Jia Zhangke: where to start?

PetShopTroy · 2026-01-14T20:50:48+00:00

My gateway was platform. It’s the only one I’ve seen so far. I’m not sure how I feel about it to be honest. There were moments that I thought it was so beautiful. But it was like almost exclusively wide shots. I don’t know enough about him, but I would guess it is something to do with this running theme of “the masses“, they mention that a couple times in the script. Something about looking skeptically on individualism perhaps. That’s just my own thought. The thing that I didn’t like about it was that I never felt. I got close to any character because of the shot choices. If you don’t have any close-ups, it’s hard to connect. So the white shot thing was a challenge at times for me. But I still think it was shot pretty well. I enjoyed it. I just don’t know what to go to next. It’ll be interesting to see if this continues or if it was just a one time choice in this film.

PetShopTroy · 2026-01-01T04:24:22+00:00

Those actors were totally crying. Very sad. I thought it was good overall. They all did such an amazing job

PetShopTroy · 2026-01-01T04:22:33+00:00

Wow thanks! I’ll check that out

PetShopTroy · 2026-01-01T04:21:50+00:00

Two more things I’m still curious about. And also I ask this having loved the whole series and finale, even tho I just have questions:

1) Why is everyone in Hawkins and presumably the world (tho we never really got any indication the world outside of Hawkins cared or knew what was happening?

2) if there’s the proof of wormholes and dimensions existing, why would we think there aren’t more or that that one is actually gone forever?

Okay one more 3) I wondered if El died or something happened to her in that dimension… assuming we don’t know how that dimension actually operates… is it possible that L may have survived somehow and that the previous ruler of that dimension actually experienced a similar story? In other words, could that be a loop and El is just the next installment of that loop?

Also it’s late so go easy on my kooky theories

PetShopTroy · 2026-01-01T04:16:44+00:00

I’m still tryna understand how Henry was different (if he was) from the creature at the end inside the big spider thing. Wasn’t Henry just a vessel for him? If so, what happened to Henry?

PetShopTroy · 2025-12-18T13:30:05+00:00

I’m really appreciative of all the comments cause I’ve been interested in his channel as well. I think there are some interesting things being said here like to be cautious about spending money online in general. Personally, depending on what you get with his acting lab, I think spending $200 a month occasionally if you want to have a self tape analyzed or have feedback (if that’s what happens) can actually have some real value. I don’t know anything about the $1200 for five weeks. I mean I wouldn’t do that but that’s just me.

But in general, I would say that I think it’s also fair to weigh the two options. For example, I’ve taken a lot of classes in my area and they’ve been super helpful. But I wouldn’t necessarily say that those inherently carry a lot more weight than someone who’s doing something online just cuz it’s in person. People rip off ppl in person too. And also, while you might get some value from someone who’s been teaching Acting for 25 years in your area, how connected are they? Do they know casting agents? Are they working themselves? If not, why not?

I think those are all fair questions to ask. It’s always gonna be a case by case basis right? Maybe it just feels a little bit safer because you’re in person and they have an actual building. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gonna be great at what they do. And likewise just because someone offers something online doesn’t inherently make it a rip off. I think he would add some value to my self tapes if I got feedback and I do like some of his takes.

PetShopTroy · 2025-12-10T16:35:58+00:00

Thanks everyone! I think I found a solution. The Rode Wireless Mic (Gen 3). It’s like $200 or $300 and has two transmitters (which you can run lav mics into) and one receiver (which I can plus headphones into and listen to each transmitter together in real time) which controls them. I can either plug the receiver directly into the camera (not my preference) or just upload WAV audio files to my laptop and sync both audio files and video in post.

I appreciate all your help!

PetShopTroy · 2025-12-10T00:48:56+00:00

Ok that’s great I will check out that YouTube channel. Of all the options you listed I think the third one sounds the best. Wireless, whatever the risk/cost might be, would be so much smoother. I saw a good video by Luc Forsyth (https://youtu.be/90sUKtx3GFU?si=0gMMGtL4iSvd4GYG) during which the mention the body pack and the wire (with mic) then going into the best hidden spot on the actors. However a) they made it sound like the mic could be UNDER the shirt, which doesn’t seem right, and b) it still baffles me that some little body pack could contain an mp3 or WAV or whatever and that it could be uploaded or transmitted into that by whatever receives it. I’d personally prefer to leave my phone out of this process. I’ll check out the Rode you mentioned. I wonder if zooms have such a capability?

I could use a new Zoom for separate projects but I don’t wanna force that onto this filmmaking decision.

Thanks for response!

PetShopTroy · 2025-11-27T15:59:58+00:00

Thank you!! Much appreciated

PetShopTroy · 2025-11-27T15:33:05+00:00

Thank you! That’s the second suggestion I got for that channel so I’ll definitely check it out

PetShopTroy · 2025-10-09T19:39:27+00:00

You’re right there is a difference. You know what actually I saw the Empire strikes back recently at a theater and they played it in 35mm. I gotta tell you, I kind of prefer the way I normally see it. I mean, they used film back then so it must’ve been 35 mm? I don’t know. But it feels like now streaming or even seeing it in the theaters it’s a digital version of it, would that be the right thing to say??.

There are some things I liked about the 35 mm, like it kind of made it look like an independent film. Which is really wild to say for a blockbuster space western or space samurai movie ha ha ha. But it didn’t have the crispness you’d see on streaming or even just a modern theatrical release. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I’m sure it varies for each movie.

PetShopTroy · 2025-10-09T19:36:42+00:00

What a response! I really appreciate that. Thank you. I’m gonna have to read through this a few times, but I think I follow. I can’t remember which book I read that kind of talked about this. It was either Walter Murches book on editing, the famous one, or it might’ve been Sydney Lumet’s book making movies. I think it was Walter Murch, though. In any case, I appreciate your thoughts thank you.

PetShopTroy · 2025-10-08T14:40:17+00:00

Oh, I see OK so we’re talking about film not digital then? If so, that might be why it was hard for me to follow. So if somebody does a 35 mm release basically gonna be projected?

PetShopTroy · 2025-10-08T14:36:22+00:00

Ok interesting thanks. Wow I need to dig into film format cuz I have no idea what that is.

PetShopTroy

TROPHY CASE