Lesson: A Different Kind of Keanu Reeves Trilogy

Bullet Time
This is in reference to The Matrix (A/L Wachowski, 1999) whereby Neo dodges bullets by defying the laws of gravity and orthopaedics. Not to be confused with Mr Smith dodging the bullets by moving from side to side faster than the speed of sound.



The term Bullet Time is trademark of Warner Brothers but the concept pre-dates that of cinema, where it is more commonly known as frozen time or flow motion whereby the object slows or freezes but the situation around them continues to go on at a different speed to it. Like how the sun is stationary but the earth travels round it. To create the effect the use of photography is called up, which was the method they used back in the day. The effect can also be made with recording cameras.



Vuala. Though there are a few other substitute methods that can be used to create the same effect, but the subject will have to be moving slowly themselves or be in a more comfortable position. An example is putting your camera and tripod on a standard dolly and then wheeling around the subject. This is an effect that I have used to a decent effect.

Side by Side

Side by Side (Kenneally, 2012) is a Documentary that stars just about every director you could hope to be even a fraction of a percentage as good as, as well as a number of producers, VFX, SFX and editors. The film is about the history and development of film and digital film making. Not personally being a massive fan of documentaries and after reading what it was about, I was already sceptical before pressing play. Saying that, having watched the opening [0:00 - 04:49] of the documentary I was surprised at my want to continue watching, not only because of the honey pot of having all the key film makers in one place at one time but also because of the passionate debate about what will become of photochemical filmmaking.

The introduction lay a very solid foundation for the way that the rest of the documentary would be built. It drew you in imediatley by giving snippets of opinions from the most well known directors, from the introduction I can already tell that there are so many different opinions about the future of photochemical and digital film making that there will be no closure in the conclusion of the documentary, that that is perhaps the point. Not to come to a definitive conclusion but to make film makers, especially the young one who were brought up on digital film making about its pros and cons. By getting such a high rank of professionals to express their thoughts, many of whom are looked up to or idolised by the new generation of film makers, the documentary is almost a form of propaganda in making us keep photochemical film making alive.


Quotes that stood out
Scorsese: It's exciting because its a reinvention of a new medium If the photochemical process has worked its way through our culture, we're on to another level.
Lynch: [Are You done with film?] Don't hold me to it Keanu but I think I am.
Nolan: I am constantly asked to justify why I want to shoot a film on film but I don't hear anybody being asked to justify why they want to shoot a film digitally.

Bill and Teds Bogus Journey FX




From the trailer Bill and Teds Bogus Journey (Hewitt, 1991) was made in the times of old school Power Rangers where the bad guys were actors in sweat, heavy and smelly suits. Comparatively to this day and age where they would be dressed in lime green spandex, or better yet be holding a tennis ball on a stick. This I believe adds to the believability of the world Bill and Ted reside. There are talks of a new Bill and Ted movie being made, and it is tough to imagine the monsters being digitally added in and not being the really fake cardboard style of the originals.