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.

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.

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. 

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

Falling Down Without Breaking Bones - These bloopers are hilarious

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:

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

Digital Cinema 2

Fall semester Digital Cinema 2 starts here!