Homework for the Holidays! A Comment on Citizen Kane

When you heard that Citizen Kane is considered the “best film ever made,” what did you expect? Give some detail about what you consider important in a good film (in a general sense for all films you decide to view).

Now that you have seen the film (twice or nearly twice), do you agree with the critics that this is the best film? Some argue that the the film is “as empty and heartless as its central character.” Do you agree or disagree?

Write your thoughts at the blog. Be sure to complete the work before coming to class on January 5, 2012.

Responding to The Wizard of Oz

What accounts for the continuing appeal of a movie released in 1939? Be specific! Make one short comment on a film technique (look at your handout “Film Terms” for examples) used in The Wizard of Oz. Bring your writing to next week’s class.

Responding to Alfred Hitchcock's "Notorious"

Make one short comment on a film technique that you noticed was (look at your handout “Film Terms” for examples) used in Notorious. We will discuss the film further upon my return from Italy, including looking at key scenes that demonstrate Hitchcock’s mastery of film. 

The Great Dictator

Write a paragraph or two that discusses your personal reaction to seeing Charlie Chaplin’s film, The Great Dictator. Please post your response as a comment and bring a copy to class next week for us to discuss together.

My Favourite Silent Film

All the silent films we've watched, "The Kid" by Charlie Chaplin, "The General" by Buster Keaton, and "Nosferate" by F.M Murnaus, were quite remarkable. I picked "The Kid" for my favourite silent movie. It was released in 1921. "The kid" is described as a picture with a smile, and perhaps a tear. This film was one of Chaplin's best. It's very easy to follow and understand because Chaplin shows you exactly what you need to see and nothing else. The film would draw laughs from viewers of any age. It made me laugh where Chaplin and the boy go to work to gather. The boy breaks the windows and Chaplin changes them and never get paid for it. The other part that was quite entertaining was when Chaplin falls asleep and dreams of heaven. Even in his dream of heaven he was in trouble.

The story begins with a women who leaves her newborn baby in a limousine, and hopes that it will have a better future. Two men still the car and notice the baby in the back seat. They leave the baby beside a trash can, next to a house. Chaplin finds the baby and first he wants to get rid of the baby, but can't. He takes the baby home and raises the boy on his own.



The film was very interesting because it was action-packed and it had a climax where there were some happy and sad moments. The most interesting action-packed was where Chaplin is struggling about what to do with the baby, the climax was where he desides to take the baby and raises him, and the sad part was where he lost the boy and tries his best to find him but can't. The film was inspiring because it shows the struggle of a good hearted man whoo works hard and never gives up. Charlie Chaplin is one of the greatest actor of all the time there is no dout about that.

A Favourite Silent Film

Use this post to make a comment for this week's assignment, please. The assignment is to explain which of the three full length silent movies you preferred and why. We watched The Kid, The General and Nosferatu. Write no more than 250 words or so. Multiple paragraphs are fine. Be sure to be specific when you explain your choice.

The Magnificent Nature

This shot was taken in Burnaby Lake about three weeks ago. I used my Blackberry 97000 to capture this shot. What I love about this image is the manificent palette of the blue sky, could and brillient sun. Altough at that time I didn't have any Knowledge about composition, it's still a nice image. I picked a choice of the low and the central to ake this shot which made it interesting. First I wasn't sure if it is going to be a good but when I reviewed it on my laptop I couldn't believe I had taken this picture. It's an amazing how the combonations of colours are mached togather. The sun looks like a fire in the sky and the clouds are look like smoke coming out of the sun. It's up to the viewer to take time with this image and to find a deeper personal meaning. At least, I'm hoping that there is a deeper meaning that can be found in this photo. Now that I'm learnig about composition I think I'll do better next time and with more pactice will do even better.

Birds of a Feather

This picture was taken in a park downtown Vancouver. My family and I were walking along the water front on our way to Granville Island. We stopped in the park to take a look around and get some photos. I love nature and capturing it in photos. I loved how the birds were all there just hanging out together. I did center the Herion in the middle and tried to frame the rest of it as best as I could. This picture was taken over the summer. So I did not take this shot knowing about composition. As I was going through my shots I noticed this one seemed to have the birds lining up in a row like the grid. My eye is drawn right to the center at the Herion. With the trees and the water as the background, I thought it made a beautiful setting and with the way the birds are spread out, I think it does balance out the picture.

Scary and Terrifying World

This picture reminds me of a scary and terrifying moments of being hopeless and weak. This is a picture of a frightened honorable man who decided to step out of the darkness and fight for his rights. Fighting for your rights in a country that's been led for about 40 years by a dictator isn't an easy thing to do. He's looking hopelessly and worried at a faceless soldier pointing a gun at him. They are both in a tough position. Because the soldier has to do his job, the man has been put in a difficult frightening situation in which he can not defend himself.

Creating an Image: Hats

This photo was taken on my sister-in-law’s Canon Eos (a far better camera than I own, alas) at the cottage dock this summer. Before I took the photo, I noted the interesting symmetry of the hats and chairs on the dock. Without letting anyone know, I crept up behind my wife and her father (his wife is on the single chair). Now, I regret not getting my horizon line right as the shot has a bit too much of a tilt for my tastes. What everyone was looking at was the sailboat in the distance, going on its last sail before packing up the cottage for the season. My sister-in-law commented, “That’s neat,” when she saw the picture and has it featured on her summer at the lake Facebook album. The two near hats are pretty much on interest points according to the rule of thirds and the eye is naturally lead to the boat by an invisible diagonal line. Not a bad shot, but could be better with more practice (and time!)

Boeing 777 engine

Last weekend I went to Boeing Aviation Center. I got some shots of airplane parts. The one above is the image of Boeing 777 engine which I am quite satisfied after I have learned a little basic photographic knowledge from the first class of drama. When I took this picture, I set the engine in the centre of the viewfinder so that the subject can be bold and simple. I also used a little low viewpoint and angle to emphasize how powerful it is.

CREATING AN IMAGE

This picture (I named it Golden Time) was taken late spring this year by the Harrison Lake. It is in front of Harrison Hot Spring Resort & Spa. Using my Sony digital with 15x optical zoom, I did not think about the rule of thirds when shooting, but it seemed the rule works. However, I did think about the composition that time, so I preset the depth of field into three parts. The first one was the daffodil, which was right before my camera; then I put the old couple in the mid shot; the background I set was the water merging with mountains. I purposely set the couple on the left side of photo because they were overlooking to the right side, which, I think, will balance the composition. These were all I had in mind when I shot. I like this picture, and I think I captured the sweet moment of happiness. The only problem is this photo is over-exposed.

Haiti Earthquake - three weeks later

WOW! Off to the left we have a building that has fallen over to lean on the building next to it.

Off to the right we see a man walking down the street carrying a coffin on his head.
I am drawn to the fallen building, but can't help wonder over to the coffin. I think that the man is the center of this picture and he is also telling this story. A story of devastation.

This city has experienced an earthquake and the man in the picture tells us that lives have been taken as a result of this quake. The picture made me feel overwhelmed and sad.

Golden Mean

Golden Mean

This picture doesn't follow the Rule of Thirds, even no eye contact to viewers; but it is indeed an impressive piece when you look at her plaintive face. I tried to find the successful element beside the emotion part, so I drew two experimental lines in the photo. Here is what I did: I drew a vertical line right through the central line of her body; then I drew a horizontal line through her mid finger. Guess what I found? I found both horizontal and vertical placements are set to golden ratio or thereabout. That is why this picture looks well-proportional. I don't think the photographer purposely made this because it is too hard to apply in snapshot. However, once the photographer catches the golden mean, it will add extra score to his/her work for sure.

A Memorable Image: The Slingshot

An Enjoyable Moment

This picture is a good image to refer to a Chinese proverb-- a good picture is worth thousands of words. Using strong photographic technoques, the photographer catches an enjoyable moment for an American soldier who was riding out a stopover at the transit centre, as he would go back home on Aug 8 after completing the deployment in Afghanistan. It really attracts viewers' attention and convey a deeply meaning.
The photographer mainly uses the symmetrical balance in the picture to portray the subject-the soldier who was relaxingly lying on his front onthe bed to watch a movie on his laptop in the transit centre, and the background is static and grey with numerous beds and depressing ceiling. Simplicity is another feature in this picture. Viewers can be attracted directly by the soldier, especially by his focused expression in his eyes.
A good picture can find an echo in the hearts of viewers. the viewers hope that many soldiers like him in the picture to go back home as soon as possible, to enjoy their peaceful life.

An Enjoyable Moment

Drama: Film and Television 12: A Memorable Image

Drama: Film and Television 12: A Memorable Image: Put your comment on your chosen picture here.

1, Remembering the Berlin Wall #14:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/08/remembering_the_divide.html

Sylvia von Scheidt reacts at the Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Strasse in Berlin Aug. 13. Germany marks the 50th anniversary of the day communist East Germany sealed itself off behind the Berlin Wall. Germany had been divided into capitalist western and communist eastern sectors after the end of World War II. At the height of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, the East German regime started building the wall through the capital on Aug. 13, 1961.

My comment: this picture doesn't follow the Rule of Thirds, even no eye contact to viewers; however, it is indeed an impressive piece when you look at her plaintive face.

2, Afghanistan, August 2011 #39

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/08/afghanistan_august_2011.html

Soldiers with the 506th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 101st Airborne Division, begin the first leg of their return home, boarding a plane at a forward base in Paktika province. (David Goldman/Associated Press) #

My comment: without the diagonal rays of light from boarding gate, this picture would not be so dynamic. The shadow on the ground leads to endless imagination: home, peace, family, how sweet.

3, Dadaab refugee camp #13: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/08/the_horn_of_africa_dadaab_refu.html

A young Somali boy and his nomadic family fled Bardere, Somalia to Kenya in May 2011 because of hunger, drought and war. They traveled 32 days by foot and donkey cart relying on the kindness of people along the way for food and water

My comment: the off-center placement theory doesn't apply to this picture. The boy’s static gazing from the center of this picture brings powerful visual impact to me. Nothing from people’s eyes should be so astoundingly dry, despairing, and wounded; especially from the eyes of children.

4, Texas drought and wildfires #20: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/09/texas_drought_and_wildfires.html

The remains of a fresh water crab rest on the cracked, dry bed of Lake E.V. Spence in Robert Lee, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

My comment: deep cracks form the ground draw viewer’s attention; the dead crab along the crack creates strong visual impact.

5, Scenes from India #34:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/scenes_from_india.html?camp=obinsite

A model presents a creation by Indian designer Anamika Khanna on the fourth day of the HDIL India Couture Week in Mumbai on September 19, 2008. India is hosting its first ever haute couture week showcasing over six days, 11 leading designers in a celebration of the country's rich heritage in bespoke fashion. But unlike the bank-breaking, impossible-to-wear creations on show twice a year in Paris that are not even intended for the high street, Indian couturiers say they are offering wearable made-to-order clothes at a realistic price. (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

My comment: good example of applying the Rule of Thirds; it would be better balanced if she eyes slightly on her left side.