Documentary Review: Man On Wire

         This thrilling documentary tells the story of Philippe Petit the man who walked from one twin tower to the other on a tight rope.  Philippe pulled this amazing feat off in 1974.  Although the story alone is gripping it is the heist like style in which Philippe's story is told which makes this documentary so fun to watch.  The documentary includes real life stills from Petit's walk, rare footage from the planning process, reenactments and interviews from the real life participants.  Petit's story is so inspiring and amazing to witness we find audiences rooting for his release immediately when he is taken in by New York City police officers.  I would recommend this film to anyone looking for a thrilling and fun documentary.

Radio Review: War of the World's

           
               The halloween episode of the radio series The Mercury Theatre on the Air that aired on October 30, 1938 could easily be described as the best prank ever pulled over the radio.  The man responsible for it was Orson Welles.  The broadcast starts out with various news clips eluding to the fact that the world was being taken over by aliens.  These news clips feature everything from interviews with scientists explaining the alien's weapons to eye witnesses describing scenes of horror up and down new jersey.  Welles not only gave an amazing voice performances but the way he organized this entire production was outstanding.  The broadcast as a whole is mixed in a way that seems years ahead of it's time.  The newscasts and studio interruptions mixed with the screaming people and all the other sounds used is so well done it makes sense that the broadcast caused panics.  At the time people got their news from ether the radio or the paper so naturally when they herd the professional uninterrupted quality of Welles's broadcast they had to believe it.  A fascinating story even by today's standards War of the World's broadcasted by Orson Welles is something every storyteller should hear.  

Film Review : Trainspotting

            A fascinating film that takes audiences into a subculture not often seen on the big screen.  This subculture is that of the heroine addict.  Ewan McGregor plays Renton the protagonist and narrator of this film.  Through his narration audiences get a glimpse of the everyday struggles of a heroin addict.  This film gripes viewers early on in a way a burning car attracts a crowd.  It’s fascinating to hear the motives behind a heroin addict’s actions.  McGregor is so convincing in his role it took me about three quarters of the film just to recognize him.  The plot is surprising to say the least, at one moment I was laughing and the next sitting in shock.  This film takes such a turn I found myself rooting for someone I believed to be scum in the beginning of the film.  I would highly recommend this film to anyone looking for something different.  Everything from the acting to the soundtrack is spot on in Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting.   

  

Stress

Stress from Andrew Costa on Vimeo.

Critic 3 Sound

Leavin' A Man Behind - Final Cut

Leavin' A Man Behind - Final Cut from Andrew Costa on Vimeo.

Leavin' A Man Behind Cut 1

Leavin' A Man Behind from Andrew Costa on Vimeo.

Single Shot Project
Long Take from Andrew Costa on Vimeo.

Rough Cut

Rough Cut of Leavin' A Man Behind

Andrew Costa's rough cut from Andrew Costa on Vimeo.

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Diptych

The Art of Peeping and How Laura Poitras Helped Snowden Spill His Secrets Response

The Art of Peeping: Photography at the Limits of Privacy

I found this article to be quite thought provoking.  I completely agree that what Arne Svenson shot was legal.  He wasn’t shooting anything inappropriate and he wasn't trying to expose any of his neighbors.  If he shot his neighbors with the intentions of using them as examples of humanity then I do not see a problem.  I am however shocked that he won his case.  Now it seems all of our laws are taken so seriously no one can get anything creative done if it involves dealing with the general public.

             I really like this project and find it very reviling, not of the subjects but of humanity in general.  I personally feel the freest when I am completely alone and surrounded in privacy.  Taking photos of people while they experience complete privacy allows people to look at humanity and see what they do when they are completely free. 

How Laura Poitras Helped Snowden Spill His Secrets

            At first I found this article very difficult to follow.  Then as I got further into it I begin to see why we were asked to read this article along with The Art of Peeping in the same week.  While The Art of Peeping looks at surveillance as an art form How Laura Poltras Helped Snowden Spill His Secrets looks at how the government abuses their power to survey the people.  Poltras is a filmmaker who was put on a do not fly list because of her work.  She was harassed every time she flew just because of a list she was on.  I find this to be ridiculous; I can’t even imagine how this could have gone on for as long as it did. 

            Our government was worried about her not because of what she was trying to do but because of what she was trying to expose.   Our country stands by the right to freedom of speech in theory.  Yet if anyone tries to expose the government they will be put on a list and harassed until they stop.  There is no freedom in this.  I enjoyed this article because it really opened my eyes to how controlling the government can be.   

The Medium is the Message Response

            I found Marshal Mcluhan The Medium is the Message to be a very interesting read.  I really like some aspects of this book but at the same time I also disliked other elements.  I thought the way the book was put together was interesting and kept the reader’s attention.  Switching from pages of just text to just images to pages that had both text and an image kept the book feeling fresh.  Although the content was rather dull the layout made it easier to get through the reading.

            One of the first points mentioned in the reading was that society has always been shaped by the way men communicate, not by the content of their communication.  This is an interesting point because I cannot tell if I agree or disagree with it.  While it makes sense that our society would be shaped by the changing technologies that we use to communicate, I also feel it makes sense that our society is shaped by the messages passed through these means of communication.  It was not the telegraph or letter that shaped the way we thought about nuclear war but the affects of the bomb after it had been dropped.  This is one of the many examples that I believe disproves that point.

            Another thing that was mentioned in the first sixty pages that I found interesting was Mcluhan’s points on privacy.  He brings up the point that people seem to be losing their privacy because of societies need for electrical knowledge.  I agree with this and believe we are seeing this even more so now.  Everywhere you go you need to give your information.  Even if you just want to buy groceries from the supermarket you have to at least give your email.  This increased need for companies to know your information seems very unnecessary to me. 

            Lastly I would like to talk about the section complied of images and phrases explaining how the media is an extension of all of us.  While I agree books can be considered an extension of our eye’s and clothing can be an extension of our skin I disagree with some of the others.   I do not think electric circuits can be considered an extension of the central nervous system.  Electric circuits resemble the central nervous system; they do not enhance the ways in which our nervous system operates.  I believe this section is one of many sections that seems far-fetched to me. I thought The Medium is the Message was an interesting read I found some parts to be a little exaggerated or forced. 

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Self-Surveillance   Part 1

Woke up - 7:40
Made Bed - 7:42
Walked to bathroom - 7:43
Shaved - 7:50
Went to bathroom -7:54
Fix hair - 7:58
Check weather outside -8:03
Get dressed - 8:09
Eat a poptart - 8:15
Lock house/start walk - 8:16
Arrive at Schaffer - 8:25
Arrive at classroom - 8:27
Leave classroom - 12:10
Walk to shine - 12:16
Eat in shine - 12:20
Walk to Aepi - 12:24
Leave AEPi -1:30
Arrive at Schaffer - 1:47
sit down in class - 1:58
Walking home from class - 4:19
Arrive at house - 4:28
Do hw/relax - 4:30 -5:45
Walk to basketball court - 5:50
Play basketball - 6-6:50
Shower - 7
Browse computer - 7-8:40
Cook diner 8:40 - 9:10
Eat diner - 9:15 -9:35
Relax on porch - 9:35-10
Watch a movie - 12:45
Brush teeth and shower - 12:50
Go to bed- 1:15



My Walk                    Part 2

Walk from house to campus - 12:05
Arrive at campus - 12:20

Walk home from campus - 4:03
Arrive at home - 4:14

Leave house -9:45
Arrive at friends - -10:07

Leave friends - 11:07
Arrive home - 11:23

Andrew's Surveillance Photos

 Someone Who Has The Same Amount Of Power
-A student found on campus trying to complete a project.  He and I have the same amount of power because we are both struggling to complete a task.  

Someone Who Has More Power  
-The man on the right is explaining an idea of his to a colleague.  Notice how he entrances the other man with his hand gestures.  This man has more power then I do because of his ability to think and because of the way he controls others.  This man thought of an idea so powerful he has another man, of equal power to himself, totally under control.  His age and status, most likely a grad-student, also give him power over me.  

 Someone I Have More Power Than
-This is a picture of a tour group.  I believe I have more power then this group because of my age.  We can assume this is a group of incoming freshmen.  My status as a junior gives me experience, which we can translate to power.

A Textbook Selfie