Creative Media Practise: Project Evaluation

For our experimental project, I took the role of co-sound recorder and film editor. I feel that the audio aspect of the experimental film worked rather well, displaying enough variation in sounds to create an interesting experience, showing the listener a clear sense of place. The main weakness in our project was the visual aspect, this seeming at points to be quite dull and without focus, therefore distracting the audience from the sense of place being created. All in all I think that we worked well as a group, the communication between us being good and our meetings often being successful in that we always managed to finish something, whether this be recording sound of visuals, or planning something that may have been of use to the project in the future. I also feel that we adapted well to the change in our group as a new member joined us half way through the project due to issues with her previous group; this is a skill that I feel is important within the film business as it is required that people adapt to changes, which I feel we succeeded at. We worked well as a group, contributing equally when it came to ideas and general discussion about the project, which I feel made it more successful than it could have been had we been lacking in communication skills. It was clear to us at all times what stage we were at with the video or audio, meaning that no one wasted their time waiting or working on something that would be edited in any case.

One of the main problems with the process of creating our work lay in the planning, of which we did very little. The first step we took when given the project was to start going through the city to gather different types of audio so as to gain a better understanding of the sounds that certain places can create. We believed that this would give us inspiration as to what sort of place we wanted to give the audience a sense of, though in the end we quite liked the idea of the market place that we visited and utilised much of the audio footage collected on the first day. I feel that despite the fact we did not plan for this to happen, the market place is an area with a great deal of variation in sounds that would therefore lead to an extremely interesting sound piece if handled well. We gathered a large amount of audio footage on this first day, approaching different stalls to record the produce, as well as talking to the owner of one of the stalls who allowed us to record the conversation as a sort of interview which we later used in the final film. Though we managed to get a lot of audio footage from this area, I feel that if we had explored further into the city we may have found inspiration that would lead us to a different idea, or would have perhaps given us an opportunity to find something that would be interesting to film in the future for the visual aspect of the project. Reflecting on this, I believe that I have learnt the importance of extending and developing ideas as we were quick to settle on our first fully formed idea rather than developing it further than the initial stage.

As well as requiring development, I feel that we needed to plan ahead more while we were creating our audio piece as this would mean that we would have had more of an idea of what to film. We had a very general idea that time lapses would be used throughout so as to create a sense of time passing by, this simulating a sort of journey such as the journey that is made in the audio, but there was no more planning than this before we began filming. When we did eventually begin to film, most of it was improvised on the day, the members of the group each thinking of different areas of the city that we were familiar with that would hold a busy enough image that we could film for an extended period of time. There had been intentions, however, to introduce more interesting visuals, an example of this being to draw an outline of certain scenes and using chroma key to overlay the image, making it seem as if we had traced the video. This did not entirely work out well, though, as I was unable to use the chroma key effect in Final Cut Pro and so this footage did not make it into the film. I feel as if this is something that I need to improve on as an editor, as I should have made sure that I had practised an effect before we set to work on creating the footage therefore wasting some of our time that could have been spent doing something else useful. As well as this, we had originally intended to use a more formalist approach to editing, cutting the footage so that a one second clip would be followed by a two second clip, followed by a three second clip, etc. This did not end up working out as well as we had initially hoped and so is not entirely evident throughout the film, though I feel that experimenting with this led to the group as a whole being able to understand formalist film much better than beforehand when we had only heard about it in theory.

I feel that my own personal contribution to the project could have been heavily improved. While I was present for the capturing of footage, both audio and visual, I feel as if the editing process would have been made far easier, and the outcome would have appeared more aesthetically pleasing, had I taken the opportunity to continue filming without the need to create a group meeting. This would have meant that I would have been able to create a far more interesting video with more variation in images; the final project included extended time lapses of only five different scenes, two of which took place within the University building. In the end, this greatly effected how enjoyable the film was as there was not nearly enough footage to sustain interest for three minutes, and for the most part this footage was not related in any way to the audio project. This may have been in part due to the fact that the audio was being changed frequently while the video was being edited, although it was mostly because of the fact that we did not have a clear message to our experimental piece until very late in the time given to us. Had we done more planning in the beginning, I believe that the editing process would have been far easier as there would have been a clearer meaning to work with. This is something that I have taken on board thoroughly this semester, as planning has been an issue in both of my modules, and I feel that I have learnt enough about its importance to greatly improve on this next year, thus making the project a success due to the learning experienced I have gained from it.

Another area I feel I have improved in is my knowledge of Final Cut Pro, which I originally found an extremely daunting programme due to my greater experience with other editing software. Though I do not believe that it is the easiest of programmes to use, I feel as if this project has given me a great opportunity to learn more about how the programme works, and has given me the chance to learn enough skills so as to be able to work well on other projects without requiring a period of time to get used to editing with Final Cut Pro. However, I also feel that I should have perhaps had some more practise in using the programme before beginning the project as while I have learnt a lot, it has been at the expense of time that could have been spent editing the final project rather than experimenting with the footage that we gathered before settling on a plan. This will be avoided next time I am required to edit, though, as I have gained the skills I think are needed from this period of experimentation. I believe that this project has also enhanced my interest in editing, and due to the experience I have gained I think that I will take further interest in video editing in future projects.

All in all, while the visuals had not been entirely up to scratch for the most part, I believe that this project did its job in creating a sense of place even if this was mostly due to the audio track used. In this manner, I would say that it has been a successful project and has been a great learning experience in many different ways, from technical skills to learning how to adapt to changes within the project, such as the addition of a new member and changing the video itself so as to improve based on feedback given by tutors and other students.

Importance of the Internet in Film

One of the things that I have noticed in the past few years is an increase in the amount of films that are either funded by online help, or heavily influenced by the internet and the access to the public that it provides. Though they vary in success, the following films hold a similarity in the fact that they all were heavily influenced by the internet.

Inside (2011)

Directed by D. J. Caruso, this movie is a social thriller that was divided into several short episodes, thus allowing influence from the viewers in between the release of each episode. The film was sponsored by Intel and Toshiba, and gained interest in its unique approach to the plot; people online were asked to give feedback on each episode, and the viewers were able to audition online for a part in the film, this gaining a great deal of interest. While this film was not an extreme success, it did gain a lot of interest based entirely on its association with the internet, creating a plot that centred around social networking and how it can influence ones life, as well as creating an experience to be enjoyed online, as opposed to a film that must be purchased or seen in a cinema. 

The Devil's Carnival (2012)

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, this film was an independent venture that would not have received much attention had it not been for his previous film, Repo! the Genetic Opera, which gained the cast and crew a cult following. Due to this following, they were able to advertise The Devil's Carnival via the internet, reaching not only those that followed them already but also a wider audience that came across their videos. This project comes across as a far more personal one than the other two examples as it is the crew that make videos directly aimed towards the audience, either discussing the production of the film or how they are able to access the film. Considering the fact that the premise of this film would lead to a very select viewership, the only way in which this film could have been made was independently, without the help of a studio. Without the use of the internet and the advertisement it can bring, this film would not have gained the funding it required nor would it have been seen by the public as it did not have the distribution that mainstream films gain.

The Muppets (2011)

Long before the release of The Muppets, a channel on YouTube was created with videos unrelated to the film being released. These videos inspired more interest in the franchise, particularly in a generation who was now used to the internet, but had perhaps not had a chance to watch previous films and television related to The Muppets. Without this coverage, there would have perhaps not been as much anticipation in the lead up to the film considering far less people would have been introduced to the franchise. Considering the level of approval that was given to this film, and the intake it had at the box office, one could see how the influence that these YouTube videos had on younger audiences.

An Analysis of Begotten

The film Begotten, directed by E. Elias Merhige, is an experimental piece dealing with the story of Genesis in an abstract manner. One of the most vivid aspects of this film is the cinematography, which differs greatly in its aesthetic to a great deal of other films. The film was shot on black and white reversal film, which was then reused when each frame was rephotographed, giving Begotten the strange appearance that it has and also defining it as an experimental film.  This creates a film that differs from others because the end results creates a film with very defined black and white areas, with minimal grey parts of the image. This seems to be one of the ways in which Merhige attempts to create a clear message in his film, providing the viewer with an idea that there is no greying area unlike we are often told, instead this film portrays a definite image of right and wrong. However, there is little shown throughout the film in the way of 'positive morality', and this idea is not entirely backed up by the content of the film in this way, though there is a great deal of negativity shown throughout that might emphasise the director's 'black-and-white morality' message.

The film opens with an image of what is credited as God disembowelling himself for an extended period of time. The fact that this scene takes so long to finish creates an extremely unnerving atmosphere, giving the viewer a sense of unease about the situation. By having the character of God killed off so early in the film, Merhige creates a film where there is no sense of power or control over the situation, such as His presence would have given in any other case. From this session of disembowelling, a woman credited as Mother Earth is born. She immediately engages in an act of necrophilia, impregnating herself with God. Again we are given a scene with a very heightened sense of unease, this scene perhaps indicating that without the presence of God, there is little left sacred within the new world created. From this experience, a new character is born known as Son of Earth: Flesh on Bone, portrayed as a sickly nude man who constantly seems to be in a state of distress, convulsing or vomiting at most points within the film. The manner in which he is portrayed seems to emphasise the environment that this film takes place in; a very dark world in which there is little shown to be healthy or good. Son of Earth is quickly taken by a group of nomads who appear to represent the basis of civilisation, a very underdeveloped version of humanity. They take him away and eventually burn him to death, all the while accepting objects that he frequently vomits as gifts. This scene is the clearest in its intent, following the story of Jesus in his final days as he is used for his gifts (perhaps representing miracles that Jesus performed throughout his life) before being killed by those who greatly appreciated these gifts at the time. Continuing the mirror the story of Christ, the Son of Earth is reincarnated.

It is here that Mother Earth returns and finds her son, the two finally uniting. This seems to be a way of introducing some manner of 'good' within the film, as surrounding this there is only a series of grotesque scenes providing little but a bad light on humanity. After their reunion, they are once more found by another group of primitive humans who then proceed to torture and then kill both Mother Earth and Son of Earth. This scene solidifies the message that Merhige wanted to put across, this being that humanity is destroying the earth and all that is sacred within this. The film offers extremely disturbing images, which could be extremely grating to someone who was not entirely invested in the message provided or the aesthetic choices of the film, although this is perhaps what the director was aiming for; by creating an environment that is disturbing both in context and in visuals, Merhige has put across an undesirable image thus reflecting the message that this is indeed an undesirable world due to what we have done to it as a collective humanity.

An Analysis of 'We Were Once A Fairytale'

The film 'We Were Once A Fairytale', directed by Spike Jonze, follows Kanye West as a caricature of himself during a night in a club. The film begins with a blurred image, leaving the people out of focus in a similar manner to what West would be seeing in his inebriated state. This allows the audience to see the situation from his perspective. Very little is clear in the opening of the film, considering the image is out of focus as well as the sound that has been muted slightly, as if the listener were deafened slightly by the volume of a club scenario. As though to set him apart from the crowd, West is dressed in white as opposed to the rest of the cast who are dressed in black, therefore making him clearly different to everyone else in a way that can be seen despite the lack of focus. As well as this, West is also set apart as he is often in the centre of the shot, giving him an element of importance. Considering this film seems to be based around the idea of this caricature being extremely egocentric, placing him frequently in the centre of the shot is a way of emphasising this.

Before West leaves to the bathroom, the music becomes duller than it had been previously, signalling a moment of importance which can be seen as a moment of self-realisation. At this point there is no change in scenery, and the aural change is the only way that the viewer is able to tell that he has come to a realisation. Once he reaches the bathroom, the change has become far clearer to the viewer as the room is brighter than the previous one, showing a sense of enlightenment. This is quickly followed by West vomiting a stream of red petals; the red seems to represent impurity, the action of vomiting acting as a way of him purging himself of said impurities. The petals appear to act as an emphasis to the fact that this is a metaphorical purification, rather than a literal action. West then continues this act of purging by using a knife that has appeared in front of him to stab himself, releasing another flow of red petals showing that this is another act of purification rather than a violent act of self harm that this could otherwise be construed as. The fact that this is such a violent act shows determination to change on West’s part.

After he has stabbed himself, West brings out a creature from himself resembling a rodent that we are to assume is a personification of everything impure about West’s lifestyle, considering its dark colours and the fact that it has come from this violent act. West finds that in the handle of the knife he used to stab himself, there is a much smaller replica of the knife that he then hands to the small rodent, this being further evidence that the rodent is an extension of West himself. As this happens, the music has become a classical piano piece, a great contrast to the loud club music that has been playing previously. The creature then kills itself, and the only sounds that can be heard after this are the classical music and the creature dying. While this is meant to be a scene that provides West the chance to create a new life for himself, it is a somewhat sombre one that may lead one to question whether it was a well deserved death; the creature does nothing that might indicate it was guilty or deserved death, and so this may either be indication that West is not truly purified, instead this being an undeserving death of a different aspect of his personality. However, it is instead possible that Jonze did not think of this interpretation, or did not feel that evidence needed to be given as to the persona of the creature. The end is left on a cliffhanger, with simply West looking down at the now dead creature, leaving the audience to interpret how they think he will change in the future.

Love Me Or Leave Me Alone- Analysis

Love Me or Leave Me Alone is a short film based around a young teenage couple’s relationship, following them from their initial break up to a vague hint at their reunion. One of the main themes throughout the film is that of youth, and the relationships that are created in teenage years. This it the most prominent of the themes, though others are hinted at through the use of technical methods. For example, there is a theme of light and dark, represented by the different environments that both the characters find themselves in throughout; often the young boy in the film is seen in darker environments, while the young girl is seen in brightly lit rooms.

This film was not particularly enjoyable in my opinion due to the fact that I found it difficult to understand whether it was successful or not, considering the objectives of the director were not particularly clear. There is no build up to the young couple’s break up and therefore there is a hint that this film is meant to be representative of a break up on a whole at first, though it is clear that the two end up reuniting by the end of the short film. It is not particularly representative of youth on a whole as they are stereotypical to a lower class, and even this aspect of their lives is not explored fully as there is little information given about their lives outside of each other.

One of the most obvious techniques used in the film is the difference in lighting created for each character. The light is often bright and warm when the girl is on screen, while the boy is often surrounded by extremely dark lighting to the point where he is not visible from time to time. While this creates an interesting contrast between the two, there is little in the plot of the film that gives us indication this may be representative of their characters. It could be construed that the lighting gives the audience a hint that the young man is to blame in the break up of the relationship, though without backing of any sort this is a theory that could go amiss by many viewers. Another technique that is used frequently throughout the film is keeping the characters central in the camera shot throughout the film. While this would be a useful way in most cases of bringing a sense of importance to the central subject in the shot, it is a technique that is used too frequently without explanation throughout the film and so it does not serve the purpose it should.

The theme of youth and relationships is one that is clearly portrayed through the style of the film, as the young couple are the only two characters that the viewer is able to see. There is a scene in which the young boy goes home, and we hear the voices of his family, but do not see them at any point, this emphasising the fact that he is of the most importance in this family to the story. By isolating the two from human contact, the story is centred entirely around them with nothing to distract the audience from them.