Introduction to Film Class – The Reflection

What I liked about this class was definitely the ability of learning simple components of a film – cinematography, lightning and color, themes, genres – and the chance to apply what I learned into a real actual film that I participated in the making of. I used certain techniques that I learned off which came off to be successful usage during the final editing of the film and the fact that I was also given the chance to prove what I knew and how I understood it within the film made it better. I enjoyed watching films during the class to review and discuss within class because I not only got to express my opinion of the film and to show what I knew, I also discovered what others thought and how others perceived certain things that I probably perceived differently. This has helped me to be more flexible with my classmates when working with them in the making of a film and to be patient too – I have grown to accept certain opinions of others and to even work and blend with my opinion with theirs.

Althought, I felt a little annoyed that throughout this whole year, I had merely learned and understood but had very few chances to apply those skills into film-making. I enjoyed the discussions we’ve had and lessons we’ve learned but I felt that we didn’t have many chances to show what we knew into film. Basically, I thought that this year mostly consisted of learning and understanding – which is reasonable because this is only the introduction to film - but I felt that we lacked the time or chance to apply more of the skills into film.

English is a second class that I’m sure I can apply my knowledge into because during English, we often have time to watch films related to literature such as Romeo and Juliet or certain public service announcements. With what I know of film and what I learned and understood, I have the chance to express and to show how certain parts of a film was done quite nicely and why, what techniques were used to make the film relate to literature. I also applied my knowledge of cinematography during the Public Service Announcements units to create a public service announcement of my own, using certain techniques of film which I learned both in English and in Film and with the advanced knowledge that I have from Film, I was able to perceive a message perfectly with the skills I learned. I also perceived certain films we watched and how the film-maker used certain techniques to send a certain message.

Film Review on The Bucket List!

“Even now, I can’t claim to understand the measure of life but I can tell you this: I know that when he died, his eyes were closed and his heart was open, and I’m pretty sure he was happy with his final resting place because he was buried in a mountain…and that was against the law.”

The most deeping and touching film I’ve seen yet – revolving around the relationship between two men, who gathered a list of things to do before they ‘kick the bucket’, escape the cancer ward after being diagnosed terminally ill. Edward Cole is a corporate wealthy man who maintains a list of problems with his own family and proves to be someone who is extremely enthusiastic and in some cases, troublesome even. Carter Chamber becomes the voice of reason for Edward Cole in the film as he works as a mechanic and maintains a healthy relationship with the members of his family. Both who harbour a need to fulfil certain deeds of their own develops an understanding with one another – one that cannot be understood unless you were in their shoes.

Characters

Developing characters

• Edward Cole; a wealthy businessman who has been divorced more than once and hides a deep scar left by his daughter whom he had fought long before. Despite the disputes he faced in life, he chooses to be selfish and happy, a little wild and troublesome but nevertheless, a good man. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, he stays in the hospital and rests in a room which he shares with a second person. At first, he seems to dislike the thought of sharing a room with another but eventually, he begins to grow comfortable. He is the one to discover the list and seems more eager to complete list. Throughout the film, he tends to show a very mean and selfish side of him before a certain incident ignites the kind-hearted portion of his personality. The events within the film aided him in opening his heart.
• Carter Chamber; a mechanic who seems happy with his family and his current status. Before he met Edward Cole, he worked at a local store as a mechanic before the hospital had called him and told him he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He doesn’t make much contact with Edward Cole in the beginning of the film when he starts sharing a room with him but Carter Chamber is polite and easy-going towards Edward Cole. During certain parts of the film, we see that Carter Chamber releases a wild side of him in the duration of fulfilling certain deeds. We see that he was once supressed from his urges, his needs which he threw away to waste when he married his wife. The list has aided him to open himself and to even show what he wanted and what he needed, to express himself freely.

Static Characters

• Thomas; Edward Cole’s right hand man in business and first and foremost assistant, the one who arranges most of the things needed or wanted to be done for the list. His relationship with Edward Cole is quite a comedic one as they tend to be sardonic and somewhat sarcastic to one another. The assistant’s real name is Matthew but Edward Cole assigned the name Thomas, feeling that the name was too ‘biblical’.

Cinematography

• Handheld Camera was used in certain scenes to perceive a feeling of being a human through the natural shaking of the camera. The scene which included the use of the handheld camera was when they were parachuting off the plane.
• Director’s Inerpretive Point of View shots were used in the movie to focus on certain portions of the film wherein whatever the shots focused upon became immensely important later. The scene which included the use of the Director’s Interpretive Point of View shot was when Edward Cole first discovers the list which Carter Chamber throws out. At first, it becomes a mere piece of paper with a list of things to do which eventually becomes a list of things to do before they kick the bucket!
• Voice-over; Carter Chamber introduces the movie and carries the plotline but rarely with his voice-over’s. The voice over always includes something deep and true.

Genre

• Comedy
• Drama

Lighting and Color

• The lighting was usually high key lighting, soft and diffused, all natural. It created a calm and serene mood within the film in most of the scenes. When Edward Cole and Carter Chambers were either conversing or fulfilling their deeds on the list, it was always a moment that was quite touching and deep, showing the clear development and traits of their friendship.
• Most of the lightning was natural since most of the film was outside and during the day. It created a natural feeling to it, not fake or unrealistic but natural, causing the film to be quite realistic with the lightning.
• Colors that were quite frequent within the film were red and yellow which offered support to the bright and happy aura within the film. It also relates to the weather which was often in the sunny daylight.

Linear Structure

• Linear Structure; No certain flashbacks and no random events related to the past popping up during the middle of the movie and the beginning was quite the starting of a certain plotline, not starting at the middle of it.
• Exposition; Carter Chamber is introduced, working in a store as a mechanic before receiving a call about being diagnosed of the terminal illness. He ventures into the hospital where he discovers he is sharing a room with a wealthy billionare businessman named Edward Cole.
• Complication; 1) When Carter Chamber rests at Edward Cole’s house, Edward Cole receives a call from Carter Chamber’s wife who indirectly scolres Edward Cole for taking away her husband. Feeling guilty, Edward Cole discusses the idea of cutting the trip short with Carter Chamber who refuses and pushes Edward Cole to continue and finish the list. 2) When Carter Chamber brings Edward Cole back to Edward Cole’s daughter’s house to reunite the two. Edward Cole, infuriated by how nosy Carter Chamber has become, rips the list into pieces and avoids contact with Carter Chamber.
• Climax; Something to definitely look forward to. It is something that will drive you, yourself, to make a bucket list of your own with a friend or two.

Honest to God, I cried in this film. Not simply because I witnessed a friendship that involved so much devotion and love in such a short time but because I witnessed a story that just influences you to make something more of your life. I felt that this film lacked nothing to reach its goal because it did - it affected the audience deeply and emotionally and what was amazing about this film is that it did not have to go beyond certain special effects to capture the audience into its plot. Certain techniques were used to make a feeling of simplicity for this film and the simplicity has made the audience easily understand and fall into a trap of touched and amazed emotions.

I say, watch this movie. It’s a popular film, no doubt. Here’s a trailer: