The Blood of Jesus (1941)

The film The Blood of Jesus depicts a certain type of reality. Spencer Williams was a Hollywood outsider attempting to depict African Americans on the screen. African American viewers are finally able to see an image is more like what they see in their own community. Black characters are no longer celluloid characters or the object of a joke or stereotype. The characters are defined by their own world and are central to that world. As Diawara explains, “Hollywood blacks exist primarily for white spectators whose comfort and understanding the films must seek.”(Diawara, 596)

The low budget production techniques lend to the relationship between reality and The Blood of Jesus. There is little to no camera angles that would distort the actual image. The amateur skill level of actors helps the film approach reality. Not necessarily the film itself, but the message that the film attempts to send to the audience. It is not only the message of black morality and faith, but also a message of black progress. Simply the creation of this film shows new mediums and opportunities opening up to African Americans. The Blood of Jesus, in this respect is truly art because of the comment it makes on the reality of the current state of Black culture and what it has done to shape that reality.

Fanon explains that there is a double standard in how films represent race. Stereotype in film creates the concept that the average man and a black man do not act in the same manner. The Blood of Jesus is able to accomplish showing African American that are defined by their own actions and abilities, rather than “being for others

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 (2010) connects to reality more than other animation because of how it is created. Computer animation attempts to come closer to reality than any other form of animation. The movement of the characters within the world is based on motion capture, a technique grounded in the movements of a real person. The human characters are all allowed to move as real humans. Each individual toy moves the way that they each seem to be designed to move. The advances in technology create more expressive facial expressions on the animated character.

Computer generated images in film are a manipulation of reality itself. 

Why use animation? Well generally the answer would be to put things on the screen that don't exist in reality. Viewers know that there is no possible way that toys could come to life. Our knowledge of the impossible is exactly why the filmmaker would attempt to recreate reality. If animators cared little about putting their characters and world into a realistic context, the narrative and character development would be lost due to a focus on unrealistic setting. The need for realism in animation coincides with the need for viewer acceptance of the animated world.

Skyfall

I just saw Skyfall and I loved it. All of the action was shot beautifully. Judi Dench is a fantastic actress.  I love her in the role of M. The special effects were outrageous. The opening sequence with the song Skyfall by Adele is beautiful
Spoiler ALERT! 

Bond is killed! Well, in the first ten minutes. Of course he comes back. When Bond gets back to MI6 he must take the examinations. M passes 007, though he actually failed all of the tests.

Bond questions his loyalty to M when her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, he decides to track down and destroy the threat. 



I'm blown away by Daniel Craig's performance.

The Cheat(1915)

“The Cheat” shows a complete change in tone when switching between the home of Richard and Edith and Arakau. The first is western and what we would see as a norm, while the latter is decorated in an eastern style. It gives a feeling that Arakau still identifies as Asian and not as an American. The Asian men in the service of Arakau speak broken English, which must have been done with a purpose. The language could have been easily fixed, as the only language to come across does so in subtitles. The film even goes far enough to make the statement “East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet”. (The Cheat, 1915)

In “The Cheat”, Edith is a glamorous woman that floats in high society, throws luxurious parties, and in is no trouble for her husband to write her a check for ten thousand dollars. Again, we are able to see under the surface. We see a woman resort to what could termed prostitution to keep her status with the community. 

The character of Edith uses her sexuality in order to gain a favor. Not only this, but she is also a woman that is seen spending time with men besides her husband. Then she begins to realize the immorality of her decision and goes back on the agreement. Her role has now become one of the swindler and the tease. Her sexuality has put her into a position to be denigrated. Arakau brands Edith, his way of changing her into property.

Just in looking at the shots of “The Cheat” it seems as if DeMille is in sympathy with the upper class white characters. The fact that Edith and Richard are protagonists should make this obvious, but in looking at the final shot of “The Cheat” when the couple walk out of the court room arm in arm just forces that idea in even more:that the white characters are the good guys. We completely forget that the main conflict was caused by an irresponsible Edith, but she walks guilt free and happy.

 

Doctor Who:A Town Called Mercy

Doctor Who has become my favorite sci-fi television show.

New opening title style.

 This incarnations of the doctor is facing his death. The death of his wife, set up in Season four episode "Silence in the Library, as well as his own.

In the episode "A Town Called Mercy" the Doctor is thrown into a western style town where he is faced with a Cyborg Cowboy Assassin. In this episode he is reminded of his own history of war by the alien doctor he meets in this small town. He begins to believe that his mercy is a fault. The doctor eventually is able to realize that violence never solves anything.




The cyborgs costume was excellent. Doctor Who always has superb special effects. Though I do think a human with a face tattoo passing as alien is hilarious. My favorite sci-fi was always a little

City of Ghosts

Today I went with my class to see City of Ghosts. It was written and directed by Matt Dillon. Matt Dillon is also the star of the film. I always think it is sort of strange when directors cast themselves in their own films. It is a lot of stressful work.



I just want to say; what did I just watch? I believed the characters and enjoyed the mystery of it. That being said, I had no idea what was going on.  Sok was the only character I really cared about. Though, I suppose it would be difficult to get an audience to care about a con man.

The title was misleading to the plot and sound like the poetry of an emo teenager. I love the setting in Cambodia. I found the music appealing. I was really hoping the romantic plot was more prominent, but sadly it felt forced.  You never really learned anything about the romantic interest.



There were characters in the film that seemed pointless. The gang that beats Jimmy up in the beginning and the man that kills Robbie were never heard from again. What about the guy who stole Jimmy's passport? Why did he and the man stole the statue have to die? It didn't make any sense. I think this film deserves another viewing. Maybe then I'll understand what was going on, but it really didn't read.

Neglected (and GTC)

I am so sad that I missed the showing of the films in class. I wish I had seen everyone's films and I'm sure they were wonderful. I missed class because of the Georgia Theatre Conference. It was an excellent experience for a studying actor. I realized how much I still have to learn. I need to be more in control of my body. As an actor it is my tool and I will grow in my senses. I was lucky that Josh came to me with the finished product to let me view it and I was happy with our work. I was also happy to be with Danielle at GTC, where on our down time she showed me her group's film. I thought it was a wonderful piece. I'm so happy to be surrounded by these people. I say that because this trip not only taught me as an actor, but as a person. I learned that my colleagues are truly good people that just want to create. That is how I feel. I just want to create.

The only media I was able to intake was twitter text messages on my phone. The hotel had terrible wireless internet and I was barely in the hotel long enough to enjoy even that. The GTC President was really stressing the fact that they now have a twitter and facebook account. I wish I had an iPhone.



First of all, this theatre was gorgeous. This is the Rylander in Americus, Georgia. The keynote speaker was Karan Kendrick, an actress from Georgia that played a role in "The Hunger Games". She was incredibly inspirational. It will always stay in my mind that she said, "If I can do it, so can you".

I feel my creative energy rejuvenated and I am ready to come to video workshop ready to learn all that I can to be a professional storyteller.