The third assignment!

Our group is going to be doing our documentary about comic books. Our expert interviewee is John Hitchcock. He lives in Greensboro and that is also where we will be interviewing him. We are going for a nostalgic tone with this documentary and will be doing our vox pops in downtown Wilmington. 

Vox Pop Questions

 Do you read comics?

        - if yes : What do you like about them?

                     How did you get introduced to comics?

        - if no : Do you watch any films or tv shows based on comics?

                    What has led you to view these yet not the source material?

                     Did the films spark an interest in the comics?

10 Questions:

1) What first drew you to comics?

2) What inspired you to pursue a career in comics rather than as just a hobby?

3) Has your passion for comics ever wavered?

4) Which comic inspired you the most?

5) Which comic would you recommend to a beginner.

6) In your lifetime how has the comic book industry developed?

7) Do you feel that the comic book films of recent have influenced the comic book community?

8) Where do you see comics in the next ten years?

9) In your opinion what has been the golden age of comics?

10) How do you feel that you have contributed to the comic book community?

Casting light Part: 2 (two days before)

   Man it is way to early for a saturday. We sit in the car half asleep waiting for our other group member to show up; she's not late, it's just to early without coffee for me to focus on the assignment that needs to be completed today. I take in the scenery surrounding the location of where we are doing the assignment. The Battleship sits across the river, cold, tranquil, and strong. It strikes me, the sharp textures that make this beautiful ship. The metal outer structure that holds her together makes for interesting shadows on the opposite side of the ship. The sharp features naturally cast dark and rigid shadows.
   It was so elegant, the way the shape of all the protruding features on the ship intermingled with the shadows that blended with them. Like a dark and deceiving dance between the architecture and light.
The early morning sun was the director and the ship the cinematographer playing with the position of the light and the effect it wanted to create.
   Then, it gave me a very disturbing feeling. As beautiful this game of shadows and objects was, it was almost reminiscent of the lost lives and terrible things this ship has seen. Even though it was lucky to now be retired, the shadows almost emitted the dark memories that haunted that ship.
   I'm sure that boat would have stories to tell. The light just exposed that there are dark and hidden memories of war and death. It made me think of my sick grandfather, how he always told the most interesting stories of war. He always painted an amazing scenery with his words, it's one of the things that inspired me to be a film maker. But like this ship, in his sickness came the darker stories. Sometimes they were the best and most interesting. Like the sickness casted a light on the old memories like the sun does on this ship I see before me.

Casting light Part: 1

   As I sit here in the Charlotte airport waiting on my flight to Nashville, I sit thinking about the flight from Wilmington to here. The morning started off somber and quiet. It wasn't until I was boarding the plane that I noticed the days first light barely touching the horizon. I took my seat and closed my eyes waiting to take off. Just after we took off the plane took a sharp left turn and I opened my eyes. The sun had officially risen over the landscape and the orange glow of light radiated through the windows casted a very calm and intimate light on the adjacent side of the cabin. I smiled, who knew a light could brighten the mood at the beginning of a long day of traveling.
   As I observed the light in that single instance, I turned my head to see the sun still slightly dipped below the horizon of the earth. The cinematographer in me examined it and questions began scattering through my head. If I was filming this, would my white balance be 4600K? What would my light meter read on the wall of the cabin? Geez, am I that much of a nerd that I think of these things outside of sets or class?
   I turned my head back to the light, it was peaceful. The orange glowing light made me calm. In that moment it wasn't about my inner cinematographer or the death of my grandfather, but how the single beauty of a ray of the sun could put a smile on my face.

Storyboarding a vision

My group luckily stumbled upon this beauty of a scene downtown.                                                                                   

Medium Shot

            

Establishing Shot

Filmmakers Statement

     Hello, my name is Ryne Seals. I have been making short films and videos since I was 16. In the spring of 2011 I did my first documentary for a friend of mine diagnosed with ALS. To this day over 350 copies have been made and distributed via the family. I really began getting into narrative short film in the summer of 2011. I started an unincorperated production company with some friends of mine called, Lonely House Films. Out of the 9 films we did, I was only apart of 6 and was primarily the Director of Photography. One of those films, that I was the Director of Photography and Co Director, was nominated for best acting in the Guerilla 48 hour Film Competition. 

     I want to learn as much as I can from this course to make myself a better filmmaker and story teller. I also hope to get a deeper appreciation for all the aspects of filmmaking and meet other creatives who enjoy doing what I do. 

     In 10 years, I hope to be working professionally in the film industry. I'd also like to see myself working as a Director of Photography in interesting and compelling features in the independent and Hollywood fields. I would also like to be a screenwriter and Director as well. 

     I absolutely love music. I play the guitar and drums. I like all kinds of music except bluegrass and country music and I prefer pop punk or metal music most of the time. I've been a vocalist for a few local bands in my hometown of Troutman, NC. I've also played guitar and drums for a few bands as well. Along with music I absolutely love photography, especially nature photography. When I go places I usually bring my camera along as my sidekick. I love capturing nature and all the beauty that is within it.