Julia_Alvarez_B3 Horror and Suspense Blog Post

Julia Alvarez
Intro to Film Studies
Blog Draft #2
Mr. Monahan
11.09.18



THEME: Psychological Deterioration

The word psychological connects to the mind and it’s mental state while deterioration, in this context, refers to a damage that’s breaking something or someone down. When talking about psychological deterioration in a person it refers to when a person is going insane or mad. The brain is a very complex thing that can sometimes feel like a parasite inside of someone that’s causing them to behave in a unconscionable way and many things can cause it to go through psychological deterioration like being alone for a long period of time or personal experience like going through an abusive relationship.

The two movies recently watched, Psycho (1960) and The Shining (1980), all show signs of psychological deterioration in it’s main characters as the movie progresses. Deciding whether it’s characters developed psychological deterioration because of the unreal occurrences happening at the time or was it already embedded in the characters from childhood is up to the viewer's perspective.

The movie Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960 begins with the focus on a woman named Marion Crane as a secretary in a real estate office. She steals a big sum of money from a wealthy home buyer when he came in with cash and Marion was sent to the bank by her boss to deposit the money. With a deep desire to be with her lover who was a few states away she heads back home, packs her bags and starts her journey. While on her way she stops at a motel where she meets a very intriguing and disturbed Norman Bates, the receptionist and son of the original owner of the motel. Marion is stabbed while showering, the scene was made to make viewers believe that Norman’s mother had stabbed and murdered Marion, but in a very twisted reality, it is soon discovered that Norman had this mental instability that caused him to dress up as his deceased mother and do unspeakable things. Including keeping his mother’s rotting corpse in their home as if she were still living.




In the well-known film, The Shining, we are presented to a family, the Torrance’s, who consist of the husband Jack, the wife Wendy and young son Danny. As Jack is hired to look after a hotel during it’s off season, we find out that he has dealt with alcoholism and there has been abuse towards his son and wife. As they settle down in the hotel inexpiable things begin to take place which causes every family member to have illusions and Jack, especially, to become more violent towards his family. On the day where everything seems to be finally crumbling down, Jack finds himself chasing after his family with an axe until he follows his son into a huge maze. As he struggles to find his way out his son reunites with his mother and flee and he is left to die of hypothermia.



Arguably, I can make the inference that Jack and Norman developed mental deterioration as a cause of their surroundings and environment of isolation. As we know Jack had already suffered of alcoholism and was clean for over three months, however it begins to develop as the family finds themselves alone constantly and tied down to the hotel. It is discovered that Norman began these unusual behaviors after his mother died, or better yet, killed. In order to replace his mother he began talking to himself in his mother’s voice but eventually got caught up in this world of his that he struggled to distinguish his personality and his mother’s. All of this began because he was alone proving my statement of isolation being the cause of this mental deterioration on these main characters.

Shany American Dream

Shany American Dream 

Shanylka Pagan 

Mr. Monahan 

Intro to Film Studies 

21 November 2018 

The 'American Dream' is the idea that every US citizen or people in general coming to America should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Most of the time when I think of the 'American Dream' I connect it to immigrants who come to the US for a better way of living and have the opportunity they've always desired. Many people think the movies Rocky and Sugar are examples of the "American Dream' as both films showcase the main characters fighting to be successful through sports. 

The film Rocky is directed by John G. Avildsen and stars Sylvester Stallone as Rocky. Rocky is Italian and is the child of immigrants. In the beginning of the movie he starts of as a low-ranking boxer earning just $40 for one fight. In the film it shows that he lives in an apartment in a very bad condition and the neighborhood he lives in is evident he is in the lower working class. Boxing is his job and what he does for a living, he also works for a loan shark as a collector, which means he engages in what some people consider "mafia style work". He is seen as a "tough guy," however throughout the movie he is showcased as a compassionate guy. In one scene he walks a bad mouthed girl from his neighborhood home which shows he is caring. To be honest, I did't enjoy this film as much because it wasn't something that interested me and I'm not a big fan of action movies. 

Sugar is a film directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden. The main character Miguel Santos or "Sugar" is played by Algenis Perez-Soto. He is a man from the Dominican Republic that plays baseball and is a pitcher. His dream is to make it to the big leagues as he plays for the San Pedro de Macoris. I really enjoyed this movie because it showed how he was trying to make his dream come true but of course there were obstacles that got in his way. I also liked how they showed scenes in where he spoke Spanish because it hit close to home.

Each film really dives into the idea of the "American Dream" when each man in both movies get their big break. In Rocky, Apollo Creed, current heavyweight Champion of the World invited Rocky to fight him in a very important match. The original competitor who was supposed to fight Apollo Creed got injured in training. Since Rocky was an underdog boxer, Apollo thought it would make for an exciting show. At that time, Apollo was the best boxer of all time. In Sugar, Miguel, who is the main character, moves up to the United States minor leagues and got the chance of coming to America. His first training starts off with the Kansas City Knights and then proceeds to move on to their sub organization, the Swing. If we're comparing both movies to which one fits better with the American Dream in my opinion is Sugar because he was a man coming to America for success, through his hard work and determination, despite not making it to the actual major leagues. Rocky in a way would fit the term "American Dream" but he didn't work hard to be the best boxer, he was just trying to make boxing his career. This is a reason as to why Sugar and Rocky were both different. 

Both films are similar because they both have to adjust to their goals while going through other stuff. In Rocky, he worked really hard to try and beat Apollo but he came to the realization that that probably wasn't going to happen. Rocky then just decides to last all 15 rounds of the fight, still standing strong. In the movie Sugar, Miguel gets injured and comes to the conclusion that there is more to life than just playing baseball. When he goes back to playing, another player named Salvador from the Dominican Republic was better than Miguel. After changing his goal around, Rocky became more focused on dating and relationships while Sugar became more focused on his life in New York. Rocky had his eye on Adrian, a woman who was the sister of his friend Paulie and worked in a pet shop. After Rocky fights Apollo Creed, he confesses his love for Adrian. After feeling threatened by Salvador, Miguel moves to New York and gets a job. He meets new friends and even joined a baseball team composed of people who have played in the major leagues. Living in New York, Miguel was able to be successful and accomplishing his dream.

Rocky and Sugar are two films that showcase the idea of the American Dream. Rocky's goal was being a decent boxer and proving everyone that doubted him wrong. For Miguel, it was coming to America to pursue his baseball passion. Both men were successful without being millionaires and it was all because of their hard work and dedication.

Sugar and Rocky- Blog Post- Sara Garzon

Sara Garzon

Intro to Film B3

Blog Draft

Mr. Monahan

Oct. 3th, 2018

The American Dream varies from people's perspective especially on how they view life and the basic is having the opportunity to come from nothing and being able to get everything you need like for example a job, car, and family to enjoy these things. In a lot of countries you're stuck in the place you're born but in America, you can be a poor person from the bad areas of Chicago and become president. And this is why many people leave their country and move the US to find more opportunities. And the films Rocky (1976) and Sugar (2008) are pretty different when it's showing the struggles between an American working hard to meet his dreams compared to a Dominican coming to the states and how he needs to work to the top while knowing little to no English.

Sugar ❡: In the opening credits until the end of Sugar, the central character/ main character Miguel “Sugar” Santos played by Algenis Perez Soto is a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro de Macorís, struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States' minor league system. He got sent to Phoenix, Arizona, and Sugar got invited to have spring training by the fictional team Kansas City Knights. He is assigned to a team in Iowa, the Swing. He is housed by the Higgins family. And in the story, he tries really hard to fit in and work hard to get into the major leagues and later on realize that he shouldn't force himself to do well on everything and at the end, he knew his true passion is being a carpenter and the director and screenwriter show the early stages of the American dream. And it shows how he works hard to learn the language and get used to the customs.  

Rocky ❡: In Rocky (1976) Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a kind-hearted and uneducated club fighter from Philadelphia whose main source of income is collecting debts for the local crime boss, Gazzo (Joe Spinell). Despite being good at boxing, nobody believes that Rocky can make to the pros because he's uneducated and an underdog. He falls in love with his best friend's sister Adrian  (Talia Shire) and everything seems to be going okay. But things just get better because Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is a reigning champion and his opponent gets injured and Rocky is chosen to take his place because of his nickname, "the Italian Stallion." Rocky sees it as a chance to live his dream and go the distance with the heavyweight champion of the world. And he works really hard be the best he would ever be because he always wanted to make it to the top even if he's an underdog. And does everything he can to train for the big fight from punching frozen meat to running a lot.  And on Jan. 1st the night of the big fight, the first round, Rocky knocks Apollo down, the first time Apollo had ever been knocked down in his career, and Apollo breaks Rocky's nose, also for the first time in his career. Apollo soon realizes that, although Rocky does not have the same skill he has. The match becomes a long and grueling battle for both competitors. Up into the 14th round, Rocky is nearly knocked down but manages to get back up and they went up to the 15th round and sadly Apollo won but it didn't stop Rocky from saying that he loves Adrian. And it doesn't matter if you win or lose because love always wins at the end (even though it's a cliche)

In conclusion, there’s many definitions of an American dream and people will have to work hard to meet their meaning of a dream.

American Dream-Julia Alvarez

 Julia Alvarez

Intro to Film B3

Blog Drafts

Mr. Monahan

9.27.2018

THEME: American Dream

The american dream can be altered in definition depending on who’s perspective it is from. For example to an immigrant the american dream can be defined as being given the chance to prosper in the land of opportunities. To others it can mean finding fame or success. All it takes is hard work and determination.

In the first film viewed, Rocky, the story was about a man, who was considered a “bum”/loser in his low income neighborhood, gets chosen in the year 76’ to fight Apollo Creed, the heavyweight champion at the time. The year is of great significance because the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and so Apollo believed fighting somebody with a name like The Black Stallion, would be very iconic. Rocky first started with the intention of winning but then settled with lasting the full 15 rounds as it was still something never done before and he succeeded at that while also winning a few thousand of dollars and fame in the end.






The film Sugar told the story of a young boy from the Dominican Republic who was training as a baseball player to play for the high leagues in America in which he succeeded at doing so but gave up eventually because of the pressure from it. Being treated and trained like a racing horse was not the life he wanted for himself and so he fled to New York in a hispanic/latino neighborhood with one of his old baseball friends, Jorge, to start a new life away from the pressure of playing professional baseball. He settled there and found a home with Osvaldo, a Rican furniture shop owner who provided shelter for him after he ran out of money. Sugar ended up playing baseball as a hobby in a local park alongside other victims of the foreign baseball players system.







Deciding whether these two men found the american dream in their stories is up to the perspective of the watcher and their life experiences. One thing for sure is that they both got a taste of fame and victory and if we go by the definition of the american dream, success/fame is included. It was predicted that Rocky most likely came from an immigrant italian family considering the time period and his current income status. He trained with determination and worked hard to make sure the fight wasn’t an easy win for Apollo, as said by one of Apollo creed's trainers, “he doesn’t know it’s supposed to be a show! He thinks it’s a damn fight! Now finish this bum and let’s go home”. The word bum is used to describe Rocky multiple times in the movie and he shows resentment towards it as it seems to make him upset and so his goal became to end that. As the fight date approaches he starts being well known by his neighborhood and in his own way comes out of the ring as a winner.

Sugar came from the same status as Rocky, living in a poor neighborhood as well but this time in North America. Sugar immigrated to the USA as well but with an athlete visa that presented him already in a high status as he was coming to America ready to play professional baseball. At first he had fame and was praised and had money but he started slacking, there was no longer the determination and hard work included in the american dream and so he slowly started drifting away.

Both characters experienced their American Dream but the results from it were different as the American Dream comes with sacrifices.

Jasmine American Dream

Jasmine Jones
Mr. Monahan
Intro to Film Studies
1 October 2018


 The ‘American Dream’ is the idea of people coming to America with the goal of having economic prosperity and success, achieved through hard work, determination, and initiative. Many connect the American Dream with immigrants, who usually come here for a better life-- to be free from the threat of war, have religious freedom, or whatever other factor is pushing them from their home country. Many believe that the movies of Rocky and Sugar exhibit the American Dream as films depict the two people trying to be successful through sports.

Rocky is directed by John G. Avildsen and stars Sylvester Stallone as Rocky. He is obviously Italian and probably the child of immigrants. He begins the movie as a low ranking boxer, earning around $40 in one fight. He is lower working class, which is evident by his apartment and the neighborhood he lives in. Though he does do boxing as a job, he also works for a loan shark as a collector, meaning he engages in what one would consider “mafia style work”. He does come off as a tough guy, but throughout the movie one can see him being compassionate. In the film, he walks a foul-mouthed neighborhood girl home and doesn’t break the thumb of a guy who owes his loan shark of a boss money.



Sugar is a film directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden and features Algenis Perez-Soto as Miguel Santos, or Sugar. He is a man from the Dominican Republic who works as a pitcher and dreams of making it to the big leagues. He begins the movie as a pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris, playing at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.



Each film really delves into the idea of the American Dream, when each man gets their big break. In Rocky, current Heavyweight Champion of the World Apollo Creed invites Rocky to fight in him in this big important match. This happens because Apollo Creed’s original competitor got injured in training. While scrambling to find another competitor, Apollo Creed thinks that him challenging an underdog boxer would make for an exciting show. Apollo Creed was one of the best, if not the best, boxers of the time and so this was a big deal. In Sugar, Miguel advances to the United States minor leagues and has the chance to come to America. He begins training with the Kansas City Knights and then moves to their suborganization, the Swing. Sugar is a perfect example of the American Dream, a man coming to America for success, through his hard work and determination, despite him not actually making it to the big leagues. Rocky is as well, but in a different way. Despite Rocky working hard as a boxer, he didn’t work hard to be successful. His goal wasn’t to become the best boxer in the world, it was to have boxing be his career. This is one of the main ways that Rocky and Sugar differ.

The way that both men are similar is that both have to adjust their goals. In Rocky, after he had been working towards beating Apollo Creed in the match, Rocky comes to the conclusion that that’s probably not going to happen. He was the heavyweight champion after all. Rocky decides to adjust his goal to lasting the rounds, to lasting all 15 rounds with Creed in the ring. In Sugar, Miguel gets into an injury and sees that there’s more to life than just playing baseball. He does go back to playing, but when Salvador, another pitcher from his past comes from the Dominican Republic and is better than Sugar, he starts to let go of that dream. It’s important to note that them adjusting their goals doesn’t interfere with them achieving the American Dream. Instead, it makes the goal of achieving success more realistic for them. This similarity also helps develop another one of their differences. After changing his goal, Rocky became focused on romance and dating, while Sugar become focused on living life in New York. For a long period of time, Rocky was interested in Adrian, a woman who was the sister of his friend Paulie, and worked in the pet shop that Rocky visited everyday. Eventually Rocky asks her out on a date and their relationship progresses. After Rocky fights Apollo Creed, he begins screaming Adrian’s name and professes his love for her. On the other hand, after Sugar feels threatened by Salvador replacing him, he leaves to New York, like his friend Jorge did. Here he gets a job, meets new friends, and joins a baseball team composed of people who played in the major leagues. He actually enjoys living in New York and is successful there, accomplishing his American Dream to an extent.

The American Dream is the goal of being successful in America and accomplishing that goal through hard work, drive, and motivation. Rocky and Sugar are two films that exhibit the idea of accomplishing one’s American Dream. The main character of each film starts off with a goal, something they plan to accomplish/ do with their life. For Rocky, it was being a decent boxer and proving to those that have doubted him that he did have what it takes to compete with the professionals. For Sugar, it was coming to America and playing in the Major League of Baseball. Though each had to make some adjustments to their goal to make it more realistic and achievable, both men became successful. They didn’t become millionaires in these specific films, but they were able to live decent lives in America through their hard work and initiative.

Fraylin Ventura Intro To Film Studies/ Monahan Class

Fraylin Ventura

Intro to Film B3

Blog Drafts

Mr. Monahan

9.27.2018

Life, and the pursuit of Happiness

THEMES:

  The American  Dream: The idea or promise that America provides equal opportunity for all and will succeed through hard work and determination. This can be evidenced by material success-ownership of property- and having a family and friends. Crossing or Blending Genres: Both and Sugar be considered sports films; however, they both incorporate elements of romance and drama (personal relationships). Additionally, sugar takes a sharp turn turning from what is essentially a sports film into a tale of imagination.

Outline:

1. Evidence Collection I: Sugar by directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, featuring  Algenis Perez-Soto.

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   
5. 
   

  This honorable man that you see in this image was the protagonist on this film. This film represents empowerment and boundless. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck made a noteworthy narrative feature debut with Half Nelson, and they establish themselves as filmmakers of uncommon integrity, compassion, and vision with their superb follow-up, Sugar.  However, while the film deals with familiar elements -- it is a fish-out-of-water story and a sports drama -- the filmmakers scrupulously avoid cliché, and in their own unobtrusively artful way, subvert audience expectations. Furthermore, the film isn't really about baseball, so much as it's about a young man's coming to terms with what he wants out of life, Boden and Fleck have done their research.

Observation/ something I noticed or observed:

From the opening credits until the final act the protagonist or main character Miguel “Sugar” Santos is a man on the move. The opening credit sequence establishes this motif by having the camera take Miguel’s point of view as he looks out the bus window at the Dominican countryside going from the Kansas City Knights’ training facility to visit his family in the village of Boca Chica. This motif occurs when Miguel is chosen to go to spring training in Arizona, followed by the move to Iowa, and then finally to “New York”. His arrivals in New York is demonstrated by him seeing the Statue of Liberty From the window of the bus - Lady Liberty is a definite symbol of the American Dream, a welcoming land full of hope and opportunity and privilege as a human being. Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson) weave this introspective sports drama concerning a talented Dominican baseball player who longs to break into the American big league and earn the money needed to support his impoverished family. Miguel Santos is a talented pitcher who might just have what it takes to earn a prized spot on a Major League Baseball team, but before that happens he'll have to prove his worth in the minor leagues. Furthermore, Santo’s when he came down from the Dominican Republic the first things that he did was going to a motel with his colleagues from a couple of weeks after he settles down. After a week, he started watching porn with his buddy. Not even that, the secretary from the motel ask him “when are you going to pay me?” He asked. May you give me one more week and then I’d pay you all the demurrage I was here?. Santos answered her with a question. Then, there was a part where he was talking on the phone with his girlfriend telling her that everything in America was so sweet. He thought that everything was going to taste with spice and other flavors. Moreover, Miguel is warmly welcomed into the small-town Iowa home of his host family, but can't help but struggle with language and cultural barriers despite the kindness of strangers. Subsequently forced to reevaluate his life's ambition after his once-trusty arm becomes unreliable, the previously single-minded pitcher gradually begins to question both the world he lives in and the role he has chosen to play in it.

II. Evidence Collection II: Rocky directed by John G Avildsen and starring Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa AKA “The Italian Stallion”.

Observation/something I detected:

Going back to this idea that the American Dream is the promise of success through hard work and fortitude I am reminded of two things: the power of words and the training sequences. For example, more than anything the end of Rocky illustrates that Rocky has "gone the distance" (all 15 rounds of the fight). That's all he wanted. He didn't care if he lost the fight, (which he did at the end of his battle. Apollo is the victor by points in this match) only that he didn't lose by knockout. He's elated that he "went the distance" and demonstrates to Adrian that he had what it takes to go the distance. Also, he's looking for Adrian because he wants to celebrate this victory with her. Nothing else is important than that, because he doesn’t even care what people think about his personal experiences or their opinions. This is why he doesn't care about having a rematch. He was never interested in winning the fight because he didn’t have self- assured into himself. Which brings him into the situation. Additionally, Rocky proves to everyone’s that being strong doesn’t make you a superior. It doesn’t mean refusing to show your sadness and vulnerability. Furthermore, he was only interested in "not being another bum from the neighborhood". The quote that really stand out, and that had a meaningful meaning for me was when he was with the old man chatting about his favorite quote from one of the greatest baseball players. For example, “if you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.” -- Roberto Clemente.

This film had an impactful moment which has developed a wide of range of innovative filmmaking supports programs. The message that Rocky sends to the general audience was it means treating ourselves with kindness and compassion, even when you feel like you don’t deserve anything. Also, it means giving yourself permission to get all your needs met by setting boundaries to others.

  This gentleman that you see right here was the main character or the protagonist of this film which had intense moment. Rocky's personal life is rough around the edges, and so is his fighting style. Mickey tells Rocky, "You got heart, but you fight like a goddamn ape." Our little Magilla Gorilla can't spell finesse and he doesn't have any in the ring. Additionally, part of the reason why is because he's a southpaw, or a leftie. Moreover, Apollo's coach, Duke, tells Apollo, "I don't want you messin' with southpaws. They do everything backwards." That line could apply to Rocky's life as a whole because he always feels like a bass-ackwards screw-up.

Over the past years, this two filmmaking had such incomparable similarity. For example, while we can be self-involved from time to time, human beings nowadays we’re not being so generous to the society. On the other hand, many people would say that people are simply unique, and matchless. These two leaders did a tremendous job by avoiding all the controversies that were going on in the streets. In the particular. I lamented that both main characters did a phenomenal job by having self-improvements and self-sufficiency because one of their main goals was to demonstrated to the nation that when you have passion and dedication to any of your objectives or goals you can achieve then by your hard working and fortitude. Nevertheless, I believe that these two protagonists people shouldn’t have gone at this level because I believe that everyone should deserve all the rights as needed as an immigrant and others.

A3 kids, please read.-Amber

Whaddap kids,

check this link and vote for a movie.

Form

The American Dream Across Texts: Rocky and Sugar

 The end of Sugar comes abruptly and almost shockingly. The story the viewer assumes is going to unfold is cut short by the exact opposite of what they expected. Sugar runs away from his team and he doesn’t become a star. His girlfriend won’t acknowledge his calls and his mother is angry that he ‘quit’ baseball. Yet despite all of this in the last shot of the movie Sugar is happy.

From a technical standpoint the film expresses Sugar’s emotion in the final shot through acting and shot composition. Throughout the entire film, Sugar is often the only thing that is clear in his environment. Noise is distant and distorted, vision is blurred, and he often stumbles through the shot as if he has no idea what’s going on around him which is amplified by the hand camera used to record those shots that provides a shaky and surreal feeling further removing the viewer from the world around Sugar. At the end of the movie though Sugar is at ease, he smiles, and he fits into his team and the shot with a certain sense of belonging.

I think Sugar does succeed though in the broader sense of the American Dream. He took his chance at becoming a professional player and it wasn’t for him. He still provides for his family back at home doing something he loves in a pick up league surrounded by his friends.  Parallel to Rocky, who showed how the American Dream can manifest in success, Sugar shows how the American dream can end in mediocrity. It is important to emphasize that Sugar hasn’t failed to live up to the American Dream, despite not fitting perfectly into a fairytale and clawing his way up to the big leagues. He lives a life that he enjoys, works a craft, and still sends money home to his family.

Rocky and Sugar come in fairly sharp contrast to each other in nearly every way. Rocky is portrayed as a past-his-prime genius who never pushed his talent to become the best while Sugar is a mediocre young pitcher who struggles under pressure. Economically they are similar, both earning less than comfortable amounts but both manage to feed themselves and their family. However, Rocky doesn’t, and has never, seen his sport as anything more than a hobby, while Sugar has worked his entire life in pursuit of playing professional baseball.  This is important because it puts their goals into perspective. When Sugar fails, he resorts to any means possible to improve, often getting uncontrollably angry at his performance. What matters to Sugar is winning, climbing to higher leagues to earn more money. Rocky went into his fight with Apollo Creed expecting to lose but wanting to go the distance to prove to himself he was worth something. He didn’t fight for the money, and in the movie how much he will earn is mentioned sparingly.

A Guide to Evaluating Blog Posts

A Guide to Evaluating Blog Posts

From this point forward Introduction to Film at Metro will adopt the language of the 21st Century Skills Rubric for evaluating written work i.e. blog posts: Exemplary, Competent, Emerging, and Novice. In crafting blog posts students primarily engage in three types of writing: narrative (tells a story e.g. Prior Film Experience One and Two), expository (analysis; the American Dream in Rocky and Sugar; suspense and genre conventions in Man On Wire and Touch of Evil), and argument (critique; evaluating all films critically viewed; contemporary appeal of one or more Universal Monsters).

What does an exemplary or competent blog post look like? A competent blog post must meet the following requirements:

1. The post is not simply summary, recall, and retell. The post presents the ideas and opinions of the student based on critical observations and in class discussions; a polished blog post will have a clear thesis statement e.g. 1. In their Academy Award-winning feature Rocky, director John G. Avildsen and screenwriter/actor Sylvester Stallone explore the state of the American Dream in 1976. 2. The independent sleeper Sugar (2008) is an appropriate choice for Hispanic Heritage Month; it is an example of social realism that examines both our obsession with and treatment of professional athletes, as well as, the plight of Spanish speaking migrants in the twenty-first century.

2. The post cites text evidence in support of its ideas e.g. In addition to giving its viewers an insider view of life in the Minor Leagues, Sugar is a coming of age tale. We see its protagonist grow over time, when first asked by a teammate who his favorite player is, Miguel responds, "Robinson Cano," a contemporary Dominican success story. Later, near the film's conclusion Miguel adopts Roberto Clemente as his favorite player, citing his humanitarian works off the field in additional to his accomplishments on the diamond. He goes as far as to quote Clemente saying, "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth."

In addition to citing examples from the text, it does so with specificity referring to characters, actors, filmmakers, and other film elements by name.

3. The post meets the minimum length requirements (650 words or more), flows logically, and follows the rules of Standard Written English.

4. The post includes a relevant image that reflects its author's ideas and properly cites sources e.g.



Rocky. Dir. John G. Avildsen. Perf. Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), Talia Shire (Adrian), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Burgess Meredith (Mickey), and Burt Young (Paulie). United Artists, 1976.

Although regular blog posts will determine one's homework grade, the Exit Portfolio for Introduction to Film will consist of six published process pieces (posts that have gone through all five steps of our writing process: pre-writing/collecting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing), two per trimester, with accompanying 21st Century Reflections. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments here in the comment section.