Rorschach is Duh Boss

The scene being analyzed in this post runs from 10 seconds to 2:04 in this clip. We are looking at Rorschach's opening monologue from watchmen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEpz3h9Pr0Q

Script:

Analysis:

In this clip most of the sounds heard are causal or literal representations of the events occurring throughout the scene.  Specific instances include the grappling hook break through the police tape and dragging on the tiled floor, to the entirety of the segment in which Rorschach digs through the comedian’s closet.  However some semantic sounds are recognizable within the scene as well.  The most obvious of which occurs while Rorschach scales the building with the grappling hook.  As he ascends the building we hear sort of an electrified noise that increases in pitch as he approaches the window.

            Along with listening modes the space of the sound was obvious throughout the scene.  For instance looking at the same segment where Rorschach scales the building, the change in pitch from low to high depicts Rorschach going higher in elevation and represents his movement.  His movement is obvious due to this effect even when the sound becomes off screen.  Along with movement there is a strong presence of emotion through sound, specifically when Rorschach enters the comedian’s room.  As he kicks open the door we find the door making a hollow creaky sound that echoes and resonates for several seconds around the room.  Doing this with sound creates the eerie presence and unsettlement Rorschach and the audience are receiving from the scene, which is necessary since Rorschach is investigating a murder.

Love Thine Ego

Here is "Finding Your Howl" by Johnathon Flaum: http://changethis.com/manifesto/51.01.YourHowl/pdf/51.01.YourHowl.pdf

Within Part II of Flaum’s article there’s a story a fellow classmate of his wrote in fifth grade.  The story held an everlasting impact on Flaum’s life and was actually quite an advanced representation of life.  The story is one of a Tiger who is caged in a zoo and constantly plans his escape from the cage.  Unfortunately every time he knows his escape plan the tiger finds himself in another cage.  His misfortune is infinite and in the mind of Flaum represents that no matter how far you run from yourself you’ll see the same thing in your mirror.

MY CREATIVE SELF

The quote I’ve chosen to link to my own creative self is by my favorite author / philosopher Ayn Rand, "Love thine ego, for it is who you are."

            This line has not only influenced my life entirely, but has found its way into all of my writings as I further advance myself as a screenwriter.  It also sort of goes hand in hand with what Flaum was talking about.

            Flaum seems to be all about looking within yourself for that is where your true creativity lies.  You’ll be at your best only when you harness what’s best inside of you and use your own genuine style, thoughts and feelings.  When we begin to rely on others to advance ourselves in the world is when we begin to lose control of who we truly are and the capacity we hold to become something bigger than our own being.

            However with Ayn Rand we find a bit more of an extreme version of this idea of self.  Ayn Rand is in full support of shutting off all other aspects of the world that don’t pertain to you.  She believes what is truly important is to put yourself above anything and anyone else, for if you don’t truly appreciate yourself how in the hell could you possibly appreciate others? How could you love someone else when you don’t understand who you are and what you are compatible with?  It all comes back to your ego, your true personality.

            The world seems to have created this negative connotation with the word “ego” that kills me.  Why should we think negatively of appreciating who we are, in fact there is less to be thought of someone who has no ego rather than a big one.

            Now I’m not saying I’m an egotistical asshole who sees no one, but himself, however I did use to be the kid who was so self conscious that my ego practically didn’t exist.  Ayn Rand was able to help me find my ego and a reason to put my work and own thoughts above others, for who is anyone else to tell me when I’m stepping outside the box.

            With that said, Ayn Rand is the sole reason I have any form of creativity in the world.  Not only am I capable of remaining my true self within social aspects, but my voice and self now translate through my pen and into the eyes of my peers.

            I fully feel comfortable writing what comes to my mind because even if its not accepted by anyone its accepted by me and that’s what truly matters.  With that thought digesting in my brain I found myself capable of writing anything without the manipulation of others.   There are so many different forms of writing in this world both liberal and conservative as well as both Shakespere and Roald Dohl, who truly knows what the best form of writing is.

            In my eyes my writing is the best form of writing and I’m not gonna get anywhere if I lose that mindset.  Believing in yourself seems to be over half the battle these days, the rest we learn along the way.  Ayn Rand has helped me see that.  She’s helped me realize some rules are meant to be broken and that some advice is simply advice, not a solution to your writing.  Love thine ego, for it is who you are…I am a creative writer, the scripts that form from my fingers are my self.

Character Assignment (Blog 1)

In a day where we find most people working to blend in with each other, our character decides to help bring others back down to Earth with a simple plaid mixture of blue and green.  Not only do these colors unintentionally create an Earth pun, but they represent wisdom and nature, as our character knows what is naturally cool.  These colors also follow an analogous color scheme, which is visually pleasing and makes the character more welcoming.  They will also play host to darker, and sometimes even black saturations of the two colors in order to give the character a darker sense, since he tends to linger in the background although is very much the protagonist.

This character will be shown in two lights since there are truly two sides to his being.  When around others he will appear darker, in order to not blend in with the crowd and to demonstrate his negative emotion towards a majority of his surroundings.  However, much like the person in the center of this Dee Dee King album cover, when on his own or with other men of plaid his light will be much brighter to show his leadership and true standing amongst his surroundings.  He would be set in a much more vertical style of lighting in this situation to create a strong presence.  These two different intensities of light give the character a strong undercover hero aspect without ever truly being undercover at all.

In this picture focus on the candle sticks in the background for they perfectly describe how the character will be displayed in terms of shape. The shape in which the character will be displayed will be triangular and at other times composed with squiggles.  The triangular structure will mainly be shown through the characters ears coming to some form of a point while the rest of his body stands relaxed creating a triangular pose and showing he holds some title of leadership amongst others, whether it be self requited or not.  His squiggle poses (poses that hold no particular shape) will normally occur around others as he tries to stand out and purposely make himself out of the norm.

In a world full of fist-pumping Guidos, Bratz Doll Teenagers, and people this Rabbit just finds unintagible, Hipster Rabbit steps in to hip up the world with negativity one plaid shirt at a time.

The antagonist will be represented by a monochromatic color scheme to show his one dimensional style and clash with the Hipster Rabbit.  With the character being a fox he will be composed of various saturations of reddish orange, much like the shirt above.  His shirt and/or jacket will be darker saturations then that of his fur.  This color will be strong for the antagonist, for it’s a dominate color in itself being able to represent domination and aggression, as well as sexual desire.  The color makes this character the pinnacle of cool and well liked for his natural display of strength and sly nature.

As for lighting the antagonist will find himself in the “limelight” more often then not as he will normally be portrayed as well liked and successful.  With this in mind his setting will normally be green for a literal limelight and to show his peaceful nature in public as his success comes from others and his ability to interact.  However the figurative meaning of limelight holds true as well, for he will also always appear brighter then others around him in an almost vertical spotlight fashion to demonstrate his social standing.  However those surrounding him will dim his light as they tend to look particularly the same.

Finally with shape we find the fox taking a primarily square stance since his one dimension tends to keep him away from change.  His legs and arms will usually be doing the same parallel gestures to help maintain the fox’s box frame.  Although he won't be composed of squares like the above figure, it won't be hard to associate his character with square as his blocking and facial expressions will tend to maintain this simple geometric presence.  Not only will the fox be a metaphorical square in the Hipster Rabbit's eyes, but his unwillingness to change will give him an everlasting square stature that represents him more than he is aware.

Although the antagonist won't be as cool as Fantastic Mr. Fox, he will indeed be the cool guy around.  As for the title of antagonist he and the hipster rabbit aren't necessarily enemies, but simply two animals clashing on ideals especially the idea of what is truly "hip."