Orson Welles is one of America's most famous...everything. He was a producer, writer, actor and director in all aspects (film radio and theater). He was such a groundbreaking artist, that with every new technology or transition in his life, he was there leading the pack, creating wonderful works. He first shot on to the scene with his theatrical rendition of Julius Caesar on broawdway. And is most known for his Halloween thriller "War of the Worlds" that was a radio production that shook the world. His works left a resounding note in their respective fields and changed the way people did art and production after he released them.
His next great production would be Citizen Kane, a film in the 40s. The film was inspired by some aspects of Wells life, but also found great inspiration from Chicagoland business kings, as well as William Randolph Hearst, an emperor in the newspaper kingdom. He created one of the largest newspaper segments and inspired journalism to reach new heights with his creative and questionable methods of reporting.
The film starts with dramatic angles and sights of the Great Charles Foster Kane's estate. However, things are dark and creepy because in his old age he became a recluse....SHOCKER. We then enter his bedroom and hear Kane whisper with is last breath "Rosebud" and then a snow globe crashes to the floor and shatters...much like this old man's life.
The whole film is this newsreel journalist trying to figure out what the meaning of this last word is. And he really starts to dig deep into this poor man's life. He starts to find things out about his difficult childhood, his lost marriages and just his overall desire for happiness that he was missing. Many staff members of the estate are interviewed to reveal important personal information. His drunk second wife is CRAZY but gets interviewed twice and has something to say eventually. His business partners and best friends also reveal much into the man's life. Jerry Thompson is eventually able to put together a great report of Kane's life after collecting copious amounts of research and information; however, he never does discover what "Rosebud" means.
Cut to the last part of the film and the audience is revealed what Rosebud is....his childhood sled. This was the only possession he had that truly made him happy, and it was the last time he was entirely content with his happiness. The irony is killing the audience at this point as the staff burns it before leaving the estate for good. This conclude's Kane's life, and his final connection to the real world. And unfortunately he is no more.
This song preformed by Daft Punk has found its inspiration from the Disney short "Silly Symphony." Although they don't have the same music, they have taken the inspiration of constant motion. If you watch the disney movie carefully there is always some thing moving in perfect time with the song. This video does the exact same concept in an interesting way! And of course there is the illusion to the silly symphony music video with the outfits that some of the individual dancers in this.
So this is my friend and me trying out all the things that we have been learning here in class. The camera has advanced and is with you everywhere, allowing everyday people to become the creators of master pieces.
This past March was the premier of the silent film "Napoleon" in the United States of America. You may be thinking, why is a film from 1927, getting its premier now? Well thats easy, we missed the band wagon that year with too much drinking and partying. However, that did not take away from the impact that this movie had on the filming world.
Cameras had been advancing greatly over the past few years. Getting smaller, advancing with the film quality, and become portable to take places. What was so amazing about this was that the effects had changed. Now the camera could be hand held, and you would see closer images, and the camera moving with shots. No longer did the scene have to play out in front of the camera, but it could play out almost anywhere and bring the camera along with the movements of the scene.
Some other notable camera uses for this movie that was never before seen, or greatly enhanced the quality of the effect.
The film producer used an existing technique of combining films by laying them on top of each other and splicing them together. This would run two movie segments at a time, allowing the directors to get two separate events in the same screen. This allowed them to enhance background activity to give the illusion of a cleaner picture, while still having the main focus playing as well.
ANother idea that they had was the movement of the camera, and having it stay in real time with the actors. This can be seen when the camera is taken out on the water, following soldiers through battles, and also the view points from the characters. These were such new techniques that it astonished viewers. Traditionally they had seen films that were generally a recording of a play, it may be a different idea behind it, but they would be on a stage in an enclosed space. Now though, the hand held camera could travel everywhere with the filming crew. They started developing dynamic angles and creating new methods of filming. This was part because of the "flaws" one can notice with the camera. Often you see it shaking because there was no technology to correct this as of yet.
There was also the introduction of film enhancements. The producers found that they could cut and splice together different parts of films allowing quick transitions and to connect two different stories together. This technique was great because now the directors began to have control over the audiences emotions. They were the ones that go to fully create what a viewer should experience emotionally through the film.
Not to mention that it had a wonderful arrangement played by a live orchestra to accompany the video. And what was SOOO Neat about the original productions, was that it played across multiple screens. This is the start of the large screen sensation the led to things like Imax views we have today.
"The Great Train Robbery" from 1903 was one of the first times a camera had left the enclosed safety of a studio or recording room. And boy was this HUGE jump. Safe room, to the Wild West. This was so advanced, people have never seen a real life setting, especially, outside in the west. And now the camera is becoming portable. The scenes can take place in larger areas as more advanced films come out and have developed new ways to take in light. (Im not really sure, but i know that they can now filter more light so that the eye is not shattered by the brightness from the sun.)
THey are also working to develop overlapping film. you can see in some areas of the film that there is a different strip running in the areas of the window or open car doors. Unless I'm wrong, which I can usually admit, but the train and trees seemed to close to the main scene. They can now put two films together and create so much more with effects. The pure wow factor that is now being produced by this is mind blowing. This would have been FANTASTIC to see the first time it was released, and only 12 minutes, I'm it. Fast and easy date night, HOLLA!
"A trip to the Moon" is an amazing film. The simplicity of it as compared to what we are used to viewing, is amazing. But the best part is that these films are what people believed. This film is a great adaptation to what the people of the time really believed would happen in space. Like the moon made of cheese, or something soft, not needing oxygen up there, or even that they could shoot a bullet filled with people to the moon. Everything that they did in this movie is fantastic.
qWhat is really interesting, however, is the use of the camera and the effects. The camera has been developing over the recent years, and you can now see that there is definitely a leap in its advancements. There is now the formation of the movie as an art. People are learning how to use cameras properly, as well as cut a splice film together so that they do not have to be in constant film. Also the props that they are using has gone back to the stage theme. They are getting more intricate, but they have returned to the stage counterpart of plays and musicals for their sets. This movie, though, is so forward in its time, that people were actually in belief that these individuals were on the moon. SO GOOD!
The Blog that is produced by Angel de Quinta is the mother load of Broadway excerpts. There is so much there to offer, that anyone with any level of appreciation for these performances will find something they enjoy and inspires them.
What was thrilling about this, besides finding so many wonderful songs (especially the performances by actors and actresses that I did not know sang) was seeing the collection of all the different technological advances the theater employed.
Let's first look at the one thing every human being longs to be able to do... FLY. The Peter Pan Musical is a wonderful composition in its self. Now, take that and swing a beautiful man (played by a woman) and swing her fifty feet in the air across the stage and around the theater and guess what? ITS PHENOMENAL. Yes, yes there has been operas and plays that had people lowered from the cat walk...but never flight. Now we have a weightless figure soaring above us, making those childhood dreams come true. (Not to mention, Cathy Rigsby sings SOO WELL and she is being swung all over the place....too fun!)
Next we move on to the obvious, but often over looked, stage lights! The stage lighting has transformed plays and musicals more so than probably any other equipment. They first began to light to the stage with candle light. This was a problem because 1) THATS PROBABLY DANGEROUS... just my thoughts. 2) Candles are not that bright...again SHOCKER?! Not at all, there is just not enough light given off by them to engulf a room with light, let alone direct it across and entire stage. 3)They produced a lot of heat...and no one likes to sit in dress clothes and sweat. More or less the theater was a dangerous place. Now though, electricity has done the theater wonders. Stage lights can change colors, make shapes, get bright, then dim. The master of lighting has complete control over what light is going where on the stage, and created such a wonderful atmosphere there.
From here lets also look at the stage and theater itself. Like this one used for Godspell. The theater can now be considered an interactive space. Different stages cover the whole area of the theater, not necessarily just the front section. This adds to the feel that you are now in the play. You become an active participant to the music and the action. They have also enhanced the stages themselve. Who would think to have a pool of water and a dripping ceiling fall into the middle of a stage? NOT ME. I sure am game for a few trapdoors, and what have you...but wouldn't think of a working pool/water line...that's pretty neat!!
Of course there is also the scenery and atmosphere on the stage. There used to be such a void, which then transformed to furniture that covered the area. and now there is interactive props. Creating wind on the stage. Different parts of the scenery are real trees, or actually have a lattice for them to climb. THis montage of London's Phantom does a great job showing the atmosphere working so well because of the props and scenery that is being used.
Another great advancement is the sound of the stage. THe speakers alone ad such a booming sound that creates such an emotional response from everyone in the crowd. The relocation of the orchestra off the stage, and hidden creates an even more realistic feel that this is actually occuring. But the microphones that they use are so advanced that they pick up the music perfectly, the voices of the orchestra are picked up through stage microphones, and then the hightec ones that are attached to the face are practically flawless in their vocal recognition. This allows for the theater to really sing, and always has the leads louder, the surrounding music perfectly in sync with the singers. Its so wonderful when it is all working together, that you are simply engulfed with emotions and goosebumps with the beautiful music and songs.
ANother technology that is increasing in popularity and has always been around, is puppetry. A fantastic play has come on to the scene named "Avenue Q" which is basically the adult Sesame street, and influenced by the Muppets. The actors use wonderfully constructed puppets, with moving arms, mouths, eyes, legs, and make them sing dance and act across the stage. Now the puppets sure are cute and attractive to the youngsters, however, the humor and content of these plays are not. The hilarity of this comedic musical is a wonderful addition to the stage.
Jazz was a PHENOMENAL addition to the music realm. The Jazz genre found its beginnings when the world was expanding. I say this because the world was start to diversify, and actually start to learn and respect other cultures and ethnicities. Although greatly underrepresented and underprivileged at the time, African Americans brought forth such a rich cultural and "soulful" passion for art. This can been originally heard in many of the songs that were song as they worked in the field, (unfortunately coined "slave songs"). These tunes were filled with songs about their heritage, as well as talk about hope and freedom. And what intensified the meanings was that these songs were sung not just from the heart, but from their souls. These songs were the musical embodiment of everything that was being felt at the time.
These soul from these songs, mixed with the cajun spice that was held in Louisiana at the time, and a hint of African Tribal beats gave the explosion of Jazz. This was an entirely new form of rhythm and movement that the music world had never heard before. And there was never a doubt, that this music was catchy and was what the world wanted to hear. Although originating from the rag-time music, and the Vaudeville themed music, Jazz soon spread across the US with big bands forming all over, especially in New York. Harlem seemed to become the epicenter of Jazz. Regular night clubs had jazz nights, that flourished with lounge singers and booze.
Soon though the Jazz world was split! WHAT?!??! How could anything so rich get any better you say? Unfortunately, the "Roaring Twenties" came to a screeching stop as the economy crashed and literally terrified all. An emphasis on art was lost, and it became more about finding money and work. THe soul of Jazz was then transformed into the meaningful Blues, that again exploded out of Harlem in New York. Although sometimes depressing, the Blues gave meaning to the confused public, and was even more meaningful as a time to express the pain and sorrow of what was happening to them.
As we are all aware, we are currently in another economic depression...although we have yet to coin this anything that has stuck like "The Great Depression," there is still clearly a great change that this has brought about. To understand this change let us first look at the 1920s.
With the Recent victory of WWI America was on a high. The troops were returning home, everyone was having some fun, and we were the "most powerful country in the world." This was combined with technological advances that were happening all across the spectrum. Art, Music, industrial and the military advancements all gave this era the title of "The Roaring 20's" The whole place was a lit with parties and laughter and music with dancing that no one had a care in the world. Unfortunately, this had to come to an end with the stock market crash in the end of the decade around 1928. This led us through the rest of the 20's and through the 30's until the US became involved in WWII. During this time, however, the music did not stop...it simply changed. There was still the upbeat times of the flapper, but a lot of soul start to develop in music as the sad emotions inspired both music and art of this time. The mood for jazz was set just perfectly and sure enough, jazz ragtime and blues were all jumping into the light. Americans were so bogged down with economical struggle that artist were letting them escape from reality with their new style of expression and unheard of rhythms and sounds.
Now let us look at today! We entered into the "Great Recession" as some call it around 2007 and 2008.
We are now entering into the world of computers and we hear that in the new "Synthesized Voice." Computers and electronic pianos are responsible for what we hear these days. Most artists use these machines to hit the perfect pitch and tune, as well as automatically add the different octaves and levels in their music. And of course all of listen to these songs on repeat (don't lie to me fools! i do it, so do you). And there is nothing wrong with these music, its what america and the world wanted as we entered this recession.
The Diva from "The Fifth Element" is amazing at singing, first and foremost, but what I believe is even greater is her song. With some research i found that it is from the opera Lucia Di Lammermoor. This opera is very touching, in the fact that the woman singing is taking her family's future in her hands and marrying a man that she does not love. She is committing the ultimate sacrifice, second to only deaf, just so that her family can live safe and happily. Although not convinced at first, she then is betrayed with forgery and decides the man she loves has broken her heart and she has no choice to marry the other fool she knows absolutely nothing about. Thats all good a fun, but then lucky for her is that SHE FINDS OUT!! People never learn, that if you lie and try to fool someone, THE WOMAN WILL FIND OUT. ESPECIALLY, in instances of sex and love, so bad move guys.
But back to the point. Diva Pravalaguna, sexy blue alien opera star, is singing this song. And it fits PERFECTLY, because she IS committing the ultimate sacrfice. Now I still have yet to figured out how these rocks got in to her, but she has these sacred stones that are going to save the universe from some black-hole character that is trying to destroy all so he can...be alone? who knows. But point is, she does the same thing for the universe as Aria (i think his the original divas name) did for her family. She was charged with guarding the elemental stones until the fifth element, or some bad ass chick with orange hair returned to run the world (cheesy Beyonce reference) or rather save it. Still this man with a plastic head an awful haircut betrays EVERYONE, and the diva is forced to insert the stones into her body. And for arguments sake, lets say technology in the future had a way for her to do that without...you get my drift. She unfortunately is shot a Corbin has to remove them from her stomach, which causes her to die. But really she had to die, because her heart was broken, she was shot, and she had rocks in her stomach!
But really this is one of the best parts of the movie. And its crazy to think people ACTUALLY sing like that. Im personally like Ringo Star...If i can 1) Stay in key and tune then its awesome 2)I keep my songs to three notes/chords just to be able to continually hit them the entire time Im belting them out down the highway.
After the exploration of this video in class and the greater depth of opera explanation. It is very important to realize that this animation was exactly what she was discussing in the song. The video and the song were paired together perfectly. And although at first, I was only able to make sense of what was happening to the poor woman, I eventually able to connect the song and the video.
Now when i watch this film, the weird and awkward feelings have left. And I begin to feel pity for the woman and embarrassment of American's actions. There has always been a sense of entitlement from ameicans. I feel that everyone has the ability to attest to that statement because we have all done it, and every country has seen us act this way. And Ill be the first to tell you that I am very proud of my country, but I know how we act. This opera does a great way of bringing these actions forward. The beauty of the lyrics combined with the approachable figures makes the viewer really reach out to the woman. Though this is a touchy subject, the claymation characters add a sense of comfortability because we have all seen and grown up with them. SO we begin to feel what the woman is feeling. Excitement she feels as she has found a man to consummate her love. The pain and struggle that she goes through bearing a child alone, raising her alone, all the while longing and waiting for the return of her lover. The pure exhilaration and joy as he approaches, The agony of losing a child. And ultimately we are led to believe that her destruction is inevitable and that this really is the only way to cope with the stress she just endured. Why live, when everything she has lived for is completely gone?
this piece is definitely a beautiful interpretation of such a huge topic to be a part of.
I would first like to start out by saying that this is flat out WEIRD. And I loved it. THe entire time I was watching the clip, I was so perplexed by the constant contradiction of art and beauty. FIrst there is the background song. This lovely Opera song is playing, and creating this sense that there is a lot of emotions going on because opera is emotional. Of you close your eye you can almost see the lady with the blonde hair and horned hat singing in the mist of a gloomy background. This is a timeless scene that almost everyone can picture.
Instead when you look, you are met with to dolls doing the boom boom in the middle of a field. I personally broke into laughter and pretty much continued to chuckle the whole video. Although the song seems to go with the video, based on the tone, level of volume and what not that is occurring, there is just something wrong about dolls having sex. But it gets better, there is now a fishbowl growing in the "asian" dolls bell, complete with fish that is trying to break out.
This did seem to again straddle the realm of the estranged, but it was interesting to see the artists depiction of child development outside of the body. They enter the world of oxygen from a water womb, and begin to grasp for air. They are solely dependent on their parents, and cannot survive with out their continue support as they start to grow and develop into independent humans.
What really disgusted me was the weird umbilical cord that seemed to be connected to the mother and daughter the entire video. They even acted as kites? Which can possibly bee seen as the child trying to grow and spread their own wings, but still require the support of the parent to live. But oh no, he comes ken doll to take that all away from the mother. Who had been waiting years for his return.
He rips the cord and there goes the little baby amongst a culturally diverse family, which seems to just bee all the babies he has created as a navy seamen. This destroys the mother. She is so filled with inner turmoil and disgust that she no longer wishes to live. SHe must be upset with the fact that she waited for this man, and even seemed to love him. And now all he does is take the child, who is way to willing to go with this stranger. This causes the mother to rip her face off in a grueling way, and then proceded to completely rip her self apart until she simply blows away into nothing.
This video is obviously wacked, and gives a creative way to express the essence of the opera drama. personally i think there could have been a better way to do this. but for sheer reaction factor, the director did a wonderful job. they even created the reassurance that this will be remembered though. so props over all to this film.
In examining the works of Juan Carlos, it is apparent that e takes the ordinary and transforms it into the extraordinary. He takes a lot of inspiration from real people. His sculpture are made from close relationships or existing relics that he can mimic, his photography resembles different expressions of self from the individuals posing and making faces, and even his portraits (although meant to to be abstract) take with them that real human aspect. But he takes this one step further and using ordinary objects and ideas (magazine covers for inspiration, fabrics and cushions, lamps, tables anything imaginable) in combination with the personal objects and creates an image or sensation that I would call "real abstraction." These objects now resemble the humanoid form, but are just that, objects. There are plenty of examples of all of these in the short film that takes a tour through works in FIAC in Paris. Another famous piece is the copper sculpture that builds up ice on it. Again his work is human influence with the head sculpted from someone is his family, and then the ordinary object, water, has transformed this work in something completely different, yet it still has human influences and characteristics.
To me this is mind boggling that someone can be so creative. I tend to only draw, and when I do, I can only grasp the realistic aspect of things. THere has to be a set-up for me to draw and recreate. Carlos is the person who recreates after he has originally constructed the piece. And it is wonderful to see.
