The Big Brother State

Four Types of Citizen Journalism

Mobileactive08: Mobiles & Citizen Media

Globalisation The Information age

This is a short clip on youtube that i havefound that state some statistics about the growth of technology and the impact it has on a global scale.

Muto by Blu

This is an wall painted animation by the artist Blu. The animation is a constant moving image painted on the wall in Buenos Aires and in Baden. This type of animation was used in a recent television advert.

Photography Showreel

Dziga Vertov - Man With A Movie Camera

Dziga Vertov is regard as an influencial, experimental and independant film maker. His collection of films echoes the realities of the Modern Soviet State. The relatively low cost of 16mm film allowed him to expand his experimentation, resulting in films comprised of acute camera angles, montage editing, split screen, fast cuts and forms of multi layering film. His most influencial piece ‘Man With A Movie Camera’, an experimentation of the documentary form addressing 'life caught unawares' as it is provoked or surprised by the presence of the camera. The film uses clips of news reels to add to the perception of reality. Vertov's films are a result of the reactions between "complex and poetic constructs of the perceived world"(d) and the concept of self-reflexivity in cinematic film. These theories and experimentations in film prepared Vertov for the introduction of sound. "By alternating the phrases with images, Vertov achieved the illusion of off-screen narration"(d) which he employed in ‘Enthusiasm, Donbass Symphony’ (1931), which became a success home and abroad. His ideas of using lighter equipment to allow accessibilty into rural parts of society, and smaller, multi skilled crews to allow greater movement, were ultimately dampened by the technological capabilities of the time. However, he did influence many, and his theories were put into practice when Direct Cinema established itself in later years.

"Thirty years after his time it became possible to apply Vertov's injunctions without any loss between the idea—to film everything, record everything, to be in life without disturbing or falsifying it—and its realisation. (Vertov had been restricted to filming public manifestations, crowds, ceremonies, etc and was unable to seize everyday life because his equipment could not pass unnoticed)."
J-L Comolli in Cahiers du cinÈma, nos 209, 211(d)

Dziga Vertov was a major contributor to the rise of Soviet Cinema. His documentary newsreel series Kino Pravda was created to deliberately act as propoganda material in order to agitate, influence and promote Socialist Realism and to experiment with concepts and ideas of documentary cinema. Vertov used his established skills of dynamic editing and montages, which carried political and social messages. The Kino Pravda series was a practical, informative and immediate medium to highlight current social, economical and political problems to the public.

10 minutes by Ahmed Imamovic

This is a very powerful short film. It shows how much life can change in 10 minutes. It contrasts between life of fear, danger and the development of technology. The film follows two simultaneous story lines: one set in Rome, and one in Sarajevo, in 1994, the worst time of the war in Bosnia. While 10 minutes in someone's life mean nothing, they can be fatal in another: a boy and his loving family, tragedy in a war-torn city, death and destruction. In the film there is a magnificant sequence done all in one shot following a boy to get water for his family. This film has won many awards in the short film category and was voted best european short film in 2002.

The Ring (Ringu)

Directed by Hideo Nakata, a graduate of journalism from University of Tokyo. I think that his personal experience and the fascination of the paranormal play a significant part in the way the film is put together. i think this film is truly one of the best horror films made in the last decade. Many say the film is not perfect but the unanswered questions left is the main reason why it was such a success, the unknown stay unknown. It sets itself apart from other horror films by not shown the horrors of it's victim. Unlike western horrors there is no gore or bloodshed but the terror of building up anticipation. The sound or silence is the key to the build up to each death in the film. I think that this is key factor that i should look at in for building up the suspense in my film.

PLOT
A mysteries unlabeled video emerges from nowhere, many say an urban legend, and when watched the parcipitant recieves a phonecall. They then have one week to live before they die for usual circumstances of heart failure. Reiko Asakawa, a journalist investigates after her niece dies for these circumstance. She finds the tape in a cabin where a group of teenagers, including her niece, watch it and all die. She then teams up with her ex husband Ryuji to solve the mystery before it too late.



Here is a funny clip of the impact the film has had over in asia. enjoy.

PARIS, JE T'JAIME

This film is about Paris, the city of love. The film is directed by twenty filmmaker each with their own styles and genre in differnet parts of the city. Each director is given about five minutes to tell a story of the different types of love. I found the film intresting in by how the narrative was put together even though they are different short films. I researched further into how the film was made and they were put together by transitional interstitial sequences, and the introduction and epilogue sequences of the film. "Each transition will begin with the last shot of the previous film and will end with the first shot of the following film, and will have a threefold function: 1) The first is to extend the enchantment and the emotion of the previous segment, 2) The second is to prepare the audience for the surprise of the next segment, and 3) The third is to provide a general, comfortable and cohesive atmosphere to the feature film." (www.imdb.com)
I think this film is superbly put together, a great bit of storytelling. It accompanied with great music score heightening the viewing pleasure. The success of this at the cannes film festival allowed writer and producer Emmanuel Benbihy to produce a new film 'New York, I Love You' based around the same idea with twelve directors such as Coen Brothers and Wes Cavern.
I was having trouble writing a script for my 6 min film but it inspired me how to tell a story in such a short space of time.

Animation

This is a animated short film Tir Nan Og by Director Fursy Teyssier. The animation concept is based on life and death and the way in dealing with loss. There is no dialogue in the film but the characters speak volumes in their actions. It is interesting on how much can be said through just body language.

CLOVERFIELD REVIEW

Cloverfield is about a monster that attacks New York City. It is seen through the perspective of 5 New Yorkers that document the situation on a handheld camera. The subplot is a love interest which we see clips of previously recorded film throughout. I think it was a good choice to make the movie in the first person view because it makes you part of the experience like you were right there. We become attached to these character as 'we' struugle to escape the city. It is a good watch and highly entertaining. It makes us believe we're witnessing an event instead of watching a movie.

Documentary

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=2736319599359779313

This is a documentary about children that are born into the red light district of Calcutta. The children are given a camera each to take photographs of their life, showing the difficulties of the living, family and getting an education.