I think almost anyone might agree that the sound and music in a movie is key to it's value/impact to the viewer. Sound mixers, foley artists, composers, songwriters, and so on can really shape your emotion and how you feel about a scene or movie as a whole. And isn't that what the movie-going experience is as a whole? An escape? An evaluation? A mirror?
I am a huge fan of movie scores/soundtracks, not just because they remind me of a movie, but usually because I will typically like the music from the movie I like. (Insert chicken or the egg argument here about which is the reason I like one or the other.) At this year's Oscars, I was torn as to whether to root for Hans Zimmer, whose mind-blowing score was integral to my love for the movie Inception, or for Trent Reznor, who scored for David Fincher's The Social Network. I thoroughly enjoyed The Social Network as a movie, but I am also partial to Mr. Reznor as I grew up a rabid Nine Inch Nails fan. In fact when I saw TSN, I almost dropped my popcorn when I heard the music in one scene and realized that it had to be Trent who scored it. I really wish they could have given out 2 Oscars for Score.
Growing up I not only listened to every conceivable type of music with lyrics, but I danced ballet from age 5 up through college. That experience gave me an appreciation for classical music, the movement of music, and particularly how music makes one FEEL. These days, as I take the subway or bus around town, or drive in my car, I listen to music whenever I can. I can't help but notice how my mood is so affected by what I have listened to. The music doesn't necessarily correlate with what you might think either. If I am listening to NIN or Metallica, it certainly puts me in a good mood, sometimes even relaxed. On the other hand, Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis" or Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" might make me angry. This is for reasons of personal experience which I will not divulge. But it goes to show that music and our own experience shape how we feel about the music.
How we feel about music, in turn, shapes how we feel about a movie. Even the absence of sound makes a powerful impact. Take the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men. If you haven't, do it now and take notes. I guess the best way for us to create our own life score or soundtrack is via iPod, or by listening to the radio. It would be awesome to be able to do that whenever we wanted (especially at a job you don't necessarily like). Just as important would be taking time for NO music or sound, the time to contemplate, think, be.
So here's to the folks that shape how we listen to movies..........or should I say, HEARS to you?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Documentary on Graduate Student Life
I have always loved documentaries. It fascinates me how someone can go so in depth into a particular subject. IMHO, the best documentaries are either peeking behind the curtain of something that may already be popular, or shedding light on a particularly benign subject.
I have long wanted to develop and create a documentary. The topic had changed as I grew up, but during and since graduate school, is has remained the same. I think that the life and culture of graduate programs is a topic BEGGING to be covered. After getting my graduate degree, I spend over eight years working in and managing graduate programs in various departments. As such, I have developed quite the network of friends and acquaintances who have experienced life as a graduate student, and many that went on to make graduate program culture a permanent part of their life. (I am looking at you, graduate school faculty and staff!)
There is stress, tension, high drama, and no shortage of subjects. It is fascinating to me to see the dynamics between advisors and their advisees, and how they can range from distant to inappropriately intimate. Not only that, but the range of research and education is staggering. Particularly when a doctoral student can spend anywhere from 4 to 10 years focusing on the minutiae of a particular subject. It is a descent into obsession, and for some is the most trying time of their life. Particularly for students writing their dissertation. It is a journey really, a mental marathon for which no one is every prepared. I think it would put any reality show fodder to shame. I see it as a hybrid of a PBS show like "Nature" and an episode of "The Real Housewives of Such and Such". Except more information and infinitely more tears and rage.
Someday I would like to do such a documentary, but alas, as is the case of many aspiring documentary filmmakers, I lack the resources. I am working on developing contacts in this area, but resources are scarce. At least I have the seed of an idea and the passion..........
I have long wanted to develop and create a documentary. The topic had changed as I grew up, but during and since graduate school, is has remained the same. I think that the life and culture of graduate programs is a topic BEGGING to be covered. After getting my graduate degree, I spend over eight years working in and managing graduate programs in various departments. As such, I have developed quite the network of friends and acquaintances who have experienced life as a graduate student, and many that went on to make graduate program culture a permanent part of their life. (I am looking at you, graduate school faculty and staff!)
There is stress, tension, high drama, and no shortage of subjects. It is fascinating to me to see the dynamics between advisors and their advisees, and how they can range from distant to inappropriately intimate. Not only that, but the range of research and education is staggering. Particularly when a doctoral student can spend anywhere from 4 to 10 years focusing on the minutiae of a particular subject. It is a descent into obsession, and for some is the most trying time of their life. Particularly for students writing their dissertation. It is a journey really, a mental marathon for which no one is every prepared. I think it would put any reality show fodder to shame. I see it as a hybrid of a PBS show like "Nature" and an episode of "The Real Housewives of Such and Such". Except more information and infinitely more tears and rage.
Someday I would like to do such a documentary, but alas, as is the case of many aspiring documentary filmmakers, I lack the resources. I am working on developing contacts in this area, but resources are scarce. At least I have the seed of an idea and the passion..........
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Who do you look like?
One way that I have become good at remembering faces is by relating them to the famous person they look like. For example, when I first met my husband I thought he looked like a particular movie actor. I won't say who, because he doesn't think he looks like this person. The tricky thing is that the personality characteristics of the famous person might be displaced on to your new acquaintance, which is not helpful as you get to know the person. For example, if you think someone looks like George Clooney and start to attribute this new person as smooth, funny, etc. The guy may be a misogynistic, ill-mannered, boor.
This has also backfired on me in terms of attributing personality characteristics from a famous person to a friend. I made the mistake of saying that Steve Buscemi reminded me of guy (because I happen to think that Buscemi is a renaissance actor, funny and talented). My friend took it as I meant he LOOKED like Steve Buscemi, which he took great offense too. Because let's face it, Buschemi is talented, but unfortunate-looking. However, don't we see smart, beautiful, talented women with unfortunate-looking talented men all the time?
Another way in which this has been positive, beside helping me remember people, is that it can make a person I don't get along with more palatable. For example, I have a coworker who I don't see eye-to-eye with. I think she is immature and manipulative. However, I also think she looks like Snarf from the children's cartoon, Thundercats. No joke, that is the first association that popped in my head when I met her. So now it might be abrasive to deal with her, but I am usually reminded me of Snarf, which makes me laugh (at least internally). Tension in our staff meeting? Thundercats, HO!
This has also backfired on me in terms of attributing personality characteristics from a famous person to a friend. I made the mistake of saying that Steve Buscemi reminded me of guy (because I happen to think that Buscemi is a renaissance actor, funny and talented). My friend took it as I meant he LOOKED like Steve Buscemi, which he took great offense too. Because let's face it, Buschemi is talented, but unfortunate-looking. However, don't we see smart, beautiful, talented women with unfortunate-looking talented men all the time?
Another way in which this has been positive, beside helping me remember people, is that it can make a person I don't get along with more palatable. For example, I have a coworker who I don't see eye-to-eye with. I think she is immature and manipulative. However, I also think she looks like Snarf from the children's cartoon, Thundercats. No joke, that is the first association that popped in my head when I met her. So now it might be abrasive to deal with her, but I am usually reminded me of Snarf, which makes me laugh (at least internally). Tension in our staff meeting? Thundercats, HO!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
R.I.P. Joan of Arcadia
On last night's episode of House I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite shows, Joan of Arcadia. Amber Tamblyn now stars on House, and her former co-star on JoA, Christopher Marquette, showed up as a patient. With his character's references to God, I was thrown back into the whimsy of JoA. (Though I do know House writers love to put in references to actors' former roles. In a recent episode, Peter Jacobson (Taub) referred to Omar Epps (Foreman) as Linc from the Mod Squad. Epps played Linc in the movie version of the Mod Squad.) Another JoA reunion took place on Criminal Minds, where Joe Montegna (who played Will Girardi on JoA) reunited with Michael Welch (who played his son Luke on JoA).
The storyline on House was solid and this episode "Fall from Grace" had a turn at the end that was memorable which I will not reveal here. TV really seems to be a writers' place to shine, and none more so than on the series Joan of Arcadia. It is such a shame it only lasted two seasons. I guess because it addressed the existence of God and discussed religion, philosophy and morals on a TV show, it may not have been appealing to a mass audience. (Better to a "Mass" audience. HA! Had to get that pun in.) Plus it was on Friday nights, which can be the kiss of death for any show. What was great about it was that it was not a preachy show. Just a show that was a forum and catalyst for discussing such topics.
I have my opinions on all those subjects, but I found myself being impressed by how the proverbial door was opened to the topic. I mean, anybody could use that show as a tool for teaching a class on how to be a decent person. Not necessarily pertaining to any religion or faith or moral code. Just decency. It is really a shame that it did not continue. Especially since the 2nd season cliffhanger finale was a great setup for furthering those sorts of discussions, but done so in a way that Joan of the story's life was mirroring Joan of Arc. The series was just getting legs! Oh well. Here's hoping that some other series is written or comes along that is close to being as entertainingly meaningful as that one.
The storyline on House was solid and this episode "Fall from Grace" had a turn at the end that was memorable which I will not reveal here. TV really seems to be a writers' place to shine, and none more so than on the series Joan of Arcadia. It is such a shame it only lasted two seasons. I guess because it addressed the existence of God and discussed religion, philosophy and morals on a TV show, it may not have been appealing to a mass audience. (Better to a "Mass" audience. HA! Had to get that pun in.) Plus it was on Friday nights, which can be the kiss of death for any show. What was great about it was that it was not a preachy show. Just a show that was a forum and catalyst for discussing such topics.
I have my opinions on all those subjects, but I found myself being impressed by how the proverbial door was opened to the topic. I mean, anybody could use that show as a tool for teaching a class on how to be a decent person. Not necessarily pertaining to any religion or faith or moral code. Just decency. It is really a shame that it did not continue. Especially since the 2nd season cliffhanger finale was a great setup for furthering those sorts of discussions, but done so in a way that Joan of the story's life was mirroring Joan of Arc. The series was just getting legs! Oh well. Here's hoping that some other series is written or comes along that is close to being as entertainingly meaningful as that one.
Christopher Nolan is awesome
I just had to post something about this. Christopher Nolan is definitely one of the best directors of all time. I have seen all his movies and I am impressed that upon repeated viewings, I can find nuances that contribute to the story as a whole. That is what impresses me about him. Plus his stories and ways of telling stories are so incredible and original. His casting is spot on as well.
I just watched Inception for the twentieth or so time this past weekend and still marvel at the details of it. I have the date of the The Dark Knight Rises release on my calendar and it is over a year away. I don't know why every person in Hollywood is not clamoring to work with this man. At some point I will have to blog about my musings on what he has done with the Batman franchise, as well as the originality of Inception.
His moviemaking almost inspires me to go back to graduate school and write a dissertation about his work. I mean, his work is not just entertaining, but smart and thought-provoking. Maybe I should have called this blog "How much do I love Christopher Nolan's work?" There is a website called Nolan Fans, and those guys seem much better connected to Nolan and information regarding Nolan than I am.
I just watched Inception for the twentieth or so time this past weekend and still marvel at the details of it. I have the date of the The Dark Knight Rises release on my calendar and it is over a year away. I don't know why every person in Hollywood is not clamoring to work with this man. At some point I will have to blog about my musings on what he has done with the Batman franchise, as well as the originality of Inception.
His moviemaking almost inspires me to go back to graduate school and write a dissertation about his work. I mean, his work is not just entertaining, but smart and thought-provoking. Maybe I should have called this blog "How much do I love Christopher Nolan's work?" There is a website called Nolan Fans, and those guys seem much better connected to Nolan and information regarding Nolan than I am.
"Useless" Information
Because of my love of things entertainment (and crossword puzzles) I have been pondering a way to put my knowledge and musings of entertainment down. This effort may also find like-minded individuals who enjoy thinking about and discussing entertainment, philosophy and human nature in general. Whoa, just got a little too deep there!
I have always had an uncanny ability to remember actors, actresses, TV shows, movies, and entertainment facts. That translates well into remembering people, places and facts about people in real life. Though that may make my interpersonal skills marketable in some work situations, but it has yet to be fruitful in the ways I had hoped.
Starting this blog was my husband's idea, because every time he tries to think of an actor or movie or some entertainment fact, he knows he can ask me. It is like his own living IMDb. My friends have also come to use me as a resource in this regard. I want this blog to be a further outlet for discussion in regards to entertainment, and how it mirrors life, exposes our ways of thinking and brings out the best and worst of us. Plus I like good discussion and talking movies.
I have always had an uncanny ability to remember actors, actresses, TV shows, movies, and entertainment facts. That translates well into remembering people, places and facts about people in real life. Though that may make my interpersonal skills marketable in some work situations, but it has yet to be fruitful in the ways I had hoped.
Starting this blog was my husband's idea, because every time he tries to think of an actor or movie or some entertainment fact, he knows he can ask me. It is like his own living IMDb. My friends have also come to use me as a resource in this regard. I want this blog to be a further outlet for discussion in regards to entertainment, and how it mirrors life, exposes our ways of thinking and brings out the best and worst of us. Plus I like good discussion and talking movies.
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