#but also the cinematography and colour grading feel so fresh in this

[pharawee]

"Who are we kidnapping?"

—KIDNAP THE SERIES · Episode 01

[theimpalatales]

I adore the cinematography in Kin, particularly in the first few episodes of season 1 (directed by Diarmuid Goggins).

There's a voyeurism to many of the shots that place things like furniture, doors or windows in the foreground between the characters and the camera, creating distance between us and them – like we, the audience, are privy to family matters we shouldn't be seeing.

There's a sense of intensity and a fight for control to the extreme edges of the frame the characters are painted into.

And, as intense and powerful as the characters can feel, there is always the sense that the world is bigger than them. The characters are, ultimately, swallowed up by the world.

I think this is so clever because it feels like such a fresh way to shoot a show about gangsters, and it completely fits with many of Kin's themes. Throughout Kin, we see a fairly humanistic exploration of gang families and how difficult it can be for the characters to become free from the criminal endeavours they're surrounded by; once you dip your toe in the pond, you're sucked in. Events have a way of spiralling out of an individual's control, and actions have severe consequences that manifest like falling dominoes.

The world the characters inhabit is bigger than them; the house always wins. It doesn't matter that Mikey wants to stay clean to better his chances of seeing his daughter again, or that Amanda doesn't want her son having anything to do with the family's criminal activities. Even as they wrestle for control of their lives, it's made apparent that they're up against forces bigger than any of them. They are Kinsellas, they exist within this criminal world, and they will have to face the consequences of that.

But neither are these characters helpless. They are in constant conflict with each other to shape the world how they want it to be. They are characters fighting for their survival, for their right to live the way they want to (whether we agree that's morally acceptable or not). We even see explicit examples of characters like Mikey and Amanda being in a position to walk away from the family business and leave it all behind. But this isn't truly what they want.

The Kinsellas go up against Eamon Cunningham. We watch Amanda orchestrate assassinations to hit back at the men who killed her son. Eric is the first Kinsella we see carry out an execution. Mikey (briefly) engages the legal system to be able to see his daughter, and then he and Anna disregard the court's orders for them to have no contact. And the Kinsellas are constantly butting heads with each other as they reap the rewards of their criminal activities. They each have agency and power that they use to try to stay afloat in this treacherous world. The characters' conflict and struggle are visually apparent in the framing and composition of the shots.

Finally, going back to the first point I made (and, wow, I had no idea I'd be making a post this long, I am so sorry!): the voyeurism. From my (little) understanding, gang members in Ireland have almost a reality star-status. The public know who they are, the papers are constantly reporting on them, and their lives appear to be glamorous and, to some, enviable in some ways. Kin almost entirely strips this perspective away to look at the individuals behind this sense of celebrity, to examine the traumatic impact of being involved in a world so deadly and dangerous.

The wealth and glamour is present, but it isn't the focus of the show. Instead, what we get feels like an exposé, a peak behind the curtain into the true lives of these gangsters. Mikey suffers from epileptic fits often brought on by the stress of the job. Amanda and Jimmy lose their son and we watch them grieve. Eric goes to prison and his girlfriend struggles with the drastic change to their relationship. The list goes on as we are treated to the serious and real consequences of being part of this criminal world.

The colour grading and lighting also help hammer this home. It's neither highly saturated or overly desaturated. Rather than having the contrast bumped up, it almost appears soft. Against a backdrop of criminality and drama, the visuals of Kin invite its audience to view these characters as people first, to view them and their actions with empathy, if not always sympathy.

Kin is a show with something to say, and it knows how to use its cinematography to deliver that message to its audience.

[rplayford02]

Shortscape!

Live [comma] cinema! (A very late post about this year’s film festival)

My favourite strand of the festival was Oh-Cult! Not only because Longboard Nights featured, but also my (other) two favourite films from the weekend: Gomorrah and Lost in the Supermarket.

Feelings are manifesting as equal parts admiration and hatred - a very confusing mix of emotions, my feeling towards film in general after this weekend. Everyone is so talented and it’s equal parts inspiring and intimidating.

Firstly, Lost in the Supermarket.

I’m very jealous of the Edinburgh College of Art students. Their production values were through the roof, the cinematography was very pretty, and the narrative structures felt slightly more experimental than those produced by Napier. You can tell they’re an arts uni basically.

Lost in the Supermarket was so creative and kooky, so modern and fresh yet with a retro edge. Certain camera movements reminded me of Spaced (and other early Edgar Wright). I loved the shot over the credits where the camera appeared to be stuck to the guitar. The sequence where they popped their colleagues’ spot was so bizarre and left-field but somehow worked. The costume design and performances also stood out. More than anything it was just fun. You could tell that the filmmakers behind it were really enjoying pushing themselves! I’m hoping we can bring a similar vibe to Robbie’s grad project.

Also Napier needs to employ whoever is teaching these art students to colour grade because ever single one was flawless.

Gomorrah left us speechless. Think Trainspotting but less structured. Narration to camera can sometimes feel clunky but it was so confidently handled in this film. The writing was so sharp, the cinematography played to the themes of intoxication and drug use without falling into parody, the main character was so magnetic despite all his flaws, his screen presence was mesmerising.

Takeaways!

Focus on story before anything else. As a sound designer…idk. Have fun with it? Same goes for every other discipline really. I’m glad we get a whole trimester to research and develop ideas, hopefully with more planning time we can experiment. (Certainly hoping to use the test shoot to experiment above anything else.) Robbie’s project especially should provide for a lot of scope to be extremely stylistic à la Lost in the Supermarket, which I’m excited for. Also Ben’s project which is looking like a more straight up drama should have room to experiment with character experience through the sound design à la Gomorrah.

[paneerlajwanti]

Didi can you draw a mandala on the song Mohe rang do laal

"so it's like drugs?" "it's better than drugs, jeremy"

my admiration, obsession and absolute fixation for mohe rang do laal in one sentence, thank you so much for this ask okay i will now use this as an opportunity to write a whole essay on this beautiful beautiful song,, im so emotionally attached to this song and everything,, no because,, but the way that this one song single handedly revives so many many suppressed memories,, 2015-18 goki would be real proud of me 🤌🤌🤌

• i was KNOWN in my friend circle in ninth grade who would randomly break into dance and go "marodi kalaai" while twisting wrists

• i play this song (and try to dance) every single time i feel disconnected, disconnected from music, katthak, krishna and "happier times"

•well as the social, cultural 'misfit' i was in my new school, fresh out of my starplus mahabharat insanity, recruited by the baahubali fandom and newly into bajirao mastani , i obviously didn't find people who vibed to my frequency. i basically live in this fictional universe with exactly the vibe that this song creates. now that i wrote this whole damn paragraph i DO NOT know why the heck i even wrote in the first place

ive said it once ive said it twice, sanjay leela bhansali knows exactly what he's doing with aesthetics, cinematography and costumes and music,, baaki ka ram jaane,, ive read this a number of times over the years, slb was trained in indian classical music so my mans knew exactly what how and it fitted so perfectly.

•pandit birju maharaj ji singing and he choreographed this song, what more could we ask for??? and deepika trained under his guidance for this song and she did so well so aayee hayyee to that. the absolute grace and nazaakat this song has. oh

•shreya ghoshal absolutely entirely destroyed every single being with this song. she reached a whole new level of, not that she has ever been any lesser of a singing goddess, but oh this just transports you. it's such an enchanting song and that's exactly what krishna has done right?

•symbolism and meaning i will scream no but the way "mohe rang do laal" and asking lord krishna to colour her life, to fill her life with red, the colour of love (and also asking hand in marij,, hmm im tears now)

•the way that "marodi kalaai mori, choodi chatkai, itraati toh chori se garwa lagaye, haree yeh chunariya jo jhatke se cheeni, main toh rangi haree, hari ke rang, laaj se gulaabi gaal" >>>,

•no in this essay i will. can someone sob next to me and appreciate this line and just cry??? okay ie dont think you get it. the wordplay between haree (green colour) and hari (a name of krishna) ??? very gareeb attempt of translating and explaining the lines let's go???

•so when she said he held my wrist in his hands and twisted it, my bangles broke when i pulled back, he held my green chunari and snatched in with a jerk, i was coloured green in the colour of krishna, and my cheeks blushed as i shied away

•the ambience and the mood set, also the way that rao is just full of adoration for mastani, my mans ranveer neednt act, its just so natural for him please, mastani so beautiful i lost myself there, i think i will disintegrate,, oh and also while im at it kaahe chhed and mohe rang do laal are sequels like literal metaphorical sequels of each other. i shall not elaborate, i don't need to because i basically explained the para above.

but oh i love this song so much it just,, too much pyaar i have for this song please don't ask me more about it because i won't stop talking

[mywindowslookwriting]

A Partial A24 Ranking

A24 is an American production company, known for creating indie megahits like Midsommar, Moonlight, and The Spectacular Now. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any of those. But irregardless, here is my (partial) A24 ranking, of just the ones I’ve seen.

10. Mid90s (2018) dir. Jonah Hill

The directorial debut from actor Jonah Hill is a ‘slice-of-life’ look at teen skateboarders, with some nice cinematography, 90s nostalgia, but also unfortunately a huge helping of toxic masculinity and lack of consequences. The main characters toss around slurs casually, and they cheer when the thirteen-year-old boy protagonist has his first sexual experience with a much older girl – who was possibly 22-23 at the time of filming. Drug use is romanticized, and the ending finds characters still static and without consequences for their bad choices. Honestly, if you like skateboarding movies, just watch Skate Kitchen.

9. The Bling Ring (2013) dir. Sofia Coppola

The true story of a group of wealthy L.A. teens who robbed various celebrities like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan is turned into a surface-level enjoyable film. I enjoy Sofia Coppola’s work, and the film takes the viewer on a wild ride of privilege and celebrity, but it has a tendency to feel like the viewer is being given the keys themselves, with Coppola not really having anything to say about their actions. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it leads to a film that feels a little devoid of meaning.

8. Eighth Grade (2018) dir. Bo Burnham

A surprising directorial debut from a comedian, Eight Grade looks at, well, the last week of eighth grade as a socially awkward girl tries to survive until high school. As a movie, it’s so deeply apt it’s insane, and features some great acting from Elsie Fisher as the protagonist, but the only reason I couldn’t rank it higher is because there was so much second-hand embarrassment – as anyone who used to be a child now thinking about everything they did as a kid understands – that it was hard to watch. That being said, I still definitely recommend it.

7. The Florida Project (2017) dir. Sean Baker

In the shadow of Disneyland, kids living in motels play, go on adventures, and get into trouble while the adults in their lives struggle with money and hard choices. The contrast plunges the viewer back into childhood, but makes the adult issues blindingly clear in a moving snapshot that feels like hot summer on your skin as it moves from slow-moving happiness to fear to frustration to anger, and finally, maybe, hope.

6. Room (2015) dir. Lenny Abrahamson

Based on a book, a woman (Brie Larson) kidnapped and trying to raise her son (Jacob Tremblay) in a single room. It’s emotionally devastating, with superb acting – Brie Larson won an Oscar for her role -, and although it cut a lot and isn’t entirely faithful to the source material, but that’s okay because it’s such a moving and eventually heartwarming drama film.

5. Never Goin’ Back (2018) dir. Augustine Frizzell

In the hot Texan world of Never Goin’ Back, poverty is a given. So why shouldn’t two best friends celebrate one of their birthdays at the beach, even if it means spending their rent money? The movie is funny, many of the girls’ antics are hilarious, and a beautiful celebration of the many forms – and frankly, insanely homoerotic in this case – of female friendship. It has its flaws, putting it lower on the list, but Never Goin’ Back makes it easy to laugh, or to give opportunities to look deeper into its meaning.

4. The Farewell (2019) dir. Lulu Wang How far would you go for family? Would you lie to them about having terminal cancer so they are happy for their last few months? For families in the western world, this question is unfamiliar, something no one would consider doing, but the film’s look at a Chinese family reuniting under the pretense of a wedding in order to spend time with the protagonist’s grandmother for the last time is intensely relatable because it is about family. Whether laughing or crying, the Farewell deftly tackles messy family lives, and all you can learn from others just by listening.

3. 20th Century Women (2016) dir. Mike Mills

In the rapidly-changing landscape of late 70s California, an older single woman is struggling to raise her teenaged son, so she enlists the help of his best friend and a punk artist boarding in their house. The cinematography and structure takes risks, with colour pouring out of highway scenes, and the future lives of characters being revealed, but it’s not artsy and inaccessible. It’s surprising that a male director could have represented different types of women and their struggles, but he did it, and he did it well.  

2. American Honey (2016) dir. Andrea Arnold

Lead actress Sasha Lane was discovered on a beach with her friends during spring break. Her character is invited to travel through America selling magazines with other misfit teens in a grocery store parking lot. The almost three-hour long movie is as sprawling as the sky in the south and midwest of America. It’s a hot summer day that feels refreshing, not stifling. It’s young love and lingering closeup shots. It’s the American dream, updated. American Honey is almost three hours long, freeform and calm, beautiful and frantic. It’s a languid summer day, and the cool glass of water you inhale afterwards. Simply, it is American Honey.

1. Lady Bird (2017) dir. Greta Gerwig

Trying to escape your hometown. Arguing with your parents. Falling in love, or maybe not. Dancing at prom with your best friend. Moments of universal high school feelings add up to a superb directorial debut from writer and actress Greta Gerwig of one seventeen-year-old girl in her last year of high school. Appearing on the surface as a straight-forward coming-of-age film, the focus on the women of the film that rarely finds time to stray to love interest characters makes it feel fresh, especially helped by wonderful acting from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. It’s an alternative glimpse of life packaged into a mainstream tale of relatability that makes it A24’s best film.  

-written by sagan, september 4th 2019

[agentnico]

Guava Island (2019) Review

Rihanna has another movie role? Oh no. Rihanna is in a Childish Gambino movie? Oh okay, that’s cool.

Plot: A tropical thriller that casts Donald Glover as a musician with designs on pulling off a scheme to rob his way into the good life, which quickly gets him in over his head.

How convenient having just returned from my holiday in the Mediterranean landscapes of Greece I am now treated to another tropical offering from the Caribbean with the new film from the team behind FX’s Atlanta series called Guava Island. Having been filmed in secret in Cuba last year and surprise released a few days ago on Amazon Prime, this little treat is a must-watch for any Childish Gambino fan. Heck, it might as well have just been called The Childish Gambino Movie, as even though there is a loose narrative within this short film (running at just over 55 minutes) it is mainly a showcase of Glover’s talents as an entertainer with major parts of the movie playing out like music videos with inserts of Childish Gambino songs thrown throughout and Glover dropping his charming charisma in gallons onto the screen.

All this is accompanied by some gorgeous cinematography showcasing the bright clothes and the summary dispositions of the Havana setting, and I must applaud the editing too, as, again comparing to a music video, the shot transitions and sound mixing are immensely smooth. We even get treated to an animated sequence during the film’s opening that gives the immediate indication that Guava Island is an aesthetics-driven production. The attention to colour grading, contrast and vibrance is particularly impressive. The film is basically gorgeous. The whole thing feels very alive from the get-go.

Narratively speaking the film can feel a bit light, but the anti-capitalistic message that is put across is commendable, though at times it can feel a bit too forced to the point of silliness that affects the film’s ending. But its a very minor effect, as on the whole the painting that this short paints is one to behold and respect. I already mentioned that Glover is the star, and he takes this one home, reminding not only of his musical talents but also of his overly expressive comedic chops. Rihanna, who usually I find very unappealing in films, actually does a decent job here. For once her acting didn’t feel wooden and actually felt natural to the flow of the piece. Letitia Wright of Black Panther fame also pops in but not nearly for enough screen time, so much so that the purpose of her role can be questioned. Nonso Anozie makes for a decent if a bit on-the-nose villain.

Overall Guava Island is an interesting experiment but one hell of a treat for any Gambino fan. That being said, outside of that market I’m not sure how much this film will appeal to people who aren’t part of the Glover fandom. For me personally it worked, and I really respected the themes of love, freedom, sacrifice and reality the movie presents, but some narrative weaknesses and rough edges have to be pointed out. But for a Childish Gambino fan this should be a joy of watch, and having just come back from a tropical place, watching this makes me want to go back again and bathe under the lovely rays of sunlight and breath in the fresh air near the sea. Ah I miss it already!

Overall score: 7/10

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

A Few of My Favourite Things | 2018

Hey People of Earth!

So it happens to be December 31st, AKA, the last day of the year, AKA another year has gone by, and I’m back to share a couple favourite things I found in these last twelve months. 2017 has been an insane, but relatively good year. Regardless of the bumps in the road, I had a pretty great time, and I’m excited to see what 2018 brings! This blog truly grew this year, and for that, I’m eternally grateful for you guys... Here’s to another year!

Like last year, I’ll be discussing a few of my favourite things I’ve come across throughout 2017. This post will be sectioned off in four categories: MUSIC, FILMS, BOOKS and WRITING.

I listened to so much amazing music this year, and I’m so stoked to formally share the lovely artists I’ve acquainted with in 2017.

I’ll be listing these in the order in which I found them this year, for the sake of also keeping a timeline!

1. First Impressions of Earth by The Strokes

Genre: Garage/alternative rock

This albummmm. <3 I started listening to this album at the very beginning of the year, and I’m so happy I did. The Strokes is my favourite band, and FIOE is definitely my favourite work they’ve put out so far (head to head with Room On Fire). What a perfect way to start the year.

If you like: Alternative rock, great lyrics, AMAZZZING instruments, the sickest of all sick guitar solos, and grungy vocals, this album is the way to go

Favourites off this album are: Ize of the World (my favourite song ever), Razorblade, Electricityscape (though the entire album is my favourite lol)

2. ÷ by Ed Sheeran

Genre: Pop

This album was worth the wait, as it quickly became a favourite. If you were here in the 2015 days, you’d have gone through my *I love Ed Sheeran above everything in the entire world* phase (actually not a phase ha). Though my music tastes have changed a lot since I started listening to Ed years ago, his music is like coming home.

If you like: Pop with folky vibes, awesome music you can dance and sing to, pop music that is super fresh and cute but powerful vocals, here you goooo.

Favourites off this album: Barcelona, Dive, Shape Of You, New Man, Eraser

3. Light Upon the Lake by Whitney

Genre: Indie rock tho I would say alt country with psychedelic pop vibes ft. some indie works

OH BOY what an amazing find this was. This album is literal gold. My mom loves this album. ‘Tis mom approved. I’m really excited for another Whitney release.

If you like: Really chill music you listen to on early morning train rides, unique, soft male vocals with blessed guitar riffs and trumpet stuff, this is my go to.

Favourites: No Woman, Polly, Golden Days

4. Angles by the Strokes

Genre: Alternative rock with some new wave vibes maybe?

This was my final album endeavor in The Strokes’ discography, and oh boi it did not disappoint. Some of the songs on here are very different in sound to their first three albums, but I dig it.

If you like: Rock music with 70s pop vibes, Angles is perfect for ya.

Favourites off this album: Two Kinds of Happiness, Machu Picchu, Games

5. Buds by Surf Curse

Genre: Surf rock/punk, lo-fi vibes

ENTER THE START OF A NEW BEGINNING. Surf Curse is literally the best band I found in 2017, no lie. I found them after clicking around on YouTube, and haven’t looked back since. This is literally the best music to listen to when you need to get through them summer finals/want to go to the beach but can’t go to the beach/need some quality grade angst in your life.

If you like: Punk music with loooots of drums and lit rhythm guitar, would recommend. Also if you enjoy supporting really sweet bands, send Nick and Jacob some love.

Favourites off this album: Heathers, Fire Walk With Me, Goth Babe, The Smell Saved My Life

6. Future Present Past EP by the Strokes

Genre: Alternative rock with more new wave vibes lol I think

THIS EP. This EP is so groovy. Literally, if you need some groove in your life, this is perfect.

If you like: Groovy tunes, here we goooo

Favourites off this EP: It’s so short, but Oblivius (Moretti Remix) and Threat of Joy are the bomb dot com.

7. Sad Boys EP by Surf Curse

sad bois

Genre: Surf rock, punk

More blessed Surf Curse fammmm. If you seriously need to go to a mental beach, this EP will immediately take you there. Sad Boys is the kind of music that plays over like beachy montages in like 80s coming of age films.

If you like: Hardcore beach vibes, the end of summer aesthetic, this EP is lovely.

Favourites: Forever Dumb, Beach Whatever, I’m Not Making Out With You, Reality Bites

8. Nothing Yet by Surf Curse

Genre: Surf rock with those beachy vibes though this album is harder to describe

THIS ALBUM is so good. I listened to this while I was in Mexico with my family, and it will forever be my ‘Mexico’ album. It’s got some really amazing riffs mixed in there which is a little different from Buds, but soooo good. Surf Curse signed my copy of this also. Love. <3

If you like: Punk with more indie vibes I guess? This album’s genre is hard to describe for me ha, but if you like some chill music that's kinda existential, here we goooo.

Favourites off this album: (the entire thing is so good but here are a few): Christine F, Doom Generation, The Strange and the Kind, Sleeping, All Is Lost, Falling Apart

9. Music From Before the Storm by Daughter

Genre: Indie rock

I don't know how to express my love for this album in a way that’ll be remotely coherent. This was the soundtrack to Life is Strange: Before the Storm, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

If you like: Mostly instrumental stuff, this album is perfect for you. The majority of this album is instrumental, so it’s my go to rec for people looking for music to write to. This soundtrack is sweeping, but so emotional, even though most if it is instrumental, those instruments speak for themselves. Daughter is one of my favourite bands of all time, and they did such an amazing job on this album.

Favourites: A Hole in the Earth (which imo I think is their best song yet), Dreams of William, All I Wanted, The Right Way Around, Burn It Down

10. Across the Universe Soundtrack

Genre: Rock (?)

So this is the soundtrack to the musical, Across the Universe which centres around songs from The Beatles. I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH. And this soundtrack is lovely too. My parents are both mega Beatles fans, so I grew up listening to a loooot of their music. This soundtrack is literally life.

If you like: The Beatles, musicals, amazing vocals from everybody, I totally recommend this soundtrack.

Favourites: Hold Me Tight, All My Loving, With A Little Help From My Friends, If I Fell, Because, Something, Revolution, Across the Universe

11. Me Oh My Mirror by Current Joys

Genre: I really don't know with this one, rock with indie feels sometimes?

Current Joys is Nick from Surf Curse’s solo project, and I’m literally in love, lol. This album is so beautiful, and what I’m currently digging.

If you like: Sort of chill music that can get very not chill as the songs progress, indie, songs about angst, love, finding your place in the worldz, this is my go to. This album is art. It will make you feel all the emotions. It’s legit so poignant.

Favourites: Desire and also the Desire Demo, Home Pt. 3, My Motorcycle, These Times Will Never Change, Don’t Be Consumed, Home Pt. 1 and 2, Here’s To The Afterlife

So that’s it for albums! Onto some singles/other songs I really enjoyed this year:

- Jaded by Precious Kid

- Dirty Disposition by Precious Kid

- Obstacles by Syd Matters

- To All Of You by Syd Matters

- 11th Dimension by Julian Casablancas

- Modern Girls and Old Fashioned Men by The Strokes

And that's a wrap for music!

2017 was the year I really started getting into film. I solidified that if I didn't study writing, I’d go into film instead! This year pretty much verified my love and passion for film and the like. I have many recommendations for you all, and whilst I know this category is for films, ha, I’m also going to include television shows.

First up are the short films I watched this year. In no particular order, I present to you, All Of The Films I Watched Instead Of Writing And I Have No Regrets At All

1. Andy by Mikey Murphey

The cinematography in this short is so good? Like I’m shook? And the acting? And the colour-grade? Just everything about this is so good. This is the little description of it on YouTube:

After being horribly bullied throughout high school, a mistake at a party leads Andy into getting back at an old friend of his... by outing her relationship with a teacher...

I’ve watched this at least 5 times now, and I have zero regrets. A would recommend, especially if you write YA contemporary!

2. Friend Like Me by Sammy Paul

Everything about this is so good?? I was very shook??? The acting?? The script?? The audio??? So GOOD??

Description from YouTube:

A story of Toby, his genie and the very last wish...

This idea is literally so cool, and this is absolutely one of my fave short films of all time. If you want to get into short films, I’d highly recommend giving this one a try!

3. Tick Where It Hurts by Bertie Gilbert

This film is so beautiful, so emotional, and the colours are so gorgeous. The story is also so amazing and hit home. Also, my boy Bertie gives off some major Clifford vibes in this one, ha. I would go into this one without knowing what’s up, but I’ll give a trigger warning for suicide here in case.

4. Playground by Bertie Gilbert and Sammy Paul

I started my Bertie Gilbert film adventures with this one, and it did not disappointed. This film is so so so good, and if there’s one film I urge you to watch off this list, it’s this one.

Summary off IMDb:

Ezra finds himself dealing with the loss of his younger brother in a rather unconventional way. On route to the funeral service he (and his bike) are taken hostage by a gang of forest dwelling children. In return for his release Ezra must help them fix their rocket ship. However, in the process of doing so, he finds an escape from grief.

5. Comfort Food by Sam Saffold

THIS. I absolutely love the story, and the coolest part is, there is no talking. Sam managed to create such a beautiful story in such an effective way. This film is gold. This film follows a relationship ft. popcorn ft. food ft. everything you ever wanted in a short film.

So that’s it for my favourites! I watched so many other amazing short films this year, so if you want anymore recs, I’ve got tons I didn't get to mention here!

As for TV shows, I enjoyed quite a few this year, namely:

1. 13 Reasons Why

A controversial show I wouldn't have watched it if it weren't for my boy Dylan who I was following through The Narwhals for a while. Not a fan of the book, but I think this show is actually incredibly important to watch. I’ve struggled with suicidal thoughts all my life, so this one was great for me. I truly enjoyed the writing in the show as well.

2. Criminal Minds

So I’ve actually watched Criminal Minds since I was like 7, and it was always one of my faves growing up. After watching a couple episodes with my family on our drive up to Pennsylvania, @sarahkelsiwrites decided to watch all of it from season one. Currently on season 11 (or 10 if we rewatch), and it’s been so good? I can’t tell you how helpful this show has been in inspiring me writing-wise, so if you like crime shows (which are my favourite) and haven’t watched Criminal Minds, this is a huge recommend!

So that’​s it for TV because I’m not much of a TV watcher lol.

Which is a wrap for films as a whole!

I’m just going to preface this entire section by saying I failed big time in the reading department this year. I read a total of 10 books, which seems okay, but then 5 of them were re-reads, and 2 of them were for school lol.

This was definitely the year of audiobooks. I will say that. I listened to all three of The Darkest Minds books this year because that’s probably my favourite series ever, listened to Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore after having read it twice because you gotta live that audiobook life, and also listened to All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven because that’s also one of my favourites and that audiobook life amirite. So. The five re-reads were actually listened to lol. I tried. I’m almost done my listen through of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (another re-read) which I’ve been listening to for a year. lol. I don't know what to do with myself.

So yes. I don't have much to say in this department, other than that. I’ve also started narrating audiobooks for fun which is a cool thing?

Honestly crossing my fingers for next year, ha.

Oh boy, do I have some favourites for you.

1. WordBook

WordBook is a dictionary and thesaurus app for PC and it’s the best thing I found all year. It works online and off, so it’s perfect for on the go, and I’m going to cry for a straight week when I get a Mac next year because they don't have a Mac version. :( This app is so easy to use, gives me great words when I’m looking for synonyms for something, and is actually my favourite thesaurus. I much prefer this to googling, so I’ll have to find a replacement before I go to uni! But if you have a PC and are looking for a great dictionary and thesaurus app, this one is my favourite.

2. OneLook Reverse Dictionary

This literally saved my life this year many times, so I’m putting it here. If you ever can’t find a word but know its definition/words in the vein of what you want, this app is PERFECT. I can’t tell you how many times a word has slipped my mind, and this has helped me find it.  

3. Word’s text to speech feature

As noted in my books section, I’m a huge fan of audiobooks. Listening to my work was a thing that became super prevalent this year, and I truly think helped me out in a number of areas in my writing: flow, voice, and catching typos! I often listened to my chapters after I wrote them to get a feel for what content was there. This was one of my favourite things I implemented into my writing process this year by far.

4. You

Okay so here is my moment to get cheesy, lol. This year, I started my Doing the Write Thing series, which I’ve mentioned multiple times, has been pivotal in my writing journey. I would say that’s a favourite of mine, and while the series itself is great and so important to me, the reason it has become so integral in my life, is because of you guys. Your continuous support means so, so much to me, especially on that series. So thank you for reading those, and for making that series so much more special to me, and in general, making this one of the best years of my life.

So that’s it for this post! Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favourites from this year! Happy 2018!

--Rachel

[charlenelouise-gdc]

Personal Practice:

London Film Festival 2019: Review

2 - 13 October 2019. This is potentially one of my favourite times of the year.

For me, its such an important period in my calendar - not only professionally but personally. I find film festivals a wonderful way of watching or accessing films. There is almost an organic way to it: seeing it with fresh eyes, everyone being in the same boat or seeing it before everyone else, not influenced by other people’s comments or opinions (on the film being screened). It allows me to have a pure experience with the film. I am able to cultivate my own ideas on it and evaluate it later on down the line. It feels much more like a richer experience.

Also, I simply love the buzz that it involves. The conversations had, emotions shared and the people you meet. From the screenings to the red carpet, I feel like there is a good sense of community. I find festivals a wholesome, exciting experience. Also, I feel a lot closer to my aspirations as a filmmaker in this setting. It makes me feel hopeful.

Most importantly, it reminds me why I love the art form in the first place. Being united by one thing before them and seeing the natural reaction among crowds, this is something rare - especially in a world that often feels “lonely" and when there seems to be very little reason to be united about.

Of course, in the time of digital distribution and binge-watching, these new found ways of distribution has its own positives. This is particularly true in reach; on demand viewing makes cinema a much more democratic experience. For instance, they enable niche, independent films to be seen by those who live in remote places or do not have access to independent cinemas without the need of travelling to major cities like London or New York. Both methods of viewing, on demand and via the cinema, are equally important and has their own strengths. At the end of the day, as long as the film is being shown and reaches its audience - that’s all that matters. However, there is still must be said about the cinema experience and the magic it offers. In its darkness and the glow of the projector, you get to escape and enter another world momentarily - live out the ordinary you know of.  Film festivals, to me, is cinema viewing in its purest form and preserves that experience.

I was also lucky to be in the presence of the filmmakers themselves in some of my screenings. In the special presentations and Q+A sessions that followed the screening, they were able to contextualise their films and share the process behind the choices they make. I learned a lot from them and its a good educational experience.

In this year’s programme, I was able to watch the following films… I have also included some initial thoughts and comments from my notes for future reference.

Our Ladies (Dir. Michael Caton-Jones) - Drama/Comedy Heartwarming! Such a good feel-good film. Close to my heart as I come from Catholic education and has female friendship at the heart of it. It shows what good casting can do and proves it’s an equally important creative choice. The main ensemble really carried the film and a great part of what makes it so charming. Can’t wait to watch again!

The Lighthouse (Dir. Robert Eggers) - Horror/Drama Excellent, well-crafted sound design. Quite wild for an 8am viewing. The framing and composition of the image are done with great precision; it’s quite stunning to watch and I couldn’t look away despite feeling sheer terror at times.

Make Up (Dir. Claire Oakley) - Psychological Drama Unfortunately unable to finish the film due to scheduling conflict. Promising story against a holiday park backdrop and brings to light seaside small town life (which is often overlooked). Interesting blend of genre. 

Premature (Dir. Eashaad Ernesto Green) - Drama Most disliked film from my viewing. Although I appreciate the authentic portrayal/visibility of Black youth in what seems to be an alternative of New York city life (away from the glamourised, white lens), the story is so underwhelming. Too tragic at times and pacing was dull. Lots of unnecessary shots (especially during intimate scenes) that served no purpose aside from catering to the male gaze - a complete disservice to the strong female lead its meant to be portray.

House of Us (Dir. Yoon Ga-eun) - Drama/Family A tender story. Told from children’s point of view which is so refreshing to watch; it served as a nice reminder that children are whole people too, with their own thoughts and valid feelings - which I often forget. As a society, we often disregard them for being dependent or “incomplete”. Although I found myself being annoyed at the children, the film really makes you empathetic. Colour grading is divine; has a childlike brightness that honours the story and the lens its being told. Followed similar style to “Florida Project”, where a lot of the image is shot a low height to resemble children’s perspective.

Marriage Story (Dir. Noah Baumbach) - Drama/Comedy-Drama Good performances from Johansson and Driver. I particularly loved the opening as it symbolised the beginning of the end for the couple. It had a wonderful attention to detail too (the letters). Baumbach is a good screenwriter and hits the lines where its suppose to be (e.g. fight at the apartment near the end of the film, although Charlie says such childish things - its reflective of the truth/a natural reaction to such event).

The Kingmaker (Dir. Lauren Greenfield) - Documentary/Drama About Philippine politics. Made me feel so angry as it hits so close to home, which still affect me and my family today. Clever structure. It begins by almost mocking Imelda Marcos which gives it  a comedic effect and a lighthearted touch - necessary to tackling a heavy subject. However, it unravels slowly and leaves you with a gut punch feeling in the end, hitting you cold hard facts and what reality is for the ordinary Filipino people - away from Imelda’s rich and flamboyant world. It made me want to start a revolution.

The Disappearance of My Mother (Dir. Beniamino Barrese) - Documentary A story told in a such loving lens. An interesting study on the relationship (of Benedetta Barzini) with the camera - especially as a model and now through her filmmaker son’s lens. Raises the questions: how to be seen, how would you like to be seen, to what level or depth you can actually be seen. Nice mix of archive and interviews. I like the imperfect shots the most where the filmmaker just carries the camera - shaky, unbalanced; it makes it feel more intimate.

And Then We Danced (Dir. Levan Akin) - Romance/Drama Warm and tender. Beautiful colour grading that matched the essence of the film - delightful yellow tones. Such an important story to tell and captured the zeitgeist of today (lgbt love story/coming of age in one of the most orthodox countries in the world - Georgia). Respectful portrayal of Georgian dance and traditions; shown with honour and pride. Closing scene is so moving and strong; it captures him coming to terms with his identity - both as a dancer and as a queer person. The desire told in this story is multifaceted - his desire to become the best dancer and his desire for Irakli.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Dir. Céline Sciamma) - Romance/Drama A compelling story. I’m always fascinated by strong stories that is held together by a small ensemble or little cast. It reminds me that as long as you have a solid story and characters with depth, you don’t need a lot to make it a fulfilling and rememberable. Bursting with colour. Every frame feels like a painting. The cinematography has a beautiful kind of stillness; I appreciate this so much as it feels like a complete antithesis to society/our current way of life. So refreshing to see the female gaze in its full glory. Closing scene is so moving and powerful - similar to Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. This really stayed with me.

Overseas Documentary (Dir. Yoon Sung-A) - Documentary Interesting background - Belgian/French production about a Filipino story, told by a Korean director. I really enjoyed the observational eye this documentary is told; allowing the story unfold by itself. It enabled the people to tell their story; the most authentic and truthful lens.

Lingua Franca (Dir. Isabel Sandoval) - Drama Promising work from Sandoval. Another important story worth telling, especially since its a minority story (trans, undocumented woman in America, trying to get a Green Card/be legalised; how this is a dehumanising process). However, I find that it focused too much on tragedy. Also, editing felt off at times or left too ambiguous.

Matthias + Maxime (Dir. Xavier Dolan) - Drama A pretty loud film. Lots of talking. Production Design is kind of weird as it doesn’t put a timestamp on the story (not sure if it was the 80s or early 2000s?). Perhaps this is to make the story timeless? But a part of me just found it a bit confusing. Strong casting and the ensemble is captivating to watch. I liked how the root of what happened to Matthias and Maxime wasn’t shown to show how it affected them after and the kiss wasn’t sensationalised. It made their kiss later on much more impactful (in relation to the build up). Nice story but not Dolan’s best.

Dogs Don’t Wear Pants (Dir. Jp. Valkeapää) - Drama Interesting experience. Offered a much more in-depth perspective on BDSM, on a personal/humanising standpoint that is beyond pleasure. Production Design was excellent. Cinematography is so precise and there’s a clear visual language shown. Hard story to get into and the pacing is quite slow, with a sudden rush near the end of the story.

Rocks (Dir. Sarah Gavron) - Drama/Youth Beautiful cast and has girls from minority backgrounds at the heart of its story - something that British cinema is yet to improve on. Interesting that the ensemble is made up of mainly non-actors to keep the youthful spirit alive. Making process is certainly interesting. However, the story is pretty much a given and I find that it focused too much on tragedy.

A Hidden Life (Dir. Terrance Malick) - War/Drama Slow cinema; nice contrast to the world and pace of life we all lead. Stunning cinema throughout: crisp sound design and cinematography feels like a painting, honouring nature and the environment. Really keep the senses alive. I like the use of the “active camera” (tracking shots, handheld), during the points of the film where it was the most joyful - it truly captured the beauty of life. Lots of upward shots, featuring the sky - something quite holy and feels omnipresent. I like how the bond between the husband and wife is portrayed by the letters, which carries the story forward - a nice technique.

Personal favourites:

Tier 1: Our Ladies, And Then We Danced, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Kingmaker Tier 2: Matthias + Maxime, Lingua Franca, The Lighthouse

_______________________________

Additional viewings: Short Film - Programme 1 and 2 Programme 1: If I Knew / What do you know about the water and moon / White Girl / Fault Line / Gu04 / In Vitro Programme 2:

Algorithm / Between / In Between / Child / Watermelon Juice / Queering in Teknolojik

Seeing the Short Film Programme is also important in my professional development as its much more closer to where I am at in my practice. It showed me the kind of stories that are currently being told by my contemporaries and opens me up to new techniques or alternative ways of storytelling. Its always a eye opening experience and pushes me out of my comfort zone, widening my knowledge. It raises the questions: how can I do things differently? What makes this technique or story particularly strong? What do I like about this? What do I dislike about this? What are the key elements which makes me drawn to it. These questions and observations will help me shape and refine my practice. I hope to apply these in my next film and I look forward to what is next.

_______________________________

In the following year, I look forward to attending Cannes Film Festival (May) and Sundance London (May/June). Film festivals continue to have a special place in my heart.

[bairbreinspirationhandbook]

INSPIRATION HANDBOOK Bairbre Connolly

IDEA

For my inspiration handbook, my creative idea is recreating the soundtrack for the movie Carrie (1976) using modern-day music.

I chose this theme for the handbook because for me, career-wise, I am interested in selecting the music to accompany a TV advertisement. I have always been interested in how a song can enhance a visual. So i’ve always been passionate about movies and music videos.

I had the idea of focusing on the movie Carrie as it is my favourite movie, even though I don’t think the soundtrack is highly memorable. It suits the film in the sense that it’s a relatively low-budget 70s horror movie, but I was intrigued by the idea of giving it a more contemporary feel.

The purpose of the handbook is varied. It could be for a re-release of the movie with a whole new soundtrack, perhaps for its 50th anniversary, which would be the year 2026. Artists could contribute music to the project which would act as an interesting new platform to showcase their music to a new audience. Some of the scenes I believe could be highly effective ad campaigns. I can imagine the scenes being projected across a large room filled with people, maybe at some sort of outdoor event, which I feel would be a very artistic idea. I would love to have my favourite movies, music videos and live performances played in the bar I work in.

I think that for people who aren’t overly familiar with the movie, it may be beneficial to first of all watch the original scenes with their original music. Then you can really appreciate the difference when the new songs are played instead.

I have focused on 5 key scenes from the movie, and edited them all together in one video. I hope the video, even though it is just 5 scenes and with no dialogue, will tell the story of the movie. I have included the video as a youtube link.

INSPIRATION

One of my sources of inspiration for the project is Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic Psycho. The iconic shower scene showcases the power of music and sound in setting a scene. Hitchcock had originally intended for the scene to have no music, but composer Bernard Herrmann insisted he try his composition. Herrmann created an all-string soundtrack composed of screeching violins and violas titled “The Murder”. He felt that the single tone colour of the all-string soundtrack reflected the black and white cinematography of the film.

For me it’s the perfect example of how the movie soundtrack really sets the atmosphere of the scene. The shrieking of the violins almost mimics the sound of Marion, played by Janet Leigh, as she is murdered in such a terrifying manner.

Carrie’s director Brian de Palma was heavily influenced by Hitchcock and Psycho in particular. Musically, this is evident in the violin motif that is played whenever Carrie uses her telekinesis powers, in a nod to Herrmann’s score. De Palma even named Carrie’s highschool “Bates High School” in reference to, of course, Norman Bates.

It is this impact of the shrieking violins that inspired me to explore how the music used in a film can really altar the overall atmosphere of the scene. For my handbook  I decided to focus on some of my favourite scenes from Carrie as it is my favourite film. I feel like the overall soundtrack for the film sometimes doesn’t do it justice. Pino Donaggio’s score is beautiful but the other music used throughout the film isn’t always as effective. Of course it was made in the 70s with a low budget, so the music will reflect this, but I thought it would be interesting to reinvent the soundtrack using modern-day pop music.

Another film that inspired me is Drive (2011), as I think it has one of the slickest soundtracks. The music is so captivating. James Verniere of the Boston Herald graded it an A, stating, "The cool crowd isn't just watching Drive; they're listening to it, too ... The Drive soundtrack is such an integral part of the experience of the film, once you see it, you can't imagine the film without it." the music in Drive is so integral because the film uses very little dialogue. The main character, played by Ryan Gosling, is simply named “The Driver” in the end credits as his character says so few lines and gives away so little information in the film. This influenced me in the sense that it showed me the importance of music in film and how it can really enhance the film itself. I adopted this influence in my reboot of the spinning dance scene from Carrie. I took the song Under Your Spell from Drive and put it over the dialogue, hoping to recreate the same effect.

Visually, the film is quite stylish and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The soft blur of the retro 70s style has a vintage feel while also being fashionable today due to the vintage revival.

The songs I have chosen all have a similar vibe. They are essentially pop songs but feature an electro or 80s feel, evoking a sense of nostalgia that compliments the visuals. This means they fit in with the images of the film, while also bringing it up to date.

I have always had an interest in soundtracking TV advertisements /TV shows/films, and I think the results i got are really interesting. I feel like my some of my results could be used as an ad campaign, or even as a trailer for the film, perhaps the release of a new anniversary DVD.

As Carrie is my favourite film, I have watched and researched it many times over the years. My real passion is music, and I found that certain songs would remind me of Carrie when i listened to them, or evoke the thought process of “this song would sound good in Carrie”/”this song captures how I think the character of Carrie would have felt at this moment”.

This idea for my inspiration handbook is one that I’ve had in the back of my mind for years but never had the opportunity to utilise. Originally I had an idea a long time ago to remake the soundtrack or even the film using only music from the 1960s. The romantic lyrics and melodies from some of these songs inspired me further to want to recreate the soundtrack in a different style. I decided against using 60s music for my handbook as I think more modern-day music sounds far more interesting and it’s a more new and exciting idea.

Link to 60s playlist:

Carrie 60s Soundtrack

Another source of inspiration was a magazine photoshoot Lana Del Rey did where she was styled as Carrie; wearing a prom queen tiara and had trickles of blood down her face. This appealed to me as Del Rey is an artist I really admire. So this inspired the idea of merging this old movie with modern day artists and music. And the fact that it was my favourite singer dressed up as my favourite movie character made it feel personal.

FIVE SCENES

https://youtu.be/8rJz9KHmGO8

Scene 1. The detention scene. Song: Started Out - Georgia

For me this is one of the most memorable scenes as I love its energy and colour, as well as the fashion element. It is quite aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The students’ gym clothes are very on trend, and the focus of the camera on Miss Collins’ Reebok trainers mean it could almost be used as an advertisement for the brand Reebok, or for a shop such as Urban Outfitters which could sell clothes similar to the gym uniforms and of course the retro Reeboks.

The song I chose to accompany the scene is “Started Out”, released in 2018 by London artist Georgia. The song was was created using 909 drum machines and analogue synths, which gives it an 80s feel while still sounding fresh. I feel that its energy compliments the girls’ exercise routine really well. The “Not working out” lyric is effective because it mirrors what is happening on-screen.

Scene 2. Carrie and Tommy arrive at the prom. Song: Slumlord - Neon Indian

This scene has such an energetic and exciting feel, the sparkling stars and soft retro blur of the colours can make us feel like we’re really there at the prom. The song I’ve chosen here is Slumlord by electro chillwave band Neon Indian. I think it really goes well with the sweeping overhead crowd scenes.

This scene in particular I think could be used as a music video for the song. There isn’t too much going on on-screen that it takes away from the song, so you really hear and appreciate every detail of the audio.

Scene 3. The spinning dance scene. Song: Under Your Spell - Desire

This is probably my favourite scene from the movie, as it captures a really lovely intimate moment between Carrie and Tommy. Originally soundtracked by Katie Irving’s I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone Like Me, the scene is mesmerising. The crew set up a circular dolly track and the camera travelled around the pair in the opposite direction. The result was a dizzying feeling, much like Carrie’s whirlwind of emotions but also with a sense of unease.

The lyrics obviously reflect how Carrie feels about Tommy, so it’s quite heartwarming and romantic, yet at the same time suggesting that something sinister is stirring.

I heard this song in the movie Drive and it’s always reminded me of Carrie’s character, so for me this could absolutely be used as a music video.

Scene 4. Carrie and Tommy win prom king and queen. Song: Safe and Sound - Justice

This track really captures the pandemonium that is unfolding in front of our eyes. The intro of the airy vocals could be sung by the crowd, and when the bass groove kicks in carnage ensues. Carrie’s epic prom-night revenge is in full swing. I think it really works because the music is so upbeat and funky, while the scene is intended to be horrifying, especially the look on Sissy Spacek’s face throughout.

I think a good creative use for this scene would be to have it on television or a projector in a bar, clothes shop, or record store. In the latter, it would be an interesting way of promoting a song and a movie, potentially resulting in sales of said CD and DVD.

Having it on in a bar would just be something different so I think customers would find it interesting.

Scene 5. Carrie returns home after prom. Song: Let it Happen (Soulwax Remix) - Tame Impala

The soulwax remix of this Tame Impala banger has a mildly spooky feel, putting us on edge and anticipating what further antics Carrie is about to get up to. Its beat is infectious, drawing us in and making us anxiously wait for the beat to drop.

Again I can imagine this being displayed in a bar, it’s more authentic and cool than a normal music video that people have seen before.

Bairbre Connolly

bairbre_connolly@hotmail.com