Independent Research Script Reflection

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SCRIPT

• Clear references to film history, theory or genre topic
Reflecting back on my independent research script, I noticed that it sufficiently acknowledges film history and how it makes remarks as to what effect it has on the film's setting and environment. The film City of God has a rich history pertaining to the favelas in 1960s, and the script gives insight on how this Brazilian city has developed overtime and how it is manifested within the movie as well as represented through a modern day film known as Gang Tapes. However, there is a lack of knowledge on film theory and how the genre is expressed in each film. The script does not go in depth on why genre choices were made in order to achieve certain effects in the films. There is vague knowledge on how the two films are linked together through the specific genre, which was intended to be shown as falling under the category of crime fiction.

• Clear engagement with the target audience, scope and depth of argument
The research script is unclear of its target audience, although I imagine it aiming at a focus of those interested in learning about how the overall setting of a gang affiliated environment is portrayed through different film techniques. At some times within the audio aspect of my script the it was also confusing on who the narrator was. There was an adequate mount of detail in terms of how menaing is created through the two films. Some analyses on certain film aspects were more clear than others due to the amount of thought put into it. My argument did not always follow back to my research question therefore making it rather confusing on how it is expressed in the script. I could have focused more on my question and answering it thoroughly to provide clear insight on how it is manifested in each of the films. 

• Clear use of sources and structure of the script
Sources in the research script were effectively used, variated throughout different ideas and clearly stated in the text. Sources such as articles and reviews were utilized as though to make reference as well as elaborate on certain ideas to give deeper insight considering the research question. Knowledge of film history and ideologies was well represented through the different sources used, however some ideas were more developed than others. As for the structure of the research script, the organization was not done sufficiently. This was so due to the confusing sections that readers may come across while reading. Ideas were at times all over the place, therefore gradually losing focus on the main idea. 

• Video and audio elements are detailed clearly and coherently described and linked
In my research script I attempted to make both the video and audio elements equally significant. However this was not done very sufficiently due to the organization of my script, as stated in criteria 3. Both elements were not coherently linked due to how my ideas were scattered and my focus gradually drifted. Given this, the transitions were also unclear in terms of when they happen and why. I also attempted to juxtapose certain shots between each film to point out their similarities, but did not do so adequately on account of the glaring flaws within the audio aspect. To improve this it would be crucial to stay on topic and focus on my main research question.

• All films referred to clearly relate to the topic and insightful comparisons are made with precision
The comparisons made in the research script between the two films are fairly strong and insightful. I was able to provide knowledge on elements that pertain to topics such as historical context and film techniques, however I did not build up my analysis enough to relate it back to my research question. I made very few comparisons, which inevitably resulted in a poor script in terms of connections between genres, setting and artisitc style. This can be so on account of my poor research in the preliminary stages of creating my script. My analyses that answer the film question could have been more focused on in order to convey the points and ideas that are presented throughout the script. Although, I did made knowledgeable points on how setting was portrayed within each film and how these types of gang environements developed overtime in society as well as in the film industry.

End of Year Reflection

Independent Film Research
When it comes to the research aspect of class, my strengths are my interest in overall production value. I really enjoy learning about and gaining insight on all the elements and components, whether trivial or extremely significant, that make up a film's entire set up. Knowing how directors apply their specific artistic styles to the production value of each scene allows me to carry that out into making my own films. Elements such as a setting's environment, surroundings, props, wardrobe, equipment, editing style and overall look are what seem to be the essential factors in creating a film in its entirety. I feel that my area of improvement would be in going into more depth within my research in terms of taking a more analytical look at a film's history, background and meaning. This can be on account of my lack of outside research such as looking at reviews, books, articles etc. To improve this I should look at the development of a film in terms of researching more about historical context as well as background knowledge of a set time period.

Oral Presentation Experience 
For this years oral presentation I feel that my strengths would be providing a solid and thorough explanation on the overall creation of the film and its influences within its set time period. The elements that drove the director (Alfred Hitchcock) into creating the film Psycho, such as historical context, significant current events at the time and socio-cultural influences were well stated within my oral presentation. For next time, I would have to improve in giving more recognition to other significant contributors to the film such as screen writers, sound designers and actors. I would also need to spend more of my analyses and make references to critic's reactions and awards given to the film during the time period. To improve on this for the next oral presentation, I should look into more in depth reviews on the film in terms of the reactions it had received considering the time period which was still new and getting used to the slasher aspect in film. As for a suggestion, assigning less blog posts during preparation for the oral presentation would be reasonable. It's really hard to manage balancing these posts with other schoolwork, especially when we simultaneously have to be ready for the upcoming oral presentation. A better alternative would be more verbal in class discussions about articles rather than writing about them.     

Production Experience 
This year I was provided with the opportunity of experiencing and taking on the roles of both cinematographer and editor. I particularly enjoy the majority of the aspects in film whether it is brainstorming ideas or finishing up the final product in post production. Reflecting back on this year I feel that I not so much failed but rather lacked a big sense of skill when it came to contributing to our short film that I was cinematographer for. This was so due to how I was just starting out and quite new to the cinematographer aspect of films. I wasn't a complete novice because I have done some camerawork prior to this, however, I was getting used to and starting to familiarize myself with new pieces of camera equipment such as the DSLR and all its idiosyncracies, steady cam apparatus and how it is used in different environments. However, I did adapt well when it came to transitioning to the position of editor due to how I have done lots of editing before producing Rusty. I have had experience editing with Final Cut Pro in the past many types with various types of projects. As for a suggestion I feel that the skill that should be addressed more and taught in class would be scriptwriting. With our group that is the are we had most difficulty with. Our dialogue scenes were quite difficult to execute due to our lack of experience with scriptwriting.    

Brazilian Cinema and City of God

Todorov's theory of eqilibrium can be easily seen reflected in City of God. According to this theory, disequilibrium arrives after equilibrium which then paves the way for new equilibrium. As the movie begins, there is peace. However, it is soon disrupted soon after the massacre by Lil Dice that occurs within the brothel. There is soon an eventual downfall of the members of the "Tender Trio" as they are all killed off within the preliminary stages of the film. The sense of equilibrium appears again once the transformation of Lil Dice to Lil Ze occurrs. Although he used years of violence to get to where he his, he has achieve peace in the City of God. Finally at the end of the movie, everything is restored, but the director shows little children walking away from the camera talking about killing someone they dislike because they are the ones in power now due to the recent death of Lil Ze. The static shot is visible in the frame due to the deep focus, which allows the audience to take in all the action they just witnessed only to see the cycle is repeating itself all over again.

Narrative enigmas, otherwise known as unanswered questions that mislead the audience, is one of the many techniques seen in City of God. This hypothesis can be made based on prior knowledge that is gained from the film's most significant occurrences. This is done through the audience's knowledge coming into account and predicting what is likely to happen. Tiago and Benny's race can best exemplify this. From what we know about Lil Ze and his associates is that they kill for what they want. When Tiago arrives, he almost seems like a burden and the way Benny chases after him is not a good sign. However, nothing happens at the end. Although it is expected that the race is going to end with Tiago suffering, the exact opposite happens; Tiago and Benny's encounter later results in a unseen friendship. This misleading scene shows that the characters in the story are always not as they may appear to the audience.


Diegetic narrative devices include newspapers, photographs, music, and T.V. interviews. The incorporation of newspapers and photographs show the blend of the world's vioence in the rest of society. Rather, it shows the desire to be separate from this world of violence. Rocket, in a way, is dependent of the society's crave for this knowledge of the less known violent society due to how he gets a job as a photojournalist as well as lose his virginity. Additionally, the film has a blend of 70s music with almost no music at all. The music playing at Benny's farewell party brings all the different groups in the city together, which can signify the significance of culture in modern society.

City of God: Cinematic Portrayal of Violence

"By showing all the stories of the favela to be interconnected, Meirelles conveys a self-enclosed community isolated from the outside world" 

Each character that is essential within the film's plot is introduced and explained through the stories about who they are, where they came from and their present being. Although the movie is created with a non-linear narrative structure, these stories of the favela gives background insight for viewers in terms of the different origins, which reflects the community in the City of God. The City of God is populated with many different types of people, however the plot centrally focuses on and is mainly surrounded by the groups that are gang affiliated. Fernando Meirelles, director of City of God, intentionally creates these gangs as well as outside sources like the protagonist Rocket, to portray this community as a separate being that is considered to be conveyed as unique and contrasted from others that stand aside. In

doing so, Meirelles gives of a conspicuous feeling for the stories of the favela due to the actions that pertain to each significant member within the City of God. With all these stories being connected to one another, this creates a storyline and plot that can relate back to certain incidents and crucial occurrences, which ties all elements of the film together in the end.



"Meanwhile, the erratic handheld camera reminds the audience of the presence of yet another photographer..." 
  

Throughout the film the camera movements are executed in a way that conveys the feeling and connotation of the favela. Many of the shots are handheld and consist of bouncing back and forth between objects of focus with zooming. Doing so with the cinematography gives off a disorientating feeling for viewers, which portrays what the favela is like. With the additional handhelp camera movement, audience members are reminded of the protagonist Rocket who throughout the movie ventures at pursuing a careere in photography

journalism. Through this "erratic handheld camera" movement, Rocket's intentions are manifested due to the extents he goes through to cover the incidents that occur within the City of God. The cinematography does great job in seeing life of the favela through Rocket's eyes and how the cinematic portrayal of violence is shown through him.   



"Throughout most of the film, they are treated with alternating casualness and calculation. The audience sees bodies falling, or lying on the ground, but the editing is rapid and generally cuts immediately away" 

What truly puts the overall artisitic value in a film is how much a message is conveyed or interpreted, without the direct correlation through the utilization of shots and camera movements. The population of the favela is essentially surrounded by the aspect of violence and gang affiliated actions that of which reflect what life is like in the City of God. The cinematic techniques are manifested within the movie based on the fast paced cuts. Through this the artistic style that Meircelle was potentially aiming at was a sense of classicism on account of the timing and tempo of each shot and length of cuts within each scene that pertains to violence. A scene from the film that can best exemplify this would be the scene when Lil Ze attacks Knockout Ned and rapes his girlfriend. The cuts in this scene barely last a second each. A frame flashes then cuts to black, but maintains the audio of screaming and laughing.

 "In chase sequences, for example, camera angles are repeatedly reversed, confusing direction and space. The constantly moving handheld camera is combined with rapid editing to create a sense of disorientation"

On account of the fast paced cuts and rapid movement, not only does this create a sense of disorientation but it gives off a feeling of suspense for the audience due to how everything cannot be seen during the chase because of the short duration of each frame. Two artistic style can be brought out when it comes to the editing of scenes like this. Both formalism and classicism are demonstrated because of the fast and rapid cuts as well as confusion for viewers on account of how direction and space is being distorted. 


“Brazil's contemporary national cinema frequently deals with an "…urban reality that is centered in the concept of the 'taken for granted' violence that comes out of a predatory capitalism and so becomes a spectacle."

This quote talks about the themes of violence and loss of innocence through the different aspects and developments in capitalism. The time deals with the beautiful country of Brazil paved in success, but within it are these villages with hovels and a large majority live here, which can be seen as an ironic society. Given this, the genre of this film manifests itself through the aspects of gang affiliation and drug dealing. The conventions of the 1960 Brazilian lifestyle is depicted through this society and the occurrences that create the central conflicts within the plot.