Musicals? Still Worth Watching?

After viewing two musical films, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Singin’ in the Rain” do you feel that the musical is worth viewing to modern audiences? Would you advise friends to take the time to see one or two? We will discuss your feeling briefly next week! 

"Citizen Kane" or "Notorious"

Of the two films we have viewed from the 1940s ("Citizen Kane" and "Notorious"), which one do you prefer and why? Refer to the quality of film techniques used by the directors at least once for each film in your answer..

Homework for "Citizen Kane"

After viewing the film and hearing some of the commentary by Roger Ebert, what do you remember the best (and what is most important for you about the film?). Does it deserve its status as one of the greatest films of all time? Would you recommend it to a friend? Why or why not?

Emptiness in Human Mind

Roger Ebert said, “Rosebud is the green light at the end of Gatsby’s pier.” I also agree with his word. Mr. Kane and Gatsby is same type of people. Both of them successful (in some ways), became rich and desired true love. They thought love is providing wealth. Mr. Kane made everything possible for Susan, and Mr. Gatsby paid everything for to be rich to become a man who fit for wealthy woman. Pitifully, that is not love. One-sided love is not the true love, but communicating love is the true love. One-sided giving out and receiving are both can’t be love. That’s why they could not make it. It was because they were misguided by money and power. Kane lost his original intention, and Gatsby chose to be a criminal. No noble purpose can be made by unsanctified manner. Their goals were not reachable by that kind of ways. They did not need to have a lot of money and power to reach the love. All they had to do were give attention and listen to people their love. The rosebud and the green light are same. They mean the emptiness in human mind and the effort to fill it in vain. No stuffs and people can fill that void. We were born to be lonely. Even true love can’t fill it. They did not know that. Happiness is not in comparing and competing. It is allowed to a simple and honest soul that enjoying the present as a present.

Responding to "Citizen Kane"

Read Roger Ebert’s review of “Citizen Kane” and respond to one or two things he says about the film. Be specific when you mention Ebert’s ideas and agree or disagree (say why you do) with him. Write you answer in a paragraph and post it to the blog before coming to class next week.

Movie Like a Bittersweet Candy

“The wizard of OZ” made me think a lot since the last week. Personally, I don’t agree that Roger Ebert’s words, “That is why any adult in control of a child is sooner or later going to suggest a viewing of the movie.” I think we should not show this movie to children. First, Judy Garland seems too mature for the role to me. 17 years old in reality is high school student, and they are baby sitters in it. I think the role of Dorothy supposed to be taken by a girl around 10 years old. And the cruelty of message of this movie is another reason. I could show this movie to children if it ended in the land of OZ, but it says that the only place of we being a hero or heroine is in dream too clearly. Dorothy was a girl who is nobody in the reality, and all the excitements had happened in the land of OZ were nothing but dream! Furthermore, her last word, “there is no place better than home,” is just like, “there is no Santa in the world.” We should not ruin their childhood fantasies because it is too cruel. Conclusively, this movie befit to teenagers and mature people. Most of peoples are living with the idea that they are the center of the world, but they soon figure out that they could be the surroundings. When we are studying in school and living our lives, we feel our limits and those are not that high. We find out that home was the best place in our life, then. There’s no place better than home, because there are parents, brothers and sisters are feeding, comfort and caring us. But, I don't think that children need to know about it too soon such as their 10 years old days. The film is too cruel for child, and too bittersweet for adults. Even those fairy tales like expressions are feels hypocritical to me. It tastes like a candy treat before have a bitter medicine.

“The Wizard of Oz” is not only for Children

“The Wizard of Oz” is thought of as a children’s film. “A wonderful surface of comedy and music, special effects and excitement…” as Ebert said in his review. He also indicated: “As adults, we love it….” I agree with Ebert’s view point. “The Wizard of Oz” is not only for children, but also for adults. Undoubtedly all of us were children before, and many of us have similar experiences from our childhood. Sometimes we wanted to run far away from home, especially when we felt our thoughts were not accepted by adults. In this film, Dorothy's Aunt tells her to "…find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble". In the same situation we might have the same idea as Dorothy, to run away from home, protect her pet Toto, and to find "'someplace where there isn't any trouble”. But when Dorothy left her family after a tornado, her only wish was “go home”. Her journey to get back home is an adventure that she takes with her new companions, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. In spite of many unexpected challenges on the way, they sing and dance forward to achieve their goals. These scenes “remind us of a journey we have taken.”

Moreover, the film’s famous song, "Over the Rainbow", was sung for adults rather than children. The song was sung by actress Judy Garland, and was used in the film when “Dorothy experienced an unpleasant incident involving her dog”. The song goes: “…Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops…”. No wonder Ebert said “Judy Garland had, I gather, an unhappy childhood” and “When she hoped that troubles would melt like lemon drops, you believed she had troubles.” Therefore, as a parent of two sons, I prefer this movie just as Ebert told us: “That is why any adult in control of a child is sooner or later going to suggest a viewing of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Responding to "The Wizard of Oz"

Read Roger Ebert’s review of “The Wizard of Oz” and respond to one or two things he says about the film. Be specific when you mention Ebert’s ideas and agree or disagree (say why you do) with him. Write your answer in a paragraph and post it to the blog before coming to class next week.

Not Laughable Comedy

Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The great dictator’ is reminds me about my country’s ongoing situations. This movie is comedy, but I couldn’t laugh with it. I have to confess that it was uncomfortable and unenjoyable throughout the movie. The fascistic government is started from Hinkel’s popularization after the defeat of the World War First. The currently elected president of South Korea had been started by condolence of her dictator parent’s death. Once the autocracy settled, it brainwashes people. The governmental authority searches and destroys non-existing enemies such as opposite party members or citizens, and the media glorifies the dictator. Nationals are going to lose their own will and being brainwashed by violence and speeches. Near end of the process, when there are no more enemies left to kill in the nation, the absolutism looking for the war for calming down discontentment of its people. War victimizes everyone. The last part of the film, the status change between the dictator and the barber shows us reality of dictatorship. It is all replaceable even though the dictator himself! It trashes the human rights and makes individuals as a part of the machine name of fascism. It takes tolls on everyone including the head quarter of it equally. Eventually, all of its citizens will become replaceable. It is the only effect of dictatorship. Charlie Chaplin shows it clearly, simply and less offensively in his film, and I think those are power of his movies.

Chaplin and His “The Great Dictator”

“A day without laughter is a day wasted”. I like this saying especially when I watch Chaplin’s movies. Chaplin is one of the greatest comedians in film history. Wearing a tight dress,over sized trousers and shoes, holding a walking stick, along with his typical bowler hat and mustache, Chaplin successfully created a unique image in his movies that is remembered by his audiences. “Chaplin” stands for humor, satire, and comedy.

In The Great Dictator, Chaplin used a number of strategies to create ridiculous effects. The clumsy soldier makes many mistakes that cause lots of funny combat scenes during the battle. The marching of the soldier with the enemy and the reversed flying of the airplane interested us for they do not make sense. Some scenes are surreal, such as the auto turning bullet of the canon, and the status of Venus and Rodin’s The Thinker raising its arm to show respect to Hynkel. Another interesting scene is when Chaplin shaves a customer to Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5. His actions which matched the musical rhythm are incredible.

Chaplin making us laugh on the screen is not just for entertainment. He may be attempting to have us think deeply with his artistic combination of comic effects and serious issues. An example of this is when he makes a long final speech in this film: “…We are coming into a new world, a kinder world, where men will rise above their hate, their greed and brutality…” Even though seventy years have past, the speech of Fight for Liberty is still powerful to me. 

Responding to "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.

A Favourite Silent Film

Write a paragraph or two to explain which of the two silent films ( "The General"; "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans") you prefer and why you prefer it. After you finish your writing, please post your work to our class blog. Bring a copy to class for my evaluation and our discussion next week.

Be specific in your comments by referring to, for example, how the story is told to us, the importance of characters, the way the film communicates to us emotionally and so on. Remember that you can see these films again by visiting Archive.org

Creating an Image:The ramp in the dark

It was hard that finding this photo from my retarded photo shots pile. I took this picture
for include 3 compositions in one picture such as Dynamic symmetry, principle of third's
and a bold contrast of bright and dark. This ramp beside of sidewalk is placed on the
dynamic symmetry composition.The slant line between grass field and the sidewalk was chosen to show the composition surely. Principle of third's composition also applied in this picture. I didn't meant it, but somehow it does. Lighting of the photo is expressing my feeling really much. I am a graveyard shift concierge, so I walk in the dark usually. When I patrol in
the middle of night, a ramp in the blindly dark road is very pleased and useful help. It make me to walk with no fear. I hadn't been thought about shoot a picture with purpose before, but I figured that it is actually fun to think about compositions for express feelings by camera.

Creating an Image:The Amazing Blown Glass

 Robert Gary Parkes makes contemporary blown art glass at The Loafing Shed Glass Studio in Surrey

Creating an Image: Salmon Strive over the Fish Ladder

Creating an Image: Tofino Sunset Silhouette

I took a series of four or five shots to get this one, the one I like and the one that shows the effect I was looking for at the time (10 p.m. in June, 2013; shot using a very fast film "speed" on digital camera; it was very nearly dark). My son's silhouette is the center of interest and from his outline the eye follows down to the sunset in the middle, clearly what he and my wife (a kind of secondary interest point) were looking at that night. There is a good dynamic symmetry shown in the shot as well as my son's head on an interest point from the rule of thirds. You will also note that I squatted to take the shot so as to allow more sky in the shot. What a beautiful sunset!

Five pictures that I liked.

 Good example of lighting.

 Nice sample of dynamic symmetry.

 Principle of thirds.

 Asymmetrical balance.

High view point and high camera angle.

I take this picture as my favorite among above. This photo comprehends dynamic symmetry, high viewpoint and high camera angle, and asymmetrical balance. On the first, the senior woman who being rescued had accentuated by dynamic symmetry. It shows us the main subject of the picture vividly. High viewpoint and high camera angle is excessively contributing to this scene that a rescue soldier work to rescue a flood victim actively and spectacularly. The last remarkable composition of this piece is asymmetrical balance. A slant line from under left corner to upper right corner is dividing this photo into two contrasting scenes. Flood site and rescue helicopter seem to hell and heaven to me. The eye catching point of this photo is not just variable composition methods, but the photographer's concentration to the main subject and the ambiance such as a moment of block buster movie.

“I have a dream!” an Excellent Photo from " The Big Pictures"

Martin Luther King: "I have a dream!”      

I find the famous picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. waving to his supporters to be very attractive for it presents excellent contrast, composition, informal balance, and expression. Black and white goes back to the very origins of photography. In the photo, viewers can be attracted directly by the contrast of Martin Luther King wearing a black suit with an exposed white collar and sleeves. His smile face is follows the rule of thirds to present the "point of interest. Another feature is asymmetrical balance. When we look from his eyes to his right hand then toward to the Washington Monument stands between the sky and pond, the connection created a delicate informal balance and contrast to the crowd of the audiences. Look at the photo again and again, I can feel and hear the voice of Martin Luther King (1963): “I have a dream!”  

 “I have a dream!”  Five Excellent Photos from " The Big Pictures"

US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. waves from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to supporters on the Mall in Washington, DC, during the "March on Washington" on Aug. 28, 1963.

the other 4 photos:

I love this photo, for the photo presents simplicity and balance. This kid and is clearly the centre of interest in the shot and he is on an interest point that representing the rule or thirds, too. The kid is small, but he is look stronger. The picture seems to relate a wonderful story about the kid’s dream. A second interest point is an airplane with a smoke, his dream. In addition, the diagonal line that represents dynamic symmetry is very clean. The diagonal line of the kid’s hand that towards top of the shot. On the other hands, the diagonal line of the airplane towards into the bottom. The kid, a big picture, is in the lower part of the picture that seems lighter. The airplane is in the upper part of the picture that seems heavier. Both represent aspects of balance. Thus, this simple picture provides a nice illustration.

-151 words

   

 

 

How to Post a Picture to the Blog

Once you locate a picture you like, use the right click feature on your computer to open up a menu. Click on the photo itself to do so. One of your choices will be "copy." Choose "copy."

Now, go to the blog and choose "new post." You can find "new post" in the upper right corner of the screen when you are logged in to your blogger/gmail account.

In the space where you write, choose "paste" and the picture will appear! You can choose several sizes. Choose a size that allows us to see the whole picture all at once. You can choose "preview" in the upper right corner of the screen when you are posting.

After you do that, choose "publish" and then go back and comment on your own photo (the paragraph). Be sure to give your post a good title.

Good luck! See you Thursday.

Running Up the "Gostra" or Greased Pole; Dynamic Symmetry and the Rule of Thirds

Link to Boston.com Big Picture

Here's the link you need for this week's assignment.

www.boston.com/bigpicture/

Reacting to "The Tree of Life"

What was your reaction to viewing “The Tree of Life”? Explain why you have the reaction and, using Roger Ebert’s review as a guide, comment on something he has said in your reaction.

Please bring your copy to class, word processed.

Reacting to Hitchcock's "Vertigo"

What was your reaction to viewing “Vertigo”? Explain why you have the reaction and, using Roger Ebert’s review as a guide, comment on something he has said in your reaction.

Please bring your comment on paper to class next week.

Video Effects and Sounds Downloads (for next seven days)

Since we have a subscription to Videomaker, we can download up to 20 effects a day for next seven days.

Here's the link

You might also like to see The Art of the Title to view great title sequences for inspiration. Note that Saul Bass did the titles for "Vertigo."

A Comment on "Aguirre, Wrath of God"

What was your reaction to viewing “Aguirre, Wrath of God”? Explain why you have the reaction and, using Roger Ebert’s review as a guide, comment on something he has said in your reaction.

NOTE: Please bring a copy of your comment on paper and, ideally, on your flash drive since our Internet access is down due to vandalism at the portables over the weekend.

A Comment on "Tokyo Story"

What was your reaction to viewing “Tokyo Story”? Explain why you have the reaction and, using Roger Ebert’s review as a guide, comment on something he has said in your reaction.

EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN trailer

Guys, have you heard about this movie  "EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN"? The screenplay was written by Douglas Coupland, and there is Vancouver in each shot!

http://youtu.be/bu8Gtbljw4E

A Documentary "Pitch"

Give us one or two ideas for a documentary subject. I will, too.

The Most Extraordinary and Interesting Film

Time to choose! Tell us why you think so in your comment here.

Comment on Roger Ebert's Opinions on "My Neighbor Totoro"

Put a short comment here on something that Roger Ebert says about the film. You can either agree or disagree with him. Be sure to say why!

Here are the links I used in class:

Documentary Making Tips - Character Development | Videomaker.com (remember to login to see any videos there)

www.slideshare.net/acarvin/the-mechanics-of-documentary-storytelling

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

         What is your reaction to seeing the film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?

         Did you like the film? Discuss why you feel the way you do at the blog and bring a printed copy of your comments to class next week.

Man on Wire

Put your notes here as a comment.

A One Late Christmas Tree storybook

I am not really good at making collages. Enjoy a teaser!