Film Research - The Interview

The Interview is an action/comedy; however, the film also satirizes how Korea's dictator, Kim Jong Un is a child-man and not fit to rule a country. The film is savagely satirical, they use two ignorant people who want to prove themselves in the world, as well as Kim Jong Un who wants to prove himself to his father. However, they don't need to prove anything in life and the two men should have known the way to fame is not with an infamous leader. The films first two minutes show a young Korean girl - in a full frame shot - singing a song - then zooms out to show a vast crowd. She is singing about how she hopes for the United States to perish and die and for her leader to prosper. This expresses an exaggerated belief of some Koreans as well as their leader. Thus, it is satirical when the two American men decide to visit the dictator of Korea themselves. The budget for the film was 44 mil. with a x0.3 worldwide box office revenue. The film won the awards: the Golden Schmoes Awards, the Golden Trailer Awards, the MTV Movie + TV Awards, and the Publicists Guild of America.

Film Research - Attack the Block

The 2011 film Attack the Block is a satire. The opening credits shown is the films production company. The first two minutes show a woman talking to her mother on the phone through crowded and some rundown streets. The atmospheric music being played is light and suspenseful making the scenes eerie. The lighting is darker due to the time of night. They utilize jump cuts to go through different wide and aerial shots. The first two minutes set the scene for the movie which goes into the deeper inner working of a neighborhood and some underprivileged forgotten children. The production budget is 13 mil. and the box office revenue was x0.5 this number. The movie's awards include the BAFTA Awards, the Austin Film Critics Association, the B-Movie Film Festival, the Black Film Critics Circle Awards, the Black Reel Awards, the British Independent Film Awards, the Central Ohio Film Critics Association, the Empire Awards, UK, the Evening Standard British Film Awards and so on. 

Film Research - Frailty

The film Frailty is a mystery/drama. The films intro showed newspapers, dead bodies and some of the setting. It gives me the impression of an impact on the community; which is curiosity. The community wants to know who is murdering people, as well as why someone could do something so cynical. The shots make up the mis-en-scene and are close up and edited to make it look like the time period and to also appear mysterious because the director didn't show a larger shot. The films budget was 11 million and had a box office revenue of 17.4 million. The film also won an award for best screenplay.

Film Research - Doubt

The film Doubt - made in 2008 and set in 1964 - is in the adaption and drama genre. The job titles featured in the intro is merely the film company introducing the title. The story shows a Nun who forms a crusade against a fellow priest because of a rumor and doubt. The first minute of the intro shows two establishing shots; one of a street with a few cars and one of a church garden - both of which did not have people. During this shot there are three ominous beats on top of light ominous music as well as quiet chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves falling. Thus giving a feel of serenity and mysteriousness through the establishing shots of the town. Then in the next minute the music turns cheerful as a close up shot of a stringed instrument is shown. A mother wakes her son up for service at their church. As he leaves their home, the man playing the instrument - outside their home on the street- asks the young boy to get him the newspaper and a pack of cigarettes but the boy tells him he's got to be a service boy today. This displays a connection between family and within the community through the young boy, the old man, and the mother. The budget for the movie is 20 million and the revenue was 50.9 million. The movie also received four awards - The Critics' Choice for Movie Awards, The Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, The National Board of Review Award for Best Cast, and The Washington D.C Area Film Critics Association for Best Ensemble.

Film Research - District 9

The film District 9 is satirizing how the human race can treat others less than because of assumptions. The film uses aliens to demonstrate the minority group in this film. The intro shows the humans breaking into their ship and then "helping" them with camps (District 9). They use wide shots and aerial shots mainly in the intro, making the scenes feel monumental and important. The job titles featured are the director, his company and the film company - very simple. The box office made a revenue of 120.8 million and the budget was merely 30 million, making an incredible profit most likely because the film is eye-opening. The film was awarded the Ray Bradbury award - for the dramatic film - and the Critic's choice movie award for makeup.

Project Selection - My Decision

Although a magazine would be fun to layout, plan, and read afterwards, the film option allows me to deliver a message, per say how I feel through film. I am doing the film myself as it will be fun to direct and choose my actors and places to shoot. I believe I will be able to prepare a script, efficiently use my time and my actors time, and then have enough time to enjoy editing my film. I will also take extra takes to ensure I have all the footage I need. My film will most likely be titled, "Grounded" and will demonstrate someone who loses their sense of own self. This film will either be in the paranoid fiction genre or a satire. I believe I can make a better, more entertaining presentation with a film rather than a magazine.

Project Selection - Film

The film option allows me to express my own thoughts or feelings through actions rather than words. I feel I can produce a more powerful impact or message through film. When not directly stated, the viewer can see how the film connects to our daily lives. "Ferris Bueller" shows how you can have fun with your film. The different scenes and actors personalities inspired me to do a film of my own. "The Newsroom" showed me how to create build-up and drama, something I believe will be needed when making my short film. The film could be a challenge when I try finding actors and locations to film at.

Project Selection - Magazine

The film "Nixon and All the Presidents Men" showed me the importance of the media for exposing wrong-doings to the public. The film "Newsroom" showed me the scarcity of un-bias media. I feel real un-bias media is crucial to help people grasp the truth aside from their personal beliefs or morals. If I were to do a magazine I would like to shed light on a topic that people otherwise might not learn. The magazine option would be less entertaining for me because you are blatantly setting out information or explaining; however, magazines do neatly share knowledge and allow for creativity through words. I would be interested in doing a magazine if I were to do it on mental health and wellness. The magazine could include meditation practices, skincare, quotations from people who have struggled with mental illnesses, herbal healing, and yoga exercises. I would enjoy to write and spread knowledge on these topics; however, the film option has limitless topics and ideas I could express through film as well as allows for total creativity.