#production code

[thursdaymurderbub]

Excerpt from a 1972 interview with Joan Blondell done on the set of Banyon (1972-1973). Taken from Conversations with Classic Film Stars: interviews from Hollywood's golden era (2016) by James Bawden and Ron Miller.

[tippytopoftrees]

Thou Shalt Not,

photograph created by Whitey Schafer (1902/3–1951) in 1940 to protest the Hays Code.

[lost-carcosa]

Although the Production Code (aka the Hays Code) was adopted in 1930, it was largely ignored by the studios. The code was amended in 1934 and required all films released on or after July 1st of that year to obtain a certificate of approval from the Production Code Administration before they could be publicly screened.

Wonder Bar was released 31st March 1934, three months before the enforcement of the code.

WONDER BAR (1934) | dir. Lloyd Bacon

“The other [scene that stands out above the rest] involved a handsome man, asking a dancing couple if he could cut in. The female partner, expecting his attention, agrees, only to see him dance with her male partner. Jolson then flaps his wrist and says, “Boys will be boys. Woo!”. This scene almost caused the Production Code to reject the film, and was featured in the opening scenes of the documentary film The Celluloid Closet (1996).”

[mexcine]

Swipe File 22: "Movie Dos and Don'ts"

The Production Code Administration's new movie content restrictions were parodied by Hollywood photographer A.L "Whitey" Schafer in his famous "Thou Shalt Not" (various cited as 1934 or 1940 -- it also appeared in "Life" magazine October 28, 1946). An unidentified artist recreated this for the cover of "American Detective Magazine" (Australia, 1952), and the cover of Thomas Doherty's 1999 book "Pre-Code Hollywood" re-used the original image.

[k-wame]

best summary of this film ive ever read

[yourlocalabomination]

I am not immune to funny crackships.

+ Bonus

[academicfever]

12/100 days of productivity!

I've got to remind myself to not lose hope...however difficult that might be :)

Log:16/12/24

#review_7

#get LCA Material

#read 30_1st thing in the morning

#CEEMDAN _mechanics

#substack post

[codgod]

noth1ng crazy has happ3ned

[alt version under the cut]

ended up liking the blank background more buuut this is also cool

[heckyeahponyscans]

I don't know the source of this image, but it was posted in a MLP Facebook group and appears to be early material in designing G3 MLPs, specifically their colors.

It's interesting to see what changed! For example, on this chart Minty's hair is still green, like in her early prototype image. Applejack was at one point going to be spring green with white and pink hair! Some of the names were changed or never used, too. Sunny Daze was originally Sundance!

The codes like 245c are Pantone color codes which you can look up here. I think 'pearl' refers to the ponies' bodies being pearlescent.

Eight numbers are circled, and they coincide with the original eight G3 ponies. Although others of these ponies would appear in the toyline later.

[lambmotifz]

“turns out i have a thematic which is tight relationships between brothers with an unstated homoerotic subtext” - eric kripke

“boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. it was that.” - bob singer (on sam and dean’s breakup in 1.11 scarecrow)

“i sometimes say it’s the epic love story of sam and dean” - sera gamble

they really said spn is the wincest show

[thursdaymurderbub]

Silver Screen magazine, April 1938

[notesbyallie]

16.12.2023 // day 2/100 of productivity - I completely forgot about doing this 100 day challenge (oops) so I'm starting it again now since my exams are coming up in just a few months! I spent the day working through some of the harder topics and drew out some diagrams to help me understand them.

[a-fox-studies]

Why does my desk always get so messy when I'm doing computer networks lab work lol

[lierenprotectionsquad]

“We want more morally grey female characters” motherfucker you couldn’t even handle Teresa

[romchat]

Favorite Visual Storytelling of 2024: Cdrama Edition

Although I spent the better part of 2024 complaining about the state of Chinese dramas, one thing I did appreciate seeing in this year's lineup was all the lovely cinematography and production design on display. Not only did these visuals look great, but they were meaningful to the story.

In no particular order, here are my top picks of the year...

Favorite Use of Color: The Double

Evocative and theatrical, The Double's cinematography definitely caught people's attention, splitting viewers into those who liked it and those who thought it was too much.

But what always struck me as refreshingly unique about the drama was its careful use of color . Check out how the following scenes have a completely different feeling because of their color palettes:

Whether it's the fairytale romanticism of a white blossom forest or the queasy yellow and pink of a brothel, the show's colors always give us a sense of mood (and character) without needing much exposition. Really efficient storytelling!

Favorite Production Design #1: Fangs of Fortune

If I included screenshots of all my favorite sets and costumes from my next pick, we'd be here all day.

I've always loved the energy and symbolism of Director Guo Jingming's visual storytelling, but his production design team in Fangs of Fortune really outdid themselves. The scale, shapes, and most importantly texture of each set gives the show a sweepingly escapist quality that we rarely seen in Cdramas. It is true high fantasy come to life, asking us to reflect on what it means to be human through the eyes of those who are otherworldly.

Favorite Use of Production Design #2: To the Wonder

I was uncomfortable with the tacit political messaging of To the Wonder but the amount of care and detail that went into its production design is undeniable. People seem to mostly praise the drama for its idyllic on-location shots but I think it's the prop design and interiors that really sing because they provide insight into lives we rarely see represented on screen.

Favorite Use of Light: Love in a Dream

When I see dramas like Love in a Dream, it makes me wish the industry would just throw money at all the talented and creative visual directors in the short drama circuit. A masterclass in contrast, this drama is absolutely gorgeous, and its dramatic use of chiaroscuro lighting makes it look like a cross between a Renaissance painting and shadow puppet show.

Was I always able to follow the plot? No, but who cares when every other scene looks like art.

Favorite Use of Camera Language #1: Tender Light

Tender Light is a great example of using cinematography to establish the right tone for a story.

The story follows a woman being accused of murdering her abusive husband and the camera language actually mimics the social fallout of his death. Look at how it uses dirty framing, overhead shots, tracking, etc. to give the story a voyeuristic and surveillant feeling. It's like we (the audience) are being forced to invade the privacy of these characters, and in doing so, the show implicates us in the nasty gossip that surrounds our FL as much as the local townspeople spreading it.

Favorite Use of Camera Language #2: Regeneration

From the opening shot of Regeneration , we learn that this is a world where it's difficult to distinguish reality from its equally compelling reflection. The drama is all about the stories people weave and the show plays with subjective cinematography to make us question what we perceive as the truth.

Runners-Up

I dropped Blossom before I could get a sense of its visual storytelling, but the drama has Director Zeng Qingjie's signature dreamy, romantic visuals . Bonus: Li Yunrui looking hot in his gray wig.

Riverside Code at Qingming Festival didn't quite work for me as a case-breaking story but the amount of research they put in the costuming and prop design is incredible. I hope Director Yang Fan gets more opportunities to direct big budget period dramas because his attention to detail is immaculate .

--

And that's a wrap!

What was everyone else's favorite Cdrama visuals of 2024?

[academicfever]

25/100 days of productivity!

To all the people who didn't go home for the holidays and walking around an empty campus or library... I see u... we exist and its totally ok... sending love

Log: 29.12.24 🎧Yung kai_blue #organize all my notes #go outside #proofread DP #Link all databases #Fix an appointment #gather new material