Subsidized Dreams - ID# 294

Downers Grove North

Dramatic Narrative

Entry Description

What happens when hackers tap into your unconsciousness in order to market directly into your brain? SUBSIDIZED DREAMS imagines a dystopia where advertisers sell to you while you sleep. MUSIC Blue Sizzle Horror https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqKe4CyCgy8 Very Low Horror https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IaRXQziS9I Dramatic Violin Epic Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co8ANVRgPeQ

Copyright Info

Recent Teacher Comments

• 4/29 4:07 pm - The story was so fun, clever, and clear. It can be challenging to make a focused, clear, and engaging story in such a short time, and this excelled. The second dream would have matched better if it was somehow communicated that the alligator threat receded following her drinking the soda. This could maybe be done with a change to upbeat, fun, or marketing-style music for the duration of the rest of her dream. The shot choices themselves were made with intention and purpose. Your shot list or storyboard was very well crafted. In regards to lighting and framing, the aesthetic wasn't too professional or "cinematic." However, it really worked with the story. Overall, it had a 90s sci-fi vibe that I loved. Some shots were out of focus or poorly framed, but still, how much you filmed with intention more than made up for the less aesthetically pleasing shots. In regards to performance/direction, the acting was very believable and the characters choices made logical sense. The editing really worked. Not only did you incorporate traditional and creative editing techniques, but there were no noticeable errors aside from a few audio jump cuts. It also flowed seamlessly between the dreams, maps, programmer, and main characters. Whoever edited this has a great sense of pacing. I believed in this world. Despite its strangeness it was coherent and fantastical. Did I have to suspend that disbelief? Yes, but it just worked. With strange sci-fi's, that is not a given at all. Nice job. While the photography/lighting didn't take away from the story, taking it to the next level would have elevated the whole piece. Still, I understand with the pandemic, there are certain technical limitations that are unmovable. Considering the circumstances, this was truly awesome to watch.
• 3/10 8:21 am - I think you have a creative idea, it just took a long time to really figure out what was going on, and because I am not sure where the story is going I keep trying to figure it out and get frustrated when what I think is important is not (For example I kept waiting for an alligator to appear, didn’t get it was about fizzy drink until the second scenario). I didn’t get that the mom was trying to get into her own house (and dreaming), I thought you were just crosscutting to her peacefully sleeping, while someone was trying to get in. Then I wasn’t sure why we were pouring the drink on the door handle and then drinking a tall glass of it later? Same with the girl, I started to figure it out, but again I don’t feel like there was a transformation moment, a surge of power to overcome her fear after drinking it (plus I was really interested to see what was chasing her (an alligator, or someone on an atv with a loud muffler) only to see what looks like your crew in the background. Wasn’t sure if that was intentional. I think you have all the skills to tell a good story, you just have to make that story more obviousl to your audience, the same reason the evil villain sometimes finds it necessary to explain his whole wicked plot to the good guy, it is often more for us, than the good guy needing to understand. So with your video maybe a commercial on the tv before they go to be about Fizz soda taking over the world, or solving all your problems, or being the one drink they can’t be without, and then the mom and daughter stating they would never want that soda would really help your audicence get a better picture of what was going on. Great acting, especially by the daughter, I found her beleiveable, except maybe when she drank the soda, she looked like she was laughing because it spilled on herself, and I could also see it was a second take, because some had spilled from a previous take. And she also seemed to be smiling in her sleep (unless she is a happy sleeper) Great graphics, and attention to sound details (although some natural sounds of breathing, and running was good, but the attempt seemed overdone/loud at times). You also had some great camera shots (especially in the seconds half). I did feel like you overdid the point of view shots for the sequence shot on the patio. Shots of the guy on the computer never revealed any real emotion so I didn’t know what to make of him or what to think about with his role. After watching the video once or twice I see all your intentionality but a viewer shouldn’t have to watch it a couple of times to get it. I’ll be honest I didn’t really care about the ending because the worse thing that happen is that they bought a fizzy drink.
• 3/9 8:22 am - Story: Very well written and creative concept for a film. Camera: Shots carried the narrative and allowed the audience to understand the plot Lighting: Well done. The lighting on the "computer guy" added suspense to the scenes Audio: Good choice of musical score and sound effects enhanced the production

Judge 1

Positives: • The sheer amount of VFX is impressive- good use of visuals with sound to keep the audience immersed & engaged in this dark [yet somewhat hilarious] world you created! I love it. • The message you're sending with this film really sticks with me- it's powerful and haunting at the same time- very creative minds behind this one, I can tell!

Improvements: • The sound (for dialogue) and audio levels could have been mixed better. • While this is obviously dystopian in nature to me- some audiences may have trouble deciphering the message- is advertising bad? Perhaps the message could have been stronger to better drive home the message of harmful advertising in society. Getting the family to buy a soda is somewhat lighthearted (and quite funny) despite the dark music, creepy advertising people (lol). Perhaps the juxtaposition was the goal?

Judge 2

Positives: Excellent use of the music and films scenes to deliver that sinister feeling of dread and disaster for the characters. Sound engineering is done with remarkable aplomb and passion… the film feels like a well-developed digital game with audio enhancements. This is definitely one school of thought (the other is in the constructive comments below). A simple but effective ‘dream anxiety’ scene, experienced by the mother and daughter, are done nicely and shows an approach to solving an issue with the reward of ‘Fizz Cola’ at the end of the dream. The girl running outside is a good choice… very natural.

Improvements: The marketing aspect of each dream need not be so dreadful, actually. It could embody a more upbeat and positive feeling to the entire marketing campaign on behalf of the sponsors and advertisers. Real advertisers would most likely take the psychology into consideration by making the entire process not only pleasant but also a rewarding experience. Hypothetically speaking, if advertisers were to be able to enter one’s brain, then they would also be able to trigger the hormonal responses in the brain to release a number of different ‘happy’ hormones such as Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. These hormones are associated with feeling like pleasure, happiness and even love. That said, the sinister music need not be an underlying score; it could be a much more pleasurable and nuanced score. The sound of the ‘alligator’ or ‘monster’ (beginning at 2:42 sec mark) at first sounded like someone drinking the fizz soft drink and burping (as some students actually do). It seemed to confound the senses at first until this reviewer played the film for a second time. It would be better to introduce a sound effect that is more ‘other-worldly’ creature-like than a belching sound of an alligator. Lighting in the kitchen seemed a bit off; use of more ‘natural’ lighting conditions could have served to be better in terms of lighting the scene. Practicals with color correct bulbs could be an Art Dept. solution. Another Art Dept. scene is when Mom opens up and pours a glass of Fizz Cola; a close-up of the product being poured would showcase the merits of the cola and show the prop in a more ‘emphasized’ and ‘significant’ manner. Bringing in a small dining table and putting it in the middle of the kitchen would have shown the prop in a more prominent manner. This would have ‘Mom’ turn around so we wouldn’t have to see her from behind and the scene is well balanced between mother and daughter. Finally, the daughter's reactions are

Judge 3

Positives: Great idea for a story. The drone shots work but can last a bit longer. Hold on to your cool shots!

Improvements: The soda bottle graphics need to be of much higher quality. When the soda is poured on the doorknob, why don't we see something happening visually? That moment is not as effective as it can be. The lighting inside is a bit dark.

Judge 4

Positives:

Improvements: