Week 1 Class exercise:
Film: ‘The Landing’
Structure of the Narrative:
ACT I- SETUP:
(Introducing situation) We are first brought into two situations/ locations where it starts off with a setting of a hospital and we get to witness that a man has just died. This then leads to a a phone call between the (I’m assuming) the main character- Edward and a call-taker about knowing where ‘something’ has been buried. (Which hooks/ entices us into the story as we wonder who died and what is buried?)
(Introducing situation) The setting then changes to a farm where Edward and his dad live. (Inciting incident.) It’s a normal night on the farm until their quiet time get’s interrupted as something falls from the sky.
(Act I climax) I think that the first turning point begins during and after they’ve had breakfast and his dad tells him not “to waste his time looking for pieces as there’s nothing left of the ‘meteorite.’ Edward becomes more curious hearing this as well as seeing his dad go back to the shed with a pitchfork.
This then leads into a present scene of an older Edward digging then cuts back to the younger Edward touching the ‘meteorite.’
ACT II- THE DEVELOPMENT:
(Midpoint) happens during the time when Edward and his dad talk about how his dad would have been a soldier. Later on in the night, his dad falls asleep and Edward sees it as an opportunity to see what was in the shed. (What his dad brought back when he went to the thing that fell from the sky.)
(Act II Climax) is when Edward goes to the shed to see what was inside. He then witnesses his dad murder/ hang someone. This causes him to fear his dad and witness what his dad is capable of. (Might also wonder whether what his dad has been teaching him all this time is right or wrong.) “I don’t want to be a soldier.”
Alongside this scene, it would cut to the present scene of Edward digging up what was buried- which was a Russian Astronaut- the man his dad killed. (We finally find out what Edward was talking about in the intro.)
ACT III- THE DEVELOPMENT:
(Denouncement) After the death of the man and the burial of his body, they watch the news and both realise the man Edward’s dad killed was the ‘First man in space- A National hero.’
Is the main character a hero ?:
I feel like Edward was somewhat a hero. Although despite what his father has done, he still loved his father and forgave him. Despite his dad killing a person, he somewhat was a hero to his dad as he kept his father’s secret till his father’s death.
After his father’s death, he informs emergency services (police) about where the man’s body was buried therefore also being a hero as he still did what was right in the end. Once he dug up the body, only then was he free of this burden.
On the other hand, Edward first saw his father as a hero, as Edward was inspired to be a soldier due to his dad’s interest for war and being a soldier. Only until Edward/ we witness his dad’s crime, we don’t see him as a hero anymore but as the enemy.
The theme and premise of the film:
I think that the theme is to do with relationship between parent and child. (Also, possibly about forgiveness.) The idea that Edward once had about his dad (a hero- someone he would aspire to be) has now changed. After witnessing his dad murder a man, he replies “I don’t want to be a soldier anymore.” (In addition, Edward’s father traumatised him causing him to re-think what his dad has taught him in the past. Leaving a huge burden on Edward.)
A man witnesses his father kill ‘the first man in space’, leaving him traumatised, yet forgives him and holds his secret till his father’s death. Only then does he let the secret out.
” A boy keeps his father’s crime (murder) a secret until his father’s death.”
What is the conflict ?:
The conflict is between his dad and himself. The conflict with his dad was to do towards his father. We first see Edward and his dad have this good bond over ‘soldiers and war’, until Edward saw what his father was capable of, his perspective about what his father told him changed. Despite his father’s actions, Edward seemed to still love his father and forgave him as he kept the secret but his perspective on soldiers and war had forever been changed.
The other conflict I saw in this film was to do with himself. He had the decision to turn his father in yet chose to keep it till his father’s death. I can’t imagine what was going through Edward’s mind let alone how he could live on holding onto his father’s secret.
Week 1 Class Homework:
Film: ‘Eyelash’ by Jessie Lewis-Reece (Poem turned into a short film)
Poem by Neil Hilborn
Theme/ Premise:
- ‘People would do anything for love.’
- Love makes you do things (change for the better or worse.)
- ‘Relationships aren’t perfect.’
- ‘Loving someone despite their flaws and insecurities.’
- ‘Love is blind.’-you’re willing to ignore or set aside flaws (not physical meaning.)
What it’s like to love someone while having OCD (A love story shown through the perspective of a person with OCD.) and as well as the the ups and downs a couple may face.
‘Showcases the relationship between a young couple as they undergo/ battle emotional stress and feelings of obsession (OCD)- mental health issues.’
OCD meaning: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviours (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.
Link: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
What is the main conflict?: The main conflict is mainly self vs. self and slightly self vs person. The main character struggles with OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder) and is motivated to stop his compulsive behaviour for his love for this lady.
(For example, in the beginning he would lock the door leaving the door unlocked 16x, in the end he leaves the door open. He would turn the lights on and off before going to bed but now leaves the lights on. In the end he starts to get over his compulsive behaviour in hopes of her return. (For her to stay, he starts to try and stop his urges and compulsive behaviours just so that should would come back- Blames himself.)
Self vs. person- The girl was willing to look past his OCD, actually liked it until it started to bug her. She started to face the reality of living someone with OCD. Struggles of being in a relationship – ‘Always late for work.’, Change of how she says ” I love you”- straight line ” You’re taking too much of my time – She shouldn’t have let you get so attached to her- whole thing was a mistake.”
Structure of the Narrative:
ACT I- SETUP:
(Introducing situation) We are first brought to the sound of someone breathing in and out- something slow then a quick change of pace (OCD perspective.)- trains, birds and a beach. Here we are introduced to the main character who has a ‘love at first sight’ moment (slow moment.)
(Inciting incident.) Happens when he first sees her- everything slows down. “Ticks, refreshing images disappeared.” “When you have OCD you don’t really get quiet moments.”
- Has OCD.
- Call to adventure- asking out the girl.
(Act I climax) He steps out of his comfort zone and asks her out. He does it 6x even though she said yes on the 3rd one because it didn’t feel right.
ACT II- THE DEVELOPMENT:
(Midpoint) After their date, we see the montage of the start of their relationship. ‘Happy moments.’
- Girl did not mind his OCD.
- Showcases his compulsive behaviours and how they deal with in in their relationship. (lights on and off, lock.)
(Act II Climax) Turning point of relationship- When they started arguing. Things started to fall part. She couldn’t handle things anymore and his OCD started becoming a problem in their relationship- they become more emotionally stressed. (Difficult side to a relationship.) She could not handle the pressure of someone with a mental illness anymore.
- ” You’re taking too much of my time. ”
- ” I shouldn’t have let you get so attached to me.” “This was a mistake.” ‘
“How can it be a mistake that you don’t have to wash your hands when you’ve touched her?”
” Love is not a mistake. It’s killing me that she can run away form this and you just can’t. “
“You can’t go out and find someone new because you always think of her…”
ACT III- THE DEVELOPMENT:
The (final climax) begins after she has left. In the process of moving on, he still can’t get over her and starts to reminisce about the little things she does. Thinks about the things/ details that he will miss but is showcased in an obsessive/ intense way. (Repetition of lines, just like how people with OCD do certain things more than once.)
“She was the first beautiful thing you got stuck on “- (Instead of the minor things he would obsess over, it became her.)
- How she holds her steering wheel.
- How she turns the doorknob
- How she blows out candles.
(Denouncement) She’s now with someone else/ The thought of her being with someone else. He compares himself to the new guy and how he does not have to worry about doing things ‘perfectly.’ (Hence not having OCD/ not caring if things are perfect.)
In the end, we see the character’s change and development. He “wants her back so bad” he was motivated to overcome his urges and compulsive behaviours. (lights on, door unlocked.)
Although, it was a loss for him, she still managed to help him recover from some of his ticks/ urges.
Moment of climax/ Highest tension/ Solution to the problem is shown: Highest tension is when we see the falling out of their relationship. We see the everyday struggles that they face, the harsh reality of things. When they start arguing and their relationship is struggling to the point where the lady would sleep at her mum’s house. (mainly towards the end- He think that the only way to get her back is to stop his OCD- he starts making changes in hopes that she’ll return.)
(Most powerful part of the short film) During the act 2 climax- “It’s killing you that she can run away from this and you can’t.” This was powerful as it shows us the harsh reality for those dealing with OCD- something you can’t escape. (I assume He doesn’t want to be like that.)
How does the film end?: The film ends with the couple breaking up. One is off with someone else while the other is still learning to move on. For him it’s not easy to just find another person to love when he grew to obsess over her. Through that obsessive love, he learns to overcome some OCD urges. (He learns to leave the light on.) As a person with OCD these things are natural to them but they were willing to change just for the person that they love.
Does the world of the film work like the real world: I think that it does. It showcases a real relationship and shows us the struggles that a person with OCD may face in a relationship but also reminds us that relationships aren’t perfect, relationships aren’t easy- don’t always have happy moments. (Many of us can relate to that and or may relate to it some form.)
You can’t think of just yourself anymore but you’re caring for another person.
How do they edit/ present various parts of the film?: The film was rhythmic and had a certain flow. There were moments of fast paced situations which depicted the mentality of the main character. There was a repetition of clips to showcase his routine but also the man’s thoughts. (People with OCD’s mind would be filled with undesirable thoughts.)
When there were shots of her it was either close ups or edited to be in slow motion. When it came to him, things sped up- his actions and ticks.
I also noticed that at the beginning of the film (happy moments- it was edited in a way where it felt quite fast, but when their relationship struggled, the clips became longer and slower. (This showcased the beginning and end of relationships.- not always a happy ending.)
Music’s purpose in the film: The purpose of the music is to help build tension, accompany and complement the characters actions, sets the mood and it creates emotion.
Is there any graphic elements in the film?: The only graphic elements are text but other than that there is no graphic elements shown in the film. (Logo, Title, special mentions and credits.) It was fairly quite simple and focused more on the film/ the shots itself.
Actual Poem the film was based on:
janinecarlos.photo.blog 