The repeated patterns of sitcoms has always fascinated me. Growing up, I always noticed that the TV shows I watched always had the same basic plot with different twists. For example, for TV shows that take place in a high school, there is always an episode where the characters are given an egg to take care of to learn what it's like to take care of a child. It happens in Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Saved By the Bell, Boy Meets World, and Lizzie McGuire. And so each of these sitcoms have episodes that are very similar in plot, but are still interesting to to watch because we get to see our favorite characters in each of these shows and see their reactions to similar situations.
It's really funny to watch shows that are very similar in structure, albeit with very different premises, experiencing very similar plot lines within their own universe. We get to watch Buffy, Xander, and Willow in Buffy while we watch Gordo, Lizzie, and Miranda in Lizzie McGuire. Three friends, two girls and one boy, boy is in love with the main girl, and they both take place in high school. While Buffy fights vampires and demons and Lizzie worries about her bra size and Ethan Craft, the egg plot line works for both shows in similar and different ways at the same time.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Blog Post #6
One of my favorite movies is Shakespeare in Love; it's pretty damn fantastic all around, including the cinematography. In the scene where Viola and Will are at the same ball and Will sees her for the first time, director John Madden uses a variety of different shots to create his effect. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uzGGGb-_vU
In terms of a long shot, he zooms out several times during the scene to show the beauty of the dancing altogether.
In terms of a medium shot, he uses this a great deal in this scene to show the interactions of Will and Viola and the other dancers. He shows them from mid-torso up for the larger portion of the scene.
In terms of a close-up, he uses this to show how awestruck Will is at Viola's beauty when she tells him that she hears he is a poet.
And just to throw something in here - I also really love the Secret Garden, and I think its end credits has one of the most beautiful long shots I've ever seen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2c4KZAYkmQ
In terms of a long shot, he zooms out several times during the scene to show the beauty of the dancing altogether.
In terms of a medium shot, he uses this a great deal in this scene to show the interactions of Will and Viola and the other dancers. He shows them from mid-torso up for the larger portion of the scene.
In terms of a close-up, he uses this to show how awestruck Will is at Viola's beauty when she tells him that she hears he is a poet.
And just to throw something in here - I also really love the Secret Garden, and I think its end credits has one of the most beautiful long shots I've ever seen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2c4KZAYkmQ
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Blog Post #5
The studio system in the Classical Hollywood era revolved around the "big eight" studios, where most films were made, produced, and shown at theatres which were shared between these particular eight studios. They controlled most of the movie business during Hollywood's peak.
Studio systems, including those of producing and market control, explain how the "big eight" studios controlled all aspects of the market and held a monopoly over the market. Most importantly, the star system, an aspect of the studio system, controlled the types of movies the studios made.
Stars were used to represent the genres of movies made; for example, Judy Garland very often played the same type of character, particularly in musicals. While the characters in Meet Me in St. Louis and The Wizard of Oz are different, they share the same characteristics and the overall feel of the movies are similar. Therefore, Judy Garland, while talented, was very purposefully typecasted to appeal to a certain audience.
Studio systems, including those of producing and market control, explain how the "big eight" studios controlled all aspects of the market and held a monopoly over the market. Most importantly, the star system, an aspect of the studio system, controlled the types of movies the studios made.
Stars were used to represent the genres of movies made; for example, Judy Garland very often played the same type of character, particularly in musicals. While the characters in Meet Me in St. Louis and The Wizard of Oz are different, they share the same characteristics and the overall feel of the movies are similar. Therefore, Judy Garland, while talented, was very purposefully typecasted to appeal to a certain audience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)