Kari’s Hum 210 Blog

Report on Resource from Reading & Viewing

 
Based purely on my curiosity not on my enjoyment on the movie, I decided to research how much money Freddy vs. Jason has grossed since its production.  I must say that I was amazed how much money has been made on Freddy vs. Jason.  To date this film has earned $114,326,122 world wide, who would have known? (1)  I learned through research that Freddy vs. Jason was released nearly one year to the date of Alien vs. Predator and its budget was exactly half of AvP.  Alien vs. Predator was released August 13, 2004 with a budget of 60 million dollars whereas Freddy vs. Jason came out August 15, 2003 and held a 30 million dollar budget.  The two films go head to head with Freddy vs. Jason earning approximately 2.4million dollars more. (2)  “Despite this, both films “FvJ” and “AvP” manage to give their stars surprisingly good reasons to get involved with one another, and give us enough action the rest of the way to make the rides worthwhile.” (2)  One last interesting fact I found was the classification of each film.  FvJ was considered Horror Comedy and was rated R and AvP was Sci-Fi and pg-13. 
 
”Sequels have take over $20bn at the box office in the past quarter of a century. The highest grossing series of films is the Star Wars franchise, the five movies earning $1.4bn at the US box office and the sixth movie keenly awaited by exhibitors and the public alike in 2005.” (3).  Amazing isn’t it the human fascination of what will happen next is quite powerful.  The unknown factor is capable of drawing in an audience including those who might not even be a fan of that type of movie.  For instance, I am probably the only non-Star Wars fan in the world, but I was dragged to the theater to see the Attack of the Clones and I must say I liked it, but still have no interest in seeing any of the other films. 
 
 
1. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=freddyvsjason.htm

2. http://www.movieforums.com/reviews/303

3. http://www.mindbranch.com/products/R261-031.html

Response to Reading & Viewing

 
Ummmmm I had a hard time with this module.  I am definitely not a fan of horror of suspense films, I may sound a little ridiculous but I prefer to keep my mind free of violence, aliens and nightmare inducing monster figures.  The only positive thought that comes to mind is that both Alien vs. Predator and Freddy vs. Jason had great special effects.  A few years ago before Alien vs. Predator came out, I watched a how they did that type show on HBO.  I was really impressed with how detailed the facial movements of the creatures were.  They really knew what they were doing when they created the life like aliens.  As for Freddy and Jason, hopefully this film will be the last in their legacy, although I am impressed with the longevity of the films and the publics lasting interest in the storyline.  My favorite part of the reading came from the section on serials, series, sequels and remakes.  I found how the film industry breaks down movies into four categories interesting.  I did not realize how much films overlap each of the four categories for a “good” film.  The chapter was easy to understand because of all the examples given to illustrate a film series, trilogy, etc..  It is amazing how enthralled the general public is with horror and suspense films.  Even though each film uses the same outline with different actors and settings, the people continue to flock to the movie theaters.  For instance the film Halloween has been around for approximated three decades and it is still grossing money and the sequels continue to come to fruition.  Overall I liked the chapter but did not like the movies. 

Jerry Bruckheimer

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000988/

 
This web page gives a list of Jerry Bruckheimer’s film names and dates of production along with fun facts and details about the film.  A mini biography included date and place of birth is listed about Bruckheimer.  This site is a good starting place because of the film time line. 

 
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Insider/?cmsGuid=%7BCDE83132-DDF2-48F9-9DD7-AA5381BCC22F%7D

 
I found another mini biography on Bruckheimer at this website along with a listing of all of his television shows he produces. 

 
http://www.jbfilms.com/

 
I really liked this webpage, it give detailed information about each of Bruckheimer’s projects.  It even leads the researcher to future films that he will be producing.  The web page is broken down by film, television, community and future projects.  This is the web site I had found that made me want to  research Bruckheimer for this project. 

 
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/jerry.bruckheimer/

 
On this web page I found a fun, laid back interview of Jerry Bruckheimer.  His character came out in this interview, he was funny and appreciative of his success.  The interviewer was joking with him that his name is synonymous with success. 

 
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060116/glory_road_060116/20060116/

 
Bruckheimer comments on the film Glory Road and its tie to a true story.  Deemed the underdogs, a high school basketball coach leads his team the finals and the ultimate upset for the former champs.  According to Bruckheimer this film gives new light to the coach Don Haskins. 

 
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/interviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2031154
 
Another candid interview of Bruckheimer, although different from the other interview.  In this one, Bruckheimer tells the interviewer why and how he found producing.  He speaks briefly of his family and their support of his dream. 

 
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/455/455046p1.html

 
This interview is interesting because Bruckheimer explains why he chooses certain films over other in the production world.  He speaks of Dangerous Minds and Remember the Titans when asked about his more “independent” films. 

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/455/455046p1.html

 
On this website I found a variety of pictures of Bruckheimer on the read carpet as well as a list of awards he has won. 

 
 
http://www.worldscreen.com/JerryBruckheimer.php

 
This site is yet another interview of Bruckheimer but the questions stick mainly to his television productions. 

 
http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/JerryBruckheimer.cfm

 
This site was an article written about how Bruckheimer was going to receive the National Board of Review Producer’s Award in 2004. The site also mentioned Bruckheimer’s previous recognition for his films such as Black Hawk Down in 2001.

I posted comments on Rob O. Nora M. and Sarah P. web pages

I liked this module for the most part, I enjoyed waching Malcolm X, if found it very informative and well put together.  Then there was Sex, Lies and Video Tape, not so much…. I like the reading, it seems like the chapters are becoming more interesting, especially because they are giving more insight to specific actors.  I received a few comments on my blogs, each of which were complements, thanks!

I really enjoyed watching Malcolm X I found the movie to be educational in many ways.  I was unaware of Malcolm X and his legacy.  It seems as though he has inspired many people and was genuine in his prospect to change the world.  The film was contemporary but seemed to be based on facts.  I found Spike Lee’s work to be organized and well planned, I liked that he played a minor role in the film.  On the other hand Sex Lies and Video Tape was a little boring and too much like a home movie.  I did not like the context of the story, cheating husband and a semi-naive wife.  I think that the film could have been made more interesting and should of had more substance in the plot.  Although I did not enjoy I respect the concept, make the viewer feel as though they are sitting in the movie, what I mean is the film had a home grown feel to it, almost as though the scenes were happening in one’s own living room.  As for the readings, my favorite part was about the sundance film festival and the focus on the up and coming people in the industry.  I think that it is important to give credit to not only the veterans, but acknowledge the newbees. 

Steven Soderbergh has a bigger status and demand in the film industry than I had known.  Sex, Lies and Videotape was the first film he wrote and directed in 1989.  He received the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival for his hard work both writing and directing Sex, Lies and Videotape.  He is credited with launching the independent film boom of the 1990s(infoplease).  Soderbergh never attended college and had a number of random jobs that gave him zero sense of success.  Filming Sex, Lies and Videotape “catapulted him to fame and renewed hopes for the future of independent films in Hollywood”(infoplease).  Soderbergh knows the thrill of success and the agony of defeat.  After his Grammy Award, he found himself in a slump of great disappointment.  Getting back on track, Soderbergh directed Out of Sight with George Clooney and wrote a few screen plays such as Nightwatch with Ewan McGregor.  Soderbergh then produced Pleasantville starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire he received two Oscar nominations for his involvement in Erin Brockovich and Traffic.  Without much surprise, Soderbergh won the Oscar for Traffic, which then lead him to direct the triology Ocean’s Eleven.  One fact I learned about Steven Soderbergh is that he works as his own cinematographer, instead of listing his name in the credits, he uses the code name Peter Andrews.     

 
Steven Soderbergh. http://www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0775258.html. 8 April 2006.

“In its twenty-year history, Sundance Film Festival has helped usher a new and unconventional group of writers and directorys to the forefront of film making, and has acted as a catalyst for expanding the public’s appetite for films that are challenging both in format and subject matter”(De Silva).  Little did I know, Robert Redford is the sole man   behind the Sundance Film Festival.  I had no clue that he started this widely known and well-respected event held annually in Park City Utah.  The festival has been in existence since 1978 and moved to Park City in 1981.  Thousands of people descend upon Park City each year to learn, grow and view countless films by the future Hollywood stars.  Countless number of film actors, directors and producers catapult onto the Hollywood scene at the annual festival.  Steven Soderburgh for example premeired his first film Sex, Lies and Videotape at the festival.  Now days the film festival has grown from retrospective films and seminars to include a wide variety of films such as international, contemporary and independent.  The festival currently hosts 125 films each year that are shown in their entirety, approximately 90 minutes in length.  Many of the films shown are documentary in style and have included films such as Jennifer Aniston’s The Good Girl.  “In its twenty-year history, Sundance Film Festival has helped usher a new and unconventional group of writers and directors to the forefront of film making, and has acted as a catalyst for expanding the public’s appetite for films that are challenging both in format and subject matter”(De Silva)
 
De Silva, Johan. “2004 Sundance Film Festival: The Premier Showcase of U.S. AND

INTERNATIONAL Independent Film.”  http://www.futuremovies.co.uk/filmmaking.asp?ID=64.  8 April 2006. 

Steven Soderbergh has a bigger status and demand in the film industry than I had known.  Sex, Lies and Videotape was the first film he wrote and directed in 1989.  He received the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival for his hard work both writing and directing Sex, Lies and Videotape.  He is credited with launching the independent film boom of the 1990s(infoplease).  Soderbergh never attended college and had a number of random jobs that gave him zero sense of success.  Filming Sex, Lies and Videotape “catapulted him to fame and renewed hopes for the future of independent films in Hollywood”(infoplease).  Soderbergh knows the thrill of success and the agony of defeat.  After his Grammy Award, he found himself in a slump of great disappointment.  Getting back on track, Soderbergh directed Out of Sight with George Clooney and wrote a few screen plays such as Nightwatch with Ewan McGregor.  Soderbergh then produced Pleasantville starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire he received two Oscar nominations for his involvement in Erin Brockovich and Traffic.  Without much surprise, Soderbergh won the Oscar for Traffic, which then lead him to direct the triology Ocean’s Eleven.  One fact I learned about Steven Soderbergh is that he works as his own cinematographer, instead of listing his name in the credits, he uses the code name Peter Andrews.     

 
Steven Soderbergh. http://www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0775258.html. 8 April 2006.

“In its twenty-year history, Sundance Film Festival has helped usher a new and unconventional group of writers and directorys to the forefront of film making, and has acted as a catalyst for expanding the public’s appetite for films that are challenging both in format and subject matter”(De Silva).  Little did I know, Robert Redford is the sole man   behind the Sundance Film Festival.  I had no clue that he started this widely known and well-respected event held annually in Park City Utah.  The festival has been in existence since 1978 and moved to Park City in 1981.  Thousands of people descend upon Park City each year to learn, grow and view countless films by the future Hollywood stars.  Countless number of film actors, directors and producers catapult onto the Hollywood scene at the annual festival.  Steven Soderburgh for example premeired his first film Sex, Lies and Videotape at the festival.  Now days the film festival has grown from retrospective films and seminars to include a wide variety of films such as international, contemporary and independent.  The festival currently hosts 125 films each year that are shown in their entirety, approximately 90 minutes in length.  Many of the films shown are documentary in style and have included films such as Jennifer Aniston’s The Good Girl.  “In its twenty-year history, Sundance Film Festival has helped usher a new and unconventional group of writers and directors to the forefront of film making, and has acted as a catalyst for expanding the public’s appetite for films that are challenging both in format and subject matter”(De Silva)
 
De Silva, Johan. “2004 Sundance Film Festival: The Premier Showcase of U.S. AND

INTERNATIONAL Independent Film.”  http://www.futuremovies.co.uk/filmmaking.asp?ID=64.  8 April 2006. 

Module 6 Film Elements
 
I chose to research voice over and narration for this section of the module.  I furled two web pages both designed to be dictionary like resources.  From the web page I learned that narration is the “process through which the plot conveys or withholds story information.”(geocites)   Meaning that narration is the story being told throughout the course of the film.  Details of the film might not be easily accessed in the plot until the right time for revelation.  Narration is often used to when the character’s knowledge is restricted.  Other times narration is used to present the actors inner thoughts and perceptions.  “Voice over refers to the recorded dialogue, usually narration, that comes form an unseen, off screen voice, character or narrator.” (filmsite)  Voiceovers are commonly used to give insight to what the actor is thinking or feeling without them physically saying. 
 
http://www.filmsite.org/filmterms7.html. 8 April 2006
http://www.geocities.com/the7thart/film-terms.html#u 8 April 2006. 

I was suprised to see how many people read my section on Sex and the Cinema along with my thoughts on viewing the Patriot.  I had a wide variety of comments in each section of the module.  Each of the comments were postitive and it seemed as though people enjoyed reading what I had discovered.