Short Films

Replay Takes place in a futuristic world where humans live underground and are impoverished.
A woman named Lana lives underground with her little brother Theo. Everyday Lana brings back items that she finds on the surface for sale. One day she brings back a tape recorder that Theo is particularly enthralled in. When Theo presses the button the sounds of the world we know fill the air. In contrast to Theo's own deserted world there are the sounds of birds singing and children playing. Theo's imagination ends up transporting him into a world that he creates with the sounds from the tape recorder. I chose this film as it is a good representation of how far animation has come from its early beginnings. It was also a featured video on youtube and has 120,910 views which shows how many people a short film on youtube can impact.




This is Neil Bloomkamps original film, Alive in Joburg, which is what the new movie District 9 is based on. It tells the story of an alien race that has to live in poor and slumlike conditions on Earth. I chose this as I thought it was interesting and it shows how short film has the ability to cross over into screen.




Spin tells the tale of a DJ who visits a busy area of the city as he uses his turntables as a time machine. It explores how it is the little things that counts and can have the biggest impact on people. It is one of the most popular short films on youtube and has already won 35 film festival awards worldwide. It shows how popular small screen web video can be and how accesible it is for consumers.

Lecture 4- From the big screen to the small screen

This weeks lecture outlined the history of film and television. It was quite interesting to see how it all started and what it has come to now.

Some of the main dates covered were:
1895 - This saw the birth of cinema on December 28th,
1897 - First cinema was built in Paris
1903 - The first narrative film: The Great Robbery
1906 - First feature length Australian narrative film was made: Ned Kelly
1920 - Expressionism
1921 - The introduction of Sound
1922 - Montage introduced
1923 - Animation
1925 - First in flight movie
1927 - Widely screened feature length Talkie: The Jazz Singer
1929 - First 100% natural colour, talking, singing, dancing picture
1933 - First drive in theater
1937 - First full length animated feature: Snow White
1939 - Television
1941 - Film Noir
1952 - 3D introduced
1953 - The B Movie
1955 - Movies on the Tv
1956- First videotape recorder
1963 - Multiplex Theatre
1966 - Startrek debuted
1967 - Portapak introduced
1969 - VCR for home use
1970 - IMAX
1971 - Blockbuster
1978 - Video laser Disc
1980 - HBO
1981 - MTV
1982 - Film and Video Arcade game
1985 - Home Blockbuster, Video film
1986 - Computer-Generated- Animation
1988 - Live action and animation: Who framed Roger Rabbit
1993 - El Mariachi
1994 - Pulp
1995 - Toy Story
1997 - DVDs
1998 - HDTV, VOD: Netflix
1999 - TiVo
2001 - Inspired by the game: Final Fantasy
2002 - Movies on Demand
2005 - Blu ray
2006 - Youtube
2007 - Broadband Release
2009 - Vibrating movie theater chair

Scavenger Hunt - Tutorial Task week 4

1. What is the height of the world's biggest tree? How long did it take to grow?
The worlds biggest tree is the General Sherman. Although it is not the largest by height, it is the biggest in terms of volume. It is 87.8 meters tall and is located in the in the Giant Forrest of Sequoia National Park. It is believed that the tree is between 2,300 and 2,700 years old.

2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Madonna?
A simple way to contact Madonna is through her myspace however a more reliable way would be mailing a letter.

3. What is the age of the oldest ever captive elephant? Is this older than the average wild age?
The average wild age for an elephant to live is between 50 and 70 years. However the oldest ever captive elephant was 86. His name was Lin Wang and he lived in captivity at the Taipei Zoo in Taiwan.

4. How would you define the word 'glycomics'? In your own words, what does it really mean ? What does the term 'seagull manager' refer to?
Glycomics studies carbohydrates and also glycosides. In my own words, gylco means someting sweet or involving sugar and therefore I think glycomics is the study of carbohydrates or 'sugars'.
A seagull manager refers to someone who is an extremely critical manager. They arrive at work, proceed to criticize everyone then leave again.

5. What was David Cronenberg's most recent feature film? Which of his films Had 'Blondie' in it?
His most recent feature film was called Eastern Promises. Blondie was in his film Videodrome.

6. When was the original 'Hacker's' released?
The original Hackers movie was released on 15 September 1995.

7. Why do phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
"The phone companies suggested that studios begin using the prefix 555 so that the average Tommy or Jenny wouldn’t be getting phone calls in the middle of the night asking for a Private Eye or Unwitting Hero" (HolyJuan, 2008).

8. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Cairns?
Walking!! However this may not be the fastest.

9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1970?
Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Up Around the Bend"/"Run Through the Jungle".

10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
The Black Assassins



Sources - Date accessed for all is 20 August 2009
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=world%27s+biggest+tree+2009&page=1&qsrc=2417&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fpurpleslinky.com%2Ftrivia%2Fscience%2Fworlds-tallest-and-largest-trees%2F

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=oldest++elephant+lucy&page=1&qsrc=2417&ab=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidssavelucy.com%2Fabout-elephants%2Ffun-facts

http://www.zoo.org/factsheets/elephants/elephant3.html

http://www.ask.com/ans?qsrc=167&o=0&l=dir&q=what%20is%20glycomics

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=seagull+manager&page=1&qsrc=2417&ab=5&u=http%3A%2F%2Fencarta.msn.com%2Fdictionary_701709596%2Fseagull_manager.html

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=David+Cronenberg+latest&page=1&qsrc=2417&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm0000343%2F

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=David+Cronenberg+debbie+harry+&page=1&qsrc=2242&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FVideodrome-James-Woods%2Fdp%2F0783228457

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=hackers+movie+&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0113243%2F

HolyJuan, 2008
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=hollywood+films+phone+555&page=1&qsrc=2417&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.holyjuan.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fhollywood-running-out-of-555-phone.html

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=autralian+pop+charts+1970&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=3&u=http%3A%2F%2Faustralian-charts.com%2Fforum.asp%3Ftodo%3Dviewthread%26id%3D28379

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=stephen+stockwell&page=1&qsrc=2106&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Flive-wirez.gu.edu.au%2FStaff%2FStephen%2Fdefault.html

Movies shots

After watching the movie Transformers it is clear that as outlined in the previous lecture certain camera shots explore the questions of who, what, when, where, why and how. A close up was used many times when initially showing the main characters of Sam and Mikaela. It was also used in the introduction of the robots.

Close up of Bumblebee

The mid shot was also used frequently in many scenes involving the actions of the main characters, particularly in Sams discovery of the transformers.

Mid Shot

The long shot was used in the beginning of the film as an establishing shot as it clearly shows the area of Los Angeles.

Long Shot

The wide shot was also commonly used in accordance with when as it helped to transition scenes forward and give a sense of what time it was.

Wide Shot

Some extreme close ups were also used to answer the question of why. They focused a lot on the facial expressions of Sam as well as the transformers.

Extreme Close up

Lastly how was shown most effectively through a single medium close up such as in the scene when Sam confronts his enemy and the story is further explained.

Single Medium Close Up

Source - All images are from Google images

Lecture 3

This lecture explored some aspects of film and in particular cine-speak which is the language of the cinema. We learned a lot of the important camera shots. These included the 'very long shot/wide shot', 'long shot', 'medium long shot', 'mid shot', 'medium close-up', 'close-up', 'big close-up' and the 'extreme close-up'. Another thing that was explored was using shots as words. This was to tell the who, what, when, where, why and how of the story. For the question of who, the close up is used as it shows the character in detail. The mid shot answers the what question as it shows the subject performing an action. The long shot is used to answer where and is often called an establishing shot at the beginning of a scene. To answer the question of when both the wide shot and the close up can be used. Why is answered through an extreme close up as it can reveal more about the character and their actions and lastly the question of how is explored with a single medium close up or a series of close ups.

Another important aspect that was learned was about head room in a shot. It is important to have good headroom as to much or to little headroom can make the shot look off balance.
Talking room is also important as the shot can become uneven and confusing if it is not right.

The rule of thirds was also discussed. This means breaking the image down into thirds so that there are nine parts. This helps it become nicely balanced and easy on the eye. Another rule was the 180 degree rule. This rule means that two characters in the same scene should constantly have a left right relationship to one another. When this is not the case and the camera passes over the axis it is 'crossing the line'.

Lastly a very important point that was given in the lecture was that every shot needs to be able to drive the narrative forward and make a statement.

Captured Video

Definitions

Extreme close-up - it is a shot with a very narrow field of view. It usually focuses on a small area on the face such as the eyes or lips.
(Film Terms, 2008)

Very long shot/Wide shot - It is a shot which covers the action in the scene. It shows the widest picture possible in the frame to show a landscape, context or scene.
(Glossary of terms, 2009)

Mid Shot - denoting a medium distance between the camera and subject/object filmed: a mid shot of a person would show their body from the waist up.
(Cinematic Terms, 2008)

Long Shot - This shot makes the subject look small and far away. It is often used to show an object in relation to its surroundings. It is also used commonly as an establishing shot.
(Glossary of terms, 2009)

Medium Long Shot - A shot whose field is narrower than that of a long shot but much broader than that of a medium shot.
(MLS, 2004)

Medium Close-up - This shot shows more detail then the medium shot and the scale of the figure is quite large. An example would be a human figure seen from the chest up.
(Basic Camera Terms, 2007)

Close-up - The subject is shown as a relatively large scale and takes up most or all of the frame. It includes only a persons face or head.
(Play writing 101, 2006)

Big close up - This shot is taken very close to the figure and would be closer then a normal close-up shot. It reveals a lot of detail.
(Film/Editing terms, 2008)


Bibliography

Film Terms, 2008
http://www.csustan.edu/ENGLISH/Perrello/FilmTerms.htm

Glossary of terms, 2009
http://australianscreen.com.au/glossary/

Cinematic Terms, 2008
www. lancs.ac.uk/staff/mladww/fren233/233%20cinematic%20terms.doc

Glossary of terms, 2009
http://australianscreen.com.au/glossary/

MLS, 2004
http://www.intralinea.it/intra/ipermedia/magistro/En/Medium%20long%20shot.html

Basic Camera Terms, 2007
http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch634/medialit/video/camera.html

Play writing 101, 2006
http://www.playwriting101.com/glossary

Film/Editing terms, 2008
http://www.zerocut.com/tech/film_terms.html

Internet Time Line and History of Computing

1 Dec 1969 - ARPA (advanced research project agency)
1 Mar 1972 - 1st basic email program
1 Jan 1973 - 1st international connection
1 Apr 1976 - Apple computer founded
1 Mar 1978 - TCP split into TCP and IP
22 Jun 1981 - Router created
12 Aug 1981 - IBM announces PC
1 Nov 1983 - DNS (domain name system) created
1 Apr 1985 - T1 line deployed
10 Aug 1991 - Cat 5 cable released
21 Jun 1992 - WWW released
7 Jan 1993 - Mosaic web browser is released
1 Apr 1994 - Netscape communications founded
15 Sep 1996 - Ebay
1 Jan 2003 - Safari
1 Feb 2005 - Youtube launches

Source
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/21440

More detailed internet timeline
http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/VID/jfk/timeline.htm

History of Computing

Source
http://www.pbs.org/nerds/timeline/

Embeded Youtube Video - Paramore: Favourite band

Lecture 2

This lecture detailed the history of the computer and the internet. It explored how the internet has expanded and outlined the origins of it as well as the computer. The lecture talked about people who had a major influence on the computer and internet such as Charles Babbage and Bill Gates. It was interesting to learn about how the internet was brought about as well as the development of email, internet chat and social networking sites. The development and battles of both Microsoft and Apple were also explored and gave an insight into how quickly the computer and internet has grown.

Edited Pictures

Original Picture

Edited Picture

Original Picture

Edited Picture

Video: Convergent technology - Iphone

Examples of convergent technology

Image 1: This is a samsung phone that also has mobile television. This allows the user to be able to have the ability of television and video as well as their mobile all in one device.

Image 2: This is also a mobile communication device. However it also comes with internet access, a keyboard for easy browsing, an mp3 player function, a camera and many more tools.

Image 3: This set top box is also a multi functional piece of technology. As the diagram shows it has internet access, access to the television, and is able to connect to cameras, phones etc.

Image 4: This blackberry is a communication device that plays videos, stores music and pictures as well as being able to communicate between people.

Sources:
http://cbdd.wsu.edu/kewlcontent/cdoutput/tr501/page29.htm
http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/Nov2006/Sam.jpg
http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/convergence.jpg
http://www.intelconsumerelectronics.com/shared/images/Convergence.jpg

Convergence

What is convergence?
Communications media were for a long period of time separate and their services distinct. Each outlet operated on a different platform. Convergence combines all these different media and has them operating on the same platform. Information technologies are converging with computer technology providing the ability to combine television, radio, telephone and print that can be accessed from one point. Businesses are also converging, using new technologies to create horizontal and vertical integration.

Sources:
http://nct09-gc.blogspot.com/
http://cbdd.wsu.edu/kewlcontent/cdoutput/tr501/page29.htm