Film Studies and Cinematography Weekly

 SUN JIAYUE (0376224）

PVT60104 / Film Studies and Cinematography  / Bachelor of Design ( Hons) in Creative Media /Taylor's University

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Week 1:

Exercise 1：

Video link：https://youtu.be/-hOYcTfEbGs

Part A: 

Return to Pixar SparkShorts. Identify the worlds and characters in each. Write these down.

Who are the main characters?

• A stray （kitten） and a domestic （pit bull）

Is there a character you identify with most?

• I identify more with the kitten. At first, he was afraid, timid and withdrawn, but after continuous attempts and contact, he slowly learned to interact with the puppy and became good friends with it.

Where does the movie take place? Is it one world or multiple worlds?

• Blocks, alleys, garbage dumps, between houses, backyards，The story takes place in the city.It's a world.

Part B: 

Try mixing a character and world from different shorts. Try this and see what happens.

• I think we can put the kitten and the puppy into this family and let them become secret partners. Let the kitten show its brave side and then help the puppy to have the courage to face the family.

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Exercise 2:

List 3 favourite films. Describe why by explaining your personal experience and emotional connection to the films. 

Everyone like story differently for some specific reasons. Which part in the story that give you the most relatability in term of:

a:Personal Experience

b:Emotional Connection

 and explain why?

1.Inside Out

a:Personal Experience：

The part I resonated with most was Riley's experience on the ice hockey rink. Losing points in hockey made her extremely anxious, and she began to deny herself. She began to feel uneasy and lost, and put a lot of pressure on herself. Just like me, I always feel that I have to be the best in everything, which puts a lot of pressure and anxiety on myself, and I deny myself again and again.

b:Emotional Connection：

The film's second half, where I return to the court thanks to the support of my parents and the encouragement of my friends, resonated deeply with me. Just like me now, I've gradually come to terms with my shortcomings and let go of my anxiety. With the encouragement of my family and friends, I've rediscovered my true self, and it's made me realize the direction and meaning of hard work.

c：Why

Riley's ice hockey story taught me that although I may discover my own shortcomings, feel anxious, afraid, and under great pressure during this process, I always have my family and friends around me to help me. This emotional resonance has made me feel the importance of "persisting in myself" during my growth.

2. Zootopia

a:Personal Experience：

In the movie, Judy the rabbit worked hard to become a police officer, but because of her small stature and lack of strength, she was not recognized. This reminded me of myself, because my grades were not good since I was a child, because of my age, and then my ability. So, like Judy in the movie, I also want to prove myself through different ways and efforts.

b:Emotional Connection：

The part that resonated most with me was the relationship between Judy and Nick the Fox. Nick initially deceived society, but with Judy's encouragement and recognition, he transformed. This reminded me of my friends and parents, who gave me immense encouragement and motivation to persevere and strive to change myself to become the best version of myself.

c：Why

This film made me feel that when encountering prejudice and unfairness, there will be family and friends standing by your side, and then you need to prove through your own efforts that you can succeed, just like Judy, and dare to pursue your goals.

3. Wonder

a:Personal Experience：

The little boy Auggie in the film faces strange looks and exclusion at school because of his facial defects.In my life, there is a friend who has had a disability in her legs since she was a child. She needs a wheelchair to go to school. She has no friends at school and feels isolated. Some classmates ridicule her. But I think she is just like Auggie. She has also tried hard to overcome her inner anxiety and face others bravely.

b:Emotional Connection：

The part that resonated most with me was how Auggie, with the support of her family and friends, was gradually accepted by her classmates. This was also the case with my friend, whose friends and family encouraged her throughout the process, helping her overcome difficulties and ultimately face others bravely.

c：Why

This movie tells us not to make fun of others just based on their appearance. She also has her own charm. We should be strong inside. We all deserve to be accepted.

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Project 1: Progression 1 (Story Ideas)

1.Choose any Pixar short for inspiration.

2.Analyse how this story become a great story from emotional connection and personal experiences. Make your own version.

3.Create your “What If” statement to spark you ideas.

4.Think of the main characters and world that can inspire your story.

a：Toy Story

b：At the heart of Toy Story lies the fear of being unwanted and replaced. Woody worries about no longer being Andy's favorite toy, while Buzz Lightyear has to accept the fact that he's just a toy. This same emotion resurfaces in everyday life: the fear of being replaced by other friends, the fear of losing a place in the hearts of those we care about.

At home, at school, and among friends, they are afraid that new family members or new friends will appear and replace their place, and they are afraid of being ignored.

We cannot get all the things in our life. We need to give up some things in exchange for what we want. Some things even require us to pay a price. Just like friends, we may separate, but whether we treat each other sincerely at the moment.

c：Hypothesis: The toys realize that Andy has grown up and no longer want to play with him. Then a witch appears and tells them that there is a potion that can turn them into human-like toys so that they can stay with Andy. However, the price is that they will not gain immortality.

Story idea:

beginning：One day, the toys were very sad and met a witch. There was a bottle of potion here and they needed to make a choice.

Twist: If you drink the potion, your life will enter a countdown, the color may fade, the parts may scatter, and eventually you may become unable to move.

Emotional Choice:

Emotional Choice:

Buzz Lightyear wants to drink the potion and become a human-like toy. This way, he can stay by Andy's side forever and have fond memories, even if his body declines.

But Woody doesn't want to give up the potion. He wants to stay a toy forever so he can protect the other children.

Twist:

Andy has grown up and moved away. The toys now have to choose: drink the potion and become living toys to stay with Andy, or don't drink the potion and stay with other children.

Ending: 

Buzz Lightyear chooses to drink the potion and stay with Andy forever, but his body gradually fades and parts begin to fall off. However, he believes that this will allow him to remember the good memories and that sacrificing himself in exchange for what he wants is worth it. Woody, on the other hand, chooses not to drink the potion and is given to the other children by Andy to stay with them.

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Activity 1 - Understand character’s personality

• Watch pixar short “BAO” directed by Domee Shi LINK
• Identify characters in the story and their roles in the story. 

1.Mother:

She is the protagonist in the video. Her son has grown up and left home, and her husband goes to work after eating. She feels very lonely. While eating the buns, the buns come to life and treat her the same way she treats her son.

2.Bao Baobao

This resurrected bun symbolizes his mother's son. He was dependent on his mother from childhood, but gradually grew up, became rebellious, and finally wanted to leave home. The character of Baozi reflects the son's growth process.

3.Son:

The boy at the back of the video, echoing Baozi, finally returns home and reconciles with his mother, feeling the warmth.

• Describe the personality of each characters in the story, knowing how he/she reacted in difficult situations.

Summary

"Bao Bao" explores themes of growth, separation, and love through the symbolic relationship between mother and child.

The short film depicts the mother's loneliness after her son leaves home and her longing for his return, reflecting the complex emotions of both mother and son.

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Activity 2 -  External and Internal Features

• Describe the  external features of the protagonis

Mother:

With short black hair, round eyes, and a slightly plump figure, she embodies a classic maternal image, appearing gentle and affable.

Her facial expressions are rich, conveying her emotions with great detail. She perfectly portrays the quintessential mother figure, deeply concerned for her son.

• Describe the  internal features of the protagonis

Mother:

I think this mother values ​​her family deeply and devotes a lot to it. She's very sensitive and wants to be needed, so she's very controlling. So when Baozi grew up and wanted to leave home, she was so reluctant that she resorted to extreme behavior, eating him. This whole story made me feel the happiness and warmth of family. Home is always the most comfortable harbor.

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Activity 3: Wants and Needs

• Identify a want and a need for each character by making a statement based on this example:In Monsters Inc. Sulley wants to be the best scarer but he needs to be a father figure.

Mother:

Want:I want to keep my "Bao Bao Bao" by my side forever, to protect him, and never let him leave me.

Need:I think I need to learn to let go, accept that my child will grow up and be gone, and give him freedom.

Bao Baobao:

Wants: I want freedom and to leave home

Needs: I want to understand my mother's care and learn to cherish it.

The real son:

Want: Return home to his mother and reestablish a close relationship with her.

Need: Express his relationship and make his mother feel loved through his actions.

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Activity 4: Obstacles

Mother:

External obstacles: Her son's growth and departure from home left her feeling unwanted.

Internal obstacles: Unable to accept her child's departure, she felt filled with worry and anxiety, leading her to believe that controlling the situation was the best solution.

Bao Baobao:

External obstacles: He was controlled and lost his freedom.

Internal obstacles: His constant presence at his mother's side made him yearn for the world.

 The real son:

External obstacles: After leaving his mother, he developed his own life, and with a busy work schedule, he neglected his parents.

Internal obstacles: He felt deeply guilty towards his mother, but didn't know how to express it. Consequently, he didn't know how to face her.

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Activity 5: Character Arc

Identify the arc of the main character in the the short ‘BAO’

• What do they want at the beginning?
• What did they realize they need by the end?
• How have you changed as a result of overcoming an obstacle?

What did she want at the beginning of the story?

The mother initially wanted to keep the baby by her side because she felt lonely and unwanted at home. However, she longed for this feeling of love, which led to a desire for control and a desire to avoid losing her identity as a mother.

What did she realize at the end of the story?

She needed to learn to let go, find balance in her emotions, and build a good relationship with her son.

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Activity 6: Stake

Return to the main characters from your the short story ‘BAO’.

• What was one important choice they had to make where the stakes were high?

Mother:

She had to make a choice: let them go and live their own lives, or stay with them.

Bao Baobao:

He had to choose between staying with his mother or disobeying her and leaving her to pursue his own freedom.

• What were the stakes?

Mother:

 If I choose to leave, I'll be heartbroken again. If I don't let go, the child will argue with me, ultimately damaging the relationship.

Bao Baobao:

If I stay, I might lose myself. If I leave, I'll hurt my mother.

• Can you identify them as internal, external or philosophical?

Mother:

I believe love is a beautiful emotion, not a controlling one.

Bao Baobao:

Inner conflict with the mother, external choice between mother's love and freedom.