Welcome to film studies. To start things off, we're going to look at a few short films.
Your task is to watch the three following films and post AT LEAST ONE response in the "comment section" below of each. Be sure to include your name to get credit for your contribution.
What are we looking for in our online discussions? Observations, questions, opinions, interpretations, etc. The more specific, the better. This means you should respond to SPECIFIC moments of the films as well as to the films overall. Feel free to respond to your peers. Remember, our goal here is to have robust, thoughtful, challenging discussions. Also keep in mind that this online component is part of the CLASS EXPECTATIONS. That means that everything you enter on this blog needs to be CLASS APPROPRIATE. The more you contribute, the better your grade. The more thoughtful and curious your contributions, the better your grade.
We're probably not going to have as much formal homework as some of your other classes, so your online participation will certainly impact your grade. Plus, it's fun and interesting and it's about movies. And that's why we're all in the class, right?
Okay. Have at it...
Wnter you comments for each movie below. Be insightful but polite. Dont' be afraid to disagree, but remember that this blog is an extension of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed "WHAT IS IN OUR POCKETS". I especially liked the part when he talked about how it wasn't probable that the things in his pocket would cause a life changing moment, but there was still a tiny chance. I also thought it was very well written. It had a casual tone, but he talked about a lot of intelligent things. I think the whole casual but intelligent thing mixed very well together.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on "The Black Hole" are mostly negative. I thought it was clever, but I would have showed him doing more interesting things with the piece of paper. I also didn't like the character in general, but I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to. The one part I did enjoy was the ending. The ending was kind of like a moral. If you do something bad, a bad thing will happen to you.
ReplyDeleteI liked "Blood and Chips" because it had an unexpected twist. I definitely did not expect the ending, but I liked it. The only thing I did not enjoy were the close ups of people and the noise of the fly, though I'm pretty sure they did that on purpose. The man in the hat was the main character, but obviously the antagonist. I think that was an interesting perspective.
ReplyDeleteAt first impression at the beginning of the short film "What Do We Have in Our Pockets?" I assumed that the video was going to be a PSA of some sorts because of the cigarette, lighter, and cough drop shown and also the "dangerous" tone set by the title sequence since the magazine letters reminded me of blackmail lettering. I was confused by the introduction of these specific items because the video of course turned out to tell a lighthearted story. I thought making the visuals look like a drawing was suiting because the video had a naive/childish feel because of the main character's attachment to seemingly meaningless objects and the belief that they have a chance of saving him from ever being unprepared and messing up a "moment of happiness". The items floating out of his pockets and forming an umbrella and later flying to the girl all in stop-motion also gave the video a whimsical feel, along with the music. The title of this short film being "What Do WE Have in Our Pockets?" made me wonder whether the director's goal was to make the audience question whether we "carry" this type of thoughtfulness when we go through our day, although it could just be a quirky, lighthearted story for entertainment.
ReplyDeleteBlood and chips i thought the whole scenario was on point the feeling like something was going happened struck me at the end i laughed at the last part and what i didnt really like was the camera close ups and the fly noise but overall i would say its decent
ReplyDeleteThe black hole it was interesting i had to watch it 2 times and was trying to figure out things that worked perfectly with the film and what didnt. The black hole it interesting that he could grab whatever he wanted but i felt as if he could do something better with it and of course Karma does happen at the end when he tries to steal the money from the safe
ReplyDeleteI cant say i hated what in our pockets or say i liked it but its ok. I like the theme of how it was set up and how falling in love can seem to the one guy he was having a moment like If she had the stamps then this would happen and it kinda left me like what did i watch
ReplyDeleteI found "What Do We Have in Our Pockets?" to be a very charming and simple short film. I really liked the stop motion style mixed with actual actors, which was very creative and eye-catching for the viewers. I really liked the simple message of being well prepared for future situations and to not miss any opportunities that you might regret later on. However, the narrator's voice was a bit awkward at times, I would have preferred a different voice.
ReplyDeleteI think I enjoyed "The Black Hole" the most out of all three films. The film was atmospheric and dark. I like how the setting was quiet but almost too quiet, giving off a very unsettling feeling. I also enjoyed the message the film portrayed, how once people have a taste of power and achieve what they want, they only desire more and more. Which eventually lead to the main character's downfall. I felt that the directors and writers did a great job demonstrating the protagonist in a negative way, but left the viewers feeling anxious and concerned about his fate. It was a really interesting view on greed, desire, and power in human beings.
ReplyDeleteA agree with your assessment of the tone as "dark." It leads me to wonder how films like this manage to be both creepy and funny at the same time...The two tones seem, on the surface, to be incompatible. Obviously, they are not. Does anyone have any notions regarding the mechanics of being dark and funny at the same time? Anyone have any other examples of films that capture this same tone?
DeleteI found "Blood and Chips" to be a little underwhelming. I liked the idea and the message that the film was trying to portray, but to me, it fell a bit short. The setting was interesting but it wasn't focused on as much, which took out a bit of the atmosphere. However, I liked how most of the film was silent. The sound of the fly, the fryer, the children talking, or the crumpling of the cigarette box grabs the attention of the viewer and brings it all together in the dialogue and story.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite video was "The Black Hole". It shows a man who works in an office building find something that can get him rich and basically get him whatever he wants. He abused his power and steals money from a small vault in his office. The man then crawls inside and gets stuck in the vault. Karma Sucks!!!
ReplyDelete"Blood and Chips" was weird and I really didn't like it. It confused me when I first saw it so I had to watch it 2 more times.
ReplyDeleteI thought "What do we have in our pockets?" was going to be a tobacco advertisement at first but then it turned out to be a video about a guy being prepared for anything to happen and prepared to find someone he would love forever.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comment about the tobacco ad. What exactly makes this feel like a tobacco ad?
DeleteAnyone agree or disagree with this assessment?
"What do we have in our Pockets?" was my favorite of the three because of the main characters idea of preparedness. Instead of being ready for the situations that occur most often in his life, he chooses to prepare for the random ones that may not ever happen. Though the contents of his pockets may seem like a cluttered and unorganized mess, it is actually a well thought out and prepared set of items.
ReplyDelete"The Black Hole" gave off the simple message of don't look a gift horse in the mouth. The man was given something with a lot of potential power, but quickly overused it to the point of his demise. I found the ending to be more of a comical moment than a teaching moment.
ReplyDelete"Blood and Chips" just seemed pointless to me. I understand that the only thing bad that happened to the man was that he didn't his fish and chips, and that was his own fault. There didn't seem to be any lesson or plot, just a simple funny moment at the end. Also the title was uncreative and confusing
ReplyDeleteI disagree. I think there is a lesson. Anyone else have a point of view on this?
DeleteI enjoyed the lightheartedness of "What Do We Have in Our Pockets?". At first, I did not know where the story was going. I honestly thought that the guy was going to explain some kind of mental health issue. I was surprised by how hopelessly romantic the story was when he explained why he has so many things in his pocket. I found that the stop-motion added a whimsical touch to the story, and it was stimulating to the eyes. I was left feeling warm and fuzzy all over.
ReplyDeleteI discovered "The Black Hole" to be unsettling. The very grey, bleak atmosphere created an ominous feeling. The facial expressions of the man were unnerving. I found it interesting that he immediately used the black hole to do harmful things such as steal. I think the film purposely tried to uncover and show the dark, malicious side of humans. I do appreciate the message that the film sent and the suspenseful ending. The film left the viewer with the choice of what they believe happened to the man which reminds of the end of the book "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.
ReplyDeleteI had to watch "Blood and Chips" twice before I comprehended what was happening. I think the actors had very strong dialects that were difficult to understand. Overall, I really enjoyed the film. I noticed at the beginning that the kids, the chef, and the first customer were all in some kind of pain or experiencing some kind of illness. I viewed this as symbolic of the oppression they face from the bigoted white man. The camera close ups on his eyes were important because the viewer could tell he was thinking. As the man kept saying more and more offensive things I became annoyed that no one was calling him out. By the end, though, I appreciated that they let the man realize his mistakes on his own. He was able to understand by himself that he was being completely ignorant.
ReplyDeleteA few people have mentioned they had to watch Blood and Chips twice to get what was going on. Me, too. I didn't get it the first time, either. So here's my question: Is this a fault in the film, or a fault in us the audience?
DeleteAlso, did the film cheat? Part of me thinks it did...
I thought that "What Do We Have In Our Pockets" was an interesting film because it's different than most films you see today. I liked how instead of using actors they used a bunch of pictures put together in a stop motion like process. I also liked the narrating because it's so real and so human the way this guy is thinking. The way he constantly changed his mind and thought "what'll happen if I do this or not." It makes it easier to relate to this guy
ReplyDeleteI thought the black hole was a good way to show how people quickly abuse power when it is given to them. They suddenly think that they can do anything and no one can stop them. And then karma comes and bites them in the ass. I thought it was funny how he got trapped in the safe at the end because it serves him right
ReplyDeleteLike others have already pointed out, "The Black Hole" is about how greed will corrupt a person who has access to the things he/she wants. The ending is the classic case of the villain losing. I liked the filming from inside the "black hole" at 0:44 and the magnetic sound effect when he raises his hand over it because it makes the audience believe that the hole is real and not just a black circle on a piece of paper. I think the short film is named "The Black Hole" because power and greed sucks the main character in and gets him literally stuck in the vault.
ReplyDeleteBlood and Chips was my favorite of the three because it's true that there's always one of those jerks no matter where you go and it's funny how everything kind of turned on him at the end. It's the same every time. These kind of guys act tough, and then when something happens they run away because they are scared to get there ass kicked by some guy they just offended. And this guy deserved it too he was a horrible person.
ReplyDeleteIn "Blood and Chips", the main character rudely orders food at a cafe and sits at a table with a man who tells two kids to shut up. He looks around the restaurant at the Asian decorations and complains about how it should be a British business. You can tell his attitude annoys the employee because of the expression on the employee's face and the way he talks to him. I thought the closeups were very important in this short film because they show to what things the main character is drawing his attention. The closeups of the kids' faces shows how the main character is examining the mixed-race features of the kids. He goes on to make horrible racist remarks about the kids and their parents to the man he is sitting with, until it is revealed that the other man is the kids' father. When the kids are told to leave and the main character is just left with the employee and the father, he gets scared and embarrassed. The video shows how he feels superior and justified until he is confronted, in which moment he does a 180, apologizes out of necessity, and runs out of the restaurant. It shows people say anything they want until they are confronted by the people they offend and it turns out that they are not as tough as they act. It also seemed to me that the main character is very uncomfortable with being around non-white people/cultures. He tries to smoke a cigarette as soon as he sits down and is shown wiping his sweat at 1:51 where he calls the kids apes. I think being uncomfortable with other races and people different than you in general is common in the real world and this is portrayed well in the film. Something I didn't understand in the film was why the father says, "Someone's gotta keep animals in order" of his kids after telling them to "shut the f*** up." I found it interesting that the newspaper he is reading has a headline of "Betrayal of Our Kids," as if he is betraying his kids at the beginning. However, after listening to the man in the hat being racist and rude to his family, the father clearly takes his kids' side. Overall, I enjoyed this short film and I found the ending to be very satisfying.
ReplyDeleteI missed the newspaper headline. Thanks for pointing it out.
DeleteI liked Blood and chips the most because of the ending it made me laugh and justice was served to the guy in the blue hat.
ReplyDeleteI'd seen The Black Hole before, and I liked the sense of irony. The paper allowed him to take candy and the money, but left him trapped inside of the safe.
ReplyDeleteWhat do we have in our pockets was interesting, because the video was explaining a scenario that didn't actually happen and the stop motion helped show that.
ReplyDelete"what we have in our pockets" was good because i like the set up. They didn't over do the animations so i liked that and i liked that it was informational about a small topic that could change someones view on something you didn't think had an effect before.
ReplyDelete"The Black Hole" was dull i didn't like it. It was lifeless and nothing really going on an duo music so it was boring. But it shows that people will take things there not supposed to if given the chance.
finally "Blood and Chips" it was decent it showed a good point of people always just say whats on there mind and don't think who there saying it to. But i like the ending.
I thought that "What do we have in our pockets" had a good message, but I didn't like the stop motion and the narration.
ReplyDelete"The Black Hole" was my favorite one. I think it was clever and was very well done. It teaches a valuable lesson about greed.
ReplyDeleteI really liked "Blood and Chips" because it was a good example of a classic revenge scenario. I also liked the way it was done.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction after watching “What do we have in our pockets” was solely amazement about how this guy was able to edit his video as if it were all paper scraps. Because the video looked cool, the story to me was irrelevant. But it was very cute as well and had a nice message teaching us that you’ll never be expecting the chips to fall when they do, but it’s always nice to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteThe way the editor used all of the right clips to show the guy’s frustration in “The Black Hole” made him very relatable. Nothing keeps the viewer more focused into thinking about what’s going to happen next like making a very relatable character.
In “Blood and Chips” I was terribly disappointed with the entire film. The only part that made me feel interested was when at the plot twist. The close ups of the guy sweating made it obvious he was nervous, but I feel as if it was overdone. My least favorite of the bunch.
Personally, I really enjoyed all of these shorts. I think they all had a different style and story to tell.
ReplyDeleteWhat I liked most about "What do we have in our Pockets" was it's creative use of stopanimation to tell a story. The simplicity of the materials used to create this adds to it's charm and creates something that is a unique eye candy. My favorite part was when they rode off into the sunset, which was created from multiple everyday items. Stopanimation is hard work, and when done well it can yield a great result, such as this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNJdJIwCF_Y
In terms of story, I liked it as well. The premise of what we have in our pockets reminds me of a book I read last year called The Things They Carried. You can tell a lot about a person by what they have in their pockets, and I could tell this man was a very eccentric person, for the right reasons.
I liked "The Black Hole" because of it's effectiveness to tell a story in a short amount of time. Even though there was no dialogue, I could tell what kind of a person the man was. I could see that he was bored and frustrated with his job, and possibly his life. The black hole opened a new window to him, but this window showed greed. The ending was very strong as it created as sense of dread when his fate afterwords is left to the viewers imagination.
Finally, "Blood and Chips" was a film that I enjoyed, mostly for it's story. I'm a sucker for twist endings, and this one was no exception. The shots were not necessarily creative, but well used. The close ups helped tell the story, and drew attention to what the guy in the blue hat was thinking. I believe that the cinimatography was not amazing, but that was not really the focus.