Nov 03

All About Professional Reviews of Best College Essay Writers

What to Check For In a Site Before Hiring Its Services

You may have hired services before and regretted why you did so in the first place. You wasted time and money and probably got a penalty for the late submission of the assignment. It is not a good experience, and that is why this article aims to help you know what to look for in a site.

  • Ratings

Before you hire a writer, you can check sites that rate essay writing services. You can read the Essay Pro reviews to find which sites rank higher than the rest. The rating observes qualities such as customer support, pricing, the experience of writers, and delivery.

You can choose a site depending on what quality you desire the most. If a site offers all the others above average, you can assign work to any of its writers.

  • Customer Reviews

What other students say about a site should be a point to consider. If you look at the advancedwriters.com review, you will find out that customer testimonials factor in rating a site. Therefore, you need also to consider what other clients are saying about the site you want to settle for.

Good remarks will accompany any site with smart essay writers. On the other hand, those with incompetent writers will have negative reviews.

  • Prices

As a student, you are looking for a site with your best interest at heart. You can get low prices and a Pro Essay Writer discount when you order for services. In as much as academic writing is demanding, writers offer reasonable rates to their clients to ensure any student can afford the services.

  • Revision and Money-Back Policies

Your paper may not be what you expected, or your professor may prefer a different approach to it. If you read the essay writers world review, you will learn that a reliable site offers some guarantees. Should your paper be below expectations, a writer can repeat it several times.

If you are still not satisfied after all the attempts of revising the paper, you can get a full refund.

  • Response to Clients

From the essay writer service reviews, customer support is an important factor that sets apart a good or bad site. You need a site that responds promptly to you when you reach them for help. If it takes forever for the customer service department to get back to you, continue with your search.

  • Experience

How long has a website has been running matters? The essay writers UK reviews point out that an experienced site has the best writers and can handle various subjects. You need a qualified writer to handle your paper, so you get a good score.

The essay writers hub review also highlights the importance of a writer’s experience. They need to have attained a certain level of education and be fluent in English before handling any assignment.

  • Quality Of Work

If you read the British essay writer reviews, you will understand that quality is king. Any writer you hire to do your assignment should ensure they deliver high-quality work free of errors and plagiarism cases. You can tell by the writing on the writers’ profiles if they are up to the task by checking their text’s quality.

As you will find out from Pro Essay Writer review, compromising on a client’s assignment renders a site a bad name. Qualified writers understand the implications of a bad image and always work efficiently to provide you with the best services.

  • Usability

As you will find out from online essay writer reviews, a site should be user-friendly. As you navigate a site, you do not have to take ages to figure where you need to start to place your order. If a site falls short on usability, it can frustrate users as it wastes precious time.

Conclusion

Finding a good site that offers the best services is not always easy for students. You can read the reviews on various sites to decide on which site to place an order for quality work. Depending on the factor that you prefer most, you can choose the site and have a good experience after that.

Jan 15

Korean Dramas – How Can You Write an Outstanding Essay on Them?

Korean culture has been growing in popularity over the years. Whether you’re into the famous K-pop bands or into their movies, something is surely appealing about them. But if you haven’t really been into them, it would be hard to make an essay on Korean dramas, for instance. So, if you’ve been assigned this topic or you just want to write it due to the popularity around the topic, then you need to do a lot of research. How can you write an essay on Korean dramas and make it good?

Here are some tips that might help you out.

  1. Start Researching

The first thing to do is, of course, researching your subject. It shouldn’t take too long to find something useful. Korean dramas are extremely popular, so you’ll get some quick results. Research everything, especially the most popular series that people seem to be into and figure out what makes them so loved. Also, try to notice the particular elements that Korean people use in their dramas that make them so enjoyable.

  1. Introduce the Subject

Every essay starts with an introduction paragraph, where the topic is being told to the reader. When you start the Korean dramas essay, try to get the person reading it to become familiar with the subject. That said, you can talk, for example, about people’s infatuation with Korean dramas, and mention a few ones that have stolen people’s hearts. In addition, you can also mention how Korean dramas are very popular outside Korea too, thanks to the uniqueness they add to their work.

When you’re done with making a general introduction about Korean dramas, you need to make a thesis statement. A thesis statement pretty much establishes what your paper is going to focus on. So, if you’re going to talk about the influence of Korean dramas, you need to let the reader know that the essay will prove why Korean dramas are influential. Same works with any other topic you choose.

  1. Talk About It in the Body

When you get to the body, there is one thing that you need to know – the body needs to support the main points that you presented in your thesis. So, you will have a few main ideas here that will be proven through the research you’ve done before working on the paper.

Therefore, if you’re writing about why Korean dramas are so popular outside of Korea, then you need three main ideas as to why that is. But they need to be backed up by factual evidence. There can also be support from experiences, but it depends on your assignment.

Also, you need to know that body paragraphs need to be organized logically. They need to flow from each other without sounding robotic and confusing the reader. Keep in mind that every main idea should be related to the topic of the essay. That being said, you shouldn’t add anything that is off topic. Even if you think it will sound nice and you’ll get points for that, you’re wrong. What you should do is ask yourself if that specific information does anything relevant to prove the question set in the thesis. If the answer is “no”, then don’t add that information.

  1. Conclude it Properly

Every essay should end with a conclusion, and thus not just stop abruptly and leave people confused. In conclusion, you will establish the fact that you were able to answer the question set at the beginning of the essay. It brings everything together and wraps it up, thus giving your readers some closure. Just make sure that you don’t add anything new related to Korean dramas here. You just have to make a little summary of the main ideas.

After the conclusion, write your citations and bibliography.

Final Thoughts

Writing an essay about Korean dramas can be a very entertaining thing to do, especially if you’re already a fan of these dramas. They are popular and you can easily find some information that will make for useful research. If you find information in Korean yet you don’t speak the language, you can always seek Korean translation services and get easier access to the data you need.

Nov 07

Why You Need Your Halloween Essay Written For You

Life in college is daunting. Apart from acing the test scores, spend your overnight hours working on an essay. Worse still, the problem magnifies when you must complete your Halloween essay assignment fast.

However, it is easier said than done. Here is why. Working on a term paper requires a lot of skill and dedication, two things most college students lack. Hence, work with content writing agencies. They will help you

  • Meet The Teacher’s Expectations

Everything about Halloween is dramatic. That said, you must craft a piece that brings the reader’s imagination to life.

However, there is no better option than when you use a content mill to get the job done. Company employees have the skill, the time, and zeal to craft high-end pieces. You are, therefore, in safe hands when you work with them.

  • Build Original Content

Have you heard about plagiarism? Well, plagiarized work and academics do not exist in the same sphere. What the above statement means is that colleges discourage learners from submitting copied content.

Therefore, you must read a lot for you to produce original material. However, reading takes time and effort. It is, therefore, necessary that you work with a superb content dealer to create top-dollar Halloween essay pieces for you fast.

  • A Professional Whom Will Write An Essay For Me Must Be Affordable

Did you know that some students are self-sponsored? Yes, some learners have no one else to support their academic dreams other than themselves. Hassling and studying, however, do not mix.

However, what do you do when facing the above challenges? Working with an essay-writing firm is a game-changer. Remember, the agency will write my dissertation for me cheaply. Above all, the experts save you time, the time you can use to expand your financial empire.

  • Beat The Deadline

College assignment deadlines are the worst. In actuality, tutors only stop dishing out assignments when sick or during the examination season. Therefore, you should learn how to work on a tight schedule as a college learner for you to succeed.

Doing so is, however, impossible when you must submit a Halloween essay early in the morning. Luckily, an academic writing firm is always ready to write an essay for me when I am busy. In short, the experts step in when you need them the most. Most importantly, they help you beat the deadline.

  • An Expert Willing To Write An Essay For Me Must Research And Fine-Tune

Completing a college assignment is hard. However, that does not make excellence impossible. All you should do is research before writing.

However, research takes too much time. In the real sense, most students do not know where to get the right information from before writing a Halloween essay. Fortunately, content writing mills do. When they write an essay for me, they invest time on the same to ensure I get value for cash.

Above all, the professionals are superb at editing. They refine the written pieces by eliminating fluff, spelling, and grammatical errors to raise the readability score. In a nutshell, the pros make you an A player.

Conclusion

College learning should not be difficult when all you need is to work with a superb content generation firm. For the record, such a dealership provides you with quality products and services at a bargain. More so, the agency saves you a ton of cash and time.

In brief, working with a content mill is right for your academic and professional career. After all, the experts strive to make your transition through school painless. Better still, they surpass examiner expectations by providing reading material that converts. Therefore, you must use such services for the betterment of your career.

Oct 21

Writing an Essay for a Movie? This Is Your Ultimate Guide

Everyone loves watching movies, but when it comes to writing about them, all goes blank. A lot of people watch movies as their pastime, and they leave it at that. It’s different when watching movies, making a critic out of it.

Students are often faced with assignments about movie essays. This means that even though they get a pass for watching movies, they need to produce an output.

When confronted with this dilemma, what should you do? How can you concentrate on the movie and give a good analysis? Is there an easy way to write movie essays?

Continue reading below and we’ll give you great tips on writing a movie analysis or a movie review. It’s time to sharpen up your essay-writing skills!

 

Organizing Your Thoughts for a Film Analysis Essay

“What’s the first thing to do when I start to write my essay?” This is the most common question students ask themselves.

Remembering the key points of the movie is only half the work you need to do. The other half is making sure you materialize your thoughts into an essay.

  • Starting Your Introduction

This is where the important details should be in. Things like the title of the movie, the name of the director, the film’s release date, and so on should be in it. Have your readers familiarize themselves with the movie’s background information.

Add the central theme of the movie or the idea that it conveys. It also helps when you write about the reasons for the creation of the film. Add in your thoughts. Don’t be afraid to state your opinions this early.

Build up your introduction to show what your focus is. Be clear to your readers on what direction the essay will go.

  • Telling the Story

Start this section by writing a summary of the film. After you present the facts mentioned above, it’s time to get down to the actual content. How do you write a good summary?

Write like your readers haven’t watched the film at all. The more you write about your experience, the stronger your points are. It’s like telling a story to a friend whom you’re eager to share the movie with.

If you start thinking that your readers rely on you for information, the less that you’ll miss details. To make sure you’ve covered all the bases,  use the five Ws.

  1. Who
  2. What
  3. When
  4. Where
  5. Why
  6. And add in How

In this part, you can insert your own opinions and explanations. Depending on your style, make sure you always have something valid to support your theory. Take advantage of movie scenes, character dialogues, and conflicts to prove your point.

  • Dig into Your Analysis

This is the part where you pour the information you’ve gathered. It’s the central part of your essay where you address your impressions and critic about the film. How do you explain what you’ve watched?

Begin by discussing whether the film met its goal. As a viewer, do you agree with the claims of the movie? Did the movie deliver what it promised? Was the theme of the movie used well to convey its message? You can ask a hundred other things depending on what you want to focus on.

A film has a lot of elements that it presents. You can discuss all or pick out certain parts that you find relevant. It will give depth to your analysis when you know what elements to bring up.

 

What Should I Focus On As I Write My Essay?

Below are some key movie elements you might want to highlight in your essay. You can cover them all for more details or choose to elaborate on one topic to prove your point.

  • The plot

A movie relies on its plot. If you watch a film for its plot, you can choose to decide whether it’s good or not. The plot is where the scenes come together, where the events take place, and how the film presents itself.

After you’ve watched the film, recall the plot from the mind. Check what you’ve understood from the movie and what its plot means for you. Pick out scenes that gave you an impact or those that you find interesting.

  • The actors’ portrayal of characters

If you feel like one or two of the cast did a phenomenal job, you can write about them. If you feel otherwise, you can explain your opinions as well.

This is also an important element in analyzing a film as actors bring the characters into life. Look into the portrayal of the characters. Were the actors able to bring them to life? Did they do justice to the characters they are playing? Are they are realistic enough to make you believe their characters?

 

How to Conclude Your Movie Essay

This is where you conclude. Make it a small review of your theory or opinions and how you relate them with facts from the movie.

Make sure that you make a case for the film analysis that you’ve presented beforehand. Always go back to your original theory or concept about the film. You can also address any unanswered questions.

The key is understanding what you’re watching. If it helps, watch the movie once for its plot, twice for its characters, thrice for its cinematography, and so on. This will give you a lot of angles to write about.

 

 

 

 

 

Jul 18

Best Gimbals to Shoot the Best Dynamic Footage

Shaky shots don’t help the outcome of dynamic footage. No matter how stable your hands or any other equipment you own may be, you will always be confronted with a scene that has stabilization problems.

Of course, there is equipment that has built-in image stabilization, and you could also use a monopod or tripod. However, a gimbal stabilizer will leave you with nothing to worry about.

Therefore, if you want to have the best dynamic footage ever, we have compiled for you of the best gimbals out there – so be sure to check it out and find the one that fits all your needs.

Letus Helix Jr. 3-Axis Gimbal

This gimbal is compatible with a DLSR type of camera. Because of its flat bottom design, it can be easily placed on flat surfaces, ensuring you that the next shot you are filming will be blur-free.

Moreover, this gimbal has its camera placed on the optical center – this offers not only a balanced design, but also an easier way to have optimum image stabilization with the help of the nodal point rolls.

It is also equipped with a joystick and intuitive tilt motion – shooting your best dynamic footage is made simple and easy with this gimbal.

Moza Lite 2

This one is compatible with a DSLR camera, as well as with mirrorless cameras. Coming equipped with some Advanced FOC Algorithms, this gimbal can achieve maximum balance – the result consists of precise and smooth camera movements.

Besides the two aforementioned compatible devices, this gimbal can also be used with compact cinema cameras as well. Because of its modular design, you’ll assemble it very fast, without wasting any precious time while on set. Its assembly requires no tools and can be done in only three steps.

Different shooting situations can be handled accordingly with the help of the operation modes this gimbal has built-in, namely, the Underslung, the Upright, and the Briefcase.

DJI Ronin-M 3-Axis Gimbal

This gimbal is compatible with DSLR and Sony DSLR cameras, a variety of small camcorders, and with the GH3 and GH4 from Panasonic. It can support up to 8 lbs. of equipment, and it also comes equipped with Auto-Tune Stability, which automatically adjusts the stability without you having to interfere.

Packing and unpacking, as well as the adaptability to different shooting configurations, are made possible with the help of the detachable top handlebars.

Moreover, this gimbal also comes equipped with the three operation modes we have mentioned on our previous product – the plus is that this one can quickly switch between them so that you get a shot that’s just amazing.

Pilotfly H2 3-Axis Gimbal

Compatible with DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, this gimbal comes equipped with three MCUs (motor control units), as well as two IMU sensors. When it comes to tilting and panning, you will be able to get every shot you want.

It is capable of 100 degrees of down tilt, 220 degrees of up tilt, 240 degrees of right roll, 10 degrees of left roll, as well as up to 0.04 degrees of control precision.

Moreover, on the handle, you can find almost everything you need when using a gimbal – a LED indicator that shows the levels of power and battery, a mode button so that you can switch between its modes fast and easy, and a four-way joystick.

You can also easily attach other equipment to it, such as a microphone or secondary display – as it comes equipped with screw holes of ¼ inches that are located on the bottom and on the sides of the gimbal.

This also means that you can attach this gimbal to your favorite tripods, jibs, sliders, and extension poles – so that you can shoot from every position you want.

Worth mentioning in the case of this piece of equipment is its battery life – it can stay up and running for about 26 hours.

Of course, you might not find your perfect pick here. If that’s the case, here is a list you have to consider before buying a gimbal. These will help you determine which one will offer you the possibility to shoot the best dynamic footage.

  • Weight
  • Balance
  • Batteries
  • Versatility
  • Price

Finding the best gimbal and also one that will provide you with quality shots is not an easy task, as you will have to go through many products before finding the one. However, if you want that extra stabilization in your shots, it is better if you are properly informed before deciding to buy one.

Even though you didn’t find the one you need here, we hope that our article has at least provided you with some guidelines – guidelines that will help you continue your search and eventually find the best gimbal out there.

Jul 18

How to Make a Good Call Sheet

You can’t start filming without a call sheet – first of all, because no one will know when and where to show up.  By definition, a call sheet is a form of document that has written on it all the information that the cast and crew have to know regarding a certain shoot day.

Making a good call sheet is difficult, as you have to put in there all the information the team has to know. If something happens and the call sheet does not contain information on that specific thing, filming could stop out of a sudden until the problem has been fixed.

Therefore, in the following paragraphs, we will show you everything you have to take into account in order to make a good call sheet for the cast and crew responsible for your film.

The Basic Principles of a Good Call Sheet

Before mentioning everything a call sheet should contain, we should go over some basics, so that you would know what tone of writing and such you should approach. Of course, the information it contains is vital, but the way it’s being expressed is also important.

  • On Point – the call sheet is going to be used by every member of your team, so it is best if you keep the information written on it shortly and on point. If someone in the crew needs some information on a certain topic, he or she should be able to find it in a blink of an eye.
  • Accuracy – you should double-check all of the important information that’s on the call sheet, such as phone numbers, addresses, and call times. Also, be always ready to make changes to it if, for example, some of the crew members or times change.
  • Confidentiality – naturally, most call sheets should be marked as confidential, as they include the contact details of all the members of the crew. Moreover, something you should never do is to include the phone numbers of the talent in your call sheet – never!
  • Clarity, Structure, and Layout – the call sheet should have a layout that’s easy to read through; also, all the information displayed on it should be clear and easy to understand – you don’t want your crew to spend more than two or so minutes finding the piece of information they need.

Now that we’ve gone through the basics, it’s time to move on to the actual information a good call sheet should contain.

Call Sheet Information

In the following paragraphs, you will be presented with all of the things a call sheet should contain – you must also remember to place these properly on its pages, as they have to follow a certain placement pattern, so that your crew is able to find what they are looking for only by looking in the place that piece of information usually is.

  • Date – it should be one of the first things to appear on a call sheet; it must also be clear.
  • Call Time – you really don’t want people missing the call time; that’s why it should be placed in the center of the call sheet, in a big and bold font, so that it is very easy to see and read.
  • Title – you may think that there is no need for a title, but keep in mind that certain crew members might have multiple call sheets in a week; therefore, you should at the title of the production, preferably at the top of the sheet.
  • Lunch Time – naturally, all people must eat, and you should plan the lunch times accordingly; it is recommended that the lunchtime is set six hours into the shoot day and that it can be easily found on the call sheet.
  • Shuttle Information – it is likely that not every crew member will be able to get on set; that’s why you should set up some shuttles, as well as a central meet-up location. Timing is also required in this case so that nobody misses their shuttle.
  • Weather – you don’t want members dressed in shorts and T-shirts on a rainy day, right? To avoid this, you should get informed on the weather on the shoot day and mention it on the call sheet.
  • Nearest Hospital – in case of any unfortunate events, you should have a list of the closest hospitals on your call sheet; all of the information regarding this aspect, such as phone numbers and addresses should be placed close to the top of the sheet.
  • Address and Phone Number of the Production Office
  • Location of the First Aid Kit and of the Fire Extinguisher
  • Scenes to be Shot – here you should mention the scene number, heading, description, as well as the cast, location number, and pages.
  • Crew Positions and Names – this section will be split into departments that will contain all of the essential information of your crew, namely, the crew position and names.
  • Cast Roles and Actors
  • Background Actors and Extras
  • Numbers and Timing of the Craft and Catering
  • Requirements Specific for Certain Departments
  • Transport Information
  • Location and Maps
  • An Advanced Schedule – this should contain a smaller version of the schedule for the next days of filming so that everyone knows what to expect.
  • Contact Info of the Key Production Staff
  • Walkie-Talkie Channels – this will let every member of your crew know which channel they should be using to communicate with members of the department they’re in.
  • Other Essential Information – as requirements may differ, it is best that you include in your call sheet anything that might be of importance to a great part of your crew for the day.

So, this is the secret recipe to a good call sheet. It contains a lot of information, but if placed properly, you will get no questions from your crew – and this is very important as you don’t want production to stop just because you have failed to mention something important in your call sheet. This is must be hard to get a good and quality footage for scene and it can be almost imposible achieve what you want to have on the final  so maybe this essay on filmmaking will help you somehow.

Apr 20

The Cinematic Techniques of the Movie “Wizard of Oz”

Introduction

The movie “Wizard of Oz” was released on 25th August 1939. It was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and distributed by Loew’s, Inc. with a running time of 101 minutes. Victor Fleming and George Cukor directed the movie. Its stars include Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, and Ray Bolger. The three stars play the allocated roles to enhance the major themes in the movie such as family, fantasy, and adventure. However, the movie would not communicate the major themes to the audience with employing cinematic techniques. The paper discusses the cinematic techniques used in the movie and design elements. Besides, it includes the contribution of both cinematic techniques and design elements in developing its themes. The paper gives an opinion regarding the mice and the scene.

Cinematic Techniques

The movie “Wizard of Oz” was the most remarkable production in 1939. Besides, the movie marked the first color movie to appear on the national TV. Also, its directors Victor Fleming and George Cukor and cinematographer Harold Rosson demonstrated extraordinary creativity (Richard, 2014). That is, the special effects techniques used had created the film in future times. Therefore, the sequence of Dorothy leaving Kansas and arriving in Oz in the clip of the Wizard of Oz has been chosen to illustrate three cinematic techniques used in the film.

The three cinematic techniques employed in the chosen sequence include lighting, color and, focus. The characters of OZ in Kansas are a good example of three-point lighting. First, the movie utilizes lighting as the primary cinematic strategy in this sequence. In the first place, the front camera provides the source of light on the right elevated the right hand of the character. As a result, the character’s right-hand casts a shadow on the shirt of Aunty M shirt. Besides, the hat of the left character casts a shadow on his face’s right side. However, the left front of camera light source allows for the illumination of the character’s left side. As a result, the left side appears in a lower position than the right side. Besides, the rear light is in a lower position to be able to highlight the building located behind the characters.  Moreover, the scene uses the deep and sharp focus of lens which continues until the tornado arrives. Henceforth, then the focus on the characters become shallow although its focus on the tornado.

Furthermore, there is Tornado scene which has Special effects. There are high winds outside the house which blows off the door of the house. Besides, making use of smoke which is whirling around the head brings out a special effect. That is, it communicates to the audience she is about to go into a dream state. During this incidence, the low-light key used to focus its light on Dorothy’s forehead. The light appears above her at a particular angle. This technique helps to capture the smoke whirling in the air. Besides, it ensures the light is focused on her forehead to be able to set up her dreaming plot.

The second cinematic technique employed in the movie is the focus. The strategy is evident in the incidence when the neighbor is riding a bicycle and later becomes a witch riding a broom. At this juncture, the neighbor’s double exposure is responsible for the transformation into a witch. The focus on the neighbor is sharp before the conversion. However, during the transition the focus is withdrawn which is taken back when the neighbor is already a witch.

The movie makes use of color as the third cinematic technique. For instance, when Dorothy opens the door to see outside for the first time she notices the yellow brick road. Besides, the first overlay of the film color is black and white around 1939. The cinematographer demonstrated remarkable creativity by taking photos with black color at backdrop and Dorothy in front of a white house. Besides, in the sequence, the movie utilizes design elements which are in the costumes used in the movie. The designation of the costumes made them fit the dressing code of the period when the movie was produced (Victor, 2014). For instance, Dorothy dresses in a long dress to fit in that era. In addition to period, both cinematic techniques and design elements utilized in the movie have contributed toward its theme. For instance, Dorothy costumes were designed to be long for her to show respect to her elders. Similarly, the focus enhances another cinematic technique in the movie. During the transition of the neighbor into a witch, the focus was withdrawn to show the respect accorded to all groups of people in the society. Therefore, both cinematography and design elements contribute towards the theme.

The movie incorporates both mise en scenes. In my opinion, mise en scenes have added to the dramatic impact. The two work together to bring up a difference of a particular issue. For instance, mise en scene presents Dorothy differently when she is in Kansas and while in Oz. However, if the movie used other techniques, they would not be effective since they would not contribute towards the theme.

Conclusion

The movie “Wizard of Oz” was produced in 1939 to entertain and educate audience at that time. However, the popularity of the movie has been increasing every day to date. This is as a result of extraordinary creativity employed by its directors and cinematographer while producing it. Besides, the movie utilized cinematic techniques and design element which has contributed towards its themes. Besides, the incorporation of both mise en scene has played a substantial role in bringing out dramatic effect in the movie.

Mar 07

Million Dollar Baby Film Analysis

Million Dollar Baby is a movie masterpiece that was directed by Clint Eastwood. The film won critical acclaim and beat major categories in various awards. This movie tells the story of Maggie who is (played by Hillary Swank) a young working lady who has ambitions of one day dominating the female boxing world. After a lot of convincing, the wizened Frankie (played by Clint Eastwood) gives in to Maggie’s proposal of training her. With Frankie as her trainer Maggie gets on the road to become a professional female boxer. With rigorous training and Frankie giving her pointers on how to knockout her opponents, Maggie conquers the boxing world until a spinal injury brings a devastating halt to her blooming career. She becomes a quadriplegic and is very depressed. As a result of pressure ulcers her leg is amputated and Maggie can’t bear it anymore and convinces Frankie to euthanize her.

This movie portrays the image of a working class woman who is of the opinion that class is something that should be overcome. Maggie grew up being poor and lacks critical class consciousness. She is of the perception that the world despises her by the general virtue that she comes from poverty. She despises her hillbilly roots. In the movie she comes off as being sensible because she has her own class mythology. She understands the limitations that comes with her class, even when she is in the boxing ring she fights to transcend these limits. The determination to succeed in the boxing world even though she is perceived as being too old for the sport at 32 years of age is for the love of the sport (Toole 35). From another perspective she wants to conquer the boxing world to avoid the working class life as well as a working class body.

Maggie explains in her own words that without boxing she can expect a world of “Oreos and a deep fryer”. Therefore in order to escape her roots and to move up the social class she has to employ her body as the vehicle. The body is something that Maggie is appears to run from. The movie is linked to denial or making unconscious of the body. Maggie denies her girl-ness and prefers to work with Frankie even after he turned her down twice. Frankie bluntly told her that he was not interested in training a girl. After he reconsidered and accepted to train her, he constantly reminded her not to behave like one. The theme of Maggie denying her body is also portrayed through the sport itself because in this cinematic conception it is the most Cartesian of all sports (Toole 60). Frankie helps her deny her body because when she gets bloody and injured it is his job to patch it up. The patching part addresses the leakiness of the feminine.

Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris played by Morgan Freeman is Frankie’s best friend and has been working at the gym for a long time. He is Frankie’s partner in conversations that have coiled down through time. Scrap is Frankie’s only friend and he knows that his boss and friend, has many burdens. Among these burdens is Frankie’s daily attendance at mass. Frankie has been an ardent attendee to mass for decades at St. Marks Church. In one of the scenes in the movie, he asks Fr. Horvak played by Brian O’Byrne to disseminate and clarify the doctrine of the Trinity. Fr. Horvak brushes aside Frankie’s question sensing that it was some sort of dodge from what Frankie really wanted and he was right because Frankie wanted to make peace with God and not catechism classes.

The conclusion of the film sees Frankie faced with a dilemma that the priest says could lead him to damnation. The way the film has been scripted makes the wrong choice seem right but it leaves room open for debate whether the choice made will lead to redemption or rather damnation. Million Dollar Baby portrays the aspect that maybe the most loving and right thing to do for someone else may result to one’s own damnation. This film is more thoughtful and less complacent compared to some of its detractors allege. A refined script, superlative performances and canny direction are some of the qualities that make this movie very compelling.

Depth and conflict is added into the story through the characters who have personal unresolved conflicts from their past. As much as Frankie is considered a brilliant coach, he is an overly cautious manager. He is haunted by injuries that occurred to boxers he has trained in the past and is chary of allowing the fighters he has trained from getting in the boxing ring with serious contenders. Maggie is troubled by her hillbilly roots and the fact that her family stay in the trailer park. Scrap is the least conflicted but he is quietly disappointed with how his career came to an abrupt end due to an eye injury. The supporting characters like Danger played by Jay Baruchel, is an inept wanna-be boxer and is always lingering around the gym but unfortunately does not have the drive, ambition and talent that Maggie has. He is practically a comic-relief caricature. “The Blue Bear” which is Billie’s nickname, played by Lucia Rijker is an opponent to be feared. She is a former prostitute and fights dirty.

Frankie has a troublesome relationship with his daughter whom she sends letters to and she sends them back unopened. At some point in the movie Maggie asks him about his personal life and he passes her on to another trainer but luckily takes her back and promises not to leave her again. The relationship with Maggie brings out the affectionate side and vulnerability in him. The voice over narration by Morgan Freeman speaks to the audience and lovers of the sport by telling details all round of what goes on in and out of the ring.

Maggie’s mother falls under the foreseeable and offensive class archetypes. She is an unsurprising burlesque of the welfare cheat. Her character does not challenge the audience but substantiates a regressive and definitely familiar narrative. She is the embodiment of a dominant cultural mythology of how poverty is perceived. The fact that she is lazy limits her from improving in life or getting ahead. It is her individual flaw rather than injustice from the system that brings her poverty. Even her family members are considered to be tacky. When Maggie is bedridden it is disturbing how the family focuses on her money and is not in any sense compassionate to her condition. Through her family’s one dimensional portrayal and her mother’s obese body, Maggie is depicted as an Angel in the film.

Through Maggie’s eyes, class is an issue to be conquered and something that she can prevail over. However disability is something that she cannot overcome. In the film it is depicted as a personal and corporeal defeat. The difference between what she can conquer and what she cannot overcome lies in individuality. Maggie triumphed over socio-economics through her own individual determination and diligence. As much as she was relying on Frankie to impart skills and train her, she always pulled her own weight and never took her trainer for granted. The transgressions of her family on the other hand show how they leech on her, and cheat to get welfare money. The spinal cord injury turned everything around and now Maggie has to rely on help and this is something she cannot stand. She has to rely on the machines, medicine and health care practitioners for assistance. Frankie has to pick Maggie up and put her in the wheelchair. Albeit the movie might seem like one of the many boxing films clichés it comprises of a whole lot more than boxing. It has a very deep setting and touches on a variety of themes.

Feb 18

All You Should Know About Lighting Technicians’ Hand Signals

One of the biggest problems that filmmakers encounter on the set of a movie is the sounds – be them background sounds or random sounds that the teams behind the camera make.

Moreover, it’s much easier to make a two-sequence hand signal than scream what you want to say to a guy that’s on the other hand on the set. First, because what you might want to tell him will take much longer when said in words rather than in hand signals, and second, because you will make a lot of noise – which is not recommended.

Therefore, if you want to get acquainted with some of the hand signals that light technicians use on a set, then stick with us as we present to you all you should know about them.

Signs for Aiming the Light

On many occasions, a certain light on the set will have to be aimed up, down, left, and right. To do so, a lighting technician will rely on a set of basic hand signals.

The procedure is very easy – all you must do is stretch out your index finger and point upwards if you want the light to be tilted up, downwards if you want it tilted down, leftwards if you want the light to be panned left, and rightwards if you want it panned right.

Raising or Lowering the Light

For example, one of the lights on the set might have to be raised or lowered. This is when we’re getting into more complex hand signals – as you won’t probably see them being done in other jobs.

If you want the crew member that’s handling the light you want to be modified, you will show him what to do with the stem of the light – namely, the pole that the light is attached to.

By simply pretending to grab the stem of the light, having your fists one above the other – and close to each other – and then acting like pulling up the pole, you will sign to the crew that you want the stem up, raised.

If you want to lower a light, the process mentioned above is repeated backward – just like you would pull the pole down, in a lowered position.

Moving Back or Bringing in a Light

This is yet another very simple hand gesture.

When it comes to lights, having it tilted properly and set at the required height is not enough – lighting must be perfect in a scene of a movie. That’s why you might also be required to move one back or bring it in.

To do so, you’ll rely on two basic hand signals. If you want it moved back, you can just pretend that you are pushing away an invisible item that’s in your face or signaling a person to step back.

If you want it brought in, just pretend you are signaling a person to come closer to you – easy, right?

Light – Spot, Flood, Full Flood

When it comes to light spotting, we go once again in the territory of more complex hand signals – as there are three very different ones that you should know, depending on how you want the light spotted.

Light Spot

For example, if you want to signal a crew member to spot the light, you can show him to do so by asking – with your hands, of course – for just a pinch of salt. We are sure that you know what we mean. Just pinch your thumb and your index finger together and show them to whoever needs to see the hand signal.

Light Flood Out

Now, if you want someone to flood out a light, you can just give him the signal you would give out to someone you want to call you later. It’s easy – thumb and pinky finger out while the others clenched in the palm of your hand, and then do a small rocking movement.

Light Full Flood

In case you want the light to go on full flood, you’ll have to remember the times when you made shadows on a wall with your hand. If you wanted to make the mouth of a certain character, you’d have all your fingers but the thumb pointing straight out, while the thumb touches the index.

Now, if you want that mouth to open – well you know the drill, create wide distance between the thumb and the rest of the fingers while maintaining the same positioning. This is what you must do if you want the light on a full flood.

Light – Scrims

When it comes to scrims, you may have single or double scrims. In this case, you can ask the crew member for a single or a double down. To do so, you show the number of scrims with your fingers, and then point down.

Moreover, if you want the scrims pulled, you will ask for a single or a double out. Again, you will show him the number of scrims, after which you will point backward with your thumb – just like you would point at something behind you without turning around.

Light All Set

When the light is set just the way you want it, you can show that everything is ok – you know how – or clench your fist to signal that you want it held that way.

On the other hand, when you want a light killed, you will have all your fingers straight out, and so a slicing gesture towards your neck – obviously, right?

If you want to go on a restroom break, signal a person to cover you by placing your hand on your hand or pretending to squeeze a towel in your hands – fists clenched, and you know the rest.

Counting

Counting on the set is a bit different, as you need only one hand to show all the numbers from one to then. When counting from one to five, your fingers will be pointing up. On the other hand, when you count from six to ten, you will have them pointing left or right, as you would continue the counting with them.

Well, these were the most important signals a light technician should know on set. Make sure to learn the well so that you don’t mix things up and ask for a light to be positioned in a different way.