Maya: Generi Guy Lipsync- Jaw Bounce

This was fun to do :) I am aiming to have a better relationship with Maya this year. Lets see how it works out ^^

Narrative: Film Review on 'Ed Wood' (1994)

FIG.1: Ed Wood Poster 

Director: Tim Burton

Producer: Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi

Cast: Jonny Depp, Marti Landau, Patricia Arquette, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeffrey Jones

Year: 1994

Tim Burton's Ed Wood is a an American comedy following the career of Ed Wood himself, an ambitious young man who struggles to get into the film industry and grasp success during the 1950's, at the time when low budget films with technical errors and low quality graphics were released . Johnny Depp successfully portrays this very energetic, but not so great, film writer who became well known for his cheap genre films which are known today as B-Movies. The film itself is really charming depicting Wood's complex personality in the best way.

FIG.2 : Ed Wood crossdressing

Edward Wood's fragile and eccentric personality started taking shape from his early life experiences. One of the events that traumatised his view on life was during his duty as a U.S Marine during World War II when he stabbed a Japanese guerrilla to death even after the soldier was presumably dead. As a sensitive man, Wood was traumatised to be put into that situation and his whole view in life changed. Like Rob Craig mentioned " How this explosion of wanton blood-lust, and the subsequent drama it produced in Wood, affected his later adult life, and later his art, can only be intuited." (Craig.2009:9)

FIG.3: Ed Wood with Bela Lugosi

What was interesting about the film was that it did not hesitate to show Wood's eccentricity, especially when it came to feeling comfortable in women's clothing. Wood was a self-proclaimed transvestite and for him it wasn't a performance of his sexual orientation but more like an action to give him more confidence in his work. In a world with a widely accepted belief that gender is determined by clothing, Wood as an heterosexual that wears dresses and women's underwear was  referred as the eccentric man, with an outstanding passion in making his own films-even though he could not see any flaws in them. Wood himslef stated in his film Glen or Glenda? that "a transvestite is not homosexual, and thusly draws a line in the sand to differentiate the subjects in his film, including himself, and for those who he considers, by implication, to be morally and psychologically corrupted." (Craig. 2009: 25)

All in all, Ed Wood is an enjoyable film depicting the hard world of The film Industry, a world where taking risks is the key to success but simultaneously, can be disastrous. 

Bibliography

Craig, Rb (2009). Ed Wood, Mad Genius.USA: Mc Farland and Company

List of Illustrations

FIG.1: http://www.emmaaime.com/2010_05_01_archive.html (accessed on 24/9/2011)

FIG.2: http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/classics/EdWood.html (accessed on 24/9/2011)

FIG.3: http://shreveport.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html (accessed on 24/9/2011)

Character Design: First Quick Story Ideas

I've been brainstorming to figure out the story hidden behind the title Western Kung Fu Fighters so the it can make actual sense.

1. Kung Fu Fighters travel to America to take back something valuable which was stolen from them and dress up as cowboys as a disguise.
2. A cowboy is named the chosen warrior who will fight back the enemy, so he is taught kung fu to do it.
3. Cowboys moving to China and combing their quick pistol moves with Kung Fu ones.
4. A chinese family, who is gifted with martial arts, moves to America to escape from an evil villain. There they teach Kunf Fu to cowboys and they soon make Kung Fu as part of their everyday life. Soon enough the cowboys help fight back the villain. 
5. Cowboys take Kung Fu lessons to defend themselves and protect their land.

Well, this is what I've got up till now. i don't know if any of them make sense. :S

Character Design: Western Kung Fu Fighters- Research

And my Characters are... Western Kung Fu Fighters! Such an interesting combination right there. The first thing that popped in my mind was kung fu fighters performing their moves into a far west sallon. But it cannot be that simple. There needs to be a story behind the characters otherwise the audience might rise up some questions like: How did cowboys decide to be kung fu fighters? Is there a story behind it? Or how can martial arts be combined with cowboy fights? Would it make sense if cowboys decided to learn martial arts?

It is very exciting making up a story to explain this combination. I am in a bit of a dilemma though. Would it be better if my characters were animals instead of actual humans? I've always thought animals are more attractive, especially for children. 

Here are some inspiring characters I thought would be great reference:

Kung Fu Characters 

Kung Fu Panda

Skunk Fu

Samurai Jack

Juniper Lee

Cowboy Characters

Lucky Luke

Home on The Range

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

Oh and Shanghai Noon :)

Postmodernism: Notes from 1st Lecture (21/9/11)

Notes From Last Lecture:

• To not fail this essay it is important to first understand it and then write about it. Postmodernism is difficult to define and give away. It does have a specific language to it but you can grasp it.
• It is a wide ranging term applied to literature, art, philosophy, fiction, etc..
• The term explains that things are not as fixed or secure as they might be. It is a dispited term (not fixed)
• It enables us to create our own reality, making our own truth - The world is made up of more than one idea. It's like having mirrors reflecting back to you. The term is dedicated to the fragmented self.
• It encourages and gives voice to people (like in feminism).  We say our own thing incase we offens someone else's truth- self obsessed.
• In the Modern world: We define ourselves by our choices than our actions. The defeat of something more important.
• Madonna (singer/artist) : An example of a postmodern person. She is always collaging herself to keep herself going.
• Simpsons (Animated Series) : Every episode is burrowing from somewhere else.
• YouTube and Wikipedia: Examples of mashing up everything. Websites where everyone can share anything. The wisdom of crowds.
• Shrek (Animated Film): A film putting a twist into well-know fairytales and Disney (hyper reality-brighter than we know)