Two Takes

Fishtank, a uniquely hardened British film presenting the coming-of-age journey of a 15-year-old girl in an Essex council estate, it follows like a fly on the wall; giving the audience a glimpse into a broken home and how resilience and determination has made hardened walls between each family member. From the mother’s jealousy of her oldest daughter’s youth and freedom to the boyfriend that takes what he pleases, Fishtank does not want your sympathy. A story that simply shows decisions and routes taken; it emphasises a 'this is how it is' within a council estate.

So let's dive in and take a look at the film 'Fishtank'.

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The Discovery presents the concept of another plane of existence after this reality has been deemed spent. The soul, the consciousness, the mind...whatever one wants to call it, is presented as separate from our bodies when we die. And with a sharp contrast on what mistakes can do to one's subconscious, it begs the question whether this is it for us. This life, this reality...is there more on the other side?

Let's dive in, exploring the world that is within The discovery. 

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The Lighthouse, inspired by many sailor myths and lore within the sea faring landscape in the 19th Century, presents a hauntingly claustrophobic setting. The decision to film in grey tones, heightens the claustrophobia within its visual aesthetics; and with the constant reminder of the lighthouse, it blares its existence within the noise or lack thereof throughout the film. Two men on an island in the murky distance, with many shots cleverly merging the sea and sky to emphasise the main importance evolving around their job, their lifestyle, even their lives with the Lighthouse.

The struggles become a reality when their ride back home does not turn up, with both men eventually questioning the quickening presence of time, and of how much of that was used for work, and how much was slipping away as they question their true selves and reveal true identities, causing a domination of male ego, all within the giant phallus that is the Lighthouse.

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The arrival of the series The OA brought about many viewers questioning and revelling in its mystical and mysterious non-linear storytelling arc. Whereas dimensions are crossed and morality and mortality becomes interchangeable. There seems to be blurred lines between what is moral and immoral, bringing forth characters that are not necessarily evil and not necessarily good. As well as the characters, the visuals within the show create an interpretation of many things, including an afterlife.

It seems throughout the research that was explained from Episode One, the OA directors and producers are intent on making everything become interpretive, down to the smallest detail. So let's dive in, to learning more about the OA through theories spawned by the Reddit community.

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The OA, a series that grew into a sensation with each new episode, has the audience questioning many things in our own reality; the structure of what makes a good family; the presence in oneself through feeling, physically and mentally; the afterlife; and the scientific breakthroughs that are slowly changing our world. If you were creating a world for a series, would you include elements of your own reality in the mix? Brit Marling and Zal did just that, merging the realism of things in our reality and interpreting it for the big screen through multiple dimensions in the hope of igniting some truth back into the viewer, in particular, to question things with a child-like hunger. So let's dive in, into the spectacular world of The OA and it's lessons that we can learn in their dimension and our reality. 

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Thinking outside of the box; finding that spark of optimism; feeding the right wolf can portray a new tomorrow, a new day full of possibilities.

Many films have had the opportunity to present an idea, or a state of mind as their main motif in their storytelling. The plot tends to uphold this feeling, this idea, with obstacles simply making it stronger. The Directors, the screen players, the characters - maybe even the actors themselves - have embraced this concept within this fictional world. But what if I told you that in this movie, it was initially supposed to blur the lines of what is fictional and what is real?

This film was chosen by Maria. You can choose what I analyse next by simply emailing me at [email protected]

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This is third and last instalment of the three episodes that concentrate and perhaps encourages others to give Oats Studios a watch on YouTube and Steam for free. With Neill Blomkamp at the helm, it's been a beautifully crafted burst of sci-fi shorts with effects that could make the big production companies do a double take.

The concept of making a production company place short sci-fi plots on Youtube and Steam, ranging from 20 minutes or more, is really about the feedback.

And in this one, Firebase, it had gotten to the point of crowdfunding; however the plug was pulled around two days in because they wanted to make an awesome film, not an average one. Therefore, even though figures were not released, Neill made refunds to everyone, explaining that it wasn't enough for the vision he has, as he felt his audience deserved the best. Also with the indication that this wasn't the end.

So let's take a look at the short that almost made it big.

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The second instalment of the three episodes that concentrate on the spectacular visual creations from the people of Oat Studios, directed by none other than Neill Blomkamp.

Just a re-cap, Oat Studios was created to branch out on online sources with their short sci-fi creations to get a reaction and feedback from the audience. With this in mind, what better place to put it, than on YouTube and Steam for free.

So would you take a chance and dive into one of the worlds that Neill and his team have created?

Let's take a look at one of his impressive creations, named 'Rakka'.

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Oats Studios, an independent film studio, was started by Oscar-nominated South African film-maker Neill Blomkamp in 2017. The main goal for this enterprise was to distribute experimental short films via YouTube and Steam, and then see what the community engages most with. This interest and feedback would eventually show which short films could be made into potential feature length ones.

These short sci-fi films are free on YouTube and Steam. 

I wish to analyse these spectacular visions from the Director Neill Blomkamp and for you, the audience, to not have to wait to stream or download it. So let's dive in, in Oats Studio's short film 'Zygote', starring Dakota Fanning and Jose Pablo Cantillo. 

This is Part One of a Three part series. 

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The repressive Puritan faith within a world of dark and devilish rebellion has a certain dualism in many ways. The option of both worlds that are presented to Thomasin is both be seen as extremist; the patriarchal portrayals of oppression, misogyny and distrust within a Christian bubble, and the darkness of murderous and sexual intent within the Devil's temptation that marks one soul in constant damnation. What would you do if those were your only options? To be a child growing up into their own person, for their blossoming womanhood to perhaps pose as a threat; Thomasin attempts to retain everything in an orderly and humble fashion, only to realise that she is not the only one with a damaged soul.

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