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Film Review: Suspiria

                                                       (Fig 1, Movie poster)


In Argento's 'Suspiria' (1977) we are exposed to a gory story about a ballet school. The protagonist of the film is an American girl named Suzy, who travels to Germany to attend a ballet school. Upon her arrival the film wastes no time throwing you into the whats to come. Within the first 10 minutes of the film Argento begins to create an uneasy atmosphere with the use of music. As well as a death right near the beginning and the use of lighting. 

One of the most noticeable features of this film is its score. Performed by the rock band Goblin, this piece is heard throughout the film usually representing danger or the death of a character. " Screams, wailing's, hissing steam and some kind of diabolical didgeridoo are punctuated with the occasional distorted shriek of "Witch!" (Smith, 2000) As mentioned this would be heard nearly any if not every time something was about to go wrong or creating tension, this is definitely achieved. Also it teases you in a sense that you now expect something to happen and the tension builds up in you and you'll be asking "What's going to happen now". 

                                                       (Fig 2, Movie still)

Throughout the film there is surreal lighting which paired with the music helps to create a very unsettling feeling for viewers. " uses bright primary colors and stark lines to create a campy, surreal atmosphere" (Maslin, 1977) Although, it is aesthetically pleasing, it also draws our eye to certain parts of the scene. For example, there is a scene where Suzy's food in highlighted by the red lighting. While watching the film we find out Suzy's is being poisoned and it's like the red light was an indicator of danger like how the music also does this. 

                                                      (Fig 3, Movie still)

Argento and his films were accused of being misogynistic for his over use of killing beautiful women as found in 'Suspiria' as well. Although this may be apparent in his films and in an interview (1983) he said "“I like women, especially beautiful ones [. . .] If they have a good fan and figure, I would much prefer to watch them being murdered than an ugly girl or man". Others however have argued that 'Suspiria' also shows more to women. Sobczynski (2017) believes that in the case of 'Suspiria' the majority of the roles are women. Also, he says "women control the action and are looked at as sources of real power.", which can be seen through the use of witchcraft. 



(I'm aware that the fonts are different at points but for some reason when I tried to make them all the same they wouldn't) 

Bibliography:

Nytimes.com. (2017). Movie Review - - 'Suspiria,' a Specialty Movie, Drips With Gore - NYTimes.com. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=990CEFDB1F3BE334BC4B52DFBE66838C669EDE? [Accessed 5 Dec. 2017]

Smith, A. (2017). Suspiria. [online] Empire. Available at: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/suspiria/review/ [Accessed 5 Dec. 2017]

Sobczynski, P. (2017). [online] Rogerebert.com. Available at: https://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/do-you-know-anything-about-witches-suspiria-at-40 [Accessed 5 Dec. 2017]

Illustration List:

Fig 1: https://letterboxd.com/film/suspiria/  [Accessed 5 Dec. 2017] 

Fig 2: https://filmgrimoire.com/2015/02/10/suspiria-1977-do-you-know-anything-about-witches/ [Accessed 5 Dec. 2017] 

Fig 3: http://thechromologist.com/terrifyingly-beautiful-the-colours-of-suspiria/ [Accessed 5 Dec. 2017] 

What If? Metropolis - Art Of

Presentation 2 by Alfie Gunter on Scribd

What If? Metropolis - Crit

Presentation 1 by Alfie Gunter on Scribd

@Phil WIM - Final Shot

WIM - Scene Progress

WARNING: save to desktop and then transfer your work over. I kept forgetting to do that and then lost my first scene I did yesterday.

WIM - Shot Test

I didn't include all of my buildings since the others are background models. However I include the foreground buildings and one from the ruling district that the bridge will disappear behind. I'll use this a basic guide for the rendered models and place them in the same positions.

WIM - @Phil Texture Test

These are some basic textures I wanted to test out so I used the model that won't be in the final shot. The textures with the colours on top don't look as good as I hoped, but I can test different levels of intensity to see if I can get a good mix of the concrete and colour.

WIM - Workers District Model Test and UV

This was my first model test for the workers district, which looked very box like and since it will be in the foreground I wanted it to look more interesting. After talking with Jordan he recommended the soft select tool and moving the vertex so that the edges aren't so perfect. 

                                                    Second model attempt

This building looks a lot better aesthetically, so I'll be using this one instead. I used the previous model as a way to test textures (shown further down).

                                      Building that'll only be seen from behind

                                Community building that sits under the bridge




                                                                UVs

Texture test 

Since I won't be using this model I used it to test a texture I made. Overall, it doesn't look too bad but I will try out another texture to see if that one is any better.

Film Review: Repulsion

                                                             (Fig 1, movie poster)

Roman's Polanski's Psychological horror 'Repulsion' (1965) follows the life of Carol who suffers from Androphobia (fear of men). When her older sister Helen leaves to go on Holiday in Italy, Carol is left alone in their London flat which she then retreats into. Following this Carol begins to hallucinate and becomes more aggressive. Throughout the film Carol displays signs of nervous ticks such as brushing herself off a lot and biting her nails and as mentioned before these ticks stem from her fear of men.

(Fig 2 and 3, Movie still)

The film presents a lot of the male roles as sexual predators and because of Carols phobia the fear of males is amplified not only in Carol but the audience. It becomes clear at a point that the majority of men in the film are only interested in sex or will constantly pursue Carol which creates the idea that the men are always trying to get something from Carol where it's sexual or something else.  "The horny, chauvinistic attitudes that ruled the day during this decade keep any of the male characters who have direct interaction with Carol from realizing that she’s more than just a “woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown.” (Glass Jr. S, 2016) In the film Carol is pursued by Colin who  seems to be a genuinely nice person and considering the other men in the film is not only interested in sex. However, he thinks he is being gentlemanly and following his heart, whereas the woman he is pursuing is having a paranoid episode which he fails to acknowledge. On the other hand there's the landlord who seems to take Carol's shyness as a sign that he can touch her and attempt to kiss her. this can all link to the ending where the camera focuses in on the family photo of Carol as a child. It seems like the lighting is used to draw attention to Carol and a male family member. This is very suggestive that something  around that time is what lead to her phobia, as she looks at this man with what seems to be resentful eyes. 

(Fig 4 and 5, Movie stills)

The hallucinations in the film build up through out. At the beginning Carol sees smalls cracks appear, but with more interaction with men as well as isolating herself in her flat they become more frequent and real to her. "Small cracks in the walls of the apartment flow into crunching indicators of the heroine's crumbling mind." (Crowther. B, 1965) What Crowther says links to what I just said the interactions with men in the film as well as isolation strain Carol's mind. She seems very reliant on her sister to be there for her and without her being there it pushes her more over the edge. Furthermore, it's not just cracks that she sees, all along the corridor   

(Fig 6, Movie still)

Sound also plays a role in the film as mentioned by Morgan. K, 2009 (updated 2011) "Polanski relies more on amplifying the sounds of everyday life [...] convey the acute awareness Carol acquires in response to her fear.". As well as that it also becomes an indicator to the audience that Carol is going to be sexually violated by a stranger. However, during these scene Carol's screams can't be heard it goes very quiet until it's over. This creates a unsettling  feeling, the scene already is but seeing the desperation in Carol's face as well as not hearing her, creates an overall more discomforting scene. 

Bibliography:

Morgan. K, 2009: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-morgan/roman-polanski-understand_b_301292.html

Crowther. B, 1965: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=ee05e7df1739e471bc4c53dfb667838e679ede

Glass Jr. S, 2016: http://beneaththeunderground.com/film-review-repulsion-1965/

Illustration List: 

Fig 1: http://beneaththeunderground.com/film-review-repulsion-1965/

Fig 2: https://alexonfilm.com/2016/08/14/repulsion-1965/

Fig 3: https://alexonfilm.com/2016/08/14/repulsion-1965/
Fig 4: http://michaelklingerpapers.uwe.ac.uk/projectimages/repulsion/2.htm
Fig 5: https://alexonfilm.com/2016/08/14/repulsion-1965/
Fig6: https://alexonfilm.com/2016/08/14/repulsion-1965/

Film review: Black Narcissus

                                                         (Fig 1, Poster)
                                                             
In Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburge's 1947 adaptation of Rumer Godden's novel, we follow the story of five nuns physical and spiritual troubles on their journey to the Himalayas. Each one of the sisters has to face their own inner demons such as carnal desires, jealousy and strain on the nuns relationships with one another.

                                                           (Fig 2, Movie still)

This scene where Sister Ruth is applying lipstick is a good example of how the film uses the theme of carnal desires. In this scene Sister Clodagh is trying to convince Sister Ruth to continue being a nun. while Sister Ruth is applying lipstick the other Sister begins to read the Bible. This shows the contrast between the two Sisters, one has derailed from the path of Sisterhood and chose to give into her sexual feelings, whereas the other remains loyal to her cause. "the two dominant characters are basically frustrated women who seek solace in religion after unhappy romances [...] One eventually is overcome by her desire" (Pryor. T, 1947). Like Pryor says Sister Ruth "eventually" gives but up until this point we see how mental state begins to change the more these feelings grow and at points make her hysterical. However, Sister Clodagh has also been through a similar situation of an unhappy relationship she committed to her beliefs and tried to help others.

                                                       (Fig 3, Movie still)

Furthermore, Ruth lets her carnal desires and jealousy cloud her judgement as she becomes more hysterical than  before. "when Ruth finally flips, transforming herself into a desperate, wild-eyed vamp in a scarlet dress and the reddest of lipsticks, even Clodagh's life is in danger." (Lee, 2008) Simply being in the presence of man has lead to such a build up and lead to Ruth to even attempt murder. The way that Ruth seems to change from seeing Dean to when she returns to the palace is amazing. As mentioned by Lee its like she transforms from a beautiful woman who loves a man to someone filled with jealousy and looking like a deranged murderer.  

                                                         (Fig 4 and 5, Movie stills)

As well as its interesting plot, the film uses some well done sets and lighting as shown above "The studio sets and backdrops are superbly and still convincingly rendered, and the film looks more beautiful than ever" (Bradshaw, 2005). Through parts of the film the sunset starts to use russet hues which suggests the shift in mood that takes place in the film where the plot gets more intense around Sister Ruth. As Sister Ruth starts to give into her sexual feelings and reject the Sisters belief that's when this lighting is used possibly as a visual indication to the audience that the film has shifted. Set design is also important in the especially in Fig 4 which shows one of the rooms in the palace. Throughout the palace there is sexual imagery of women, which seems to be foreshadowing what happens later on in the film. It comes across as it being inevitable for the Sisters to not be affected in some way.



Bibliography:

Pryor. T, (1947): http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=ee05e7df173ce261bc4c52dfbe66838c659ede

Bradshaw. P, (2005): https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2005/aug/05/3

Lee (2008): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3672855/Must-have-movie-Black-Narcissus-1947.html



Illustration List:

Fig 1: https://theblacknarcissus.com/tag/black-narcissus-film/

Fig 2: http://www.theartsdesk.com/film/dvd-release-black-narcissus

Fig 3: http://offscreen.com/view/holiness_in_black_narcissus

Fig 4: https://trekkerscrapbook.com/2012/11/10/retro-reel-gallery-black-narcissus/pdvd_079/

Fig 5: http://www.theartsdesk.com/film/dvd-release-black-narcissus

Running Animation

WIM - Ruling District Model Tests

                                               Test Model 1                                 Test Model 2

These are two test models for towers that will be in the ruling district of my city. I prefer the the second model because having the panels run off the edge of the building in the first test doesn't look as aesthetically pleasing as I had hoped for.

Tower 2 Model 1

                                                                         Tower 2 Model 2

Some of these models will be covered by the bridge so for now I have not bothered to put any panels on them like I have for the ones that are more visible. However, I will still include the panels for where they are visible, but these are the basic models I have for the moment.

Maya Digital Set