"Hotel Rwanda" and "Imaculee"

1. I learned a lot about the Rwanda genocide from the experiences I had last week, by watching the movie and listening to Imaculee tell her story. Honestly, before last week I didn't even know that this had even happened in Rwanda. To start off, I learned from the movie that the genocide was in 1994, between the Tutsis and the Hutu, which were the two main ethnic groups of the country. It all started when the Rwandan president and the Hutu president of Burundi's plane was shot down in a plane crash. After the plane crashed, the Hutu extremists began brutally killing and murdering thousands of Tutsis people everyday. The reason why the Hutu extremistst were doing this is because they believed the Tutsis were the reason why the presidents had died.

Through Imaculee's story, I also learned a lot of information that I had not known before. Imaculee's story was very touching. She told us all how she had lived in a small bathroom which was three feet by four feet with a number of other woman, for a period of 91 days! Imaculee had to hide in the bathroom in fear of her dying from being killed by the Hutu people. She survived this tragic experience with little or no food each day, and actually taught herself how to speak english. There were several times when she was almost caught by the Hutu clan, but she managed to stick it out to the end. I will never forget Imaculee's story and how she lost all of her family members. Whenever I think I am having a bad day, I will just think of how much harder it is for Imaculee to continue living with all the hardships she has been through.

Finally, I also learned that through all of this genocide in Rwanda, 800,000 Tutsis people were killed, in the Hutu extremists wills to kill the entire Tutsis population. It is a very sad experience and I hope that nothing like this ever happens in the world again.

2. The real event I am going to tell you about is the 9/11 event. I received all sorts of media messages ranging from television broadcasts to news on the radio and newspapers. I think the most believable messages came from the newspapers, because they tried to give you the most update and truthful information. The most emotional media was definetely the television broadcasts while it was actually happening. It was a very tragic experience in the United States and it was hard for me and fellow citizens to watch the trade towers falling down and killing Americans because of terrorists. In addition, I also remember the television broadcasts the best because that was the first time I had heard about the incident, while sitting in my health class. I think by listening to people on t.v. was very hard because they often blew things out of proportion, while the newspapers wanted to give their audience the correct information, so it was easier to read.

3. I believe the director of a movie has a great responsibility when producing a film about events in history as well as events that are occuring everyday. I believe that directors often blow things out of proportion to make people want to see the movie or to sell it better, but I believe that isn't the best thing to do. Many Americans watch these films and think they know everything about the event after watching the film, but often alot of the film is just lies or dramatic effects. I believe we all have the right to see movies that tell the truth, so we can all be informed correctly about different interests. It is the director's responsibility to sell the movie and make people want to see it, but I also believe that it is the director's responsibility to tell everyone the truth.

Artistic or Visual Design Assignment

I decided to do my assignment on the movie, "The Wizard of Oz." I thought this movie had lots of visual effects and lighting that changed often.

1. I think the overall set/location is very important to this movie because Dorothy is at her home and then is dropped in the middle of nowhere, into this magical land of munchkins. She was in a place, where she knew everything and how everything worked, and now is suddenly somewhere, where she doesn't have a clue what is going on. Dorothy just wishes she was at home, and home is the most important set that she wants at this point. In the end, Dorothy even asks the wizard to let her go home.

2. I think this film was shot at these sets because it is a Magical land, where it makes you think you are a kid again and realize that everyone really does like home. Even though sometimes kids wish to be in a land with chocolate or fantasy, they don't know what they have until they are gone. Dorothy was familiar with home and that is all she wants.

3. I think the art director is trying to tell everyone that the Wizard of Oz is all about fantasy as you can tell from their costumes. From the lion to the tin man, even to Dorothy's outfit, and the good witch's costume, it is all about happiness and a magical land that a kid might dream about.

4. I believe the lighting for the film was the correct amount. The lighting was both harsh and direct at times, but soft at other times, depending on how Dorothy feels about different things and where she is(at home or in the magical land.) When Dorothy is at home the lighting was soft because Dorothy was happy. But when the storm came along the lighting soon changed to a harsh effect. Also, during sad times during the film it was harsh, such as when the apes came after Dorothy and her friends.

5. I think the Director is trying to tell me that the lighting helps to tell the audience when something good is happening in the movie, as well as when something bad is happening in the movie. Good things have soft and diffused lighting when Dorothy is happy, and bad things have harsh and direct lighting when Dorothy is sad.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

I thought the movie, "Indiana Jones--Raiders of the Lost Ark" was a decent movie for the time that it was made, which was in the 1980's. I liked all of the adventures and constant action that took place in the movie. The action of the movie made me want to know what would happen next and if Indiana Jones would come out alive. I believe the symbolism in this movie was definetely the Ark of the Covenant, since it held the Ten Commandments. Not only did Indiana Jones want this artifact, but the U.S. as well as the Nazi's wanted this artifact. The reason the Nazi's wanted it, is because it was the most precious Jewish artifact. Also, I thought it was very tragic for Indiana Jones to have to go through all of the work to get the artifacts, when his old enemy Rene Belloq would end up taking the artifacts from him.

I thought some things about the movie were a little unrealistic. One of the things was Indiana Jones and Marion getting out of the enclosed hole in the ground with all of the snakes around them. It was kind of bizarre how Indiana Jones climbed the wall and made it fall, opening up a little hole to get outside. Another thing I thought was bizarre was Indiana Jones escaping the boulder at the beginning of the movie.

The movie starts off with Indiana Jones catching up with his ex Marion, who has the magic pendant that they need to use to reflect the sunlight off of to discover with the Ark is hidden. They continue on their adventures together until Marion is caught by the enemies and is taken away through different obstacles. Jones eventually finds her but cannot free her at the time due to their safety. Jones goes on, finds the hidden Lost Ark and digs it out with his friend. The enemy discovers their findings and takes it from them. Through all the adventures, Jones eventually gets the Lost Ark back and saves Marion. Indiana Jones had many near death encounters with booby traps, gunshot wounds, and fighting monstrous Nazi men, but in the end he succeeded.

I enjoyed reading the article entitled, "Real Archaeologists Wear Whips" because that is exactly what Indiana Jones does in this movie, and he knows how to use it well. This article tells you exactly how the film is, even down to Indiana Jones ideas about the discover being the adventure and the knowledge is the reward. I think this quote is a good quote for all to remember. It is not just about the reward including money that one might have or win, but it is about the knowledge that one gains.