Film-Tv : Analysis Reflection #2

1. In the film Clown Train how does sound contribute to the atmosphere of this film? Describe what you heard? Can you make reference to another genre film and how they utilise sound to create tension and a unique filmic space?

This piece has mixed emotions to it; sad, horror, confuse, anger. At least that’s what i think. The minute I heard the sound, I knew it was going to be a thriller film. I believe the composer wants you to be aware of his/her technique, known as “mickeymousing”. Mickeymousing is when the music blatantly matches the actions on screen. Apparently, this technique is discredited today, at least in serious films, because of overuse. When the train moves then stops, the music likewise rises and falls with each of its movements. The sounds that were obvious were the heavy bass chord (the scene where the lights in the train switched off for a slight second and the clown suddenly appears next to the boy) indicates danger and a low sustained tone from the train creates mystery as well as the sound of the lights flickering creates suspense. These sounds prepares the audience for the dramatic events to follow. This is known as the stinger. Films that use the same sound to create tension and unique filmic space are usually horror or thriller movies. One good example of a movie with good sound effect is ‘The Knowing’ (2009), starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Alex Proyas. This movie has a dense plot and lifeless characters but the sound effect is pretty good. The suspense material in the first three quarters of the film is occupied by a frantic, skittish personality of plucked strings and other prickly elements. As Nicolas Cage’s character first decodes a series of numbers predicting the disasters to come, this technique is placed as practically the only element in the film’s soundscape. Though the cue “Door Jam” may not be entirely pleasant, it does stir a growing sense of intrigue and, later, panic. This idea translates into a representation for the “strangers” as well, though thankfully the intense whispering sound effects heard in the film to represent their communication are absent from the score. The pretty, though arguably underplayed piano theme for the father/son relationship in the story is most poignant, of course, at the end of “Caleb Leaves,” though it is sufficient in its task prior to this moment.

2. Select from one of the readings, up to but not including Week 5, and briefly describe two points that you have taken from it. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you.

‘If a sound is the obligatory complement of an image, give preponderance either to the sound, or to the image. If equal, they damage or kill each other, as we say of colours.’

I find ‘Sight & hearing, Notes from the cinematographer’ by Bresson, R, interesting. In his notes, the author is basically talking about sound and sight in a whole different manner. Initially I thought that both elements could reach equilibrium as it make sense that sound should compliment sight on an equal level. However after reading this, my thoughts have changed. As according to Brenner, there can never be complete and utter equilibrium between those two elements.

3. In the tute we screened a short film called Rolling – a film made in Film-TV1 a few years ago. In 300 words or less describe what you thought worked or didn’t. At this stage we don’t expect you to have a great deal of film knowledge or language. Don’t be afraid to use your own words. Things you could talk about – script, casting, timing, camera movement, location. You may not remember much detail, if so, it could be helpful to talk about your first impressions, after all this is what most of us are left with after one viewing.

I don’t really remember what this film is about to be honest. I guess this means that the film wasn’t engaging enough for it to be memorable. Unlike The Clown Train film that was shown in tute two weeks ago.. I remember that short film since the sound effect was good and the fact that there was an evil clown (interesting characters) makes it even more haunting

 

 

 

Story Ideas & Story Outline

Idea #2

Eli, after being in a coma for ten years finally wakes up to an empty world. With no memories of his past, he wanders aimlessly throughout the deserted setting…searching for signs that would explain what had happened during those lost years. Time goes on, and still Eli remained alone, a solitude life with none for company except the clothes on his back, and a colt 1911 with a single bronzed bullet. When not knowing the purpose to one’s life, depression becomes an escape: for what is life without purpose? Eli raises his arms, turned his pistol and slowly placed it into his mouth. Finger steady at the trigger. Eli takes three consecutive deep and long breaths, the last of his thoughts racing through his mind: thoughts of his life in its entirety… so dark, so aimless… so alone… and in a second, a blank. BANG. (pulls trigger). Feelings of warmth overtake all sensations. Through shuteyes, light yellow rays graze gently upon his eyelids. ‘Heavenly…’ he utters to himself. As he slowly opens his eyes, everything that was expected, everything that was hoped for dulled away back into the gaping chasms of reality. The world remained the same: cold and empty. With gun still in mouth and finger still relaxed on the trigger, Eli can’t help but to wonder, ‘Hadn’t I shot myself yet?’

Week 5.2 Workshop

In today’s workshop we were asked to get into groups of 4 and given the opportunity to choose our own wiki topic. We chose Julian Assange from Wikileaks as our wiki topic.

Kim’s day with Julian Assange

• Into – with Midnight Oil blaring
• Embassy sign in
• Scours the newspapers over a morning coffee and finds articles on himself (could take this from documentary – direct quotes of footage)
• Chats with his friend, Bradley Manning on MSN (Manning is in jail still)
• Kim has lunch with Julian and staff AKA “family”
• Julian shows Kim his living quarters and the few photos he has framed. Could take a screenshot of him and his team in Iceland. Julian could tell a little story about his time spent there. Can also take story from documentary.
• Plays scrabble with Kim. Some of his beliefs could come out then.

Roles
• All members to write allocated sections (100 to 200 words). Don’t need to be too wordy as Kim L will edit
• Kim L to edit and compile feature article in first person
• James to upload Niki entry and to create Ecuadorian Embassy sign in sheet
• Kim and Shaz to take screen shots from Wikileaks documentary where necessary
• All to try gather one academic (peer reviewed) source to include or reference within the article. Topics of focus are freedom of speech from the public and in media as well as censorship

Week 5.2 – Database Logic

Database Logic

  • Many new media objects don’t tell stories- don’t have a beginning or end or any development
  • They are collections of individual items- every item has same significance as others
  • Relationship b/w database and narrative?
  • Database defined as a structured collection of data
  • Data stored in a database are organized for fast search and retrieval by a computer
  • Different types of databases use different models to organise data

Men and their humour

BrainTypicalMale

I’m not very witty with comebacks.

When my friends tease me, the best I can do is to say “Whatever dude.”

So, I bought myself this little book full of mean jokes and remarks.

They’re quite funny, but I would never say it out loud to people.

One day I found my brother flipping through it and laughing his head off.

So to share some of the humour with you…..

You’re very open-minded. Is that how your brain slipped out?

I like the material of your dress. You were lucky to get so much of it

I’m busy now. Can I ignore you some other time?

Do they ever shut up on your planet?

I like you, people say I have no taste, but I like you..

You’re so fat, when you get into an elevator, you have to go down

I thought of you today. I was in the zoo

Anyone who told you to be yourself couldn’t have given you worse advice

I see you were so impressed with your chin, you added 2 more

That’s what they mean by dark and handsome. When it’s dark, you’re handsome.

There was something about you that I liked, but you spent it

I can always tell when you’re lying. Your lips move.

Sigh…Men and their humour.

 

Week 5.1 Reading

The Potts and Murphie reading was about key theories relating to culture and technology and our society. Here’s a list of the key points I took away from reading:

  • Poses the question are technologies neutral in themselves? So, does the way they are used determine their cultural impact? Or do technologies have intrinsic properties that shape the cultures into which they are introduced?
  • Technological determinism refers to belief that technology is the agent of social change
  • Technological determinism is linked to idea of progress
  • TD considers technology as an ‘independent factor with its own course of development and own consequences’
  • Ideas that we live in an Information society or Computer Age ‘betray the technological determinist notion that society is shaped by its dominant technologies’
  • Consider whether society is shaped by its technologies or are technologies shaped by the needs of society?
  • Alvin Toffler’s idea of the “Future Shock” which warned that ‘post industrial societies need to protect themselves from dislocating effects of automation and computer-based technologies’
  • Theorists focus on the way a new technology creates new potential and possibility for human thought, expression or activity

– McLuhan’s theory: All technologies are extensions of human capacities
tools and implements are extensions of manual skills, the computer an extension of the brain

– Media are technologies that extend human sense perceptions

Inspired to Win

Growing up, my dad used to give me books to read.

Not the usual chic lits I like to indulge in, but the hard covers with scary balding men on it, asking you things like “Do you want to be a millionaire?”

Like duh, I would answer to their ever-smiling faces.

And thus, I read every last page of the books my dad had.

You name it, I’ve read it; The Google Story, Starbucked, One Minute Manager, Warren Buffet Books, Trump 101, Rich Dad Poor Dad Series, Success Built To Last, The Millionaire Mind.

Now ask me what I learned from those books.

I will answer you…not much.

Now ask me what I remember from those books.

I will answer you….not much.

Not because I didn’t read it. In fact, I read the prologue, the credits, the synopsis on the back, even the year of publication, everything!

Why I didn’t benefit much from those books is because I simply didn’t understand business yet. I was interested, but most of the business deals didn’t apply to me (When will I ever start my own online search engine??) so I was quick to discard it from the memory box in the top of my head. Especially if the books had a lot of analogies with big figures and pie-charts and complicated graphs.

I guess I was just too young to understand what my dad wanted by me reading those books. He wanted me to see how successful business people think, how they analyse deals, how they solved problems, how they managed their staff. He didn’t care much about the figures or the specific line of business these people were in. He just wanted me to be more exposed to the reality of business, in a more general way. To prepare me for this day.

What my dad didn’t realise was that 15 year old girls are still reading Sweet Valley High, and if it didn’t involve boys or make-up, then you can bet the books were better served as mouse pads.

Now, I’ve tasted a sip of working life and the reality of business. A tiny weeny sip. But I’m hungry for knowledge and I don’t want to leave everything to experience. So the only thing to do for a fast track education is READ. I’m starting to re-read the old books my dad has in his library, and am beginning to understand better what these balding men are talking about.

Recently, I read Ivanka Trump’s book.

Trump-Card-198x300

The book is so inspiring for young women who want to be successful in their line of business. Being a young lady herself, she can better relate to us in terms of emotions so her book reaches out to all young women out there.

A year out of college, she joined the Trump organisation as the Vice President of Real Estate. Fresh, inexperienced, it was all a bit surreal and unfair in other people’s eyes that she didn’t have to climb the career ladder like everybody else. Her answer to all this; Get over it. People come to anything in different ways and shapes and methods, and this just happens to be hers. She knows she’s lucky, but she doesn’t want to be seen as an undeserved being.

What struck me as interesting is how similar my dad and Donald Trump are in terms of values. My god the way they raise their kids are soooooo alike I couldn’t believe it. Like Donald Trump, my dad too likes to put me on the spot in front of people, likes to call and check up on me, likes to cut out newspaper clippings for me, likes to introduce me to his contacts and leaves us alone with me having no idea what to say, how he’d get pissed off if he’s talking to me and I have my Blackberry in my hands. The only difference is my dad has a better hairstyle *ahem*.

Although Ivanka Trump seems to be a little more uptight than I would want to be (she doesn’t tolerate emoticons and shorthands like LOL or TTYL…and answering “I want to look for other opportunities out there” during an interview is a deal-breaker for her….and she no longer befriends her old friends who she thinks are lazy and ungrateful), I realise there are many values that Ivanka Trump talks about, which I myself am already practising and believing in.
So I would like to believe that maybe, just maybe, I am on the right track.

I would really recommend this book for ambitious and driven young women.

Week 3.1 Reading – Writing Space by Jay David Bolter

This week’s reading Writing Space by Jay David Bolter is focused on ‘The Computer, Hypertext and the history of Writing’.

As one would expect, there is an enormous body of literature on the history and development of writing. Bolter starts off by talking about writing as technology and how writing has become the preserver and extender of other technologies, as an advanced culture develops a technical literature.

“Writing is and has always been a sophisticated technology: skill is required to learn and write, and penetrating intelligence is needed to invent or improve some aspect of the technology of literacy”

To summarize some of Bolter’s main points briefly: writing was invented around 3400 b.c.; it was invented independently only twice (or perhaps three times), once in Mesopotamia and once in Mesoamerica (it was possibly also invented in China, although the possibility that writing was transmitted along trade routes from Mesopotamia to China cannot be ruled out); and all alphabets are somehow related to the Greek alphabet.

From the start of the modern means of book production in the fifteenth century through printing press to the introduction of electronic technology. How computers has in turn changed the technology of writing by adding new flexibility to the rapidity and efficiency of printing.

“The computer allows a writer or reader to change a text as easily as he or she duplicates it”

The capacity to adjust the text to each user’s needs is unmechanical, uncharacteristic of the classic industrial machine, and this capacity derives from the unmechanical materials of electronic technology.

“ If the printing press is the classic writing machine, the computer provides us with a technology of writing beyond mechanization”.

Bolter then moves on to elaborate on the economies of writing in different parts of the world. How the techniques, materials and uses have evolved, expand and at times even deteriorated.

At the end of the reading, Bolter explains what hard and soft structure is as well as electronic structure and how to make sense of texts in the visual space.

Autom the talking robot

A new invention from an MIT graduate.

Autom.

A robot to interact with its owner in order to help him or her lose weight. The dieter will key in important information like weight, exercise regime, diet and goals and the Autom encourages the dieter to not give up and even gives feedback (??!!). Kinda like a food diary, but an actual robot to tell you off when you eat.

There was a trial and they found that people who used Autom stuck with the diet regiment longer than the people who just recorded on a piece of paper.

I believe this 100%. I mean, I’ve tried the whole food thing and well, if the record is right, I haven’t eaten anything since February.

Kudos to the inventor for being incredibly intelligent to create a talking robot.

But my god. A device telling me I’m fat and I should stop eating?!!

10 bucks says I’m going to turn it off. Or smash it like my previous alarm clock. May it rest in peace.

But then again, it will soon be adapted into other languages besides English. So I might just buy one to learn German or something.

¡ninguna dieta!

No Diet!

Seriously, can you imagine, happily unwrapping a Toblerone chocolate and suddenly, “What. Do. You. Think. You’re. Doing? Put. That. Down,” in some robotic tone.

And worse if it could roll itself towards me!!

I won’t be able to sleep at night with Autom.

autom

Yeah, cute and all with doe-like eyes.

But come on, we’ve all seen Chucky, right?