The Shape Of Water - Review

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Honestly, a work of art. The visuals, the special effects, the actors and the cinematography, this film is the full package. Unexpectedly sweet, unexpectedly romantic, and full of eggs, my dream film has truly come to life. 

“The fact that we all have this nostalgia now for this period is interesting because in a way, it never really existed. People were talking about the future and how great it was going to be, but it was difficult for anyone who wasn’t white and male. So it’s the right time period to frame a story about ‘otherness’ and the persecution of ‘otherness.’” 

That’s partly why Eliza and the Creature are mute, why Elisa’s neighbor and friend Giles (Richard Jenkins) is gay, and why her co-worker/confidant Zelda (Octavia Spencer) is black. The story gives a voice to those who typically didn’t have one. 

Opening Image: Underwater, the apartment submerged. Elisa’s happy, ideal dream.

Theme Stated: I couldn't find the theme explicitly stated in the script, but the theme did seem to be ‘giving a voice to those who were voiceless.” i.e, black, queer, women, mute, aquamen ect.

Set up: Elisa, the protagonist, is sweet, romantic, and mute. She is caring, a good person, but lonely. She loves eggs, and dreams of water. She feels classic, elegant, but youthful still.

Catalyst: Her job receives a mysterious new asset, with a new team at the facility. 

Debate: Everything is changing. The new head of security is an asshole, and the asset/room Elisa and her friend Zelda are tasked with cleaning is dangerous, bloody, ect. 

Break into two: The new asset room, is the strange new world. Set apart from the world she knows, dangerous, and full of adventure.

B story: Eliza and the creature begin an egg and music filled romance.

Fun and Games: Teaching him about records, making him eggs, teaching him signs, Dancing, the two grow closer. 

Midpoint: Danger! The Russian spy wants to kill the asset, to stop the American scientific progress! and the Americans want the Asset’s body for space travel research! Either way, bad news for Elisa and her Fish Boyfriend. She’s gotta save him!

Bad Guys Close in:

All is lost:

Dark Night of the soul:

break into three:

Finale:

Final image: Elisa and the Asset underwater, embraced. Her scars become gills! Love wins! Her dream came true!

http://scriptslug.com/assets/uploads/scripts/the-shape-of-water-2017.pdf

https://screenwritingumagazine.com/2017/11/27/shape-water-writer-writing-adult-fairytale/

A Monster Calls - Review

A monster calls is a dark/fantasy/serious coming of age story about a young boy coping with his mother’s terminal illness, though a huge tree monster. Directed by J. A. Bayona and written by Patrick Ness, based on his novel of the same name. Screenplay by  Patrick Ness.

l really enjoyed monster calls. what a powerful movie. The animated sequences especially stood out to me, I wasn’t surprised to find that the Visual Development artist was Alexis Liddell, a French artist largely responsible for the look of the animated sequences in the final harry potter film. his blog is:

http://alexisliddell.blogspot.com/

In terms of the story, it had loads of heart. The cast was totally all-star. the lead boy, Conor, was so compelling. It felt like it understood emotion, and loss, and all of the feelings that no child should ever have to go through. The metaphor for losing his mother was… it was intense. “ I let her go” was unexpected. The lessons he learns, “humans are complicated beasts.” is a valuable lesson for all ages. In terms of filmmaking, I loved the moments you could feel. Shots that felt textured and tangible. Moments that felt nostalgic, like his mother finding the projector and the animation machine, and with Conor exploring and touching all the treasures in the house.

Opening image: Connor waking up from a horrible nightmare, showing him losing his mother. 

Theme Stated: “the truth will be what he hides and is most afraid of that he dreams of. “

Set up: He’s a very troubled boy. He doesn’t want to open up to teachers who reach out, and he has trouble at school socially, from bullies. In addition to his mother’s suspected fatal illness. typical day.

Catalyst: Introduction of the tree monster, who introduces the story’s premise. he will be told stories, and then he will finally tell the fourth one in return.

Debate: Conor doubts the tree monster, doubts the stories, chalks it all up to a stupid dream.

Break into two: “go on then” Conor agrees to listen to the story, and we are transported into the magical and whimsical animated story world.

B story: would the b story be the stories the tree monster tells? or Connor’s relationship with his dad, or grandmother?

Fun and Games: Living at his grandmother’s house, drawing more. Seeing his dad again, having fun then.

Midpoint: The second story. Conor destroys his grandmother’s house.

Bad Guys Close in:  his dad leaving, his mother still sick,  the bullying gets worse. connor snaps, and now is in trouble with the principal. 

all is lost: The medicine isn’t working, again. Conor can see how sick his mother looks. (his nightmare comes true, he admits that sometimes he wishes it was all over. he lets go, because it hurts.)

Dark night of the soul: Conor arguing with the giant.

break into three: his mother validates his feelings. she tells him everything will be ok, she knows everything he needs to tell her already. break things, and I’ll be right there with you.

finale: his mother’s final moments. he tells her, “I don’t want you to go.” she passes at 12:07. “it ends with him finally holding on to his mother, (even though it hurts.) and by doing so, he can finally let her go.”

final image: Connor finds the drawings his mother made as a child, of the stories he heard from the giant. he makes the connection. She’s right there with him, through the drawings. 

I also found this: https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/how-to-read-a-screenplay-parts-1-7-3c5b51ecee15

highly useful.

Glyceride and The Enigma of Amigara

The two comics that were recommended to me were were Glyceride,
by Jinji Ito, and The Enigma of amigara Fault, by the same. I’m a bit
of a wimp when it comes to horror, (Ironic I know, considering the
class’s title.) So these two specifically were supposed to be for the
faint of heart. The first one I read, about the creepy human-shaped-holes
in the mountain, was absolutely erie. Even though there were no blood and/or
guts, it was terrifying on a psychological. The manic obsession these
people had surrounding the holes, and the mystery of never knowing
exactly what happens, was a terrifying combo. The second story I read,
about the grease house, was a different kind of creepy. I cringed multiple
times, from the descriptions of the disgusting grime, heat and sweat. All
of the depictions of the acne were downright horrifying. In terms of story
I didn’t totally understand it, I wasn’t sure if it was going for shock value
or just thrill but there wasn’t a lot of explanation in the narrative.

writing prompt jan.23.2018

Prompt: Everyone in the world woke up having the same dream. Except for you,
you didn’t dream at all.

It started off as an unusual, queasy feeling. I"m sure you know the type, like
the entire class was in on some hilarious, practical joke, and I was the punchline.
I noticed the starry, dazed look in my peer's eyes, the certain grogginess that
had by some strange miracle escaped me. The first clue i noticed was the
twins. Well, they weren't biologically twins, it was that pair of joined-at-the-hip
popular girls that looked perfectly identical. Every highschool has a set of
twins. During second period, their hushed and secrative giggles turned more
and more serious. "Thats such a coincidence!" "What are the odds?"

Recs:

when night is falling - film rec
the hunger
arostotle and dante
a and e forever

Matilda - Review

Screenplay by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord

Adapted from the novel by Roald Dahl

I love the book, I love the musical, I love the movie. Roald Dahl is a genius, and studying his work as the first screenplay I’ve read feels pretty right. In terms of the movie’s actual plot and structure, It didn’t feel super clean and close to the cat’s story beats. It holds a lot of good feelings, good themes, and 90′s nostalgia, which is why I still consider it one of my favorites. I didn’t expect Danny Devito to play such a primary role in this version.

opening image: Matilda as a baby, meeting uncaring and unloving parents.

Theme Stated: Her father tells her “when a person is bad, that person has to be taught a lesson.”

Set-up: Mistreated but sweet and clever youngest child must be independent and self-sufficient when her horrible parents mistreat her.

Catalyst: Matilda uses her mind to destroy her family’s TV set, after being provoked and abused by her father. powers???

Debate: Shes sent to school, and meets the terrifying ms. trunchbowl. and the wonderful ms. honey!

Break into Two: 

B-story: The mystery behind Ms. Honey’s Father’s death, and the unfair treatment she receives from her aunt, Mrs. Trunchbowl.

Fun and Games: The school cheering after cake, matilda mastering her powers, 

Midpoint: Ms. Truchchbowl visits the classroom, and terrorizes the students. Newt scene. Ms. Honey and Matilda get closer. 

Bad Guys Close in: Ms. Trunchbowl comes back early while they are still in the house, and they run and hide to try and escape her. 

All is Lost: Ms. Trunchbowl almost catches them, they lose Lissie doll and all of ms. honey’s treasures.  

Dark night of the soul:  Ms. honey tells her to give up and never go back into the house. defeat.

Break into Three: Matilda uses the information she learned from Ms. Honey about her father and her Aunt, and takes the initiative towards Mrs. Trunchbowl. She works towards mastering her powers, scaring Ms. Trunchbowl in the house.

Finale: All of the children rise up against Mrs. Trunchbowl, throwing their lunches at her. Her hold on them, and ms. honey is broken. Matilda also stands up to her parents, when they try to escape to Guam.

Final Image: Ms. Honey reading with Matilda before bed. shes finally found a mother. 

Only Lovers Left Alive // Interview With a Vampire

I found this movie absolutely refreshing, compared to a lot of the popular vampire media I'm used to seeing. Only Lovers Left Alive was highly romantic, poetic, and sweet, everything I could ask for from a modern vampire flick. The cast was killer, as was the cinematography and soundtrack. Seeing what bits and pieces Adam and eve both took from the past, records, old television, vintage fashion etc. was interesting. How well they were able to successfully blend into modern settings seemed to be an enormous theme, one that they eventually were weak to. "Can these wise but fragile outsiders continue to survive as the modern world collapses around them?" is the phrase used in the screenplay. I liked how much science and thought was put into the narrative, i.e. finding blood that was pure and disease free.
The literature selection I read was "The Vampire Lestat," by Anne Rice, which is interesting because it the time it was published, (1985) it was probably also considered vampires in a modern lense. That seems to be the 'hook' that vampire media is going with today, how vampires interact with a modern, millennial setting. As mentioned, Claudia's character was one of the more interesting vampire concepts I've heard of. A girl, frozen in time but still faced with adult feelings, emotions, and urges is something I would probably be pretty protective of, if it came from anyone other then Anne Rice. I'm also a little cautious of the choice to make Lestat and Louis romanticly involved, as the trope of monsters being gay/queer runs the risk of demonization.

Frankenstein!

Victor Frankenstein felt very classical and dramatic to me. His language was very flourishy and vivid. I'm surprised that female characters played more subdued and minor roles in the story since the author was female herself. It was very classical and very wordy, a bit hard for me to wrap my head around at times. Choosing to start and end the novel with letters gave it an element of classic realism, like we were experiencing the events similar to the characters.
In terms of 'Gothicness,' it had a very classical feeling. Old ships, brains and corpses, passionate and emotional doctors and scientists, and flighty females. There's death, decay and madness, quintessential horror if you ask me.

Web Comics!

For this week, I read Gutless, Mimon, and a little bit of bit of Barbaros. Even though they were short, I really liked Gutless and Mimon! Gutless had a very cool, modern, millennial look and feel to it, from the character designs to the story itself. I liked how the princess and the mermaid felt non-traditional it make things feel very fresh and original. I definitely plan to keep following the comic in the future. 

I had very similar feelings about Mimon, I thought the art was gorgeous, much cleaner and elegant than the rougher more painterly gutless. I love fantasy stories, witches, and media with great female representation,  and this had all of that. Another one I plan to continue!

I read a few barbaros too, but I didn't get very far. it didn't grab my attention like the former two comics did. The design of the monster character didn't really appeal to me, but to each their own I suppose. 

Other comics I've been following, I've been absolutely LIVING for Heavy Vinyl and Snotgirl. Heavy Vinyl is adorable and is turning out to be a really fun and fresh new look at queer media. Snotgirl is just a work of art, the illustrations are gorgeous and the story is taking a really interesting horror/thriller turn. I don't usually follow a lot of horror stories but I cant put this one down, I’m in too deep. 

Pretty Deadly? Pretty cool!

1) What is your reaction to the text you just read?

I've read segments of Pretty Deadly before, as well as some of  Kelly Sue DeConnick's other work. My initial reaction what a bit shocked, I usually don't read a lot of horror, and there were moments that had some pretty intense gore. I also don't usually read a lot of western comics, but I did like this more than most. I did feel a difference in the intended demographic of the story, perhaps because the heads of the creative team was mostly women. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous, very gothic and poetic. It didn't feel like it was catered towards specifically male or female readers, it just felt like art and storytelling, if that makes any sense. The nudity between male and female characters is equally revealed, which is rare in most modern media. The "cool/badass" factor also feels pretty even. The most significant character so far, Ginny, has all of the presence of classic action/ adventure heroes, which is really refreshing.

2) What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you were able to connect?

One immediate connection I made, was to Kelly Sue DeConnick's other work. I love her work on Captain Marvel, and Bitch Planet is especially significant. I had a really similar reaction to this, on how the artists and story handled nudity. In Bitch Planet, there was a lot of non-sexual nudity, which is super rare to see in comics. I'm not sure I've seen it anywhere else, actually. It was an element of the story and represented something, but the storytelling took precedence over pure sex appeal. In Pretty Deadly, there's literally a Sex Scene in the second volume, And though I do think that elements are intended to be appealing, again the storytelling, character development, and narration takes precedence. It feels more about setting up the characters and story, then showing them off.

In terms of personal connection, I've noticed in plenty of media recently that I do tend to relate to female characters more. It seems like the title character here is Ginny, and though we haven't met too many other characters, the ratio of male to female seems pretty even. Since I've just read the first two volumes of the series, there hasn't been too much opportunity for character development, and that's usually what really attaches me to a character. Ginny seems pretty cool and badass, but I tend to connect with more human/emotional characters. Perhaps as the story progresses, we'll see her humanity come out more.

3) What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?

Right now, the form of media what would stick closest to the story would probably be a TV series on Sci-Fi network. I see it in that sort of demographic, much like Defiance (also a sci-fi western) and some of the other sci-fi / western / fantasy programs. I do think that it would lose a lot of the vibrancy the comic has with color and style, most of that is comic-specific. The other form of media that might come close would be something like Lakia did in Kubo and the two strings, (stop motion animation with bits of CG) but since that studio mostly does children's animation, this would never fly.

Fun Home! (what it is, what it is)

I absolutely love Alison Bechdel, I've been a huge fan of her's for a very long time. I've never actually finished reading Fun Home though, so I was thrilled to see it as an option. I saw the Musical version of it last year and loved that, the music is gorgeous and its incredibly rare to see such young actors taking on high-level acting. I thought the comic itself was brilliant too, much more graphic then I was expecting. The musical is a bit more romantic about her experiences with Joan, and the first time she saw a butch woman, (Ring of Keys) but I really appreciated the humor that's exclusive to the comic.
I loved all of the pages with silhouettes, those stood out to me a ton. The story itself has so much heart, her relationship with her dad felt almost therapeutic to read. It made me think a lot about my own family, and my dad, and the mental illness and experiences of many of my close friends and family. "tragi-comic" is a really good term to describe it, since it is tragic, and dark, but also very poetic and clever.

Bone!

For this week's assignment, I read some of the "Bone" series, by Jeff Smith. This was a huge nostalgia trip for me, when I was younger I remember reading them and really really enjoying them. The creatures are so wacky and silly, the weird rat creatures having a huge love of cooking and quiche is so random but sweet. It's little touches like that, giving weird monsters unexpected human personality traits. Reading it now, I found it a little bit strange how he drew Thorn. I know they tried to make her appealing and sexy, but it seemed not necessary for this demographic. I still love the relationship between Rose and Lucius.