Casablanca

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This was the first time I saw Casablanca in its entirety; I usually watched bits and pieces here and there on special occasions like, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but this was the first time I was able to sit and watch it without distractions from beginning to end.
Let me start by saying that Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman displayed the most horrible kiss I have ever seen on screen, it lacked believability, and emotion. I also don’t think that they were very good actors at all, their performances seemed very theatrical ; as if I was watching a high school play done badly. The rest of the actors seem to have a better quality; like the law enforcement official seemed to have charisma and believability; everyone else in the film I did not have a problem with their performance.
Nevertheless, I believe this movie was a pure masterpiece; the way each scene carried over to the next was an art form in itself ,I appreciated some of the invisible editing techniques that were used throughout the film, like the way they started one shot wide, and then the next the same shot just a little closer before the camera moved, and every time the camera would move it would always move slowly and smoothly ; I especially liked the scene at the train station ; they made it look like it was raining, I guess to set a mood, and a atmosphere kind of feeling. The lighting also played an intricate detail on setting the mood, some scenes were evenly lit, while others were purposely dark with shadows, to help the audience understand what the dramatic emotions , and to change the temple where the story was going.
Furthermore, I felt the story pulled me in, I couldn't help but feel like a fly on the wall; even the black and white images set a time period for me, I was convinced that there was in fact a war going on in the background in the middle of this love triangle, and I did like where this story ultimately took us to; which was a lesson of morality, justice, and simply, doing the right thing; displayed by our leading man Humphrey Bogart.
In conclusion, the only other thing that seem to bother me was the very end where it seems like Rick and the officer become partners just minutes before he was pointing a gun at him and threatening to shoot him in the hart, I did find that a little stupid, but besides that the film was flawless. I would definitely put it up in my top 20 list ,if I had one.

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Passion or Obsession.

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The desire of wanting to be a filmmaker for me is a long road of disappointments. You see, I have spent over 17 years of my life shooting independent music videos, for independent musicians;thinking one day I will shoot a music video for an artist that was make a hit record. Obviously that never happened, and year after year getting my hopes up, and working harder to make every new production better than my last; improving my quality, storyboard, equipment and techniques. The artists that I worked with were in fact very talented, and just as passionate as I was. We shared something in common, which was an unrealistic dream. The difference between them and I was, there artistic expression was done with the microphone and mine was done with the camera.
I guess I was living in some kind of fantasy world; thinking life was like a movie with a happy ending, and believed that if you work hard, and you are passionate you can achieve the impossible dream. But once you get to be my age it's no longer cute to go for these kinds of dreams. It becomes embarrassing: as if I should know better by now. So I decided not to do music videos and I decided to concentrate on just completing my movie. I have been working on this film for over a year and a half, and it may take me another year and a half to complete it, but it will be done and it will come out right. My passion has turned into obsession, and
I will not conform. I will no longer dependent on anyone's success except for mine. This time I depend on me and my ability as a writer, director, cinematographer, digital editor, sound effect engineer, and lighting specialist. I refuse to accept defeat, and I will continue to make films until the day that I die; because I accept that I am completely obsessed..
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