Treatment 2012

The treatment of all treatments as a basic comedy
ironic ending
http://wheresmysammich.com/picture/8597/sure-i-will

What would life be like if I was dead?

There is a dead person on the ground in the backyard of a home.

Several characters stand idly by as they mourn the loss of their close friend.

A mom, girlfriend, brother, and best friend all stand and watch. The mom says “Oh god, why not me?” the girlfriend says “NO! GOD!” the brother says “I will never forget ya man.”

The best friend walks up to the cadaver slowly. He slowly goes down to his knees and places his hand on his shoulder. His eyes are burning with passion and says “Don’t worry man, i’ve already started my journey for the dragon balls.”

The best friend turns his head towards the crowd of relatives behind him and begins to walk away into the crowd and out of the scene.

The guy on the floor slowly starts to re-wake (awaken?) and whispers to the best friend “Its okay, it was only a nerf gun~!”

The best friend turns head swiftly to the guy on the floor.

Best friend walks up quickly to the best friend on the floor and and SLAPS him once so that he is knocked out.

Points his finger at friend and says “you’re supposed to be unconscious!”

The scene fades to black and we find ourselves at a bench.
The best friend is meeting with someone at the bench looking very suspicious.

The mysterious man has the dragon balls all in the suit case. The balls get handed off and do a silly handshake.

The scene fades to black and comes back to the backyard.
The best friend is walking in the backyard and finds that no one is there.

Looks inside the house and sees that the “dead” guy is no longer on the floor and instead inside eating at the dinner table.

Best friend walks in and says “didn’t i just--, but i thought--”
The mom interrupts and says “he was feeling perfectly fine until you slapped him in the face like a little girl. So i brought him inside for some soup :)”

Best friend dumbfounded. “I have the dragon balls in my car. I was going to resurrect you... how could you rob me of my only chance to bring you back to life!  you’re a terrible friend i hate you!
(takes out gun)” now you’ll pay!”

Dude says “ i know whats the matter. you want a nerf gun battle.:

best friend “yes”

dude “lets go! let the war begin”

dodges behind chairs as fire is exchanged and neither side is hit.

girlfriend walks into the fray as the two are seen with on the floor barely able to support themselves


Girlfriend says, “you two seem to be out of bullets. You know how we settle a tie....”

The two instantly jump up and pick up swords and charge towards each other and drop the swords right before they meet up with each other and play rock paper scissors.

they tie again and again.

The girlfriend walks up and punches both of them.

She grabs a gun of her own and says I never actually liked you.

Oral Presentation Part 5

V. Film Language and Representation
     Characters are represented as authoritative, they know what they are doing because they are highly trained naval aviators. Maverick and Iceman both have ranks of Lieutenant and therefore give them a sense of superiority to any enemy that might pose a challenge. In this five minute extract, there arrogance, especially Iceman's, gets the better of them.  This occurs when Iceman insists on taking the shot on Jester when he clearly knows Maverick has a better shot. His wait in time when he says "20 more seconds and I got em'" proves his selfish desire to be placed as number one in his class of Top Gun.
     The style in performance is a country side attitude where the effect proves to irritate the fellow pilot Iceman. Maverick and Goose are a tag team - they first demonstrated this in the beginning of the movie when they approached Charlie with the song "Loving Feeling" and now they prove themselves as true partners in the cockpit. Mavericks "tallyho" phrase and Gooses "its the bottom of the ninth" baseball reference just before shows a spirited enthusiasm towards earning the number one rank. Iceman displays a bad boy persona where he doesn't respond much to anything but shows his capabilities through actions. In this case Iceman fails causing Maverick to fail. This connects back to the theme of never leaving your wing mans side.
     At around 1:05:26 the wide shot follows the pilots downwards as the airplane moves into the shot merely emphasizing the descending action the pilots are doing. Similarly, when the the airplanes begin an ascension then the camera pans drastically upwards to represent speed and direction of the aircraft. Also 1:05:38 wee have a close up shot of Maverick inside the cockpit as he is flying. The camera is shaking extremely to emphasize the g-forces that are acting on the aircraft, along with the turbulence and environmental factors. Lastly, we get a point of view shot of the aircraft but not the human. The camera gives the audience an opportunity to trully see the orientation of the aircraft when in flight especially during a battle.
     In this sequence a lot of uses of direction matching occurs. The directors intent with this obviously is to make it as easy as possible for the audience to keep track of the fighter pilots so that we know who is shooting at who. Also, relevant in the editing and also very important is the position match. Maverick close up is titled at about a 45 degree angle and when it cuts to the POV of the F-14 thenwe see a similar orientation so that we know what Maverick is looking at.
     In the very beginning of the sequence the color of the shot is tinted orange. This warm color represents a passion for flying that these pilots should and obviously have. Additionally, the lighting throughout the extract is relatively simple. The dog fight occurs in day time and therefore [sunlight] cannot be controlled. The shadows that fall off the characters are meant to be accurate and with the director, he is merely trying to create the most realistic environment for the audience to believe and accept.
     As mentioned before, the meaning of the added effects of sound are added to provide a realistic notion of what it might be like in a cockpit in the case of an emergency. At around 1:07:00 Maverick is induced in a flat spin where he loses complete control of the aircraft. A horn goes off signaling that there is obviously something wrong and the sounds of the engines blowing out we hear the engines decrease in noise. The music fades completely because it is not necessary to the development of the scene especially sicne random music does not play during an airplane emergency incident.
     Once again, the directors intention with any aspect of this extract was to provide a form of realism. For location, based on my experiences i know for a fact that military aerial training excercises occur over large amounts of desert and designated water territory. This dog fight occurs over a desert plain type of region and adds to the realism of this shot. As for the mis en scene, the pilots can only wear one thing to provide realism, a jump suite. Also, how else is a dog fight going to be conducted without a fighter jet and more specifically an F-14 Tom Cat. These concepts to provide realism are so simple that they might be forgotten. But its the simplest things that provide realism to a shoot and therefore it is essential for a director to nail those key simplicities and incorporate them into a shot.
   

Oral Presentation: Part 4 Narrative

5 minute extract --> 1:04:00 - 1:09:16 (Top Gun)

1. What was the rational for choosing this selection?     I chose this selection because it is the one moment we get to sympathize greatly with our main character Maverick. It demonstrated the factual side of the world as a whole, where things do go wrong. Under controlled exercises with the Navy, this selection cautions the audience through a theme that you should always watch out since there is always an unexpected turn of events that may occur.

2. How does the extract relate to the film as a whole?
     The scene I chose relates to the film because it summarizes aspects and the drama genre of the film all in one five minute time frame. In the beginning of the extract, Maverick and Iceman exchange sarcastic banter and through facial expressions, Iceman is annoyed with Maverick with a glum look while Maverick is smiling like a little kid getting presents. Later in the scene, Iceman pulls away rapidly from in front of Mavericks jet causing an inverted dive that kills Goose. This is important in my selection because Mavericks worst nightmares of messing up and living up to his fathers reputation has come to reality. This will later affect his ability to fly and then be a motivation to overcome the odds of those who turned down Mavericks trust.

3. How is the film constructed according to the narrative/story being told?
     The film is constructed in a way where the dog fights that occur will always lead to a dramatic finally that ends up either improving or demoralizing Mavericks personality, additionally it will change how the other fly boys see Maverick as a trustworthy pilot. Throughout the film, Maverick is provoked by the people in his squadron to be a more cautious pilot. Maverick, being a rebel young pilot attempts at showing that you can enjoy defeating dirt bags instead of seeing them as random targets. Dogfights provoke Mavericks need for flying recklessly and throughout the movie he must learn to cope with this thrill in order to assure the safety of his teammates.

4. Is the narrative organized by plot or time sequence? character or plot driven?
     This narrative follows a plot sequence where there is a setup, conflict, and resolution. The setup is where the characters are introduced. Maverick and Goose first appear and we see them as pals while later we find Iceman to be the slick fighter pilot and Charlie who will Mavericks love interest.
     The conflict appears near the beginning where Cougar (who is the best pilot in Mavericks old squadron) freaks out and leaves the navy providing two empty slots for Maverick and Goose to enter Top Gun flight school. The movie will go through the different missions he has to accomplish in order to receive his top gun wings.
     The resolution end with Maverick just barely passing with enough points to be in Top Gun. Although he could have done better, it is common for a fighter pilot to lose a certain edge when it comes to flying after loosing your copilot in a flight accident.

5. Does the film use other principles than narrative as a structure?
     The film uses the hidden truth about Mavericks dad as a narrative structure. The question of what really happened to Mavericks father is the concern of him and also his squadron and Viper, the head instructor. The curiosity either propels Maverick to continuing his pursuit for Top Gun or sets him back considerably.

6. What is the nature of our engagement with the characters of the story?
     We are engaged because we are attracted to the different types of personalities. Maverick and Iceman share a love hate relationship that develop the story. Maverick is charismatic due to his lusious smile and positive attitude towards any obstacle and opportunity. Iceman on the other hand displays confidence, he is calm, relaxed because he knows what to do. His dislike for Maverick however impedes his ability to support him creating an uneven atmosphere around their peers.

Oral Presentation Part 2 and 3

II. Historical and Institutional factors.

1. What are the institutional factors that may be important?
    The specific producers to the film Top Gun were Don Simpson and Jerry Brukheimer in association with Paramount pictures.
     Top Gun, in pre production had a budget of $15,000,000. When the Tony Scotts final product was released the box office had produced for him a total of $353,816,700. Top Gun was clearly a success. Throughout production however, heavy expenses had to be paid. When renting the Tom Cats, Paramount paid $7,800 per hour for fuel along with additional costs. Shockingly, while filming on the aircraft carrier, Tony Scott ask to stay on a current course (unspecified) - the captain told him that it costs $25,000 to turn the ship. Wikipedia says that once the captain had mentioned this Tony Scott immediately took out and wrote a check for the amount desired.
     At the time, the president of the United States of America was Ronal Reagan. Hailed was one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history and provided the country with a strong sense of patriotism. Reagan was thought to be a huge contributor to ending the Cold War. His policy was that the Soviet Union could be defeated rather than negotiated with. In relation to the movie, Top Gun incorporates the same ideology by using the motif of aircraft carriers. Aircraft carriers are feared all over the world and one aircraft carrier carries the threat of ten battleships.

2. What is the films historical significance?
     Top Gun was a never before seen film and became the top grossing film of 1986. Tom Cruises unmistakable smile/grin attracted viewers that fell for his charismatic aspects.

III. Socio-Cultural Context.
   Top Gun takes place in the United States of America. In the U.S. there is always a constant desire within most individuals to serve his or her country. Our culture depicts a sense of hierarchy. Based on appearances we could assume that a white man will be successful in life allowing him to feel superior to for example a colored man where his culture has proven to have slavery. This hierarchy system translates into the movie where everyone is competing to be the best pilot but no one is able to overcome Iceman - he has built the reputation that he is "cold, like ice, no mistakes when he is flying."
     This work was made for the specific audience that enjoys to watch intense drama between men that all think they are the alpha male. Also, when making this film, it was intended that Tony Scott could overcome the challenge of making it while allowing for the American people to explore a new topic and gain insight to it.

Oral Research Part 1- Genre and Audience

1. What tradition or genre is it in?
     Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott, has the genres of action, drama, and romance.

2. What are the features determining genre?
     In the movie Top Gun, "action" is the core feature that propels the story forward. When exploring the genre of action, we understand that there are climactic elements that exclaim themselves from the plot. These elements can consist of explosion, fight scenes or in this case: Dog fights. Dog fights, for those who don't know, are battles between fighter pilots until the the victor takes down its enemy. Top Gun is packed with action because we see several demonstration of dog fights. For example, Viper and Jester are the instructors that test the abilities of Maverick in order to bring out his natural skill inherited from his father.
     In the movie, Mavericks father is somewhat of a mystery to the audience. This dramatic element of uncertainty depicts a key feature of a "drama"tic movie. Drama's revolve around an in depth development of the character that deals with emotional themes. Throughout the plot, Maverick is constantly getting grief about the reputation of his father and how it might translate to his ability to perform in flight. Iceman constantly questions Mavericks ability's whether he is on "our side or theirs." Tony Scott's intentions when creating this ambiguity was to force the audience to feel sympathy towards Maverick in order to keep the audience engaged to the plot. After all, he is the main character.
     The last pice of genre in the movie, but that also highlights the sub plot to the narrative, is romance. Tom Cruise, at the beginning of the movie, develops (almost instantly) a romantic affiliation with a woman at a bar. Little to his knowledge, they share a similar passion for aviation. This is discovered during a briefing on the MIG fighter jet where she ends up being his superior. Romance in film is described as a love story that focuses on the affectionate involvement of  the main characters and the journey that fortifies and enforces their love for each other. Kelly McGillis who plays Charlie (Mavericks superior) does not "usually date her students." Her professionalism proves futile when it comes to the flyboy Mavericks seduction after he serenades her with the song "Loving Feeling."

3. What other work might it be connected to?
     This work of Top Gun, could be connected to the movie Pearl Harbor. The same characteristics of action is incorporated in these two films with the use of aerial warfare. The use of airplanes to conduct peacekeeping missions or simple to "return the favor" to an enemy of the country, both movies follow the story of several pilots and there aspirations to becoming the best pilots they can be. Maverick (Top Gun) and Raff (Pearl Harbor) both are cocky and end up being the savior of the battle. Another aspect for comparison is the romance in Pearl Harbor. Raff also falls in love with an authoritative figure, a nurse named Evelyn. Like Charlie in Top Gun, Evelyn has an ability to persuade Raff to motivate him to fly again and do what he loves.

4. Who made this? Why?
     Tony Scott was the director of Top Gun, he was accompanied by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. in writing the script. These writers came together after Tony was inspired by naval aviators when he read the article "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay. The aerial photography allowed him to envision what he wanted and Tony was the first director to take on such a challenge.

5. What can we tell about its creators?
   We can deduce that the creators are enthusiasts of exploring different aspects of solving problems. They can dream about a future breed of warrior and respect and do justice to the proud technologies we have during that time period. The creators try to bring attention to the masses of what technologies we have and to help us understand their purpose so that we know that most technologies we have are not useless.

6. How does it fit within the directors other work? Significant narratives, visual/ technical elements?
     This movie relates to Tony Scotts other work in film. Deja Vu shares a few similar aspects in narrative and and technical elements. First, when exploring the two plots of these movies, they share the dramatic element where the main charactes Maverick (Top Gun) and Special Agent Douglass (Deja Vu) both try to uncover the truth behind an individuals hidden aspect of their lives. Maverick wants to redeem his father through the real truth of his reputation while the special agent wants to know the truth about how the ship in the beginning of the narrative exploded (by exploring the point of view of a single character that would be key in solving the mystery).
     A strong passion for high tech pieces of machinery is predominant in both plots. Top Gun obiosly uses its F-14 Tom Cats to handle its enemy directly while Deja Vu has a time machine incorporated into a computer system. There roles in the plot help to solve the issues in both movies. Due to their degree of efficiency, these hardwares are highlighted as the true heroes of their movies.

7. What is the films theme?
     The theme of the movie Top Gun is to never leave a wingman behind. In other words, you should always be there to back up someone who truly needs the support especially if it is a friend who is calling out for help.

8. What is the target audience? How is the audience addressed?
   I believe that target audience for Top Gun are aviator enthusiasts and more specifically those who are interested in naval aviation. Speaking for myself, I who am one of these entusiasts, I am addressed with the opener where the Tom Cats were being launched off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier.