Film Constructing Reality

A movie I think is a good representation of reality is the Paranormal Activity franchise. It gives people a good scare when a movie or clip is shot with a hand held camera rather then a big fancy film camera. As well as the footage being shown in the early '80's. It gives the viewer a sense of realism and connection with the character that an simple actor can not achieve.One scene from paranormal activity 3 is an in particularly good example of realism. The camera is set on a fan and is set to route from side to side around the room. The viewer does not know what they will see next and is compelled to watch. Its an average contraption that someone would set up to move the camera when they are not there. which makes it a good example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M35PhA9NDek

War Films

I think the constant creation of war films has a definite effect of the way people think in our society. War should not be something people are use to and use to hearing about in their everyday lives. The violence these movies condone gives younger generations the idea that war is something they are going to have to deal with in the future that could end on an apocalyptic level.  Social views impact political decisions. It's the people who vote, so whether more of America is pro or against war is going to be up to the people and their vote. A lot of these movies show the military it a positive light, like their the good guys that are serving their country. But in reality, some people just really like war, the drama and pressures it causes gives some people their "fix". Explosions and weapons are the mostly viewed and seen in  non-gruesome light. You don't see the aftermath of the bodies, family affected and how bad the violence can get. I think these films capture so much attention because people wouldn't know what war is like unless they go see these movies or have been in one themselves. People are fascinated with seeing and hearing things that are foreign to their ways.
That is why I think war films have an effect on our society and polically as well.

Film Rating

I chose to do the movie, Mean Girls. (2004). The Ontario Film Review Board gave the film a rating of PG. I disagree with this rating for the following reasons. The film has strong agressive language and many sexual references. Which fall under 14A. They also use derogatory portrayals for some of the teens in the movie. You see Regina and her boyfriend stimulating sex on her bed in the one scene implyig sexual activity. The subject matter for this film is way over a PG rating which includes sexual activity and references, alot of profanity's and a very mature theme.
From personal experience, when I

Meaning of music in films

In the classic scene in (The Notebook), Allie finds out that Noah did write her everyday for a year until giving up. She says "I waited for 7 years and its too late now". He replies with his famous lines " It wasn't over, it still isn't over", and grabs her a kisses the love of his life.

I chose the song "She will be Loved" by Maroon 5 to play when this scene happens. The song will be hushed when the actors are talking and the song with go into full volume when he grabs her at the chorus. "She will be loved" is sung over the time they kiss. I think this is a good song to provide emotion because it's lyrics state how to Noah feels about Allie. " I don't mind spending everyday, out on your porch in the pouring rain". Is basically stating how much Noah cares for her and has waited for her to come. He would do anything for his love. At the very end of the song, it says "Don't try so hard to say goodbye". Which means in this film that Allie has been trying to say goodbye to Noah for 7 years and she finds herself back in his arms still trying to say goodbye.

Role of Teenagers in Film

I chose the movie "Mean Girls"  (2004). It depicts the subgroups within a typical high school and reflects on what teenagers are like, which creates a certin reality about each subgroup. For example, In the scene where Janice creates a map of the different cliques of the school, we get a glipse of how each clique acts and what they look like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRteokw7m80

This depiction does not fit my personal reality of highschool and teenagers. Yes, in highschool there are cliques but not as bad as "the plastics" or "unfriendly black hotties". My reality is three classes of people, popular, unpopular and the "everybody's friend".

Hollywood Budgets

1. Finding a good enough story and getting the rights to make the film, sometimes including substantial amount of counter offering and negations.

2. After the rights to the story have been made, the director needs to find a fit screenwriter to translate the book to a working script.

3.Once a script has been approved all the essential people must be hired to do the project such as, editor,producer,make up and costume, as well as actors and many, many more people.

4. After all people have been hired, Location needs to be picked, which could either be on a sound stage or in a outside location. '

5. Once the actors are done shooting scenes, the film is far from finished and still needs editing, music added in and such.

6. After the post-production is done, money needs to be set out for advertising and getting the movie into the public eye. Including trailers and interviews with the cast.

Music "just ain't that good anymore"

I chose the song "Heaven" by Bryan Adams which was released in 1985. It's a classic portrayal of a man confessing his love for a woman he loves. The concept may not be original but the song is. Bryan wrote it himself and sings it live to his best ability.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6TtwR2Dbjg














Fast forward to 2002, an unknown DJ named DJ Sammy teams up with Cascada a British singer to bring life to the popular 1985 classic, adding a techno twist and bringing the bass and tempo up a lot. It proved to be another success but not to extent that Adams did it 17 years earlier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiH_ntLNgyU


This proves that music is not as good as it used to be because newer artists feel they should go back in time and pick classics and "make then better". When really all they are doing is adding a faster tempo. "If it ain't broken don't fix it".