Yourmemphistakeone

So now I'm going to be the one acting in the video.  I'm going to have approx. 75+ shots dealing with all different kinds of things in Memphis.  For each thing, I'll stand in front of or next to the object and yell-  WE GOT...

A River

Beale Street 

Minor League Baseball Team

The Fedex Forum

A Denny's

A Metals Museum

Gus's Fried Chicken

Big Houses

Little Houses

Bridges

A McDonald's

A Library

A Home Depot

Circle K

Pawn Shops

Used Cars

A Target

Sushi 

A Bike Shop

A Blockbuster

A Post Office

Subway

Radioshack

A Movie Theater

Papa John's

Sun Studio

Parks

A Central BBQ

A Bowling Alley 

An Applebee's

Panda's

An Office Max

A Mall

Churches

A Schnucks

Trains

A Laundromat

The Full Moon Club

The Lamp Lighter

A Taco Bell

A Fire Department

Cell Phone Stores

Liquor Stores

Golf

Cemeteries

A Music Store

Schools

The P and H Cafe

A Guitar Store

No Traffic

Billboards

Kids

Teenagers 

Middle Aged People

Old People

Germantown

Shoe Stores

A Place to Get Your Hair Cut

A Hancock Fabrics

Big Trees

Cats

Dogs

Elvis?

I'll be wearing my 3 dollar suit, so I'll look legit.  I'm thinking this might take 2 days of shooting.  I'm sure once we are on location, there will be a lot more places I'll want to shoot in front of.  I think the crew will be small because I will only need a camera man.

Yourmemphistakeone Idea

I plan on doing between 50 and 100 shots at different locations around the Memphis area.  These places will be specific to Memphis along with others that can be found in any city.  I will have the same actor in each shot and each shot will be approximately 3-5 seconds in length.  The entire  video will be between 2 and 3 minutes in length. The actor will be wearing Memphis apparel to show their love of the city.  Each shot will consist of the actor saying, "We got..." followed by whatever place or structure they are standing in front of.  I plan on using locations such as McDonalds, which can be found in any city, along with places like Beale street, which is specific to this area.  I think the video will have a humorous undertone by mixing both types of places. (And I hope the real estate people have some kind of a sense of humor.)  

Instructed Confusion

This is my latest video project.  It deals with the frustration of trying to follow instructions while working with someone who doesn't want to follow instructions.

Crazy write up about my upcoming video

I'm wanting to shoot my video earlier than I had initially planned.  I think editing is going to take up quite a lot of time.  I'm going to contact my actors and see if I can move the shoot date up.  I am looking forward to shooting this video, probably more than any I've done so far.  Working on Dwayne's video was fun and I hope shooting mine will be too.  At first I thought editing was going to be really difficult, but I think it's going to be pretty easy.  I'm intending for the video to feel very confusing so the stranger the better.  

I VOTED EARLY!!!

This is the picture I took with my cell phone of my ballot.  Actually it's a picture of the picture that I took with my cell phone.  I wasn't sure if I was supposed to take any pictures but I did anyway.  OBAMA.

Write Up for Dwayne's shoot

Dwayne's video shoot was really simple as far as crewing.  We framed the shot and used all natural lighting.  Once Dwayne got in 'character' we began recording and pretty much just did one continuous shot until he felt he was satisfied with the performance.  We took several photos before, during, and after the shoot.  I feel like this project ran quite smoothly.  Although it was a little strange to watch Dwayne sitting in the back of his truck smoking a cigar and drinking beer in his underwear.

second sound/lighting test

Sound test/ Battery removal

Sound and lighting test

Images for production package

Electrical

Lighting

I got these guys to stand in for my test shoot since my actors were unavailable.





I will have plenty of lighting for every shot.  Multiple windows for natural light and lots of overhead/electrical light is available.  The fuse box is in the basement and the basement was really creepy so hopefully I won't have to mess with it.

During the sound test I noticed the clock was ticking very loudly so I will have to remove the battery or just remove the clock altogether.  There was a little noise form the street, but because I'm going to be using multiple jump cuts I think any sounds will just add to the confusion.

I plan on doing one long shot and just moving around the room to capture multiple angles.  Editing is going to be key in this project.

Proposal for Instructed Confusion

I would like to make a digital video about the frustrations of following instructions while assembling equipment.  The working title is, Instructed Confusion.  It will be approximately three to five minutes in length.  This piece will display two people struggling to work together to assemble a steel-shelving unit. 

The charters in this video will display emotions that most people feel while trying to assemble something with ‘less than exact’ directions.  Some of these feelings are anger, confusion, and impatience. This piece is meant to get an uncomfortable reaction from the audience.  Most likely, people will relate to the frustration and see the humor in watching other people struggle at a seemingly simple task. 

In the video, one character will logically try to follow the instructions that come with the materials while the other character immediately begins assembling.  However, the second character has no idea what they are doing and ends up failing repeatedly.  This drives both characters crazy to the point of physical anger.

The first character gives up out of frustration and the second character angrily demands the assistance of the other.  Eventually the first character reluctantly comes back, but the animosity is still looming.  Many trials and failures cause both characters to give up on the project, and come back to it another day.

 I intend on using jump cuts throughout the entire video.  This will give the viewer a sense of confusion; similar to the confusion the charters are dealing with.  Many of the shots will display irrational, violent reactions.  The shots will be very brief and difficult to understand.  Eventually, the viewer will comprehend what the characters are trying to do.  They will see the frustration in the characters and begin to feel it themselves.

This video will be targeted to anyone who has ever tried to assemble something by following confusing instructions. It will also be directed toward anyone that has issues with following instructions as well as working with other people to solve problems.  The video will be displayed in art galleries and film festivals. 

Ideas for next video

1.  I want to show people interacting, but I want it to be composed entirely of jump cuts.  It will be similar to the scene in Julian Donkey Boy where Julian and his brother are fighting in the kitchen and Julian makes his brother eat some shitty looking bacon.  This will deal with people trying to understand instructions for assembling something but are completely confused and the jump cuts will add to the confusion. 

2.  In this video I will be making a cup of tea.  I will be dropping the tea-bag over and over continuously for 5 minutes.  The sounds will consist of plopping and heavy breathing.

3.  In this video sound will be the only element up until the end.  The sounds will be indiscernible and will only be understood when the image is revealed at the end.  

Lunanova write up

This video deals with human dependancy on other people and technology.  It displays an isolated modern man hunched over a television.  He's wearing a suvival blanket in hopes that he will be rescued.  We soon realize he is focused on white noiose on the TV screen and quickly retreat from the figure because he has obviously gone a little nutty.

I really enjoyed using music in this video.  I think it gives the video a dramatic quality.  However, it could have really turned out cheesy if I had the wrong transitions.  I would like to try and use more sound in my work, but I'm sure it's really difficult to choose or to actually create music for certain videos.  

Lunanova Project Video

How To...

VP Debate Extra Credit

The lighting on both candidates as well as the moderator looked flooded, but not too bright.  They were all back lit and their faces looked equally bright on both sides.  There were very little shadows under their chins so I guess they were well lit in that sense.  The break up of shadows on the walls behind the candidates made the figures stand out from the background.  The US flag was really small and dimly lit above the moderator, which looked sort of cheap.

All three people were centered in the shots.  There were also many different camera angles.  Many of the shots that displayed both candidates were over the shoulder shots.  These shots also zoomed in and out a few times.  It seemed like very straightforward filming with very little action.

New Idea for Luna Nova Video

I want to start with a pan shot from left to right and stop on the figure and the TV.  The TV will only display fuzz.  The figures eyes will be fixed on the TV with little to no motion.  I've thought about having close ups on the figures face and close ups on the TV, but I'm not certain what will work yet so I plan on shooting lots of different angles.

I'm still going to use the same piece of music.  I've decided to portray one of my other painting/drawings.  This one focuses more on dependency on technology and looking to other people for answers.  It also deals with isolation and uncertainty of what to do in dire situations. 

LunaNova music and storyboard

http://lunanova.org/2008audio/combustion2.mp3

I am going to try and make a video that represents one of my painting/drawings.  I have a rough storyboard, but it might change depending on the feedback.  I might use more zooming than initially thought.

I (or the person I get to act in this) will be wearing a black suit and covered with an orange survival blanket.  

The idea of showing someone trying to light a fire in a white room is weird.  I think it will hint at the absurdity of trying to perform basic survival techniques without actually having to go out in the wilderness.  Also, not even using basic survival skills.  They will be completely dependent on technology.

Write up for Instructional Video

After finding the best shot of me yelling, "Hey, you wanna buy a chicken?" I tried to find the perfect point to loop.  This proved to be quite difficult.  I began by looking for a spot where I was standing completely still.  That was out of the question.  I wasn't standing in the exact same position at the end of the shot as I was at the beginning, so I started scrolling through the clip to find a spot where I was in motion.  After about 5 hours of going back and fourth I finally found a pretty decent connection.  I'm not going to say where the loop begins and ends, because that's all you will see if I tell you where it is.

Editing seems pretty confusing after first but once you get the hang of it and remember what all the buttons do it starts to flow pretty naturally.  I would like to try and make a piece similar to one of Martin Arnold's videos, but I'm sure that stuff is way beyond my skill level at this point.  I'm pretty satisfied with my results.

Assignment Write up for Instructional Video Shoot

After the first shot at the beginning of this project I realized how ridiculous it is to yell, "Hey, do you want to buy a chicken?"  I pretty much ruined every shot because I was smiling and on the verge of laughing.  After that I decided to widen the shot and get a few good takes.  I ended up looking quite stern in the next few takes and decided to shoot the first part of the joke from both distances as well.  (Just in case I ended up using one of the closer shots.)  I plan to use one or two good shots and loop them.  I want to try and line up the beginning and end of each one so it looks seamless.  

If I do decide to have side by side shots, I'm not sure how I want them to play.  Either a call and response style or just let them talk over each other.  I think if I let them talk over each other it would be more confusing, so that might be the way to go.  I'm not 100% certain I'm going to like the white room rather than the shell, but hopefully it will come together nicely when I edit.  Actually I think the white room will work out fine.  Now that I think about it, the shell would add too much meaning to the piece that I'm not intending.  

quiz 2

1.Explain standard 3 point lighting set up.

Main light is the Key light.  It should be the brightest light and positioned at the 7 to 8 o'clock position.  The 2nd light is the fill light.  It should be more of a flood light in brightness and set up around the 5 to 4 o'clock position.  And the 3rd is the back light.  This lights the hair and should be positioned above and behind the person in the shot.

2. How can you lower high contrast?

You can lower contrast by using bounce cards and reflective surfaces that have an off white or dull finish.  

Storyboard for How to video

I now plan on shooting two shots in the white room.  One will be-

 "You know how to sell a chicken to a deaf person?"

and the other will be-

"HEY, YOU WANNA BUY A CHICKEN?"

I'd like to show these videos side by side.

For wardrobe I plan on wearing a plain white t-shirt and either tan or blue pants.

 

NEW instructional video outline!

I now plan to shoot at the shell.  I am going to have multiple angles. 

Starting with over the shoulder shot to view writing on tablet.

Next I will shoot the deaf person.

More text.

Then close ups and ending with zoom out.

Instructional video outline

I'm going to show you how to-

"Sell a chicken to a deaf person."

This is a very simple shot.  I plan on screaming- "Hey, you wanna buy a chicken?"  Although, it will be a silent video, so we'll get the perspective of a deaf person.  I'll then cut to different steps via powerpoint and back to video shots.

After the test shoot in the location I had planned to use, I'm not sure that it is the right setting.  I've been trying to think of the best location for selling someone a chicken, but haven't come up with anything yet.  I guess I could try and find a chicken farm or outside/inside of a grocery store. 

Strange bike safety

So I posted this awesome/creepy video about bicycle safety in a link on the right---->

The kids are all wearing monkey masks.  I guess because they're monkeying around on their bikes.  Anyway, I was really intrigued by the scratches on the film and the washed out color.  The kids faces are the best part by far.  I also posted 2 Martin Arnold videos.  They are amazing.

White Balance

White Balance is the measure of light and temperature.  The different colors are gauged on degrees of heat light, or Kelvins.  Depending on what type of mood lighting one wants for a scene the white balance is key.  

When viewing video, the whitest lights are composed of a multitude of different brightly colored lights.  However our eyes read them as white light.  Sunlight typically makes white light look blue, artificial light makes white light look orange, and fluorescent light makes white light look green.  The white balance can completely change the feel of a scene.

Genre Film

I choose the Western genre.  I've never been particularly fond of westerns, but when I read the description of the Western genre I become intrigued.  The Western typically portrays the conquering of nature by civilization.  Westerns also emphasize honor instead of the law.  They also tend to focus on nomadic people such as a cowboys and outlaw gangs.  

What really got my interested was the categorization of such films as No Country for Old Men and Die Hard as being westerns.  So I choose The Proposition.  This film is set in Australia in the late 1800's.  The English are trying to civilize the land and in doing so the local police in a small town are trying to capture the Burns gang.  Two of the gang members are captured and in order to catch the third, the police keep one gang member and set the other free to go kill the third.  The nomadic lifestyle of the gang as well as the effort to civilize the land by the police are dead giveaways for the Western genre.

This film was amazing.  The Australian landscape alone was worth the watch, but the acting and story were quite amazing too.  This film gave me a completely different opinion of what a Western can be.

Portrait "Light" Concept

I want to continue using my theme on human creation/evolution and the uncertainty of our origin.  I plan on using very little light and moving around the room on my hands and feet in an uncertain manner.  

The reason for very little light is to represent an inability to see where we are in the world and where we have come from.  I think a night vision view of this same type of video would also be very effective.  I want to convey a sense of uncertainty and uneasiness in one's surroundings.  

Dogma 95

I find Von Trier’s idea of what cinema should be very refreshing.  I get tired of flashy Hollywood films that are only made to rake in cash.  The stories are usually completely lost in the visual effects and bad acting.  Stories can be told simply and without all of the packaging that most films seem to have.

            These dogma 95 films have a documentary feel to them, although I recognized several of the actors in Julien Donkey-Boy, I felt they portrayed their characters very realistically.  However there is one part of the manifesto I’m not sure I agree with.  It says, “The “supreme” task of the decadent film-makers is to fool the audience.  Is that what we are so proud of?  Is that what the “100years” have brought us?  Illusions via which emotions can be communicated?”  Isn’t that what artists’ do though?  According to Plato, artists are deceivers.  So why can’t film be deceiving?  The act of looking at a flat image on a screen is itself a deception.

            Other than the whole “illusion” thing, I am really interested in this type of filmmaking.  I feel like The Vow of Chastity is great.  It’s like a set of basic rules you must follow and I feel like all art needs rules, otherwise it is untrained and ignorant.  It’s like breaking things down to its simplest form before exploring them to their fullest potential.     

Place Write Up

My work deals with evolution and what separates humans from animals.  Walking upright is one of the main differences that makes us what we are.  My video displays my feet moving through different places.  I began to think about these places and how they are different when I am moving through them.  I also thought about how I sort of felt like a different person in each place I moved through. 

 I found it somewhat difficult to keep the camera still while walking.  I'm pleased with the results, but when viewing the video in a large format, the quality is very poor.  I think if I had better equipment I could make a pretty nice piece out of this project.  I would actually like to travel around the world and do something like this.

Place Video

3 Ideas For Place Video

      1. I will show my feet and the ground as I’m WALKING UPRIGHT through different places.  (Stores, grass, concrete, water, states, countries…)

      2. I will examine a sacred place from my childhood as well as a similar sacred place that I’ve replaced the old place with.  I’ll discuss what I used the old place for and how the new place attempts to recreate the feeling of the old place.

      3. I will explore places that I have changed or made a significant difference.   I will show what the place looks like now and if possible what it used to look like.  This would display a change of place even though it is still essentially the same place.

Places on earth

I think about my place on this earth and in the community I have become a part of and how each person affects ever person they meet.  It's these places that change the lives of the people that inhabit them.  But what is it that really allows us to be in these places?  Is it chance?  Is it fate?  What can I do to change the way these places are perceived?  How do I shape these places and how do they shape me?

Place Definition

These are some of the definitions that could possibly apply to my place video.

1. a building or area used for a specified purpose or activity

2. arrange for the recognition and implementation of (an order, bet, etc.)

3. a particular position or point in space

4. a particular point on a larger surface or in a larger object or area

5. a portion of space occupied by someone

Quick video interpretation of "Freewrite My Place"

Freewrite My Place

My hometown is Perryville, MO- about an hour south of St. Louis.  Nothing to do there but get drunk and talk about God.  So I pretty much loved it.  I make paintings.  Well, I guess they're actually painting/drawing/collages.  They're really awesome. No big deal though.  I tried to make a short, silent, black and white film my first semester here and it was completely amazing.  I think.  I'm going to try and experiment with as many different mediums as I possibly can while I'm here.  I would like to make videos about humans- which are animals, drunks- which display this the best, and religion- which I believe is the best thing since boxed wine.