Kari’s Hum 210 Blog

Reflection on Reading and Viewing

 
I found this module the most fun, I liked being able to pick both the directors and two of their films for viewing.  For this assignment I chose Steven Spielberg and Penny Marshall.  I chose Steven Spielberg for this assignment based upon his widely known reputation and variety of his films.  After viewing Catch Me If You Can and War of the Worlds, I was amazed at the style of each film.  Even though directed by the same man each film carried a completely different approach.  For example War of the Worlds was shot from a far away angle to provide a greater amount of action with in the scene.  On the other hand, Catch Me If You Can was shot in an up close manner where much of the facial caricatures were captured.  Overall I enjoyed both of the films by Spielberg, I am a fan of most of his work, including films such as Jaws, Hook and Jurassic Park.

 
As for choosing Penny Marshall, I thought her work as one of the original women behind the camera and in the director’s chair was commendable.  She has an eye for detail just as her colleague.  I viewed A League of Their Own and Big.  I respect her choice in movies; each film I watched shared a common trait, humor.  I found myself laughing from beginning to the end.  Next to laughter, Big and A League of Their Own both have strong family values with in their core.  One thing I have noticed between both directors is that they often employ the same big name actors in many of their films.  For instance Tom Cruise is often offered the starring role in Spielberg films where as Tom Hanks appears in both Penny Marshall films I watched. 

 
Putting the viewpoints mentioned with in the text to practice, I see how both of these directors along with many others pioneered the “new” movement in the film industry.  I found it interesting that Hollywood had to compete with the television networks for ratings and money.  Then of course I realized Penny Marshall and her involvement in TV programs such as Laverne and Shirley.  In reality Marshall has been active on both sides of the fence.  Although she has experience in both film and television Marshall as quoted by our text was the first woman to break 100 million dollars at the box office.  Marshall and Spielberg both produce multi-million dollar films with big budgets and bigger salaries.  I do not know if the boom in film school enrollees was affected by either of the directors I have chosen.  Yet I would expect that each of them have inspired many to pursue careers in the film industry. 

 
Overall I found this assignment fun and interesting.  I continue to learn more each module and am gaining more insight towards the film industry.   

 
 
 
 
Allen, Michael. “Contemporary US Cinema.” Pearson Education Limited c 2003. pg 113.