Character Psychology

My name is Melvin...

1. How does your character think?

I am a social recluse, who is prone to violent outbursts, and I am miserable in my existence.

2. How does your character think he/she thinks?

I am a super hero. I am all powerful but do not use my powers becuase if I do the universe will come to an end.

3. What does your character want?

I want to be loved and respected and have a family and friends that I can turn to in times of need.

4. What does your character think he/she wants?

I want everyone to realize that they were wrong and I was right when I save their puny little lives from the alien invaders in 2012.

5. What does your character believe?

I believe that G-d does not exist and if he does then he is an asshole.

6. What does your character think he/she believes?

I believe that G-d has chosen me to judge the people of this planet, and save those who G-d deems righteous, as of yet, no one is righteous.

7. What is your character’s truth? Mythology?
8. What is your character’s real truth? Real Mythology?
9. What does your character need?

I need a positive and supportive environment.
10. What does your character think he/she needs?
I do not need anything to survive, not even foood or water, as I am not even from this planet and do not need the material aspects of life to survive.

11. What actions does your character undertake?

I don't have the patience to put together detailed models but I always buy them so people will think I am smart. I try to put them together without using the directions but I always get frustrated and just end up breaking them.
12. Why does your character think he/she does what he/she does?

I create art by taking things that have a set way and doing them differently.

Deren Response Film Write Up

I have to say first off that I absolutely loved working on this project. I think it was mainly the fact that I was no longer working in stop motion which gave me much more freedom and ability to improvise my shots. The best part about this project was the freedom allowed to the actors. I basically just set up the shots and told them to go. Because I was focusing on minimal movements I basically just let the actors talk normally and tried to pick up on their normal body language. The only tricky part was trying to equal out the number of activities that my non-smoking actress did with that of the smoker. There was just a lot more that a smoker naturally does during that activity that someone who does nothing has a hard time keeping up with. But giving her something to drink and trying to pick up those little movements that can, upon closer observation, be very sexual, added weight to her shots that the smoker didn't have.

I learned that it is much easier for the subtle movements of a female be taken as flirtatious as women are naturally (at least in this culture) viewed as sexual objects (at least much more than men are.) However, with that said, I enjoyed trying to play on the natural sexual tension that occurs, at least in the viewers mind, when you film a seemingly innocent conversation between a man and a woman. That, to me, was the most fun part of the whole experience. Examining the subtle body languages of the actors and allowing their natural attitudes and movements take on the form of dialogue, of which there is obviously much underlying tension.

New Concept

We all take for granted for the ability to perceive our own realities; but what if you were ask to explain how, would you be able to? This film will attempt to construct a "reality" through the cognitive perceptions of three different people. The people will be participating in some form of group social activity, at this point I am thinking along the lines of a card game. I will build the "experience" of the card game using the different perceptions of reality that each individual has. Each perspective/perception will be filmed in such a way as to mirror/echo the philosophy, theology, lack there of, of each person.

Reading

- "It's not that distinctions are important as formulae and as rigidities, but I think they're important in the sense that they give an audience, or any potential audience, a preparation, an approach, to what they're going to see."

- I think that when Deren talks about the difference between a vertical story and a horizontal story she makes a very interesting point. I know that when I write a story I generally focus and whats happening outside of the character; interactions between characters or any external conflicts. But I also find that in order to help people relate to the characters better if you develop some sort of internal conflict, or build up the characters "character" if you will.

Maya Deren:

Absolutely beautiful cinematography.

Every shot is masterfully executed and aesthetically pleasing.

The opening scene with the woman washing up on the shore and then watching the waves roll back out to see was incredible. Just something about the beauty of the simplicity of taking such a common occurance, as watching the waves and showing it in a brand new light.

I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of scenes, where she is on the beach then she climbs up the tree to a social party and then crawls through the woods, follows the chess piece. Just the way that she is able to take seemingly unrelated scenes and tie them together flawlessly.