Our Show

Kennedy's Press Conference was a success! (Just wanted to start off my post with something happy!)

 

This whole week has been quite hectic due to the fact that we have all been scrambling about trying to piece our morning show together. Ever since last week, we all have been putting forth creative ideas that we believe will set our morning show apart from all the rest and truly be entertaining. However, with so many new ideas bouncing back and forth, we only succeeded in complicating the whole show although we had less than one week to prepare for it. I believe this was caused by all the excitement we all had since we have been waiting for this day ever since the first day of film I class back in 10th grade. Eventually we all settled down and came up with something quite simple yet fun and effective-a press conference.

 

Through the press conference, we were able to manipulate the order of the topics/segments while still maintaining a sense of mysteriousness as a method to prevent from saying too much about next year's show.

 

 

Spencer, Jachelle, and I were responsible for the script which was not as challenging as we first assumed. We first needed to gather all the information together and truly organize it so the script could flow easily rather than have it be a sloppy mess filled with all sorts of random information. As soon as we established the beginning, everything else seemed to flow and a few minor edits later, we had our very first morning show script.

 

Filming the actual show was also a bit harder though. We all quickly had to rearrange the tables and set aside all of our backpacks while others worked on designing the set. Other than a few minor complications, we managed pretty well and immediately began filming our show. Although there were mistakes made, (including me speaking too fast at times due to my jittery but happy nerves), we all got back on track and got through the whole show with little obstacles.

 

Today showed me just how much fun film class truly is because it offers so much. I honestly cannot wait until next year to create even more shows and captivate the Kennedy audience!

 

 

Twisted Minds

'Creative Minds' was suppose to be the title of our project; however, that all went down today--literally. Halfway during our live show, the letter that we so carefully strung up in the background somehow loosened and came tumbling down. Immediately, everyone became frantic and began to scramble towards the letters, desperately attempting to somehow reposition the letters. Yet, it proved to be a difficult task for the letters continued to fall and with the time against us, we simply decided it was not worth it. So we took down all the tape and the letters and set them aside and focused on the actual show instead. This little problem occurred halfway during the show...we had other difficulties before that.

 

 

As I was setting up my camera, I realized that my head set was not working. I first I thought it was a minor glitch until I kept trying and realized it just would not operate. Patricia, one of the floor managers, also tried to help in discovering what the actual problem was but it seemed to be out of our hands. When we informed Mr. Lemos about this small predicament, he suggested changing the batteries, which gave us hope of finding a solution. However, even after we changed the batteries, the head set still did not work and so I began to panic a bit more because then I would not have a method in which to communicate with my other group members. The situation could not be helped though and so I had manage my camera and whole show without a head set. Although it seemed like a big problem at first, it soon became very manageable because the shot list was well done and easy to follow or I simply looked over at Laura and Jose and took note of their own camera movements and their actions served like a guide.

 

 

Jose and I also had to switch cameras although such an action did not bother either of us because it was an easy task to tackle. We simply had to follow a new set of instructions but that was all right because we both already knew the workings of our show.

 

 

In the end, our live show was a bit more hectic and confusing than I thought it would be because there was so much going on. Although each of our group members knew what to do after careful practices and observations, it was still a bit of a challenge because it was our first time doing something so new and exciting. However, with further practices, I am sure we will all master this new setup and be completely prepared for next year!



Crazy Cameras

This week has been hectic because we have been learning so much in film class! However, I truly enjoy it because it's challenging that allows us to experience something new.

 

 In my case, since I am going to operate camera three, I will have the chance to learn how to follow a shot list that is out of order as I attempt to balance everything else. Although I am a bit nervous that I will somehow make a mistake, I am confident in my group members and they will help me if I ask.

 

Another part that I enjoyed about this week was all the new information about lighting and setting it up. Before, lighting was simply another tool that could easily help yet now it has taken a whole new meaning because now lighting is essential for conveying a certain message. It now helps to emphasize certain aspects in a project, or in this case, it will help to bring focus to the decorated set and other small tasks during close ups.

 

I also like this project because I will be operating a camera for the whole time which has never happened before because I am usually in charge of a job that is mainly aimed towards pre-production. However, with this project, I will have complete control and freedom (well, sort of) of the camera and I cannot wait for that because it's something that I have been looking forward to.

 

Our group has also agreed to get everything organized as soon as possible and rehearse before the our actual date so that we may have a good look at what we are doing exactly.

 

Overall, I am excited about this project and I hope everything turns out well!

 

 

 

 

 

P.S I like these chips but cookies are better.

New Adventure

This week in film class, we learned how to write a two column script for the first time. This new type of script was used to write out our "How To Video" treatment and make it more solid. Although I had heard about two column scripts before, I did not really have much experience with writing one until recently. At first, it was a bit challenging because I had never done this sort of task and so I kept wondering if I was doing it right or if I was completely off.

 

 Mostly, I worried about the length because I did not want it to be over the time limit. I kept adding dialogue and so I was concerned that the length of conversation would ultimately be too much but it was something that I needed to add because the conversation provided necessary explanations for the task at hand. But all my worries were mainly about the more technical elements involving the script rather than the actual writing part.

 

However, I enjoyed writing the dialogue because it was rather something easy to do considering that the conversation had to be natural and smooth as possible. Another aspect that was easy to complete were the needed steps that to be shown. Since we had already written our treatments with the steps, it was easy to then transfer them onto the script.

 

Another interesting part this week was learning how to shoot a live show using three cameras. There is so much work involved, yet it is quite exciting because it is something new and fun.

This new lesson has only made me realize how much I truly enjoy film class and so I cannot wait until next year when this lesson transforms into something normal and routine to be done every week. It feels that the last two years of film went by so quickly and now we have to be ready how to manage this new task.

 

I especially like the fact that this new project holds various components so that others can pick and choose what they want to do. Since each part, from talent to floor manager, is so different, it allows for each person to experience something new so it will never get boring or simple.

 

However, this also showed me the great importance of teamwork. Although there are several different elements to this new project, each part relies on another part to be completed. Due to this, each person must fully understand what he is responsible for and complete his job well.

 

This whole project relies heavily on teamwork but I believe in everyone so this project, and the whole of next year, will be amazing. 

Finn Readies for the Final Goodbye

It appears that I have officially developed a love-hate relationship with this project of ours.

 

I did not realize how difficult the whole process was actually going to be until we hit the 'record' button. From the start, we knew this was not going to be easy due to the amount of dialogue, the length of the movie, and the fact that our actors were also students and had previous engagements to attend to. However, I still held out hope that everything would turn out all right and it somehow did.

 

When Ms. Blake could not be our actress, we quickly sprung into action and found a solution by asking Mrs. Kreiselman if she would like to fill in the spot. Not only did Mrs. Kreiselman agree to be our much needed principal, but she also did a magnificent job, taking the role very seriously and memorizing her lines perfectly. This wonderful turn of events quietly brought me inspiration because it made me believe that a situation that seemed hopeless could actually be fixed and become quite extraordinary.

 

So as Mrs. Kreiselman as our principal, we managed to successfully shoot the remaining scenes in our movie. This time, everyone took their jobs seriously and so we were able to finished within an hour which I consider an accomplishment because the scene is an extremely important part in our movie. 

 

As we filmed the scene, I also noticed the fact that we all of us come up with new and bright ideas right on the spot. Although we already have a list of the shots and angles we need, as we film, we end up adding extra stuff. Whether it's a new angle we want to try, or an extra insert shot, we never disappoint ourselves regarding creativity. It is because of these little bits that I enjoy film so much. By working in a group, each member is able to learn all sorts of new tricks from others which only helps them. These impulses are the best because it's evidence that we all still love film in spite of the stress that comes along with it.

 

Sure, we all stayed for hours after school, filming and editing like crazy. Sure, my group all stayed at my house for hours :). Sure sometimes crumpled under the stress, but I believe it will all be worth it because I feel like our completed project will be wonderful. 

This Endless Tangled Web

I love our film.

I love the shots.

 I love the story.

 

I don't love how the shooting schedule constantly needs to be changed because unexpected and extremely unwanted events continue to occur.

 I didn't love how we needed to find other students outside our film class to be our actors.

 

I think the two major problems with this film are the actors and the dialogue. This is the first time we have had to do a film that had so much witty dialogue scene after scene and so we did not know what to expect exactly. We were all prepared but we simply did not think that the heavy amount of dialogue would be such an obstacle. Sound is very important but it is such a difficult element to control when the scenes are shot outside mixed with all the quick conversations being held. Due to this, I feel like the dialogue really slowed our group down considering a lot of the scenes needed to be shot again and again and again in order to correctly capture the dialogue.  

 

Another problem we encountered was the fact that we had a very difficult time finding reliable actors for our film. All the people we knew were also students and so they had their own classes and obligations to complete which sometimes set our film back. Although our actors did take the film seriously, there were times in which they had other compromises or other schoolwork to complete and so we would lose multiple chances to film. But this is not their fault, but it is simply the way the world works, in the life of the a typical high school student.

 

However, I would like it if the students from the actual class were allowed to be actors again because it would be so much easier for everyone. The problem of finding other outside reliable students constantly plagues our group in so many different ways, so I believe it would be so much easier if the actors were already familiar and easy to reach.  

 

Another major problem our group encountered was the hectic schedule of the principal, Ms. Blake. She was suppose to be our actor, yet she had some unexpected incidents and so we were unable to shoot the two important scenes that involved her. Due to this, our whole shooting schedule had to be rearranged but matters became worse when Ms. Blake was unable to film again in the same week. Once again, everything was pushed back a day or two back, which does not seem like a big deal, but truly is, considering the deadline is almost here.

 

In spite of all the problems our group has had to face, I am really proud of them. They are always there, every day after school, ready to film which takes true dedication because it means we had to sacrifice valuable time that could be spent doing other homework or being with family.

 

In the end, I have hope that everything will turn out all right.

 
After all, I love our film.

I love the shots.

 I love the story.

And the Web Spins....

Our group has continued to produce our movie although it is proving to be a bit more difficult than we originally thought. We were faced with a new challenge: we had to find actors outside of the class. We had never been told to find actors outside the classroom and so it was a bit hard trying to find people who would be willing to do it and truly commit to the project.

 

However, we were lucky enough to find some of our friends from the architecture strand that were willing to do it. Maricruz and Wolfgang, our actors, really liked our script and put all their effort in memorizing their lines and embracing the characters.

 

Yet, actually filming the movie was a bit harder because we did not realize how much work it was truly going to take. Although we had a much bigger group, we also had a much bigger movie with a lot of dialogue. We had not done a movie like that in a really long time and so we had to try to find our pace which was a challenging task.

 

In spite of this, we continued on and Jose, Jachelle, and I worked on the shot list. We also edited some of our script because we realized we needed to make some changes to make the story flow better.

 

To me, this proves that bigger groups are beneficial because more minds can then contribute to the project so that better ideas are formed. 

Spinning Our Web

Our journey with writing our script still continues. Although such a task is relatively easy due to the fact that our treatment is rather informative, we still had a bit of trouble. We tended to write out every action rather than simply let the story flow. Yet, now that we know the problem, I feel like we will both do better.

 

Another problem we encountered was establishing the problem/challenge in Act I. Although Jachelle and I know what the problem is--our main character, Finn Grey, is a pushover and befriends the school loner--we did not know how to exactly transfer that onto the script. I feel like such a problem is too general and so it may be applied to the whole story rather than pertaining to Act I only. Jachelle and I will work even harder to ensure that our Act I will be excellent because that is the stepping stone for the following acts.

 

This is also a new experience because I do not think we have never been told to break apart our script. Usually, we write the whole script through and revise it later. However, by doing this instead, the process allows for growth because we are able to catch our mistakes before and avoid them later on. Yes, this includes rewriting and revising almost everything, but that is a very good thing actually, even if it is time-consuming. Like Mr. Lemos always says: writing is rewriting.

 

I also like how our teacher, Mr. Lemos, is personally helping us. By dividing us into groups of two, Mr. Lemos can then discuss our projects and truly give us helpful advice. This is really good because it gives us an opportunity to excel but at the same time, we can always ask for help and guidance.

 

Throughout this whole process however, I hate how Jachelle always has good ideas. She is constantly creating new and wonderful scenarios that only make our story more alive. I also hate how amazing she is when it comes to combining our different ideas which allows us to embellish our story, improving it. We work quite well together and I truly hope we end up in the same group in order to produce this film because I believe it will be extremely fun. 

 

Partners in Crime

It appears that this project has led to many surprises. Unlike other projects, this film noir event has a lot of planning associated with it which is actually very good. The treatments are constantly analyzed and rewritten while the ideas are changed again and again. Even though this process is a bit tedious, I have to admit that I enjoy it because it decreased the amount of sloppy errors that will be present in the final product. All this careful planning is only making our films better because we will not attack the project blindly, but rather have a strong guide.

 

I also liked doing beat sheets because it was something new that was introduced to us. The fact that we are always learning more about pre-production is rewarding because usually its all about filming and editing with no clear emphasis on the planning. However, with beat sheets, everyone learned something new and used such skill to their advantage.

 

The beat sheets were also helpful because it was a simple method to organize our stories. To me, storyboards are a bit more confusing because sometimes the pictures are not accurate and so it causes more problems. However, with the beat sheet, everything is clear and concrete so that anyone can simply follow the story without much hassle. I also enjoyed making it because it establishes the story better; it covers all the holes present in the treatment by attacking the main ideas, centering the story better.

 

The next step now is the script, a task that I predict will both hard and easy. I believe it will be easy because the story is solid and so no confusion will be present during the writing process. However, it might be challenging because the language used in film noir is often tricky. I am afraid that the language might be overused so that our film turns out to be cliché and generic rather than different and exciting. At the same time, I do not want to make the dialogue too simple because that is an extremely important component in all film noir movies.

 

Our story also has a lot of dialogue and so I believe that it should be cut down to only contain the main points. The narration is also key so the dialogue does not need to be dramatically changed because the narration fills in everything else that is missing.

 

Overall, I truly enjoy working with Jachelle (hi!) in improving our story.

  



Sharing Pages

In writing my treatment,  I genuinely enjoyed working with someone else because it taught me valuable lessons. For example, I sometimes suffer from writer's block because I tend to overthink some stories which usually sidetracks me. In the end, I am not satisfied with my story because I felt that I could do so much better. However,  by working with Jachelle (hi!) I was able to come up with several different ideas that I was proud of because she would offer advice that kept the story flowing. Our various ideas helped me in leaving behind the usual and boring routine I sometimes take in writing a treatment because I was able to look at several possibilities that I had not previously thought about. This expanded my mind and led my creativity to shine stronger, especially when Jachelle and I managed to combine our ideas to make a story we truly enjoyed.

 

Another reason that I liked working with a partner was the fact that I was able to realize how I could share and combine my ideas with someone. I have never worked with anyone else when it came to writing because the chance had never presented itself which never allowed me to realize what I was missing out on. I knew that Jachelle is also a writer like me, but we had never collaborated in something like this, so I did not know what to expect. However, it was easy to create a story we were proud of because we had similar ideas that made the whole process easier. This also proved to me that it is very interesting and fun to work with someone else, especially in creating a story because such a task can go in various of directions which may result in pleasant outcomes.

 

When I first heard that we had to pitch our story to the class, I was a bit uncertain because I did not know how everyone else was going to view the story. Just because Jachelle and I deemed it worthy, that did not absolutely signify that everyone else would love it. However, this experience was very helpful because it allowed for various of perspectives to shine on the story so that improvements could be made. Through this, all stories can become even better which is something that is very valuable because such improvements may not have been noticed by the original writers. I believe this experience was also helpful in the way that it brought confidence to all the writers because they presented their story and had the chance to defend it. To me, this managed to amount further confidence in all the writers because they truly knew what they were doing and so when it is time to film it,  better product will be the result.  

 

Overall, I enjoyed working with Jachelle in writing a treatment because new ideas were created to make a story we definitely liked. Pitching the story was also very beneficial because it gave room for improvement which will only help--not just in rewriting, but in producing the film.

Those Little Gold Statues

After spending months patiently waiting for the Oscars, they are now right around the corner. This Sunday, the biggest night in Hollywood will captivate the attention of many film lovers as all the celebrities unite in order to recognize each others' achievements.

 

To this day, I can still remember watching the Oscars for the first time with my older brother. The glitz and the glamour of the awards immediately caught my eye and made me wish to one day stand up on that stage, holding my award for Best Original Screenplay (which I sometimes still hope for).

 

However, now that I am older, I am able to better understand the whole ceremony and the kind of recognition that results afterwards. I also know how such awards affects those that love film and those that work in it. For example, everybody expected the director of Argo, Ben Affleck, to be nominated for Best Director since Argo is nominated for Best Picture. In the months leading up to the nominations, I was also one of those people that believed Affleck would receive a nomination, even if he did not win. However, this did not happen of course, and I was completely stunned.

 

Before, when I was much younger, I did not really process this kind of information, but now that I am older, I realize just how important it is. I am sure Affleck must have also hoped of receiving a nomination for his movie, especially if he had been following all the crazy but positive media attention his directing was receiving. Yet, to not have been able to even compete with other respectable directors such as Steven Spielberg, must have been really hard for Affleck to accept. Still, I believe that Affleck is not a man only concerned with awards, but instead, makes movies for the sheer joy and pleasure in communicating a valuable story with others, which in my opinion, is one of the best reasons to make a movie. 

 

I cannot really say with much confidence who the winner of Best Director will be. I know everyone immediately thinks of Spielberg, which is very understandable, yet I cannot help but remember that it was only last year that he was also nominated for the same category (for War Horse) yet he lost to Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist). This situation further complicates itself because it is usual for movies that are nominated for Best Picture to have a director nominated for Best Director for each respective movie. I will just have to see what happens on Sunday.

 

Since the Oscars are always full of unexpected and sometimes silly surprises, I cannot imagine what this year will bring. However, I can almost guarantee that if (hopefully when--crossing my fingers!) Anne Hathaway wins for Best Supporting Actress, she will cry halfway during her acceptance speech :) It appears that Hathaway really wants this from all the interviews and speeches she has given so far. If she wins, I will be extremely happy because she is a very talented actress, who won my heart in her memorable performance as Kym, a deeply troubled yet caring young woman in the 2008 drama, Rachel Getting Married.

 

Overall, the Oscars are always very exciting and dramatic and I cannot wait for Sunday night.  

 



Best Picture - Argo

Director Ben Affleck's Argo, was an astonishing and impressive tale depicting the true events of the bravery of Tony Mendez, a CIA operative, that led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran, during the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis. 

 

I first became interested in Argo due to all the positive reviews and response it continuously gained and so that immediately captured my attention. I had previously known about the story and so I knew what the movie would mostly cover, however, when I did finally watch it, I was pleasantly surprised.
 

I believe Argo is an amazing movie because it does not bother with silliness that could have dangerously maneuvered the movie into a completely different direction. Instead, the plot stayed focused so that the truth could have a chance of peeking out rather than letting drama interfere with the story. For example, the six American diplomats secretly residing in the house of the Canadian ambassador were shown coping with the daily fear of being discovered by the Iranian militia through tense conversations and stressed-filled activities. Instead of adding extra sub-plots like strained marriages or difficult relationships between the six people, the movie chose to focus on the main problem which was remaining hidden from the militia, which was a very wise choice. Sometimes, these kinds of movies tend to blend the truth with a bit of drama in order to make it more exciting, and although such a choice is quite common and almost natural, it does subtract from the film at times. However, this movie mostly remained loyal to the facts, making it stand out and truly earn the praise it received.

 

Another aspect that made Argo such a great movie was the fact that it could easily incorporate the smallest details of life with the more serious and conflicting matters. For example, there is a lot of humor that circulates throughout the movie, especially with various inside jokes (such as Argo f-- yourself) that only adds to the film. Although such jokes may sometimes seem inappropriate and even irrelevant to certain movies, Argo managed to break these barriers by flawlessly blending these elements into the movie. Such humor truly established the personality of the characters in the movie, making them relatable, which was extremely vital because then the characters are able to be viewed as ordinary people rather than unimaginable heroes from a different universe.

 

Although the shot composition was not extremely great, it was pleasing because it did bring the movie alive. For example, towards the end of the movie, a dramatic chase ensues between the six diplomats along with Mendez, and the Iranian military. Quick shots then used for the whole chasing sequence which caused tension to build up, leading the audience to anticipate what was going to happen next. These quick cuts were also used between tense conversations between the six trapped Americans, as each one slowly began to fear the endless possibility of remaining trapped forever. This also set up the stressful emotions that the characters were forced to endure which only heightened the overall mood of the movie regarding the diplomats.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed director Ben Affleck's Argo, because it contained several elements that added to the film. I strongly believe this movie will win Best Picture although it has great competition.

Best Actress- Jessica Chastain

Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Academy-Award winner, Kathryn Bigelow, follows the decade-long story of CIA operative, Maya, as she, and others, struggle to desperately find and capture Osama bin Laden after the life-changing 9/11 attacks.

 

As everyone already knows the tragic story of 9/11 and the marks it left behind in history, Director Bigelow decided to skim through the basic information of al-Qaeda and their motives for destruction. Instead, the movie went into a completely different direction by boldly displaying the horrors of torture many al-Qaeda suspects were forced to endure by CIA operatives as a method to gather valuable information. As many already know, this action immediately garnered controversy for it made it seem that Americans had been reduced to act upon inhumane methods to discover the whereabouts of bin Laden. Due to this, the movie could have been deemed a failure because it touched one of the most sensitive topics in American history, yet what saved the movie from this fate was the realism portrayed by the actors.

 

Jessica Chastain plays relentless CIA operative, Maya, determined to bring her country to justice by any means. Chastain does a magnificent job in successfully capturing everything that Maya is suppose to be since her character embodies all the hard qualities a leader is known to have. Chastain plays her role with such confidence that the audience does not seems to doubt any of her actions, no matter how troubled they may seem. For example, Maya is known to follow all of her hunches, always trusting that "gut-feeling" about something; however, such a quality is sometimes doubted and even occasionally struck down by others that follow the more logical and rational side of situations. Yet, Chastain immediately lets the audience know that her character is a bold leader that strongly defends what she considers worthy, and due to this quality, the audience believes in Maya, which proves to be the right choice since it leads to a successful mission.

 

Another quality that makes Chastain's acting truly stand out is the fact that she manages to engage the audience in her character without even trying. For example, Maya is a strong-willed character, so it is no surprise that no background information is given--no family, no friends, and no social life, beyond that of work. To many, this simple combination may equal a boring and underdeveloped character, yet Chastain does not accept this fate for her character. Instead, she uses this to her advantage by having these traits serve as a window between the audience and her character; now the viewers will be able to realize how her character sees the world: one long but valuable goal worth obtaining.

 

Another example of such a technique are all the blank facial expression Chastain sometimes decides to use. For example, in one part of the film, the audience can see a televised interview of President Obama in which he states that all torture is wrong, especially since such acts violate the morals of the American people. The scene then cuts to a close-up of Chastain's character, Maya, looking at the t.v with a blank expression that makes it quite difficult to determine what exactly she is thinking about. Did the interview make her feel ashamed of her job because as a CIA operative, she is aware that sometimes torture is necessary in order to save innocent lives? Or did it annoy her that someway may want to take away the most efficient method for detecting terrorists? Chastain's stoic and silent expression may then be interpreted in any manner that the audience wishes which adds to the movie because then the viewers may discover a way to connect with the characters.

 

This technique is also very smart because it sets up the overall mood of the movie--seriousness. With Chastain's hard expression, the audience is then able to realize that the movie is all about an obsession to track down the man the whole world has dreaded for about a decade.

  

Overall, I believe Jessica Chastain's role as CIA operative, Maya, was very well done. Chastain did deserve her Oscar nomination, although she is going against tough competition. 

Best Actor - Denzel Washington

Robert Zemeckis's Flight, his latest action film since Cast Away, follows the incredible journey of Whip Whitaker, a successful airline pilot that manages to save almost all of his passengers in a horrible plane accident. Immediately, Whitaker is praised as a hero all over the nation until an investigation about the accident reveals Whitaker's darkest secret: his addiction to alcohol. Slowly, the story begins to unravel as Whitaker struggles to cope with the poor relationship between his son, his addiction, and his battle to forgive himself, all in the midst of an investigation that could land him in prison. 

 

Robert Zemeckis' story is really wonderful, yet it is Washington's performance as the recovering alcoholic that steals the show. Washington is a true actor because he manages to portray all the different sides to his character; he refuses to simply demonstrate a certain part of his character, but embraces everything he can offer. For example, at the beginning of the film, the audience first glimpses at the kind of person Washington's character, Whitaker is, for he is shown drinking and taking cocaine. This leads the audience to believe that Whitaker may not be as flawless as perceived, yet in less than a hour, this very same man saves the lives of many helpless souls by reacting quickly in a horrible plane crash. This sudden change may have seen a bit awkward or unrealistic because it proves that an alcoholic semi-drug addict may still be able to operate as a commercial air pilot. However, Washington succeeds in weaving the two elements together so that the viewers understand that the hero may sometimes have flaws as well, and that such flaws are all right because they do not define a person, but rather, shape him to be better than before.

 

His performance is also one that should be greatly admired because he accomplishes to convince the audience that he is a good guy that is simply in a bad place, rather than a bad guy who, by some miracle, turns out to be engaging in something good. After it is revealed that Whitaker still had alcohol in his system as he commanded the plane, it is easy to turn against him because such a thing seems unforgivable for it puts innocent lives in grave danger. However, as the investigation surges on, the audience slowly begins to root for Washington because that is the kind of effect he has. As his story is revealed--his strained relationship with his teenage son, his "business" with his drug dealer, and a brief romance with a recovering heroin addict--the audience begins to experience sympathy towards him. Washington accomplishes in making his character seem flawed in the good way, so that the viewers connect with him, rather than judge him and cast him off as the villain in the story. Such a task is not easy because the actor never truly knows how the audience is going to react to a certain situation or the specific action of a character. Yet, Washington gambles with this and it pays off well.

Washington's performance should also be praised because it connects to the most emotional problems in daily life. For example, Whitaker is a struggling alcoholic and it is obvious that a part of him hates himself because he has fallen so low, yet cannot seem to rise above it. This sense of self-loathing is very personal because at one point, every one has felt this way, due to failure of some sort. Washington was aware of this and so he managed to convey this through his performance so that the audience could understand his character and his actions, rather than hate him for his wrongdoings. This did not justify his irresponsible behavior, but it did make it understandable which is the key to communicating with an audience.

Overall, I feel like Denzel Washington truly gave a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination because he really connected with his character to the point of making him relatable, even though many would argue that he was a villain disguised in the clothes of a good guy.

Silver Linings Playbook- Best Supporting Actress

David O. Russell's enticing film about an ordinary yet slightly dysfunctional family was unlike any other film I have ever watched. It was quite unexpected in several times but such a technique only added to the film because it showed the versatility the film possessed.

 

Yet, it was Jacki Weaver's performance as Dolores Solitano that truly captivated me. Although her character had a minor role in the overall development of the film, her performance was stunning because I felt that she truly portrayed her character well. Her character, the concerned and kind mother of Pat., is quite realistic because she captured the essence of her character. She acted like any other caring mother would, without trapping herself in the stereotypical box of ditzy women. Instead, she managed to convey a sense of realism by finding balance between being a mother and being a wife to the two Pats in her life. For example, in a scene in which Pat. and his father get into an argument resulting in a small fight after Pat. accidently hit his mother, Dolores immediately defends her son even after he caused her physical pain. In this part, Jacki Weaver's talent shined through because she was able to demonstrate the compassion of a mother while maintaining the secure role of a wife, but not becoming too overbearing. Jacki Weaver knew that her character had many different roles, such as wife and friend, yet the most important part of her life was that of a mother.
 

I also liked Weaver's performance because she did not seem to only focus on her character, but instead, discovered a way in which she was able to relate towards the other actors/characters in the film. For example, in the scene in which Senior Pat. and Dolores are arguing about Pat's condition and his medication, Dolores continuously tries to find some sort of middle ground between her husband and her son. During this intense scene, one could clearly see how Weaver managed to incorporate the emotions of the other characters because she thrived off of them by truly imagining what position the other characters were in.

Overall,  enjoyed Jacki Weaver's portrayal of Dolores Solitano because she truly embraced the character and related her to the others in the film. 

Silver Linings Playbook- Best Supporting Actor

David O. Russell's, Silver Linings Playbook, was a great and quirky film centered around the friendship between a desperate and struggling bipolar man, eager to win back his wife after her affair, and an unorthodox yet lovable young widow.

 

Although the story seemed silly at times, the actors were all very talented and played their parts to perfection. Robert De Niro, who plays Patrick Sr., the professional bookmaker father of the main character, did a wonderful job. I truly enjoyed De Niro's performance for I believe that he really made his character believable by demonstrating the multiple faces of his character.  

 

For example, in the film, the audience first glimpses De Niro's character through facts stated by the other characters in the story so that the viewers realize that he is a professional game gambler. So it would have been easy for De Niro to simply continue portraying his character as a gambler and nothing else, since his OCD constantly leads him to live a very superstitious life regarding his hometown football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. I believe that De Niro could have simply acted this part of this character's life because it was an important instrument in the character of Patrick Sr.'s considering his bookkeeping has become his source of income and financial dependence. However, De Niro, did not decide to simply do this, for he also managed to convey the more concerned fatherly figure of his character, which was not easy to do because in the film, the father is supposed to have indirectly neglected his younger son. By succeeding in showing all the sides to his character, De Niro was able to give a realistic sense of the character to the audience which was quite well considering the sometime silly plot-line.

 

De Niro also played his part well because he managed to realistically portray his character rather than exaggerating on certain aspects. Since he was suppose to be some sort of absent father, one would expect De Niro's character to be a bit distant from his son, yet not to the point of complete ignorance because it is clear that the father still loves his son very much. De Niro realized this so he made sure that in some scenes of the film, he showed enough emotion for it to be realistic, but not too much that it became a bit exaggerated, and therefore, fake. This sort of balance must be very difficult because it is the responsibility of the actor alone, to determine in which scenes emotions and vulnerability should be portrayed, and in which scenes to be more aloof and carefree. In my opinion, De Niro accomplished in finding the balance in the scale of emotion which only enhanced his performance.

 

Overall, I believe that De Niro's performance of the concerned and well-intended father of the main character in David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook, was very well. He gave a strong and secure performance and did not falter when trying to grasp the concept of reality mixed with cinema.