"Weird Al" Yankovic Spy Hard

A spoof Bond opening sequence from the film "Spy Hard". It's by the makers of "The Naked Gun" and "Police Squad" and will scores 7/10 on the giggleometer. It's worth tracking down.

Link to trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxjmwu1Jrx0

Clips from Spy Hard.

JAMES BOND

Trailer for the new Bond film "Quantum of Solace" at

GCSE FILM STUDIES: FIRST LESSONS

In the first lessons we will be looking at the key concepts of genre, conventions and audience. The genre of films we will be studying is disaster movies. You are required to study this genre of film by the examining body (the people who have created the course you are studying) which is the Welsh Board.

Disaster movies can be broken into sub-genres including natural disasters, monsters, viral, science fiction, documentary etc. It is important to be able to identify the main conventions (features) of a disaster film and to be able to compare and comment on the films you "read". The films we will be featuring in our studies will include:

Godzilla

Quatermass and the Pit

World Trade Centre

The Towering Inferno

Dantes' Peak

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The Poseidon Adventure (2006)

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

The Day after Tomorrow

Cloverfield

28 Days Later

It is essential that you carry out independent research and "read" as many disaster movies as you can to expand your knowledge and understanding of this genre but also to enable you to comment in much more depth and gain the highest grades. I will shortly be listing useful websites to help you with your research. Be prepared for a quiz in October too!

VISUAL METAPHORS

In your studies of disaster movies (films) you will "read" many visual metaphors (VMs). A number of important VMs appear in "War of the Worlds" (2005) and "Cloverfield" (2007) and involve paper floating down from the sky. What does this represent and where do you think this idea has come from: that falling paper paper represents destruction and mayhem?

In "Superman Returns" (2006) Superman prevents a large passenger plane from crashing into a baseball park. Again, what is the VM here and what is it representing? Why baseball?

The dates of these films are all very important in developing your answers. In the 1980s and 1990s with a few exceptions, disaster movies as a genre fell into decline. However, following a real disaster, this genre has found a new lease of life, a new connection with audiences around the world.

Questions.

1. What event prompted the increase in disaster movie production?

2. What does this tell us about the attitudes of our present society?

3. What other VMs could you design and place in your own film to represent disaster/destruction and to tie it to the "real-life" disaster that affected the whole world?

Link to "War of the Worlds" trailer below

FILM-MAKING TECHNIQUES

Students take note! As part of your Media Studies and/or Film Studies courses, you will be required to do some filming. This means you must be familiar with all the basic language of film including the various types of shots. This includes camera angles and transitions and the reasons for using these shots. Sound is equally important.

Always ask yourselves: how will using this shot/angle/sound affect my audience?
Check out this link excellent link at You Tube:



I look forward to seeing some of these techniques being used in your own work in September.

THE GREAT DIRECTORS

John Cassavetes, actor, screenwriter and director. Generally credited with being the father of modern independent film. Born in New York City and from a Greek family; Cassavetes pioneered independent, non-genre led films that spoke from the heart. His films still have the power to enchant and thrill although many are no longer screened and are hard to find on DVD. All credit to SKY movies for recently airing "Husbands".

Cassavetes explored the world of men relationships between men. He deliberately set out to avoid the cliches and formulas found in too many films.

For more information of this fascinating director check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cassavetes

And Peter Falk pre "Columbo".




A review of "Husbands" can be found at:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065867/

Versatile

Now playing an incompetent policeman.

The great man himself in action...

From YouTube. Playing a bumbling,venal school teacher - no comments please!!!

Films from home

Never mind Warner Bros. or MGM, 20th Century Fox and just forget United Artists and Universal. Film started closer to home in fact the north west boasts a proud fim tradition.

One of the earliest film studios was in Rusholme!

Check out Mancunian Films and Frank Randle at

http://www.itsahotun.com/Frankrandle.html

Also look at two of my personal favourites: Mitchell and Kenyon and their film studio called Norden in Lancashire. More details at this site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_and_Kenyon

Lest we forget...

Can anybody identify this genius of comedy? First to do so by email will receive a prize.