BMCC OpenLab | Sam Sloves | Activity https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/members/sslovesbmcc-cuny-edu/activity/ Activity feed for Sam Sloves. Mon, 25 May 2026 22:13:40 -0400 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-US 30 hourly 2 657a0a33df0534dafbf67819f4de5c5d Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 -- Faculty Discussion https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/175222/ Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:49:42 -0500 0 b363451732a03013df3a1016dc860b63 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post HUSTLE in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=281 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:15 -0500 Adam Sandler chooses to not be entirely cloying.  The film captures some of the pettiness of the front offices and ownerships pretty accurately.  Maybe underplays the exploitative racial animosity so many o […]

]]> 0 54d66d1fcc5af1281a3ff8b3695b3bc5 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post TAR in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=279 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:13 -0500  Fields wanted to show us he could be more pretentious than anyone and he succeeded.  And what does a pretentious filmmaker do? They make their own version of Citizen Kane.  Except he made it without the fir […]

]]> 0 1ae323259f97ee5048b712d4dd046182 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post BANSHEES in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=276 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:12 -0500 I believe i have found the notes on the pitch.  Midnight Cowboy set in a small Irish village? No, ok Abbott and Costello where Costello develops a pathological hatred for Abbott.  OK here it is… the Odd Coup […]

]]> 0 67d925e5e1ccdeb880417f2c0440d695 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post WOMEN TALKING in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=269 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:10 -0500 A unique take on The Women… There are some clever speeches and touching movements… but this isn’t a film… its a stage play. Each beat is simply a setup for a clever speech from another character. And it has the r […]

]]> 0 0b471689e494c81aa60702a7e3176164 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post BABYLON in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=273 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:07 -0500   Well the first 20 minutes rock. Margot Robbie doing cocaine and having that timeless cocaine fueled conversation about “film.” It must have been had as many times — well as many times as cocaine was done at a […]

]]> 0 310276c9b1af24d1b08a524f38a75bc6 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post GLASS ONION in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=283 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:05 -0500 Ugh. While Knives Out was clever and well plotted, this decided a few cheeky scenes could cover up the lack of attention to plotting and story. They don’t. It is the perfect warning for anyone who succeeds and […]

]]> 0 5390418f76df2d0ed11210e824d41b88 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post TRIANGLE OF SADNESS in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=267 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:04 -0500  This is fun but seems like lowbrow humor for effete intellectuals.  God forbid the New Yorker crowd watch Dumb and Dumber or  Beavis and Butthead.  Give them gross out comedy in a pretentious package.  (See also […]

]]> 0 315f7861dd0e971cd08b2fa8342333f7 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=261 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:02 -0500 Another ‘direct’ remake.  Glossy beautiful ‘war is bad’ shots of carnage and destruction. But less engaging and less visually stunning than 1917. Maybe the academy was responding to the fact that it was in a […]

]]> 0 d0b6ad7e41728a81b9816455773f07b7 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post AVATAR in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=263 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:29:01 -0500 Again…another rehash… not much to say here.  The further adventures of the blue folk. Gage your reaction to the first film, and your expectations will undoubtedly be met.

]]> 0 f5ae6b1deef2bcb61a1c496e5ed0cfb3 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post CALL JANE in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=233 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:58 -0500 Felt a lot like A walk on the Moon in spirit and its flawed, but also powerful and engaging.  to the films credit they clearly cut it to try and make it a normal length film — which almost no one bothers to do […]

]]> 0 749aa3fbd7eb90320509b607f5455a2e Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post BENEDICTION in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=230 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:57 -0500 Almost turned this off after 15 minutes.  Tired pretentious shots of the horrors of WW1 with the real life protagonists poems read over them.  Not bad, but hard to find a foothold.  And then he objects to the wa […]

]]> 0 333535bea11cbc7623e54e2f8bf15f8a Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post THE WOMAN KING in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=240 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:56 -0500 Well this film got overlooked. A generally engaging warrior film. Remake Wonder Woman without the comic book whizz bang and drop it into Africa. The performances are consistently top notch. I don’t want to […]

]]> 0 aa8b9e06ec6e8de258b8a1ce22d86eb4 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=228 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:55 -0500 I suppose every generation has their Walter Mitty, which is  a previous generation’s Connecticut Yankee…  It’s a super fun version of this movie, but felt not quite like a great film.  Walter Mitty meets Kentu […]

]]> 0 53a97f1ec15086b1439ac6386bf90fb7 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post AMSTERDAM in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=249 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:54 -0500 The 21st century post modern Parallax View?  A little more love interests a bit more of a buddy picture, some absurd weirdness.  Its fun, its exciting, it even has a bit of a relationship with history.  The on […]

]]> 0 9b7106d7bd048b3136a98e3df410252c Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post EO in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=237 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:53 -0500 A beautiful classic European style film. I’m not sure its for everyone, but if you appreciate a film that sets its own pace and style, you are in for a treat.

]]> 0 f6ab8ee6d2ddb32db2985a1214d6df11 Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post BARDO in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=219 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:51 -0500 Something about having a unique visual flair must inspire you to make a film about yourself — Fellini’s Otto e Mezzo, Tarkovsky’s Mirror.  It’s a fascinating film but always feels a bit icky in that there is […]

]]> 0 c9bfe2f655fc403359684e6519028aba Sam Sloves wrote a new blog post CRIMES OF THE FUTURE in the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/sloves/?p=205 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:28:49 -0500 Not sure how this got lost either.  Cronenberg basically remakes Dead Ringers but different.  Its strange, fascinating, and mind boggling — all within the confines of a well crafted story (something that s […]

]]> 0 d559386df5f38c5fba67fcca78bcf494 Sam Sloves started the topic What we got for entertainment.... in the forum What do we have... https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/groups/sloves/forum/topic/what-we-got-for-entertainment/ Sat, 25 Feb 2023 23:28:23 -0500 testing

]]> 0 d1d07cbb86cbce6c22156b495ed19ded Sam Sloves created the group Rant https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/127630/ Sat, 25 Feb 2023 22:29:23 -0500 0 78da4faef24c588611247d2a2bb32f04 Sam Sloves started the topic An invitation to join the BMCC OpenLab community. in the forum Discord Information https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/mes140/forums/topic/what-we-got-for-entertainment/ Sat, 25 Feb 2023 22:15:05 -0500 Cops kickin gypsies on the pavement…

oh that they were only just kicking… but we got movies 🙂

 

 

As the Oscars approach, I decided to try and see all of the major nominees.  And I did with two exceptions.  I will update if and when I see them.  Several of what I consider the best films of the year do…[Read more]

]]> 0 53eed537a970e95360cb0c1f6be75914 Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Fall 22 Archive 2 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/122527/ Fri, 20 Jan 2023 02:29:56 -0500 0 ab36e01a08f5f227432737600891f85e Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Fall 22 Archive 2 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/122524/ Fri, 20 Jan 2023 01:45:23 -0500 0 6fdcd6f6c079e445c94934b688340bfe Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Summer 22 Clone2 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107699/ Mon, 15 Aug 2022 01:39:07 -0400 0 18151fa3c8dd019a97168b9a4f6838c8 Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Summer 22 Clone2 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107698/ Mon, 15 Aug 2022 01:35:39 -0400 0 1b233e1211436f93e46e6344ca70be14 Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Sp 2022 Archive https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107697/ Mon, 15 Aug 2022 01:30:33 -0400 0 56c7074dafb3a1e72e734f882d726365 Sam Sloves created the site mes140archivetest https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107639/ Sat, 13 Aug 2022 02:18:56 -0400 0 5588e2a1a58404c6c8d428dc425bf4f1 Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Summer 22 Archive https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107623/ Sat, 13 Aug 2022 02:10:58 -0400 0 46c32d5e5f0f1eb401386edeac2543a2 Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Summer 22 Clone2 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107621/ Sat, 13 Aug 2022 02:02:44 -0400 0 94353ff1c91f6c52c40846f77d872b4d Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Sp 2022 Archive https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107618/ Sat, 13 Aug 2022 01:47:05 -0400 0 557656803780991bb4357aef943051af Sam Sloves created the site MES 140 Summer 22 Clone https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/activity/p/107604/ Sat, 13 Aug 2022 01:38:45 -0400 0 4febaf893340648eb9dd46f5de495f37 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Classes begin in the forum https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/scene-outline-exercise-with-the-tortoise-and-hare/#post-1513 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 07:11:15 -0500 See italics.  Your scenes need to be continuous in time.   How are you going to show getting sleepy sleeps and wakes all in one scene?

Please be careful of this a change in place or TIME means a new scene heading…

Remember when you introduce a character, the name is in all caps first mention.

]]> 0 2d1a212e5e80fc2b2625e04b13d2db8f Sam Sloves replied to the topic Classes begin in the forum https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/scene-outline-exercise-with-the-tortoise-and-hare/#post-1510 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 06:58:16 -0500 Agreed avoid decides to begins to is eating… change to eats.

Also opening is not in present tense action verbs.

Characters names are all caps when you introduce them.

]]> 0 b6fc1d8ea35c8d84800f7f4f74a1abf4 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Study#6: After Effects Animation Properties in the forum MMP260-1301, Introduction to 2D Animation, Fall 2019 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/helmer-sons-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1496 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 02:31:08 -0500 Very good work.  I agree with almost all, and I like the expression living life to its fullest 🙂

Your rising action is good and so is the Fantes.  Together they are a complete answer.

I think the inciting incident is too late.  We are well into the story… What is the incident that starts off the action?

]]> 0 449d8419e3d597b08f3b0a929eb5d3f5 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Study#6: After Effects Animation Properties in the forum MMP260-1301, Introduction to 2D Animation, Fall 2019 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/helmer-sons-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1490 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 02:07:00 -0500 set up agreed

rising action agreed (there is another angle to this as well, but what you put was fine)

resolution agreed

exposition… no worth revisiting — see what the others say

the rest all look good.

nicely done overall… just double check exposition.

]]> 0 0a0eae3e47b40e3609826211d0539178 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Study#6: After Effects Animation Properties in the forum MMP260-1301, Introduction to 2D Animation, Fall 2019 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/helmer-sons-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1489 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 01:50:48 -0500 1 please have someone post who can do so without all of the HTML code . thanks

2 point of attack is fine.

3 inciting incident is a bit off let’s see what others say.

4 mid point — does this happen? pretty sure this is  not it

5 planting and payoff please review.

6 don’t think this is it.

7 this is an example of exposition

8 yes the first…[Read more]

]]> 0 123ad5dd4d9bf2d8ca19b6c8c6293b53 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Final project - step 3: walk cycle (clean) in the forum MMP260-1301, Introduction to 2D Animation, Fall 2019 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/schwarzfaher-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1488 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 01:23:55 -0500 Bravo, i would say all of these nail.

Excellent work thanks.

I moved helmer to its proper spot.

]]> 0 d95e3fc193ba99c03a570bb2756f0bf0 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Final project - step 3: walk cycle (clean) in the forum MMP260-1301, Introduction to 2D Animation, Fall 2019 https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/schwarzfaher-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1483 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 03:08:24 -0500 yes overall good work.  i might argue a tad about the midpoint,

and i think you missed the main action of the plot twist… what is the big thing?

nice job

]]> 0 3c30c31b67f6a2bff8da7ad92d738fea Sam Sloves replied to the topic Hakeem Omotesho's Portfolio in the forum https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/scene-description-exercise/#post-1479 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:27:54 -0500 Needs some work.

Ends well.

]]> 0 eead9a803b17abaa1b7b37d002bc370a Sam Sloves replied to the topic in the forum Final project - step 2: walk cycle (rough) https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/most-beautiful-thing-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1471 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 07:31:43 -0500 this does not show any difference from the original post.    ALL GROUPS.  Please use any feedback I give to anyone in the group to address the final project.  And you must communicate and work together to make a better product than the original.

]]> 0 5a65848bca1a2a2d2950a8317ae54426 Sam Sloves replied to the topic in the forum Final project - step 2: walk cycle (rough) https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/most-beautiful-thing-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1470 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 07:16:57 -0500 Very good, although for planting and payoff you only mention the payoff ¯_(ツ)_/¯

mention the plant as well

]]> 0 997b63f4ab8d18d43be7e1554cf16905 Sam Sloves replied to the topic in the forum Final project - step 2: walk cycle (rough) https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/most-beautiful-thing-worksheet-group-submission/#post-1464 Mon, 14 Feb 2022 22:24:08 -0500 UPDATE — thank you for the edit.

midpoint and second plot point still off. But the rest looks good… submit the update on blackboard for a re-evaluation (and chat amongst yourselves about the midpoint and second plot point… the reading may help.

Please repost after reading my comments on blackboard.
for 1 respond in a way that structurally…[Read more]

]]> 0 920041c6e7cd2394fb5b4f62351c5bc2 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Nathan John's Portfolio in the forum https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/the-lunch-date-exercise/?view=all#post-1447 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 09:07:36 -0500 For the other worksheets please answer the prompts individually rather than answering in an essay. I appreciate the effort, but the goal here is to understand the mechanics of the narrative.
You make some keen observations, and on the right track with show vs tell. Probably covered most if it, but its buried.

]]> 0 ecede09edc233f81aed939c30afde05a Sam Sloves replied to the topic Nathan John's Portfolio in the forum https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/the-lunch-date-exercise/?view=all#post-1444 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 08:56:45 -0500 Please have someone post who can get do so without html in the post.
You didn’t really do any work beyond the individual posts — not sure you really did any editing.
Solid work on the outlook. I think there is a bit more to her attitude and motivation.

]]> 0 e982d5f377b4249e290db2502202b0df Sam Sloves replied to the topic Welcome! in the forum Welcome! https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/character/#post-1442 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 08:47:53 -0500 So lets see. Do I need to define the meaning of edit? Posting the original is not acceptable. Also, my comments on your individual were to guide you to completing a more fleshed out assignment. I don’t see the mention of inner need in any of these, and yet my comments for almost every individual mentioned a need to work more on that aspect.

]]> 0 ffb83d4e926d0b3d6f46549186c0597d Sam Sloves replied to the topic Welcome! in the forum Welcome! https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/character/#post-1441 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 08:42:23 -0500 This shows no editing from the original and does not address any of the comments. Not acceptable.

]]> 0 607a087ea58f1d4be1dab5c07f82fb1e Sam Sloves replied to the topic Welcome! in the forum Welcome! https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/character/#post-1440 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 08:41:13 -0500 You drew a nice portrait of Mike. I would have liked a few more concrete details that showed charisma.

You still didn’t get into the inner need. You discuss Mike’s goal, and you discuss why he chose that goal, but it doesn’t dig into the inner need that he is fulfilling.

]]> 0 295dac7d1b8a81bad8bb13ccaba89bde Sam Sloves replied to the topic Welcome! in the forum Welcome! https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/character/#post-1438 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 07:47:28 -0500 Molly is an interesting character. And you have tied some interesting things together with the dog and her father. I am not left with much of a mental picture, did you include 3 characteristics?

Pretty sure I asked you to address the inner need explicitly you dance around it but would have liked it stated very explicitly.

Be careful about…[Read more]

]]> 0 1c62e77dbf62fc9ea87f83836fe651c0 Sam Sloves replied to the topic Terms of Use in the forum About https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/introductory-post/#post-1431 Mon, 07 Feb 2022 00:40:30 -0500 Welcome I missed that one. Big fan of Roth and Larry though.

here is a very different take on the gangster world. Let me know what you think.

]]> 0 c110a84afa3bc01c63d7d5ba1783720f Sam Sloves replied to the topic Terms of Use in the forum About https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/screenwriting/forums/topic/introductory-post/#post-1429 Sat, 05 Feb 2022 21:08:59 -0500 Welcome Alex… speaking of quirky sci fi and Alex here is a clip from one of my favorites (made by Alex Cox) Let me know what you think.

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