Queen Muppets

Here's a awesome short film that a former student, Kelli Krysh, sent me that her company, Soapbox Films, worked on to commemorates the anniversary of Queen front man, Freddy Mercury's death from AIDs. They shot it in 1 day using 79 muppets and 53 different setups- impressive!! It's great to see students graduate and do what they love!

Typography Animation

This week we will be working on an animation using only typography. Each of you will create your own font and use it to create an animated 30 second film. Here are a few films for inspiration.


Kinetic Typography created by Johnny Lee


Haiku- "The Morning Paper Harbinger of good and ill I step over it"


Ratatat music video by Olivier Beaudoin


"abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz" by Roel Wouters

The Graduate

Write a two page critique the film The Graduate and explore its major themes. State the themes and how well you feel they were addressed in the film using examples from the film to prove your point. Make sure to answer all the additional questions below and conclude the critique with a summation of the cinematic elements and their effect in this film. This essay should be at least two and one half complete pages.

Due: Friday November 6

Character:
• How did Benjamin evolve throughout the film?
• What type of mental state is Ben in the beginning of the film?
• Why does Ben stagnate and how does it change? What is he like at the end of the film?
• What effect did his affair have on his mental state?
• Can you relate to the characters? Are they realistic?
• Was the affair a positive or negative influence on his life?
• What was his and Mrs.Robinson’s motivation for having an affair?
• What was the attraction to Elaine based on? Does he really love Elaine?

Production:
• What type of camera work did the director use in the film?
• How did the editing help tell the story and let you know how the characters were feeling?
• How does the director use darkness and shadow in this film?
• Why was sound so important in this film?
• How was the dialogue in the film different than other films we have seen so far?
• What different techniques did the director use with the actor’s dialogue?
• How well does Nichol’s use of sound vs. visuals help the film and tell the story?
• What effect did the soundtrack have on the film?

Screenwriting Hints

Now that you've begun to write your screenplays here's some advice from a professional screenwriter. Also here's a link to a helpful website to help you write your screenplays: Script Frenzy

Hamptons International Film Festival

This weekend we will be volunteering at the Hamptons International Film Festival in East Hampton. If your application was sent in early enough you should've received a phone call but I'll post up a note tomorrow for any students who are unsure if they were accepted or not. The big film this year is the premiere of Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus which is Heath Ledger's final film which has Heath, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law all playing the same role (due to his death). Remember to dress appropriately and enjoy the films! I'll see you out there (I'm sure you can find me at Starbucks on Main Street if I'm not around).

* An update to any of my students who are waiting to hear about volunteering out there- last I heard is that they are full so if you didn't receive a phonecall there is likely no room- if you are going to head out and give it a try anyway I suggest buying some film tickets in advance so you can at least grab a seat for a film and try to make the Master Cinematography class which is free and open to the public.

Elephant Man

Final Paper due June 11

In the paper you should critique the film, state and discuss what you believe the theme of the film is, and compare and contrast the characters of Dr. Treves with Mr. Bytes.

American Graffiti

American Graffiti was a movie that was loaded with popular music as it followed a group of high school students hanging out (which has been endlessly copied). How did the music play a role in helping the viewer understand the film? Compare and comtrast the 4 different main characters and how their stories anchor the structure of the film.

The Graduate

Write a two page critique the film The Graduate and explore its major themes. State the themes and how well you feel they were addressed in the film using examples from the film to prove your point. Make sure to answer all the additional questions below and conclude the critique with a summation of the cinematic elements and their effect in this film. This essay should be at least two and one half complete pages.

Character:
• How did Benjamin evolve throughout the film?
• What type of mental state is Ben in the beginning of the film?
• Why does Ben stagnate and how does it change? What is he like at the end of the film?
• What effect did his affair have on his mental state?
• Can you relate to the characters? Are they realistic?
• Was the affair a positive or negative influence on his life?
• What was his and Mrs.Robinson’s motivation for having an affair?
• What was the attraction to Elaine based on? Does he really love Elaine?

Production:
• What type of camera work did the director use in the film?
• How did the editing help tell the story and let you know how the characters were feeling?
• How does the director use darkness and shadow in this film?
• Why was sound so important in this film?
• How was the dialogue in the film different than other films we have seen so far?
• What different techniques did the director use with the actor’s dialogue?
• How well does Nichol’s use of sound vs. visuals help the film and tell the story?
• What effect did the soundtrack have on the film?

All About Eve

Paper due: Monday 5.11.2009 (Typed, double-spaced, and fantastic)

It began as a story in Cosmo and went on to take the record for the most Academy Award nominations ever with 14, All About Eve was a phenomenon. In this paper you should critique the film All About Eve. Pay special attention to the development of the characters and the dialogue, writing, and plot. Compare the film and it's writing to the previous films along with the acting- how did it advance the medium at all? Use the information you know from class about critiquing films and discuss each of the different elements. In order to support your criticism you must site scenes from the films.

If you base any of your information on outside sources you must include a bibliography. You may also use films that you have seen previously in class to help discuss these works.

Here's a cover of "Bette Davis Eyes" by Gwyneth Paltrow from the film "Duets". (Bette was nominated for 10 Oscars in her career and won 2).

Me and Orson Welles

Now that we've finished Citizen Kane I thought I'd share this film clip from the film Me and Orson Welles which comes out later this year. The film was directed by Richard Linklater who we spoke about earlier this year and stars Zac Efron as an up and coming actor that works with Welles in the early days in theater.

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane sélectionné dans Cinéma et Ciné Documentaire

Citizen Kane
Due: Tuesday April 22
The paper should be two pages.

In this paper you should explore the making of Citizen Kane and how it reflects upon the film. What was your reaction to the film? Orson Wells adapted the life of William Randolf Herst and mixed it with his own to create the title character. What do you think about the character of Kane? What about the supporting characters? Critique the cinematography and technical aspects of the film- how do they support the film? What about the film was groundbreaking in cinema? Do you agree with its place in the “film canon” or do you think it’s overhyped? Use the nine different elements of film we discussed in the last project and use them to critique the film.

In order to support your criticism you must site scenes from the films. If you base any of your information on outside sources (including the internet) you must include a bibliography. You may also use films that you have seen outside of class to help discuss these works. If you have any specific questions please ask me or e-mail me at the school (tneedles@smithtown.k12.ny.us)

Orson Welles: the man, the myth, the brain

I hope everyone learned something about William Randolf Hearst and Orson Welles this week. Here's a clip of the classic Pinky and the Brain reference to Citizen Kane (of course the Brain is based mostly on Welles). Have a great vacation!

Film History: Modern Times

Modern Times- Paper (2 pages, typed, double-spaced)
Due: Tuesday March 31 2009

"I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician."

In this paper you should address two major topics:
• The physical comedy of Charlie Chaplin and how it translated to different audiences
• The political and social effects and repercussions of the film.

Discuss these two topics to the best of your knowledge using the sources viewed in class as well as any outside sources you want to include. Why did Chaplin decide to use sound the way he did in the film? What is the theme of the film, and how was it shown? Why do you think Chaplin wanted to address the social themes and industry? Please do not include a great deal of plot outline, rather tackle the two topics at hand and give your comment on them in an intelligent way.

If you base any of your information on outside sources (including the internet) you must include quotes and a bibliography. The paper should be two pages, typed, and double-spaced.

Film History: The Jazz Singer

"Toot, Toot, Tootsie" Al Jolson 1927


Paper due: Tuesday March 24, 2009 (2 pages, typed, double-spaced)

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain't heard nothin' yet!"

In this paper you should focus on discussing the core themes of the Jazz Singer in addition to critiquing the basic elements of the film. Please discuss the main themes of the film and give your comment on them in an intelligent way making sure to talk about the filmmaker’s choice of using blackface for the main character at times. The film was as big a technological achievement as the film was a commercial and critical success- how did you feel about the film? In modern day elements how might the film be handled? What type of performer would the main character be? Is the theme still relevant today?

If you base any of your information on outside sources (including the internet) you must include quotes and list your sources in a bibliography.

Strictly Students Film Festival Call for Entries 2009

Typography Animation

This week we will be working on an animation using only typography. Each of you will create your own font and use it to create an animated 30 second film. Here are a few films for inspiration.


Kinetic Typography created by Johnny Lee


Haiku- "The Morning Paper Harbinger of good and ill I step over it"


Ratatat music video by Olivier Beaudoin


"abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz" by Roel Wouters

More student pixelations

Here's a few more great examples of student pixelations.

Student Pixelations

Here's a good example of pixelations from students.

Media Arts- Project 1: Pixelation

Welcome to all the incoming media art and film students! Our first assignment is a Pixilation that needs to be at least 30 seconds and it will be due Friday February 13. The final films can be handed in on disk, DVD or CD or you can post them on Youtube of Vimeo if you want. Below are some cool examples for inspiration.


This is a cool example for anyone who loves old school video games.


This is an insane example that appears to be done with cloth.


Here's the classic video by director Stephen R. Johnson for Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer. It features animation from Aardman Animations and the Brothers Quay.


This is a cool video from Radiohead (you have to give them credit for always putting out interesting videos).