Status and Being Cool

Hey people!

Click here for the blocking of my new shot. I am trying to convey that the tan female character has a higher status in the relationship, because she wants to break up, and the green male character has a lower status, because he has to fight to keep the relationship going.

My mentor and a guest lecturer at school, both from Pixar, have been talking about status and how each character is portrayed on screen or in our everyday lives. One thing that is totally mind blowing to think about is people with status hardly do anything. For example, picture a king on his throne in a room full of his subjects. The king is the most important person in the room and therefore he will not move. Jesters will entertain him, people will bring him food, and people will bow when they come before him. The lower the status of person, the more "stuff" they have to do for the higher status person. That contrast in character types tells the audience who is the most important and who has less status.

The guest lecturer also brought up the point that in high school you could pick out the "cool" kids, because they were the ones that were basically standing around doing nothing. People would try to impress them, wish to be like them, or avoid them. That gives status to them, because you are endowing them with some kind of action.

I know this is way over-simplifying human psychology, but if you want to be cool then just hang around and do nothing. Someone will think that you are important and will come make-out with you.


Rock!