The man in black sitting on what looks like a trolley in some foreign country seems out of place, and it’s with Barthes Five Codes I can determine what this man is genuinely feeling or thinking. What is he looking at? Why is he there? Why is he dressed up? Like pictures, a frame speaks a thousand words, but our own experiences shape what we see through the metaphors, metonymies, and synecdoches of the characters.
Category: Movies
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Billy Elliot – Cinematography Essay
Billy Elliot isn’t just a film about growing up and finding who you are but it’s about society clashing against the government for a better life but through the eyes of Billy Elliot. The cinematography in this film conveys a sense of power through the tilt of the lens, low- and high-key lighting (although must of the film is dull and gray), and the height of the camera itself. In Billy Elliot, the character takes us on a journey of self-discovery weather that is with his dad and how he doesn’t want Billy to do ballet, his friend coming out, or his brother giving in to the government and their coal mining strike. For this essay though, we are looking at Billy’s brother Tony (and the government) in the “London has Fallen” scene and how Brian Tufano, the cinematographer, decided to shoot it.
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Killing Them Softly – Sound Essay
Killing Them Softly, it’s an art-house film at its core, but I wouldn’t go as far to call it an indie. It takes place in Boston where a card game with the mob gets busted by one competent guy (Frankie) and a less than competent man (Russell). With a Catch-22 setup, it’s struggling to prove the worth of the film’s mob but the visual and sonic elements in this political influenced carefully drawn out mob thriller is different than other movies in the mob and gangster drama nowadays.
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A Poetry Slam About the Film Industry: Lies, Truth, and What We Watch
An Updated Take May 6, 2025
We go to the theaters.
It twists, it melts, it rewires our minds.
Tells us what we want to hear—
We hear it loud.
We hear it clear.
Flashing images that shape our views.
And what do we say?
Rewind.Rewind back—
Way back in time.
Blockbuster? Gone.
Stores scamming us blind.
Cash draining from our wallets…
But for what?
To see stories that aren’t real?
To swallow lies
That change our minds?It’s always the same.
Girl falls in love.
Boy falls in love.
LIES.
Superheroes are just like us?
LIES.
Tragic beginnings lead to perfect endings?
LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES.Okay…
Fast forward.
Fast forward to the future.
The future is fast.
The future is big.Netflix. Hulu.
They shut down the stores.
They feed us junk—
At premium prices.
Netflix and chill?
Netflix and chill!?
Scroll, scroll, scroll—
Nobody watches.
Nobody cares.
And yet—
They lie.
Everyone lies.Pause.
Pause to now.
Right now.
This—this is real.
This is truth.Go.
Make it your own.
Tell your story.
Say what’s real.
No filters.
No scripts.
Just the truth.Because you—
You are the truth.Theme:
The poem is a critique of the film and entertainment industry, especially how it shapes people’s thoughts, expectations, and values through often deceptive or repetitive narratives. It takes the audience on a journey through time—past, present, and future—to explore how the media we consume has changed and what that means for us.
Section by Section Breakdown:
1. “We go to the theaters…” (Opening)
This introduces the central idea: movies have a powerful psychological effect. They distort reality, tell us comforting or exciting lies, and influence how we think and feel.
“Tells us things we want to hear… Showing us images changing our views…”
This implies media isn’t neutral—it’s persuasive and can be manipulative.2. “Rewind…” (Past)
The poem rewinds to a nostalgic but critical view of the Blockbuster era—a time when physical video stores still dominated. Even then, there was frustration with how media cost money but often delivered empty content or misleading messages.
“Girl falls in love / Boy falls in love / LIES”
This mocks the clichés of Hollywood romance and superhero tropes, suggesting they’re fake and overused.3. “Fast forward…” (Present/Future)
Now in the streaming age—Netflix, Hulu, endless scrolling—the content is cheaper and more accessible, but the quality and meaning are questioned.
“Meaningless content with a price like that… Nobody watches… They lie.”
It critiques how platforms produce massive amounts of content with little substance, and how the cycle of deception continues, just in a new form.4. “Pause…” (Call to Action)
This is the emotional climax—a pause for reflection. It shifts from criticism to empowerment.
“Go out, make it your own. Tell the truth. It’s your story.”
Instead of being passive consumers of false narratives, we’re called to create authentic stories and be truth-tellers in a media-saturated world.
Big Idea:
Don’t believe everything you see on screen. Question media. Create your own truth.
Be real in a world that’s constantly selling fiction.
Original:
A Poetry Slam about the Film Industry
This is a Poetry Slam I made in the 11th grade for English class. A lot of people liked it so I decided to post it here. Up above is audio regarding of what it’s supposed to sound like. I hope you guys enjoy and laugh a bit.
We go to the theaters
It’s ruining, twisting, melting our mind
Tells us things we want to hear
We hear it loud
We hear it clear
Showing us images changing our views
What do we say
RewindRewind to the time back in time
Blockbuster, gone
Stores ripping us off
Money leaving my wallet
For what
To see images that are untrue
Telling us lies
Changing our minds
The same thing
Every time
Girl falls in love
Boy falls in love
LIES
Superheroes are just like you and me
LIES
Hard Beginnings to see theatrical endings
LIES LIES LIES LIESOkay…. Fast forward
Fast forward to the future
Future is fast, future is big
Netflix and Hulu closing out the stores
Meaningless content with a price like that
Netflix and chill
Netflix and chill!
Scrolling through titles nobody watches
Wasting my time
They lie
Everyone liesPause
Pause to now
Right now
This is real
This is now, this is the truth
Go out make it your own
Tell the truth
It’s your story
No lies
Just the truth
You are the truth*To listen to what its meant to sound like click here.
Dylan Lepore 