tantan-reflection

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #10 - FILM PROCESS II

The last module of the course is about the second phase of a film process, and it's also the few steps of film production. This week, I've read up about the second phase and it's about the production, promotion, distribution, and exhibition of a film. These are all the processes of relaying your work to the audiences properly and effectively. And it's a big concern because this phase will somehow dictate your success as an industry and economic activity. If not addressed properly, it's a great loss for the company and the production team as they won't be able to justify the aesthetics and efforts they allotted.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

These are the common challenges I observed in the second phase of a film process, and how the production team address it.

• Production - contingency plans for unexpected events like emergencies, natural disasters, among others.

• Promotion - the use of social media platforms to promote their work which is highly efficient and at the same time, inexpensive.

• Distribution and Exhibition - the usage of online streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, etc., for the presentation of their work in times of pandemic where cinema-watching are being restricted.

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #9 -FILM PROCESS I

This week, I've understood the first phase of the film process, which is the overall creation—Mise En Scene, Cinematography, Sounds, and Editing. These four processes are being valued the most by all production teams as they would highly affect the outcome and effectiveness of the work. People would evaluate and assess it soon as they viewed the film, and it is the greatest pleasure to satisfy your audience.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

We were asked about how the first phase of the film process affects the audience. I simply answered it by regarding film production as a business activity. Business entities want success and it'll only be achieved by providing the best service they can. Mise En Scene and Cinematography are all about the on-screen elements. As we all know, film is a formal system, the production team needs to ensure that everything the audience sees on the screen should be interconnected with each other. Secondly, sound sets the mood and tone of the film, you'd know if it's effective when it contributes to the audience's engagement, it also prevents dull moments. Lastly, editing or the most important part of the four is like the revision phase of creating an effective business letter. A production team needs secure everything in this process before presenting it to the mass.

Here is the most appropriate movie that reflects the functions of these four processes—Mise En Scene, Cinematography, Sound, and Editing. It's the "Avengers Assemble" scene from the movie, Avengers: Endgame.

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #8 - FILM STYLE AS ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION

In this lesson (Module 7), I've learned the development of a distinct national/regional/group film style. As time goes on and different films are being produced, production teams are trying to utilize every available asset and one of that is a film style that satisfies the audience in their area. And since the film is a considerable medium to promote and display the culture of groups, it's pretty clear that there will be a distinction of film style from different places.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

The example I shared in the class is the presence of Asian cultures in Hollywood movies, particularly the upcoming movie of Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Among the numerous Hollywood movies that borrowed national film style from another country, I think this movie is a milestone for the AAPI or Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Audiences, knowing the recent issue of racism against them in the United States. More importantly, this would be the first Asian superhero movie produced by considerably the highest and successful production company, the Marvel Studios.

Here is the trailer of the Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #7 - ASPECTS OF FILM STYLE

If we have tackled the film genre in the last module, this week, film style was introduced. It's the distinction of every production team about their usage of different types of film elements, precisely the artistic decisions.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

We were about to identify a particular director's film style and I have shared the technique of the known Zack Snyder. I first heard his style of zoom-snaps and time remapping or the speeding up of scenes or "slow-motion" when my brother and I are watching one of his films. So as I look for his other films, it was then clear to me that as a director, if you're desire is to set an image of yours that is different from the others, is to have a particular way of filmmaking and employ it in all effectively. I also observed his unusual way of introducing the story which is effective as the film became interesting as early as it is.

Here is an example of Zack Snyder's film style, it's about the zoom-snaps and slow-motion making the scene appealing to the audience.

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #6 - DOCUMENTARY, EXPERIMENTAL, AND ANIMATED FEATURES

For the past weeks, we focused on the common film form that are being produced for mass entertainment. However, this week we were able to explore more the other formal system of films.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

This week, we were tasked to share our favorite films of these film forms. For documentaries, I watch mostly travel vlogs of Drew Arellano because I can view in my eyes the beauty and history of different places in our country without the need of traveling. Also, it serves as an idea for our future travels. While in experimental film, the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is my favorite, no doubt about it, I just wish that my group mates will have the time to witness this masterpiece. Anyway, I think this df is my favorite share-time among all. I was able to share my favorite tv series, the Rick and Morty of Adult Swim production.

Here is an example of travel documentary of Drew Arellano. In fact, Biyahe ni Drew is one of our bonding moments, every time we watch an episode, my mother and kuya are always sharing their thoughts and experiences about it, which I understand and learn a lot.

FOR FILM EXERCISE

Our group made a version of experimental film based on our DILO. Since it's about our lives in a pandemic setup, the topic is timely and we love the idea of its openness to the audience's interpretation.

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #5 - FILM GENRES AND CULTURAL CONVENTIONS

This week, I've learned the rationale of the production teams that opt to employ either the prevailing film genres or a risky new concept. Film industry is a business entity and so a particular way of filmmaking that appeals to audiences' taste may be agreed by all filmmakers to be used by others in the future.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

I've shared the class that my favorite film genre is comedy, though I still appreciate and respect all genres and aspects of film. Either a pure comedy, rom-com, horror comedy, or action comedy, I find it interesting and enjoying to watch. Also, films are one of my family's bonding or way of connecting, and such films that are amusing is what we highly deemed, since we're a family with high sense of humor.

Apart from it, if you'll observe thoroughly, most films right now employ a bit of humor element, punchlines make a movie more engaging.

Adam Sandler is one of my go-to actors when it comes to comedy and here is an example of a film that we enjoyed watching.

FOR FILM EXERCISE

We have agreed to use the genre of horror in our DILO—intensifying occurrence of Covid-19 and its rapid spread.

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #4 – NON-NARRATIVE FILM FORM

This week is for Module 3 and I could say that the topic is associated with what I've learned for the past weak as the non-narrative film form is the counterpart of the narrative formal system.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

We were asked to share our favorite non-narrative film and to define it by the unusual way of storyline presentation, my favorite film is the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by Michel Gondry. I would say that the essence of excluding the chronology and employing nonlinear in the film is what makes this masterpiece better than ordinary films.

FOR FILM EXERCISE

Module 3 is about the non-narrative film form and we have to apply the concepts we've understood into practice. By that, the third film exercise instructs us to revise the initial film in FE 1 to tell the story differently. Our group acknowledged making use of flashbacks through employing dream effects to make the plot different from the first one wherein we observed the principle of chronology.

Here is the storyline of the revised film— A Day of our Lives in the Pandemic

CONCLUSION

To sum up, the things I've comprehended this week was all about the effectiveness of attempting to do new and unusual yet, advanced method in filmmaking. As we've tackled in the first forum that these unorthodox film forms are being conventional once they successfully brought an impact to the audiences/consumers. Up to this day, we can see a lot of avant-garde films that are being produced and endorsed publicly. The important thing is people should know how to distinguish the difference in the formal systems so they can adjust the expectation for the film and avoid possible dissatisfaction.

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG #3 — NARRATIVE FILM FORM

Another week of learning and another great opportunity to retain important knowledge from the module and if possible, apply it in every exercises.

FOR DISCUSSION FORUM

This week, we were tasked to determine the difference between the narrative and non-narrative formal systems and the very concept that I've comprehended upon watching Hamboning Media's Film Form, skimming a part of the book, reading additional articles, and engaging in the discussion forum, is the presence of a story—there is a series of events that is connected by causality, time, and space.

The narrative formal system narrates a particular story that may vary depending on how the plot will be structured and presented. Whether the common way of organizing the events chronologically, or making use of flashbacks, and also the sequel and prequel set up.

The example of a narrative film that I gave in the discussion forum is the two thriller/slasher films of Christopher Landon—Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U.

The trailer of Happy Death Day 2U

While the non-narrative formal system doesn't narrate a story, either fictional or real, and neither presents a series of events that are linked by causality, time, and space. This kind of film works is devoid of narrative elements and can be classified into a different formal system like categorical, rhetorical, abstract, associational, among others. And they only aim to create a purer experience of the distinctive qualities of film, like movement, rhythm, and changing visual compositions.

Here is my example of a non-narrative film entitled presage. The video doesn't show a story and it's vague, though it is open for an interpretation of which I think that the clips are a representation of the word presage which is a verb that means(of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen.

FOR FILM VIEWING ACTIVITY

Sadly, we weren't able to do a watch party due to the reason that most of my group mates are currently working and residing abroad. However, we've agreed to focus more on the film exercises.

FOR FILM EXERCISES

We've decided to do every film exercises as a group and for FE 1, I've suggested a concept for the short film's story and everyone else has agreed to do it.

Here is the story outline of our FE1 entitled "A Day of Our Lives in the Pandemic". Though it's not yet finished as I've mentioned earlier, some of them are busy so I'm just waiting for the other's part before editing the whole film.

For FE 2, our group has decided to make a film review of the work of Group J since it was also endorsed to us. However, the same with FE 1, I'm still waiting for others' reviews before collating it into one work.

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG 2: FILM AS FORMAL SYSTEM

It's the first week of studying FILM 10 and I tried skimming the content of the book Film Art: An Introduction by Bordwell, David & Kristin Thompson. I frankly admit that I'm not into reading lengthy books or any reading materials and I prefer learning from video resources which I'm honestly grateful for since this course come up with this type.

For this week, we were tasked to study the chapter 2 of the said film book which talks about Film as a Formal System. Mostly, I utilized the video of Hamboning Media entitled Film Form for this week to understand the concepts but I also read the book and I find it great as it provides different examples for us to firmly comprehend the concept being discussed.

As I watch this educational video, I made an effort to jot down notes to further my understanding of the concepts.

CONCLUSION

After some engagements in the forums along with the video and reading materials, I've come to understand that film as a formal system possesses a set of elements that are interdependent to each other. And these formal systems may vary depending on its usage; it may be narrative that mostly creates story, a detailed documentaries, or an experimental film or what they regard as avant-garde creators.

Film as a form of business aims to satisfy the audience's expectations for it to succeed in market and fulfill its natural goal which is to make money. Perhaps, it's the reason why certain film forms are becoming common or conventional due to its capability to thrive in the film industry. Although, some film creators may try to defy such conventional forms and attempt different and new ways of film approach which could be a conventional form at some point in the future.

All of this circulates on how we understand the concept of film as formal systems, in order to know how to correctly and effectively utilize the relationship of each parts or components despite the variation in the audience's perception due to their personal experiences. Different elements like how we can justify the occurrence of such events, objects, or character; the use of motif and parallelism to trigger the attention of the audiences; or in contrary, a change in condition to maintain their interest and prevent boredom; even the progression of series of patterns; and lastly the unity of all elements since film is a formal system.

Aside from it, our group were able to create a gc in Messenger and I'm hoping that we could get along well since I really have a feeling that I'll struggle in this course. Anyway, first week's a good opening for me and I'm looking forward to apply every thing in my own output. :>

[tantan-reflection]

LEARNING LOG 1: COURSE INTRODUCTION

It's the first week of the trime and as I introduce myself through a vlog including my rationale in taking this course, I've also watched the intro-video of my other classmates. I'm thrilled and excited to explore and learn about the film industry along with my groupmates.

Here is my vlog of 'self-introduction'

I've also read the course guide before making this video. And hopefully I get to survive this course knowing that I wasn't exposed and engaged in this field that much which means there's a lot of room for learning and improvement.