CGI is not the enemy

To the modern cinema connoisseur, CGI is the enemy. It’s an unnecessary evil in a world where practical effects are king. Why are practical effects king, you ask? Because they’re real, they reply. They don’t look fake.

They have a point, though. Who can’t look at a movie and tell straight away what is real and what has been created on a computer? Who watched Ted and thought the titular bear was a real, visceral creature, standing beside Mark Walberg? No-one.

Think back to the late 80s and early 90s, when CGI became more readily available to moviemakers. We went crazy for it. The public couldn’t get enough of computer generated dancing babies or wire frame animation. So why in the last twenty years has CGI become the enemy?

Jurassic Park was many people’s first introduction to CGI, but unlike many modern films, it used a mix of both CGI and practical effects over full CGI. (Picture: Universal)

To put it bluntly: we got greedy. The oversaturation of CGI in cinema means it’s now far easier to tell what is real and what isn’t. With practical effects, that isn’t really an issue.

Think of Jurassic Park: when audiences saw it at first, they couldn’t tell what was CGI and what was practical effects. Watch it again, and you’ll be able to tell exactly what is a practical effect and what is computer generated.

The cinema-going public don’t really hate CGI, they just hold it in contempt because they’re drowning in it. They feel like directors are lazily relying on it when they could easily be using practical effects to achieve a far more realistic effect.

But what modern cinephiles seem to ignore is the reality of the movie making process. Some things simply can’t be achieved through practical effects because of cost or other reasons. This doesn’t mean their opinion of practical effects and CGI isn’t disrespected by the filmmakers, however. Producer Nat Saunders, who did special effects work on the BBC’s web series Misery Bear explained:

“Chris [Hayward] and I recently wrote and starred in our first feature, a science fiction comedy called SOS: Save Our Skins, which is just starting to appear at film festivals. We decided early on with the director, Kent Sobey, that where possible we would keep as much of the film’s effects practical, as we all prefer that look and feel. There are sequences where we are wandering an empty New York City, which meant filming at 5am and snatching the quickest shots of us crossing streets like 5th Avenue when no traffic or people could be seen.

“We wanted to do it that way rather than green screen because we wanted viewers to get dragged into the world – an empty city – with us, and we knew we wouldn’t impress anyone if they could see it had just been knocked together on a Mac. So that’s what we did and it turned out great. But then, there’s an exploding head in there that, well, you can’t ask an actor to do that, can you? So we CGI’d that bit.”

Saunders makes a good point – you can’t just explode someone’s head for the sake of your movie. CGI will always have a place in cinema, right alongside practical effects. It certainly doesn’t mean that CGI will eliminate the need for practical effects, as Marcus Whitney, a make-up artist and prosthetics designer whose work has appeared in Casualty and Being Human explained:

“Practical effects are very important to the TV industry. It’s certainly not a rotting trade. I have worked on TV shows like casualty that have been using practical effects for years. All of the wounds, injuries, stunts, explosions are done by hand and not a computer.

“Over the years we have seen CGI effects get bigger and better. I still love watching big Hollywood disaster movies where everything you see is CGI. But I think where there is CGI, you will always need practical effects to go with them.”

CGI isn’t terrible, and it certainly shouldn’t be hated. It’s earned a reputation as a tool for lazy film writers, but really, it’s a fascinating and powerful tool in every director’s arsenal that can greatly enhance the cinematic experience. Of course it’s fake – but no-one complains that movies like Saw aren’t realistic enough, so why should it matter? All you need to do to enjoy it is let yourself be tricked into the illusion that it’s real.

Katie Campbell

Interview with Misha Anker

In a world where technology is ever-changing, the every industry must adapt to thrive and survive. But sometimes, this comes at the expense of those whose jobs are taken over by machines.

Katie Campbell interviews Misha Anker how advances in technology affect her work as a theatre technician in London.

The Leather Generation

Fossil is an American designer and manufacturer that was founded in 1984 by two brothers, Tom Kartsotis and Kosta Karsotis who named their company after the nickname that they gave their father. The brand designs and creates clothing, watches, jewellery and leather goods.

Their leather handbags are thought to be in market competition with higher priced designer brands such as; Mulberry, Prada and Miu Miu.

I spoke to Sarah O’Rouke, who is an assistant manager at Fossil, about her ideas and views on the brand and how she believes Fossils leather goods are a life time purchase.

See below for interviews

I also spoke to a customer who regularly shops in the store. She describes her favourite bag from Fossil, a Sydney Satchel, and explains how little the comparison is between her Fossil bag and her Mulberry bag.

By Pippa Smith

Youtube: The Next Generation of Television?

So before the days of iPhones, laptops and tablets entertainment was simple. Gather round the tv with your loved ones and watch whatever was on. Now, thanks to the introduction of Youtube, we have choices galore. Let’s first look at the similarities between television and YouTube. Firstly, both are used by millions to view broadcasts and programming. Second, both feature a wide disarray of characters; some loved, some hated. Thirdly, they host a huge variety of programme genres and topics. Finally, they’re both used by this generation. Who will triumph? Can television still sparkle, or will Youtube really show as the new generation of television?

How can both be so popular? Surely as one thrives, theother will struggle? It would seem this is the case for poor old television. With many television broadcasters actually going over to the dark side uploading extra and exclusive footage to YouTube channels, many audiences are struggling to feel the need to sit down in front of the television to get their entertainment fix.

With the vast majority of YouTube viewers being teenagers and young adults it would seem the starsof YouTube are easier to relate to for the audience. With many literally being alone in their bedrooms with a camera and a light fixture, it often feels like watching your friend on the screen as opposed to the seemingly unreachable celebrities of TV.

The online market also has a bigger platform to cater to a huge range of interests. From fashion gurus to singer songwriters to video-game let’s players there’s something for everyone on YouTube. Why would you really leave when everything you want is there? Television often only have a 30-60 minutes timeframe, despite the topic often just doesn’t have the space in its schedule or the expertise for such a large range of programme choices.

There also appears to be a new generation of celebrity occurring on YouTube with some lucky uploaders’subscriber count going into the millions! These new viewers open up further opportunities for the YouTube stars, from sponsored videos to their own merchandise for fans, to meet and greets. These people attract a huge fanbase, not to mention with all these extras quite a hefty pay cheque too. Not bad for just recording footage in your bedroom, eh?

One of these stars even recently graced the cover of popular fashion magazine, Company.

Zoe Sugg, star of YouTube channel ‘Zoella’ told Company, ” I don’t feel like a celebrity. I think it’s just that I’m a normal girl – I talk about my problems and I go on camera with no make-up on – there’s even footage of me sleeping online! I don’t think my subscribers see me as a celebrity either, because a lot of them have been on the journey with me – they just see me as their friend.”

With all these factors in the way is there really still a place for our television or will more and more slip into the online market in an attempt to keep audiences interested and coming back to their programming. While the cyber age continues to grow strong I hold out hope that television will remain a household favorite for many generations yet.

 

Emma Tomlinson

Retro Review: The Blues Brothers

Beloved SNL characters “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues. Picture: Universal Pictures

At times, John Landis’ classic film featuring beloved Saturday Night Live characters “Joliet” Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) feels more like an action movie than a comedic musical. When it was made, The Blues Brothers held the record for most cars ever destroyed during the filming of a movie, setting the record at a massive 103 vehicles.

The Blues Brothers, in case you’re not already aware, is the tale of the Blues brothers Jake and Elwood, who, upon Jake’s release from prison, find that the Catholic orphanage they grew up in is to be shut down. The Blues brothers don’t take kindly to this idea, and set off in their seemingly supernatural ex-police car on a “mission from God” – a mission in which they reassemble their old band and hold a fund raising concert to save their childhood home.

Belushi and Aykroyd give stellar performances as the eternally cool Blues brothers, who remain cool, calm and collected no matter what manner of shenanigans they find themselves in. Their comedic chemistry is excellent. Better yet, the Blues brothers lost no magic in their transition from the small to the silver screen, as regularly happens when short sketches are adapted into longer movies. The movie is eternally funny, and acts as an excellent introduction to the characters Jake and Elwood.

Some argue that The Blues Brothers isn’t really a musical, it’s simply a movie with a lot of music, but that undermines the performances of not only Belushi and Aykroyd (who are actually pretty good singers), but the myriad stars of soul who appear in the film. Some of the most memorable scenes in the movie feature blues legends like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Cab Calloway, who add a sense of credibility to a movie about two white boys singing traditionally black music.

As is standard with Landis, the movie’s setting, his childhood home of Chicago becomes almost a character in her own right in the movie, featuring prominently in many of the scenes and acting as an ever-present third Blues brother. Landis’ love for the city shines through in every scene, so much so that the state of Illinois should be using it as part of their “Visit Chicago” campaign.

The film does feel slightly long, like it should have finished just before the fourth act, but even now, 34 years after its original release, you can see why it’s still such a popular and well-loved classic. It’s funny, fun, silly and completely over the top, but what were you expecting a movie about two blues singing blood brothers in a magical ex-cop car on a mission from God?

Watch for the time

Don’t know what to treat yourself to? Are you thinking about replacing an old watch?

Here are three watches that I have myself and that I highly recommend.

Fossil, Cecile: £115 – £155

The Cecile multifunction watch comes in many different styles: silver, rose-gold and yellow-gold with either a plain face or a coloured face.

This season, Fossil has brought out the Cecile with a different edge, leading its newest arrivals with the colours of spring: lilac, light blue and orange.

 

Watch Station, Michael Kors, Slim Runway: £145 – £329

The Slim Runway watch comes in a selection of different though mainly in the three tones of colours being: silver, rose-gold and yellow-gold with either a blue, pink or plain face, bringing the spring colours into play.

This season, Michael Kors has created both the leather and the stainless steel strap to integrate style patterns for the spring.

 

Watch Station, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Amy: £135 – £185

The Amy brings a slick edge to this style of watch, designed with a ray of colours, from blue, pink and orange to white, beige and black. This brings out the flare for spring but keeps the neutral colours.

This season, the Marc Jacobs design has shown the leather and stainless steel straps, integrating spring and style.

 

Pippa Smith

Review: The Raid 2

The Raid 2: a style extravaganza. Picture: Sony Pictures

Is there anything more fun than total carnage?

The Raid 2 is a direct continuation of the first movie – rookie policeman Rama, played by Iko Uwais, is sent to infiltrate Jakarta crime family the Baguns, with the intention of uncovering corruption in the force he works for, but this comes at the price of compromising both his and his family’s safety if he is discovered.

Some may feel that the levels of violence in The Raid 2 are excessive, but the movie takes the violence and transforms it into something almost supernatural, which at points make it seem somewhat silly – this is most apparent in a later scene where Baseball Man and Hammer Girl (guess what their weapons of choice are) fight Rama in a small corridor and Baseball Man’s bat is used to particularly deadly effect; the scene is set apart from the rest of the gratuitous violence as it seems cartoonish in its nature.

As cartoonish as it occasionally feels, the violence is one of the movie’s primary draws, and as with its prequel, The Raid 2 features some of the most stylish and beautifully choreographed fight scenes in recent memory. There is a real beauty in the way Rama moves, and his skills as a martial artist are put to excellent use. Where the defining scene of The Raid was the claustrophobic and frantic hallway fight, the sequel brings this back in two forms, one early on for Rama and a particularly frantic and graceful fight in a subway car, both harking back to the famous scene, which are just as fun and impressive as the original.

At points, it does feel apparent that the somewhat weak plot merely exists to link the scenes of violence together, but if you’re watching The Raid 2 expecting a deep and complex plot, you’re expecting far too much from it. The Raid 2 is a fun, frantic action movie that is just as fantastic a watch as its predecessor.

The Raid 2 opens nationwide on April 11th.

Katie Campbell

Life and Death Row: Judgement

(Guy Heinze’s brother, Tyler)

BBC Three was absolutely heralded last week as their harrowing documentary on execution and those facing it aired. This came as part of their Life and Death Row series, looking into those accused, those deciding their fate and their victims. We were exposed to two of the youngest men on Texas’ death row. The countdown until their very last breaths kept the audience captivated and filled with mixed emotions, so how did this week’s episode compare?

This week focused on the judgement process of a mass murder case. It followed the trial of Guy Heinze Jr, a 26-year old man, accused of killing eight members of his family in their shared trailer, one after the other. While this week showed saw very little of the accused, we did see the reactions of those tasked with the job of deciding his fate, the jury members.

With Guy pleading non-guilty to all eight murder charges, the unfortunate ones chosen to sit in jury on this trial had to deal with some difficult sights. This included going through every single injury of all eight victims, seeing the murder scene in intense detail and the reactions of Heinze Jr. Many members of the jury thought ‘why me?’ after being chosen for this case, due to the sheer scale of it. But who had the largest task? The defence team.

This team had worked for years on their defence for Heinze Jr, relying heavily on the police’s errors of not checking through the murder scene thoroughly enough along with Guy’s very genuine sounding 911 call, they assumed they had the case wrapped up. However, it would seem that the jury had other ideas, with their verdict concluding that Guy was guilty of all eight counts of murder.

The next episode will see a law student, fight for the lives of two of the youngest offenders facing potential execution. This will be shown next Monday, at 9pm as the final segment of this series.

The Life of Coco Chanel

“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”

Coco Chanel is an inspiration to the fashion world. From her little black dress to her Coco Mademoiselle perfumes.

She started off in a small shop in France, cutting and shaping her designs; little did she know she was going to be one of the biggest female designers in fashion history.

Since starting out, her legacy continues today, from her first iconic design, she has spread across the globe. Now, in the 21^st century, the fashion house of Chanel hold ideas in perfumes, make up, accessories including handbags and purses, and endless unique clothing. Her iconic black suits and little black dresses are still continued on in her designs.

Her full name was Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel and she was born August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France. She is famous for her trademark suits and timeless designs.

Chanel’s mother died when she was very young, forcing her to be raised in an orphanage. Here, she was taught to sew and this was when her love for fashion was born.

In 1910, she opened her first clothes shop, designing and creating her own, intimate pieces and then in 1920s, Chanel launched her first perfume and introduced the acclaimed Chanel suit and the little black dress.

After her business took these thriving new heights, she introduced more of her own shops and the legendary ‘Chanel suit’ with its collarless jacket and well-fitted skirt. Her designs were revolutionary to the fashion world; borrowing elements of men’s wear and emphasising comfort over the constraints of past-popular trends. Coco Chanel was the person who said goodbye to the corsets and hello to the little black dress.

Coco Chanel’s little black dress is one of the most idealised fashion icons in its industry. Its first incarnation was in thin silk, crepe de chine and had long thin sleeves. In 1926, the American addition of Vogue, released an article that highlighted such a Chanel dress, exclaiming it the ‘garconne’ which in English means ‘little boy look’.

Her initial triumph with the Chanel suit was the innovative use of jersey fabric that was manufactured for her by the firm ‘Rodier’ and traditionally relegated to the manufacture of undergarments. Her wool jersey travelling suit consisted of a cardigan jacket and a pleated skirt, paired with a low belted pullover top.

In 1971, Chanel was at the age of 87. Even though she was of great age, she stuck to her usual routine of preparing her spring catalogue but on Sunday, January 10 1971, Coco Chanel sadly passed away while staying at the Hotel Ritz, where she had stayed for more than 30 years. She was buried in the Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery, located in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Coco Chanel’s philosophy was to emphasise the understated elegance through her clothing and designs. Throughout the 1920s, her popularity thrived because of these creative and unique designs.

She had  a unique beauty that the world came to love and embrace.

Pippa Smith

GIGS IN GLASGOW THIS WEEK

Tuesday 25/03/14

King Tuts – Natives

 

Wednesday 26/03/14

SECC – The Four Tops + The Temptations

King Tuts – Dexters

Nice N Sleazy – Sam Brookes/Hot Feet + Paul Gilbody + Leanne Smith

 

Thursday 27/03/14

King Tuts – Tokyo Police Club

Broadcast – Brown Bear & The Bandits

 

Friday 28/03/14

O2 Academy – You Me At Six

King Tuts – Paolo Nutini

Nice N Sleazy – The Velveteen Saints

 

Saturday 29/03/14

O2 Academy – You Me At Six

King Tuts  – Mike Peters Declaration tour

Broadcast – The Men

 

Sunday 30/03/14

King Tuts – Forest

Broadcast – Artic Lights

Cathouse – Bonafide

 

Monday 31/03/14

O2 Academy – Jason Derulo

King Tuts – Howler

Broadcast – Peanut Butter Wolf

Cathouse – Hopsin