Short Documentary Blog Post_Firsthand

Firsthand is a great documentary that really captured the beauty and excitement of dirt biking. Not only that, it also showed what life is like in it, and how intense the sport can really get. The shots along with the interviews contributed the excellency of the film.

During the interview, there were good shots of b-roll that showed exactly what the guys were talking about. There were some still shots that captured some of the amazing dirt bike moves and some that got into the action that showed the talent of these guys. Not only that, the fast pace of the shots added to the intensity of the film.

The editing of the film was also spectacular. The shots were perfectly cut to parts that really showed the fluity and the beauty. Some shots really got good sounds of the action that really sounded like you were there. Also, when someone was interviewd, the b-roll was placed in perfectly and cut to specific parts that related to what the person was talking about.

Hurt Locker Analysis

1. The Hurt Locker was a great film altogether. The feeling I had after watching this was purely amazing. The way the shots were put together and the execution of the film was purely amazing. The location of the film made it seem so realistic  that it felt like I was there.

2. The location of the film took place in Iraq. The director made the film seem very realistic by combining the realism of war with the emotion of it too. Compared to other movies, this movie actually shows what its like to be in war and the dangers that accompanies it. Not only that, the situations that the soldiers are in contributes to its realism.

3. The setting of the film took place in areas of Iraq that were considered dangerous. The actors did an amazing job of performing the difficult task of acting what its like to be in war and how it affects you personally. The visual style was superb because it made the film seem so realistic and feel like it was actually happening.

4. The camera work was very good. It got into the action with the actors, and was always on them to emphasize its realism. The camera angles were designed to show not only the actors, but to show there location and what was happening around them. The lighting usually was good because the soldiers were in bright areas that such as the desert and there base camp.

5. The style of the film was either fast or slow pace. When the solders got into action or knew there was trouble, the camera shots were intense and fast. When things were slow pace, usually it was when the bomb diffusing took place or when the soldiers were home.

6. The motif of terror and sheer pain was illustrated constantly. When the soldiers had to go through parts where it was life or death, usually there were so scared but had to do what had to be done. Sheer pain was when they saw dead people they knew well die right in front of there eyes.

7. The script of the film was also superb. The uses of every possible emotions (except happiness) was displayed. Sometimes the soldiers were funny, mad, sad, etc. These emotions played a good role in the development of the film.

8. The film was able to establish action/adventure because there was constant action and the soldiers were always going to different places. The constant warfare and going to all these locations to contain peace also establishes this genre.

9. Overall, the film was a big success in camera work and in acting. The way it was put together was very good, and the acting played a big contribution to its success. The film really did open my eyes to how shots are transittioned and the difficulty of creating it.

Baraka Film Analysis

1) Baraka means "Breath" in Persian Sufi (Islam). Why do you think the film is titled Baraka, "breath", "essence?"

 I think the film is called "Breath" because when you see all the shots and the flow of the film, it really takes your breath away. It's also called "essence" because the  essence of the film captures the beauty of the world in such a short amount of time. The music also makes the film sort of calming and soothing that makes the film incredible.

2) Is the planetary perspective of the film expressing a critique of the modern world? Is there an alternative vision represented?

 This film does show a planetary perspective that expresses a critique of the modern world. The film shows the beauty of life on Earth by capturing its amazing areas and natural beauty. However, its doesn't relate to what really is going on, and how its beauty may be short lived if things go as they are now. The film does show how beautiful life is on Earth and how we don't really know about it. and that we need to maintain stability to ensure that it stays like this.

3) What messages do you get from the film "Baraka"?

I get this message that Earth has many breath-taking spectacles that we take for granite. Also, it shows  the beauty of different cultures around the world by capturing what their life is like. The whole film flows well by capturing all the beauties of Earth, and squeezing it into a short film.

4) Discuss how the absence of voice and text affected the goal of a global perspective in Baraka.

The absence of voice and text wasn't that big, but would've been able to explain Baraka's global perspective. With either voice or text, it explains what is being shown with other facts, This informs people of what they are seeing and what to understand. However, the film explains itself with most of its shots.

 5) What images do you see applied to culture and the city, and how did those relate or contrast to nature?
Throughout the film, many different cultures are being shown. These cultures relate to nature because they are both beautiful and unique. They both show how their beauty is expressed through what it is seen as. The cinematography of it also is great because it was able to capture its beauty.

6) What are some possible interpretations of the monk on the street following the images of the cigarette factory and the city streets? What does the film suggest regarding the role of religion and spirituality?

The monk is there because he is probably questioning why cigarettes are being made and disapproves it. This film suggests that religion is a major part of many of these people's culture, and that they wouldn't change it for anything.

7) What kind of social statement does the film Baraka make with the people on the refuse heap and the images of the poor?
Baraka's footage shows how people and cultures around the world aren't the same as us. They have different living standards and lifestyle that is third world to us. The images of the poor also adds a image of beauty to the film that is essential in establishing its theme.

8) What transitions or music stand out for you? Explain.

Throughout the film, shots are randomly transitioned to different things. In one shot, it was showing the culture of Japan, then went to a shot of the ocean reflecting the sky. The music also seems very suttle and soothing, however, also seems boring because its ongoing and repetitive. It does go with the beauty of the film.

9) Why did we watch Baraka? Could this vision arise without seeing a film like this? How? Does it make you want to travel?
We watched Baraka to see an example of professional film shots and editing. This film has a number of amazing shots around the world squeezed into a short film. This film does make me want to travel because it captures the beauty of every thing around the world and how no one really notices it. Throughout this film I have this feeling.

 

Document Pre-Production

Purpose: See what life I'd like for Faiva Afeaki as a deputy sheriff and a basketball coach.

Contacts: Faiva Afeaki, John Ababseh, Luke Gray, Zafir Khan.

Interview Questions: What's it like to be a sheriff and a basketball coach?
How does being a sheriff affect you?
What does being a basketball coach mean to you?
Is there a message you're trying to send to other people?
What do you think about Faiva Afeaki?

General Flow: Beginning- Introduction to who Faiva Afeaki is and what he does. (Background)
Middle- Go through the first four interview questions.
Ending- Use the last interview question.

Short List: Waist shot of Faiva and the others sitting down answering the questions and explaining other material. B-Roll for Faiva's background. Actual footage to support what he and the others are talking about throughout the interview.

Script: Currently, there is no available script.

Romantic Comedy Critique

Our romantic comedy was based on the known theme of nerd in love with pretty girl. This idea really just came to us at random, and we built of off it. To really get an idea of what a romantic comedy is, I watched films like "Meet the Parents" and "John Tucker must die".  The basic story line is this nerd sees this really pretty girl walk into class, and is really just amazed about her. The next day, he decides to go and meet her and try to talk to her. However, it doesn't go well, and she leaves him to weep to himself.

The directing part of the film was really just simple. We went with most of our script up until it began to get difficult. We had trouble continuing off of our first part because of how and where to continue off of it. For example, before the "Next Day" part (part 2), we didn't have the idea of it yet. It took us another week to think of something decent, which in the end came out great. Ricky, our main character, did an excellent job playing his role as the nerd. It was as if he was naturally good at this, and the way he acted it all out was exactly the way we wanted it.

For the editing part of the project, we aimed for simplicity. We wanted to make sure the film seem "well put together." When putting all the shots together, it seem to flow naturally, with minimal edits. The edits we made were match action shots throughout most of the film. We also added in some good close ups, panning, medium shots, etc. We didn't really aim for any effects because we thought that it would mess up the whole story, so we kept it original and cool.

The sound part of the film was also pretty simple. In the beginning, we aimed to find a suttle, yet peace song to bring out the situation. It was a another boring day in class, and the music went perfectly with it. In the second part, where he gets ready for his plan, we placed in a pump song, then a "Run Forest Run " song to make it comical but also explaining what's going on.  On the last part, we added a love song along with the most famous one, "Baby Come Back." These two songs really did establish what I was aiming for in the film, and really just did everything that words couldn't replace.

The cinematography part of the film was a little hard. Actually thinking of what shots to come up to make up the film took time. We didn't want to added a lot of complicated shots, but we didn't want to limit them. So we decided to make a lot of simple pan and match action shots to make it really easy. The lighting part was also a challenge too. Some of our shots came out somewhat darkish a lot, so we did a lot of re shoots to get some good lighting. The first shot was the most we had a lot of trouble with because it was always dark. As for the rest of the shots, the lighting was good enough to look presentable.

The production design of the film was also simple. We had no specific wardrobe for our actors except for our main character with his glasses that set him up as the  nerd. For the girl, we just needed her to act really hot, which she performed really well. The actors we chose was really out of random, but they played their role so well that it was amazing. The setting and location was sorta different from the original script, but with the recent changes, it all came together well and organized.

My Romantic Comedy

Sherman, the average high school nerd, wants to ask Monique to the school dance, who he’s liked since elementary school, but faces some problems along the way, and leads up to his dramatic downfall.

Romantic/Comedy Treatment

An average day in class. People sleeping, texting, and just day dreaming. And then there's me.

The smartest kid in high school. Writing down everything the teacher is saying, organizing all my A+ papers,  adjusting my over-sized glasses...the usual.


And then she walks in...


Flowing curly hair, golden eyes, perfect body, the whole package really.


As she gives a note to the teacher, she looks at me and winks at me.


Even when the bell rang, I was still in utter shock.

I decide to work up my courage and ask her out to the school dance. I decide to walk up to her table and ask her out point blank.

As I'm walking towards her table, I get a thought of something.


She says yes, she gives me a kiss, and becomes my girlfriend.

Every possible good emotion engulfs me, and I walk to her table with great confidence.


Just a few feet from her table, the school jock beats me to her and asks her out to the dance. He looks at me and gives that smile as if he's won.

Just before she's about to say her answer, I let out all my feelings about her; everything from how I liked her since 1st grade, how helping her with homework was the best time in my life, etc.


This catches her off guard and now she's actually thinking

Then she looks at me and says "I pick you."


Then I wake up.

Amelie Film Analysis

In these shots, there is a sense of depth where both talents are sitting at a diagnol angle, and when both talents are walking down the stairs, which is called depth of field.

In both of these shots, I feel that the director is trying to use a sense of depth to add more style to the film. Both shots are both tinted, have a dark sense to it, and both contribute to the sullen tone to the movie.


In this shot, Amelie has a flash forward of what she thinks is going to happen, and would go under the editing section.

I thinks the director's intent was to show how a flash forward should look like, and to just show some editing skills. I also think it was to prove Amelie has some special ability where she can see in the future. Amelie's flash forward affects her motives in find her lover.


In this close up of Amelie, Amelie gives a facial expression that well exemplifies her acting skills, and what is currently happening to her.

I think the intention of this shot was to show Amelie's acting skills of how to show true emotion, and to also make the viewers believe that she is really shocked. Amelie is shocked to find her old friend is actually encouraging her to step up to the plate and tell her lover that she loves him.


In this shot, the old man is highlighted in this yellowish-orange color that means that either the sun or something is coming down.

I think the intention of this shot was to show a visual effect to the talent that exemplifies both editing and color enhancing skills. As you can, the old man doesn't really seem like he's real anymore, and that possibly he's just been edited.