The Period Poster

The Period Poster is due on 6 December 2010, Monday, by 5:00pm.  Please bring it to my office or hand it in at the Communication Studies Dept. Office.  Be sure to follow the directions for this project found in the syllabus.

Use one of the following slogans:

Breast Milk, 100% Pure

or

Second Hand Smoke Is No Joke

You can add more verbal information to your posters but one of these quotes must appear on the poster.

Here are links to the examples I quickly showed you in class:

Breast Milk #1    Breast Milk #2     Breast Milk #3 
Breast Milk #4                     Second Hand Smoke #1 
Second Hand Smoke #2      Second Hand Smoke #3  
Second Hand Smoke #4      Second Hand Smoke #5  

You can work in whatever medium you feel the most comfortable working in.  This means you do not have to create something using digital tools unless that you are comfortable using digital tools.  You can use paint, pencil, watercolor, pastels, ink, photography, Illustrator, Photoshop.... whatever.  Just be sure to follow the guide lines given in the syllabus.

- Dr. W -

Here is the Blog Tally!

THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT SUBSCRIBED TO THE CLASS BLOG AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.   YOU NEED TO TELL ME HOW I CAN CONNECT WITH YOUR BLOG TO READ IT.

Kayu YIP Ka Yu

Yuka LAI Man Ting

Chimi CHUNG Chit Man

Ting CHAN Hei Ting

Bill CHAN Chu Kei

Shadow TSE Nim Tung

THESE ARE THE BLOGS THAT I CANNOT CONNECT WITH STUDENTS IN THIS CLASS.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE ACTUAL NAME OF THE OWNERS OF THESE BLOGS

Tomato
9 entries

Siutingtsi
6 entries

Waitthetrue
Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

鍾 婕雯
Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.


zaizailove
Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

THESE ARE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE SUBSCRIBED TO THE CLASS BLOG.  THESE ARE THE NUMBER OF CLASS RELATED POSTS I HAVE FOUND ON YOUR BLOG.  IF I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LINK TO YOUR BLOG FROM YOUR SUBSCRIPTION THEN YOU NEED TO TELL ME HOW TO FIND YOUR BLOG.


Yu NG Ching Yu
Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.


Xearo SUEN Yuen Ling
Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.


Belle LAO Un Teng
Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.


Amy HO Wai Man 
Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

Lily CHENG Lai Lai

There appear to be only two posts that are directly related to History and Theory.

Sinde CHEUNG Sin Yi

16 entries and they are very solid.

Isaac CHONG Wai

7 posts to this point ending at the end of October.

Creamo FUNG Wing Shan 

14 entries and they look very interesting.  I like your honesty in talking about G.O.D. and just about everything else.  You have done what was intended in this assignment and that is good. 

Hoyan HO Wai Yan

13 posts.  I think you are right about the building.  It is far too sterile for its intended function.  I would spend as much time as you can at the Kai Tak Campus which I find invigorating.

Ashley IP Wai Ting

13 posts.  Silly Things looks like an interesting enterprise. 

Apple NG Po Yiu

32 entries for the semester.  I am glad you are doing this as you have collected some very interesting pieces of inspiration and even a bit of humor.

Orbit CHEN Feng

17 posts.  You’ve got some great posts.  I really find the Einstein-Monroe image interesting.  I see Marilyn from a distance and also from the side. 

Gloria WONG Po Yin

You have 14 posts on your blog and the ones I have read so far are really worth seeing.  Thank You.

Gloria CHEUNG Hoi Ki

I see you have 10 entries on the blog and you have given me a printed visual diary. 

Kaiyan CHEUNG Kai Yan

Okay so you are beyond being a serious blogger.  You have 42 entries for the year.  I am seeing about 23 related to this class.  I am not sure about the poems.  You have put up some interesting things. 

Candy CHUI Lok Ching

Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

Akira GU Xin

18 entries.  The record of a real journey.

Dawn KWAN Hay Yun

22 entries and some really beautiful photography. 

Kris LAM Kit Ying

Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

Koey LEE Lai Chong

Wow, 27 posts in one month.  That is an impressive number.  I will be taking a closer look.

Yoyo LEUNG Tan Yiu

19 posts.  Interesting information and I look forward to reading them all.

Isabelle NGUY Hing Wei

24 posts and lots of very interesting ones. 

John WONG Siu Wai

You are a serious blogging individual.  I see that you have 21 posts for the semester and I have already looked at a few and they look good. 

Jill YE Yingchan

15 posts.  Some interesting stuff.  I like the visual words, shows that we can read things even when you think you shouldn’t be able to.  Wow, the Backstreet Boys!?!

Salina YEUNG Sin Ying

27 entries in the month of November, that is very impressive.  I am also blown away by the miniature NYC video.  I think the key attribute is pulling out frames so that the motion is a bit unnatural.  Then they probably also reduce the number of colors so that it has more of a model feel.  Then there is the use of depth of field and and the strengthening of the contrast to create more of an unreal 3D effect. 

Ada LEE Chung Yan

18 posts and I am looking forward to reading them.

Hampus ALVARSSON

I count 13 posts.  And you are not half bad at Photoshop.  You have definitely accomplished the goal which is to show that “even you”  can do a better job than someone who apparently got paid for designing the ad.  I think you did better than “even you” level.  You may be more creative than you are letting on.

Alba BATISTA LOPEZ

Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

Guss KINDE Gustav

So I see eleven posts related to the class.  These are in Neon Groupie.

Marie LEE Ju Hyun

Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

Jake MASIN Jacob

So 15 entries more or less.  The LIppo building, “the dream building,” is notorius for bad financial Feng Shui.  It used to be the Bond Building.  Architect is Australian and the building is supposed to be Koala climbing bamboo.

Lucas NG Lucas

14 entries.  Did you know that the guy who wrote Seven was working in a video store when he wrote the script.  He is a graduate of the Penn State film program.

Carmen LI Kar Man

Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

KC LI Man Yee

Not able to link to your blog from your identity page connected to the class blog.

J WU Wai Lan

You have 13 blog posts.  They are interesting and yes the latest one with product designs are definitely Japanese so you have good instincts.  How did you get a post on 1 December when November is not over yet?

Outline for Design Ancestors Presentation

The presentations will not be more than 6 MINUTES.  So this presentation is about knowing what you want to say, saying it clearly and then being done.  You need to think in a very focused way and present the information in bullet points:

1) Here is the piece of communication design I am looking at (it can come from any media form).

2) Here is one previous piece of work that I think inspired it.

3) This is why I think so.

4) Here is another previous work that I think inspired it.

5) This is why I think so.

6) This modern piece was inspired by these two pieces that preceded it.

7) Any questions?

You can create the presentation in PowerPoint, Flash or PDF and you will send a soft  copy of your presentation to me through email after it is completed.

Any Questions?

- Dr. W -

today's exam

Clearly today's exam was more difficult than I anticipated.  The sheer availability of information was perhaps overwhelming.

I know that everyone worked hard and put forward their best effort.  This is my first time having students take this exam on the computer with the availability of more graphics and video, as well as the search and review capabilities.

So I will be looking at your tests, grading your answers and looking for trends in the results.

Don't panic if you didn't finish the test.  Don't panic if you aren't totally satisfied with your answers.  I will keep in mind that this is the first time you have taken this kind of test to balance everyone's performance on what was given.

You do need to check the schedule for Design Ancestor presentations.

Be sure to ask any questions you have!

- Dr. W -

Design Ancestors Presentation Order

Here is the presentation order for the two days of Design Ancestor Presentations.

Regardless of your day and time on the list you need to come to class and support your classmates because attendance will be taken and it is just rude to not support your peers by listening to their presentations.

The presentations are not long and that should keep each day pretty interesting.  You have a maximum of six minutes for your presentation so practice it to get it down to five.

At the end of the first day we will have an activity at the end of class and that is why there is a big gap at the end of the day's schedule.

24 November

1:35 Belle

1:41 Isaac

1:47 Kaiyan

1:53 Chimi

1:59 Yuka

2:05 Apple

2:11 J

2:17 Ashley

2:23 Xearo

2:29 Jill

2:35 Jake

2:41 Ada

2:47 Orbit

2:53 Kris

2:59 Hoyan

3:05 Ching

3:11 Dawn

3:17 Amy


1 December

1:35 Alba

1:41 Akira

1:47 Lily

1:53 Creamo

1:59 Lucas

2:05 John

2:11 Salina

2:17 Guss

2:23 Kayu

2:29 Hampus

2:35 Sinde

2:41 Marie

2:47 Shadow

2:53 Yoyo

2:59 Gloria Cheung

3:05 Isabelle

3:11 Gloria Wong

3:17 Koey

3:23 KC

3:29 Ting

3:35 Bill

3:41 Carmen

3:47 Yu

3:53 Yuen

If you have any questions write them as a response to this post or check out the Design Ancestor post on 10 November and ask them as a response or comment on that post.

I look forward to hearing about your theories of relationships between modern designs and their predecessors.

- Dr. W -

An Example of Bad Design

I just got this in my email and I wanted to put it up for you to see as an example of poorly executed communication design.  Think about why I think this is not good is a good way to think about how you should analyze images on the exam.

So what makes this less than desirable communication design?

- Dr. W -

Study Guide for Exam

DGC 1180 Final EXAM – Study Guide

Exam Date: 17 November 2010

The exam will have two parts.  Part 1 is worth 60 points and Part 2 is worth 40 points.

Part 1 is a review and description of facts with some analysis in the last question.

Part 2 is thinking, comparing and using information learned in class for analysis of attempts to communicate.

You will be able to bring to the exam any and all of the notes you have made.  My suggestion is that you organize them in a single sheet or some way to be able to access them efficiently while you are taking the test.  You will be taking the test in a computer lab.  This means that you will have access to the Internet and everything else that is possible to access on a computer.  There will be parts of the test where you will need to access content on the computer and/or the Internet.


You will need to be able to recognize and describe the following:

The basic elements of the AIM model for communication
The precepts and laws of Gestalt perception
The impact of culture on various aspects of communication design
The categories of type described in class
The methods for handling color using digital tools
Technological developments that changed and/or expanded communication design


You will need to be able to do the following:

Define communication design according to the AIM model
Describe media forms on the basis of the experiences they enable
Describe the differences in typefaces or fonts based on their
Identify your favorite designer and justify your choice
Identify your favorite design period, style or movement and justify your choice
Explain why Sergei Eisenstein is important in the history of film
Identify classic films and the subsequent films they inspired
Describe the ways music has been used in movies across time
Discuss the impact of technological changes in communication design


In part two of the exam you will be given groups of communication designs.  You will then choose two of those designs for comparison.

First, for EACH of the designs you choose you will provide the year it was created, the name of the designer (if known), and the movement, school or era with which it can be associated.

You will then compare and contrast the two designs on the basis of
* the psychological factors in the composition
* the cultural elements in the design
* the aesthetic elements of the design
* the typographic features
* relevant technological aspects
* the apparent objective of the design; and
* the possible audience for the design.                                        


You will perform a similar task of comparison and contrast between two animated films and between two live-action films.


You will give your answers on a word document on the computer and turn it in to a folder on the computer.

YOU NEED TO BRING HEADPHONES TO THIS TEST


Please post any question you have as a comment to this post!

- Dr. W -

Comprehensive List of the Movies we have watched this semester

In order of year here are the movies we have seen bits of in class:

1894 Glenroy Brothers Boxing
1895 The Gardener

1896 The Kiss

1897 Seminary Girls

1899 Ben Hur - Stage Play

1902 Voyage to the Moon

1907 Ben Hur

1911 Little Nemo - Winsor McKay

1915 Birth of a Nation

1915 Charlie Chaplin

1925 Battleship Potemkin

1925 Ben Hur

1925 Strike

1927 Laurel and Hardy

1927 Metropolis

1933 Duck Soup

1934 It Happened One Night

1937 Snow White

1939 Gone With The Wind

1939 The Wizard of Oz

1940 Pinocchio

1941 Citizen Kane

1941 Dumbo

1942 Bambi

1950 Cinderella

1951 Alice in Wonderland

1952 Singing in the Rain

1953 Peter Pan

1954 Seven Samurai

1959 Ben Hur

1960 Psycho

 1962 Dr. No - Bond

1963 Sword in the Stone

1964 Mary Poppins

1964 My Fair Lady

1965 Sound of Music

1968 2001: A Space Odyssey

1970 The Aristocats

1971 Bananas

1971 Fists of Fury

1974 Blazing Saddle

1974 Young Frankenstein

1977 Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope

1979 Life of Brian

1979 Moonraker - Bond

1982 Blade Runner

1984 Adventures of Andre and Wally

1986 Ferris Bueller's Day Off

1986 Luxo Jr.

1987 Untouchables

1990 Home Alone

1991 Beauty and the Beast

1991 Once Upon a Time in China - Wong Fei Hong

1992 Waynes World

1993 Jurassic Park

1994 Fist of Legend

1994 Lion King

1995 Pochahantas

1995 Toy Story 1

1999 Matrix

1999 Notting Hill

1999 Toy Story 2

2001 Barbie in the Nutcracker

2001 Moulin Rouge

2001 Shaolin Soccer

2001 Shrek

2001 Zoolander

2002 Die Another Day - Bond

2005 Wallace and Gromit

2006 Casino Royale - Bond

2007 Hairspray

2008 Mamma Mia

2008 WALL-E

2009 Night at the Museum 2

2010 Barbie in a Mermaid's Tale

Think about them in the same way that you think about a single image or poster.  Movies are aesthetic, psychological, cultural and communicative designs.  It is interesting though because movies seem to be more dated than most posters.  Because of their nature they have a more difficult time in holding up across time.  They are more reliant on the time when they were created.  May be it is just because of their nature and that we don't control the amount of time required to experience them?

- Dr. W -

Design Ancestor Examples for After the Exam

Here are two very simple examples of Design Ancestors:

This is the design for which I am seeking ancestors.

Here is Ancestor 1:

This one is directly related as it provides the visual and the concept for the later work.  This is a poster for the original movie "Endless Summer" that was made in 1964 or thereabouts (you need to be more accurate).  The movie is about a group of guys traveling the world in search of the perfect wave.  Thus we have a great deal of the content in the modern design shown above.  

But the new design shows some changes and here is a possible ancestor:

This is the sign on the southern edge of Las Vegas that has become a trademark of the city.  It demonstrates strong use of the diamond shape which is the added element in the modern work above.  It also has strong associations with the 1960s which connects its use in the final poster as well, "Searching since '64."

Here is a second example of design ancestors:

I am hoping that at least one of the ancestors for this piece is obvious to you already so here it is:

Andy Warhol did a number of these silk screen repetitive pieces of famous people.  This is a clear predecessor to the work above with added notion that Photoshop made the modern piece a lot easier to do.

Now here is a second possible ancestor to the modern work above:

It might have been possible to choose any portrait as an ancestor of the modern work but this photograph is particularly relevant because it has the feeling of a self-shot self portrait of a photographer and it includes the camera in the shot.  So there is a logical connection between this photo which pre-dates the work shown above.

In your presentation you will need to give specific information about each image, the modern and the historical.  

Your images and their ancestors do not have to come from anything shown in class.

You will not have a lot time so you need to show us the modern work, then show us two works that you believe have the possibility of being ancestors to that work.  They may have provided some ideas or inspiration.  You need to make a few logical arguments for their connection even though the relationship may be obvious.

Be sure to post your questions as comments to this post.

Attendance will be taken on both days so you are expected to come to class and support your fellow students.

The AFI Top Film Lists

The AFI is the American Film Institute and in 1998 the members of the Institute voted for the best 100 films of the first 100 years of the medium.


1998
1. Citizen Kane 1941
2. Casablanca 1942
3. The Godfather 1972
4. Gone with the Wind 1939
5. Lawrence of Arabia 1962
6. The Wizard of Oz 1939
7. The Graduate 1967
8. On the Waterfront 1954
9. Schindler's List 1993
10. Singin' in the Rain 1952
11. It's a Wonderful Life 1946
12. Sunset Blvd.  1950
13. The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957
14. Some Like It Hot 1959
15. Star Wars 1977
16. All About Eve 1950
17. The African Queen 1951
18. Psycho 1960
19. Chinatown 1974
20. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest   1975


Ten years later in 2008 the members voted again and the order changed a bit because calling something the best film is very much a matter of opinion.

2008
1. Citizen Kane 1941
2. The Godfather  1972
3. Casablanca 1942
4. Raging Bull 1980
5. Singin' in the Rain 1952
6. Gone with the Wind 1939
7. Lawrence of Arabia  1962
8. Schindler's List 1993
9. Vertigo 1958
10. The Wizard of Oz 1939
11. City Lights 1931
12. The Searchers 1956
13. Star Wars  1977
14. Psycho 1960
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
16. Sunset Boulevard 1950
17. The Graduate 1967
18. The General 1927
19. On the Waterfront 1954
20. It's a Wonderful Life 1946

Animation

Disney did not make the first animated short film in the world or even in North America.  Disney did not make the first feature length animation in the world but Snow White was the first feature length animation made in English.  It is also the first of 50 animated films to be made by the Disney Studio.  This month the movie "Tangled"  will be the 51st.

Disney's first film made for the China mainland market was 宝葫芦的秘密 mand it was made it 2007.  It was a cooperative production between Disney and Centro Digital Pictures in Hong Kong.  It mixes live action with 3D animation.  The lead animator for Centro was Ralph Poon who is a DGC graduate and now owns XD Communication Ltd. in Hong Kong.

Here are some facts about animated films made at Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks.


1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1940 Pinocchio
1940 Fantasia
1941 Dumbo
1942 Bambi
1942 Saludos Amigos
1944 The Three Caballeros
1946 Make Mine Music
1947 Fun and Fancy Free
1948 Melody Time
1949 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
1950 Cinderella
1951 Alice in Wonderland
1953 Peter Pan  (came from the stage)
1955 Lady and the Tramp
1959 Sleeping Beauty
1961 101 Dalmatians
1963 The Sword in the Stone
1967 The Jungle Book
1970 The Aristocats
1973 Robin Hood
1977 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
1977 The Rescuers
1981 The Fox and the Hound
1985 The Black Cauldron
1986 The Great Mouse Detective
1988 Oliver & Company
1989 The Little Mermaid  (The Rebirth of Disney Animation) (Now a Stage Show)
1990 The Rescuers Down Under
1991 Beauty and the Beast (First to use Digital Animation Technology)
                                            (The First to become a stage show)
                                            (The First Animation to be nominated for Best Picture)
1992 Aladdin
1994 The Lion King (Second to become a stage show, extremely innovative, prize winning)
1995 Pocahontas
1996 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1997 Hercules
1998 Mulan
1999 Tarzan  (Now a Stage Show)
1999 Fantasia 2000
2000 Dinosaur
2000 The Emperor's New Groove
2001 Atlantis: The Lost Empire
2002 Lilo & Stitch
2002 Treasure Planet5
2003 Brother Bear
2004 Home on the Range
2005 Chicken Little 3-D
2007 Meet the Robinsons 3-D
2008 Bolt 3-D
2009 The Princess and the Frog
2010 Tangled



Pixar                               cost revenue            academy award
1995 Toy Story $30,000,000 $361,996,233 Special Achievement Award
1998 A Bug's Life $60,000,000 $363,398,565
1999 Toy Story 2 $90,000,000 $485,015,179
2001 Monsters, Inc. $115,000,000 $525,366,597 Best Original Song
2003 Finding Nemo $94,000,000 $867,893,978 Best Animated Feature
2004 The Incredibles $92,000,000 $631,442,092 Best Animated Feature
                                                                                                Best Sound Editing
2006 Cars                  $120,000,000     $461,982,881 Lost to Happy Feet (George Miller)
2007 Ratatouille $150,000,000     $621,426,008 Best Animated Feature
2008 WALL-E $180,000,000     $521,268,237 Best Animated Feature
2009 Up                    $175,000,000     $731,338,164 Best Animated Feature
2010 Toy Story 3 $200,000,000     $1,060,026,000     The most successful animated film to date



Dreamworks Animation                                cost revenue
1998 Antz                                                  $60,000,000 $171,757,863
1998 The Prince of Egypt $70,000,000 $218,613,188
2000 The Road to El Dorado $95,000,000     $76,432,727
2000 Chicken Run                                      $45,000,000 $224,834,564
2001 Shrek                                                 $60,000,000 $484,409,218    Best Animated Feature
2002 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron $80,000,000 $122,563,539
2003 Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas $60,000,000 $80,767,884
2004 Shrek 2                                              $150,000,000 $919,838,758
2004 Shark Tale                                          $75,000,000 $367,275,019
2005 Madagascar                                        $78,000,000 $532,680,671
2005 Wallace & Gromit: Were-Rabbit $30,000,000 $192,610,372     Best Animated Feature
2006 Over the Hedge $80,000,000 $336,002,996
2006 Flushed Away                                    $149,000,000 $178,120,010
2007 Shrek the Third $160,000,000 $798,958,162
2007 Bee Movie                                         $150,000,000 $287,594,577
2008 Kung Fu Panda $130,000,000 $631,744,560
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa $150,000,000 $603,900,354
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens                            $175,000,000 $381,509,870
2010 How to Train Your Dragon $165,000,000 $492,591,956
2010 Shrek Forever After                           $165,000,000 $734,036,937
2010 Megamind                                            $130,000,000 $66,494,833     released Nov. 5 in the US

A Few Communication Designers

In class you have seen just a small taste of some very talented communication designers.  If you would like to know more about this designers they have all written at least one book or had at least one book written about them.  Most of these books are in the library.  Some of the books include thoughts about design, communication and business and some are just great collections of their work.  I know there is a very good book on Kan Tai Keung in the HKBU library and it is written in Chinese and contains a great collection of his work.

Design Periods

Understanding the design periods is very important for you and for the rest of the work you will be doing in class.  You will need to have some understanding of them for the test.  You will potentially need to talk about them in your design ancestor presentation and you will need to use them in your period poster.

You can go to look at various work from the design periods through the resource page in the course syllabus.  There you will find examples along with a general description for the style.

Science Fiction

Science Fiction has been a part of moving making since the earliest years of the medium.  There are actually very few forms of movies that were not already a part of the stories that people told using the media available to them.

But doing Science Fiction movies required the use of special effects and we can see that these have clearly developed and changed across time.  In fact Science Fiction is the genre that has most pushed the development of special effects in film.

1902 Voyage to the Moon we see speculation on what it would require to get to the moon and what the people who visit there might find.  In terms of special effects we see the rocket landing in the eye of the man in the moon (there is nothing wrong with a little comedy mixed in with science fiction)  We also see the use of painted scenes, composited scenes, jump cuts to make things and creatures appear and disappear.

1927 Metropolis we see probably the most influential film within Science Fiction.  The visuals are absolutely stunning and it doesn't really matter that there is no sound.  This is a film that every person who creates any kind of motion picture should see.  You may as well be directly influenced by it since you will be indirectly influenced.  The backgrounds are painted and the effects are basically crude but the quality of the visuals has inspired others to make these kinds of effects work better.

1974 Young Frankenstein is a comedy homage to the Frankenstein and monster movies that are also a variation on the Science Fiction genre.  Every one of the movies in this category owes a deep debt to Metropolis is the form of the laboratory and the depiction of the mad scientist.  We have seen this guy in motion pictures too many times to count.  In Young Frankenstein they used the actual static electricity machines that were used in the 1930s Frankenstein movies.

1977 Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope is directly influenced by Metropolis in the character of 3P0 who is very similar to the robot Maria.  The Star Wars prequels also pay their respects to Metropolis through the visualization of the government planet.

1982 Blade Runner is Ridley Scott's masterpiece and it was co-produced by Sir Run Run Shaw.  This movie is also a visual treat and it owes a great deal to Metropolis in terms of the cityscape of future Los Angeles as well as the Robot as Human story line.  You should watch this one as well out of respect to Sir Run Run Shaw and to see the shots inside the Bradbury Hotel in Los Angeles.  The closing monologue by Rutger Hauer on the nature of humanity is also worth the time.  Plus there is great action.

1954 Seven Samurai was also an influence on the Star Wars movies and the characters of C3P0 and R2D2.  Akira Kurasawa was the director of the Seven Samurai and the Hidden Fortress as well as many other Japanese language films that must be seen.  He was a phenomenal story teller and his work influenced many of the films that came after regardless of their country of origin or language spoken in the film.  His translations of Shakespeare's plays into the context of Japan are also amazing and are probably the most innovative translations of Shakespeare to the screen.

1968 2001: A Space Odyssey was also created by a very interesting director, Stanley Kubrick.  2001 is the only film that can rival Metropolis for its influence on the films that followed.  What is particularly interesting in the film is that the computer is the bad guy.  It reflects a much less favorable view of computers that one that is held in the world today.  At the core of the computer's evil though is conflicting instructions so that the in-out logic of the computer cannot deal with nor process the complexity of human thought or instructions.  Computers are still not human and appear insane when randomness and complexity are structured according to programmed logic.  The red eye of the HAL 9000 computer has become the symbol of evil computers.

2008 WALL-E pays direct homage to 2001 in the Auto-Pilot.  This use of HAL is in the red-eye and the story of conflicting human instructions.  WALL-E is extremely interesting for a lot of different reasons and this is one of them as the 40 years between 2001 and WALL-E have not made the red eye any less scary.

REMEMBER: There is nothing new under the sun and great ideas come from many different places.  Use other people's creations with respect and you can tap into the great storytelling and cultural or aesthetic connections that have built up around that work.  Respect means not stealing everything they did in the past but using their executions to inspire the story you want to tell.  Respect also means admitting the source or your inspiration either explicitly or implicitly.

- Dr. W -

Musicals

Wizard of Oz - 1939

AFI Top Ten Movies of All Time

AFI #3 Movie Musical

Singing in the Rain - 1952

AFI Top Ten Movies of All Time

AFI #1 Movie Musical

Mary Poppins - 1964

AFI #6 Movie Musical

My Fair Lady - 1964

AFI #8 Movie Musical

Best Picture

Sound of Music - 1965

AFI #4 Movie Musical

Best Actress - Julie Andrews

Life of Brian - 1979

Ferris Bueller's   Day Off - 1986

Moulin Rouge - 2001

AFI #25 Movie Musical

Hairspray - 2007

movie to broadway to movie

a number of inspirations from Sound of Music

Mamma Mia - 2008

Highest grossing musical film of all-time globally

The most successful British-made film of all time

AFI is the American Film Institute

What these movies represent is the flow of music in movies over the first century of the medium.

Originally there were musicals created specifically for the movies.  This was followed by a big push for translating Broadway musicals into film musicals.  Mary Poppins was an original musical for the screen and it has now been translated as a musical for the stage.

In the 1970s and 80s the traditional musical almost completely disappeared with the outstanding excepton of Grease that traveled from the stage to the screen.  Music largely became a supporting player in films.  Music also began to rely on popular music that supported the storyline of the film.  And sometimes, as in Life of Brian the notion of the happy musical number becomes the focus of a very funny joke.

The new millenium has seen new life for musicals with an emphasis again on stage to screen adaptations even though Hairspray went from non-musical movie to Broadway musical and then movie musical.  Mamma Mia was on stage but is based on the very popular songs of ABBA so it also has a strange route.  Moulin Rouge is also very unusual in its approach as a movie musical.  The songs are current pop songs intertwined into a story about the Moulin Rouge at the turn of the 20th century.  It puts modern sensibilities into an historical setting.  And it is an historical setting that had a great deal of influence and connection to the Art Nouveau movement in Communication Design.  Toulouse-Lautrec is a key character in the film as he was an important character in this part of Paris at the turn of the Century.  The Black Cat was a club in Paris at this time.