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.