#shot zero

[mehlsbells]

The next installment in my persistent search to definitively answer the question

“why do films made or set in the 80s, where queer women fight and/or make up in classic vehicles, use such strong, stunning colours?”

Colour Theory: DESERT HEARTS

Recently we talked about colour theory in Blue Jean and Love Lies Bleeding — so guess a good opening question is “why do films made or set i

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How WILLOW's Camera Angles Demonstrate Kit's Character Arc

Willow's direction clearly considers character journeys, start to finish.

Inspired by @ludm, I wrote (a lot) about Willow.

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I did a lil deep dive on the practical and symbolic execution of one of my favourite props of all time: a glass of milk!

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stunner from "My Beautiful Laundrette". 

Omar's reflection is evident the whole time, but its translucence / stillness mean it's not clear til dynamic Johnny comes close. Visuals demonstrate J&O's different personalities, then shows their goals/outlooks aligning.

[mehlsbells]

It's 'simple' (straightforward), arbitrary (could've been any drink / item), and beautiful how Tarantino uses the mug shots (ha!) to break up cuts and keep conversation and edit smoothly flowing til Jackie & Max are on opposite sides of table for a 2-shot.

[mehlsbells]

of all the things I've worked on and built the past few years, this is amongst my chiefest pride and joy

prides and joys?

pride and joys?

I dunno whether to treat it as one phrase or two entities

either way, I'm damn proud of

Shot Zero - NEXT UP

What We're Looking at in 2026

I can see growing and evolving indefinitely; which is slightly daunting, but mostly exhilarating.

we tried to get a tumblr up but the copyright-smacking-bots simply would not allow it (youtube is brutal enough), but if you like tv and film, nerdery, and two people who will put out a smorgasbord of analysis and fun observations with our own four hands (and eight eyes, hello glasses wearers!) but NEVER use ChatGPT to write them, chuck us a follow, we'd be eternally grateful.

XxM

[mehlsbells]

THE BEAR and Time: Season 4 pt1

how every episode of marks the passing of time

in which I continue my insane cataloguing and contextualising of every single use of clocks and timers and calendars and timesheets and bus schedule and etc. depictions of the passing of moments in The Bear

(spoilers through Season 4 Episode 06)

[mehlsbells]

Frames within Frames: ALL OF US STRANGERS

All of us Strangers is a romantic magical realism drama, in which Adam (Andrew Scott) tries to navigate a blossoming relationship with his n