Blog 7: Video Joke

For the video joke assignment, my group chose joke #1, the used brain joke.

This was our first approach

And this was our second approach

The original joke at it's very core focused on the price of a female brain being much lower than a male brain on account of it being used merchandise. By using the same joke in both videos, there is a strong sense of affinity between them. That, however, is where the similarities end.

 

In each approach we chose a different genre which greatly changed the way the comedy was presented. For the first video, we chose to present it as a spoof of a soap opera. The dialogue was doused in a thick layer of cheese and poorly dubbed to create the atmosphere of poor quality and terrible acting; also having terrible actors was merely a bonus. To contrast with this first video, we took a more serious approach the second time by implementing horror, drama, and murder mystery elements. The difference most immediately brought to ones attention is that we chose to make this second film in black and white, whereas the first video was bright and quite colorful. We tried to make the second film of a higher quality of the first, to contrast even more between how serious each one took itself.

The way each approach was filmed also presented us with a variety of differences. In the first film we used a multitude of wide shots giving it more feeling of open space. This added to the lighthearted feel and absurdity that was sprinkled throughout the film. However, in our second attempt, more close up shots were used to limit this space.  We found that this created more drama and presented the seriousness of the characters situations. 

 

Line was another component present in both videos but used in different ways. The first film uses actual lines as well as virtual lines, in the way that the characters are sitting, to direct ones attention to the ICU door. We used these lines to create sort of a spoof on suspense leaving the audience wondering what is beyond the door and who will suddenly burst through it!? The second film used lines to create power. The evil doctor is seen in a variety of low shots with the vertical lines of the walls leading the eye upward toward the doctor, putting him in the position of power, one to be feared.