Examples of breaking the 4th wall

 Hello Blog! In my last post I gave some examples of dark comedies, so in this post I'm going to elaborate on some films that break the 4th wall (the other main part of my portfolio film idea)

First up, a classic, "Ferris Buellers day off"

During Covid times and quarantine, my family and I would watch an older movie together everyday, in an effort for my parents to show me some "classics" as well as their favorite films. This movie definitely left a positive impression on me, and I rewatch it from time to time. 

This film follows a teenage boy named Ferris who fakes being sick and skips school with his best friend and his girlfriend. This film is unique as the MC Ferris breaks the fourth wall pretty often to explain his thoughts to the audience. 

As he directly addresses viewers, as an audience we gain a deeper connection to Ferris' character as we more deeply understand his thoughts and actions. Additionally the breaking of the 4th wall makes certain parts of the film more humorous as we understand how Ferris is always one step ahead. 

Next up, not a film but the TV show, "Fleabag"

Fleabag is a comedy show that is unique because of the protagonists constant breaking of the fourth wall. Whether it be just eye contact or speaking directly to the viewer, the show's breaking of the fourth wall connects the audience to Fleabag, and makes them feel more immersed in the story.

Petski, Denise. "Why Ferris Bueller's Fourth Wall Breaks Work So Well." ScreenRant, 12 Mar. 2021, screenrant.com/ferris-bueller-fourth-wall-breaks-analysis.

Bramesco, Charles. "How Fleabag's Fourth Wall Breaks Became the Show's Emotional Core." The Guardian, 18 June 2019, www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/18/fleabag-fourth-wall-phoebe-waller-bridge.

Examples of Dark Comedies part 1

 So since we discussed what makes a dark comedy a dark comedy, lets dive into two examples.

First up, Jojo Rabbit

This movie is a true dark comedy, as it blends humor and comedic moments with the events of Nazi Germany. The main character Jojo, is a young boy part of Hitler Youth and his imaginary friend is Hitler. Having Hitler as Jojo's imaginary friend is a metaphor used to show how absurd and dangerous indoctrination can be, especially because Hitler is portrayed to be a goofy and funny guy,

The use of satire helps the movie expose and discuss sensitive topics in a thought provoking way.Although some parts are ridiculous and downright funny, the movie still works show the Nazi side of WWII, a topic rarely talked about due to it being taboo. 

This film shows how sensitive topics can be discussed with using humor to make them more palatable and understandable. 

This scene shows how a very sensitive and taboo phrase "hei hitler" was used in a comedic way, to show how it was completely normalized and part of daily routine in Nazi Germany

Dark Comedy: Genre Conventions

 Hi Blog, last time we talked I was pretty set on doing a film with supernatural elements, however, after a few team discussions we have steered away from that and actually decided to go the dark comedy route. 

The subgenre "dark comedy" challenges typical comedy norms, as it discusses more serious or taboo subjects. Darker themes like death or tragedy are combined with humor to create a contrast. Dark comedies push the boundaries of genre, and give an interesting mix of different genres. One common characteristic of dark comedies is having a generally "unlikeable" or "rude" protagonist. While a normal film will usually have a moral and kind protagonist, dark comedies will often have mcs make flawed or bad decisions. 

In our film we're focusing on a character being trapped in a movie, and using fourth wall breaks to make the issue more personal to the audience. Since the protagonist is directly interacting with the audience there are many opportunities for jokes/humorous moments. However, the actual theme of the film is more serious and tragic, as the protagonist is stuck with no way out. 

The combo of a dark comedy and fourth wall breaks is very interesting to me and I'm excited to see how it goes once we flesh out the story.

More research coming later this week blog!

Stay tuned.

 some examples of dark comedies

IMDb. Interest Page for in0000035. IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/interest/in0000035/.

Lawrence, Gregory. “What Is Black Comedy? 9 Movies That Define the Darkly Funny Genre.” Backstage, 3 June 2024, https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/what-is-black-comedy-77322/

Project Schedule

 Time management is.... not really my thing. In the past I've struggled with procrastination, which has affected the quality of my work. Which is why for this project I want to work on that and have a set schedule to strictly follow. This will ensure that every component of the project is completed in a timely manner. 

After a call with my group mates, we decided on a 2-2-2 schedule. Two weeks to write, two weeks to shoot, and the rest for postproduction. The portfolio project is not something that can be done rushed, especially since it isn't just a short film, but two other components. Our schedule should give us enough time to finish each component without rushing. If we finish ahead of schedule, we'll move on to what is next on the schedule. 

A very important part of the schedule is working around every group members commitments and extracurriculars, which is why we decided to make a shared calendar to put what days we are available. The calendar will prevent any confusion on when we can work on the project versus when we can't. We are utilizing google calendar to do this. 

OFFICIAL SCHEDULE

Week 1 - 2/17-2/21

    - Decide Project Type

    - General Planning and Scheduling

    - Brainstorming Story

Week 2 - 2/22-2/28

    - Case studies

    - Genre Research

    - Develop key plot details

Week 3 - 3/1-3/7

    - Half of week consumed by STN

    - Pin down plot points

    - Begin scripting when we return (3/4)

    - Decide on brand identity for social

Week 4 - 3/8-3/14

    - Finalize Script

    - Plan shooting locations

    - Shot list

    - Plan shooting times

    - Create social media posts

Week 5 - 3/15-3/21

    - Begin shooting

    - Start title graphics

    - Begin posting on social media

Week 6 - 3/22-3/27

    - Wrap shooting

    - Sort footage

    - Postcard Design

 Week 7 - 3/29-4/4

    - Finalize edit

    - Announce distribution plan on social media

Week 8 - 4/5-4/10

    - Write critical reflection

Stay tuned for more updates next week!

Call the Chiropractor, I'm back

 Yes I copied Zach with the title, No I have no shame.

Hi Blog! I am currently writing from sunny Phoenix Arizona and I am somehow melting in the dead of winter (a chilly 80 degrees!) 

This week in class we discussed the A level portfolio project, and the options we have to choose from. After hearing the various options I was in between making a short film, or a documentary. A documentary is more in my comfort zone, since I have practice making news segments, mini docs, and even a 10 minute documentary. 

bts of a mini doc I directed

On the other hand, I have only worked on a handful of short films, and only played a major role in one. 

bts of a short film I produced

Each option had its pros and cons, but after thinking it over I decided I wanted to take a leap and make the short film. 

Then the easy part, finding a group. I already knew exactly who I wanted to work with going into this project: my documentary group! Zach, Nico, Samuel and I worked very well together when making "Faith" (watch here) and they are also my close friends. 

After finalizing our team, we had a brief discussion about potential plots. Samuel wanted to go in a supernatural direction, which the rest of the team thought was a cool idea. From werewolves to witches we discussed a few ideas, but more about that later...

one of our inspirations

I am very excited for this film, and updates will be posted frequently! Stay tuned!