Step Outline

1. Logline: Fights happen all the time, but not like this.

2. Genre Reference: Thriller

3. 2 Reference Films: The Outsiders, The Warriors

4. Step Outline:  Create a t-chart for Action/ Dramatic Intent

THEMES: -extra personal theme- A criticism of gang culture (wats the deal with the gangs fighting?)  -interpersonal theme-friendship? -intrapersonal theme: Freedom brings pain, the importance of the mentor parent but lack thereof -yearning for structure in life -violence is useless

Action	Intent
Films begins with the  fight between Mack and the baddies and short expositional narration	To be  expositional and set tone, but still be a simple story
2. Flashback - Does something that angers enemy gang, strengthens his friends Johnny (nice guy)  and Dallas (stern older mentor)	2.   Character Development, critical mistake that begins tragedy
3. Comes home late to find his older brother waiting (also stern older mentor), brother gets mad and hits him,	3.  Drama (but not action), tension at home? Incites freedom that brings death, reinforces themes, violence  has no gain
4.    The Stabbing - As Mack hangs out in the parking lot with his 2 friends, they are jumped by enemy gang, where Johnny is being drowned and back broken either Dallas or Mack stabs Bob the Baddie (flee scene)	4.   Action creates
5.   Running - Trying to get johnny to hospital on foot avoiding baddies	5.   Action
6.   Running - Johnny is dead, what do we do?	6.   Moral Question, tension
7.   The Last Stand - Mack watches Patrick rob a liquor store, and get shot as he pulls out as they pull up in car,	7.   Existentially ends the film with the narrator protag being disillusioned with society at large, but personal issues is resolved for the sake of classical narrative

10 Themes

Canon's "Project Imagination"

A Ron Howard Production

Using the story themes/elements we reviewed from the "Project Imagination", please identify the 9 elements used in the film. Include screen shots from the film as evidence. Describe how the film incorporates each element/ theme. 

Character

Canon defines character as a person, and that persons traits, virtues, etc: Anyone or anything. This picture expresses character because of its interesting composition and unique image of a moment of time. The crisp focus makes the viewer focused deeply on the kid. The boy himself, is interestingly wearing a suit and has a determined look in his step and forehead, this gives him a back story and thus a character, increasing the viewers interest and understanding. He also seems a bit sad from how his mouth and eyes look. The angle of the photo also adds character and story: the high angle suggests that it was taken by an adult, probably a parent. The grainy image adds to the grit of the cityscape, adding the realism and the viewers perception of reality, giving the character realistic depth. The grain/scratches and blue grade also add to the backstory: the use of photographic film actually creates both a sense of history and nostalgia for the viewer; The viewer can determine that this character existed in a long past time, and that we connect feeling from that time (the feeling of youth for example) with the photo. The visual vector also adds to the feeling of determination, as it hints that he might have walked down the far sidewalk from what artists call the "vanishing point"."

Relationship

Canon defines Relationship as A bond of knowing between anyone or anything. I had a special interest in this photo because I felt most people in the contest would submit simple relationships between people, which I found cliche. This photo depicts an old woman grasping a doll, and i chose it because of its nice composition. The constant of the soft skin of the doll and the wrinkled skin of the old woman accentuate the woman's age. Thus, we imply that she has had the doll since she was a child The ring on her finger suggests that we was quite well off, that she has been married, another example of relationship. The dolls face is dirtied, and we can assume that it has been used by the woman for a very long time.The tightness of the grasp by the woman also suggests that the woman really doesn't want the doll to fall, that sher really cares for it. We know that it is hers because if it were someone else, you would daintily grasp it to not damage it.

Setting 

Canon defines as a location or environment. This photograph showcases "Setting" because it not only encompasses location, but literal environment. This photo has a nice composition and it is one I can personally vouch for. In other words, its my picture, that i uploaded to the Canon Imagin8tion Project! Anyway, I like this setting because it sets us only in the rural landscape but also sets us in a time further back. The old rustic farm-looking house adds to the rural feel and the blurred out of focus background adds to the viewer's, well, focus on the house.

Goal

Canon defines goal as "something achievable" This photograph portrays a group of people making there way across a large span of water towards the Statue of Liberty. The flag that they fly is that of a revolution era flag. We can imply that these people are anti-large-government and that this might be a protest. It uses the rule of thirds and color to make us focus on the stark red flag and distant green Stature in the background, as well as the boat and its occupants. This photo maybe a modern representational of immigrants moving to the us during the interwar boom. The physical distance is very large between the people and the statue, however the long lens compresses that space to make it seem acheivable. Also, the contrast between the small row boat of a few people and the large sailboats exagerates how small the row boat is. Also, the wind powered sailboats contrast the human power and effort that it takes to operate a rowboat, thus symbolizing the hardship that change instills upon people. They are also moving away from the statue, which might represent government, and the industrial yards in the far background.

Back Story

The story behind a certain character or place, that makes us better understand something by contextual pre-history. In this photo we see a man who appears down on his luck: frowning, sitting in the bathtub waiting for something inevitable. The small duck in the tub is a police duck, which could be a visual metaphor for the man's woe's: he might be on the run from the law. He stares down at the duck, knowing what we can only assume. From his large belly, we can assume he might be someone who sits in a desk most of the day, maybe a banker; the glasses also add to the idea. From that we can hypothesize that he might be being chased for fraud or something similar. The fact that he is sitting in the bathtub with his suit on could mean that he knows that the suit doesn't matter anymore, or he has more important things to care about.

The Unknown

Canon defines the unknown as anything unexpected or a twist in the story.  In this photo, we see an man walking into the sunset, or in art terms "the vanishing point". His dress indicates that we is beyond caring for his fashion, and his slight slouch (as well as white hair) indicates that he is and elderly man. The man is walking towards a light, probably the sun, an unknown destination. We can assume that this is heaven or afterlife. The light rays provide a visual vector that, along with the selective focus, brings the viewers attention onto the man and the sun.

Mood

Canon defines mood as something that conveys tone atmosphere of emotion. In this image, we can see a girl in a decaying room. The tone of atmosphere in this image is that of decay and forget, forsaken. The crumpled wallpaper and the molded, rusted sink further imply this point.  The girl is in a goth like position; she is not in a pleasurable emotional state. She is slouched, another indicator that she is not in a positive state. The detail in this image is superb, its the entire collection of the little details that really make this image unique. The tall framing and wide lens ad to the depth of the image, and we feel more lonely as a viewer. The lighitng creates the dark contrasts that is associated with negative feeling.

Obstacle

Canon defines obstacle as "anyone or anything standing in the way of the character." On the surface, we can determine that the chair is used by someone to go down the stairs. The leather antiqueness of the chair and the many old photographs on the back wall suggests that it is an elderly person (or a hipster). Selective focus is used to focus the viewer, and thus of the chair's importance. The obstacle is not the chair itself, rather, it is the implied disability that is the cause for the need of the chair, and the stairs they must descend and ascend. The wide angle lens used creates depth, thus increasing the perceived distance between the viewer's standpoint and the distant door. This distance increases the implied difficulty of passage and thus the increasing need for the chair.

Time 

Canon defines time as something that represtent a time of day or story. This photo represents "time" because of its composition. The first metaphor for time is the butterfly. It has passed its time, not killed or smashed, but died when its time was up. The rule of thirds comes into play due to the small water droplet on its wing, which, along with the Instagram selective focus. helps us focus on what is important. The leaves are also a visual metaphor for the theme of time, as time is what kills and drops them. The the range of color in the photo is mainly earthy tones, and lighting is also that from the sun. This "natural" feel is akin to time itself, that all things in nature come to and end. The photo is taken from a higher angle to show that the butterfly is weak and is dead or dying.

Commentary on "A Soldier Apart"

We chose to work on this idea because everyone else just "went with it" and just said yes to my treatment, a process I dislike. With this project I really wanted to make a scifi action flick while exploring underlying themes of corruption, and fascist governments (that parallel our own), combining themes from the genres I researched on (scifi, propaganda) and mix it with my partners' common genre (war/action). This final idea called for less time based scifi like I had imagined, and more war. I felt this was not a good choice, but due to restrictions on, ironically enough, time, many ideas in the original plot did not make it through the first few drafts. In order to balance the mindless action  I felt the project needed strong dialogue, and I really wanted top include a well lit  conversation scene.

1. Research and concept development related to your area of responsibility.

I was Director, Editor, and Prop/Costume Management/Design on this project, "A Soldier Apart". I chose these roles because I am usually the one who takes charge of production and then edits, as Gino is the one who usually tries to cope with my perfectionist madness. I was prop/costume management/design because 95% of the prop guns, walkie talkies, and military garb were mine. I felt a deep disconnection from this project as it steadily moved away from my original ideas.

Find Makarov

1. Research and concept development related to your area of responsibility.

I created storyboards from my cherished scenes: the interrogation scenes. This was done since they required lighting and we had a limited time in the library basement, so these had to be storyboarded to take advantage of time. I also really liked these scenes, as they were lit well and not shaky action-cam. I love old timey “on tripod” static shots, with simple backrounds. This scene was inspired by parts of the short film “Find Makarov.” I also chose to create a checklist for all the props used, so that nothing would be forgotten. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgqmJRkrutI

1. What challenges and solved problems arose in your area of responsibility. (Remember that by fully explaining the above, and by giving specific details about what you did, you are actually giving evidence that you actually worked on the project)

I had to deal with the prop/editing/cinematography and more or less directing part of the project, and thus, was quite a toll on my grades. From the prop master standpoint, I had to manage the 40+ props used on the movie and make sure everything was brought to the remote location, and a few times, we missed things. In the factory scene for example, Alex looses his earphones when he slides underneath some crates. We decided that the audience wouldn't notice, but, did you? As Director, I had to coach actors, however, Alex Sqoicia, playing General Hammond, had prior theatre training, as well as Bryce Dillard. Alex Vargas and Alex Banerjee had the most important scene in the entire in the movie, when Alex gives his monologue. I had Barnett, of Paranoia fame, teach him a little on how to speak like a dictator. As editor, I had to handle constant crashes and setbacks in rendering. For example, in order to get the film out on its due date, it had to be exported in a mere 480p. Later I was able to bring in the full HD version at 1080p. As cinematographer, I had to cope with the constantly changing light of the canyon. In all it took 3 days (4 with the scout day) to shoot the scene. This presented many challenges,as the scenes were shot out of order, and some scenes are obviously shot at sun down, while other are shot in the twilight between full sundown and “behind the mountains” sundown, which I must say does benefit the filmmaker. Also the running shots were difficult to frame as I had to run with the actors as well as cope with the “Jello Frame” sensor of DSLR’s, the only reason I used the DSLR was to achieve a wider angle than my HDV camera, thus lessening apparent camera shake.

In camera "Jello"

1. What areas of production do we best see the application of your artistic style and influence in the project? Explain why is this significant and relevant.

I believe that the two biggest applications of my influence and style were in the color grading and interrogation scene lighting (particularly on the General, played by Alex S.). In the color grading, I tried to convey the over-grade of the footage in order to symbolize the fanciful and unreal sense of scifi but also the world that it takes place. It is a world of secrets and government deception, a place where everyone is shrouded by these colors, and bound to them and their allegiances. In the color grade of the interrogation, cold, distant, empty, trying to add the the atmosphere that wasn't there, the emptiness. In the forest I had to match the over grade, so I did a green color because it seemed appropriate, as the only other color you can grade footage effectively beside blue and green is red, and hat would not have been appropriate. In the lighting of the scene with Alex, I really wanted to go overboard and have a very dramatic opening shot. This would set the high Fidelity tone of the visuals for the rest of the movie. I really like classical filmmaking, not to watch but to record, and the motionless shot was my child. I also love silence in films. It really allows you to explore the environment in which the characters are in without actually showing or talking about it.

1. How the group solved problems that arose on the film as a whole. (You may, if you wish, detail problems in this section that arose because someone on the shoot had problems, was undependable, and did no work. However, the first question I will be asking you is, “Why didn’t you go to that person and tell them that they were not contributing enough, or help them work on skills that they found difficult.”)

In all, 2 weeks of hell were used to shoot the film, mostly at remote locations with alot of gear and costumes in a “Tatooine”-esque shoot wherein nothing worked and multiple props broke due to actor carelessness of things that I bought with my own earned cash, suffice to say, over $120 in possible damages was lost. My group mates all worked very hard, devoting time, locations, and a lot of effort to the cause. However, I feel that Gino, despite working very hard, had a similar disconnect with the project like I did, albeit to a greater extent. He simply wanted to get in done and over with, which I can not fault him for. Of all films I’ve ever made, this was the first time every person has shown up on every day of shooting. Overall, I think my groupmates did a superb job and should not be denoted because of this great effort.

1. Critical Evalutation
I thought, overall the film was a flop. It had it’s good moments, in fact some great moments, however it did not reach the production value I wanted  in some places, and did not tell the story that I wanted either. Rather it became a monster, that turned into a special effects shootout that just might have ruined the next generation of Art of Video’ers. Let me explain. They, in seeing the film, must want to make their own film with guns, despite the “Granny Rule” in place. We broke the rule, and we were supposed to be angelic “Advanced Kids” and be role models. I didn't want this to happen, I really didn't. However due to lack of time, We had the cut the story and the time travel element all together. But I digress.
I felt the film had a lot of potential, however, it had almost no plot and what plot it did have were subject to confusion and misunderstanding. It was more violent then it needed to be and had crappy sound effects, which added to the cheese. I believe that the film should have just not had a forest scene at all, and instead been focused on th relationship between the rogue and the soldier, with more choreography in the Warehouse scene. The ending monologue could use improvement and the actor choice could have been better also. The visuals were pretty solid, with grading and effects looking just fine. In all, I believe it to be a learning experience: dealing with mass props, extras, remote locations, and most important: have a story!

Starship Troopers Analysis 2 and 3

1. What are the institutional factors that may be important?
1. as a production of a specific producer (i.e. Walt Disney), institution (Disney Studios), specific economic factors (Studio Film), or a political background? (U.S. politics 1959)
2. What is the film’s historical significance?
1. as a document of its time?
2. as a part of history of film?

III.  Socio-cultural context

1. What is the film’s socio-cultural context?
1. as a work from a specific country?
2. As a work from a specific culture?
3. As a work representing a specific part of its society?
4. As a work made for a specific audience?
5. As a work made for a specific reason?

During the time when the film was made, we were currently fighting in the Iraq war. It was also the year when Osama Bin Laden declared war on the free world. It mocked the news that constantly assured us ‘We’re winning were winning!” as during many other wars that we seemed to be losing , like Vietnam, or Iraq. The similarities don't stop there, however, and the parallels between Vietnam, War on Terror, continue to compile. That the Troopers fight in a desert against bugs who hide underground in “bugholes” is no coincidence (Neither is the similarity between “Arachnid” and “Iraqi”). From Paul Verhoeven’s view, the film is a mocking of fascist society by over exaggerating its features to point out it’s insane ideals. This was due to his early childhood filled with Nazi’s violence and discontent with the Allies (being born in the WW2 Nazi-occupied Netherlands). Daily, allied bombing raids left dead in the streets. Conversely, Ed Numeier wrote the film as a parody of US involvement in guerrilla wars and absurd international policy, himself being American. This is primarily why every actor recruited is “American,” yet they live in Buenos Aires. This suggests that the whole world has been Americanized, parodying our aggressive American expansionism which the US government is constantly trying to justify. Even the news reporter suggests that maybe the bugs attacked them because the humans expanded into their territory, and they felt threatened. Unfortunately, Starship Troopers was marketed as a action B-movie, and the audience that attended saw it as such. Intellectuals failed to see the deeper meaning as the failed to be attracted to such a “mindless” movie.

Genre in Film

In film, movies of certain genres conform to the genre conventions of there stereotypes. There are stereotypical characters, dialogue, dress, and setting, visual style, and stereotypical situations.

Bond is an agent of the British secret service that is called to defeat a criminally mad mastermind that is about to pull a worldwide crime. Using high tech gadgets and fast cars, he manages to save the world and get the ladies as well, all while wearing remaining suave and in a suit. He travels around the world to exotic locales, nifty gadgets and ingenious toys (provided by Q Branch) to combat evildoers, fast-action suspense and audacious stunts, and gorgeous scantily-clad sexy women. The action-oriented, sophisticated and skillful agent, with a taste for fancy clothes (often tuxedos), dry vodka martinis ('shaken, not stirred') and cars (Aston Martins and BMWs), battled various types of eccentric, deadly and infamous criminals who planned to assault the world. Most Bond movies focus on either a secret worldwide crime syndicate, or the Cold War, and even in Goldeneye (1995) after the fall of the Soviet Union, is based on the premise of soviet weapons and rogue soviet generals. By its own right, it is a anti Communist films series. Characters in Bond usually include, the bad guy, Bond, the crony henchman with a special trait, and the Bond girl. Usually a damsel in distress, in recent films women have joined the ranks of Bond and shooting up bad guys of their own. Everyone tries to dress as suave as possible, Bond wears a suit and even bad guys wear uniforms or suits. You have smooth talking Bond (shaken, not stirred) and the equally smooth talking mastermind. In a mix of kung-fu and gun shootouts, the action is driven usually in chase scenes, eventually coming to car chases. Faced paced cuts and typical "action cutting" applies.

Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian Scifi

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Terminator Series	Mad Max Series	Waterworld

A human character lives on after the destruction of society, whether physically or physiologically. He usually has experienced the apocalypse (John Connor/Max). Most post-apocalyptic films comment upon the negative effects of advancing technology. For example, in Terminator the “Machines” have taken over the world, criticising our over reliance on machines. In “The Road Warrior” man’s increasing reliance on oil caused a nuclear holocaust and alternatively in Waterworld pollution caused the polar ice caps to melt. Post-Apocolyptia films also usually deliver uplifting moral lessons of sacrifice such as Max sacrificing himself to the raiders to draw them from the people with gas, or Sam Worthington in Terminator Salvation giving his heart to John Connor or the T-100 in T2. Some even “provide a 'how-to' in terms of survival skills.” In these types of films, there is usually a main character with some knowledge or something that differentiates him form everyone else. In Mad Max, Max was once a police officer and the gyro captain can fly in his small helicopter. In Waterworld Kevin Costner can breathe underwater and in Terminator John Connor is part off a prophesy and thus can not die because he must fulfill the future. Most of these films have large-scale special effects. A persevering hero or heroine called upon to lead the struggle against the threat, and many plot-lines affecting multiple characters. In many cases," the 'evil' or 'selfish' individuals are the first to succumb to the effects" of the Apocalypse .(Greencine)

Vietnam Era War Films

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Apocalypse Now	Full Metal Jacket	The 9th Company

Many Vietnam war era films are actually anti-war films. Even movies like “Alien” made around the same time were symbolic of the war influenced by current ideals, in Aliens, marines in a foreign land fight a hidden enemy in a freaky grizzled environment. In contemporary war films, the plot usually follows a main character who is called to fight in a war that he is at first enthusiastic about but later he realizes he does not want to fight any longer. It seems to be a cliche when a character talks about his life before or after the war, he usually will die very soon, unless he is the main character in the beginning and middle of the plot. Uusually, a group is either left to make a last stand or In war movies, characters are usually classified by the gun they carry, such as  in Full Metal Jacket, the character with the heavy machine gun is a blunt, crude typical "muscle" character. Military dress also classifies characters, especially in Vietnam films. Characters with no sleeves and just vest and muscle are usually the experiencede members of the squad, and ones with alot of gear are usually the rookies. I included "The 9th Company" despite that it was a recent film because it is based on the same era as the Vietnam films. As for camera and cutting, War films tend to use gritty, shaky cameras adn fast custs to accentuate action.

A Character in Time: Jeff Williams, Watch Store Clerk

Jeffery Renaynay Williams always hated time. To be more precise, he hated his constant lack of time. Jeff was mildly wealthy, but greedy man. He was so caught up in his work he barely spent any time on anything, or anyone, else in his day. Ironically enough, Jeff was also owns a watch store. One day, by chance he meets a old man who wishes to see his watches. Jeff is really stressed but reluctantly says OK.  After looking a lot at his watches, the man utters but one reply: “I see you have watches, but do you have the time?” After looking at the man strangely, Jeff is bewildered and thus buries himself back into his paper work.

Hours later Jeff sees the man has returned. “Have you got the time?” asks the old man. “Yea.. 7:50. If all you’re going to do is stand around and waste my time, don’t. Got it?” “JEFFERY WILLIAMS. YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR TEST.” “What test?” “The test to become a Master of Time.” “The test to become a Master of Time?” Jeff then had the divine revelation that he never spends enough time with his family. He has a flashback to when he was raised with 6 siblings in a bad part of town. Then he has a flashback about his wife and child, who is growing up without a father (Jeff lives somewhere else because of his job most of the year). He realizes that he should stop worrying about money so much. He thinks that maybe if he hadn’t learned, they would have to go on this whole adventure with chase scenes and action, with a  subplot about side characters romance, but dismissed the idea as childish play, and shooed the man from the store.

He moral is don’t spend all your time worrying about money. Greed is a bad habit that is hard to loose.