi on Steven Spielberg. I talked about the many ways he has made an impact on film today.
https://prezi.com/8729ctjag7zq/edit/#4_24309637
-Lindsey Mast
_
My final project discusses Foley sound and how it is used in movie production and what it is used for. It discusses methods of creating Foley sound as well as providing several examples of it.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oLKPkMXbE_BFgrgm7-l8oM3UKtZOyd1le9-aXrVesf0/edit?usp=sharing
-- Billy Mylin
My final project I did a pinterest board and my movie reviews are on the home page
https://www.pinterest.com/mneugz93/film-final/
My final project is on Comparing and contrasting the plot, special effects, and camera angles of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1w-qSKyCbO6HCR_fp8ViNkL9JAsqjBAQ_tkaXFH8G39Q/edit#slide=id.p
-Jerrin Ball
My final project is on the theme of government in dystopian films and how lighting and effects add to that theme.
Dystopian Power Point
-Marcus Wardle
My final project is on elements of science fiction film that make the genre appealing to audiences of all ages.
-Samantha Brenner
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/yourraddinosaurbouquet
__
My project is on fantasy and the role fantasy plays in film. Specifically, it looks at The Lord of the Rings.
~ Ryan Dougherty
http://fantasyandlordoftherings.wikispaces.com/Fantasy+and+Lord+of+the+Rings
My final project was a short film that shows the progression of women leading roles through the decades of film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANBwoAz_FdM&feature=youtu.be
-Alanna Parker
Keith Kilgore-
Special Effects in Horror Films
The use of special effects in film has been used for many decades, in order to help bridge the gap between what is real and what is fantasy. The best special effects are the ones that suspend you’re disbelief that what you’re watching isn’t real. Before the 90’s and early 2000’s, most movies used practical effects, while more movies recently have moved towards CG effects. The decision on which kind of effect is better is one that is important to every film genre, but maybe none are so important than in the horror genre. How has the changes in special effects affected how horror movies are presented.
As with many movies, many of the early horror films used practical effects. These effects were gags that were used live on camera and added a sense of realism to what was happening on screen. In most movies these effects include suspending someone with a wire, some explosions, and stunts among other things. Horror movies used these as well as other gags such as fake cuts, dummies that can be manipulated or dismembered. The use of practical effects adds a sense of realism due in part to the fact that it has to look real for the effect to work. Another thing is that it gives the actors something to act against.
The Slasher movie of the 1980’s were masterful at using such effects. The limitations kept the effects grounded and helped make them more believable. CG blood can sometimes be easy to spot and doesn’t interact all that well with the environment, whereas with fake blood, you can see how it soaks into clothing and drip and move in a very natural way. It also makes it easier on the actors. It is easy to react to someone’s death when it is happening in front of you, than when the director tells you what happens and you have to imagine what it looks like. Some would argue that practical effects work better than CG because the latter is easy to tell that it’s fake, whereas practical effects are supposed to look as realistic as possible and can even if for a brief moment, catch the audience off guard.
CG effects are useful because it doesn’t limit filmmakers to what they can do on camera or time constraints. A CG effect can be made and tweaked and once it’s done, you don’t have to reset it while practical effects have to be cleaned up and reset for every take. Not having physical limitations can lead to more creativity which can be used to awe and/or shock the viewer. Having the effects be computer generated allows the director to have more control over how he wants the scene to play out, with a practical effect a lot can go wrong which can lead to additional takes and taking up more time.
The main use of CG in Horror movies is for the added shock factor. More modern horror movies use the CG effects to try and surprise the audience usually by allowing for more graphic imagery. With many movies, it seems like a game to see how far each film will go and how far the envelope can be pushed. Whether or not this leads to a better movie or not is up to each person, but it is evident that the tactic is effective. CG also allows for grittier stories, with such things as a character losing an arm, is much easier to accomplish with CG than through practical effects. The argument for CG effects is that people can be surprised even more so than practical effects because literally anything can happen.
When comparing the two, there are situations where practical effects can be more effective than CG but the opposite can also be true. For the first instance, I’ll compare the original A Nightmare on Elm Street versus its 2010 remake. The original had little to know Computer generated graphics which makes scenes like the death of Johnny Depp’s character all the more graphic because it was all done on set. Another icon scene, Tina’s death, was also done simply using a wire to levitate her on camera. A similar scene is in the remake, however, CG is used and it doesn’t feel as raw as it did in the original. Many of the scenes in the remake use a lot of CG, which works most of the time, but the scenes in the original feel so much more real due to the practical effects.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984, Tina’s death scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MLLMASSXSg__
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010, Kris’s death scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWLeJdDp8OA__
A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984, Glenn’s death scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3dt4zePvnE__
The reverse is also true, CG effects can be more effective than practical effects. The best comparison of this is between the original black and white The Wolfman and the 2010 remake. In the original, Lawrence Talbot’s transformation is done by simply using a fade from the actor with no make-up on, to a shot where he has the werewolf make-up on. In the remake, special effects are used to show his features twisting and contorting to that of a wolf. Comparing those two makes the CG in the remake look pretty good but, I also feel it is better than the transformation in An American Werewolf in London. In that movie, practical effects are used to show the main characters appearance shift from man to were wolf, but it still can’t do what the Wolfman remake does, which is show fur growing, teeth elongating and size increase, which is significantly harder to achieve with practical effects. It can be seen that in that comparison, the one that is more fantastical can be viewed as the better one because it helps the movie break even further from reality than it already has.
The Wolfman 1941 transformation scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q4Wn63uof8__
The Wolfman 2010 transformation scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPfQjNQwXKY__
An American Werewolf in London transformation scene: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIad8e5iUnk__
Another thing to look at is how these special effects have impacted the popularity of the horror genre. The heyday of horror was around the 1980’s with films like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and a Nightmare on Elm Street being extremely popular at the time. The popularity of these films led to them getting a number of sequels, many of which were put out annually. These movies all used practical effects primarily, while later installments began to use some digital effects. More recent horror films, embrace the freedom of CG effects but, it is arguable that the horror genre is stagnant now, and not nearly as popular as it once was. Asking a lot of my friends why newer scary movies aren’t good in their eyes, they say it is because they don’t look real and are too over the top, two side effects of computer generated effects. Movies like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity have both been extremely successful, but these films use little to no CGI.
Special effects are an important part of cinema because it allows for more to be done in a story than what an actor or director themselves can achieve. Though both Computer Generated effects and practical effects have their merits, both have been instrumental to the evolution of the horror genre and all film in general. Each person has their own preference on which kind of effect they like better, but it is hard to refute that both have their place and both can be extremely believable and effective. As time goes on both become even more life-like and helps make the art of cinematography even better.
Works Cited:
Imdb.com- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Imdb.com- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Imdb.com – The Wolfman (1941)
Imdb.com – The Wolfman (2010)
Imdb.com – An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Youtube.com
For my project I looked at how lighting and camera angles affect the way we look at certain characters on screen.
Keith Hibbs
My project explores the development of television and how it is becoming more cinematic.
http://jrbende1.tumblr.com/post/134835929698/the-development-of-television
Jenny Bender
Lighting and Visual EffectsCreated and Produced by: Mark Kevin Stallman Jr.
Here is my short film describing the five types of lighting used on a film set and how visual effects are always used during the production of a film. Most of the filming for this project was done through the use of my digital camcorder.Link for the video: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4IKJiA69JtYbGl1aFBzRk9MNXM
This is my short film. It is a horror comedy mockumentary about two roommates living with a ghost that does normal, everyday things that terrify them.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxKhImZa1zJmOHl3QzlockUzMFE/view
By Dylan Bowen
For my final project, I studied and analyzed the famous prom scene from Carrie. I compared the scene between the original Carrie (1976) and the remake of Carrie (2013). Here is the final essay for it.
- Taylor Cole
Trains Used in Film
Trains are highlighted in film more than one may think. From real trains as used in the movie Unstoppable, to imaginary engines for kids, such as The Polar Express and Thomas And The Magic Railroad; diesel and steam engines alike have been calling viewers to go off on an adventure. There are many examples when it comes to trains in film. Different themes and genres are used to demonstrate some film aspects. Thomas And The Magic Railroad is an example of how trains are used for shooting a film. These other films also demonstrate in how trains are used; Unstoppable, The Polar Express and The History of Steam Locomotives. Each of them have their differences but trains are so used in many different genres.
In the movie Unstoppable, Tony Scott the director had some very unique challenges. In a video on IMDb.com, Scott said, "It was a challenge, but I love challenges, I love adventures and this has been the most challenging adventure and most brilliant adventure I have encountered." This film was based on a true story. The shots and angles were very detailed based on the action in the film. From following the train to the people on the runaway train and the two guys trying to stop the runaway. Something mentioned about the cinematography was they were the first crew to ever shoot a real train derailment on camera. The crews also placed explosions and wires around that area so when the helper locomotives come off the tracks, they explode. Explosions have happened in other films, however, they really wanted to elevate the experience and to make this so real as it would be in real life. Also, using cross cutting and fading within the heat moments of the train being out of control enhanced the realism of the scene. The lighting was overall natural from the outside and the sound was constantly very loud in nature with the music scoring. Tony Scott topped out with the overall production with this film.
Interview with director Tony Scott for Unstopable.
Thomas And The Magic Railroad is an animated film. It was made based on its regular TV Show and the shots and angles were used like on the television show. However, the movie is different in comparison to the television series because the television program is animated and actually mixed with real life people. The animation and real life people interacted with one another by literally speaking to one another. In addition to that, this film cuts from real life to animation and vice versa. On dailymotoin.com, there is some behind the scene footage of how they shot this film. They had a camera that was on a crane to capture some shots as they were in motion. Some of the trains they shot were miniature size and some were the real standard gage size. One can only tell by watching the behind the scenes footage video. At one point, Thomas came into the real world while the three main real life human characters go to the Island of Sodar once they restored the lost engine. The real life characters helped her also return. In this case, the cimaphotohpers even used a little bit of The Strasburg Railroad. They did use some underscore for some drama and funny scenes in the film. Otherwise, real life sounds were used and nothing fancy was incorporated. The cinematography was overall basic except here and there with a low shot from up above facing down. This was a combination of animated and a regular movie with real people in it. Thomas and The Magic Railroad Behind The Scenes.
Another train animated film was based on a book. The Polar Express film was quite similar to the written story. The cinematography was overall typical for films along with the beautiful scenery. Here and there were some establishing shots when the train was on the ice and while at The North Pole. The sound was natural in nature, and at the times when appropriate the music scoring fitted this film. The acting was overall simple but unpredictable at times, especially when the dramatic scenes take place all of a sudden. In a YouTube video Tom Hanks mentions that he played five different characters. He played the main boy, his father, the hobo guy on top of the train, Santa Claus and the conductor for the train. All of the characters he played had different tones and speed to the voices with the exception of the conductor which was his natural speaking voice. In addition to that, he was an executive producer for this film. Every time a shot would end of him, most of the time he would have to swing the camera the other way behind the scene so he could play one of his other characters. The overall presentation of the film was animated but it had real people just like in The Polar Express book. You Look Familer: Tom Hanks Polar Express
The genre of this next film was actually shown on TV called Trains Unlimited. This specific film was overall a documentary and is purpose is to understand train history. Steam engines were the main topic of the movie. There was no special audio during this film. This film used old pictures and video while it was being narrated. Along with that were primarily interviews, older pictures were displayed to show the audience what type of trains were used during certain times periods. No actors and actresses were in this one since this was a documentary film. No behind the scene footage was shown because of the reality of the content as it is occurred in real life.
All of these films have their own unique ways in the way they each present themselves. All of them were in a different genres from documentary to animated, plus action and drama. The ultimate connection that these films have in common is trains are involved in one way or another to take the audience on a ride to someplace to explore. In these particular films, these iron horses were the main subject and not just an alternative means of transportation. The thrill of a train ride has always captured the attention of movie goers and most likely will always continue to do so.
Works Cited
__http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m47dg__
__http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3177355545?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_10__
__https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwLCqVGHpTM__
__https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tINxBuHojnQ__
The Classic Sports Underdog Story
By: Reid Anderson
Question: What are some similarities and differences between underdog stories from different sports?
There is nothing is more exciting in the world of sports than a team or athlete rising to the top against all odds when nobody expected them to. This is referred to as an underdog. Hollywood has recognized this trend and has been using underdog stories to sell out theaters for many years now. One of the great things about these movies is that they cover a wide range of sports. You do not even have to be a fan of the sport to enjoy these movies and appreciate the story being told.
The focus of these movies can fall into two major categories which dramatically effects the way they are told. These categories are individual athlete and a team as a whole. These variations of the genre provide different aspects to the film, but also share common themes that are found in nearly every great underdog story.
Individual Athlete
Probably the most famous movie in this genre is none other than Rocky (1976). This is the story of a small time boxer trying to make it big. When the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, comes in to Rocky’s home town of Philadelphia, Rocky gets a chance to fight him. The fight is supposed to be an easy win for Creed but Rocky, seeing this as his one shot at the big time, trains harder than ever before to win the title. Even though this is considered one of the best underdog movies ever made Rocky actually loses to Creed in the match. The real triumph of the movie is that Rocky went all fifteen rounds and ended the fight better than he started.
It isn’t until the sequel, Rocky II (1979), when Rocky is persuaded by Creed to do a rematch where he finally defeats the champ.
Another example of the rise of an individual athlete is the movie Invincible (2006), the true story of Vince Papale. This is the story of a regular Joe who uses hard work and determination to compete with the pros. Vince was a 30 year-old bartender in Philadelphia who saw his life going nowhere fast when his wife divorced him. He and his friends always played pick-up football and when the Eagles held an open tryout he is persuaded by his friends to go out for the team. Vince makes the practice squad and eventually works his way up to special teams. In the final scene of the movie he creates a fumble on a punt and picks it up to run it in for a touchdown.
These films are very alike the sense that a no name athlete goes through struggle and hard work to exceed people’s expectations. Another similarity that these two films share is the addition of a love interest to the story. Rocky has Adrian who he meets during his training and Vince meets Janet who eventually becomes his wife. These characters serve as more than just a pretty face for these protagonists. They serve as the moral support that is needed for these athletes to succeed. Both Rocky and Vince have to deal with doubters that say they can’t achieve their goals.
In this scene Vince keeps a note in his locker from his ex-wife when she left him that says, “You’ll never go anywhere. You’ll never make any money and you’ll never make a name for yourself.” Right after he received that message in the first place was when he met Janet. Even Rocky tells Adrian that he does not think he will win the fight against Creed. These characters allow the audience to see another side of the main character and even show a soft side.
Unorthodox Team
The next category of great underdog sports films is the unlikely group of guys that turn into a team and eventually take down the powerhouse team nobody thought they could beat. A great example of this is Miracle (2004), the true story of the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team that beat the undefeated Russians. In this film former player Herb Brooks is selected as the US Olympic hockey coach and puts together a team of college players from around the country. Through unorthodox coaching methods he turns a group of misfits into Olympic champions.
Another example in this category is basketball movie Glory Road (2006). This is the true story of the Texas Western basketball team and their journey to a national championship. New head coach Don Haskins does what no other college at the time would even think of and recruit players based on skill and not race. This resulted in having more black players than white players on the team. In a time of racism this caused extreme controversy and caused people to doubt their ability. Against all odds they follow their coach and come together as a team.
A major part in both of these films and many others that fit this genre is the coming together as a team. Miracle starts out with players arguing with each other based on college rivalries. This even leads to fights in practice and drama between players off the ice. Selfishness is a common trait in the beginnings of these movies and players are mostly focused on their own success and not the success of the team. Glory Road follows a similar trend except it involves race. The mix of white and black players does not mend well at first because they do not see each other as teammates. The same exact scenario happens in Remember the Titans (2000) except with a football team was formed from an all-white school combining with an all-black school. Another common theme that actually is a reason for these teams coming together is a tough head coach that pushes them. Herb Brooks, Don Haskins, and Herman Boone are all extremely hard coaches that nobody on the team likes at first. They all scream and yell at the players when they do not hustle and make mental mistakes and do not take excuses. Each of these three movies also include scenes of intense conditioning and training to the point of near unconsciousness. In the end this method turns the young group of boys into matured men who have a different outlook not only on the game they are playing, but on life in general.
Scenes like these are also prevalent in the single athlete films as well. One of the most famous scenes in Rocky is the one of him running through Philadelphia while cutting back and forth to other intense training scenes. This is used to give the audience hope and make them believe that the underdog is working harder than their opponent and therefore will achieve their goal. This often also comes in the form of a montage and shows progress throughout.
Probably one of the most important part of nearly every underdog film has to be the addition of an inspirational speech that really sets the stage for the final battle. This is more common in films involving an entire team and the speech is done by the head coach or a player on that team. One of the most famous speeches done by a head coach is given by Herb Brooks in Miracle right before the US team faces the Russians.
Another similar speech comes from Hoosiers (1986) in the locker room right before the big game. Just like in Miracle, the locker room is completely silent until the coach walks in and starts the speech. This is to show the incredible amount of tension and anxiety in the minds of the athletes. Both speeches also comment on how it doesn’t matter how big or talented the other team is, but instead to focus on the way your team plays and to not leave anything out on the floor.
In other movies like Remember the Titans the speech does not come right before game time. Instead in this film Coach Boone takes his team on a run to the battle field at Gettysburg where he talks about the incredible tragedy and lives lost fighting the same fight they are fighting as a team. He does this to show the team that they do not have it half as bad as they think they do. No matter when the speech in the movie happens, it has become an essential part found in many underdog stories to have a speech that serves as a turning point or motivator.
Conclusion
The classic sports underdog story comes in many different forms and involves many different athletes and sports. There are even comedies that tell stories of teams rising up against the odds that use the same methods and concepts more original films use. They are feel good stories that show through hard work and determination anyone can break down barriers and achieve greatness. Whether it’s the undersized nobody who takes on a champion, the average guy who competes with professionals, the unorthodox group of boys or the racially segregated group that comes together, Hollywood will always love a great underdog story.
References
"Invincible" - Vince Papale, final scenes. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1hSXTDtNw8
'Miracle': Real Life vs. Reel Life. (2014, February 11). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://natro20percentproject.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/miracle-real-life-vs-reel-life/
Glory Road (2006). (2006, January 13). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.popmatters.com/review/glory-road-2006/
HOOSIERS: Coach Dale's Pre-Game Motivational Speech. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ZBOL3M6B0
Rocky Balboa Vs Apollo Creed. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_qhLRUh66k
King, T. (2015, November 27). Every ‘Rocky’ Film Ranked From Worst to Best. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.rsvlts.com/2015/11/27/rocky-movies-ranked/
Miracle - Coach Brooks Addresses Team Pre Game. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwpTj_Z9v-c
Miracle scene Again, Again, Again. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb-hWG3cHMQ
Price, E. (2006, September 1). Invincible: A Great Football Movie. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.families.com/blog/invincible-a-great-football-movie
Rocky (8/10) Movie CLIP - Gonna Fly Now (1976) HD. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YYmfM2TfUA
Water makes you weak - Remember the Titans. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpRtiHRJN3s
=
=
The Liar's Tool by Eric Griffin
This is my film. It is a dark/suspenseful film dealing with levels of trust that we experience in our day to day lives, illustrated by a man and his serial killer neighbor. Enjoy
https://youtu.be/Rbtxvw_j8KA
Austin Camacci
Interstellar & Inception
For my final project I compared two movies that have common themes and how they relate to one another. Interstellar and Inception are two great movies that make you think and question time and reality. Coincidentally the same person Christopher Nolan directs both of these films. His films are said to have sociological and ethical concepts, while also tampering with time.
LOVE
Cobb and Cooper are trying to get back home to their children, but the only way The first common theme between Interstellar and Inception is the power of love. Both main characters for them to do this is to complete their missions at hand. Cooper in Interstellar receives video messages from his kids and it kills him to see that they are aging and he is not there to see them grow up. Cooper’s love for his family keeps him motivated to complete the mission and return home. He must save mankind by relaying information he received in a different universe back to earth. Cobb in Inception is trying to get home to see his children as well but is unable to because he is under investigation for the murder of his wife. He is also motivated by his the love for his family to get home by completing his mission. The only way to do that is plant an idea in Fisher’s head that will stop a global monopoly from happening.
HERO/PROTAGONIST ROLE
The second common theme will be that both Cobb and Cooper act as protagonist throughout the films. Almost like super heroes these characters can do things that your average person could not. Cooper in Interstellar is searching deep in the galaxy for another planet that mankind can live on in order to save the human race. In Inception Cobb is attempting to slip an idea into Fisher’s mind to stop him from creating a worldwide monopoly over energy sources. The characters not only are heroes for the world but personally they are trying to get to their families. Copper is trying to keep his word and return home to his daughter while working against time. Cobb’s promise a lot like Cooper’s, he said he would return to his children even though he is banned from ever coming back to America.
THE DISTORTION OF TIME
The last common theme between these two films is time distortion as a result of leaving their realities and entering different dimensions. As the characters of Interstellar travel beyond our universe and deeper into space, time on earth flies by. While seeking a habitable planet for humanity to recolonize on, he spends three hours on another planet which in return is twenty-seven years on earth. This was heartbreaking for Cooper. In Inception time works against Cobb in the opposite way. Five minutes in reality is five hours in the dream world. As you slip deeper into the dream world time in reality slows even more. Spend too long in the dream world and you cannot get out. Time has both Cooper and Cobb in a chokehold working against them as they strive to complete their missions. The first video shows how they enter the dream world in inception to distort time. The second video shows how they use a worm hole in inception to bend space and time.
These two movies having the same director definitely played a role in the similarity between the themes in both Interstellar and Inception. Love for their families keeps Cobb and Cooper motivated to complete their missions and return home. When down and out they turn to memories of their families to regain purpose and push through the adversity. Time, which I find to be one of the most relevant common themes between the two films, sets the pace as the two race to complete their mission. Time is working against Cooper as Earth is aging at the blink of an eye he is striving to return home to his daughter before it is too late. Cobb’s situation with time is that if he gets stuck in the dream world (not reality) he will be lost in this dimension with no return and he will not wake up. The protagonist theme or how Cobb and Cooper act as heroes is also very similar. Cooper trying to save mankind on a pretty much suicide mission. Cobb must plant an idea in Fisher’s head so that he does not develop a worldwide energy monopoly. The themes are both similar in the sense that the concepts and ideas are the same. However, the factors that construct these themes make them different in each of these films, making them unique in there own way. The concepts of love and protagonist present in many movies, but the way Christopher Nolan utilizes time is astonishing. The distortion of time makes the missions even more difficult and suspenseful.
Resources
•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inception
•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_(film)•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHBlYJ-tKcs
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MywwqjqKF6Y
•http://screenrant.com/interstellar-ending-spoilers-time-travel/
Mary Gilbert:
I analyzed the role of family and the make-up of family in film to chart how it changed from films of the 1970s to films of today.
http://prezi.com/_mxzvfdjz7sv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
==
=
Rachel Shelley
=
For my final project, I created a short film called One Day about the struggles of young adulthood, depression and addiction.
One Day