Realism/Classicism/Formalism

In this post we will review two classic films, "The Arrival of a Train" and "Damsel in Distress". We will go over the film styles and the concepts of Realism,Classicism, and Formalism.
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Arrival of a Train

This film is simple to say the least. The title speaks for itself. This film is what it says it is: the arrival of a train. It follows a very realistic perspective. This means simply that the shot is held in one place, there are no edits, and it is just one cut. This form of filming/editing is not as commonly used today. You may have experienced, as you were watching, that you felt uncomfortable. The challenges of extended shots, such as this one, are that if held to long, it may leave the audience feeling uneasy.

Damsel in Distress

This film is the polar opposite of "Arrival of a Train". It consists of many quick cuts and shots in different locations. The editing is very classic and is always moving. The story shows many different points of view and contains different locations and characters. One thing to look out for while filming and editing in this style is to make sure not to make scenes too quick. If cut too quick, it may leave the audience confused and give them headaches.

Fame: Step Outline

A man is putting a lot of work into what looks like music production. His back is facing the camera and over his shoulder we can see intricate recording software and tools.	This shows that the man is very into his work. Its not just a hobby but something larger.
Alarm clock sounds for 4:30 am. Man shut off clock and continues to work as the shot fades to black	This scene reveals his dedication which reinforces his hard work ethic.
It is now bright out/the morning and we see the man asleep on the desk with all the production tools still out. Narration cuts in. “Looks pretty pathetic if you ask me. That man you’re looking at, that was me 5 months ago”	This scene introduces the character and shows us that this is a personal story told from a reflective viewpoint.
The main character gets up, looking groggy, and checks his watch. His clothes are dirty and he looks like a wreck. The narrator explains his dream of becoming a musical artist.	This scene introduces the characters dreams/goals. It gives us a better insight on the main character and it shows us that he is not living a comfortable life
After the narration, the main character picks up his phone and sees that he has 5 missed calls. He dials the number and talks to what sounds like his boss. He tells his boss he’s sorry he's late and that he got “caught up” and will be at the office soon	This scene adds further complication to the main characters life and shows us that he’s facing many challenges.
Narration: “Work was a drag like always... but I was almost done. My first single would soon be released and my dreams would come true” The main character gets back and finishes his single	This rising action makes us happy for the protagonist and we rejoice with what sounds like great news. Things sound like they are piecing together.
Narration: “Or thats what I thought...” He posts his first single and it gets nowhere. He gets a handful of views on the single and thats it. “Fame seemed so close, yet it was so far. The single would stay unknown for another six weeks”	This was quick burst of hope which looked like a resolution to the problem. However, we learn nothing changes and his life still goes on. “Another six weeks” foreshadows the future and what will happen.
“Thats when I got the message...” We see a shot that shows *1 New Message* on his email from a mysterious source. “Thats when things changed”	More foreshadowing leading to rising action. We wonder what might happen and we may start to make predictions.
The main character gets out of his car in front of an old sketchy looking building while the narration explains that he got an email from a strange company telling him to come there if he “wanted his dreams to become a reality”. He talks on the phone reassuring someone that it'll be fine and that he's safe.	This scene shows us another glimpse of hope. However, this is a strange one. The music gives a sense of uneasiness and the reassurance on the phone shows us that the main character feels unsure as well. It is unknown as to what is inside and what will happen.
He opens the door. Its extremely dim and vision is limited inside. He can faintly see a table and someone sitting at the other end of it. He says “Hello?” and hears a voice calmly say “Yes. come in”	This brings an extreme feeling of the unknown. We don't know who is the man on the other side of the table or what else may be in the room.
The mysterious man asks “So you want the fame, the fortune?”. The main character replies “Yes.” and the man replies “I can give it all to you... But there is a price”	This is rising action. We learn that the man isn't an ordinary person. He may know higher ups, he may have connections, or something else, completely unknown.
The man explains “The music industry isn't just a game. Fame doesn't just happen on its own. Everything has a reason” The main character asks “W-Who are you?” The man chuckles. “I go by many names, but that is not important now”	We learn a deeper truth in this scene. Part of the unknown is revealed to the character and audience, however we are still missing important pieces. Who is that man and what is he hiding?
The man slides a piece of paper into the main characters vision and a pen along with it. He proclaims “Would you trade your life for but a moment’s pleasure?” The main character is silent “Are you willing to trade your soul for earthly fame?”	A giant twist is presented to the character and the audience. We learn that this is no normal man. The character is facing his biggest challenge/choice yet. He must decide what he really wants and what his dreams are really worth.
The man explains that with this contract he will be granted all the worldly desires he could ask for but in return when his death comes he will forever be a slave in the afterlife. The character picks up the pen and thinks for a moment, unsure of his choice. The shot fades to black and we hear a pen click	We learn the true nature of this deal and what's really behind it. The man (most likely the devil) truly tests the character and he must decide what he really wants. With the cut to black, we are left in suspense and are unsure as to what his decision entailed.
Black background: “That was the toughest choice of my life” The shot opens of the main character getting dressed and buttoning up his shirt. He starts putting on a tie. “I don’t know how I came to my choice... but I know I made the right one” Music starts and the character is getting ready to leave. Before he leaves, we cut to a shot of him reaching for his wallet. A wallet packed with cash.	This scene can be taken as the aftermath of the climax or even somewhat of a resolution. We are still unsure of his choice and have no idea what he has done. There are no major clues. Only one...

Character Bio: Tom Haverford

Characters play a big part in Film. A good character can even be considered one of the most vital parts of filmmaking. Having a complex character isn't easy though and it may take some time to get the concept for a perfect character. In order to help pinpoint what makes a good character interesting and unique we are going to analyze an existing one. Tom Haverford is a character in the television series Parks and Recreation and is a perfect example of a unique character. We will focus on his character traits as well as a unique scene that reflects his character.

Appearence:
Not only is Tom characterized through his actions and emotions, but he is characterized through his clothing too. Matching a character to a specific wardrobe isn't always easy, but Tom Haverford sure looks like he knows what he's doing. Whether is a new suit from Brooks Brothers or a scarf from France, Tom is always on the top of his style game.

Language:

Although he works in the Parks Department, Tom Haverford is still a hip young man. He constantly introduces new lingo and slang throughout the office and makes sure his vocabulary is cooler than cool. Chances are, if you've heard a new term, Tom already knows it

             

Personality:
Tom is a business man by all means. He's had several sales ideas and wants nothing more than to make it as a successful businessman. Whether its a new cologne, called Tommy Fresh, or and bustling Entertainment Conglomerate, Tom always dreams big




Tom's business dreams take over when he quits working for the Parks Department in order to open up Entertainment 720, an entertainment conglomerate with no actual purpose. Tom and his buddy, JeanRalphio launch Entertainment 720 with the dreams of becoming rich. Tom and his friend, however, drive the company to the ground due to their obscene spending. Tom believes you have to spend money to gain money but he goes a little overboard when he and JeanRalphio waste all the money on useless things such as hiring hot model interns and installing a wall of shrimp. After the company goes bankrupt he moves back to the Parks Department, but hes still got an eye on business.