TMT: Bootleg vs Theater

     Never would I become an advocate for piracy, but it's so easy to stream files illegally these days.
Recently I saw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on...."bootleg", and boy was it bootleg.
Not only was the picture bad but the audio was completely off. This caused me to fall asleep.
There were also moments when I wondered what was going on. I felt as if scenes were jumping around and nothing was making any sense.
I was over the movie until my younger brother wanted to see it in theaters.
I'm not an advocate for seeing a bad movie more than once, but it's my little brother and I decided it was time to finally love him.
Not only was the movie a lot better in theaters, but it was produced by Michael Bay....which means that picture was very decent. The only downside was it being in 3D. The last and only movie I saw in 3D was Sharkboy and Lavagirl when 3D first came out. Being that TMNT was in 3D, my total came up to $23 and that was with a student discount!
All illegal movies are not bad though. I mean, they're bad, but they are not all crappy.
I guess to get the full affect of a blockbuster movie, one should try buying tickets from their local theater.
The picture will be on point, food will be provided and you will feel as though you are on a cushioned cardboard box on Makalu.
And I will NEVER be an advocate for 3D .

The Thing about Film School...

For those of you who do not know, my name is Danielle and I will be entering my third year as a Journalism student this fall.One way or another I found my love for film through TV production, theater and YouTube.I decided to apply to FSU after graduation but sadly, I was rejected.(FYI: FSU has a great film department)Anyways, during my freshman year I tried to apply again but I slacked off because I was too busy being a freshman. I decided to try again my sophomore year and actually got accepted to FSU (because i'm hella smart) but I was was denied into the film department (because apparently I suck).The thing about film school is that they are really hard to be admitted in...FSU takes about 15 students every year and the application process is time consuming.Then there is the whole debate whether or not film school is even necessary.I would like to study what I love to do. It would be wonderful to have some sort of direction within film and that is why I want to go to film school. That is why I've spent too much money on applications, transcripts and stamps.Even though advisers discourage me, tuition costs are redundant and hope seems to be lost, I constantly come back to film school.Not everyone loves a possible career. I know I have talent, I know my ideas are great and I know something will work out, but right now I just have to try. I would beat myself even more if I didn't.So yeah, that's the thing about film school.

Godzilla, Dragons and Apes!

Although I have a passion for film, the theater is not a place where I would typically be caught.

Yet, I did make an agreement with myself to check out some films this Summer, so here we go...

The first movie of the Summer was Godzilla.
If you're unfamiliar with the classic, it's a Japanese monster which destroyed Japan.
Godzilla is actually a metaphor for nuclear weapons in regards to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Anyways, I met up with my best friends Larissa who is a recent theater graduate. I figured she would be a great pick when it came to analyzing the movie.
In the end, there was not much to analyze because Godzilla was really, really bad.
No joke, we could count how many times we actually saw the beast. If anything, the movie should have been called "Everything Else but Godzilla" because that's what was on screen. Not only was the beast absent, but when he was present, he was too big to see as a whole. I think picture is a very important aspect along with the story line. I understand that the director wanted to showcase how big Godzilla and Muto (the bad beast) were but if I'm not seeing the creation as a whole, what's the point?
The storyline was also really weird? A lot of unanswered questions and why kill Bryan Cranston? I mean come on, it's Hal! I LOVED HAL!
The next movie I saw was a random pick, but I'm glad that I chose it.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 was a well thought out movie. Thank you DreamWorks.
I don't want to ruin it for those who have not seen it yet, but bring some tissues.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 was great and It's really a cute movie with sly innuendo's for the adults.
For me, the movie was really good because it picked up from where it left off  in the first movie and addressed certain questions that the audience may have, like what happened to Hiccup's mom? Has everyone adjusted to the dragons? and, Who else is among the seas?
Great movie, grab a kid and go see it....but make sure the kid is related to you or something.

Yeah, titles these days are just getting way out of hand.Before I saw the movie, I had a hard time remembering the title and I still do.....STILL!Anyways, aside from the extended title, the movie itself could have been cut short, about 40 minutes.Why in the heck did it take so long for a conclusion? It's not like Apes 2 is a Transformer, Harry Potter,Spider Man type film where there is a lot of information that needs to be explained, thus making it a long movie. No. This movie is about an ape who got really smart, taught some other apes how to be really smart and are trying to out smart the human race. Boom,we're done. Stop filming.I fell asleep so many times during this movie.Some Hollywood films will never be a memorable trilogy or go down in history as one of the greatest episodic series, and that is ok.Dawn of the Planet of the Apes started out very good, but once the audience know's how the movie is going to end, just kill the bad ape and make the good apes high five the white people.

The last movie I saw was Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

607-13 Season 1

Interesting. 

It was very interesting.

Not only was I working with some people who did not have much of an interest in film, but at some points I felt like they didn't want to do it.

607-13 was something I did not really think  through. I know that I wanted to do a scripted reality series of the boys because I found their lives to be, interesting. I thought it was cool that I met Gio through Taylor (college friend) then Chris through Taylor (her boyfriend) Jeff through Gio and then everyone else kind of came in place. Our first year in college was nothing like our second year when it came to our friendship. We really never hung out, we just knew each other. Perhaps it was after the fact that we split up we realized we valued the company of one another. Interesting, isn't it?

Anyways, Season 1 of 607-13 is done. All five episodes have been filmed, edited and uploaded. We received some positive and negative feedback, but in the end we accomplished.....something.

The only question now is if we are planning to come back. In all honesty, it's my decision and I kind of already made up my mind, I just have not told the boys.

Just know that every decision that I make is to benefit me. I don't mean to sound narcissistic, but I am trying to benefit me as a Director/writer/whatever I'm doing. The other side of me simply doing this for myself is that I prefer to work with people who understand that this "trial and error" type deal can befit them as well.

So yeah, TEAM WORK! 

Like I recently started saying (like legit three days ago), my goal is to learn, retain and do.

Check out all five episodes of 607-13 and make sure to subscribe for any future additions to the channel.

Check Out Project 607-13

Finally, we've done something.


It is definitely NOT easy working in a group, but it is worth it.
Our vision of a web series can be seen as similar or different to others, but to us,
it's whatever we choose to make it.

As we continue to introduce the cast, we begin to face different obstacles.
How are we going to portray this? Is that even funny? Are you even acting?
One thing for sure is that we overcome our mole hills as a team.
This is my first ever series and I can proudly say that I am the editor, writer, Creator and videographer of 607-13.

Stay tuned.

FSU Deep at the Web Tour

FSU Deep at the Web Tour

When Donald Glover released his sophomore studio album "Because of the Internet" back in December of 2013, fans later anticipated a tour.

The Deep Web Tour kicked off February 28th in Santa Barbara California and on April 4th, made its stop in Tallahassee Florida.

After FSUNews released information of Childish Gambino's performance on February 11th, I immediately informed my close friends about his concert. Sadly, most of my friends were not advocates of the former "Community" actor turned rapper, nor did they want to pay a fee for his show.

On the day of the concert I ran into a Florida A&M University student who was unaware of Gambino's performance later on that night. I was baffled by his ignorance mainly because he seemed to be someone who was up to par with the music scene, but when I arrived to the concert, I then realized the presence of FAMU students was almost non-existent. I was fully aware that the event was funded by Florida State's own student government, but it was held at  the public Tallahassee Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

In my opinion, Childish Gambino is a well known rapper. Students at Florida A&M University would have attended his concert, but tickets were $35 to the public compared to FSU students who were only charged $12 with a student ID.

If the concert was free, everyone in Tallahassee Florida would have had some knowledge of the event. Take for example the Kendrick Lamar concert which took place in 2013 around the same time. Florida State's Langford Green was at its capacity admitting students from FSU, TCC, FAMU as well as non-students. Compared to Childish Gambino's concert, Kendrick Lamar's was not really considered an FSU event. It may have been held on FSU grounds, but the public definitely out weighed actual FSU enrolled students. If Florida State found space to be an issue, then putting their students at an advantage solved their problem. The only redundant aspect was their choice of location, Tallahassee's Civic center, which has the biggest capacity of any arena in the Florida Panhandle seating up to 12,100 people and that's not including the ground level.

When a $35 concert is not as convenient as a $12 concert, the word will not get around. On the bright side, the concert was amazing and Childish Gambino put on a great performace. Most important, Florida State fulfilled its goal of putting on an event primarily for FSU students. 

- Danielle Francis

Weekend Watch

Well, it's not really the weekend, but I watched a movie :)

Breakfast at Tiffany's.
What a wonderful movie.
I try to not be one sided about a lot of things because, well, I don't want to be.
Although, I feel as thought this movie was just so amazing and Audrey did such a wonderful job playing Holly and every girl should see this movie.
It's a classic for a reason! It's a blockbuster because secretly (unless the secret is out), every woman is like Holly.
Every woman wants to be showered, wants control of their emotions, wants to pick and choose their men and look flawless while doing so.
Holly is so stubborn, so, egotistical but I could not blame her for being that way because she knew she was and she accepted that.
She did what she wanted and was not afraid to admit it.

Ok, enough.



Watch the movie if you have not. Watch it alone. Come up with your own opinion about the movie.
Also, pay attention to the classic movie feel of still cameras and close ups.
Compare it to modern love movies and acknowledge the differences.
Indulge in the NY lifestyle and always keep in mind that the only was to satisfy those mean reds, is breakfast at Tiffany's.

PROJECT 607-13

So I am very fortunate to have a group of guy friends. When I say "the boys", there is only a specific group of boys I am referring to, and that makes life kind of easy.
Meet Chris, Gio, Jeffery, Alan and Denard.
Welcome to their scripted reality life. Welcome to 607-13.

607-13 is still "under the works".
We recently wrapped up filming our pilot entitled "Girlfriend" and was able to show it to some of our friends who gave it a thumbs up.
Our next goal is to show it to our peers to get their opinion.
We also still have to create future episodes, scripts, a YouTube channel and possibly and IG account, but for right now, lets focus on what the audience has to say.
I am actually really excited to build onto our little project.
Hopefully we grow as a team and really learn rather than become popular.
Stay tuned, 607-13 is sure to be something great!

Addiction Promo Video

Recently I had the opportunity to work with Addiction Dance Experience. For their promo video, I decided to keep it really simple to tie in with the theme of RENEWAL. I've always wanted to film dancers and now that I have, I realized its kind of hard. I consider myself a "retired" dancer, so I understand the fundamentals of lines and technique. My job was to just make it look good on camera which was difficult because......because.....I guess because I'm still new to this.
Have no fear, this was a lot of fun and I will definitely experiment more with dance.

Weekend Watch: Burn After Reading

It can be hard sometimes to find an intellectual comedy. You know, a comedy that you can sit down and talk to your lab partner, or Dentist with. If you're still searching for one, check out Burn After Reading. With the perfect blend of assholes, cookie cutters, losers and morons, there is no other smoothie worth buying after your "work out".

And if you do watch this movie and come up confused, it's O.K because so were some of the characters involved.

All in all, this was a great movie that left me quoting Osborne's "What the f***?"'s and questioning my floppy disks. (jk, I have none)

To think, someone who has not even seen this comedy brought it to my attention.

BRAVO

Winter Lookbook 2014

Almost two weeks ago my friends agreed to go along with my madness.
I have always wanted to film a lookbook and I can now say that I have...and I will definitely be doing more.
Our trip to the FSU championship football-win festival(Downtown Get Down) on College Ave. was great! I can honestly say I have some of the most amazing friends ever and every moment with them is better than high school.
Anything is better than high school.
I hated high school.
Anyways, this is how it came out.
The story of two girls who get an unexpected text to just, head downtown to get down. :D

Monkeys, Wolves and Fraternities...things I look forward to

Every now and then I'll make a post of future films that I am looking forward to.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was stellar and it's sequel looks like another Blockbuster (If the first one was even a Blockbuster, although I'm sure it was)

With the very thought out title, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the audience can really paint a picture of the image this second round of awesomeness will bring.

 

Another film I am looking forward to would be Jupiter Ascending. Now if you know the Wachowskis, you may be familiar with their work. Kind of wonky, but it somehow makes a brilliant

outcome. This film though might suck but I'm hoping it doesn't. Not only does Mila Kunis play a descendant from the queen of the world, but she goes on a quest with Channing Tatum to, I guess prove this fact. (btw, Tatum plays a soldier wolf.....yes....wolf)

 

Lastly, Neighbors looks pretty good. Who doesn't want to see Zac Efron shirtless???

Weekend Watch: Beasts of the Southern Wild/ 12 Years a Slave

This weekend, I took the time out of my "oh so busy" schedule

and indulged in two wonderfully made films.

The first, which is the most recent, would be "12 Years a Slave".

No, I'm not "Director Literate", but I can pretend to be

soooooo......bravo to Steve McQueen and his intricate view on the truth!!!

For those of you who have not seen this movie, which is based on a true story about a free man who was brought into slavery, dont forget your Kleenex.

You might also want to save them for "Beasts of the Southern Wild".

My second feature stars the very adorable and brave Quvenzhané Wallis.

Not only did she make me cry, but she made me laugh, love and find my inner beast.

It is ironic though that she lived in a bayou named "The Bathtub", but was absolutely filthy.

Have you ever just wanted to give a child a bath and comb their hair?

All in all, both wonderful films.