PARASITE "A STAIRCASE TO THE IDEAL SCREENPLAY"

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I always wondered what could be the perfect screenplay be like even after completing the course in a film institute. Before that writing was just pouring whatever comes to me as thoughts to the paper and connecting it to make a story to me. But while learning about the craft, the standards slowly revealed to be the mountaintop which is still far away. The movie Parasite once again showed me the delightful vision of the same mountaintop and reminded me that still there is a journey to be covered to reach there. With a layered narrative and linear storytelling Bong Joon ho serves an entertaining movie altogether.

The perfect screenplay according to me should gleam with certain qualities

Story structure is not included in the quality because it is the backbone and backbone need not gleam itself and consciously or unconsciously every story eventually forms or adapt a structure. 

These qualities are broadly divided into two categories: Entertainment and Experience.

Entertainment   

1. Should have maximum types of conflicts to maintain the interest factor.

2. Engaging audience with the elements like comedy/drama/suspense etc throughout without artificiality. 

Experience

3. Discuss a philosophy without preaching 

4. Either character or the surroundings should have arcs/change. 

LETS LOOK THESE POINTS IN DETAIL IN COMPARISON WITH THE MOVIE- PARASITE 

1. CONFLICTS IN THE MOVIE 

TYPES OF CONFLICT 

1. INTERNAL CONFLICTS 

2. INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS 

3. SOCIAL CONFLICTS 

4. UNIVERSAL CONFLICTS 

Ki woo and his internal conflicts 

Ki woo in the movie is approached by his college friend for being tutor to the the only girl of Parks (well renowned rich family). 

Though Ki woo was totally aware that his act was nothing to be proud of, he manages his own consciousness (internal conflict) by revealing his plan.

Ki woo was the source of hope in the family with always a plan for future. 

But he gets completely shattered inside without knowing what to do, when all his plans fail.

There is a scene before the climax which showcase the inner conflicts of Ki woo. 

Lot of unexpected events last night had made a great impact on his character. He spills out his insecurities through the dialogue in this scene. 

This dialogue is also an example of using metaphors in dialogues 

"Not there further down" made me awestruck to think, how everything came together whether it be the setting or character or dialogues to shape this masterpiece. 

As, social disparity is the central theme of the movie. There are so many scenes with social conflicts.

This scene explains their social condition throughout. 

Interpersonal conflicts 

There was a visible conflict between the family of kim's and with Mun kwang family (the original or ex-housekeeper's family). 

Income disparity is a universal subject. In todays world every country faces this problem in some way or the other. 

Ki woo and his internal conflicts 

Ki woo in the movie is approached by his college friend for being tutor to the the only girl of Parks (well renowned rich family). 

Though Ki woo was totally aware that his act was nothing to be proud of, he manages his own consciousness (internal conflict) by revealing his plan.

Ki woo was the source of hope in the family with always a plan for future. 

But he gets completely shattered inside without knowing what to do, when all his plans fail.

There is a scene before the climax showcase the inner conflicts of Ki woo. 

Lot of unexpected events last night had made a great impact on his character. He spills out his insecurities through the dialogue in this scene. 

This dialogue is also an example of using metaphors in dialogues 

"Not there further down" made me awestruck to think, how everything came together whether it be the setting or character or dialogues to shape this masterpiece. 

As, social disparity is the central theme of the movie. There are so many scenes with social conflicts.

This scene explains their social condition throughout. 

Interpersonal conflicts 

There was a visible conflict between the family of kim's and with Mun kwang family (the original or ex-housekeeper's family). 

Income disparity is a universal subject. In today's world every country faces this problem in some way or the other. 

I will retrospect more of the movie in relationship with above mentioned qualities in my next post. If you have seen the movie and liked something particular to be included in next post. I welcome you for a discussion. Comment your suggestions.

Cultures of God's Own Country

On 31st dec 2019

I didn't expect that I will get the appointment date on the same day when I have to drop my sister to kasaragod to her hostel. Anyways the travel was in the night, and I thought it will be a new experience to travel ernakulam and then kasaragod at a strech . 

This blog is my experience of entirely contradictory response of people from different places. 

Ernakulam 

I had to take auto to the place where the appointment was scheduled and there was a confusion in the map. 

The auto driver just wanted to complete his job of dropping me somewhere and eventually I told him to drop me at one place and settled him. Luckily the scheduled place was not far away and I reached there on time. 

When I was coming back I took the auto, This time there was no change left in my pocket to settle this auto driver's payment. Eventually I had to ask all shopkeepers around. I was surprised that nobody was having change for ₹500 initially then I realised that no one was interested to help me. Then I saw a bakery and uniformed cashier moving his fingers on the cash like he was playing cards. There also was one foreigner standing besides me waiting for change after buying something. Unhesitant with a strong hope, I asked him change for ₹500. He looked at me and said he don't have. Without saying anything, I looked at his eyes with a pity on my face, he took away his eyes and asked me I have 200 & 100 change, Is it okay. Now, "you came to the track" was my first thought. Suddenly, the foreigner customer lady once again came and asked change for ₹500. Without any talk he gave her the change with smile. I told that lady that I am also standing for change for ₹500 for sometime here now. She smiled and replied buy something, he will immediately give you change. That changed reaction of the cashier completely and immediately he took the note and gave back the change. 

I realised later that auto driver left the place when he saw my difficulty to collect the cash. 

Kasaragod

It was early morning 6.30 AM when I dropped my sister to her hostel. I had my breakfast from the nearby hotel and took a superfast bus. 

The bus was so fast, I didn't realise that kasaragod has gone back long by. Conductor came to me and asked where do you want to go once again. I told him that I brought the ticket already for kasaragod. 

Kasaragod is gone long back he said. 

Then I asked,  OK where is bus going to stop next. Usually I've seen, if something happens like this in thrissur. The conductor becomes angry upon the travellers for being irresponsible. But he asked me where do you want to go in kasaragod? I replied to the railway station, oh.. When is your train he asked looking at his watch. I said that's okay I've not prebooked the train. 

The bus stopped, he detailed me where to stand for the bus and also asked the other person getting down to help me out. 

The other person stood with me till the bus came and I got into it. I asked his name and expressed my gratitude.

This made me realise that how people living in different places also have different behaviours and attitude towards others.

Then with a detailed introspection I found out that I'm a bit both, kasaragod and ernakulam in nature. Sometimes I am suspicious about people and hesitate to help, fearing forgery or betrayal. 

But I think being inhuman totally will lead to a destructive society. 

HELEN ( Malayalam Movie) "beyond mere a survival drama"

I should admit that I am not exposed to a survival drama type movie. But those I watched till now were mere survival drama. But this film, I felt was beyond just a survival drama. Starting from the opening scene where the journey of an ant to the trap in fridge is shown. The human negligence or carelessness is clearly stated. From this scene itself I was hooked to the movie for sure. This scene enhanced my perception and made me think that how much importance we give to another life in this era of mobile phones. This clearly reminds me of the scene before the inciting incident where the manager of the restaurant played by Rony David is talking over the phone and engaged on his personal problems so much that he ignores to recheck the freezer where Helen was arranging the goods.

The THEME of the movie

The themes which I felt paved ways to the whole movie were

1. " Negligence in the society" 

2. " Negligence due to Addiction"

Scene by scene the negligence of different people in the movie develops to the point where at last a human life is into stake.

WHAT SAVED HER ? 

Of course her perseverance and determination but there was a relationship between Helen and the rat in store house. They both helped each other intentionally and unintentionally to survive through the night. But at last when the rat is found dead the story subtly shows us the harsh reality of life. 

At the end Watchman tells Paul (Helen's father) that he remembered the girl because she was the only one who didn't neglect a mere watchman like others. There was always a smile with her to pass on. 

Ultimately, the moments when she cared for others gathered together like drops and saved her in one or other way.

SOME OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT MALAYALAM MOVIES 

1.10 New-Wave Malayalam Movies 

2.Malayalam Film News and Updates

  

ADDICTIONS IN TODAY'S WORLD

When we look around the youngsters in the world today, it’s inevitable to avoid the addictions visible as an observer. 20^th century came with lots of boons like advent of technology and business in entire world, But also with adverse effects like increase in addictions like mobile addiction, junk food addiction, porn addiction. Though the drug & alcohol addictions is always prevalent in youngsters in all times.

Like Scott Galloway has stated in his books, how the most successful companies today like Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google are manipulating our emotions. These companies come up with each and every feature adding the inevitable ingredient of addiction for their customers. Because addiction means profit for them.  Just think about Facebook without notifications, likes and comment features, will it still be so addictive? Of course no. Because they have introduced likes and comments with the post. Addictive youngsters impatiently wait for the reactions for their post and immediately respond and this leads to chain of actions and waste of time.

We as a generation could also have a shame on the large section of unhealthy generation we are preparing for the future. This is clearly the consequence of unhealthy food habits. Rather than consuming the food which pervades energy, everyone is consuming substantial lethargy every day.

Don’t trust your tongue, your stomach says no to junk foods. Junk foods are prepared with enough addictive materials in such a way that it soothes your tongue to crave more of it. But remember this thing, your tongue will anywhere you want it to, but your stomach will not.

                                                                  About Author
Vineeth is a professional film director who is a film-making graduate and founder of  VCHANGEADS(An advertising collaboration).
www.vchangeads.com

HOW A VIDEO AD WITH PROPER MARKETING COULD INFLUENCE THE PROGRESS OF ANY BUSINESS DRASTICALLY ?

ABOUT VIDEO ADS & THEIR BENEFITS IN TODAY'S MARKET...

This is the summary of the benefits of video advertisements which we have discussed in our earlier post. Trend of video advertisements is reaching everywhere rapidly, There is no two opinions for this statement because in this modern times when a person who founded an online selling website is considered to be among the richest people in the world. (JEFF BEZOS MD, amazon.com) It proves the strength of online market. Some business firms which had tremendous success within a period of last five to ten years are all the ones which targeted the online customers rather than following the traditional way of thinking or selling. There are lot of examples to quote like in India Byjus app started a virtual teaching methods, Swiggy,Zomato, Just dial, Mynthra, flipkart etc etc.. , (these companies recognized the potential of online market and succeeded rapidly).  But traditional business outlets remained the same without understating the true potential of online market and how it actually helps them to succeed and grow rapidly. 

When we talk about marketing your advertisement content in the online market video content is proven to the best option when compared because you are 53 times more likely to rank first in a Google search if you have a video embedded on your website. Also, since Google now owns YouTube, that significantly increases the positive effect video web content has on your search engine ranking. Recent research says 71% of marketers report video conversion rates outperform their other content marketing efforts.  Well, research shows 74% of users who watched an explainer video about a product ultimately purchased it.

The most widely used and best way to do video content marketing. 

True View Ads: 

These are also called skippable ads which many of you would have noticed while watching videos on youtube. These ads come before and also in the middle of the videos. If you had paid a bit more attention to it. You would have felt that the ads come to you is based on your interests or search patterns and that's the point.
Google's TrueView is built on the promise that you'll only pay when someone chooses to watch your video ad.

How it works ?
Why bombard users with ads they don't want to see? With TrueView, you give them a choice, and it's a win-win: Viewers see videos they're curious about, and you get more views from an audience you know is interested. And since you choose what you want to pay for a view, you get the right audience at the right price.

TrueView in-stream

In-stream ads play before or during another video from a YouTube partner. Viewers see five seconds of your video and then have the choice to keep watching or skip it.

You pay when a viewer watches for at least 30 seconds or to the end of the video (whichever is shorter) or clicks on a card or other elements of your in-stream creative.

For instance, Fakta is part of the largest grocery chain in Denmark. When the company discovered public perception of the brand could be improved, it decided to launch a rebranding initiative to emphasise its positive attributes. Fakta wanted to position itself as nice, approachable, easy going and quality minded.

Using hidden cameras in the shops, a humorous TrueView campaign on YouTube followed resulting in a view-through rate of over 30%, over 1million impressions and 280,000 views.

 

FUTURE TREND IN ADVERTISING

Before delving into the future lets dive into the past which is not less than any ocean. Advertisement started from the times when human civilization emerged on the earth. Cave paintings and scriptures were written as the initial advertisement. But then that slowly evolved into paper ads when newspaper and inks were introduced. This advertisement flourished and continued until the 1970s.  With the creative revolution which focused on the emotional aspects of the customer to persuade them to buy the product everything started changing.

Some of the celebrated advertisements from 1970's - 2000

Until 2000 the gleam of video advertisements was all over the place. Mostly, in India, it was always about cricket stars and film stars in advertisements. But western countries adopted a narrative and persuasive style which gave the companies and advertisers a mileage both creative and financial to reinvent themselves and the revolution which will control the future came into existence when Google introduced Ad words. 

Now, the advertisers had a somewhat analysis of people who used Google which helped them to segment their market and Advertisers used it to promote the products or services they want to another extent. 

PRESENT AND FUTURE OF ADVERTISING 

You would have noticed while spending time on the internet that some advertisements are always following you wherever you go online.  

In Google searches or in youtube. 

                                  WHAT IS THE FUTURE?

Let me quote some examples of brands such as Oppo which is coming up with big advertisements every month for only 30 secs what is the reason behind that?

Open your youtube and sit for a while streaming through videos, you will get at least one skip ad of Oppo mobiles. Not only Oppo but many other brands have started this as their marketing tool. 

Just Imagine, before there was a marketing crew which did a market survey to get the list of proximate customers and then they chose the advertisement medium to unfurl the brand and make it a success. 

But look now, Google has all the details of your customers and is ready to advertise your product. Just you need is a catchy content. 

Why video ad? 

Let's look at it in a common busy man's perspective:  Will he prefer paper content or video content to buy a product. Of course, a video content which serves the purpose. 

Some supporting facts are : 

1. Even the biggest online market place eBay and Amazon have agreed to the fact that video ads with the description give them 35% sales hike. 

2.  Preferred by every search engine: video advertisement makes you visible first in google or any other search engine compared to any other type of content.

3.  There are a lot of other benefits which most of us know like video could cover a large amount of information effectively within less time, video advertisement tells the story better, video is an excellent format for educating and informing.

4. More than 90% of B2B prospects consume online video

5. A FACT: Moreover 4 billion videos are watched in youtube every day.

It's predicted widely that the advertisement for the next generation to be led by youtube marketing like True View ads (Skippable ads).
Examples of brands like Oppo, Byju's App which achieved a tremendous amount of growth within some time are the proofs of this changing trend.

WE ARE BUNCH OF FILMMAKERS JOINED TOGETHER TO TRAVEL WITH THE TREND...
THERE IS A LOT MORE TO YOUTUBE MARKETING.

"YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS"

We are Vkreate group combined with R1 Media. 

If any query please contact 
Vineeth K 
9526253806

FROM THE BOOK : COMPOSITION WITH INDIAN EXAMPLES

FROM THE BOOK : 5 CS OF CINEMATOGRAPHY (REFFERED TO THE CINEMATOGRAPHY STUDENTS IN MINDSCREEN FILM INSTITUTE)

COMPOSITION WITH INDIAN EXAMPLES 

"GOOD COMPOSITION IS MERELY THE STRONGEST WAY OF SEEING" 

                                                                                                                        By Edward Weston

                                      (Image from Bajirao Mastaani composed by Sudeep Chatterjee)
Pleasent arrangement of players and objects in the setting, or as division of space.  Various characterstics of an extraordinary composition are lines, forms, masses and movements. To balance the frame consider compositional weight.  Understanding the difference between formal and informal balance appropriately used for proper audience response. Pictorial as well as Psychological aspects should be considered while composing to convey the script's intent. to arouse viewer's emotions.

NEVER ALLOW :  More than one center of interest at a time on the screen. UNLESS a disturbed or scattered effect is required or desired.

CAREFUL :  while composing moving players or vehicles , So that they always have the correct lead.

CONSIDER:  All camera angles in the sequence and not merely the long shot or master shot.

                                     (Image from Bayanakam composed by Nikhil S. Praveen)

UTILIZE : Perspective effects.

DEPTH   :  For three dimensional effect compose in depth.

FOREGROUND : To enhance composition employing appropriate foreground frames would help.

VIEWER'S EYE SCAN : While composing, the cinematographer should guide the viewer's eye along the inteded path.

                                    ( Image from Bajirao Mastaani composed by  Sudeep Chatterjee)

Visual variety should be implied by changing comositional effects often.

Eleminating all frills, gimmicks and complex arrangements and keeping it simple is the  key.

SOME LIGHTING GYAAN : SOME TERMS AND DATA

WHAT IS STOPS?

A stop is a doubling or halving of the amount of light let in when taking a photo or capturing some motion.

"Stops" let you directly compare and swap shutter speed, aperture, and ISO speed to produce the image you want.

OTHER TERMS : 

LIGHT OPAL FROST: 420 Light Opal Frost Diffuses light reducing the contrast between highlight areas. A weak diffusion is similar to Opal Frost less diffuse. Manufactured on a 36-micron polyester base.

HAMPSHIRE FROST: 253 Hampshire Frost

Diffuses light reducing the contrast between highlight areas.

HEAVY FROST: 129 Heavy Frost

Diffuses light reducing the contrast between highlight areas

KELVIN: When talking about photography the term ‘kelvin’ refers to the unit of measurement of color temperature. Every source of light emits light at a specific color temperature which can be measured in degrees Kelvin or ‘K’.

SOME IMAGES :

GRID CLOTH (USED FOR  DIFFUSION)

                                                   TOUGH SPUN 

                                            

                                          MUSLIN CLOTH (BLEACHED)

                                                 

                                            MUSLIN CLOTH (UNBLEACHED)

CHINA BALL (COVERED WITH CLOTH TO DIFFUSE THE LIGHT)

LIGHT LOSS FOR COMMON DIFFUSION TYPES:

White Diffusion "216": 1 1/2 stops

1/2 White Diffusion "250": 3/4 stop

1/4 White Diffusion "251": 1/3 stop

1/8 White Diffusion "252": 1/4 stop

Opal "410": 1/2 stop

Light Opal Frost "420": 1/4 stop

Hampshire Frost "253": 1/4 stop

Heavy Frost "129": 2 stops

Grid Cloth "430" or Silent Grid Cloth: 2 1/2 stops

Light Grid Cloth "432" or Silent Light Grid: 2 stops

1/4 Grid Cloth "434" or Silent 1/4 Grid: 1 stop

Full Tough Spun "214": 2 1/2 stops

1/2 Tough Spun "215": 1 1/2 stops

1/4 Tough Spun "229": 3/4 stop

Artificial Silk: 1 2/3 stops

1/4 Silk: 2/3 stop

China Silk: 1 stop

Unbleached Muslin: 2 stops

Bleached Muslin: 2 stops

Heavy Diffusion:

Muslin, Grid Cloth, 216, Heavy Frost

Medium Diffusion:

Silk, Spun, 250, Light Grid

Light Diffusion:

Opal, Hampshire Frost, 251, 252

LIGHT LOSS FOR COLOR CORRECTION GEL:

CTB (Color Temperature Blue) "201": 1 2/3 stops

1/2 CTB "202": 1 stop

1/4 CTB "203": 2/3 stop

1/8 CTB "218": 1/3 stop

CTO (Color Temperature Orange) "204": 1 stop

1/2 CTO "205": 2/3 stop

1/4 CTO "206": 1/3 stop

1/8 CTO "223": 1/3 stop

CTS (Color Temperature Straw) "441": 1 stop

1/2 CTS "442": 2/3 stop

1/4 CTS "443": 1/3 stop

1/8 CTS "444": 1/3 stop

Plusgreen: 1/2 stop

1/2 Plusgreen: 1/4 stop

1/4 Plusgreen: 1/8 stop

1/8 Plusgreen: 1/8 stop

Minusgreen: 1 stop

1/2 Minusgreen: 1/2 stop

1/4 Minusgreen: 1/4 stop

1/8 Minusgreen: 1/4 stop

MIRED SHIFTS FOR COLOR CORRECTION GEL:

MIRED's are used for calculating color temperature conversions. The math always gets lost in my head so I often use Lee's online MIRED calculator >>>

Here's a link to Rosco's Filter Facts PDF that has a good explanation of the Mired Formula and how to use it >>>

TO INCREASE KELVIN:

CTB  (Color Temperature Blue)-131 MIRED (Converts 3200k to 5500k or 2900k to 5200k)

1/2 CTB -68 MIRED (Converts 3200k to 4100k or 2900k to 3800k)

1/4 CTB -30 MIRED (Converts 3200k to 3500k or 2900k to 3200k)

1/8 CTB -12 MIRED (Converts 3200k to 3300k or 2900k to 3000k)

TO DECREASE KELVIN:

CTO (Color Temperature Orange) +167 MIRED (Converts 6500k to 3200k or 5500k to 2900k)

1/2 CTO +81 MIRED (Converts 5500k to 3800k)

1/4 CTO +42 MIRED (Converts 5500k to 4500k)

1/8 CTO  +20 MIRED (Converts 5500k to 4900k)

CTS (Color Temperature Straw) +160 MIRED (Converts 5500k to 3200k)

1/2 CTS +81 MIRED (Converts 5500k to 3800k)

1/4 CTS +42 MIRED (Converts 5500k to 4500k)

1/8 CTS +20 MIRED (Converts 5500k to 4900k)

References : 

http://www.leefilters.com/lighting/diffusion-list.html

https://images.google.com/

 

Flowers bloomed in malayalam cinema before spring season

This post is a discussion about the movie which released recently in Malayalam.

 My interpretation of the movie 

I like enjoyable movies of all genre but carry a special interest in science fiction drama kind of movies. Hence, This one was my first choice to watch in theatres.
One thing is crystal clear that Malayalam cinema has never ever tried something like this for a long period of time which gave a fresh experience on the screen. Though being new is not a guarantee that a movie will be interesting and compelling throughout. However, this movie created a compelling experience for me.

Why did I like the movie?

1. LAYERED SCRIPT : 

* spoiler alert *

From the beginning, when young Prithvi's father played by Prithvi himself tells him that you should ask questions till you get the answers and a time will come when people will say that there are no answers for some questions. AND THAT IS FALSE...
And this opening scene conveys a lot when you see the end scene of the movie according to me.
Whether there was a real character called Aira was the unanswered question which Prithviraj asks his son in this movie. Let's discuss the answer according to my understanding at the end of the last scene.

Now, let's look into the layers in which the story is told.
In this movie, human relationship and the influence of external forces move parallelly.

Dialogues which showcase the theme of the story
1. Prithviraj tells his friend when asked that humans are enough to destroy the planet. There is no need for a comet to come and do it.
2. Aira character played by Waqima tells Prithviraj that the only weapon which the human race has against her is love.

Are you getting a clue of what the theme is?
If not we will look through that at the end.

2. BEAUTIFUL VISUALS FOR STORY  AND NOT MERE TO SHOW THE BEAUTY: 

This movie is strictly not for those who sit in a movie theatre with a mobile phone on hand with one finger on the keypad.

Because then you miss a lot of details which are shown visually to you to enjoy it with its all flavor. 

1.Aira walking through the steps with the candle.

2. Her legs whenever shown, whenever not shown.

3. Redline in the sky throughout. 

4. The scene where Prithviraj faces the animal and then Aira.

 

3. LAST SCENE OF THE MOVIE :

Now let's discuss the theme of the movie or How the total movie is described through the last scene of paintings. 

The first image of tribals celebrating around the campfire. 

Remember !!! If you have seen the movie you must have remembered prakash raj telling about those tribal people living in the Himalayas knowing a lot of secrets. 

Then we see them fighting each other with bows and arrows.

And then the wolf which represents the animal in every person. 

And after everything, the last one is the ghost resembling Aira. 

The story told by tribals: A man turns animal and then evil when the comet passes by during these 9 days and to fight that love and devotion is the only way. 

Scientifically: Like the psychological condition of a little mentally unstable person goes worse when the moon comes nearby. It's like that hence concentrating your mind through beads towards one thing like god and filling yourselves with sweet emotions will help during these 9 days. 

These are my views and analysis of the movie. 

The magic of art is such that it sometimes goes deep beyond the imagination of the creator. 

One thing is for sure that this movie is a compelling art experience.

.