Anita Digital Media: Personal Project: Movies and TV (Written)

Selma

There are a couple of reasons why I love TV and movies so much. For example when you find reality is less than expected, you can turn on the television and indulge yourself into a world unlike any other. You can escape for an hour or two and forget about everything. But that is only one of the many reasons. The main reason is one I think people often forget; TV and movies are an art, and at its best, they can be beautifully and carefully crafted by geniuses who not only view the project as a way to share stories of all types, but they crave their message to be heard by every human being out there. When a filmmaker, such as James Cameron of Titanic or Richard Linklater of Boyhood, is passionate about his film, he can create a masterpiece. I think the two main components in a film that makes the difference between average and beyond incredible is how the story is executed and how the characters are portrayed. The number of stories to tell are endless and I think in history, there have been many spectacular ones. There is nothing quite as satisfying as a movie that concludes with a poised and thoughtful ending and nothing quite as satisfying as one that explores creativity, widens boundaries and throws all the rules out the window. There is also nothing as eye-widening as a story that is raw, fluid, and realistic. I think a standout this year was Boyhood; a movie that so perfectly crafted together a grounded, honest and natural story that left me humbled. In television, Breaking Bad is another example of a story that surpassed expectations. The brilliant journey of Walter White was gradual, as little by little we witnessed him evolve from a bored, average father and husband into a legendary drug kingpin. Another unifying factor in such films is that we get introduced to so many personalities, many of who have something to offer whether it be laughter or inspiration. The people of these stories, real or not, are complex, imperfect, often relate-able, sometimes powerful, sometimes strong, sometimes weak, and other times not. The best characters are really not the best at all, but the ones who are simply themselves and are also motivated and compelled. Film and television can also give us characters who are anything but ordinary, such as a couple of toys from Toy Story and still have the incredible ability to make us care about them and empathize with them and want them to have their happy ending. One of the most powerful things about a character is when we are able to see a bit of ourselves in them. When we see a character like us who is also feeling powerless, or out of control, or battling an illness, or struggling with whatever we may be struggling with in life, that character reminds us that we are not alone. That in itself can have the quiet but powerful effect of inspiring and touching lives. These are just a couple reasons why movies and television are powerful tools in our lives.