Film Studies and Cinematography | Weekly Tasks

|| Tee Zi Tong, 0366165

|| Film Studies and Cinematography | Weekly Tasks

Week 1 

Activity 01 

1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

I was moved by this movie due to its strong themes of family, perseverance and sacrifice. The relationship between Tanjiro and Nezuko particularly touched me as it made me remember how powerful family love may be even in the dark and painful moments. The stunning animation and emotional music track enabled me to get engrossed in their world. All fight scenes were not only about power but also about defending those who you love, and this was very personal to me.

2. Weathering With You

I related with this movie due to its gorgeous combination of romance, fantasy and the struggle of life. The case of Hodaka and Hina demonstrated that people can risk and sacrifice one another in the name of love. I recall the emotional experience of the end though, it was bitter and sweet at the same time, yet it demonstrated that sometimes following your heart can make you go against the world. The images of the rain and sunlight also provided me with a feeling of hope and joy, despite sadness.

3. Ne Zha 2 (2025)

Ne Zha was so empowering to me since the movie is about defying the expectations of others on what to be. The transformation of the main character, who was perceived as a monster and who proved his right to live, helped me to think about the ability of people to change their fate and destiny in case of courage and will. I also related strongly to the theme of self-acceptance and combating prejudice. The energy, humor, and emotional touches in the film left me with no forgetting experience.

Activity 02

a. Who are the main characters?  

The main characters in the story are a stray kitten and a pit bull that has been without a fortune and has been mistreated by human beings.

b. Is there a character you identify with most?

I see myself being more related to the kitten development- the fear at the beginning with a timid and wary nature that over time will change it to trust and openness. The experience is comparable to my shyness during new social environments or when approaching new academic threats.

c. Where does the movie take place? Is it one world or multiple worlds?

The movie is located in the city area, which includes lanes and suburbs. It gives one real world which is realistic and shows both the good and the evil in human relationships.

Week 02 – Creating Character

Activity 01 [Understand Character’s Personality]

1. Watch Pixar short “BAO” directed by Domee Shi.

2. Identify characters in the story and their roles in the story.
Three main characters:

Mother- She is the grandma who makes dumplings and treats Bao as one of her children.  

Bao -The dumpling that becomes a living little boy, a replacement of her own son.  

Father- The silent father who attempts to maintain the peace as the family drama is played.

3. Describe the personality of each character(s) in the story, knowing how he/she reacted in difficult situations.

Mother- Nurturing and tender but she becomes agitated when she thinks of losing what belongs to her. Her guardian spirit goes a bit too far when Bao attempts to go his own way.  

Bao- Vital and adventurous, he is always eager to go outside the kitchen door. His freedom creates a minor disagreement between him and his mom.  

Father- silent, non-confrontational, out and about, yet tolerant enough to intervene when mom and Bao get on each other.

Activity 2 [External and Internal Feature].

1. Return to the Pixar short “BAO.”  

2. Describe the external features of the protagonist.

1. Mother This is a middle-aged Asian woman with a short black hair and plain clothing which indicates that she is a mere home cook.  
2. Bao – A small round dumpling that has few limbs and has expressive eyes and is full of youthful innocence.

3. Describe the internal features of the protagonist.

1. Mother Motherly, emotional, very loving to her child. She finds it hard to embrace change and is terrified of the isolation that will be brought about by the same.  
2. Bao - Boyish, naughty, self-reliant. He adores his mother and longs to have an opportunity to live his life and make his own decision.

Activity 03 [Wants and Needs]

1. Go back to the Pixar short “BAO.”

2. Identify a want and a need for each character by making a statement based on this example:
(In Monsters Inc., Sulley wants to be the scarer but he needs to be a father figure.)

Mother

Wants: The major intention of the mother is to keep Bao near and protect him against the harsh external world.  

Needs: She has understood that she has to give in a bit and leave Bao to grow and become a self-sufficient person.  

She desires to be a perfect mother, but she must understand that love is the ability to provide space as well.

Bao

Desires: He is desperate to have freedom and the opportunity to experience the world outside their small hometown.  

Needs: He must learn to value the love of his mother and acknowledge what she was willing to do on his behalf.  

He desires to be on his own, yet, he should appreciate the backing of his family.

Father

Desires: He desires all the people in his family to live in harmony, his wife, and his son.  

Needs: He must assist the two parties to communicate more and get to know each other.  

He is concerned to become a supportive person, yet he must be more emotionally available.

Activity 04 [Obstacles]

1. Return to the Pixar short “BAO.”

External Obstacles:

1. Mother: The developing motherhood, leaving home, even getting a girlchild are beyond her control of Bao.  
2. Bao: The strict rules on his mother and attachment deny him the freedom to live.  
3. Father: The current hostility between father and mother puts an emotional gap between them at home.

Internal Obstacles:

1. Mother: Yes, she is afraid that she will be lonely and feel like she will never be needed anymore.  
2. Bao: He is misunderstood and trapped, and thus frustrated.  
3. Father: He has a problem with expressing feelings and being neutral during conflicts.

Activity 05 [Character Arc]

1. Identify the arc of the main character in the short “BAO.”

What do they desire at the first stage?  

The mother begins with the desire to keep Bao with her and to keep him regardless of the price.

What do they know they need at the end?  

She understands that it takes the love to give up and leave Bao to make his own way even to grow apart.

2. How have you changed as a result of overcoming an obstacle?

I have learnt that losing a person does not imply losing it is a loving thing to do. I have also encountered situations in my own life where I needed to embrace a change that I was not comfortable with and this made me become stronger and more empathetic towards other people.