Friday 30 September 2011

'City of Angels' Film Review

Also the concept used in 'City of Angels' starring Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage in which a woman (Ryan) and see an angel (Cage) even though nobody else can see him. It is this idea that I will be transferring over to my production.


City of Angels is a 1998 German-American romantic fantasy drama film directed by Brad Silberling. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Set in Los Angeles, California, the film is a remake of Wim Wenders' 1987 German film Wings of Desire  which was set in Berlin, Germany. In Los Angeles, Seth (Nicolas Cage) is one of many Angels who watch over humans and protect them in unseen ways. Seth's main responsibility is to appear to those who are close to death and guide them to the next life. While waiting to escort to the other world a man who will not survive heart surgery, Seth is impressed by the efforts of the surgeon, Maggie Rice (Meg Ryan), to save the ill-fated man's life and her sincere anguish at her failure to do so. 


Soon after Seth becomes human Maggie is killed by a truck whilst on her bike. Seth apparently senses that Maggie is in trouble and runs to her aid. He arrives in time for Maggie to tell him that she sees the angels who have come to escort her away. Although Seth is no longer able to see the angels, he knows they are there and begs Maggie not to look at them. Maggie tells him that she's not afraid anymore and that when they will ask her what her favorite thing in life used to be, she will say it was Seth. Now grieving and alone, Seth is visited by his former colleague and friend, the angel Cassiel. Cassiel offers comfort and asks Seth if he knew this would happen, would he still decide to become human. Seth answers: "I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss of her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it." It is this that I want the audience to feel and realise at the end of my trailer. 

Saturday 24 September 2011

Chosen Brief for A2 coursework

A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options: 
- A website home page for the film 
- A film magazine front cover featuring the film 
- A poster for the film 


After much discussion I came to the conclusion to make a movie trailer as I felt it would follow on from the work I did for my AS coursework. For this project I will be working by myself, I feel this could work to my advantage as it gives me the ability to express my personnal views and portray the film trailer as I can imagine it. By working by myself I will also have to produce, film and edit all of the footage myself which could become time consuming as I will not have anybodyelse to help with the filming or editing of the trailer. 


The main topic of the film trailer is about coping with the loss of someone close to you and longing for the chance to say goodbye to them, for me this come from a personal experience of my dad suddenly dying in 2001, I felt that I was not given the chance to say goodbye and tell him how proud I was of him, this is something I wish I could get the opportunity to do. Regarding the back drop of 9/11 I realised that this is an event that not only changed the world but it changed the lives of the families of the 2,996 victims of 9/11 those lucky enough to speak to loved ones were able to say their goodbyes but for many this wasn't the case. 


Unlike many 9/11 based films for me withou degrading 9/11 it is not the main focus of the film it is a sub plot for how the main protagonist lost his life, the main focus of the film is showing how a family and specifically the man's wife deal with life after the events of 9/11 and how they are trying to reshape their family to fit in with this event. The film then goes on to show the husband and wife being reunited for one day only to say their goodbyes allowing them to both accept their futures. 

Friday 9 September 2011

A2 Documentary - Idea 'What Comes Next.....?'

What Comes Next......? This is the big question what happens next to people, where do people go. Everyday at school, work and in the street people walk past one another and yet do not interact with one another. It is human nature to people watch but what you never get from that person is their past, their history as they say 'everyone has a past' everyone has a story to tell no matter how tragic, happy or inspiring but what does come next for that person.

In my documentary I will be looking into people's past whether it be tragic or happy, the concept is to know something about somebody that very few people know about them, find out how it has changed their lives and to then ask the question "What comes next...?".

The documentary is to engage the audience in to the realisation that we all share this world together and that there have been events in people's lives that have changed their lives for good, changed the direction their life was taking and how they have had to change their life. Everyday we walk past these people in the street, at work or at school and yet have no realistion of what has happened to them, and what their next move, 'What Comes Next....?'

'Who Do You Think You Are' is a BBC One documentary that explores celebrities family trees and uncover events that have impacted on their family through the generations. It is this concept that I will be using for my documentary.

My documentary will be mainly filmed as a one to one interview rather than the person being interviewed speaking to other people. But will follow the same concept as 'Who Do You Think You Are' by exploring the interviewees life and covering events that have changed their life and made them "the person they are today"