Module 1: Introduction to Creative Practise #3- Blues Video Done
Here is the link to my completed blues video, it took me about 8 hours in total split between Photoshop and Premeire. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZTIr_ZN21k
Rob.
Archive for ‘2009’
Module:1 Introduction To Screen Media Practise #7 The Storyboards
As Promised here are photographs of the storyboards for both of my myth films some of the Narcissus ones are blurred but they are clear enough to understand.
PANDORA
NARCISSUS
I will be beginning production within the next fortnight, I will upload images of production.
Rob.
Module 1: Introduction To Screen Media Practise #6
Rob Here, Just a quick note to give the second draft of the Pandora Script. Any feedback would be welcome. As you can see, it actually looks like a script and contains all of the neccessary details, unlike draft one which was the voice over- which I have cut down greatly.
FADE IN: EXT: DAY LIBERTAS CITY WASTELAND
The wasteland outside Libertas with the huge city in the centre, there is fog over the land.
NARRATOR
The city of Libertas
EXT: DAY LIBERTAS CITY
Just outside the city gates the streets are full of rubble and debris, there is a light mist between the high rise ruins.
EXT: DAY LIBERTAS CITY POOR DISTRICT
Beyond a ruined motorway overpass, lies the poor district of Libertas, in the centre of the ruined area of the city.
INT: DAY SCHOOL ROOM
Pandora finishes an exam by writing her name on the front; the handwriting is very artistic and shows individuality.
NARRATOR
Pandora.
As she stands up from her seat, everyone else in her class turns suddenly to face her, even her teacher. Everyone else has a white mask on their face, giving one consistently blank expression. She paces up to the teachers desk and puts her paper down and leaves.
EXT: DAY LIBERTAS STREETS
She walks alone down streets past groups of Libertans, as she turns to look behind her, they all suddenly turn to face her so she quickly walks home. When she gets home she types the key code into the keypad and enters.
NARRATOR
She lived amongst the faceless Libertans, A single light in the darkness. The Libertans removed all signs of human emotion from public view, cementing the world to a cold existence.
INT: DAY PANDORA’S HOUSE
She throws her bag onto her bed and opens her laptop. She tries to just surf the internet but every site she tries flashes up as ‘BLOCKED’. Her father comes to the door silently and places a large box at her doorstep, we never see his face to see whether he is human or Libertan. She stands up and walks to the door, grabs the box which the audience can see clearly marked ‘contrabanned’ and she tips the contents out upside-down onto her bed, it is full of her laundry. On the top of the pile of her laundry is a small black rubix cube- like box with one blue square. She glances at it knowing that she shouldn’t ever do anything with it but as it was only a black box it could cause no harm. She places it at the far end of her desk from her laptop.
INT: PANDORA’S ROOM DAY/NIGHT
Every day and night the cube would move inch by inch closer towards her at her laptop, eventually ending beside her laptop.
When she places her hand on it accidentally, she picks it up and slams it on the table- frustrated at the blocked sites on her laptop. She looks at the cube and knocks it down the length of the table and onto the floor. It bounces and when it lands still it begins to solve itself, clicking and whirring around. Pandora hears the loud clicking and spinning sound, out of the top of the cube rises a small black USB flash drive.
She grabs it and instantly places it into the USB slot on her laptop, thousands of apocalyptic images flood the screen penetrating into Pandora’s mind as she struggles to turn away. She tries to bang keys to make it stop, pull out the USB stick and cut the power lead. Nothing works, as she pulls the power lead the screen cuts to black- with ‘100% UPLOADED’ on the screen.
FADE TO BLACK
I have also completed the storyboards for both of my myth videos which I will scan in and post in due course.
Rob.
UP!DOWN! RECORDS
Rob Here,
Just Another Update About Non- University Related Projects. This has been a long running project of mine, I run a blog for a friend in the US, sharing all of the albums of his old band, I have produced all of the recent artwork for the albums as well as mixed and cut some of the songs and edits themselves. The band is called Smashing Grandpa and they have 6 albums, 1 compilation and 6 singles. You can also follow the twisting story of the band from start to the end. R.I.P. There is something for everyone within thier music, it is all instrumental, influenced by chiptune/ classical music with an industrial twist.
ALL OF THE ALBUMS ARE FREE AND COMPLETELY LEGAL TO DOWNLOAD, AS I AND MUTEANTOWL (My US Comrade) OWN ALL OF THE RIGHTS TO THE MUSIC AND THE ARTWORK.
The blog is here: http://updownrecords.blogspot.com/
It is also there----->
in my blog list.
Enjoy.
Module 1: Introduction To Creative Practise #2 Final Brief
Rob Here,
In reference to our 'blues' project, we have completed 3 briefs of research alread from secondary research, sketches, mood boards, photographs and sound recordings. Today we were given out final brief- to create a channel ident for the new channel 'MTV Blues'.
Now an ident is very short, perhaps 15 to 30 seconds. There are hundered of them to be seen at
http://www.e4.com/estings/ (including one I produced for college...)
I am perhaps interested into doing an animation for the video because then I will have many more possibilities, I am always wanting to use various types of filmaking and developing my drawing skill.
For my previous animations a method I have found particulary interesting is graphic animation (cutout) as it doesn't require extensive art skills or modelling talent. This style was commonly made popular by Mony Python- used because of ease of use and the ability to add surrealism to any peice.
Here are a few of my initial ideas:
Cutout animation changing moder stars to old blues stars, swapping heads- usinng the cover versions and original tracks.
Some animation of the Logo (design one myself) possibly using older scrawled handwriting representing old and modern font for the present.
From these ideas it is clear to see that I really want to show the connection between the past and the present, the past of the blues as heavily influencing modern music. I want my ident not only to just tell the audience what channel they are watching but visually tell the audience something about the blues.
Til next time, Rob. (I think that is going to be my regular sign off...)
Module 1: Introduction To Screen Media Practise #5 The Treatment
Rob Here,
I have completed the second draft of the treatment/ synopsis documents for both of my myth videos. I didn't feel that I wanted to upload the original version and the second draft is much more concise and the ideas in it have been developed further.
So here they are.
NARCISSUS
Tagline: Looks Can Kill.
Premise: A man with looks that can kill falls in love with himself. The film is a romantic drama film with a cartoonish tone.
Synopsis: Narcissus walks through the street where everyone thinks about how much they love him. Ameinias is in the crowd and she instantly falls in love with him. She follows him and gives him some flowers, which he snaps, some chocolates, which he drops and a card which he screws up and throws. He gets so fed up he presents her with a sword and she kills herself on his doorstep. Whilst falling into the underworld she prays that narcissus would one day know the pain of unrequited love. The next day narcissus walks by a pool, he sees his reflection in the pool and falls in love, he becomes so obsessed by his image he dives in to get it but drowns.
Notes:
Characters: Narcissus is a very good looking young man; he is very narcissistic and would react to situations in an egotistical and carefree way. Ameinias is an impressionable young lady; she is very dependant and has an addictive personality she becomes obsessed by Narcissus.
Visual Style: My film will be shot completely using silhouettes, this is so that the ‘beauty’ in the film need not be an issue with the audiences personal preferences, as they will be largely featureless, letting the audience imagine ‘good looks’ of their personal preference. The silhouette will be placed of an image of raging fire, which represents the love and emotions and also the typical Greek oracles that imagined images in fires to tell tales.
Sound Style: As the requirements for this video mean that I can only have 2 lines of dialogue, I want both of the characters to say ‘Must Have Him’. Ameinias when she first sees Narcissus and Narcissus at the end when he falls in love with himself. I will therefore also use text on screen to show their thoughts (not other speech). The sound will be used to create an atmosphere and large environments, with crowds of people and sprawling city as the actual images will be very limited.
Intended Audience: My intended audience would be for a largely mainstream audience, from age 16 to 40. Who have a specific interest in graphic novel films like ‘Sin City
and the Pandora one:
PANDORA
Tagline: Some boxes need to be opened.
Premise: A girl opens a box, releasing horrible things into the world. The film is a drama film with a very dark tone.
Synopsis: Pandora hands in a paper to her teacher in a silent classroom, all of her peers look at her as she stands up. She walks home along quiet streets. At home she sits alone and writes on paper and uses her generic laptop to research, although what she needs is blocked. Her father comes home with a large box, marked ‘Contraband’. He hands it to her, it is full of her clothes from the laundrette. She tips the contents out on her bed and a black box falls out, left in there from the contraband items. She places it on her desk where she leaves it for days, but it edges closer and closer to her every day, down the desk. One day she tried to open, it she pushes it, pulls it and pokes it, but nothing happens. Then she slams it one the desk, it begins to solve itself- until a blue square appears in the middle at the top. Out of it rises a small USB drive, she places it in her PC and apocalyptic images flash on screen. She pulls it out, taps all of the buttons and even cut the power lead, but the horrible images are uploaded for everyone to see.
Notes:
Characters: Pandora is the only human in the world; she reacts to situations in a nervous way because of the control in her society. Libertans are everyone else on the planet, they react to situations in a very controlled submissive way.
Visual Style: My film will be based around the dark film noir style, but with shades of blue. Using high contrast and glow effects to extenuate bright areas. With the dark gritty style similar to that in the Saw films and darker modern blockbusters. The city location will be very white and plain, the Libertans keep everything clean and straightforward.
Sound Style: The sound will feature a primary voiceover commentating on the action in a documentary style. The sound will be exaggerated diegetic sound, either recorded on set or dubbed over. I will also use other sounds to add disorientation such as layers of static and other eerie noises. Using such modern common sounds like the click of an ipod, at various speeds so that the younger audience can begin to hear the sound differently in this situation.
Intended Audience: My intended audience would be for a largely mainstream audience, made up of teenagers and young adults who have a specific interest in films like ‘Equilibrium’ and darker Hollywood films.
Module 1: Discourse #2 Presenattion Research
Rob Here,
For my discourse brief I have to produce a presentation on a specific director addressing thier specific style of directing in relation to the theory of Authorship.
The director I have chosen is Christopher Nolan.
Director of The Dark Knight, Memento, Insomnia and The Prestige to name a few. I chose him because of the trademarks within his films and the common elements between his inspirations and his own work.
Here are a list of a few sites that I have found useful in the first stage of my research:
I also found this interview which answers a couple of the questions I want to raise, It is especially good at giving his opinions of his own work and his process for developing ideas.
Just a little bit from my working method in this module.
Mulletproof- My New Webcomic
On another unrelated note, I have just started my own webcomic 'Mulletproof'.
I will update the comic every monday evening, with a new comic. I already have tons ready to be uploaded but there will be many more in due course. I just saw this as a good opportunity to tell the world of blogging about my other projects other than university and video production.
The link to the comic is here: http://mulletproof.thecomicseries.com/
Check it out.
(PS. Version 2.0 of the blog design is up, much clearer and modern than the old darker one)
Module 1: Introduction To Screen Media Practise #4- Narcissus Notes
For the second of my videos, the one involving a maximum of 2 characters and one line of dialogue each, I wish to portray another Greek myth, that of Narcissus. There are many different variations on the tale, I intend to adapt the Hellenic version, the oldest.
‘This is a moral tale in which the proud and unfeeling Narcissus is punished by the gods for having spurned all his male suitors. It is thought to have been intended as a cautionary tale addressed to young men. Until recently, the two sources for this version were an epitome of the works of Conon, a Greek contemporary of Ovid, preserved in the Bibliotheca of Photius and the segment in Pausanias, about 150 years after Ovid. A very similar account was discovered among the Oxyrhynchus papyri in 2004, an account that predates Ovid's version by at least fifty years and is thought to have been recorded by Parthenius.’ (From Wikipedia)
In this story, Ameinias, a young Girl, loved Narcissus but was spurned. As a way of rebuffing Ameinias, Narcissus gave her a sword, which Ameinias used to kill herself on Narcissus' doorstep; she prayed to Nemesis that Narcissus would one day know the pain of unrequited love. This curse was fulfilled when Narcissus became entranced by his own reflection in a pool. Completing the symmetry of the tale, overcome by repentance, He obsessed so much he dived in and drowned.
I wish to use a very specific visual style as with the other video, I want to use only silhouettes of the characters in black placed over footage of fire. This is to exaggerate that looks aren’t everything and only using simple images and sound it is enough to tell a story. I will create the silhouettes using a mixture of footage shot on green screen, flash animation and motion key frames. I am heavily influenced by Lotte Reineger, and although I for the most part will avoid stop motion animation It is a techniques that I could turn to.
In regards to the two lines, I want both of the characters to say ‘I Must Have Him’, When Ameinias first sees Narcissus and when he finally falls in love with his reflection. I aim to use lots of music and exaggerated sound effects to create the scenes, even know I will only have silhouettes of the characters and simple locations. I will try to use as many camera movements as possible because I believe that is one thing that most animations or short films with effects miss out on, another depth.
Here is an image which represents the style of image I am hoping to create, Made out of 2 stock images.
Rob.
Module 1: Introduction To Screen Media Practise #3- Pandora Notes
Pandora’s Box- Static Shot
As mentioned before my Idea for the First video is to portray the Myth of Pandora’s Box. I am using a simplified version of the myth. I have also began to adapt the plot into simple voiceover script- (I will cut this down as planning progresses, just to illustrate the actual plot of my video):
THE CITY OF LIBERTAS STAT E. IN THIS RICH SPRAWLING DYSTOPIA OUR STORY BEGINS HERE, IN THE MOST IMPOVERISHED AREA OF LIBERTAS, WITH A GIRL CALLED PANDORA.
SHE LIVED AMONGST THE FACELESS LIBERTANS, A SINGLE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. THE FIRST HUMAN FOR 15 GENERATIONS. THE LIBERTANS REMOVED ALL SIGNS OF HUMAN EMOTION FROM PUBLIC VIEW, CEMENTING THE WORLD TO A COLD EXISTENCE.
PANDORAS FATHER, WORKED WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT, TASKED WITH DESROYING THE FINAL REMAINS OF HUMANITY. ONE DAY HE RETURNED FROM WORK WITH A BOX HE HAD REUSED FROM WORK MARKED CONTABANNED; THE BOX WAS FULL OF HER CLOTHES FRESH FROM THE CLEANERS. BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX WAS A SMALL BLACK CUBE, SHE KNEW SHE SHOULD RETURN ANY ITEMS TO HER FATHER BUT IT WAS PLAIN ENOGH TO NOT AROUSE SUSPICION, SO SHE PLACED IT ON HER DESK NEVER TO BE OPENED.
SO THERE IT SAT, DAY IN DAY OUT UNTOUCHED, BUT EVERY DAY IT WOULD INCH CLOSER TO HER, UNTIL.
FINALLY SHE COULDN’T STAND IT ANY LONGER, THE BOX WANTED TO BE OPENED, WHATS THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN SHE THOUGHT. SHE GRABBED THE CUBE AND TRIED TO OPEN IT ANYWAY SHE COULD, HOWEVER NOTHING WORKED.
AS SHE SLAM MED THE CUBE ON THE DESK SOMETHIN G CLIC KED. THE CUBE SPUN AND FLIPPED AROUND, THE BLOCKS SHIFTED AND SNAPPED, IT FELL ONTO THE DESK WITH THE BLUE BLOCK CENTERED ON THE TOP, AND FROM THE BLOCK ROSE A BLACK BAR.
AS SHE HELD THE BAR SHE REAL ISED IT WAS A COMPUTER DEVICE (USE BLACK PLASTICENE THAT CHANGES TO USB STICK.)
SHE RUSHED TO HER GOVERNMENT ISSUE COMPUTER AND OPENED THE FILES, WHAT SHE SAW WAS A THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY, HUMAN EMOTION AND FREE SPEECH LAID BARE IN FRONT OF HER, IT CONSUMED HER COMPUTER, AT FIRST SHE TRIED TO PREVENT IT, TAPPING KEYS FURIOUSY, WITH IMAGES AND OPNIONS FLICKING ON THE SCREEN. NOTHING HAPPENED.
SHE REMOVED THE DEVICE, EVEN CUT THE POWER LEADS (SPLIT SCREE N- WHEN CUT SCREEN GOES BLACK, SCREEN SHOT MOVES TO CENTER OF SCREEN
SURELY THAT WORKED? (SCREEN COMPLETELY BLANK WITH UPLOADED 100% IN BOTTOM CORNER)
These are literally typed up version of my notes:
Dystopian land. Images of wasteland and ruined city, town sign, layers of fog.
Narrator telling tale/ relate to new settings.
OR
Typewriter text on screen, large, distorted, at angle, using tv static to flicker and appear. White, overlaid.
The box is a black rubix cube, one blue square, solves itself- stop motion, blue in top middle, usb rises from square, places in pc, human emotion on screen. Tries to stop it, uploads.
Dark blue tint, high contrast (not extreme) bloom
Extreme sound, tv static, instrumental music.
Everyone else wears a mask, highlight her importance.
Time lapse, sat undisturbed.
-everyday it would inch closer to her. 2 frames dark, 2 frames light, plain background.
Quick exaggerated movements, stand up in class, everyone turns head.
Matte paintings- white rooms photoshop and chroma key, view out windows- made easier by static shots.
Module 1: Introduction To Screen Media Practise #2- Initial Ideas.
My initial ideas for the 'MAKING MYTH FOR TODAY' are as follows:
For the video with only static shots, I want to adapt the myth 'Pandora's Box'. I want to set the video in an orwellian world, similar to that in the film 'Equilibrium'. I want to create a voiceover script from THIS version of the myth. I want to make my film look very dark and dystopian, with the box containing all artifacts of human emotion not 'disease' and the like. I also want to use stop motion to show the box has a mind of its own. THis idea is pretty complete, I obviously haven't started on production paperwork or planning, but I have a really strong Idea of how i want it to look and feel.
I am currently quite occupied with trying to find a myth for my second video, with maximum 2 characters that can only speak one line each. I want to make this video much simpiler, but maintain high levels of professionalism. I want it to be simpler, not only because my first video will be rather complex but to prove that I can make professional videos with simple ideas and techniques.
I will continue to upload information as I continue my research, planning and production.
Rob.
Module 1: Introduction To Creative Practice #1: The Brief
Today we recieved our brief for the 'Introduction To Creative Practice' module titled;
'THE BLUES'
We have to produce a 'Sketchbook' based around 'The Blues'
We must research and present our findings about the BLUES in an appropriate form, utilising all methods available to us. The term sketchbook is used very loosely and and our course is 'Film and Screen Media Design' I intend to use videos and moving image to present my findings.
The only direction we have on topic is two wpords 'THE BLUES' not neccessarily the music, but could also be a football team or anything else that involves those two words.
I intend to research how film has had an impact on the blues and vise versa, from the original filmakers to document the blues in the golden age, to new films attempting to revive the history. Initially we have to produce just 15 pages of research abour our chosen topic, I will look at all things mentioned above, and then use other methods of presentation and research. I want to make the most of this blog by posting updates about my research andd using web links, video clips and my own video creations to present my work.
Rob.
Module 1: Discourse #1 The Brief
Today we recieved our brief for the 'Discourse' module.
We have to produce a presentation of at least 20 minutes and an essay of at least 2000 words.
The presentation will be on a director of our choosing, summerising our research findings for the research file. The director must be different from the Director in the essay if we nchoose thet option.
For the essay we have 2 choices: 'Discuss what constitutes the concept of a film author in relation to a range of film examples'
Or
'Discuss what constitutes the concept of a fil genre in relation to the use of visual style across a range of film examples'
We must analyse and evaluate our subject appropriately. We must also produce a research folder, keeping a log of our work during the module but also presenting all of our key research in one package.
My initial thoughts on the brief are that I want to do the genre based essay, perhaps on the Film Noir genre as there is constant debate about wether it is a genre or style. For the presentation I think I will use the director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, The Prestige), because of his certain filmaking style and the contrast ofthe formal aesthetic and socio-idealogical ideas he uses in his work.
Rob.
Module 1: Introduction To Screen Media Practice #1- The Brief
Today we recieved our brief for the 'Introduction To Screen Media Practice' module titled;
'MAKING MYTH FOR TODAY'
We have to produce 2 short videos (2 Minutes) based around 2 different myths. We also have various limitations to the 2 videos.
1. The first video must contain only static camera shots, no camera movements whatsoever including handheld shots.
2. The second video must contain a maximum of 2 characters (people or otherwise) who are only allowed on line of spoken dialogue each.
These limitations also enable me to make the most of other elements such as visual storytelling, voiceover and other creative narrative elements. As Part of the Module requirements we also must produce a research and development file detailing our processes and analysis of the module and final videos. I will use this blog as well as a written diary of the project for this requirement.
We will also have to produce;
A written treatment for the project
All required planning paperwork
-scripts
-storyboards
-schedules
-prop lists
-cast and crew requirements
-call sheets
-
A written commentary analysing the final videos.
The first step for me is to research ideas from myths and ideas relating to myths and develop my final 2 ideas to begin pre production.
Rob.
Hello And Welcome.- *A Little Bit About Me*
Hey, Rob Here.
So this is blogging? I'm Not really sure how to start off but I definately intend to continue this.
I am nearing the end of my very 1st week in hereford attending HCA, so damn excited to begin work towards my Batchelor Of Arts In Film and Screen Media Design. Compared to Cirencester, Hereford Is A Beast. So much more to see and new and tons more opportunities in any area. I am living awayb from home, surviving on just my student loan but still searching for work here.
As mentioned over there ------------------------->
I hope to become a film editor, as this is an area of media I have always enjoyed and excelled at. I currently edit on Adobe Premiere Pro but I have lots of experience with Final Cut Pro and Sony Vegas Pro. I also have lots of expreience with Adobe Photoshop and I always endeavour to create any design work myself.
This blog will tell my tale of the next 3 years at art college (and possibly further) and my journey to make it (somewhere) in the media industry.
au revior, rob x
