Photoshop Project

Here is a poster that I made for the photoshop project in my Introduction to Educational Technology class. It is a poster for the previous film I made called "Jeremy's Extraordinary Day."

Vagrants

Here is a short film I made during the Fall 2013 semester at UF. 

New Portugal. The Man Song "Once Was One"

There are many of you out there who haven't heard of Portugal. The Man yet. Well, that is about to change with the release of their freshman album on Atlantic Records. With 6 albums made already, Portugal are veteran musicians and perfected psych-pop rockers who haven't made a bad record yet. It will be exciting to see what the band has in store on their yet to be named new record. More after the jump...



What do you think? If you have listened to them before, there is a lot of resemblance towards their Censored Colors album, especially the songs "And I" and "Colors." The album, you can tell from the teaser, is extremely refined and well produced especially since Grammy award winner Andy Wallace mixed the album. I'm excited for these dudes, it should be interesting to see how well the album is received by the "indie" population. Hopefully they will transcend that group and catch a more wider audience too. Who knows? With a band that works as hard as they do, it sure as hell possible...

Sci-Fi Genre (Must-See)

Science Fiction is a genre that is very hard to describe. It’s a genre that is discussed and contemplated over and over again, with different meanings and themes subjective to each viewer. It’s like reading the best of Nietzsche and Ayn Rand, or, contemplating the brothers Karamazov of existentialism. The best sci-fi movies bring up these fundamental questions of philosophy about society and the human being. Why are we here? Is reality what we perceive it to be? What is the meaning of life? The best science fiction films contemplate these enumerable questions with fiery anxiety. I’ve seen many of these movies countless times, with every viewing trying to catch something new in the glorious landscape of these stories and always in awe at the amazing concepts from the visuals these filmmakers create. With “Source Code” coming out this weekend, another sci-fi film I am excited to see, I feel that now is the best time for me to unleash my favorite sci-fi films. But, instead of 5 films I am going to write about 15 films you must-see.

1. Inception

In a movie that is as complex as Inception is, there is no better way to describe this movie than as a dream within a dream. Inception stars Leonardo DiCaprio in one of his most complicated roles to date. The first hour of Inception is all exposition, aiding the audience to understand the rules of the dream sequences that occur in the last hour of film. Not only is this film a big budget blockbuster but it is also a film that requires the audience to think. Inception is a puzzle, propelled through the story and character driven plot. The layers of the dream world are complex in their execution; the only way to understand what you are seeing is by reminding yourself of the rules or what was set up by the exposition from the movies first hour of storytelling. With all the complicated and visceral layers of this film, it really shows what Hollywood can do with a visionary filmmaker and a large budget. This film has it all from epic fight scenes, a complicated sci-fi plot, themes that are not caught on too easily, and by far one of the most epic “wtf” twist endings ever in cinema. I will say that this film is complicated, maybe even hard to understand at first. Yet with all its over indulgence in complexity, Inception is a ride like no other in cinema. It’s a special film that deserves repeated viewings.

2. Children of Men

Alfonso Cuaron is the filmmaker behind the best installment in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. After he made that movie, Hollywood realized this filmmaker has talent. It wasn’t until after everyone saw his film Children of Men, that we all realized he is one of the most innovative and revolutionary filmmakers in the business. Children of men was a godsend in sci-fi cinema, and was based on one of the most beautifully written and ingenious dystopian sci-fi novels, Children of Men by P. D. James. This novel was held dearly by many sci-fi fans, so when we heard Alfonso Cuaron was making it into a movie, everyone was pleased. And the pleasant euphoria from this news wasn’t pre-judged. The movie turned out to be better than what the hype had lead us to believe, it was a masterpiece of storytelling, cinematography and one of Clive Owen’s best performances in his titular role, Theo Faron.  With takes lasting more than 10 minutes long or even the perfectly choreographed war sequence all shot in one take, this movie was simply perfect. The music is great, the story is epic and the acting is superb. Nothing can really be asked more out of a sci-fi film.  

3. A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange will not work for everyone. Despite its name, this movie is very hard to watch. The reason why I put this film on the list is because of two reasons. One, A Clockwork Orange is one of Stanley Kubrick’s finest films, and two, A Clockwork Orange is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. Yes, there is rape in this film, gratuitous violence and a disgusting main character; I’m looking at you Alex. But, there is no other film that captures the insanity of a dystopian future and the rule of a corrupt government over oppressed people quite like Stanley Kubrick’s film. Even though there are a lot of disturbing aspects to A Clockwork Orange, it is understandable because of the time frame that this film takes place. We could all imagine a society broke down into the lowest form of animalistic ways because of an oppressive government and streets run by the corrupted youth. Stanley Kubrick was brave enough to show his vision of this film to the world. Unlike most sci-fi films with the same ideas, A Clockwork is a graphic yet true depiction of what a society and government would succumb to in its darkest hours.

4. Back to the Future Trilogy

The Back to the Future trilogy is best held together as a trilogy. Yes, the first installment was great, so was the second, but the third has to be added because it closes out the franchise in a way that the trilogy desperately needed. In a sense, you can call this list the “18 movies you must-see,” (I am including the original Star Wars trilogy) but the Back to the Future Trilogy is supposed to be seen as whole, not in separate films. Back to the Future, the first installment, tells the story of Marty Mcfly who travels to the past with Doc Brown and while there, he prevents his parents from ever meeting. Because of this, he must race through time, literally, to influence his parents to meet while trying to save himself. If his parents never had met, he would never have been born. After the first film, he travels to the future to save his son. While there, he creates an alternate universe of where his mother and enemy Biff marry and his original father is killed. Confused yet? The third one I will leave open, but you understand what is going on. The Back to the Future trilogy is an epic affair, and it is a must-see sci-fi franchise for everyone.    

5. The Matrix

The formally known Wachowski brothers, one of them had a sex change, created a visionary film with The Matrix. There is no wonder why film after film parodied and mimicked all of the extraordinary special effects and filmmaking techniques that The Matrix revolutionized. This film wasn’t only a visionary piece of action cinema, nor was it only just a CGI spectacular with special effects far beyond its time; but it was also an amazingly sci-fi, trippy, and heady story about a reality that isn’t real. And, if you take the red pill you find out the actual reality and exit the artificially fake computer generated world, which they rightfully call The Matrix. The Matrix makes you think, but it also feeds the hunger of any action and sci-fi fan, supplying a great amount of action and special effects with a large hint of deep and meaningful sci-fi cinema. It is philosophy driven, action intensive, and a science fiction epic.

6. Moon

Who knew David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones, could write and direct a great sci-fi film. Yes, Ziggy Stardust’s prodigy was the filmmaker behind the ludicrously brilliant Moon. I say ludicrously brilliant because there has not been a science fiction film quite like this since 2001: A Space Odyssey. Its philosophical, desolate, and only a one man show. Yes, actor Sam Rockwell carries the entire movie by himself. Moon is eerily similar to 2001, but it creates a whole new universe of loneliness and losing oneself into insanity. With a low-budget and extremely limited set’s Moon brings to mind the less is more virtue, and that could not be truer with this film. It will be interesting to see how his new movie, Source Code, stacks up to the limited budget Moon. Source Code was given a lot more money and higher caliber of actors, so it’ll be interesting to see which one ends up being better.

7. Blade Runner

Blade Runner is special in the realm of sci-fi movies. It was made after Ridley Scott’s thriller/horror film, Alien. Like Duncan Jones did with Moon, Ridley Scott started off making sci-fi films with a minimal budget and after his first foray into sci-fi took off, he was given a larger budget and a behemoth of a screenplay. Blade Runner originally was a short story by Phillip K. Dick, one of the most philosophical science fiction writers of his time. Blade Runner is the story of replicants, robots that look identical to humans but are smarter, more physically fit, and have no emotions. Yet, as the movie goes on the audience starts to see that replicants are growing emotions and are acting similar to human beings. This is one of the underlying questions throughout the film. What actually makes a human? It’s a fascinating film, and who doesn’t love Harrison Ford?

8. Total Recall

Total Recall is another film that was adapted from a story written by Phillip K. Dick. This man was a prolific writer with fascinating tales of the human condition and questioning the world around him. While also developing quantum ideas throughout his career to whether or not the reality we perceive is real, or if this is all a dream state. Dick was a visionary for the science fiction genre. Total Recall stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quid, a man who wants to take a virtual vacation to Mars. In his trip, he starts to believe that he really did take a trip to Mars and that he is also a secret agent fighting against an evil Mars Administrator. So, he ends up actually going to mars to fight this man; or does he? That is the fascinating thing about Total Recall because the filmmakers really never let you know whether or not he really does go to mars. They instead have the audience question the reality that Arnold is in. Was it real, or just a dream vacation?

9. Star Wars: Episodes 4, 5, and 6

Star Wars… What can possibly be said about these films that haven’t already been said countless times? It’s an epic on a massive size. The Star Wars films aren’t as much of science fiction movies as they are action adventure films set on a universal scale. I would not put the first 3 films of the Star Wars Saga on this list because those are the films that, you know, feature endless CGI and countless absurdities to the entire franchise and were all made by the greedy George Lucas. It can also be said that Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace doesn’t even need to be seen in order to appreciate the original 3 films made in the 70’s and 80’s, respectively. Star Wars will go down in history as some of the best films ever made. They are filled to the brim with odes to epic tales and philosophical ideas of the past. Star Wars is a masterpiece in its own right.

10. Alien

Ridley Scotty made Blade Runner after making Alien. Yes, Blade Runner is a much more complex film dealing with far more complicated subject matter, while Alien is a simpler film relying on horror to convey its sci-fi plot. But, Alien is a horror story and it is told in a thrilling way. Alien is about 7 astronauts who go to an alien planet to study a spaceship that has crashed there. After they leave when finding no life in the craft, a special visitor travels along with them for the ride back to earth. That visitor is the Alien. Millions of miles away from home, these astronauts now have to keep themselves alive until they can either find or kill whatever is on the ship with them. It’s a scary film with very slow pacing. It’s a must see for any horror or sci-fi fan.

11. They Live

They Live has a silly concept. There are these special sunglasses and if you wear them, you can see the aliens who inhabit earth because, they are disguising themselves as the wealthiest people in America. Indeed, the plot is silly but it is a very good movie. John Carpenter, the writer and director, who also made The Thing and Halloween, has said that this film is his most adored. He never “made another film quite like it.” And it definitely shows, because with or without the silly plot it’s still a well executed film with fascinating ideas. The plot of They Live questions the way a person perceives reality, and if what we see is controlled by aliens. Dear reader, if you enjoy creative films then They Live is the movie for you.

12. 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick’s seminal masterpiece is a fascinating work of art. This film pushes the boundaries of many science fiction films. 2001: A Space Odyssey is very hard to describe, it is a movie that a person could only understand if they have seen it themselves. Yet, even then it’s hard to comprehend. 2001 is also a science fiction film that is not easily comprehended. It is filled with deep metaphors and burning philosophical questions. I highly suggest this movie to any cinemphile, but to the regular viewers out there 2001 might seem too long and convoluted. Nonetheless give it a try if you’re daring.

13. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. is a special movie that won the hearts of millions in the 1980’s. E.T. is still cherished by many young kids of today and rightfully so. Like many of Steven Spielberg’s films, E.T. is a movie that is bound to win over anyone with a sense of being a kid, the optimistic approach that anything is possible and life is beautiful. E.T. tells the story of neighborhood kids who find an alien. They are trying to find a way home for this alien, and also go through a series of youthful angst and events. E.T. is not necessarily a deep or heavily metaphorical film, it’s actually the opposite. But, if we as viewers watched these heavy films all the time, there would be no room for imagination and feeling like a kid again. E.T. brings that feeling out in viewers every time.

14. Twelve Monkeys

In a future devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to destroy the man who started the virus. That is only the beginning of this deep and heady tale, Twelve Monkey’s. Filmmaker Terry Gilliam, who made Brazil and Time Bandits, brings out his special craft for creative imagination to the science fiction genre and develops a story that is very unique in its execution. Instead of having a seemingly linear plot lone, the film strays off into its own world, creating a gravitating experience for the audience. Terry Gilliam is known for making films with an abundance of imagination, with gorgeous set pieces and great cinematography.  Twelve Monkeys’ takes all of Gilliam’s best ideas and throws them into one beautiful and complex movie. It’s a masterpiece of sci-fi cinema.

15. Donnie Darko

Filmmaker Richard Kelly has not made a good film since Donnie Darko. Surprisingly, it is his freshman effort. Well, I don’t have to tell you that his newer films, Southland Tales and The Box, sucked. If you’ve seen them, gods rest your soul they’re disgraces to cinema. It’s hard to understand why a once great filmmaker like Richard Kelly started making such horrible films, but maybe he’s a one hit wonder like our other pal M. Night Shyamalan. Ok, back to Donnie Darko. Donnie Darko is a peculiar film that really is not easy to understand. I will suggest this film to any reader out there, but my warning to you is that Donnie Darko is weird film which doesn’t give concrete facts or evidence to the answers that Richard Kelly throws at you.  At its simplest form, Donnie Darko is a complex tale about growing up and learning to control the emotions of loneliness and angst we all have. It’s an oddity from sci-fi cinema.

Drama Genre (Must-See)

For years filmmakers have attempted to create their own unique installment into the drama genre. With endless films about death, love, hate, and misfortune. The only problem is that with all these entrees, only few have been distinguishable enough, and good enough, to really be recognizable and actually seen. As an aspiring screenwriter and filmmaker, I understand how tough it is to emulate the human emotion, to portray the life that others lead in their most desolate hours. It’s tough, and only few filmmakers have really made drama’s that truly stand the test of time and emulate what it is so hard for many to do, portray human emotion and give a real sense of attachment for the audience towards these characters. Here are my five “Must-see” films in the Drama genre.

5. Magnolia

“Magnolia” is a special type of film that stands out amongst the other films classified as dramas. The reason being is that it runs nearly three and a half hours long, and not only does it depict suffering in a hyper-real sense, but it shows all forms of suffering, from an abusive father to his son, to a dying old man grasping to make a penance with his only son. The special thing about this film is that not only does it bring a plethora of seemingly interrelated stories together, but it ties them all together in an ending that has been dissected and contemplated for years after the film’s release. Paul Thomas Anderson writes and directs this film with a frivolous passion for the dramatic, creating a truly epic spectacle of the human condition in its darkest hours of life and death.

4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

We all know Jim Carry is a very funny man. He’s a stand-up comedian and he is a comedic actor unlike anyone has ever known. The most important thing he had ever done in his career was to transform himself into not only a funny man, but to also portray and take on more dramatic roles in films like “The Truman Show” and the film on this list “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” The fascinating thing about this film is that director “Michel Gondry” blends a fascinating mix of drama, romance, and science fiction into an easily digestible soup of emotions and out there philosophy. This film speaks to a generation of dreamers, a generation of people who don’t want to forget how to be creative and think of the most unimaginable things. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” brings forth all of these ideas ten-fold and effortlessly creates a spectacle of drama and sci-fi like no other film has done.

3. Requiem for a Dream

“Requiem for a Dream” is a very sad movie. I cannot exemplify that enough. If you are in the mood for a downer, than you absolutely need to see this film. No other film that comes to mind shows the dark side of addiction and sadness like Darren Aronofsky’s sophomore effort does. A rough blend of cascading music and hip-hop editing techniques, the movie bustles into your mind and rips every fabric of your being. Yes, the movie is gruesome, depressing, real, and shocking, but it depicts a subject that is more than real in our society today. Aronofsky creates a masterpiece with this film and it will rock you, move you, and most importantly stay with you for a long time.

2. The Shawshank Redemption

Unlike the other films I’ve mentioned on this list, “The Shawshank Redemption” is in fact an uplifting film. This film gives the audience a clear view of the true grit of prison life and the unmistakable actions of officials who run our prison systems. This is one film in which I would not want to give any spoilers nor ruin the epic spectacle that is watching this film. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are a perfect duo who works so well together; I wonder why they haven’t worked together since this film. The most amazing thing about this Academy Award Winning Drama is that this was the FIRST film by writer and director Frank Darabont. He adapted this short story by Stephen King, one of our generation’s most talented horror and sci-fi writer, and created a drama unlike any other story you will see on the silver screen.  

1. Forrest Gump

What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about “Forrest Gump?” This movie is happy, sad, loveable, one of Tom Hanks best performances, and most of all dramatic. The titular character, Forrest Gump, explains this film and life in general the best, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.” And the audience really never knows what they are going to get with this film. The reason why this is at the top of my list is that it shows an entire life of a man who wasn’t greedy, of a man who wasn’t mean or faced indescribable perils. He was just a simple man, observing life and the world around him as the world changed, as society changed. From his adolescent point of view, we see the horrors of war, the insanity of the Vietnam protests, and the downfall of his friends, family, and loved ones. This movie speaks to us all, to not take life to seriously and enjoy the little moments, to look at life in a glass half full type of view. Isn’t that what dramatic films should do?