Film Production Commons^™

Threading The Needle: Chinese American Adoptees And The In-Between, Annalee Johnson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Threading the Needle is a short documentary that investigates the relationships between Chinese American adoptees, their families, and their heritage. The film features two primary participants, Mia Nails and Annalee “AJ” Johnson as they reflect on their Asian American identity, experiences with racism, and their struggles with cultural estrangement. The similarities and differences in their perspectives shed light on both the wonderful and the heartbreaking circumstances of adoption. The contemporary value of the film lies in how it challenges popular representations of the Asian American experience: Though in recent years, Asian American media has become more present in popular culture, …

Sunlight, Veiled, Sina Ahmadkhani

Theses and Dissertations

Sunlight, Veiled is a narrative short film exploring themes of displacement, class, and identity through the lens of an Iranian intern navigating a morally ambiguous company party in the United States. This written component traces the evolution of the project from development through post-production, while reflecting on the personal and political frameworks that shaped the creative process. Through cinematic references, cultural analysis, and production insight, the paper aims to contextualize the film within a diasporic experience and a growing awareness of social power dynamics. It also reflects on the challenges of filmmaking as an outsider, where self-doubt, cultural translation, and …

The Romanticization Of Human-Vampire Relationships: How 'Twilight' And 'The Vampire Diaries' May Prime Young Women To Accept Dating Violence, Natalie M. Bowen

Undergraduate Research Posters

The first literary vampire can be traced back to 18th century Germany, with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s poem “Die Braut von Korinth,” but the stereotypical features of a vampire are traditionally accredited to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Modern vampires, such as Edward Cullen and Stefan Salvatore of the Twilight and The Vampire Diaries series respectively, have managed to win the hearts of teenage girls all across America with their sex appeal and charismatic nature. According to Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, individuals learn new behaviors by modeling and imitating the actions of those around them. This comprehensive literature review investigates the connection …

The Creative Front, Aleksandr O. Barrett

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Abstract

In this paper, I will discuss my thesis exhibition, The Creative Front, focusing on my materials, content, and context as they relate to each piece or body of work. This exhibition is the culmination of my work, which centers on my experience with the Russo-Ukrainian war. My work can be interpreted metaphorically, poetically, and directly through sculpture, installation, sound, and film. I am portraying very human stories and experiences from a full-scale war raging in Europe. My work is immersive, placing the viewer in an atmosphere of war, and conveying a sense of urgency and compassion for those who …

A Mandate For Healing: A World War Ii Vet Meets A Vietnam Vet In The Screenplay, Chinook With An Essay On War Screenplay Research, Buz Ecker

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Chinook is an original screenplay about a Vietnam vet with PTSD who meets a World War II vet in a VA Home, and the screenplay takes one afternoon to unfold. This dissertation explains how Chinook came to be, with all of the processes undertaken. It begins with an introduction about the characters in the screenplay and who these characters are based on. There are several books, movies, and articles contained in this section to make the characters, events, and flashbacks of what actually happened in World War II and Vietnam. The best resources were conversations with actual veterans from either …

Mirrors Of The Reel: Black Women's Identity In American Cinema (2009-2024), Melanie-Penny Harrison

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study investigates whether white supremacy structures, embodied in Hollywood’s predominantly white leadership, drive negative portrayals of Black women in 31 mainstream American films from 2009 to 2024. Employing a mixed-methods approach—quantitative content analysis, qualitative content analysis (QCA), and narrative methodology—I code portrayals for racism, patriarchy, heterosexism, colorism, and internalized racism, classifying them as progressive (e.g., empowered roles), regressive (e.g., subservient stereotypes), or hybrid. Guided by Critical Race Theory and intersectionality, the analysis examines narrative structures, character agency, symbolism, and dialogue to uncover intersectional patterns (e.g., race, gender, class) across three periods: 2009–2013, 2014–2018, and 2019–2024. Across these periods, cultural …

Cim316.2 Major Project Development Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

Concept reasoning and planning documentation for major project development.

Students went well beyond the required scope of the project to make their case.

What Makes A Great Movie Trailer?​, Bridget Hill

Honors Projects

This research analyzes four case study films across two genres to identify the best tactics used in trailer marketing and editing in order to create box office successful films that attract their identified target audiences. Existing research and a pre-existing interview were used to identify and define these tactics before then applying the strategies onto existing film trailers. The two genres chosen in this analysis include Romantic Comedies and Animated Action/Adventure Family Films. In each genre, a successful and unsuccessful film were chosen then compared against one another to determine if the successful film trailers utilized the previously identified tactics. …

Maka: Un Processo Collaborativo Raccontato A Tre Voci, Simone Brioni Dr., Geneviève Makaping, Elia Moutamid

Department of English Faculty Publications

The documentary Maka offers an account of Makaping’s journey of migration from Cameroon, her arrival in Italy in 1982 following the tragic death of her partner, her success as a journalist and television host, and her more recent relocation to Mantua. Maka focuses on questions of national belonging, and it reflects on how the perception of migration and race has changed since Makaping first came to Italy in the 1990s. This contribution includes a short article in which the protagonist, the writer and the director of the film reflect upon their collaboration. It also includes a video recording of the …

Artificial Creativity: How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Creativity Via Post-Production, Nicole Dwyer

Honors Thesis

My thesis lives in the world of Post-Production, and it contains both a creative and written component. I was the editor for four Undergraduate thesis projects. Seeking to gain experience in editing various genres, I worked in drama, sports, period piece, coming of age, and adventure. My biggest takeaways from these projects are the importance of organization, communication, time management, and editing with a sense of imagination. I became a more confident, resilient, and prepared editor through these experiences.

Along with the hands-on filmmaking element of my thesis, I also conducted research on how artificial intelligence will impact conceptions of …

A Year From Now: A Behind-The-Scenes Documentary, Calvin Henson Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will explore A Year from Now: A Behind-the-Scenes Documentary, which I shot, directed, and edited. It will explore the 19-day production process of the 2019 SFA summer feature film, A Year from Now, shedding light on the experiences of both the cast and crew throughout production. Additionally, it will examine my role as the behind-the-scenes documentarian from being assigned the position, through gathering the footage and conducting the interviews, and developing the finished product.

Televangelism And Religion In Star Trek V And Licence To Kill, Robert Revington

Journal of Religion & Film

In June 1989, both Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and the James Bond film Licence to Kill were released in theatres within days of each other. This study analyzes how story elements in both films were directly inspired by recent televangelist scandals in the United States. The Star Trek film was also intended to have a deeper examination of the nature of God and the Devil. Nonetheless, both films were also intended to appeal to a mass audience. To that end, these films' explorations of religious issues were watered down to avoid offending Christian denominations or churches (though not …

Ani175.3 Cinematography Animatics And Previsualisation Example 2, Sae University College

Exemplars

Student exemplar for ANI175.3

Do Androids Dream Of Bad Tv?: Un/Originality In Neil Burger’S Voyagers, Tom Ue, Callum M. Mcnutt

Proceedings from the Document Academy

Critics did not take kindly to Neil Burger’s Voyager (2021). On Rotten Tomatoes, the film scored a dismal 25%, and the consensus is that it’s a trip best not taken: “It has a game cast and a premise ripe with potential, but Voyagers drifts in familiar orbit rather than fully exploring its intriguing themes.” This article seeks neither to reclaim the film as an unjustly neglected cinematic masterpiece nor to assert its importance in the canon of dystopian works. Rather, it treats Voyagers as a test case for exploring our own critical investment in the genre. Our aims are …

Poco Film Festival Talks: The Impact Of Ai: A Humanist Perspective, James Thompson

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

As regards the onset of AI technology use and influence in the film and screen industries, we need to be able to take account of the agency and the engagement of our creative minds and whether or not they are being invited in to realistic, tangible jobs and careers, or alternatively what the impacts of changing technological paradigms might have on their futures. In what ways does AI impact the screen industry?

This generation of young people, film and screen production students, want to have an in-person, socialised peer experience - they want to be together. They want to have …

Creating Cartoon Style With 3d Animation, Sean William Meade

All Theses

Computer-generated three-dimensional animation is often used to imitate live-action filmmaking and photorealistic objects and effects. However, it is equally possible to use three-dimensional computer-generated imagery to imitate cartoon, hand-drawn two-dimensional animation. Cartoons and hand drawn animation have their own sets of limitations which change their visual style. Animators may choose to draw scenes with elements that break continuity or are not realistic. Every choice from the color to the scene composition is different from now-conventional three-dimensional CGI. With this thesis, I investigate how to create a three-dimensional scene that closely resembles the appearance of a two-dimensional cartoon animated scene drawn …

Karl Freund’S Hollywood Aesthetic: Maintaining Visual Style Within The Studio System, Casey Walker

Journal of 20th Century Media History

This article explores the distinct cinematographic style of classical Hollywood cinematographer (and briefly director) Karl Freund throughout his Hollywood studio film career (1930-1950). After leaving the German studio UFA, Freund spent two decades in the Hollywood studio system, known for its comprehensible narrative and visual style and hierarchical mode of production, which were considered constraints to the emergence of a unique visual style from any one filmmaker. Previous studies on cinematographers’ authorship and poetics focus almost universally on Gregg Toland, a cinematographer who largely worked outside of the big Hollywood studios. However, very little scholarship exists on cinematographers such as …

Film As An Educational Media In Building Awareness On Wild Animal Conservation (Case Study: Petualangan Sherina 2), Gumelar Setiaji, Melisa Bunga Altamira

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

Currently, films are not only a medium for entertainment, but can also be used as a medium for information, persuasion, and even education. Nature conservation is one of the environmental issues that is currently of concern. In a survey conducted by a non-governmental organization, the public paid sufficient attention to protecting biodiversity, flora, and fauna. Wild animal conservation is an issue that will be addressed in this research. The film "Petualangan Sherina 2" is a musical genre film that focuses on the importance of the conservation of wild animals, namely orangutans. This research will discuss how a film can be …

Revelation Perth International Film Festival Academic Conference 2024, James Thompson

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

Drawing delegates from around the country The Revelation Perth International Film Festival's Academic Conference is a truly interactive two days of intense discussion and debate on all things cinema

Revelation is Australia's only international film festival to host and encourage academic discussion alongside its screening program and we look forward to taking its discoveries to audiences around the country and world. It represents an important platform in film discussion and analysis in this country.

Taking place on Tuesday July 2nd and Weds July 3rd 2024, the Revelation Academic Conference draws local, national and international academics to discuss and analyse issues …

What Teams Need: Leading Digital Creatives, Matthew Dyet

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

What Teams Need: Leading Digital Creatives was a talk at the Revelations Conference. Based on my book Great Games Need Great Leaders, this talk was focused more broadly on leadership in the creative industries due to the audience being primarily from film.