Darn You Nostalgia: The Intro to Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers

As treasured as some things may be in our lives, sometimes they just do not age very well. Whether it is loses relevance in the current pop culture or just our opinions on it just change through getting older, revisiting the past can sometimes work counter-productively towards fond memories. This is what happened when I revisited Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers back in my Freshman year of college.

I stumbled upon a link for the pilot episode of Power Rangers on YouTube one day and thought, "Hey, I used to watch this all the time as a kid. It'd be fun to relive those times." So I pressed play and tried to let the good times come back. First there was the cheesy but still kind rather catchy intro to get me in a good mood. Then I started hearing the dialogue. That led me to notice the acting. That led me to notice the gimmicky qualities of the production. That led me to noticing how boring it got halfway through. And so on and so forth. The only time it got really interesting again was when the Megazord formed and even then it kind of dragged. My entire opinion of how I held up Power Rangers changed that day and not for the better.

So while it is sad to have lost my love for a childhood favorite, here is my tribute to those good times with the intro for the first season of the show. Enjoy it in all of its spectacularly 90's glory.

Genealogical Artifact

It stood several feet taller than my head. It smelled like plastic on its best days. It wasn’t terribly comfortable to carry around. Yet, this Christmas tree has meant more to the unity and happiness of my family than I will probably ever realize.

I can remember decorating this tree as far back as elementary school. We still lived in California at the time and that year family home evening was going to be focused on decorating the tree. Mom and dad hefted down those red and green containers full of ornaments I have always remembered us owning. The sounds of Alan Jackson’s Christmas album echoed from the stereo nearby.  My brother and I held back our excitement as we prepared to finally decorate that awesome tree. The moment our parents told us to start, it was a race to see who could put the most on the fastest.  We had no concept of arrangement or spacing out the ornaments on the branches, but we didn’t mind. It was the start of the only tradition we would ever truly stick with.

Every year, the tradition expanded and rooted itself as the year’s biggest family home evening event. The amount of ornaments continually grew, from the incredible millennium ball for 2000 to the red felt Carl’s Jr. star. Our sister eventually was old enough to decorate, picking up the speed of the process. We learned how to space our ornaments, maintain a variety on all angles and even move onto things like strings of stars on the branches. And that same Alan Jackson album played on the stereo every year until we could sing it from memory. This was the time of year when the family was truly united and happy together.

Then the missions came into our lives. Upon returning home, I understood what my family had felt for two years being short one family member on Christmas. On the surface, everything was the same. It was the same ornaments, the same music, the same tree and the same time of the week. Yet, something felt incomplete. I noticed my brother’s ornaments on the branches. There was the ornament ball from his birth year. There was the gold painted macaroni collage he made in pre-school. There was the star ornament with the picture he took with Santa as a baby. All of these were ornaments he was supposed to hang personally. Now he was thousands of miles away spending Christmas in Peru. Looking at everyone’s faces, I knew they were thinking about the same thing. Being short even one person made all of the difference in the world.

The tradition was going to continue regardless. The tree would be brought out of the garage with those same red and green boxes I’m sure are older than me. Alan Jackson would still play those same warbling tunes on the stereo. The tree would be decorated…again. Yet this year, I am sure our thoughts will focus on the day when a beloved brother and son returns to leave his mark once again on that green imitation tree. Only then will the tree truly bring our family together again.

Artist's Statement

            Thinking this assignment over, I realized that I really had no item I personally felt had real significance. A lot of them are tied to good memories and emotions, but only this item that we as a family shared had any true value. Nothing else truly had tradition and emotion attached to it like our Christmas tree did.

            Repetition became a theme that I developed while writing this piece, especially after my initial draft when I felt like it needed better focus. Ideas, actions and feelings would be repeated in several paragraphs. My intent was not to be lazy however. I wanted to communicate the consistency of this tree and event in our lives. As much as traditions evolve, familiarity is something that makes a tradition be a tradition. We do many of these things repeatedly because we love doing them. They lay the groundwork and without them, things do not feel the same.

            This led to the direction of my story aimed towards my brother currently serving on his mission. At some point, I realized how the tree as an object really did not mean much to me. The real reason I connected with the tree was because I connected with my family through it. We had our routines, our traditions and everything we repeated each year. Yet, those things did not matter as much without everyone being there. We built that tradition together and it felt the best when everyone was there to enjoy it.

            As for the structure of the narrative, I felt that simply one story about the tree was not enough for this piece. There were too many Christmases, too many memories and too many moments connected to the tree to say, “This event here was the event I remember this tree by.” The tree was older than that and so was our tradition. I attempted to write the story through bookends, with my earliest and most recent memories of decorating that tree being present. I wanted to feel like the full history of the tree was being represented. Besides, it is not like we could make the tree do anything other than stand there to be decorated. Those branches can only be moved so much to make it feel like thing were different.

And This Is Our Landing Craft: The Introductory Cutscene for Psychonauts

Sometimes, a good product falls through the cracks. Maybe a movie wasn't marketed well, a song was too independent to be popular, a game was too strange for the public or something involving all of the above. There are many reasons good products do not get the credit they deserve. Psychonauts should not have been one of those products, but thankfully its continually growing cult status has elevated it to being deservedly recognized as one of the best video games of he 2000's.

I remember buying this game when it released and being completely sucked into it. It had brilliant art design, fully fleshed out characters, original storytelling, witty yet appropriate humor, unique gameplay and many memorable moments. It was also one of those rare game where the gameplay and story actually worked hand-in-hand rather than favoring one for the other. Even aside from a few hiccups in the gameplay and design, I could go on and on about the love I have for this game for so many things it does right.

Embedded above is the introductory cutscene of the game, which pretty much will set the tone for whether it is your kind of game or not. Enjoy and let me know what you think of the video, the game or anything in between!

Where My Journey Began: My Application Movie for TMA

I am very humbled that I have been accepted into this film program. I remember those days stressing about every little paper, every little edit, every little detail needed to apply. It was a stressful yet ultimately very rewarding and oddly enjoyable experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I decided to share my application video on here just to show people my work. I will not credit it being any kind of masterpiece, but I really enjoyed the process of crafting it. Hope you have a great day!

Process Piece By Kirsten Anderson and Justin Zarian

The world is full of so many wonderful and amazingly unique sounds.  Consider everything you do in a day - take a shower, eat food, or walk from location to location.  Every movement comes with a distinct sound, whether our ears register and pay close attention or not.  Noises make our surroundings come alive.  Think about it - if you watch a horror movie without the sound, is it really so terrifying?  Definitely not.  Sound effects and music scores help draw in audiences without them even realizing how they are being manipulated.  Just as in a film, surrounding sounds play a subtle but vital role in every-day living.

In an effort to express human life through process, we chose to document a typical morning of a girl getting ready for school and walking to class.  Not only did we want to record a universal event, but we wanted to communicate the theme of the passing of time.  Everybody has deadlines to meet.  What happens before the deadline is the individual's call, as long as they make it in time.  Our process piece shows a girl working against the clock; however, when it matters most, she delivers just in time before the bell rings. 

Just as in the viewings for class, we also wanted to show the contrast of both mundane moments in life, as well as how grateful we truly should be for these little events.  In "My Mom the Taxidermist," the daughter tries taxidermy with her mother, even though she is a vegetarian.  This process is so special and touching because it focuses on a mother-daughter relationship.  The importance of these events, like the bonding in this piece and the seemingly insignificant task of getting to school on time in our piece, is highlighted because they are specific processes in which humans grow.  Both are not momentous events, but both are vital when determining important moments in ones life.  Alarms begin everyone's day.  We all have to climb out of bed, even if doing it somewhat drudgingly.  And showers (hopefully) are a daily routine that everyone should partake in.  These sounds are a representation of the processes everyone goes through that are taken for granted.

Every process we, as humans, go through have specific sounds attached to those movements.  This is why in a movie if something could be making a sound, then it should be making a sound.  In the Disney Pixar film Wall-E, every sound is rerecorded and layered on top of other sounds for a full effect.  We wanted to layer sounds like this in our process piece to give a more realistic representation of life.  Sounds are everywhere, and never is there one sound.  For this reason we chose to overlay the ticking clock on top of other sounds.  The ticking clock also connects to our theme of racing against the clock, and ultimately coming out on top.  The ticking ends right before the final bell of class, signifying her success in this race against time.

Well That Explains Everything!: "Bernie" Explains Texas

I am still sad Bernie never made it to the big screens. I honestly feel it was one of the best movies I saw so far this year. It is not only Jack Black's career best performance (no seriously, he's actually acting this time), but it is a terrific addition to director Richard Linklater's filmography. It manages to cover a whole gamut of emotions effectively, from being very funny to very sad to surprisingly thought provoking. And of course you have to point out the terrific supporting turns by Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey.

One of its best achievements, however,  is the integration of the real life townspeople involved in the event the film is based on. While a few of them are actors, the majority of them were genuine people who personally knew the real Bernie Tiede. I am not sure how Linklater directed them, but he managed to show them in a humorous and sympathetic light. It added a whole other layer of interest to the film.

Here is one of my favorite clips from the film, where an older man explains how Texas is not just one singular state. Very funny:

Thick Description

The soft ripple of water rubs onto my body as I enter from the side. The electrical lights hum around me as night falls upon my apartment complex. The distinct but mild scent of the chlorine tickles my nose as my body adjusts from the initial shock of the cold. Though seemingly unspectacular, these are all things that capitalize my enjoyment of being in a pool. Why you ask? I feel it is because you do not need to be actually doing something to enjoy a pool. Sometimes just savoring the experience is more meaningful than continued activity.

            The water envelops my body, creating an underwater suit for my mostly exposed body. It is an increasingly warm embrace as my body adjusts to its temperature. My cares and burdens are suspended in its weightless form. My mind has been soothed and my muscles are at ease. I feel one with the water, almost as if it is an extension of my body. In here, I am not tall or short, fat or skinny, smart or dumb. I feel just like everyone else.

            The pool’s appearance only enhances this feeling. Nothing about this pool distinguishes it as standing out from the crowd. The floor surrounding it is a sturdy gray concrete, clearly planned for strength than aesthetics. A skinny black fence seals of the pool from the world, its cold and metallic surface as an intimidation to those not allowed inside. Empty space surrounds on each side of the pool, emphasizing it as the most visible and viable thing beyond the gates. Steam from the hot tub simmers and rises above its water, encased by a coarse red wall of bricks. Standard. That is the word I think of when looking at this pool.

            And yet it is truly what is below the surface that makes the pool enjoyable. Beneath the plainness of the exterior, there is life in this pool. What kind of life? Every kind of life. Every human beings have their existence tied to water for far more reasons than just quenching thirst. It could be a birthday party, swimming laps for a race, their first swimming lesson, finding a spot to bath or any number of moments. No matter how you do or do not dress its exterior, everyone can find something to savor from any pool. Pondering this, memories of family, friends and acquaintances arise in my mind. Their smiles, their laughs, their energy and their personalities shed light on moments long since past. Some of these people I have not seen in years, but it is our experiences with the pool that keeps them in my mind. There is something comfortably universal about pools of water.

            A creaking is heard as the front gate opens. Indistinct chatter and clopping sandals are heard as people from my complex come to enjoy the pool. The quiet of my thoughts has dispelled for a moment. Towels are plopped onto the cold metallic table on the side with a dull thud. Uncovered feet now clap against the slight wet surface around the pool. Jubilant laughs echo across the empty spaces as an explosion of water erupts from their forceful entrance into the water. Large ripples slap my face, their coldness causing my skin to tingle.

            My quiet time in the pool has come to an end. The cold air brushes against my body as the rapid splashing of water coming off my body is heard in the pool. My towel glides across my skin, trying to be a replacement to the warm embrace of the water. Drips of water dot the concrete beneath my feet. The burdens of the world rest upon my shoulders again. I will have to plan for another quiet time soon.

Artistic Statement

Pondering about spots that are significant to me, I had to come to a conclusion that there really was no one spot I would say is distinctly significant. I could not say that one store is better than the rest. I could not say this one tree is more interesting than another. I could not say this one table meant more than any other. I had to think of something that could be more…universal. Something that could be reflected upon not only for its literal traits, but also for the way it affected me personally. And then I remembered the pool outside of my complex. I had been in there several times and each time was a joyful moment. It reminded me of many pools in the past and many positive memories associated with them. It became my topic.

One thing I tried to emphasize was having a point that I cared about. As I soaked in the location, I thought about everything I could that involved a pool. This became part of the narrative for this description. I have had many experiences where I would take time to think while in a pool, a bath or any number of bodies of water. Being surrounded by water was connected to moments of introspection just as much as being entertained with other people. I focused on this and it led to my concept about the universal nature of water.

I didn’t want to just list my memories or just list the description of the pool. I wanted my thoughts to go in whatever tangent they could take me. Sometimes it meant just looking at the objects around me and sometimes it meant pondering deeper concepts. This became a concept for the structure my paper. The style would reflect my thoughts and impressions as the time progressed. The descriptions of the water affecting me, the physical description of the pool, the deeper thoughts I had and then the literal events of the people coming in. An experience is not just one single moment of constant literal thought or introspection. It encompasses a lot more range than that and I attempted to write my paper with that in mind.

Are You Darkly Dreaming Dexter?: Dexter Intro Video

 I love clips. I love sharing clips. I love learning about new clips to share. So I hope in between my posts for class, I can also share some videos of scenes, trailers, tv intros or whatever it may be to highlight great moments of film making or just cool things.

This one is the intro from the hit show Dexter. I remember catching this my first year at BYU and being absolutely blown away by it. The editing, camerawork, music (from an underrated favorite of mine Rolfe Kent) and tone effectively communicate the conflict of Dexter's serial killer impulses versus his continued struggle to appear normal on the outside. He may want to not use those scary faces from this video though....

Check it out.

Music Mosaic

The Slayer

The accompanying music piece from American Horror Story, composed by César Dávila-Irizarry and Charlie Clouser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY_htwAmBOQ

Horror is not a consistent release of shock. It is the seemingly mundane drenched in mystery, waiting to unleash the shock upon you. While the title sequence of American Horor Story sells this effectively, listening to the music without the images evokes this idea further. Something about listening to the soft instrumental tune struggling against the chaos of the white noise sparked my imagination on what horror really is. I visualized my apartment at night, seemingly safe in my own confines. Then I considered the sudden contrast of the out of place and unknown horrors that can appear. This became the motif for my music mosaic, with the mundane drenched in a soft mysterious lighting and the unknown distinctly standing out.

            To support this idea of the unexpected, I decided to not arrange the images in a particular narrative order. Why tell the viewer what the progression of images is supposed to be when they are capable of deciding themselves? That is for them to piece together themselves. When does the unknown interrupt the mundane? Which is the mundane and which is the unknown? Do the images tell stories themselves or does going from one to the other tell a clearer picture? Does specific parts of the music influence how to perceive the images? They are free to test all of these thoughts and more.

To paraphrase Peter Forbes from our reading, anything new we present will be challenged and change constantly until it is our own story. A narrative can be tweaked and changed until it is something completely unlike the artist’s original conceit. I simply decided to eliminate the middleman and invite the change immediately. I present them the parts and they in turn participate in creating art with me rather than presenting my view of art alone.

             We have seen this done before. Godfrey Reggio's 1982 film Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance was a film compiled of a variety of slow motion and time-lapse footage of cities and scenery. There was no dialogue, narration or pointed direction to stick with. All that was present was images and music. We could take the film as a straightforward narrative. We could dissect specific sequences to determine a story. We could watch sequences out of order to make our own story. It was left to us. The themes of relationships between humans, nature and technology were still intact either way. Likewise, both the themes and arrangement of my mosaic are meant to express a similar goal.