Post 1
The first thing I reviewed in relation to my FYP is a film called "Big Eyes". "Big Eyes" tells the story of Margaret Keane, a painter who had success in the 1950s, but had subsequent legal difficulties in the 1960's when her husband at the time took credit for her work.
The reason why I watched it was for one reason, Christoph Waltz. I love him as actor and puts so much flavour and depth to the character he plays. One reason why I wanted to discuss this film is his transition from a friendly nice guy, to manipulative, conniving cretin. That is something I would like to deliver into one of my characters and I think he is a perfect example of it in this film.
Post 2
The second thing I watched in relation to my FYP is the Mel Brooks film Young Frankenstein. Mel Brooks is one of the best directors of his time and his ability to add humour to his work is second to none.
However one reason I wanted to review it is because of Gene Wilders genius. He portrays such emotion in his performances and it is something to be admired. While playing Young Frankenstein, he delivers this crazed madness to the character which is so compelling. He plays the mad scientist in a comedic way, which made me think what if it was portrayed in a way of malice and cruelty.
Post 3
From light hearted comedy comes a video that isn't for the faint hearted. Having explored drama as a way of telling stories with uneasy subject matter, I decided to delve into reality. This video tells the story of five people who were kept awake for fifteen days using an experimental gas based stimulant in Russia in the 1940's. Although this is a well known CreepyPasta story, I've no doubt these acts or something similar occurred.
Whether the story is true or not remains to be seen, however I've no doubt these types of experiments took place in the 30's and 40's. What I find fascinating about this story is the doctors ability to do these horrendous experiments to another human being. The idea of experimenting on human subjects for the sake of testing a new gas is truly chilling and that is frightening because that was the norm at that time.
Post 4
This video made my skin crawl. These are some things people are willing to do to discover the true meaning behind infection and disease, and well as psychological abuse like isolation and depression.
One experiment I found interesting is the case of the "Pit of Despair". Harry Harlow experimented on monkeys to see if they were motivated by food or affection. Keeping the monkeys in isolation, it was found they were motivated by affection, and turned depressed and felt isolated without any contact with the outside world. What if this happened with a human being?
Post 5
After doing some research I came across Robert Dyke, a presenter of a Youtube series called "Seriously Strange". In this video he mentions some of the goings on in asylums around the world in the early 1900's.
He opens the video mentioning ice pick lobotomies, and how easy they were to do. If these experiments didn't work, you were locked away in a cage. He also mentions the 1971 Stanford Experiment where 24 people were split into 12 prisoners and 12 guards. The experiment was called off after 6 days as the 'guards' stared to show genuine sadistic tendencies.
Post 6
Again I decided to look at Rob Dyke's Youtube videos, this time referring to modern ways of torture. I think for my movie the scientist I have in mind is a sadistic person who finds pleasure in peoples suffering.
It shows that people are willing to go above and beyond the boundaries of human morality and if they have the power to inflict pain, they will do so.
Post 7
This video delves into crazy experiments done through the years. One that caught my eye is the experiment in which the the consciousness of a dog is transferred into a fish.
This idea was found by Spanish professor Jose Delgado who was the professor of physiology at Yale University. He was famed for his research into mind control through electrical stimulation of areas in the brain. His experiments meant new doors were opened to the understanding of brain activity with the use of electrical stimuli.
Although what he did was wrong, it proved to have a positive effect on the future of science. This idea of morality comes into play again. Is it wrong if it benefits the human race? If these experiments didn't happen would we still be curious about how to find methods to cure some mental illnesses?
Again I would like to try incorporate that question into my film and explore these questions.
Post 8
This video is very interesting and explores mental health disorders. As my film idea ties into abusing the brain, I thought it would be a good video to watch.
One illness I found very interesting is the 'Capgras Delusion'. This disorder makes you think the people you love become imposters, and become clones of that person. In 1923 Joseph Capgras had a patient in which see believed she had 80 husbands, and only she could see the difference between them. For whatever reason it seems to affect woman more then men.
Another interesting disorder mentioned is the 'Walking Corpse Syndrome'. This disorder causes people to believe they are dead and some see themselves rotting. Similar to the 'Capgras Syndrome' the brain is affected with identification. The 'Capgras Syndrome' causes people to have trouble identifying faces, where as the 'Walking Corpse Syndrome' has trouble identifying anyone. It also can lead to people thinking they are immortal.
Post 9
In this post I would like to talk about experiments done by the CIA which began in the 1950'd known as MK ULTRA also known as the CIA's mind control program. Experiments on humans were used to identify and develop drugs and was also used as a method of interrogations and torture, in order to weaken the individual to force confessions through mind control.
Manipulating the mind has become a way of entertainment nowadays with the likes of Keith Barry and Derren Brown. Making people involved in these magic tricks are interesting and entertaining yes but I find it interesting if these methods were used for evil. People having the ability to hack peoples mind is ultimate intrusion, but these things happened 'For the greater good'. That is an area I want to explore in my film. A character doing something morally wrong but he feels it's important for the greater good.
Post 10
Here is an interesting list I came across on the internet which brings up some interesting and horrible experiments done through the years. One of the experiments that stands out for me is the experiment conducted by Lauretta Bender.
Bender was a child neuropsychiatrist who is best known for creating the Bender-Gestalt test, which was a psychological test that assessed a child's motor and cognitive abilities. During the 1940's in the Bellevue Hospital, Bender proceeded with daily shock treatment to 98 paediatric patients trying to cure child schizophrenia.
She reported that this treatment had a positive effect on these patients, but to make things worse, she also experiments with LSD and psilocybin. She gave adult doses to children for weeks at a time which was interesting funded by the CIA's MK ULTRA Project.
Post 11
This is an interesting web series I came across that is a game but also is an interactive video. The story delves into a murder mystery where people are dying and you've to find out who did it. It takes it from an interesting perspective as it's shot completely as a POV as you play through the eyes of the main character. Through each episode options are available for the user to create their on story which is a cool element.
It explores the usage of social media and how it is affecting teens nowadays. One thing people have found that lets the game down is the dialogue. However I have found it's meant to clique because it makes it humorous although the subject matter is quite grime.
Post 12
The next thing I would like to review is the Irish cult classic film "Intermission". The reason why I decided to review this is because I wanted to look at something a bit more light hearted as I would like the opening of the film to have some humour in it.
The way Irish films deals with humour is inspiring to me as the dialogue always seems so fluid and real. It is always relatable and we get the lingo involved which makes it even more funny. And that is something I would like to look into in comedy style for the intro for my film.
Post 13
Back to the dark side again. One of the better thrillers released in the modern age I wanted to look into Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island". "Shutter Island" tells the story of a U.S Marshal who investigates the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane.
This film shows really good story telling in an area I would like to discover. Although I knew the ending while I was watching it, it still immersed me into the story and made me want to keep watching. Again some scenes are difficult to watch because of the subject matter but what I find so interesting is these places existed, and still do. These events and treatments happened to people and although it's shocking and completely inhuman, the subject matter is fascinating.
Post 14
After watching so many features films, I decided to go back to short films as it is the area I should be studying more. They get a story across in a number of minutes instead of two hours so I decided it was best to check some more out. One film I came across is a really nice short called "Inside".
"Inside" tells the story of Daniel, a mental patient in an asylum who suffers from multiple personality disorder. The film is only five minutes long but delivers a really nice narrative in a short space of time. It is also really well shot and the set design is brilliant. I shows how important it is and if you get a good looking set, straight away the audience can immerse themselves in the film as it's 'real'. Again it shows the importance of good actors also so they can deliver that realism to the characters.
Post 15
Another short film I reviewed is "The Asylum". Although the film was short quite nicely, and there was some good use of sound, I thought the story was a bit cliche and not in a good way.
I am finding it hugely beneficial looking and immersing myself in this area. By doing so, I am finding out new ways to do things, learning things I didn't know, and seeing what works and what doesn't. "Inside" was a nice story but was told well in the time given. These subject matters can get very close to cliche but they did that right. "The Asylum's" story just came across like student writing. Maybe it wasn't but I just felt the story came across that way. Again it's good for me to look at these things because I can compare what I think is good to things I don't like.
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