My Final Thoughts

This class was not what I expected it to be. When I signed up for Hollywood History, my first thought was finally I can see how films started, what the technology was like, and the trend of modern films. With these thoughts in mind, never would I have thought that I was going to watch medieval films. When I think about it, I have watched a lot of historical films for fun and in class. Now I am more open-minded with films.

So far my favorites movies have been the Court Jester, The Sorceress, and The Sword in the Stone. Each film had its favorites, for Sword in the Stone it was the cartoon effect of feeling like a kid again. I enjoyed watching Disney movies as a child so the nostalgia was real. For Court Jester, I thought it was funny. It kept my attention the entire time. I enjoyed the plot and how at the end there was a happy ending. As for The Sorceress, at first, I was not interested and confused as to why we were watching this film. Then it reached the climax of who was getting killed and my attention was grabbed. I enjoy mysteries so I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

As aforementioned in my other posts, film will be a part of my life and career. I want my movies to have an impact on my audience. It won’t be medieval, but it will have those elements that I learned in class. As I have learned there are always stories that need to be told, it is just a matter of how, when, and where. In this class, each film had a story that needs to be told during that time period, and each one was done successfully.

Movies Are Amazing!

This class so far has pushed me out of my comfort zone in watching films that I wouldn’t watch by myself. My mom always told me, that to be a good filmmaker I should watch films that no one would want to watch. While I am still learning about many films, my favorites so far have been Court Jester, Sword in the Stone, and The Name of the Rose. Each one had different elements that I enjoyed. For example, I enjoyed Court Jester for the comedy and also how cinematically developed it was. I think the use of green screens was becoming a thing. For Sword in the Stone, technicolor was becoming an advanced item for animation films. According to “Walt Disney Studios”, “Technicolor Corporation was created in 1915 by Kalmus, Comstock, and Wescott firm. Their first system, Technicolor System One was scrapped after they released The Gulf Between in 1917. It was a flop because, according to the projectionist, it was difficult to adjust the prism to get the colors to properly show, often making the actors appear green or red,” (Walt Disney Studios: A Cultural Transformation). As a kid, I didn’t pay attention that Technicolor was a thing, even as I was growing up. So this concept was new to learn. I enjoyed watching my childhood, but with different lenses. Finally, The Name of the Rose at first started off slow but then got really interesting towards the middle. While the movie was made in the 80’s, I thought Jean- Jacques Annaud did a great job with creating a great story.

While we still have a week of class, I am glad I took this class because I am reminded why I enjoy films and why I would like to work in the film industry. Also, I want to watch more films that are out of my comfort zone.

 

https://waltdisneyculturalimpact.weebly.com/disney-technicolor.html

It’s Not Right, #MeToo

Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Springs focuses on issues that are still going on today. Sexual assault, rape, questioning of faith, guilt, jealousy, the list goes on. While watching this film I was annoyed and frustrated. First of Karin is a sweet virgin girl who is spoiled by her mother and has a unique relationship with her father. Unique meaning they have a more intimate relationship than just being father and daughter. Karin’s parents Tore and Mareta needs her to go to the church and give the candles to the Virgin Mary. During this time period, only the virgin could bring the candles so it had to be Karin. Ingeri the servant of Karin’s family goes with her through the first to make the trip to the church. I know I am speaking with a 21st-century mindset, but I would not have sent two women (one of them being pregnant) out on such a long trip. As the story goes on Karin is by herself because Ingeri couldn’t go on with the trip and Karin is approached by three herdsmen who eat lunch with her, rape her, and kill her.

Even if you didn’t watch this movie you see my frustration, why would Bergman want to do something like this? I know Bergman was going through something himself, but I felt he made Karin too easy and gullible. I felt there was no genuineness in this film. Even in modern films today the portrayal of women is posed as weak and easy to get, however with #MeToo movement things are changing around. I think if this film was to be remade, there would be a different outcome, Karin would be strong, her parents would be more verbal, everything would be different. As a young woman watching this film I felt during Bergman’s time these issues were probably not focused on much. However, as someone who wants to work in the film industry was thinking of the remake of this film and how these issues should end.

Sword in the Stone vs. Camelot

King Arthur, I have heard him by ear, maybe I studied about him in history class I really don’t remember. While that being said I was glad to watch Reitherman’s Sword in the Stone as a start to learn who this man was and why he was a legend. Looking at Disney movies as an adult, of course, I notice things that can be improved cinematically, but I was not focusing on that. I was looking at Wart and why he was treated as a slave (basically) and how he met Merlin. To me, this was like a Cinderella story, of starting at the bottom and making his way to become a king. At first, I was confused as to why Merlin was teaching Wart about magic and what that had to do with him being king. Well since it is a kids movie there is always a lesson to be learned. I think stylistically it fit, but it would have been nice to have more focus on the sword in the stone, than Merlin and his magic.

I feel like watching Joshua Logan’s Camelot was a great segway to understand who King Arthur was as an adult. I felt like in this movie he wasn’t as strong as young Wart in Sword in the Stone, but I was glad to have some background knowledge after watching the animation film. Camelot kept the same the same themes and characters as in the animation. In one of the scenes when King Arthur is talking to Merlin, we see the top of the trees and in the background hear Arthur being a bird.  However, in this film, I felt this film focused on King Arthur’s romantic than more of kingship. I would like to have seen King Arthur be braver and stronger and fighting.

 

Lights, Camera, My Movie

Films were not always apart of my life. I watched horror movies with my mom and watched LifeTime movies often, but I didn’t think I would make a career out of watching movies. I actually wanted to be an actress because I enjoyed the spotlight so much. Then it turned out I enjoyed writing more and wanted to become an author instead. Then one day I found out I could become a screenwriter and turn my stories into images. Since then I have watched more films and figure out how the screenplays are written.

Since coming to Wartburg, I have really enjoyed the Journalism and Communications department. I have been apart of an actual feature film crew where it took a month to create a full-length film. Learning about all the roles really inspired me to want to be a director and screenwriter for my own films. I also had the opportunity to go to a film festival in LA, where I got to see different films about the environment. Finally, I got the opportunity to go to Wartburg West and work at a video production company where I made my short documentary that was turned into the film festival.

That is why taking this class Hollywood History has been really awesome so far because I really want to learn how films began and how we got to where we are today. I am excited to see films that I wouldn’t see myself. This summer I am going to France to learn about modern films in France and the different trends that have happened over the years.

For my ultimate career, I want to be a screenwriter and director of my own films. I inspire to work with Tyler Perry because his films are always inspirational. I am very big on sharing people’s stories and want my audience to have a lasting impact.