The most ridiculous movie quote ever...haha

The Caves can't save us ... No One Can!!! LMAO!!! From the movie 'Knowing'

It comes to a end.

So BattleStar Galactica has come to an end :( what will I watch on Tuesday nights now!

Well to start off with BattleStar has been one of my single most favorite TV show in a long time. From the first episode it grabbed me and never let go, the mix of action to character conflict to the mixture of politics made this show unique in its style, I don't think we will see anything like this again in a long time. The lengths they went to create character depths just blew me away, every episode deepened each character in some way or another. The Plot also deepened with each episode, it threw up intrigue and brilliantly sculpted sub-plots which grew over time.

The Fact I can still remember episodes from the first series, and with my memory that is just plain weird. But I can only put it down to how well each episode was written and played out, they all played a role in someway to the construction of the series to come, their were no redundant episodes that were just 'put together' to fill up a series.

Dr Baltar from the series is one of the most brilliantly crafted character I have ever seen in any TV series and possibly any film, they spent so long creating this character over a large number of episodes, and in the end paid of enormously. His character added alot of depth to the show and also alot of whit, which lightened some of the darker periods of the show. Which I feel it would of sadly been missing otherwise. This character was a supporting pillar in this show and screenwriters should take note from it on how to create a perfectly written flawed character.

After just watching the last episode last night, all I can say is 'Waw' they have done what lost should have done ALONG time ago they built the show up so much to its pinnacle moment then cut it dead leaving everyone wanting more. Lost has past the line and to be honest I just don't care what happens. Battlestar went out with a bang, so much so I want to see more, but thats the charm in a good series, leaving the audience wanting more. Leave people with good memories of the show, leave people with enough room to come to their own conclusions, because in the end a screenwriter will never be able to please everyone, giving the audience that room to come to their own conclusions if they want, is what made the finale brilliantly written. Telling people this is how it ends and this is what's happened and fill in all the gaps would just be boring, your imagination will always come up with better conclusions.

The last episode from the very start was just really well done in my view, it managed to rap up so many sub-plots that have been boiling away and also the bigger fore front plot lines all in one 2 hour episode. But they didn't package it up in a little neat box with a ribbon on it, it left in my view some area's of mystery and intrigue. This is what's making me want to see more. But again thats the genius in it.

I don't really want to say anymore on the last episode for those who haven't seen it but, after walking away from it, it hit me on just how crafted it really was, I was still thinking about the show a number of hours later trying to figure out little facts in my head. In this they have went out in style and with a bang, they didn't give it a slow burning death like some other shows and for this I am glad.

Overall just a brilliant show, and no matter how much I write I don't think I will ever manage to do it justice but...find out for yourself and watch it, you will not regret it. I have taken so much from the show on what makes a brilliant TV series.

Buying all the series, Mini Episodes, Connecting films with my first pay check? ... I think so!

Rays Class

Today we had a sit down with Ray today about the films being shot next week, he went through all the practicalities of filming. Basically what to do and what not to do, how to save time and get the best out of the shoot.

I do feel his talk was very beneficial and feel I learned alot from it, although saying this some of it did seem a little depressing in the fact that there isn't as much creative control in actual filming that one might thikg, and that all creative decisions should be made during pre-production.

This all did make sense but I couldn't help but feel a little drab afterwards.

Overall a productive class and look forward to filming shoot.

A Good Year

After receiving a copy from Ross to grab some stills from it for his DP for Love, Mugs and Stickmen, I decided just to watch all of it.

From shot one, the cinematography of the film can only be described as 'charming' I really like how it went from warm crisp orange colours from France to cold washed blue's from the London offices, this really does convey a real change in location and depth.

The film grabbed me straight away, just the way the whole film was shot was just beautifully done from start to finish. Also the plot grabbed me by instantly laying down a history frame work at the start then jumping ahead placed a hook straight away which makes you want to watch the rest to unravel the story.

I really love the way the film was all about this man rediscovering his past that he has pushed behind him and all but forget, the way that just the smallest of things trigger his memories which the film then shows.

The Film follows a man who has to travel to his old summer holiday home where he stayed with his uncle, he is moved from a fast passed financial London office to a snail pace France Vine yard and when a series of events conspire to keep him in France he gradually becomes settled in his new found environment and remembers why he loved the place when he was a kid, and when a love interest is thrown into this equation London doesn't seem like the golden palace it once seemed and the simple life in France begins to take hold in him.

The film overall is a really well done piece of film that keeps you interested from start to finish, again all I can say about it is its just a charming piece of film. It almost makes you feel warm just from the cinematography itself, you feel like your in that vine yard with him.

The plot branches are all interesting and engaging and all generally help move the story along in some way and introduce some quirky and interesting characters, although I do feel the love story did somewhat skip a beat and all unraveled just a tad fast for my liking, I don't think its possible to fall in love as easily and as fast as the film shows this man in doing.

Overall a brilliant piece of film in my eyes, its made want to travel to some place in France similar to the films location, and also the Uncle's role was brilliantly written and I think everyone wishes they had one like him.

Monday, Tuesday

Monday - consisted of a full day of pre-production for the films being put into production, we assigned roles to everyone according to their strengths and experiences. I was assigned editor, which was what I wanted to be. I have past experience with Final Cut and want to specialize in it, also the fact I'm able to come in and edit during the easter break was also a factor.
Overall a good day clearing facts and technical issues up with the shoot to come, I don't think I was as involved as the rest as my role being editor will kick in more near the end, although I will be on location as camera assist and to advice on issues that might hinder the cut.

Tuesday - started of with Andy's class were we had an exercise to come up with a shot list for a simple couple piece's of dialog, the aim of the 'game' was to abide by the line rule. It seemed easy enough until we actually started and ended up in all kinds of trouble, never film a double door scene ... they just can't be done ... end off. I'm sure Andy had fun watching as we tied our brains in knots trying to get our head around it.

The Afternoon in Richard's class started off in a rather unusual room, at-least it had really comphy seats in it ... which is a first for the academy. We had another go at the exercise were we each help to make a story up bit by bit. Like last time a few ended up with rather 'silly' plot lines, but a few had glimmers of potential ...
*Knock Knock* Oh ... I need to go see who's at the door *TENSION*

When we ended up in V1 we read out our new premises, I feel drained of being able to come up with good premises these days, I really need to take a break from this. So I am using one of my past premises Richard liked to write my 3minutes script on.
Overall a typical day in the Academy, nothing really else to talk about really.

Gran Torino

Since EVERYONE is going for the world's longest post like the 'cool' dudes use all are, heres my shortest post.

Oh Clint ... What have you done

The Wire BBC!

Since I've heard so much about watching 'The Wire' and after not having money for the box set I thought I would never see it, but today BBC has announced they have bought it up for BBC2 ... Yay! Come on BBC, I might actually tune in to watch TV for the first time in a long time.

"The deal to broadcast the series comes after Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan argued the BBC should stop buying shows from overseas and put the cash into original productions instead."

Yeah Channel 4 ... stop being a sore loser ... just because you didn't get it first.

The Arches

After knowing nothing about the CCP course what so ever, then being sat down to watch a DVD with alot of old men running about naked, I was just like 'Whit!' what is going on here. I feel she should have explained to us more what CCP involves. I feel she was trying a shock treatment, but this just made me skeptical about the project.

But after being on the shoot today, I have to say it was very very good. Non of it involved people getting randomly naked or such, it was all very entertaining, educational, and enjoyable. Alot of it made me laugh ... in a good way :) when it was supposed to be funny.

I really liked the Money one, was fascinating to watch every minute.

Overall a brilliant day and look forward to filming tomorrow again.

Although, I have to note even though it didn't effect me, but some of the CCP students pulling out at the last minute was just anoying, oh come film in the morning...oh wait were not letting use film. Taking Ross off one of the shoots because he's a guy thus must be immature, and lastly I heard Gavin's crew weren't allowed to shoot one of the shoots. The CCP have had the timetable for some time now and they have seen it, last minute changes even though they had been pre-approved? What was going on I don't know.

Sit-Com

Today we watched two episodes of 'sit-coms' one being Hancock and the other ... urm? yeah, can't remember the name but 'anyhoe'

Hancock was 'generally' funny, but it didn't make me laugh all that much, and the fact he kept looking into the camera was really of putting, took me out of the show each time he did it. But not bad I suppose. Not something I would want to watch again anytime soon. I'm just generally not a big fan of sit-coms to be honest so it was never really going to impress me.

The second show was just really depressing, and again didn't make me laugh, I didn't get the comedy at all. It seemed more like an old episode of EastEnders. The plot through to the characters were just really bleak. It didn't try make you feel happy in anyway through out it, it was just one depressing knock after another. The only comedy I could see was the old man stealing the scrap of the wagon. Not really funny considering it wasn't supported by any other comedy. Well this is just my view, maybe some of use found it funny but it's just not for me I'm afraid.

The International

Me and Paul went to watch The International after the Academy today, after ordering 'chicken' in KFC and falling over in the cinema seats the film started. I was expecting a cheesy Clive Owen action movie, not a genre I like at-all. But the opening shot just squashed this thought, you can tell straight away just by how well it was filmed that it was going to be a serious film.

Aesthetically the film was brilliant, some of the shots and framing were brilliant and the whole film followed this line. In some ways you can tell they were trying to go for a Michael Clayton look for the film, but they didn't quite nail this. But a very good try non the less.

The film's plot kept confusing me in area's and they never went to any real effort to try and explain what was going on?, for all I could see it was a pointless story-line. I kept expecting it to be a double bluff or some big twist to happen to redeem the movie. This sadly never came.

I also feel the film ran for too long I felt it dragging in places and the character set up of the movie wasn't brilliant, again they never went to any real level to establish main characters to make you invest in the movie.

When the film did really end, I was sat their like 'seriously?' thats how their ending it? that was a pointless movie? Its like they got to confused by their own film they said okay we don't even know what's going on here, never mind trying to end it. So it just ends and the credits montage tries to help finish the films plot. This was just a painfully bad way to end a film, if it had gone for the cheesy action movie, it would have been more than fine. But the fact they went for a serious plot driven movie this just didn't suffice.

But no-doubt that Paul will mention, the action scene halfway makes the film a worth while watch, even if it's all you take away from the movie. Just good old fashioned gun battle and stunts, that make you be like 'ouch!' and 'ohhhh!'

Clive's performance was top-notch he does suit these characters very well, and after seeing him in a few poor movies recently it has restored him as a brilliant actor in my eyes again.

Overall not a bad watch, but just be prepared to be disappointed with the ending. Even if you do just go see it for the action scene you won't be all that disappointed.

Assessment!

Walked through the doors in the Agos foyer as calm as a ... urmmm? what is calm? Well you know what I mean. But as soon as Ray said okay your times starts now, I just broke down into a shear panic. Have I set that up right? what do I do next? what is Ray writing down in his notebook!

My mind blanked when it came to do back focus, took me a good few minutes to calm down and be like, okay just be calm. Then I remembered. I would love to say I remained calm for the rest of the assessment but that would be a lie! It was horrible! every minute I felt I was going to drown in my sweat that was flowing off me. Yeah thanks very much 'Right Guard 24' You lasted all of 2 hours!

Anyways good thing is I passed, making only a few simple mistakes. Ray seemed happy with everything I did, so why don't I feel happy? I still feel depressed from the experience! :l

Todays Class

Today we discussed in Andy’s class the audience figures from the past few decades and such. Was interested to find out that only 9% of today’s American population go to the cinema every week. Was strange to hear because I thought that Hollywood being in America and such that it would be a lot more.

But I can see with all the competition today it isn’t to surprising when you really think of it. I always prefer much more sitting in my warm flat watching a movie on my projector with my DVD surround system than the cinema, mostly because there are no noisy eaters and I can pause the movie when I please.

Adam’s mobile content class was interesting as ever today, I always enjoy the mobile content class, because I feel I can connect a lot more with it. Maybe because I have been brought up in an age of actively using mobile phones and Internet and such. I look forward to being given a chance to try and take on this medium with any films I make. I want to see if its as hard as some people say it is.

Today

A very good short and snappy TV class today, watching Generation Kill and analyzing the first 12 minutes of it was very interesting. Their were so many things that just didn't occur to me the first time watching it. It makes you appreciate the amount of effort that gets poured into just a few scenes.

We then discussed the formula or such of the show, which again was interesting to find out that many shows are based around a family structure. Such as the Humvee in Generation Kill. The mum and dad in-front with the two kids in the back.

I always enjoy these classes as they are more discussion based, which I feel I can always engage in alot more with.

Not much more to say about the class, but overall a good class with a productive outcome.

Oh and one more thing, it wasn't in one of those classes with those horrible chairs that give me a sore back, was good to have a nice comfy chair for once.

King Kong

After seeing the newer King Kong, I didn't go into this film expecting very much from it. The newer one just bored me silly in about every way. I can remember thinking when they were killing King Kong and he just wouldn't die, I was thinking 'Just die already!' he half falls of the sky scraper but holds on, I was just like 'Oh dear god, please will someone just kill him'

But the old one, like many classic films that have been remade. The older version is far better in just about every way. The story didn't take hours to kick off, and it pulled you in very quickly. The next thing that was bothering me about seeing the older version was, is the effects going to be really really bad? Because that really puts me off old films, but I have to say I was very impressed with the special effects. Just lots of little details like dinosaur looking birds flying in the backdrop. Lots of little things like that which just added to the effect of the film.

I think it was a tad strained in places such as the captain suddenly falling in love with her whilst for the past hour he was saying he didn't like her, but like it was said in class if you buy into a movie with a giant gorilla in it, you can over look things like that.

The story was very enjoyable I have to say, they didn't spend to long getting to Kong and it didn't take 3 hours to kill the thing. Just short and snappy, a way a movie like this should be.

I did find the fact that all the woman did in the film was scream, this did get slightly annoying in places. After giving her moderate dialog up to the point of Kong then just cutting her dialog dead after meeting Kong.

Overall a very nicely put together film, it has its flaws but overall its good points over shadow any strained parts of the film. I would recommend this to anyone, especially after the disaster that was the Peter Jackson Kong.