Please feel free to leave any comments you wish to make :)
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Monday 15 December 2008
Experimental Video Evaluation
I believe overall my experimental video has been a great success. From the beginning stages right up to post production and even into the exhibition of the piece, everything seems to have run smoothly, with my feedback being extremely positive.
I almost instantly came up with the idea behind my video as soon as we were told an experimental video was going to be the term long task for the class. Whilst watching the six experimental examples; Koyaanisquatsi, Telling Lies and The Girl Chewing Gum, to name the most prominent, I was already conjuring up ideas of how I was going to make my video stand out from the rest of the class, and deliver that unique edge or twist to it that would give the video it's own individual status.
I believe I was able to achieve this goal in the final presentation. Creating the storyboards and constructing a narrative leading up to the inevitable lose of sight really gave light to what I had planned. Before that, my concept was merely an idea spinning around in my head with an endless number of outcomes or possible twists, ranging from witnessing pictures of the devil, randomised colours, irritating noises which would hopefully creates a sense of annoyance or frustration and uneasiness that would be an effective way of conveying how those first few minutes of losing your sight must feel. Only after I had sat down and seen first hand what was actually possible in the filming time allocated and what was simple fantasy, could I then begin the paperwork.
Luckily I had managed to stick close to my original ideas for the video. I knew the subjective view point wasn't a bandwagon people were all going to jump into instantly, so being able to pull the view off as well as I think I have been able to really has created some leverage for the piece, personifying the camera. Something difficult to do when there is no identity, yet the feedback indicates that this was picked up on whilst watching; 'You feel for the person and get an understanding of what its like to be blind'
The various mixture of noises, which on their own aren't particularly note worthy or special, came together fantastically and formed a noise suitable for the over exaggeration of everyday sound I was looking for; a point picked up on by those viewing my video as they expressed the crucial frustration that was pinnacle to the viewers thoughts and feelings towards the video. 'He's missing out on what everyone else is looking at/doing, so feels outcast and isolated'
Yet I can't simply put those feeling down to the noises themselves. The sudden, unexpected change to the black screen with unclear grey swirls floating around created an almost mesmerising pattern. Something I hadn't intentionally sought until I had read my feedback, which credited the sponteneity of the moment. Without the sense of uneasiness and isolation or the hypnotic effect it seemed to have, the video would have been nothing more than sounds on a black screen with no emotional attachment or greater meaning.
Before I allowed my audience to watch the piece, I allowed them to experience blindness first hand, if only for a minute or so. I blindfolded the viewers one at a time and lead them into the dark room. As they entered, a soundtrack of an ordinary everyday street was playing in the background; ideally representing their walk to the station as I sat them down and starting the video. As the piece begins with a fade in transition, beginning the video immediately after removing the blindfold really puts the viewer in the characters shoes as they are readjusting their eyes to the darkness at the same time as the on screen character. As noted by one of my audience members. I am sure that without this experience, the audiences' ideology of the loose of vision would have been contaminated.
This is the reason why I asked in my questionnaire what their views on blindness were and how they may have changed after viewing the video. Most people seemed to agree that a blind man 'saw' nothing whilst another raised an interesting and certainly credible point that it may change depending how severe the blindness is or what caused the circumstances; be it through illness or accident.
Although the feedback wasn't all positive; one criticism I received was that the black screen went on for longer than was necessary to convey the message. I am open to all forms of critic and I understand his point. At the time of editing I thought it suitable for the needs to the project to use as much of the time as possible. Pushing the boundary to allow the viewer to gradually warm to the idea that they were now permanently blind, that this is now how their life is and they have to act and feel as normal as possible with the disability they have reluctantly received. So in fact this also has a positive effect on how the audience preceived my video. It is definitely a point to bare in mind when I move onto my next project. Just because there is a maximum video length, doesn't mean that the video has to fulfil that exact time.
Creating an experimental video has shown me how complex something apparently so simple can be. It still takes a certain amount of time, dedication and thought into producing a piece that seems to random once put together correctly. It has certainly proven in itself to be a great learning experience with not only positives to maintain throughout my work, but also negatives that will help me improve as a film maker and student.
I almost instantly came up with the idea behind my video as soon as we were told an experimental video was going to be the term long task for the class. Whilst watching the six experimental examples; Koyaanisquatsi, Telling Lies and The Girl Chewing Gum, to name the most prominent, I was already conjuring up ideas of how I was going to make my video stand out from the rest of the class, and deliver that unique edge or twist to it that would give the video it's own individual status.
I believe I was able to achieve this goal in the final presentation. Creating the storyboards and constructing a narrative leading up to the inevitable lose of sight really gave light to what I had planned. Before that, my concept was merely an idea spinning around in my head with an endless number of outcomes or possible twists, ranging from witnessing pictures of the devil, randomised colours, irritating noises which would hopefully creates a sense of annoyance or frustration and uneasiness that would be an effective way of conveying how those first few minutes of losing your sight must feel. Only after I had sat down and seen first hand what was actually possible in the filming time allocated and what was simple fantasy, could I then begin the paperwork.
Luckily I had managed to stick close to my original ideas for the video. I knew the subjective view point wasn't a bandwagon people were all going to jump into instantly, so being able to pull the view off as well as I think I have been able to really has created some leverage for the piece, personifying the camera. Something difficult to do when there is no identity, yet the feedback indicates that this was picked up on whilst watching; 'You feel for the person and get an understanding of what its like to be blind'
The various mixture of noises, which on their own aren't particularly note worthy or special, came together fantastically and formed a noise suitable for the over exaggeration of everyday sound I was looking for; a point picked up on by those viewing my video as they expressed the crucial frustration that was pinnacle to the viewers thoughts and feelings towards the video. 'He's missing out on what everyone else is looking at/doing, so feels outcast and isolated'
Yet I can't simply put those feeling down to the noises themselves. The sudden, unexpected change to the black screen with unclear grey swirls floating around created an almost mesmerising pattern. Something I hadn't intentionally sought until I had read my feedback, which credited the sponteneity of the moment. Without the sense of uneasiness and isolation or the hypnotic effect it seemed to have, the video would have been nothing more than sounds on a black screen with no emotional attachment or greater meaning.
Before I allowed my audience to watch the piece, I allowed them to experience blindness first hand, if only for a minute or so. I blindfolded the viewers one at a time and lead them into the dark room. As they entered, a soundtrack of an ordinary everyday street was playing in the background; ideally representing their walk to the station as I sat them down and starting the video. As the piece begins with a fade in transition, beginning the video immediately after removing the blindfold really puts the viewer in the characters shoes as they are readjusting their eyes to the darkness at the same time as the on screen character. As noted by one of my audience members. I am sure that without this experience, the audiences' ideology of the loose of vision would have been contaminated.
This is the reason why I asked in my questionnaire what their views on blindness were and how they may have changed after viewing the video. Most people seemed to agree that a blind man 'saw' nothing whilst another raised an interesting and certainly credible point that it may change depending how severe the blindness is or what caused the circumstances; be it through illness or accident.
Although the feedback wasn't all positive; one criticism I received was that the black screen went on for longer than was necessary to convey the message. I am open to all forms of critic and I understand his point. At the time of editing I thought it suitable for the needs to the project to use as much of the time as possible. Pushing the boundary to allow the viewer to gradually warm to the idea that they were now permanently blind, that this is now how their life is and they have to act and feel as normal as possible with the disability they have reluctantly received. So in fact this also has a positive effect on how the audience preceived my video. It is definitely a point to bare in mind when I move onto my next project. Just because there is a maximum video length, doesn't mean that the video has to fulfil that exact time.
Creating an experimental video has shown me how complex something apparently so simple can be. It still takes a certain amount of time, dedication and thought into producing a piece that seems to random once put together correctly. It has certainly proven in itself to be a great learning experience with not only positives to maintain throughout my work, but also negatives that will help me improve as a film maker and student.
Saturday 13 December 2008
2.3 - Post Production Diary
I began my post production the day after filming; 26/11/08 and ran on through until the 5/12/08 using the emtire allotted time space to work on my video and to make sure it was as technically sound as possible before exhibition week. I uploaded my footage from the camera onto iMovie HD provided by the Colleges own MAC PCs
I didn't really have many problems at all when editing my work together. As my video was filmed in only one take, the only problem I really ran into was finding a good time to stop the video, as I obviously didn't want the video to cut out mid sentence otherwise the entire video would have lost its source of credibility. Fortunately I was lucky enough to be able to cut my video at exactly 5 minutes (The time limit for the piece) due to the audio effects I had added in; distorting the voices.
Once the length had been decided, I followed my storyboard to find the point at which I had planned for the vision to go completely, with the occassional blur before hand to show the audience that something wasn't quite right. After peering down at the hand, the audio begins to play a very heavy and important role in the film. I had intended to make the audio as uneasy sounding and as frustrating for the audience to listen to as possible, with the intention of exaggerating everyday sounds due to lack of real identity. A varied mixture of high pitched noises, alarm bells ringing, different pitches of static and a very eerie instrumental along with deepened voices, juxtaposed with a black screen with white blobs bouncing around in either a calm or frantic manner of movement, really helped create and emphasis a sense of tension and fear in the video.
A problem I did encounter during post production was the insertion of the title. I didn't want to make a huge show out of it becuase I wanted the experience to feel as authentic as possible without any distractions. Luckily for me, there was an ideal spot to quickly flash the title 'Mindset' on screen when I was forced to make a cut due to a Media student arriving unexpectedly. It worked well as a filler between cuts and a reason for the time lapse and change in camera positions.
Once the title had been added, I played the video over to myself many many more times to ensure everything was as I had expected and was to a pleasing quality. The final step was to then compress the movie and burn it onto a DVD ready for exhibition week.
I didn't really have many problems at all when editing my work together. As my video was filmed in only one take, the only problem I really ran into was finding a good time to stop the video, as I obviously didn't want the video to cut out mid sentence otherwise the entire video would have lost its source of credibility. Fortunately I was lucky enough to be able to cut my video at exactly 5 minutes (The time limit for the piece) due to the audio effects I had added in; distorting the voices.
Once the length had been decided, I followed my storyboard to find the point at which I had planned for the vision to go completely, with the occassional blur before hand to show the audience that something wasn't quite right. After peering down at the hand, the audio begins to play a very heavy and important role in the film. I had intended to make the audio as uneasy sounding and as frustrating for the audience to listen to as possible, with the intention of exaggerating everyday sounds due to lack of real identity. A varied mixture of high pitched noises, alarm bells ringing, different pitches of static and a very eerie instrumental along with deepened voices, juxtaposed with a black screen with white blobs bouncing around in either a calm or frantic manner of movement, really helped create and emphasis a sense of tension and fear in the video.
A problem I did encounter during post production was the insertion of the title. I didn't want to make a huge show out of it becuase I wanted the experience to feel as authentic as possible without any distractions. Luckily for me, there was an ideal spot to quickly flash the title 'Mindset' on screen when I was forced to make a cut due to a Media student arriving unexpectedly. It worked well as a filler between cuts and a reason for the time lapse and change in camera positions.
Once the title had been added, I played the video over to myself many many more times to ensure everything was as I had expected and was to a pleasing quality. The final step was to then compress the movie and burn it onto a DVD ready for exhibition week.
2.3 - Production Diary
My video production took place on the 25/11/08. My initial storyboard idea is slightly different to my final video. In my storyboards, I planned the journey on a bus, but later realised that I would have run into some financial difficulties and budget constraints had the filming gone wrong in any way due to having to pay for the bus each time.
The problem was solved simply enough by editing the pictures so my video now took place at the train station. The only contraint to this idea was gaining permission to film. Before I could begin filming on the Horsham train station I spent about 30 minutes talking to various people on the station about permission. Once everything had been cleared up with the officials I was free to film in a two hour period between 7am and 9am, just as intended due to the peak travelling time.
My production and video shoot was all carried out in one take. As this was the only chance I was able to get to do my filming, I couldn't afford any serious problems. Fortunately I didn't come across any technical issues from the camera or any physical difficults related to the general public; as the public have a tendancy to look at cameras whilst being filmed. I was able to pick up my bag (Originally scripted as my jacket but realised it would be too difficult to put on whilst also holding a camera) and find an empty seat on the train.
If anything, I believe people looking at the camera became a very effective tool for the Point Of View my video is shot in, becuase it gives the viewer a sense of person and that they really do exist in the world due to the acknwledgement from the public around them.
The only slight hitch was the unexpected arrival of other Media students travelling to College on the same train. At the time I believed my filming attempt had been jepordised as I originally planned to be on my own. yet carrying out a natural conversation in the subjective camera added to the realism of the piece.
The problem was solved simply enough by editing the pictures so my video now took place at the train station. The only contraint to this idea was gaining permission to film. Before I could begin filming on the Horsham train station I spent about 30 minutes talking to various people on the station about permission. Once everything had been cleared up with the officials I was free to film in a two hour period between 7am and 9am, just as intended due to the peak travelling time.
My production and video shoot was all carried out in one take. As this was the only chance I was able to get to do my filming, I couldn't afford any serious problems. Fortunately I didn't come across any technical issues from the camera or any physical difficults related to the general public; as the public have a tendancy to look at cameras whilst being filmed. I was able to pick up my bag (Originally scripted as my jacket but realised it would be too difficult to put on whilst also holding a camera) and find an empty seat on the train.
If anything, I believe people looking at the camera became a very effective tool for the Point Of View my video is shot in, becuase it gives the viewer a sense of person and that they really do exist in the world due to the acknwledgement from the public around them.
The only slight hitch was the unexpected arrival of other Media students travelling to College on the same train. At the time I believed my filming attempt had been jepordised as I originally planned to be on my own. yet carrying out a natural conversation in the subjective camera added to the realism of the piece.
Wednesday 10 December 2008
2.2 - Mindset Questionnaire
These are the question I am going to ask the audience of my video after they have viewed it.
Did you like the film? Yes/No
What do you like or dislike about the film?
What do you believe the main idea of the film is?
What are your self-collected beliefs on the loss of vision?
Does the video challange your interpretation of what it's like to lose your sight?
If so, how so?
If not, why not?
How well do you believe the film conveyed a sense of frustration and annoyance?
Any other questions and comments?
After I have collected some opinions, I will incorperate these views intomy final video analysis
Did you like the film? Yes/No
What do you like or dislike about the film?
What do you believe the main idea of the film is?
What are your self-collected beliefs on the loss of vision?
Does the video challange your interpretation of what it's like to lose your sight?
If so, how so?
If not, why not?
How well do you believe the film conveyed a sense of frustration and annoyance?
Any other questions and comments?
After I have collected some opinions, I will incorperate these views intomy final video analysis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
