Monday, September 14, 2009
Media Arts and My Goal
Its hard to say what I had in mind when I suddenly decided to take the media arts course. Maybe its possible that I wasn't really thinking and just decided that the course sounded like fun and I would take it. What probably did go on in my mind was that I liked art and especially flawless art like the graphics of movies and video games. Media Arts is like combining the art which I so much appreciate and the media which makes it flawless like in movies. Knowing this, I probably took the course because I wanted to create that kind of art. Therefore, my goals for this course would probably be to learn digital art and editing, to learn something that may serve to help me in the future designing game graphics or adding special effects to movies whether it is professional or just a home made video.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Subtext of the Media
The media often use sly techniques to get a consumer to bend to their will. Despite the fact that sometimes it is a mutual benefit, a good amount of the time it is completely unnecessary and just a scam. Some of the things that the media do may be very interesting, unique, and awe inspiring. However some other ones are just despicable. Those just make you, the viewers, angry and insulted even. A while since the women's rights movement, there has been less commercials which may depict the female gender as needy or even stereotypically bad. Instead they, the commercial cartographers moved on to make men the stereotypically needy and, in general, bad. Not that anyone should be put into a needy and bad category, but if they need to do so in order to send the commercial message around, they should do it evenly. The only difference that they made was now that women are not mistreated on commercials, they just got left out on some key parts.
Yes, this may appear to some as a very keen perspective. Actually, all this idea derived from thinking in depth after a very well prepared presentation by a inspiring media developer. It is interesting that some of the most cutest most inocent commercials have subtext that may in turn make them despicable to their audience. Now when I view commercials I often take a moment to think about the subtext of what its trying to say and take a further look at it. However, most of the time I still will ignore it. :)
Yes, this may appear to some as a very keen perspective. Actually, all this idea derived from thinking in depth after a very well prepared presentation by a inspiring media developer. It is interesting that some of the most cutest most inocent commercials have subtext that may in turn make them despicable to their audience. Now when I view commercials I often take a moment to think about the subtext of what its trying to say and take a further look at it. However, most of the time I still will ignore it. :)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Another Beginning!
Well, I have moved on from grade 11 media arts to the grade 12 counterpart called interdiciplinary studies. Our first task in this class was to find out what type of learner we are and which part of the multiple intelligences catergory do we fit in. Well, after doing a abundance of questions to reach an accurate result, I realized with the help of these programs that I am average in about all of these. However, some of the factors pionted out to the kind of learner I really am. For example, my most prominent learning skill is mathematical and logical, my visual spacial is pretty strong too. This made me feel good because I really like the aspects of learning and maybe that is why I am this type of learner. Although I have to say I am a bit disappionted because I also wanted to be a musical rythmitical learner too. I am although satisfied that it is my third strongest learning method despite its close proximity with the other learning habits.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Short Film Project for Media Arts
Lately, in our media arts class, we have started an assignment where our objective is to create a short film anywhere from 3-7 minutes long. The goal was to make it effective yet silent, quite a challenging task. Due to the many technological inconveniences, out group as well as many other groups experienced a slow down in progress. However, it seems that we have pulled through and will be finishing by the deadline.
At the beginning of the project, my contribution was not huge seeing I was neither the camera man nor any of the two leading actors. However, I tried to join as many background scenes as I can. It is ironic that it just so happens that the scenes which I participated in were retook at another time and I unfortunately was not in it. Later, our main actor needed to do a trick stunt which involves flicking a pen around his finger which is a common act but hard to accomplish. There I put my skills to test being the only person who did that I quickly received the role of the stunt man but to be honest there weren’t many stunts.
From watching the camera man I learned how to maneuver the camera and I asked questions when in doubt. During the finalizing of our project, I became more useful and had more roles. I helped to edit the film but everyone participated in that one. Also, I was a contributor to the workbooks but everyone had to do their part for that too. The major part I did was that I was the main designer of the poster; however, another individual did help me innovate it a bit and add the ever so important script at the bottom to make it look professional.
In the process of evaluating my group, I will keep my associates unnamed. My group worked well overall and accordingly. The camera man was mainly done by one person but several other people helped with it a lot. Although everyone was not needed in the film, the rest either watched to see if the can play side rolls, helped with the camera positioning or worked on their blogs. The joy of editing was shared with everyone. The group worked on the workbook in an orderly manner and the parts were divided equally among members based on what they already did.
I have high hopes for this project seeing as everyone worked really hard and we truly feel that we did a great job. As they say, an honest hour of work for an honest buck.
At the beginning of the project, my contribution was not huge seeing I was neither the camera man nor any of the two leading actors. However, I tried to join as many background scenes as I can. It is ironic that it just so happens that the scenes which I participated in were retook at another time and I unfortunately was not in it. Later, our main actor needed to do a trick stunt which involves flicking a pen around his finger which is a common act but hard to accomplish. There I put my skills to test being the only person who did that I quickly received the role of the stunt man but to be honest there weren’t many stunts.
From watching the camera man I learned how to maneuver the camera and I asked questions when in doubt. During the finalizing of our project, I became more useful and had more roles. I helped to edit the film but everyone participated in that one. Also, I was a contributor to the workbooks but everyone had to do their part for that too. The major part I did was that I was the main designer of the poster; however, another individual did help me innovate it a bit and add the ever so important script at the bottom to make it look professional.
In the process of evaluating my group, I will keep my associates unnamed. My group worked well overall and accordingly. The camera man was mainly done by one person but several other people helped with it a lot. Although everyone was not needed in the film, the rest either watched to see if the can play side rolls, helped with the camera positioning or worked on their blogs. The joy of editing was shared with everyone. The group worked on the workbook in an orderly manner and the parts were divided equally among members based on what they already did.
I have high hopes for this project seeing as everyone worked really hard and we truly feel that we did a great job. As they say, an honest hour of work for an honest buck.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
REEL CANADA
Well, in the past week or two I have finally been to the REEL CANADA and had an overall wonderful experience. It was very blatant that it was really well organized. The staff handed out tickets at the beginning to everyone. In the morning I was to watch the movie 'Siblings' and in the afternoon I was to watch the movie 'Bon Cop Bad Cop.'
The movies were really interesting in various ways but what I really enjoyed was the afternoon movie. It was really amusing as opposed to the suspenseful morning movie. Also I guess I am not really the morning movie person. Before the initiation of the actual movies, we went through a few minor films done by various individuals whom had a set base budget. Although the films were not top notch, they were generally entertaining, especially the interesting ideas of those individuals. I am sure they could have done a spectacular job with more funds. The first movie I saw was in the morning and it was 'Siblings.' Keep in mind that I saw it in the MORNING meaning that it does not have the same appeal to me. Overall it was a great movie, lots of suspense and mystery. The acting was pretty good too, or at least I thought so. However, despite the effectiveness of the script in telling this dramatic story in such a dramatic way, it was kind over decorated with the "Vibrant language" which in my opinion was really useless.
In the afternoon after our lunch break, yes, they let us out to have lunch in between, I saw 'Bon Cop Bad Cop which I have to say was really good and it contained a good portion of humor to keep me entertained.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Part (I)
This is a wonderful movie that parallels the story of Odysseus. However, the twist that was added was that the heroes are actually 3 criminals who escaped from prison.
My favorite part of the film is near the end. When Everett and his mates were about to be hanged for their crimes despite their pardon from the Governor, Everett goes upon one knee to pray sincerely to God although with an improvised speech. The hysterical result, a flood wave coming from a breaking damn, saves them and brings the ring which Everett was searching to him. The reason I liked this part so much was how ironic it was and how it was really unexpected.
The main characters of this movie was George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and Charles Durning.
George Clooney who was acting as Everett was a very interesting character. He put up a well display of a proud man as well as clever and cunning. He is also a director as well as a producer and screen writer. He participates in a wide variety of movies and I think that aside from comedy which he does very well, he is also great at serious characters.
Tim Blake Nelson acted as Delmar in this movie. Delmar is a really dorky character and he did a fabulous job of portraying such a character. He is also a director as well as an actor. He has done quite a bit of movies from the 1992 to 2000. His career is just starting but it seems to be in a broad range. He does a really good impersonation of not so bright characters like he did also in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.
John Turturro was the one who acted as Pete in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' His acting was superb. He did an excellent job playing the role of Pete, an honest man who isn't the smartest person one would meet. This character was interesting because he sounded smart but his tone and behavior all pointed to the opposite. John Turturro does a lot of acting in all sorts of different films as well as television shows.
John Goodman was the parallel to the Cyclops in Odysseus. He wore an eye patch and was called Big Dan. In the story he tricked Everett and Delmor and robbed them. The acting of a mean brute was really realistic. He acted in a variety of movies in a lot of view points such as some of the jolliest people in children films.
Holly Hunter was Everett's wife in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'She acted as the demanding person which is the cause of all Everett's troubles. She acts as well as produces movies. Her acting is very interesting seeing as how she completely changes into the character that she is portraying.
Charles Durning was the Governor by the name of Pappy" O'Daniel in this movie. I think his acting was wonderful especially the random outbursts of anger he showed to his supporters. He did many other acts aside from this one in many other movies and in movies coming up such as 'A Bunch of Amateurs' His acts in a wide range of films.
At the beginning of the movie, the lifeless golden green colours give the nice effect of the southern plantations. It showed really well what the slaves are trying to escape from, the hard work and the heat. When our heroes near the cities or are supposed to be around more populated areas, the scenery changed to a more vibrant colour such as deeper more luscious greens which symbolizes more water and sort of a paradise.
This movie uses a lot of things similar to parodies but not always so. For example they made similarities between Odysseus such as the Sirens. They also used the Cyclops from Odysseus too. How our criminal heroes of the story followed a road was really a an example of Dorothy following the yellow brick road from the 'Wizard of Oz.' The part where Pete was believed to be turned into a toad resembled slightly with the fairy tale of the frog prince. The Blind Prophet relates to many characters in many stories as the wise one. He could be compared to the sorting hat in 'Harry potter,' and the good witch in 'Wizard of Oz.'
It is unfortunate to say that i have not watched any other Coen Brothers Movies, however I plan to watch 'Gates of Eden' for a start and then some more. I really enjoyed the music from the movie. It was a really good fit because it suited all the scenes. The songs were the ones which one would sing together with other people around a campfire. It was probably chosen to bring up the image of a journey, a trek, that will take many days.
My favorite part of the film is near the end. When Everett and his mates were about to be hanged for their crimes despite their pardon from the Governor, Everett goes upon one knee to pray sincerely to God although with an improvised speech. The hysterical result, a flood wave coming from a breaking damn, saves them and brings the ring which Everett was searching to him. The reason I liked this part so much was how ironic it was and how it was really unexpected.
The main characters of this movie was George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and Charles Durning.
George Clooney who was acting as Everett was a very interesting character. He put up a well display of a proud man as well as clever and cunning. He is also a director as well as a producer and screen writer. He participates in a wide variety of movies and I think that aside from comedy which he does very well, he is also great at serious characters.
Tim Blake Nelson acted as Delmar in this movie. Delmar is a really dorky character and he did a fabulous job of portraying such a character. He is also a director as well as an actor. He has done quite a bit of movies from the 1992 to 2000. His career is just starting but it seems to be in a broad range. He does a really good impersonation of not so bright characters like he did also in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.
John Turturro was the one who acted as Pete in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' His acting was superb. He did an excellent job playing the role of Pete, an honest man who isn't the smartest person one would meet. This character was interesting because he sounded smart but his tone and behavior all pointed to the opposite. John Turturro does a lot of acting in all sorts of different films as well as television shows.
John Goodman was the parallel to the Cyclops in Odysseus. He wore an eye patch and was called Big Dan. In the story he tricked Everett and Delmor and robbed them. The acting of a mean brute was really realistic. He acted in a variety of movies in a lot of view points such as some of the jolliest people in children films.
Holly Hunter was Everett's wife in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'She acted as the demanding person which is the cause of all Everett's troubles. She acts as well as produces movies. Her acting is very interesting seeing as how she completely changes into the character that she is portraying.
Charles Durning was the Governor by the name of Pappy" O'Daniel in this movie. I think his acting was wonderful especially the random outbursts of anger he showed to his supporters. He did many other acts aside from this one in many other movies and in movies coming up such as 'A Bunch of Amateurs' His acts in a wide range of films.
At the beginning of the movie, the lifeless golden green colours give the nice effect of the southern plantations. It showed really well what the slaves are trying to escape from, the hard work and the heat. When our heroes near the cities or are supposed to be around more populated areas, the scenery changed to a more vibrant colour such as deeper more luscious greens which symbolizes more water and sort of a paradise.
This movie uses a lot of things similar to parodies but not always so. For example they made similarities between Odysseus such as the Sirens. They also used the Cyclops from Odysseus too. How our criminal heroes of the story followed a road was really a an example of Dorothy following the yellow brick road from the 'Wizard of Oz.' The part where Pete was believed to be turned into a toad resembled slightly with the fairy tale of the frog prince. The Blind Prophet relates to many characters in many stories as the wise one. He could be compared to the sorting hat in 'Harry potter,' and the good witch in 'Wizard of Oz.'
It is unfortunate to say that i have not watched any other Coen Brothers Movies, however I plan to watch 'Gates of Eden' for a start and then some more. I really enjoyed the music from the movie. It was a really good fit because it suited all the scenes. The songs were the ones which one would sing together with other people around a campfire. It was probably chosen to bring up the image of a journey, a trek, that will take many days.
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