Monday, April 30, 2012

Sofia Coppola




sofia coppola
"I'm always a sucker for a love story"

Visionary is the word I think of to describe Sofia. She treats film like a painting, in my opinion. The composition and shots are just as important as the story and the actors. She lives in Paris, a filmmakers dream. I can't imagine what it would be like to be around that much inspiration and beauty all day everyday.



Directed: 


The Virgin Suicides(1999) Based on the book by Jeffrey Eugenides. This is the story of the Lisbon family in Grosse Pointe, Michigan in the 1970s and the suicides of the 5 daughters. 
Sofia read the book and decided to make the film but found out it was already in the works, she showed her script to the production company and they used hers instead. Get it girl!



Lost in Translation (2003) Written by Sofia and loosely based on biographical events. This is a story about an aging actor, Bob, who meets Charlotte, a photographer's wife visiting Japan. Immediately they connect while displaced in a foreign country. 
The title of the movie is a reference to a definition of poetry by Robert Frost: "Poetry is what gets lost in translation."



Marie Antionette (2006)Also written by Sofia, this film is loosely based on the life of the Queen consort leading up to the French Revolution. One of Sofia's resources is Antonia Fraser's Marie Antionette which makes the queen a more human character. 
The girl in me wants to mention the fun fact I found that most shoes in the film were designed by Manolo Blahnik. I will own a pair one day, I know it. 



Somewhere (2010)Written by Sofia, this film is about a newly famous actor who's recovering from a injury at the Chateau Marmont. Going through an existential crisis, he is detaching from life which is apparent during the first 15 minutes of the film where no dialogue is spoken. His 11 year old daughter visits him and gives his life purpose again. All of Sofia's film are heavy with themes. They are not subtle in any way, here we see a strong theme in parenthood, (Which my friend, Jack would appreciate). Sofia also wrote in a little biographical details about living in hotels as a child. Perfect example of "write what you know."





Lick the Star (1998) is a 14 minute long black and white short film Sofia co-wrote and directed. It's Heathers (1988) meets Mean Girls (2004), but in the 90s. I'm so grateful my friend pointed out a very important cameo by none other than Peter Bogdanovich himself. [Peter Bogdanovich is a very well known director who just so happens to teach Directing for the upperclassmen.] 
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000953/



The Bling Ring (2013) Currently in productionInspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the Internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.


Get to know Sofia a little better:


Sunday, April 29, 2012

Fort (2012)

This is Student film screening week. Mon-Wed are first years, Thur-Fri are second years, Sat are third years, then 4th years go on Sunday. It has been such a great experience watching the student films. These are films I have worked on, my friends have worked on and I've seen go into production. Something I once considered impossible to do.

The order of the films were by section first then pretty much the order they were shot within the sections. Once our film was shot, we had until April to edit them. In our editing class we screened our rough cut and got feed back to improve it, so I was able to see a handful of the five minutes. I'm so proud of this first year class. There were so many very creative stories and once I get permission and a copy or link I will add them here.

Section Three Tripods

Let me take a moment to express how unbelievably proud I am of my section, Section Three Tripods!

Jake Kath
Camilo Herrera
Kazmo Kida
Josh Mayo
Jenny Gray
Joseph Hefner
DR Monroe
Michelle Shiraziefard
Ben Guilbault
Tyler Harmon-Townsen
Mike Kern
Wil Massenguill
Rachael Hall
Harry Keenan
Carol Housel Kenney
Alex Hughes
Harrison Keller

Now that I've had my official screening of Fort (2012), I've decided to upload it and make it live for your viewing pleasure. 
<This is not a disclaimer, but I want to say that after seeing it on the big screen I've noticed a few things I need to fix (mainly in the audio) but I need to take a small break from this film and gain some perspective on it.>





This weekend was also BEAUX ARTS! Where we all pretty much just celebrate being down with the year. Each school had their own performances [Film had their screenings, Dance had performances as well as the music school, and drama had a couple of stage combat shows. Saturday night was a dance at the millennium center then Sunday was a carnival on the hill with food, music, and volleyball. High of 80 was the prettiest day I've seen in a wile. 
Dancing the nigh away

on our way out

hush that fuss.

Carnival




The following are a couple of passages from literature I've come across that I felt were worth putting in here.


"If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice



Thomas De Quincey, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater “All men come into this world alone and leave it alone.” This is true in a very literal sense. We also take others with us when we die. Because the only knowledge that we have of another person is contained in our heads as a mental representation of that individual, is a sense our own death will steal their lives away too. 

Friday, April 20, 2012

One Hour Photo (2002)

The last few weeks have been filled with trying to fill spare time with spontaneous things. Starting with a trip to Greensboro to visit Austin's parent. On a whim, we jumped in the car, started driving to some good tunes. Spotted a Wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man and had to pull over to join him. Take a look:




Then continued our journey to Gboro. Took a walk and took some photos, chatted about movies, life and love. Then had a wonderful dinner to follow with a 100 year anniversary viewing of Titanic (1997) on VHS with coffee and chocolate cake.

Spontaneous trip to Gboro. 
Playing with my camera. 
Below is a photo of SECCA, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. http://secca.org/ We took a short field trip to the museum to see a film noir themed exhibit by Tracey Snelling http://traceysnelling.com/home.html.  It was a lot of fun to do something different. To find a little inspiration besides the internal walls of UNCSA.



Another great resource Winston Salem has for art lovers is the Reynolda House http://www.reynoldahouse.org/ We've been a couple of times this year for Art History and it is beautiful. Below are some photos Austin and I took on a trip there:

In a magnolia tree

In the gazebo


Reynolda House


It's about that time... Resume season. It's such a fulfilling little task. Creating little papers that list your accomplishments. It wasn't until I made my UNCSA film resume that I realized how much I have worked this year.


I also updated my theatre resume for the hell of it, which brought back some great memories. My professional resume is looking really beefy. But the one that is giving the most problems is my film resume!
This Friday is my portfolio review with all of my art professors. The reviews have been going on all week and everyone says there's nothing to worry about.

Movies I've seen recently: The Wrestler (2008) (finally) I really enjoyed it, mostly for the performances. What a great job by Mickey, Marisa and even Evan.

Required screenings have ceased for American cinema, so I'm left to watch movies I want to see. :) Feels good. Tonight's screening: Take Shelter (2011) Which is Directed & Written by Jeff Nichols who is an alumni of UNCSA! :)


His newest movie, Mud (2013), is one of the leading films at the Cannes Film Festival this year, also written and directed by Nichols! http://www.austin360.com/movies/austins-nichols-to-take-mud-to-main-cannes-2314789.html


Working tech ops has it's perks, like getting a private, hands on lesson on the Arri Alexa Camera. A $90,000 camera! Puts my little DSLR to shame. It took approximately 30 minutes to get completely set up on it's sticks and spreader..... AND grip head with the EVF and Matbox.. and yada yada yada. I don't mean "yada" with disrespect, it's more like "Whoa, that's a lot to remember."




After today I only have 1 week of academics left. The classes are starting to become a little more casual. In Psychology we are learning about Change Blindness: Watch this video


How many changes did you notice? I think I noticed 2.

Friday, April 13, 2012

A Serbian Film (2010)

This is what my friends and I do for fun. We risk our lives for the sake of a good film.

Forgive me readers, it has been 3 weeks since my last post. But I took one of my last Art Finals last night so I feel I've earned a little ranting! This month has been chalk full of work. Preparing for my portfolio review, finalizing my five minute film, final Psych & Art History Papers, studying for my art classes' finals. The only one left: Sound final. I felt tension in my forehead one day and realized I had a permanent scowl on my face as I was studying I froze my face to take a picture to see what I looked like. This is it:
Learn to smile more. 


Brandon has deployed again. I keep saying (as he's returning) that I'd blog about some stories of his, but I don't think I'm allowed to. I'm not sure I can tell you where but If you're interested I can give you his email address. He'll be in the states for the whole summer!

In the last few weeks I've gotten into the show The Walking Dead. Like hardcore. I'm even dreaming of zombie apocalypse!

Let me plug in my Dream Sequence from the Fall. (Directing assignment!) Although watching it again, after taking Sound Design I'm noticing all of the sound flaws. This is going to be a great project to go back

We've finally wrapped Five minute films!! The last one to shoot was my friend's Jake Barnes. And guess what?! It was about zombies, and I got to act in it.


Easter weekend I got a call from my dad saying he'll be leaving in a couple of weeks for Afghanistan. So I jumped in my car and drove to VA with a buddy of mine and spent a delicious Sunday with my family. It was pretty sad because I have such a good time there and never spend nearly enough time but I got to say bye to my pops. 

As of right now, all of my assignments for the rest of the school are completed with the exception of a very fun one. Art History final project: Paying homage to our favorite artist. I chose Annie Leibovitz, my favorite photographer. I bought a book about her years ago and now have the excuse to actually read it. 

Once I finish taking photographs for this project I will post them here. I'm really excited about it. 

A couple of weeks ago, in American Cinema we screened Baraka (1992). It took me a couple of days to reflect and appreciate which is what happens with movies that have some cruelty to animals, and even though Baraka didn't' have too much, there was a scene with little ducklings and I just.couldn't.handle.it.




My buddies and I had the brilliant idea of watching A Serbian Film (2010). I heard this was the most disturbing film ever and I had to watch it. Who I thought had recommended it to me got an ear full until he denied it and now I can't remember who told me about it!! COME FORTH YOU SPAWN OF HADES! Either way, I talked my boys into watching it:




genuine reactions. don't watch.


There is no good way to segue to a lighter note. But let me tell you about something I absolutely love.
 Olan. Rogers. 


This is the first skit I saw and I was hooked instantly. This guy is hilarious and charming and just plain fun. He is the inspiration for us doing the challenges. I'm in the process of editing a challenge that involves flour and a bonfire. Sounds dangerous... I know. Well, if you have the time watch EVERY video this man has made. His newest one:



RIDICULOUS!!!!





Today commences The 14th Annual RiverRun International Film Festival! http://2012.riverrunfilm.com/
It's going to be a blast! Hopefully I'll be seeing Friday the 13th tonight in honor of Friday the 13th! :)



http://htwins.net/scale2/index.html Ever wondered how big you were compared to the rest of the world?! Click on this link.

Preview of the next video:

Stay tuned. Au revoir!