Movie/Review: Lone Survivor
Review: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/25/movies/mark-wahlberg-stars-in-lone-survivor-by-peter-berg.html?_r=0
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoLFk4JK_RM
Lone Survivor is based off of a true story, set in Afghanistan 2005. Before anything else, you already know that this is true, and only one out of four SEALs will come out of this situation. The NY Times review kind of states this, that you're not exactly thinking, "Is he going to die?", because you already know what's going to happen. The question is, how each one of them dies. They're not laying down, but fighting for each other to stay alive. By the time this movie is over, you have to realize, this happened. You would wish this wasn't a true story, but it is. It was the harsh reality in Afghanistan that 18 SEALs died in the operation, operation "Red Wings". Overall, it is a great movie, with great angles and slow motion as they capture every painful moment of their continuous jumping off cliffs and hills as they slam into trees and plummet into the ground. As they get shot, some 12 times each before they go down. The move itself was shot beautifully. The lighting, the scenery, and the angles were great, just as good as the action. It's a great movie, go see it.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Director: Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is probably one of the most popular Directors in Hollywood. He is the co-founder of Dreamwork Studios and father of many, great films. He's won two Academy Awards for Best Director, those movies were "Schnidler's List" and one of my favorite movies, "Saving Private Ryan". Three of his movies have hit box office records, those movies were "Jaws", "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial", and "Jurassic Park". All three of these movies I have seen, and thought were great. All of them original, great ideas that were achieved because of Spielberg. Most recently he's done Lincoln, War Horse, and Super 8. I haven't seen any of those but Super 8, which had a great feel to it, like some of his other movies. About the possible world end and survival.. But some movies I have watched that haven't been mentioned are The Goonies, The Indiana Jones series, (my favorite adventure series of all time), War of the Worlds (this movie also had a great feel to it, about the world possibly being ended by these alien creatures). He's also directed one of my favorite TV series of all times, Band of Brothers. Truly giving an insight on World War II following "Easy Company".
Steven Spielberg is probably one of the most popular Directors in Hollywood. He is the co-founder of Dreamwork Studios and father of many, great films. He's won two Academy Awards for Best Director, those movies were "Schnidler's List" and one of my favorite movies, "Saving Private Ryan". Three of his movies have hit box office records, those movies were "Jaws", "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial", and "Jurassic Park". All three of these movies I have seen, and thought were great. All of them original, great ideas that were achieved because of Spielberg. Most recently he's done Lincoln, War Horse, and Super 8. I haven't seen any of those but Super 8, which had a great feel to it, like some of his other movies. About the possible world end and survival.. But some movies I have watched that haven't been mentioned are The Goonies, The Indiana Jones series, (my favorite adventure series of all time), War of the Worlds (this movie also had a great feel to it, about the world possibly being ended by these alien creatures). He's also directed one of my favorite TV series of all times, Band of Brothers. Truly giving an insight on World War II following "Easy Company".
Course Reflection
My role in the group was an Actor.I played Jeremy, the main character in our film, "Happy Halloween", whom tried to figure out why he continued to wake up and continue to die each day. The first couple days of actually starting to talk about the project, I believe I contributed a lot of ideas and what could happen after we came up with the idea for Groundhog Day and Halloween. I also continued to add comedic ideas that would, in my opinion, make the movie better throughout the time. I drew the storyboard, although it wasn't really used because we all had a good idea of what we wanted. I made the Alpha Squad introduction and collaborated with Cheese on how to get good, still shots for hallway scenes. He ended up using a lot of tape. Although I did not edit, I tried to give my insights on what we could add in here and there and also a couple of nice camera angles when needed, but I wanted to leave those up to the Cinematographer and the Director. I also brought in some of the important props, such as the camera, tripod, and boxing gloves for the final fight scene.
In this course, I actually learned quite a few tips and tricks that will definitely help in the future. I definitely learned how much doesn't go on in the shot, with everything going on in the background, although this was just the start of it. I learned all of the different types of camera angles, which could be used in different types of situations, especially for important reasons. Transitions are important as well, as you don't want to fade in/fade out every time a scene is done, that will just make it look bad. Watching all of the movies we watched helped us get an idea of what we should be doing for film ideas, with the camera angles especially. I learned how to correctly right a script, which isn't very general and how to pitch a good idea.
I actually believe our group was the most functional and cooperative, who really played their roles out correctly. We completely let our Director, John McDermott, make the final call on everything and let him handle the important decisions. Everyone gave their insights in our group, but he made the final decisions. He also split up half of the editing, the other half went to the Cinematographer, Andrew (Cheese). Cheese filmed mostly all of these scenes, and provided some great camera angles and had no probably retaking the shot if he didn't like it. The editing overall is great, and they did a great job. Will Hunter, an actor, played his role, Michael Myers, very well. He had his signature in the movie as well, the shrug, and gave some good, comedic ideas for Myers during shooting. Colby did the same, giving ideas for us to use throughout editing and filming, as well as making the beautiful poster for us. Overall, we were one of the best groups in my opinion and all cooperative.
I would probably spend a bit more time on a couple of scenes that we didn't have enough time on that was probably a bit important to the plot. That's about all I would really change in our film, as I believe with the effort we put into it we made it the best we could, with the available resources.
I honestly think we budgeted time pretty well, in what you taught us, let us watch, etc. and filming and editing. We were practically finished by Thursday, after being instructed by you and Mr. O'Brien's blogs and watching movies, we had enough time to film and edit and make a very good product, as well as make a poster and a trailer. I like the course the way it is, and would like to be back in the course some time again.
My role in the group was an Actor.I played Jeremy, the main character in our film, "Happy Halloween", whom tried to figure out why he continued to wake up and continue to die each day. The first couple days of actually starting to talk about the project, I believe I contributed a lot of ideas and what could happen after we came up with the idea for Groundhog Day and Halloween. I also continued to add comedic ideas that would, in my opinion, make the movie better throughout the time. I drew the storyboard, although it wasn't really used because we all had a good idea of what we wanted. I made the Alpha Squad introduction and collaborated with Cheese on how to get good, still shots for hallway scenes. He ended up using a lot of tape. Although I did not edit, I tried to give my insights on what we could add in here and there and also a couple of nice camera angles when needed, but I wanted to leave those up to the Cinematographer and the Director. I also brought in some of the important props, such as the camera, tripod, and boxing gloves for the final fight scene.
In this course, I actually learned quite a few tips and tricks that will definitely help in the future. I definitely learned how much doesn't go on in the shot, with everything going on in the background, although this was just the start of it. I learned all of the different types of camera angles, which could be used in different types of situations, especially for important reasons. Transitions are important as well, as you don't want to fade in/fade out every time a scene is done, that will just make it look bad. Watching all of the movies we watched helped us get an idea of what we should be doing for film ideas, with the camera angles especially. I learned how to correctly right a script, which isn't very general and how to pitch a good idea.
I actually believe our group was the most functional and cooperative, who really played their roles out correctly. We completely let our Director, John McDermott, make the final call on everything and let him handle the important decisions. Everyone gave their insights in our group, but he made the final decisions. He also split up half of the editing, the other half went to the Cinematographer, Andrew (Cheese). Cheese filmed mostly all of these scenes, and provided some great camera angles and had no probably retaking the shot if he didn't like it. The editing overall is great, and they did a great job. Will Hunter, an actor, played his role, Michael Myers, very well. He had his signature in the movie as well, the shrug, and gave some good, comedic ideas for Myers during shooting. Colby did the same, giving ideas for us to use throughout editing and filming, as well as making the beautiful poster for us. Overall, we were one of the best groups in my opinion and all cooperative.
I would probably spend a bit more time on a couple of scenes that we didn't have enough time on that was probably a bit important to the plot. That's about all I would really change in our film, as I believe with the effort we put into it we made it the best we could, with the available resources.
I honestly think we budgeted time pretty well, in what you taught us, let us watch, etc. and filming and editing. We were practically finished by Thursday, after being instructed by you and Mr. O'Brien's blogs and watching movies, we had enough time to film and edit and make a very good product, as well as make a poster and a trailer. I like the course the way it is, and would like to be back in the course some time again.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Cinematographer: Robert Richardson
Robert Richardson is probably one of my favorite cinematographers, doing films such as Platoon, Inglorious Basterds, Shutter Island, Django Unchained, and WarZ. He is one of the two living people to win three academy awards for Best Cinematographer. Those movies were: Hugo (2011), The Aviator (2004), and JFK (1991). He was also nominated for Platoon, Inglorious Basterds, and Django Unchained. WarZ, his most recent film, "WarZ" was in my opinion beautifully filmed, with very nice shots and camera angles. "Platoon" is also a great film, having great angles during shootouts.
Robert Richardson is probably one of my favorite cinematographers, doing films such as Platoon, Inglorious Basterds, Shutter Island, Django Unchained, and WarZ. He is one of the two living people to win three academy awards for Best Cinematographer. Those movies were: Hugo (2011), The Aviator (2004), and JFK (1991). He was also nominated for Platoon, Inglorious Basterds, and Django Unchained. WarZ, his most recent film, "WarZ" was in my opinion beautifully filmed, with very nice shots and camera angles. "Platoon" is also a great film, having great angles during shootouts.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Producer: Barrie M. Osborne
Osborne is a fairly known Producer who was born in New York, his first film he worked on was "Kojak" in 1973. He is most famous for the "Lord of the Rings" series, which in my opinion was a tremendous series, and one of my favorites. This series has the whole package, containing great scenery, huge action scenes, a lot of drama, and a bit of comedy here and there. Osborne won the the Academy Award for Best Picture for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King". Along with this series, he has also recently worked on "The Great Gatsby" with Leonardo DiCaprio, which I haven't seen.
Osborne is a fairly known Producer who was born in New York, his first film he worked on was "Kojak" in 1973. He is most famous for the "Lord of the Rings" series, which in my opinion was a tremendous series, and one of my favorites. This series has the whole package, containing great scenery, huge action scenes, a lot of drama, and a bit of comedy here and there. Osborne won the the Academy Award for Best Picture for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King". Along with this series, he has also recently worked on "The Great Gatsby" with Leonardo DiCaprio, which I haven't seen.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino is up there with the greatest of screenwriters. Not only is he a screenwriter, he's also great director. He won best writing for Django Unchained, and best writing for Pulp Fiction in the Academy Awards. He's also won best screenplay for a motion picture twice in the Golden Globes, and has been nominated a number of times for either best screenplay or director for a motion picture. He started his career in 1987, co-writing and directing a movie that would later be destroyed in a lab. He started to become a success in 1992, when "Reservoir Dogs" came out, becoming an immediate hit. Here's a small portion of part of the script of "Pulp Fiction".
Quentin Tarantino is up there with the greatest of screenwriters. Not only is he a screenwriter, he's also great director. He won best writing for Django Unchained, and best writing for Pulp Fiction in the Academy Awards. He's also won best screenplay for a motion picture twice in the Golden Globes, and has been nominated a number of times for either best screenplay or director for a motion picture. He started his career in 1987, co-writing and directing a movie that would later be destroyed in a lab. He started to become a success in 1992, when "Reservoir Dogs" came out, becoming an immediate hit. Here's a small portion of part of the script of "Pulp Fiction".
It is impossible to tell where the Young Woman is from or
how old she is; everything she does contradicts something
she did. The boy and girl sit in a booth. Their dialogue is
to be said in a rapid pace "HIS GIRL FRIDAY" fashion.
YOUNG MAN
No, forget it, it's too risky. I'm
through doin' that shit.
YOUNG WOMAN
You always say that, the same thing
every time: never again, I'm through,
too dangerous.
YOUNG MAN
I know that's what I always say. I'm
always right too, but –
YOUNG WOMAN
– but you forget about it in a day
or two -
YOUNG MAN
– yeah, well, the days of me
forgittin' are over, and the days of
me rememberin' have just begun.
YOUNG WOMAN
When you go on like this, you know
what you sound like?
YOUNG MAN
I sound like a sensible fucking man,
is what I sound like.
YOUNG WOMAN
You sound like a duck.
(imitates a duck)
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack,
quack, quack...
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
After the first two days of Take Two, I have learned the rights and wrongs of filming. I've learned different camera angles that affect how the shot's look, a bit about different lighting and where to shoot if you're near a window, and how to make fight scenes look realistic without having to get to close to the face. Along with why people make remakes and the reasons for doing so.
I would say our group has actually come up with everything together, coming up with the combination of movies, and all working on the script and plot together. I wouldn't really say I did anything individually.
I'm still looking forward to continuous tips on camera angles, conversations, and whatever will help us make a better movie, and continue to improve on story boarding and scripting.
I would say our group has actually come up with everything together, coming up with the combination of movies, and all working on the script and plot together. I wouldn't really say I did anything individually.
I'm still looking forward to continuous tips on camera angles, conversations, and whatever will help us make a better movie, and continue to improve on story boarding and scripting.
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