Stranger Things

I had heard great reviews on the Netflix series Stranger Things, so I decided to watch it. After watching the series, I enjoyed it a lot and I think it's really one of, if not the best shows on Netflix. The entirety of the series mourns lost innocence and investigates the tender fault lines of fractured, struggling families. At the same time, it efficiently unites various aspects of horror and suspense serials we have all seen before. While the scares are, effective and help tell the story, there are some points where it seems unoriginal. The series has an ambiguous and even sad thing on its mind and the familiar outlines of its plot are most effective when they serve as a cover for somewhat deeper explorations. The shows ‘creators Matt and Ross Duffer use sturdy conventions to explore an array of entirely relatable anxieties, like the fears of parents and children who are growing apart, and the scary sounds that lurk between friends and longtime acquaintances who realize they may not really know each other at all. Besides the supernatural aspect of the series, there’s also a sense of magic that depicts an unexpected bond that springs up between kids and an unusual visitor whose presence hints at threatening but possibly wondrous mysteries. 

Supergirl

Last fall I began watching CBS’s Supergirl, after watching the first few episodes I was pleased with the casting of Supergirl. The actress who plays both Kara Danvers and Supergirl portrays the role with the vulnerability that Kara Danvers has and determination that Supergirl has. The character was written to be strong, capable, upbeat, and not above making mistakes. The show's tone is more hopeful and cheerful rather than dark, and gritty that’s seen in Snyder’s Superman films. Some Supergirl’s finest moments were when she was using her tenacity and wit to overcome an obstacle, instead of punching her way through it. I think a fundamental flaw they made was introducing the Department of Extra-Normal Operations (DEO). Having Supergirl’s actions be orders doesn’t allow her to do her job if she’s always answering to a higher power. In many cases, Supergirl was disrupted by Department of Extra-Normal Operations while trying to defeat the enemy. Having the DEO does not allow Supergirl to make her own choices and suffer the consequences as any hero would have to do, and then learn from her mistakes. After watching season one, for the most part, I enjoy the show and I am excited to see where they take it in the second season.

Fantastic Beasts

After hearing about Fantastic Beasts, I was excited yet hesitant, at first because with many spin-off movies they do not usually do well. Especially this being a spin off from the worldwide phenomena Harry Potter I was not sure if it would be worth seeing. Therefore, going to see it I set the bar lower expecting it to not be that good. After seeing it I enjoyed it and it was much better than I had thought it would be. As a stand-alone movie, I do not think it would do that well, but because it will have sequels I think it was a good opener to a larger series. One thing that was different compared to the Harry Potter films was that it was not a child-friendly story it was set in 1920’s Manhattan where magical characters face separatist attitudes toward those without magic. While a frightening dark force looms around threatening all in New Yorker. The period cityscape provides a wonderful contrast to Scamander's amazing personal zoo, which he keeps hidden in his briefcase. I was surprised that the film took a much darker tone to it, as other Potter films had a light-hearted feel to them. I was glad to see a change in the tone and have a darker more intense feel to the movie, especially it being the 1920s.  

Luke Cage

Starting with Daredevil in 2015 is when Marvel’s Cinematic Universe took on a darker tone for its content. The show was dark, and gritty unlike its predecessors like the Avengers which has a light-hearted approach. Later in 2015, Jessica Jones’s show continued the newly established dark and gritty atmosphere while debuting the launch of Luke Cage’s own show. In Luke Cage, the origin story is touched upon and briefly revealed throughout the first seven episodes in the series while creating a Harlem built on hip-hop. The most prominent enemy is Cottonmouth, a nightclub owner who deals with the shady underworld of Harlem. Cottonmouth and his cousin work together to bring change in Harlem. Both Cottonmouth and his cousin have intriguing, interlocking histories and together make a brilliant villainous duo. Luke Cage’s Harlem is believable and feels real to the audience. In the first few episodes of the show, the characters spend most of their time in Pop's Barbershop as members of the community come and go. This helps reflect the New York life which makes Marvel’s Harlem feel so real despite the enhanced beings. The hip-hop music that is played throughout the show helps engage yet more senses, which in turn allows the viewer feel a part of Luke Cage’s world. 

My Introduction

Hey everyone! My name is Sean McClelland and I am from Westfield, Indiana. I am a freshmen majoring in film production. I have been interested in film making since I was very young, and my hope is to follow my dreams of becoming a filmmaker. I like to watch the behind the scenes of movies to learn about the technical aspects of film making. For most of my life I have been writing fictional stories in hopes of them becoming a short film or a movie one day. During my senior year of high school, I took a video productions class, taking it helped improve and teach me the technical side of film making. It helped me build a foundation for my passion, and I hope this year I can learn more from others who share the same passion as me.

I love listening to and creating music, it helps and inspires me when I am writing. I started playing the piano two years ago when my family inherited a 1904 Grand Steinway B Piano. I am self-taught and I play purely by ear. I’ve written some original songs as well as many covers that I have learned. I believe that music is a major part of films, it helps create the emotion and mood that the filmmaker is trying to convey. I hope to one day write an original score for one of my short films or features that I work on. I am excited to learn and gain more experience in film making here at HU!