Yes a little more editing. I hope this is it!
There are just some small tweaks to each. I am trying to make the loop more smooth, and I think it is working better now!
1112 takeheart1-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
1112 takeheart2-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Revised edits
edit 10:31-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
It was suggested to put in some sound with footsteps at the beginning when the chair stands alone. So I took some free wav. file of footsteps to place in there to see if I like it before I record my own sound. I'm not really sure if it adds anything to my piece??fall 10:31b-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Final Edit
So I think that this is my final edit! I hope! I feel like I am finally where I want to be with this project. Maybe with a little more tweaking here and there I can call this my finished BFA project! Maybe I will not even need too many more changes.
final edit-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
final edit-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Visiting Artist Elizabeth Condon
Visiting Artist Elizabeth Condon came to speak on Oct. 11th at 7pm in Callicott Auditorium. She was born in LA and now lives and works from both Tampa, Florida and NY. I was not able to attend the lecture. I viewed the recording of it. I am sorry I missed seeing her work on the big screen, but I'm not sorry about the actual lecture. She spoke what felt like a really long time. Just showing each work and describing it. She has so much work it felt like an overload of information. I was not bored visually but a little by what she talked about.
Although what interested me most was her work early on in the lecture. She kept using the word kitsch to describe the series of dolls. They were not just regular dolls. They had an eerie look to them. She briefly mentioned. That she painted the dolls to describe her childhood. To get to know the dolls better by painting. She said that when she was young she did not speak until the age of 4. Until she spoke she just played with dolls all the time. I would have liked it if she had gone into more detail about her not speaking. I'm not sure if it was something bad that happened to her causing her to not speak, if it was medical, or if it was by choice. I felt like that work was the most beautiful and strongest of everything I saw of hers.
Her other work was inspired from her travels around the US and Asia. She has a technique where she pours her paints on to the canvas and then works from those shapes letting the shapes build her landscape. I thought that was a interesting way to paint. It allows her to be creative and troubleshoot her next most not allowing herself to always be in control. Condon's most recent painting she is working on are influenced by the 60s and 70s from when she was growing up. She is looking at architecture that is still around from when she was young and also night clubs.
Here is the only image of her dolls that I could find on the internet. It isn't from what she showed in the lecture but still has that dark and eerie vibe that I liked from the ones she did show.
Although what interested me most was her work early on in the lecture. She kept using the word kitsch to describe the series of dolls. They were not just regular dolls. They had an eerie look to them. She briefly mentioned. That she painted the dolls to describe her childhood. To get to know the dolls better by painting. She said that when she was young she did not speak until the age of 4. Until she spoke she just played with dolls all the time. I would have liked it if she had gone into more detail about her not speaking. I'm not sure if it was something bad that happened to her causing her to not speak, if it was medical, or if it was by choice. I felt like that work was the most beautiful and strongest of everything I saw of hers.
Her other work was inspired from her travels around the US and Asia. She has a technique where she pours her paints on to the canvas and then works from those shapes letting the shapes build her landscape. I thought that was a interesting way to paint. It allows her to be creative and troubleshoot her next most not allowing herself to always be in control. Condon's most recent painting she is working on are influenced by the 60s and 70s from when she was growing up. She is looking at architecture that is still around from when she was young and also night clubs.
Here is the only image of her dolls that I could find on the internet. It isn't from what she showed in the lecture but still has that dark and eerie vibe that I liked from the ones she did show.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Edits
Ok here's my most recent edits! I think I am getting very close to the look and feel I originally wanted. The difference between the two is one's edited with just falling while the other is falling with some rebuild. I need help deciding which works best. Then I can tighten and wrap this film up! Maybe? Hopefully! I also decided to only have sound during the fall to just hear the breaking noise. I took out all other sounds of me walking or building. I wonder if that is ok to do? I am still not even sure if I will have sound for the actual BFA screening. I would like for the breaking noise to be heard when people view it but I do not want ugly earphones in my installation. So I guess I will have to see what I can get away with.
fall 10:15-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
fall 10:15d-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
fall 10:15-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
fall 10:15d-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Final Shoot
I believe I wrapped up the shooting part of my movie this last Saturday. I fell a bunch more and got bruises on top of my bruises, and I also shot some coverage of putting the chair back together to give me some more variety.
The first edit is made toward what senior studio suggested last week. I like it but I feel like I need to definitely cut it up a bit more. Maybe I should not always show me fully walking in every time. Cut it to the fall quicker? This edit was also to show the two filming days mixed to see if it still blended nice. I only had a tiny bit of color correcting to do to match them.
fall 10:08-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
This second edit is more of what cinema class suggested.
fall 10:08b-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
I feel like this one is more interesting to watch because there is a lot of variety. I think the strongest part (and how I originally thought about editing this piece) is towards the end with the cuts of the fall over and over. They are closer together and happen quickly. It hurts me to watch and in a way I think that is how I would like my audience to feel. I need to try and figure out a way to effectively execute that and show my determination to keep going at the same time. I really do not want my viewers to get bored. I would like it if they would actually hangout and watch it for a little while. The editing part is fun because there are so many different ways I could go about this.
fall 10:08-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
This second edit is more of what cinema class suggested.
fall 10:08b-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
I feel like this one is more interesting to watch because there is a lot of variety. I think the strongest part (and how I originally thought about editing this piece) is towards the end with the cuts of the fall over and over. They are closer together and happen quickly. It hurts me to watch and in a way I think that is how I would like my audience to feel. I need to try and figure out a way to effectively execute that and show my determination to keep going at the same time. I really do not want my viewers to get bored. I would like it if they would actually hangout and watch it for a little while. The editing part is fun because there are so many different ways I could go about this.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Test Shoot
This weekend was the test shoot- I think it went pretty well. Falling in the chair over and over wasn't that bad but I was very sore the next day and had a lot of bruises on the back of my legs. Hopefully I will get some good feedback from the class so I can focus on what I need to get right when shooting again this coming Saturday. I made some really rough edits of the footage to show. I realized when editing that it takes me a long time to build the chair back up. So I need to figure out the best way to show that without it getting boring or speeding it up and making it look comical. I want it to go faster but still show an emphasis of the struggle of putting it back together.
Sequence 1-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
fall-vimeo hd encode from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Pre-test test shoot
This weekend I went in to get some test shots with the lighting set up and the falling process in the chair to see if it will work. I also planned out a few different outfits to get some stills of to see if they will look right on film.
Image of lighting
...and the chair
Here are some shots of the outfits I have in mind. I think that it will be stronger if there is a variety of changes to show time passing so that the process doesn't read as one day. Varying from dressed up to very casual. Things I would wear from day to day.
Footage:
This first video is the building of the chair as it was the very first time we put it back together, but the more we did it the better we were able to figure out how to keep it stable. 3 toothpicks are better than one!
building from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
The next two videos are of me falling. In the first one the chair started to break before I even fell down and because of the angle it still looked pretty believable. Which got me thinking that this could be a way to execute the shots. If I can get the chair to start falling and I fall just after I may be able to land without hurting myself or the chair but it could be tricky.
fall 1 from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
The problem in this film is that I hesitate when I sit down. Pretty much every time I sat down I did that. So, I am glad that I figured this out before the real test shoot coming up next weekend. I think I am going to try to tape some padding under my clothes. Most of my outfits are not fitted so I am pretty sure that I can conceal it so it doesn't show of film. Maybe with a little extra padding on my body I will be more confident when sitting down on the chair. It needs to look as normal and natural as possible!
fall 2 from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
At the end of the shoot there was an unexpected student that came into the studio, Jonah, we asked him to sit on the chair that was already set up. He did and it was good because the chair didn't break right away. He knew there was something wrong with it but for a brief moment I think he thought he was safe. The chair did break and he said it hurt but that he was ok. Sorry Jonah! I did discover what I was already thinking which is that he landed on the back of the chair with his back. Once again I need padding!
unexpected from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Image of lighting
...and the chair
Here are some shots of the outfits I have in mind. I think that it will be stronger if there is a variety of changes to show time passing so that the process doesn't read as one day. Varying from dressed up to very casual. Things I would wear from day to day.
This first video is the building of the chair as it was the very first time we put it back together, but the more we did it the better we were able to figure out how to keep it stable. 3 toothpicks are better than one!
building from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
The next two videos are of me falling. In the first one the chair started to break before I even fell down and because of the angle it still looked pretty believable. Which got me thinking that this could be a way to execute the shots. If I can get the chair to start falling and I fall just after I may be able to land without hurting myself or the chair but it could be tricky.
fall 1 from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
The problem in this film is that I hesitate when I sit down. Pretty much every time I sat down I did that. So, I am glad that I figured this out before the real test shoot coming up next weekend. I think I am going to try to tape some padding under my clothes. Most of my outfits are not fitted so I am pretty sure that I can conceal it so it doesn't show of film. Maybe with a little extra padding on my body I will be more confident when sitting down on the chair. It needs to look as normal and natural as possible!
fall 2 from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
At the end of the shoot there was an unexpected student that came into the studio, Jonah, we asked him to sit on the chair that was already set up. He did and it was good because the chair didn't break right away. He knew there was something wrong with it but for a brief moment I think he thought he was safe. The chair did break and he said it hurt but that he was ok. Sorry Jonah! I did discover what I was already thinking which is that he landed on the back of the chair with his back. Once again I need padding!
unexpected from Angelique Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Artist Lecture- Matthew Robbins
Matthew Robbins a former MCA student came to do a lecture on Thursday 9/20 in Callicott at 6:30pm. Matthew Robbins is a blogger and editor for Martha Stewart Weddings as well as the Huffingtonpost.com and StyleList.com. He give lectures around the world and has been on the Martha Stewart Show and the Today Show. He is known for his extravagant event planning and party arrangements.
I thought it was great to see a former student doing commercial art work and getting paid well to do so. He is still able to tap into his conceptual and artistic side but he is doing it with flowers and party favors. I was very impressed by the images of his work from former parties and weddings. During the lecture he spoke of inspiration. I found it interesting that he would take something as simple as a piece of candy or a vintage tin and use that object as his inspiration and color palette to decorate a whole room.
He was a great speaker because he is used to doing so for large crowds, media and the wealthy, but he did not go into a lot of detail about his process of getting to where he is now. He talked about his time at MCA as a painter, then he transferred to San Fransisco. While he was in school he worked in a flower shop and he also said something about doing events for a company when the big boss was away, who later found out that Matthew was behind the wonderful arrangements. After that he moved to NY and started his own business where Martha Stewart ask for him to be on her show based on a flower arrangement she saw in a magazine.
I guess that is it, it takes a lot of work and ambition. I just wanted more. I realize he worked his way up. He probably had a few connections from his places of business while he worked in college and he was just good at it.
Here are some images of his work and a link to his website.
I thought it was great to see a former student doing commercial art work and getting paid well to do so. He is still able to tap into his conceptual and artistic side but he is doing it with flowers and party favors. I was very impressed by the images of his work from former parties and weddings. During the lecture he spoke of inspiration. I found it interesting that he would take something as simple as a piece of candy or a vintage tin and use that object as his inspiration and color palette to decorate a whole room.
He was a great speaker because he is used to doing so for large crowds, media and the wealthy, but he did not go into a lot of detail about his process of getting to where he is now. He talked about his time at MCA as a painter, then he transferred to San Fransisco. While he was in school he worked in a flower shop and he also said something about doing events for a company when the big boss was away, who later found out that Matthew was behind the wonderful arrangements. After that he moved to NY and started his own business where Martha Stewart ask for him to be on her show based on a flower arrangement she saw in a magazine.
I guess that is it, it takes a lot of work and ambition. I just wanted more. I realize he worked his way up. He probably had a few connections from his places of business while he worked in college and he was just good at it.
Here are some images of his work and a link to his website.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Test shots in lighting studio
Over the weekend I went to the lighting studio to plan on where I would like to set up and get some shots of the chair documenting the way it breaks at this point. I am still trying to figure out a way to make the chair fall apart a little bit better so that it isn't a surprise at what direction it goes each time. I'm getting a little worried about making it happen. Ideally I want the cushion to fall straight down so that I am not falling on to the back or legs of the chair. I do not want anything to snap on the chair to the point where I can not use it anymore or snap anything on me for that matter.
The chair is in 3 pieces: the ladder back, cushion, and front legs. My helper and boyfriend, Randall, and I rigged the chair up with toothpicks because that is what we had conveniently at the house. After trying that out in the lighting studio we realized that it was working but something a little thicker would be better. So, we went by the home depot and got the smallest dowel rod and stained it to match the chair.
Here is some footage of what we did. This was all shot on my iPhone with a tripod.
I did not mess with lighting just yet because I am still trying to figure out the construction of the chair. I have to admit that I was a little scared to test out the chair myself due to either hurting me or breaking the chair too much before I even start shooting the project.
Here is a picture of the dowels stained.
The chair is in 3 pieces: the ladder back, cushion, and front legs. My helper and boyfriend, Randall, and I rigged the chair up with toothpicks because that is what we had conveniently at the house. After trying that out in the lighting studio we realized that it was working but something a little thicker would be better. So, we went by the home depot and got the smallest dowel rod and stained it to match the chair.
Here is some footage of what we did. This was all shot on my iPhone with a tripod.
I did not mess with lighting just yet because I am still trying to figure out the construction of the chair. I have to admit that I was a little scared to test out the chair myself due to either hurting me or breaking the chair too much before I even start shooting the project.
Here is a picture of the dowels stained.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Revised Pitch
"Elevator" Line- Visualization of perseverance through
constant struggle and defeat in a seemingly hopeless situation
Explanation of Theme- As a metaphor, I will use falling from a chair to show how life is a constant battle.
What is the central point you are trying to make with this film? The point is to show a person’s emotional determination toward an obstacle by not giving up no matter the level of difficulty.
What is the central goal of the film? The goal of this film is to give the viewer a sense of sympathy toward the main character, as they will be able to relate to the emotional feelings of overcoming obstacles in their own lives.
Explanation of Theme- As a metaphor, I will use falling from a chair to show how life is a constant battle.
What is the central point you are trying to make with this film? The point is to show a person’s emotional determination toward an obstacle by not giving up no matter the level of difficulty.
What is the central goal of the film? The goal of this film is to give the viewer a sense of sympathy toward the main character, as they will be able to relate to the emotional feelings of overcoming obstacles in their own lives.
Why should we care??? This project will allow me to create a short film using a portable camera to have freedom in experimenting with hands free camera angles, as well as allow me to focus on performance, installation, and most importantly allowing time to improve my editing skills to fully be able to execute my vision.
What is your project about??? This project will elicit feelings of sympathy thru struggle but bring attention to determination.
Does your film have a premise? The premise is to not let interruption stop you from moving forward. In life there will always be a hurdle to conquer.
Short synopsis- The film will show the repetition of a person, myself, sitting in a chair that will collapse causing me to fall each time. I will keep going back to the chair rebuilding it and sitting again only for it to break. I will focus on the frustration and defeat but highlight my commitment to keep trying. The footage will be presented in its usual display on a computer screen, but I will place the same chair from the film in front of the screen as an installation, giving the viewer the option to experience the uneasy feeling of the unstable chair.
Place- a nondescript setting indoors, clear, empty, blank walls and floor. There will be one low focal light source to cast a heavy shadow on the side of the character’s face.
*Note: I have been
thinking about the location and the way my character should look. I am still
pretty set with the idea of the location being as plain and nondescript as
possible. The location will be in my home in a plain corner. It will be lit
dramatically to one side casting a shadow on the character and assisting to
darken the room giving attention to the performance by not distracting from its
surroundings. As for the character (me), I think it is best to keep the
clothing simple, neutrals- gray top and black pants maybe blue jeans. I do not
want the audience to read into what she is wearing. I do not want the clothes
to distract either.
Time- unidentified time
Atmosphere- lonely/ empty
Character- Late-20s female- dressed simply/plain
Tone- sympathy, empty and lonely
Execution- To execute this, I will be using my iPhone camera. The size and weight of the phone will allow me to rig it on different parts of the body as well as let me strap it to overhead objects and furniture that I will be using in the film to help me achieve different angles and perspectives. In correspondence, I will use the Canon D60 locked down on a tripod moving around the subject on all sides shooting only at angles and perspectives that the camera and tripod will allow. That way I can accumulate footage in both abstract and focused form to see which works best for the aesthetic I am trying to achieve. The video will be edited in Final Cut Pro set on a loop and presented in digital format on a computer monitor screen.
Structure Breakdown-
The film will be on a loop:
Fall
Rebuild
Rest
Fall
Repeat
I am having trouble thinking of a movie to show as a good example of how I would like the movie to look but a interrogation scene is kind of what I keep thinking about when I picture the look. Maybe not as dark as this picture but close.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Chair Reupholstery Step 1
So I got started on the reupholstery process, and I recorded the steps along the way. I only finished the stripping down of the old material. I still need to figure out how to properly add the new cushion which is a lot thicker than the old cushion since I will be falling on it. I do know for a fact that the new 2" thick cushion is going to save my bum because I was falling on it in the store before I bought it. :)
Also, I realize that I could have left the staples in the underneath part of the chair but there was something kind of satisfying about pulling them out. I got all of the staples but three which is pretty good considering that the wood seat has been covered twice and who ever stapled it up went a little staple happy.
Here are all the pieces, the middle fabric is what I will be covering both seats with. I like it because the print isn't as loud as the original. It's just a cream and beige pinstripe.
Back of seat- look at all those staples.
Layers of dirty old materials.
Layers and thin cushion.
Rusty staples.
Finished! Yay!
My next step will be to do a little research on reupholstering so that I do not mess up the ten dollar cushion that I purchase.
Also, I realize that I could have left the staples in the underneath part of the chair but there was something kind of satisfying about pulling them out. I got all of the staples but three which is pretty good considering that the wood seat has been covered twice and who ever stapled it up went a little staple happy.
Here are all the pieces, the middle fabric is what I will be covering both seats with. I like it because the print isn't as loud as the original. It's just a cream and beige pinstripe.
Back of seat- look at all those staples.
Layers of dirty old materials.
Layers and thin cushion.
Rusty staples.
Finished! Yay!
My next step will be to do a little research on reupholstering so that I do not mess up the ten dollar cushion that I purchase.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Researching the fall
I took karate when I was real young, I sort of remember learning certain ways to try to land and brace yourself when falling, so I decided to save a few links to refer to when I start filming. I realize that I should not look prepared in the film when I am falling over and over but there are ways to safely land without looking too obvious.
http://www.wikihow.com/Fall-Safely
http://www.wikihow.com/Fall-Safely
Revision to pitch
I am not changing much to the original outline of the pitch except for the way that I plan to execute my film. I would like to try shooting in my original form with my Iphone so I can get creative with perspective but also shoot with the Canon D60 to bring out the focus on the person and the chair. I think it will benefit me to have two versions that I can edit and decide which will work best for the project.
I also have been thinking about the location and the way my character should look. I am still pretty set with the idea of the location being as plain and as nondescript as possible. The location will either be in the lighting studio or at my home in a plain corner both places will be lit dramatically to draw attention to the performance and not distract from its surroundings. As for the character (me), I think it is best to keep the clothing simple, neutrals- gray top and black pants maybe blue jeans. I do not want the audience to read into what she is wearing. I do not want the clothes to distract either.
"Elevator" Line- Visualization of perseverance through constant struggle and defeat in a seemingly hopeless situation
Explanation of Theme- As a metaphor, I will use falling from a chair to show how life is a constant battle.
What is the central point you are trying to make with this film? The point is to show a person’s emotional determination toward an obstacle by not giving up no matter the level of difficulty.
What is the central goal of the film? The goal of this film is to give the viewer a sense of sympathy toward the main character, as they will be able to relate to the emotional feelings of overcoming obstacles in their own lives.
Why should we care??? This project will allow me to create a short film using a portable camera to have freedom in experimenting with hands free camera angles, as well as allow me to focus on performance, installation, and most importantly allowing time to improve my editing skills to fully be able to execute my vision.
What is your project about??? This project will elicit feelings of sympathy thru struggle but bring attention to determination.
Does your film have a premise? The premise is to not let interruption stop you from moving forward. In life there will always be a hurdle to conquer.
Short synopsis- The film will show the repetition of a person sitting in a chair that will collapse causing them to fall each time. She will keep going back to the chair rebuilding it and sitting again only for it to break. I will focus on the girl’s frustration and defeat but highlight her commitment to keep trying. The film will be presented in its usual display on a computer screen, but I will place the same chair from the film in front of the screen as an installation, giving the viewer the option to experience the uneasy feeling of the unstable chair.
Place- a nondescript setting indoors, clear empty, blank walls and floor.
Time- unidentified time
Atmosphere- lonely/ empty
Character- Late-20s female- dressed simply/plain
Tone- sympathy, empty and lonely
Execution- To execute this film I will shoot with my Iphone camera but also with the Canon D60 locked down on a tripod moving around the subject on all sides shooting only at angles and perspectives that the camera and tripod will allow. That way I can accumulate footage in both abstract and focused form to see which works best for the aesthetic I am trying to achieve.
Structure Breakdown-
The film will be on a loop:
Fall
Rebuild
Rest
Fall
Repeat
The Chair
Over the long weekend I set out to find the perfect chair for my
project. I spent all day on Saturday driving around town looking for
garage sales, Goodwill, and thrift stores. I was hoping to find a cheap
set of four identical wooden chairs. I wanted the chairs to have a
standard "chair look" to them. I did not want them to read kitchen,
office, or lawn chair. Believe me there were plenty of lawn chairs on
clearance but not exactly what I am going for. Well it is pricey to get a
set of 3 or 4 chairs and there were not any chairs just hanging out in
the cheaper places like Goodwill, but I did find two chairs that have
the overall look that I want. They were at a thrift store that I went to
early on in the day. I did not purchase them right away because I was
hoping to find a larger set but after running around to more places I
ended up getting the two that I found because at that point I just felt
like it would be better than nothing. They were ten dollars each so
twenty for both. I am ok with that considering that I know I have spent
way more on a school project before. I just hope I do not break the
already broken one too much to where I can not use it again when
filming. I know I need to get started on this project to make sure to
work out all the kinks.
Here are some images of what the chairs look like:
Today I dismantled one of the chairs to help me start thinking about how I am going to rig it to make it fall when I sit on it. I am thinking that I am going to carefully remove the fabric from the seat and replace the wood bottom with some foam board, cushion, or something a bit softer. Also, I will be adding more stuffing. I made sure to save all of the screws that were removed as well as the wooden pieces just in case.
On order are four of those foam mats that interlock to make a big piece. I have been wanting some for the house anyway but thought that I may be falling on those to help cushion my fall as well. They are black on one side and gray on the other. 40 dollars so far on this project! I hope I can make everything come together the way I see it in my head! I am excited and anxious about the breaking and falling part of this process!
This is the mat:
Here are some images of what the chairs look like:
Today I dismantled one of the chairs to help me start thinking about how I am going to rig it to make it fall when I sit on it. I am thinking that I am going to carefully remove the fabric from the seat and replace the wood bottom with some foam board, cushion, or something a bit softer. Also, I will be adding more stuffing. I made sure to save all of the screws that were removed as well as the wooden pieces just in case.
On order are four of those foam mats that interlock to make a big piece. I have been wanting some for the house anyway but thought that I may be falling on those to help cushion my fall as well. They are black on one side and gray on the other. 40 dollars so far on this project! I hope I can make everything come together the way I see it in my head! I am excited and anxious about the breaking and falling part of this process!
This is the mat:
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Semester Statement of intent
For this class I plan to work on constructing a film that will result in the outcome for my senior project.
My main intention and focus will be improving and sharpening my editing skills in final cut pro. The film that I would like to create for my BFA project will have a similar aesthetic to the final project completed last semester in cinema 1.
"Elevator" Line- Visualization of perseverance through constant struggle and defeat in a seemingly hopeless situation
Explanation of Theme- As a metaphor, I will use falling from a chair to show how life is a constant battle.
What is the central point you are trying to make with this film? The point is to show a person’s emotional determination toward an obstacle by not giving up no matter the level of difficulty.
What is the central goal of the film? The goal of this film is to give the viewer a sense of sympathy toward the main character, as they will be able to relate to the emotional feelings of overcoming obstacles in their own lives. What is the movie about in abstract terms? Perseverance towards obstacles.
Why should we care??? This project will allow me to create a short film using a portable camera to have freedom in experimenting with hands free camera angles, as well as allow me to focus on performance, installation, and most importantly allowing time to improve my editing skills to fully be able to execute my vision.
What is your project about??? This project will elicit feelings of sympathy thru struggle but bring attention to determination.
Does your film have a premise? The premise is to not let interruption stop you from moving forward. In life there will always be a hurdle to conquer.
Short synopsis- The film will show the repetition of a person sitting in a chair that will collapse causing them to fall each time. She will keep going back to the chair rebuilding it and sitting again only for it to break. I will focus on the girl’s frustration and defeat but highlight her commitment to keep trying. The film will be presented in its usual display on a computer screen, but I will place the same chair from the film in front of the screen as an installation, giving the viewer the option to experience the uneasy feeling of the unstable chair.
Place- a nondescript setting indoors, clear empty, blank walls and floor.
Time- unidentified time
Atmosphere- lonely/ empty
Character- Late-20s female
Tone- sympathy, empty and lonely
Execution- To execute this film I will be using my Iphone camera. The size and weight of the phone will allow me to rig it on different parts of the body as well as let me strap it to overhead objects and the furniture that I will be using in the film to help me get different angles and perspectives.
Structure Breakdown-
The film will be on a loop:
Fall
Rebuild
Rest
Fall
Repeat
My main intention and focus will be improving and sharpening my editing skills in final cut pro. The film that I would like to create for my BFA project will have a similar aesthetic to the final project completed last semester in cinema 1.
"Elevator" Line- Visualization of perseverance through constant struggle and defeat in a seemingly hopeless situation
Explanation of Theme- As a metaphor, I will use falling from a chair to show how life is a constant battle.
What is the central point you are trying to make with this film? The point is to show a person’s emotional determination toward an obstacle by not giving up no matter the level of difficulty.
What is the central goal of the film? The goal of this film is to give the viewer a sense of sympathy toward the main character, as they will be able to relate to the emotional feelings of overcoming obstacles in their own lives. What is the movie about in abstract terms? Perseverance towards obstacles.
Why should we care??? This project will allow me to create a short film using a portable camera to have freedom in experimenting with hands free camera angles, as well as allow me to focus on performance, installation, and most importantly allowing time to improve my editing skills to fully be able to execute my vision.
What is your project about??? This project will elicit feelings of sympathy thru struggle but bring attention to determination.
Does your film have a premise? The premise is to not let interruption stop you from moving forward. In life there will always be a hurdle to conquer.
Short synopsis- The film will show the repetition of a person sitting in a chair that will collapse causing them to fall each time. She will keep going back to the chair rebuilding it and sitting again only for it to break. I will focus on the girl’s frustration and defeat but highlight her commitment to keep trying. The film will be presented in its usual display on a computer screen, but I will place the same chair from the film in front of the screen as an installation, giving the viewer the option to experience the uneasy feeling of the unstable chair.
Place- a nondescript setting indoors, clear empty, blank walls and floor.
Time- unidentified time
Atmosphere- lonely/ empty
Character- Late-20s female
Tone- sympathy, empty and lonely
Execution- To execute this film I will be using my Iphone camera. The size and weight of the phone will allow me to rig it on different parts of the body as well as let me strap it to overhead objects and the furniture that I will be using in the film to help me get different angles and perspectives.
Structure Breakdown-
The film will be on a loop:
Fall
Rebuild
Rest
Fall
Repeat
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Katzenjammer Final
I was really happy that the final project's assignment was "anything goes." It gave me the opportunity to focus on some themes that I wanted to experiment with in film for a long time. I decided to work with the subject matter of alcohol which I try to incorporate in my work and different medias often. This film started as an experiment with creating the visual effects of being intoxicated. My goal was to start out in a drunken state and move through slowly sobering up as the movie progressed. I had a lot of fun and freedom filming because I was able to use my iPhone and not the school's expensive equipment. The iPhone allowed me to film in all kinds of ways. I attached it to my head, to a drill for spinning, I used additional lenses and I rigged it to my tripod. Also I could place glasses on it for when I was pouring my booze (tea) and I even put it in a ziplock baggie so that I could throw up on it. It was honestly a good time thinking of different ways I could get interesting shots and angles, but a bit messy at times. I did not feel as stressed because I could shoot at anytime day or night. When I started editing I came to the conclusion that it was very dull seeing the progression of sobering up. I enjoyed more of the disorienting effects I had created, so I changed the ending to be more of a shocker, which I think was successful. I swear I am not a weirdo, well maybe a little, I am not all hung up on my mommy issues, it just comes out. I guess it is a good way for me to express myself freely, an outlet. I enjoyed this project a lot and I feel proud of it, in a way slightly embarrassed that it came out of me. I plan to work on it a little more over the summer just to have more time to play around with it some more and possibly add some music.
Here are a couple of stills from production.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Self-Critique
We never turned in this last week and I wasn't sure if we needed it on the blog so I just put it to be safe.
A) Impact and Intent- how did you want to affect your audience? We wanted our audience to leave the film understanding how important it is not to judge someone, but that even still one can overcome and move on.
1. On a scale of 1-10, what was the story's overall impact? 5, I think that our message was not very clear.
2. What did the story leave you thinking? I understood what we were trying to say but I felt that it was not fully expressed the way that we envisioned it.
3. What did it leave you feeling? Honestly, it left me feeling kind of bored because it did not give the full effect that we wanted, and it show a lot of repetition that could have worked if shot differently but made it dull since it wasn’t.
4. Discuss the source of the main idea that you started with and its importance to you. The main idea of this film was about a person who was pro-life, that after losing her husband was making the decision to get artificial insemination. Her peers found out and were quick to judge her and shun her from the group, which allowed her to make the decision to move on from her normal routine. Although I do not have the same views as the protagonist in this story I liked the idea of someone overcoming an obstacle and seeing things differently.
5.Discuss the Theme or premise of the piece as you discovered it after finishing the film. I feel as though the theme/premise is not as clear from when we were planning out the movie, but I think that we still stuck with the same concept through out the production of the film.
B) Clarity of Tension/Main Conflict
1. How clear was the story? Could you see all the scenes equally clearly in my mind's eye, or were some hazy? As I mentioned before, not all of the scenes were as clear as we had hoped. It feels as though some main ideas were missing. We shot our script as it was written but I think that not all of it was clearly thought out for our viewers complete understanding.
2. What parts could you easily and pleasurably retell, and what parts are difficult to recall? I feel like I can retell most of the film since I spent so much time with it, but pleasurably I think the scenes with dialogue such as the argument between our main characters and the dialogue between the picketers are the scenes I enjoyed the most. I definitely had some jokes of the intenseness of the argument scene while editing the movie.
C) Potential
1. Does the story feel complete? Not entirely complete, I think there were some ideas that were not completely expressed through the lens. It would have been nice to have had the time to reshoot or even just add a little bit more showing Elizabeth’s state of loneliness, so that our audience could really grasp why she wanted to fill that void by getting insemination. Also some more scenes showing how much she was involved as an activist.
2. On a scale of 1-10, rate each scene. Are they all functioning to full potential?
Scene 1- I give it an 8, I think we did a great job showing how organized and prepared she was, but there are some scene we could have added to show her as a clean and neat person.
Scene 2- deserves a 7- we got most of the scenes within but there are some missing scenes. We needed more showing them protesting as well as leaving Elizabeth at the end of the day. Better coverage on the mother and daughter.
Scene 3- Alone gets a 5- I think this is our weakest scene. We should have shown more variations of just how lonely our character was without her husband.
Scene 4- Same to scene 1, I would have liked a little more variation in her morning routine as well.
Scene 5- I think this scene did what we wanted it too, beside some lighting issues. I would give it a 9.
Scene 6- Needed a little more coverage on the argument but otherwise a good scene. 9.
Scene 7- I enjoyed this scene the most, I thought the lighting was a little blown out but otherwise a vibrant and intense scene! 10.
Scene 8- This scene could have used a little more coverage. I felt that even though we shot our ending the way we wanted, it would have been nice to have more variations to experiment with to figure out the strongest way to go.
3. Which elements were strong, which were weak? I basically described these above. The weakest scene was 3-Alone. There was not enough coverage. We should have shown Elizabeth alone in her house. Not just bored but morning her husband. We have her looking at her ring but maybe it would have helped to show her looking at images or his clothes.
The strongest scene is 7, I think that it shows the intensity of the groups judgmental state toward Elizabeth. I also think another strong element is in scene 6 when Jeff drops the red marker.
D) Feedback-- Discuss “What you want to learn to do better.”
1. Report what is working well, and what is not. With the scenes that I described that were not working, scene 3 and picketing scenes.
2. Suggest what might clarify and strengthen whatever is weak. I think the biggest issue was time. It would be nice to have a full semester to work on making a movie so that we can revise the script during the shoot and have time for more coverage on scenes or even to be able to go back and shoot more.
A) Impact and Intent- how did you want to affect your audience? We wanted our audience to leave the film understanding how important it is not to judge someone, but that even still one can overcome and move on.
1. On a scale of 1-10, what was the story's overall impact? 5, I think that our message was not very clear.
2. What did the story leave you thinking? I understood what we were trying to say but I felt that it was not fully expressed the way that we envisioned it.
3. What did it leave you feeling? Honestly, it left me feeling kind of bored because it did not give the full effect that we wanted, and it show a lot of repetition that could have worked if shot differently but made it dull since it wasn’t.
4. Discuss the source of the main idea that you started with and its importance to you. The main idea of this film was about a person who was pro-life, that after losing her husband was making the decision to get artificial insemination. Her peers found out and were quick to judge her and shun her from the group, which allowed her to make the decision to move on from her normal routine. Although I do not have the same views as the protagonist in this story I liked the idea of someone overcoming an obstacle and seeing things differently.
5.Discuss the Theme or premise of the piece as you discovered it after finishing the film. I feel as though the theme/premise is not as clear from when we were planning out the movie, but I think that we still stuck with the same concept through out the production of the film.
B) Clarity of Tension/Main Conflict
1. How clear was the story? Could you see all the scenes equally clearly in my mind's eye, or were some hazy? As I mentioned before, not all of the scenes were as clear as we had hoped. It feels as though some main ideas were missing. We shot our script as it was written but I think that not all of it was clearly thought out for our viewers complete understanding.
2. What parts could you easily and pleasurably retell, and what parts are difficult to recall? I feel like I can retell most of the film since I spent so much time with it, but pleasurably I think the scenes with dialogue such as the argument between our main characters and the dialogue between the picketers are the scenes I enjoyed the most. I definitely had some jokes of the intenseness of the argument scene while editing the movie.
C) Potential
1. Does the story feel complete? Not entirely complete, I think there were some ideas that were not completely expressed through the lens. It would have been nice to have had the time to reshoot or even just add a little bit more showing Elizabeth’s state of loneliness, so that our audience could really grasp why she wanted to fill that void by getting insemination. Also some more scenes showing how much she was involved as an activist.
2. On a scale of 1-10, rate each scene. Are they all functioning to full potential?
Scene 1- I give it an 8, I think we did a great job showing how organized and prepared she was, but there are some scene we could have added to show her as a clean and neat person.
Scene 2- deserves a 7- we got most of the scenes within but there are some missing scenes. We needed more showing them protesting as well as leaving Elizabeth at the end of the day. Better coverage on the mother and daughter.
Scene 3- Alone gets a 5- I think this is our weakest scene. We should have shown more variations of just how lonely our character was without her husband.
Scene 4- Same to scene 1, I would have liked a little more variation in her morning routine as well.
Scene 5- I think this scene did what we wanted it too, beside some lighting issues. I would give it a 9.
Scene 6- Needed a little more coverage on the argument but otherwise a good scene. 9.
Scene 7- I enjoyed this scene the most, I thought the lighting was a little blown out but otherwise a vibrant and intense scene! 10.
Scene 8- This scene could have used a little more coverage. I felt that even though we shot our ending the way we wanted, it would have been nice to have more variations to experiment with to figure out the strongest way to go.
3. Which elements were strong, which were weak? I basically described these above. The weakest scene was 3-Alone. There was not enough coverage. We should have shown Elizabeth alone in her house. Not just bored but morning her husband. We have her looking at her ring but maybe it would have helped to show her looking at images or his clothes.
The strongest scene is 7, I think that it shows the intensity of the groups judgmental state toward Elizabeth. I also think another strong element is in scene 6 when Jeff drops the red marker.
D) Feedback-- Discuss “What you want to learn to do better.”
1. Report what is working well, and what is not. With the scenes that I described that were not working, scene 3 and picketing scenes.
2. Suggest what might clarify and strengthen whatever is weak. I think the biggest issue was time. It would be nice to have a full semester to work on making a movie so that we can revise the script during the shoot and have time for more coverage on scenes or even to be able to go back and shoot more.
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