Monday, April 6, 2009
P.S.
I think I will make my own blog, one that does not require me to fill in some template that dictates how my typography will look. Grr. How frustrating. Please excuse the typography flaws.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
(Text Heavy)
On Friday, April 3rd, I attended director, Rahmin Bahrani's a master class lecture at the WAC. He discussed in great detail the makings of his 2007 film Chop Shop. I was delighted to listen as he deconstructed his Neo realism approach to exposing penury and hardships of a young boy and his sister, whilst working with non-actors and a very small crew. The result, something that holds the hand of a documentary.
The style of film making as listed above, Neo realism is a style of filming prominent in Italy after World War II, characterized by a concern for social issues. This type of filming is typically shot on location with untrained actors.
During the lecture Bahrani referenced many books, filmmakers, and film titles that inspired him the most; this was great to hear what stirred him to produce great works. Not to mention his earlier film Man Push Cart, which was filmed in a similar direction as Chop Shop.
Recommended References
Books:
John Howard Lawson: Theory and Technique on Playwriting and Screenwriting
This was written in 1949. The book covers history of dramatic thought, contemporary theatre, dramatic structure, dramatic composition, and the theory and technique of screenwriting.
Alexander Mackendrick: On Film-making: An Introduction to the Craft of the Director
Mackendrick knows you can't teach the art and inspiration that directors have to have intuitively, though there is a useful chapter titled A Technique for Having Ideas. Involving thought process, this may allow for more than only film making.
Fyodor Dostoevsky: Notes on the Underground
Presented in two parts the novel tells the story of the unnamed Undergound Man who is forced into a life of inaction by the reason driven society that he finds himself in. The first part of the novel explains how the Underground man came into existence; and the second part caters to the modern day reader, dealing with the Underground Man's interactions with the society around him. It is in this section that we see that he incapable of reacting in a normal way with the persons that he comes into contact with.
Film:
Director(s): Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne*
Film(s): La Promesse, (The Promise); Rosetta; L'enfant, (The Child); Lorna's Silence.
Director(s): Agnès Varda
Director(s): Maya Deren (a.k.a Eleanora Derenkowsky)
Director(s): Abba Kiarostami *
Film(s): Khane-ye doust kodjast? (Where is the Friend's Home); Ta'm e guilass, (Taste of Cherry); Zire darakhatan zeyton, (Through the Olive Trees); Ten.
Director(s): Mohsen Makhmalbaf *
Film(s): Bicycleran, (The Cyclist); Gabbeh; Nun va Goldoon, (Moment of Innocence); Safar e Ghandehar, (Kandahar).
Director(s): Samira Makhmalbaf * (Daughter of Mohsen Makhmalbaf)
Film(s): Sib, (The Apple).
* Recommended by Philippe Costaglioli professor of International Cinema and Aesthetics
The style of film making as listed above, Neo realism is a style of filming prominent in Italy after World War II, characterized by a concern for social issues. This type of filming is typically shot on location with untrained actors.
During the lecture Bahrani referenced many books, filmmakers, and film titles that inspired him the most; this was great to hear what stirred him to produce great works. Not to mention his earlier film Man Push Cart, which was filmed in a similar direction as Chop Shop.
Recommended References
Books:
John Howard Lawson: Theory and Technique on Playwriting and Screenwriting
This was written in 1949. The book covers history of dramatic thought, contemporary theatre, dramatic structure, dramatic composition, and the theory and technique of screenwriting.
Alexander Mackendrick: On Film-making: An Introduction to the Craft of the Director
Mackendrick knows you can't teach the art and inspiration that directors have to have intuitively, though there is a useful chapter titled A Technique for Having Ideas. Involving thought process, this may allow for more than only film making.
Fyodor Dostoevsky: Notes on the Underground
Presented in two parts the novel tells the story of the unnamed Undergound Man who is forced into a life of inaction by the reason driven society that he finds himself in. The first part of the novel explains how the Underground man came into existence; and the second part caters to the modern day reader, dealing with the Underground Man's interactions with the society around him. It is in this section that we see that he incapable of reacting in a normal way with the persons that he comes into contact with.
Film:
Director(s): Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne*
Film(s): La Promesse, (The Promise); Rosetta; L'enfant, (The Child); Lorna's Silence.
Director(s): Agnès Varda
Director(s): Maya Deren (a.k.a Eleanora Derenkowsky)
Director(s): Abba Kiarostami *
Film(s): Khane-ye doust kodjast? (Where is the Friend's Home); Ta'm e guilass, (Taste of Cherry); Zire darakhatan zeyton, (Through the Olive Trees); Ten.
Director(s): Mohsen Makhmalbaf *
Film(s): Bicycleran, (The Cyclist); Gabbeh; Nun va Goldoon, (Moment of Innocence); Safar e Ghandehar, (Kandahar).
Director(s): Samira Makhmalbaf * (Daughter of Mohsen Makhmalbaf)
Film(s): Sib, (The Apple).
* Recommended by Philippe Costaglioli professor of International Cinema and Aesthetics
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Unterwegs
My next film is now in the works. The concept of the film will be revolving around the idea of the subconscious. What you are actually thinking about in life. Attempting to explain how much of life is overlooked on the daily. There you go. Es ist unterwegs.
So please enjoy for the moment, some of my inspirations, for this next film making session.
Paranoid Park
Directed by Gus Van Sant
So please enjoy for the moment, some of my inspirations, for this next film making session.
Paranoid Park
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Friday, February 13, 2009
iHomeworksucks
Far
The course of this short transpired over a two week period; and is the first film work by Kristin Krantz. Future projects under way, stay tuned.
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