Film Studies and Cinematography-Project 1
Film Studies and Cinematography-Project 1
23/09/2025 - 15/11/2025 (Week1 - Week8)
Transformers & Bumblebee
In the Transformers series, my favorite character has always been Bumblebee. Unlike the mighty Optimus Prime, Bumblebee is flawed—his voice is damaged, and he communicates through snippets of radio sounds. He can be clumsy, but he is also brave, loyal, and full of heart. There is a kind of imperfect gentleness about him that makes him feel especially relatable.
As a child, I loved playing with robot toys, imagining they would come to life and join me on adventures. Bumblebee reminds me of those solitary yet magical moments of childhood, when I could build entire worlds with just my imagination. Even now, whenever I rewatch him on screen, I feel that same warmth—a reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to be courageous and to protect the things that matter most.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: From Daydreams to Courage
I used to be the same—often caught up in daydreams about how my life could be different: What if I traveled far away? What if I changed my path? What if I pursued what I truly loved? But many of those dreams stayed only in my head. Until one day, like Walter, I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and chose to study abroad. That single decision made me realize: real adventures begin not in dreams, but in the courage to take action in reality.
This film gave me a new way to look at life. You don’t need to be a hero to have an extraordinary story—ordinary people can also live remarkable lives, as long as they are willing to try.
The Boy and the Heron: A Question About Life
Compared to the other two, The Boy and the Heron feels more like a poetic meditation on life itself. It’s not just a fantasy adventure but a story about loss, growth, and choice. The boy faces grief and confusion, yet through hardship, he begins to find his own path.
Watching it made me think about my own uncertainties—the times when I wasn’t sure who I wanted to become or what direction I should take. The film’s very title, The Boy and the Heron (also known as How Do You Live?), feels like a question thrown directly at me: “What kind of life do you want to live?”
It reminded me that life’s meaning is not about avoiding pain but about carrying courage through it, and discovering answers along the way. Perhaps there is no single answer, but that is what makes each choice and each journey uniquely valuable.
Conclusion
These three films are very different in style, yet each speaks to me in a profound way. Bumblebee takes me back to the innocence and imagination of childhood; Walter Mitty pushes me to leave comfort behind and seek adventure; and The Boy and the Heron challenges me to reflect on life’s bigger questions.
Together, they remind me of the true power of storytelling. A great film does not only unfold on screen—it lingers because it resonates with our own memories and emotions, helping us see ourselves more clearly and giving us the courage to keep moving forward.
2.Kitbull
1. Who are the main characters?
The main characters in Kitbull are a small stray kitten and a pit bull dog. At first, they live very different lives—the kitten is cautious and defensive, while the pit bull is large, restrained, and misunderstood because of his appearance. Over time, their relationship evolves from fear and mistrust to trust and genuine friendship.
2. Is there a character you identify with most? Why?
I identify most with the kitten. In the beginning, the kitten feels vulnerable, defensive, and afraid to get close to others. This reminded me of times in my own life when I was in a new environment and struggled to trust people. But there’s another reason why I connect so strongly with the kitten—I also have a cat of my own. Because of this, I have a special affection for cats and can deeply empathize with the kitten’s cautious yet curious nature. Watching the way the kitten slowly opens up made me think about my own pet and how trust is built through patience, care, and small gestures of kindness.
3. Where does the movie take place? Is it one world or multiple worlds?
The story takes place in a single, realistic world—an urban backyard surrounded by fences and old objects. This environment feels harsh and lonely, reflecting the struggles of both the stray kitten and the chained pit bull. Despite being just one physical world, the film presents two contrasting perspectives within it: the kitten’s small, fearful world and the pit bull’s constrained, misunderstood world. As they connect, these two perspectives merge into a shared space of trust and companionship, transforming the same environment from cold and isolating into warm and hopeful.
Conclusion
What moved me most about Kitbull is how such a simple setting and two wordless characters could express such strong emotions. Their journey from fear to trust reflects something deeply human: the desire for connection, even in harsh circumstances. As a cat owner, this story resonated even more with me—I could feel the kitten’s vulnerability and also the joy of finding safety and friendship. It reminded me that kindness and empathy can transform even the loneliest spaces into a place of belonging.
Project 1
require：
Choose a Pixar short for inspiration, analyze its emotional and personal connection, then create your own version with a clear “What If” statement, defining the main characters and world.
Fig 1.1 screen display
PROJECT 1: DEVELOP SHORT STORY
Title: The Ruins
Logline
During a United Nations heritage investigation, an agent is bitten by snakes inside an ancient tomb.
Following clues from a mural, he searches for an antidote to discover a century-old human experiment buried beneath the sand.
Synopsis
Set in a lost desert ruin, the story follows Li Ze, a young investigator sent by the United Nations to document a mysterious ancient site.
Act 1 – The Fall
While crossing the desert dunes, Li Ze suddenly falls through a hidden sand trap into a tomb shaft. He switches on his flashlight and searches for an exit, accidentally triggering a hidden mechanism. A small cluster of snakes bursts from the floor, chasing him through the narrow corridor. Just as they close in, a hand pulls him into a side chamber, and the stone door slams shut behind him.
Act 2 – The Keeper
Inside, Li Ze meets the Tomb Keeper, an aged guardian of the site. The Keeper gives him an old camera, explaining it holds decades of hidden truth and must be delivered to the outside world. Guided toward a concealed escape tunnel, Li Ze navigates the tomb with the camera in hand, feeling the weight of responsibility and the echoes of the past.
Act 3 – The Revelation
Emerging at sunrise, Li Ze climbs out of the dunes, gripping the camera tightly. Back at the National Museum, he places the camera in a display case. As visitors gather, a national representative presents him with a banner: “Guardian of Cultural Heritage.” In this moment, Li Ze realizes the true significance of his discovery and his duty to protect history.
Theme
Truth and Humanity
The story explores the tension between uncovering hidden truths and preserving history. It questions whether protecting heritage means merely safeguarding artifacts, or courageously confronting the secrets and wrongdoings they conceal. The protagonist’s journey—from a cautious explorer navigating deadly traps to a witness of human exploitation and moral corruption—reflects the struggle between duty and conscience. His choices illuminate how individual courage can reveal universal truths and bear the weight of history.
Character Description
1.Main character
Name:
Li Ze
Occupation:
Cultural Heritage Investigator (United Nations Mission)
Appearance:
Dust-covered, wearing a protective exploration suit with a camera and flashlight.
Personality:
Calm, observant, morally driven.
WANT:
To protect and document cultural relics.
NEED:
To understand that true protection means revealing, not concealing, the truth.
Character Arc:
He begins as a rational officer following protocol, but evolves into a courageous witness who chooses moral truth over silence.
Internal Obstacles：
Moral uncertainty: Li Ze struggles with the tension between following protocol and confronting unethical acts he discovers.
Fear of responsibility: He doubts whether exposing the truth will cause harm or backlash.
Emotional restraint: His instinct to stay rational conflicts with the growing urge to act morally and empathetically.
External Obstacles：
Physical danger: Collapsing sand, snake attacks, and hazardous tomb passages.
Hidden threats: Traps and concealed dangers within the tomb and abandoned lab.
Ethical dilemmas: Pressure from authorities or tradition that encourages concealment of sensitive findings.
Limited resources: Navigating the ruins with only minimal equipment (flashlight, camera).
2.Minor character
Name:
The tomb keeper
Occupation:
Former Archaeological Research Scholar; now the silent guardian of the underground tomb.
Appearance:
Thin, dust-covered, wrapped in an aged cloak. His face is lined, his eyes steady and alert, moving with the quiet precision of someone who has lived in darkness for years.
Personality:
Calm, wordless, deeply principled. Observant, patient, and unwavering in moral judgement. Carries a quiet solemnity, as if he bears the weight of secrets too heavy to speak aloud.
WANT:
To keep the buried truth intact until the right person appears to carry it to the world.
NEED:
To trust another with the evidence he has guarded for decades.
Character Arc:
He does not transform; he reveals. His role is to catalyze Li Ze’s change. By handing over the camera, he passes on the responsibility he has carried alone, allowing Li Ze to evolve from an investigator who follows protocol to a witness who chooses truth over silence.
Internal Obstacles：
Isolation and loneliness: Decades of guarding the tomb have left him disconnected from the world, making it difficult to trust anyone.
Moral burden: He struggles with the responsibility of deciding who is worthy to inherit the truth.
Emotional restraint: He must suppress his desire to act directly, relying on subtle guidance instead.
External Obstacles：
Environmental hazards: The tomb’s traps, unstable passages, and dangerous wildlife (e.g., snakes).
Time and secrecy: Keeping the tomb hidden from looters, authorities, or those who might misuse its contents.
Communication limitations: He must convey the importance of the truth silently to ensure Li Ze understands and acts correctly.
Elevator Test:
Li Ze pressed the emergency button repeatedly, his eyes scanning the stalled elevator’s control panel. Dust from the vents swirled in the dim light, but he kept his voice calm, giving instructions to the building’s security line. Every second felt heavy, each pause stretching longer than the last.
The Tomb Keeper stood silently against the wall, his cloak slightly rumpled, eyes steady. He did not speak, but his calm presence filled the small space. Li Ze noticed him observing quietly, each subtle movement deliberate, as if measuring the young investigator’s patience and judgment.
Minutes passed. Li Ze’s rational mind calculated escape possibilities, while the Tomb Keeper remained still, leaning slightly forward, a silent anchor in the confined space. “We just need to wait,” the older man finally said, his voice low but steady, and Li Ze felt a strange reassurance settle over him.
Gradually, Li Ze let go of the urge to control everything. He watched the Tomb Keeper carefully, learning to mirror his calmness. When the elevator jolted and began to move again, Li Ze realized he had absorbed a lesson in patience, observation, and restraint. Together, their contrasting temperaments，Li Ze’s methodical anxiety and the Tomb Keeper’s quiet certainty，had carried them safely through the confinement.
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