Legally Blonde: Final Courtroom Scene

Answer the questions below:

·         Describe what happened in the scene you watched; How does the scene make you feel? What techniques did the filmmakers use to make you feel that way?

In the courtroom scene of Legal Blonde the main character Elle Wood is questioning the daughter of the murder millionaire who was allegedly shot by Brooke Wyndham. A variety of shot angles and shot sizes allow for different imagines and emotions to be felt through the camera.  The close up shots express strong emotion of the characters intensifying the story. 

·         How did the pacing of the scene (fast or slow) or the movement of the camera affect your reactions?

The scene pace begins slowly by picking up pace when the main lawyer character was dismissed by his client, Brooke, in return Elle come in to finish the trial. The scene continues at a slow pace while the questioning of the witness is a slow, repetitive session later picking up speed once Elle deducts a flaw in her story reviling her alibi and coax a confession. 

·         List all the visual qualities such as framing, camera angles, colors, setting, costumes, décor, and lighting.

Camera angles consisted of a mixture of a very wide shot to capture the court house opening scenes then focused mainly on medium and close up shots depending on the type need to get the emotion across. Close up shots were highly affective in the confession shot to capture the shock and awe on the charters' faces. 

The decor is a court room set is the standard court room form. Audiences benches, defendant and plaintiff benches, witness stand, judge's bench.

·         What was the mood of the scene? How did the colors used in the scene contribute to the mood?

The scene was bright and an air of excitement and happiness. 

·         What did the costumes tell you about the characters?

Elle signature color is pink, during her time at Harvard she gave her signature color a backseat to fit into the lawyer role. In the final courtroom scene Elle dawns a pink dress and strappy blinded out pink stiletto as if she was back in here element. 

Brooke was in a low plunging blazer with a long gold necklace with Hollywood type hair and make-up. 

Emette was is a typical suit and tie 

Elle's sorority  sister were in outlandish outfit that targeted them as outsiders. 

·         How did the music contribute to the mood and what did the music tell you about the characters?

·         What did you learn about the characters from the dialogue?

·         What were the values and opinions expressed in this scene?

What did I get myself into?

81 days until graduation...

Mere minutes ago I wrapped up a production meeting with my film group; a collective group of theater and non-theater majors. Our idea was short and sweet.As we developed it into a script details were added. Too many I think. When we view the schedule looking at the rapidly approaching deadlines and  schedule increasing exponential as the weeks past my head begins to spin. What did I get myself into?

I took this class because it fulfilled an 3000+ elective slot, to be honest I did not anticipate the work load of this class. Not that I don't enjoy learning new things but im about to redline.

The idea and script writing process was enjoyable being able to take one sentence concept and a four line poem and transform it into a script. Which soon, hopefully, just maybe will become a workable production shoot and movie.  Fingers cross.

The class is not exactly what I pictured. More hands on work than I planned with my already insane schedule. I picked the class and register for it. Nothing worth doing is ever easy, so I'm hoping once its all said and filmed Video Production will leave me with knowledge I lacked in August.


That what I have for my feeling right now. Here is to a productive last 10 weeks under the lights.

The Dictators

Paragraph 1: Offer your overall impression of the film while mentioning the movie’s title, director and key actors.

My overall opinion of  The Dictator (2012) was a mildly inappropriate humorous film. Sascha Baron Cohen and Anna Faris star in the film. The outrageous comedy plays on wildly unreal government set up but nothing unreal for a Sascha Baron Cohen film.  It not something I would pay to watch but what can you do when it a Red Box movie and friends. 

Paragraph 2: Summarize the plot of the film. 

The Dictators begins with a Republic of Wadiya became in the state that it is currently in. The Dictator, Aladeen is extremely wealth and crazy ruler. If his people do not appease him then he will have you killed type ruler. Aladeen has to make a trip to the U.N for address his country nuclear weapons issues. Aladeen advisor makes a plan to have Aladeen assigned and hires a double that he will use a puppet once the treaty is signed. The advisor plans go awry when Aladeen is still living and planning to regain his title back. It is made difficult to regain his status because he lost his bread. 

Paragraph 3: How did the actors portray key character roles? Did they fulfill your expectations?

Baron Cohen portrays Aladeen is his typical fashion as an outrageous and inappropriate standard character. He is overly sexual and outlandish as he is in the rest of his movie. He reminds be if Will Ferrel because his character is always the same.    

Paragraph 4: Were any particular film techniques used in key scenes? How did the film techniques and music enhance the setting and themes of the film?

The film to me did not have anything special film techniques but music was used to escalated emotions during the scenes.  

Paragraph 5: Offer a decisive factor that tells the reader to attend the film or not.

It is a situational film. If you want a good laugh and do not want to think about the characters then it is a decent film. Like I said I would not pay to see it but Red Box yes. 

The Italian Job (2003) - Movie Review

After work I'm watching Fx and what comes on but the Italian Job. How lucky can I get.

The cast consist of: Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def and Edward Noton.

The 2003 action packed and payback themed money is enjoyable from start to finish.  A group of friends full of a flawless robbery to soon be betrayed by one of their own. Nothing makes a movie more enjoyable than a revenge plot line for me. "I'm taking this from him" is an appropriate quote from Theron's character as she joins her father's old group to avenge him.

The entire cast fulfilled their roles is their individual ways. Each character had their specific role which built into a well organize team bent for fool-proof hiest. Wahlberg plays the new appointed leader of the group. Theron is the safe cracking daughter of the Southerland's character who is out to avenge her father's memory. Statham is his classic bad ass driving, smokin' hot accent self (SN: I also watched Death Race following the Italian Job. Stathum tends to play the same BA character in all his movies and I perfectly okay with it) Seth Green add the brains to the groups cracking into the traffic control system allowing Green to control the streets of LA. Mos Def adds explosions to the group while Norton is the teammate that went rouge.

The camera action in the Italian Job was quick and always in motion. The scenes if not racing where full of action and geared up with fast pace music. The movie was visually stunning with insane driving and action stuns. 

The Italian Job was released in 2003 I highly doubt my blog critique will alter nine years of prior judgment; however, the movie is one of my favorites. The actors are outstanding, great plot and full of action. Need I mention the epic chase scenes in Mini Cooper. 

The Big Bang Theory - Television Show Review

Paragraph 1: Offer your overall impression of the film while mentioning the movie’s title, director and key actors.

The Big Bang Theory is a quick wit collection on highly intellectual gentlemen and a interesting collection of female characters.  Johnny Galecki as Leonard, Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper and Kaley Cuoco as Penny are just a few of the characters. Directed by Mark Cendrownski.  

Paragraph 2: Summarize the plot of the film. 

The plot of the episode I view was were Sheldon and Leonard's boss requested they attend a work party to grease the palms of rich potential donors. Sheldon refuses to attend leave the funding responsibility to Leonard and Rejash. After the fear of liberal arts receive the fund Sheldon joins the events repulsing all the donors. 

Paragraph 3: How did the actors portray key character roles? Did they fulfill your expectations?

The roles of each character are well cemented. Leonard is the trustworthy friend that is always around to do what is necessary 

Sheldon Cooper  never fails to deliver witty one-liners and do things only to his liking. Nothing else will suffices for this quick witted genius. 

Paragraph 4: Were any particular film techniques used in key scenes? How did the film techniques and music enhance the setting and themes of the film?

Most scene changes are moved by music. The music end and begins scenes while the camera angles are fairly static. 

Paragraph 5: Offer a decisive factor that tells the reader to attend the film or not.

The humor and wit of the character keeps me tuning in. I am not one with a lot of spare time for t.v. but I must say when I do I hope I can catch episode or dear say watch On Demand. 

Media Survey-

Media Literacy Topic #1
Post all answers to the questions below in your blog
Keep a media log for one week, listing all the different types of media avenues you use and how much time you spend with each one for each day of the week. Make a chart that summarizes your habits 
o How do you use media? Which media do you use? (Do you use YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter? Read newspapers or magazines? See billboards or other advertising? Do you watch TV, listen to music, surf the Web, and play video games? 
Also, answer the following questions:


 What does your media use say about you?

I like to stay in tune constantly with what people are doing and always in the know. I am never disconnected from media for a prolonged period of time. 


 Which media do you trust and why? 

I trust media that has been pasted down to me from my friends and my parents. I would have never started using Twitter, Pinterest or even blogger if it weren’t for the recommendations of my friends. 


 Which media do you enjoy the most and why? 

I enjoy social media and entertainment media. Being on a journalist track I like to know who is doing what and how their lives are unfolding. I enjoy listening and watching media such as the radio, television


Are you willing to broaden your exposure to different media? If you used to watch mainly sports and action/ adventure on television, are you now spreading your viewing to a wider range of genres? 

I am willing to try new types for media and expand my views on what type of media I allow to influence me. 



Type of Media Hours Per Day Days of the Week

Friday
Twitter, Texting, Pinterest, Radio, Television 
Texting: 5 hours
Twitter: 2 hours
Radio: 4 hours

Saturday

Vogues Magazine, Radio, Television, Twitter, Texting, Billboards Texting: 3 hours
Twitter: 2 hours
Radio: 4 hours
Television: 4 hours 

Sunday

Texting, Twitter, Radio,television Texting: 5 hours
Twitter: 2 hours
Radio: 4 hours 

Monday

Computer, newspaper, Twitter Radio
Texting: 5 hours
Twitter: 2 hours
Radio: 4 hours
Newspaper: 1 hour

Tuesday
Twitter, Texting, Pinterest, Radio, Television 

Texting: 3 hours
Twitter: 2 hours
Radio: 4 hours
Internet: 2 hours

Wednesday
Twitter, Texting, Pinterest, Radio, Television 

Texting: 3 hours
Twitter: 2 hours
Radio: 4 hours
Television: 4 hours

Thursday
Twitter, Texting, Radio, 
Twitter: 1 hour
Texting: 1 hour
Radio: 1 hour 

Friday

Twiiter: 1 hours
Texting: 1 hour
Internet 1hour
Radio: 1 hours

Carmel Macchiato : Communication is the milk between the bitter and sweet

Communication is to friendship and relationships as milk is to a Carmel Macchiato (My favorite). Without the steamy milk the delicious warm your soul beverage is nothing but a few shots of bitter espresso and favor syrup. My favorite drink is now a too strong mixture of bitter and sweet with nothing to balance it out. Milk is the balancing that bring the sweet with the strong while bringing a smile to my face.

Now to real life and communication—talking to people in general fills our days, like the milk fill the cup. Whether it be through text messages, facebook, or even in person (its rare these days); sharing information with people directly and communicating opinions, thoughts, objections, adds the warmth and volume to life.

As a female talking has never been, and normally never is a problem, I've been told I can talk to a wall.  Besides the point—one has to be able to speak about everything with little disclosure. If you cannot talk about it them it has to be resolved somehow.

What does it take for you to talk about hard topics, do you have to be under pressure or immense heat injected into your life. Perhaps, you just cannot wait to talk and all you need is a trusting ear and a cup of coffee to open up life's recent wiring in your life book. Are you just waiting for a friend to help proof-read your thoughts and actions before writing them in ink?

Communication is not only reveal in written and spoken conversations it is spoken with emotions and body language. Non verbal signs are the true tell sign of any rising issue.

When words are short and little to no emotion put into them. When the tension between phrases could be support bridges. Speak the word that lye within you. They do no good to you or anyone around you, if they remain in the back of your mind or the tip of you tongue. Trashcan!

Don't risk losing or injuring any sort of relationship over words unspoken. Once said, reasoning can set in allowing the way for conversation, uncomfortable as it is, why not just go ahead and do it.  Why strike out with the bat in your hand just standing there. Might as well go down swinging, you might just make contact opening the communication way back up again.

Okay, well I think I rambled enough here.

Communication is like the Milk between the sweet layer of syrup and the energetic bitterness of espresso. It brings together all that is good and allows for it to come a delightful treat. Constant communication is the key, bitter to sweet talk it out. There is no use crying over spilt milk if you don't use it.

Best Wishes and Caffeine Love,

KRB