Help! Need quick ideas for a school film on satire at DVinfo.net

David Ho · February 3rd, 2004, 12:39 AM

Our school has given us a chance to make a short 10-15 minute movie and it must be presented in a satire. If anyone doesn't know what that is... it's basically presenting an idea or issue/concern, but not directly presenting it and luring in the audience/viewer/reader into the same attitude or positive/negative views you're thinking, then slowly hitting them with the opposite and the total truth. Like an example is a film on McDonalds ...the first few minutes would lure the viewer into thinking ... "Wow! McDonalds is really good and everyone eats them!" ...but then slowly showing the truth and reality that McDonalds' food is actually very unhealthy and then presenting them with unbiased (very important, opinionation always seems to mock a satire, facts are best) facts of true information... Then the viewer will realize "Wait a minute...this isn't right" etc, etc. What are some good ideas?

Joe Gioielli · February 3rd, 2004, 12:40 PM

Okay, Mr. Ho, I don't know what kind of school you attend, as in I don't know if it's college, film school, high school of what ever. But remember, you can do stuff in college you can't get away with in high school, so I will leave it to you to use your best judgement. Some topics are very controversal, and may get you and you buds in hot water. Sadly, they make the best satire.

First things first, do you have a point you would like to make? The war in Iraq? Prayer in school? Same sex marriage?
Racism?

If it were me, I'd use the "Superbowl Commercial" fad. (Steer clear of that Janet Jackson thing.) Make up several really stupid commercails for products that no body needs. A beer that gets you drunk three times faster, a car that
has a 20 cylinder engine, ultra-cancer cigaretts. Really go over the top. Then have the voice over of two charecters say how great all the stuff is. Have an announcer state that the game is coming back on, and have the characters comment that they are going to turn off the tv because they don't really care about the game just the commercials.

You get to pick on the silliness of advertising and consumerism. You can be creative. Because you are makeing several little films (the commercials) everyone will get a chance to have imput, and you'll learn some useful editing skills.

Five minutes is along time. Have fun with it.

Joe

February 3rd, 2004, 12:39 AM	#1
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Help! Need quick ideas for a school film on satire Our school has given us a chance to make a short 10-15 minute movie and it must be presented in a satire. If anyone doesn't know what that is... it's basically presenting an idea or issue/concern, but not directly presenting it and luring in the audience/viewer/reader into the same attitude or positive/negative views you're thinking, then slowly hitting them with the opposite and the total truth. Like an example is a film on McDonalds ...the first few minutes would lure the viewer into thinking ... "Wow! McDonalds is really good and everyone eats them!" ...but then slowly showing the truth and reality that McDonalds' food is actually very unhealthy and then presenting them with unbiased (very important, opinionation always seems to mock a satire, facts are best) facts of true information... Then the viewer will realize "Wait a minute...this isn't right" etc, etc. What are some good ideas? __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

February 3rd, 2004, 12:40 PM	#2
Joe Gioielli Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Port Richey, Fl Posts: 142	Okay, Mr. Ho, I don't know what kind of school you attend, as in I don't know if it's college, film school, high school of what ever. But remember, you can do stuff in college you can't get away with in high school, so I will leave it to you to use your best judgement. Some topics are very controversal, and may get you and you buds in hot water. Sadly, they make the best satire. First things first, do you have a point you would like to make? The war in Iraq? Prayer in school? Same sex marriage? Racism? If it were me, I'd use the "Superbowl Commercial" fad. (Steer clear of that Janet Jackson thing.) Make up several really stupid commercails for products that no body needs. A beer that gets you drunk three times faster, a car that has a 20 cylinder engine, ultra-cancer cigaretts. Really go over the top. Then have the voice over of two charecters say how great all the stuff is. Have an announcer state that the game is coming back on, and have the characters comment that they are going to turn off the tv because they don't really care about the game just the commercials. You get to pick on the silliness of advertising and consumerism. You can be creative. Because you are makeing several little films (the commercials) everyone will get a chance to have imput, and you'll learn some useful editing skills. Five minutes is along time. Have fun with it. Joe __________________ Why ask me? I thought you were in charge!