Sofia Coppola

I watched Marie Antoinette, Lost in Translation, and A Very Murray Christmas. Just from those three movies, I have come to these conclusions. First and foremost, Bill Murray must be her favorite actor. She used him in two out of those movies as the lead, practically playing the same character but in a different setting and context. One takes place in Japan and the other takes place in New York during Christmas. Two, I think it is safe to assume that she finds glamour interesting. She likes to shoot films that shows glamour in a different light - what's behind all the glitter and gold of the hollywood world.          You can see that theme clearly in Lost in Translation and A Very Murray Christmas for sure.
She takes the very serious topic of glamour and royalty and makes it more comedic. The comedy brings up back to reality a bit because if it were stiff, it would be watched more like a documentary and less like a movie. Her comedy is not in your face comedy but rather done through mostly the blocking of the characters and the way they interact. After watching these movies, I think I might be able to tell her apart depending on the theme of the movie but probably not all the time because that kind of comedy is not really uncommon in today's society. It is often preferred because a lot of people find serious movies boring. And her color palette changed from Marie Antoinette to Lost Translation. There is a big difference so I think color definitely can't be one of her defining features as a director. The theme and the blocking makes it hers.

In class: Dream and Observation

Dream:
I am at a restaurant. I have already sat down. The tables are covered with white tablecloth and the chairs are black and ornate. There is a black vase in the middle of the round table I'm sitting at and it is filled with white droopy flowers. The waitress comes to my table and asks me what I want to order. I look around and everyone's plate starts levitating and start floating to the back of the kitchen.
She asks me again, what would I like to eat and I ask her about the floating plates. She asks me again, what would I like to eat as the items then stop and turn towards me, still floating in the air.

Observation: 

The lonely amphitheater finally has some visitors. A girl with a rainbow umbrella is shielding herself from the bright sunlight that is coming from in front of the amphitheater. It is peachy in color and has a pebbled texture.The amphitheater has white paint splatters going down the stairs. There are black paint splatters on the stage.  Due to the bright sunlight, there is a sharp caste shadow on the right as all the light is concentrated on the left side of the theatre. An ant is walking in and out of the top row of the amphitheater. The girl has headphones on and has a palette next to her legs. She is painting More people walk down the stairs of the amphitheater but no one dares stand in the middle. The stage is the loneliest part of all. The wind blows the tree branches from left to right. It is a soft breeze - not at all harsh in nature.  When the wind hits the brush, only some parts of it move from left to right. The wind lessens. 

The Anniversary Party

Set Designer

If I was the set designer, I would focus a lot on the interior of the house. There should be wedding photos on the walls and smaller frames with photos of Joe and Sally on the counter. The photos of them are repeated a lot because the photographer comes to the party as well. The characters mention how soft and subtle the interior is the color palette of the room should be neutral tones with a few pops of color here and there. I picture the wall in the living room being a light tan shade with a white panel near the floor. I picture the couches being dark brown leather because Joe mentions that Sally had to change a couple things to suit him. The floors will be wood with a artsy carpet with shades of red, orange, and brown that form a linear pattern. The pillows on the couch will be a golden shade to go with the dulled shades in the carpet. The coffee table will be glass while the counters and other tables in the house with be the shade of the couches. There will be a couple vases in the house with roses in the vase because it is an anniversary. The book case will also be dark brown wood and full of books including the book that the main characters were given to put in the book case to kiss up to the neighbors next door. The piano will be in the corner of the room and will be black with a red cushion on the seat of the piano. The windows will have curtains that are gold to match with the pillows.

Ready Player One Script

Scene in the Tomb of Horrors

The scene opens with a close up on Wade's face and then goes into a full frame where you can see the entire scene with Wade's back to the camera and the focus now on Acereak on the throne. 

Wade (to himself): He looks exactly like he did on the cover of the original Tomb of Horrors module.

Acereak is sitting on his throne and does not rise. The camera zooms in on his face. 

Acereak: Greetings Parzival.What is it that you seek?

The camera goes back to the full frame. When Wade starts speaking, the camera goes back to him and it is a medium shot from the torso up. 

Wade: I seek the Copper Key.

The camera follows Wade's movements. 

Wade (dropping to one knee and bows head) : Your majesty.

The camera goes back to Acereak who is shot from the torso up. 

Acereak (motions for him to rise) : Of course you do. And you have come to the right place.

Acereak stands up and the camera zooms out so you can see his full body by the throne. 

Acereak: But how do I know that you are worthy of possessing copper key?

The camera zooms in on Wade's nervous face. 

Wade (to himself) : How does he expect me to answer that?

Wade: Allow me to prove myself to you Noble Acereak.

The camera goes into a full frame as Acereak smiles. Then it goes to a medium shot of Acereak as he speaks. 

Acereak (yelling in delight) : Very well then! You shall prove your worth by defeating me in a joust!

The camera goes to a frontal shot of Wade still on his knees as he looks up in confusion. 

Wade: But won't we need horses?

Frontal shot where Wade's back is to us as Acereak walks away from his throne. 

Acereak (stepping away from his throne) : Not horses - birds.

The camera zooms in on Acereak's hand. Acereak waves his hand at his throne and it transforms into an old video game cabinet. Full frame shot during the transformation. 
Medium shot of Acereak. 

Acereak: Best two out of three games - If you win, I shall grant you what you seek.

Frontal Shot of Wade as he stands up. Then it goes into a medium shot. 

Wade: And what if you win?

Close up on Acereak's eyes and then his lips as he curls his lips into a smirk. 

Acereak: Then you die.

Medium shot as Acereak holds up his hand with a swirling flame in it, threateningly. 

Wade:  Of course. I thought so. I was just checking.

Medium shot of Wade as he holds up his hands. Close up on Acereak's hands with the two quarters in between his fingers. 

Acereak (holding out two quarters) : The games are on me. Are you ready?

Full shot of both of them at their machines. Close up of Acereak's side profile as he asks Wade if he is ready. Close up of Wade's side of profile as he nods his head. The game starts. Close up on the two screens. Wade loses the first game. Medium shot of the two characters. 

Acereak: One game down. Ready for the next one?

Close up on the coin machine and then a close up of Wade's face. 

Wade: Actually, do you mind if we switch sides? I am used to playing on the left.

Medium shot of the two characters as the speak. 

Acereak: Certainly.

Medium shot. Acereak switches sides with Wade and then they play again. Zoom in on the screen. Close up of the hand on the joystick. Wide shot of both hands playing with the joysticks. Close up of Wade's face. Close up of the winner screen. This time, Wade wins. Close up on Acereak's had on the joy stick. Close up of Wade's hand on the joystick. Wide shot of both playing the coin machine. Close up shot of the video game screen. Close up taking from below of Wade's determined face. Close up taking from below of Acereak's face. Medium shot. Close up of joystick. Heart beat sound in the background beating hard. Close up of the winner screen. Full frame of the setting. The third game it got more intense but Wade ultimately wins in the end. Close up of Acereak's hand extending for a handshake. 

Acereak (extending his hand out for a handshake) : Good game.

Medium Shot of their handshake. 

Wade (shaking his hand awkwardly) : Yea, good game man.

Medium shot of Aereak. 

Aereak: Congratulations Parzival. You played well.

Medium shot of Wade. Medium shot of the two bowing to each other. 

Wade: Thank you Noble Aereak.

They  continue to bow until it goes into a full frame and a wizard flys in and appears in front of Wade. It is a tall wizard in black robes. Medium shot of the two characters. Medium shot of just the Wizard as he speaks. 

Wizard: Now then, your reward.

Camera angle down as Wade looks up as magic dust flys up and down and then lands in the wizard's hands. Orchestra music plays in the background. close up on Wizard's hand. Copper Key has appeared. Medium shot of the two. 

Wizard (handing Wade the copper key): Farewell sir Parzival. I bid you well on your journey.

Still medium shot of the two. Wade takes the copper key and then everyone disappears. Shots of an empty throne room and the empty room. Full frame with him standing in the middle of the floor and a lot of negative space is closer to the camera. He is alone in the empty chamber. 

What is Hamlet about?

I read the text of Hamlet and I also watched the movie Hamlet (1996).

To be honest, Hamlet is not my favorite play. I blame my English teachers for that. Every year in high school we studied Hamlet. I think they were obsessed with it. I have seen a lot of different versions of it including a live play but I have never watched Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead nor did we ever discuss the play. I was actually unaware of this other perspective so it was an interesting turn.

What is Hamlet about? I think the meaning changes depending on who you focus on. In the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern perspective it means that even main characters are not the only ones that suffer. If you were to focus on Hamlet, you then go large questions about death itself and the afterlife. I think as a whole, the Hamlet play shows that every action we make or do not make affects more than just ourselves. Everyone in a space moves as one unit and bounce off one another. That notion is showed the most clearly in the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern perspective. Hamlet was the cause of everyone’s unhappiness because he was angry at his mother for her marriage. The new king hires them to talk to him because of all this unrest. They agreed and Hamlet greeted them happily because he regarded them as dearest friends. They did not stop what they were doing after they found out the letter called for Hamlet to be killed and went on. Because of that, Hamlet no longer found them to be companions but consorts with the enemy, changed the letter, and had them killed. Their ending might have different if they had done something instead of stay quiet. They might have not been directly involved with the conspiracy but just their presence and their actions were enough to lead them to a twisted fate just like the rest of the characters.