The light landing on the items of the shrine is very dim and red.  It creates soft edges  on the objects and very minimal cast shadows on the space.   Reflection from the surrounding wood panels of the shrine further soften edges.

The light on the space of the shrine is a very dim red creating soft edges on the objects and leaves barely visible cast shadows.

Beautiful Decay is about finding a different perspective from what is usually seen. Mould is used as the subject to portray this idea since it is something generally agreed upon as disgusting by the public. The video creates an imaginary world inside of the mould depicting its other qualities like the beauty and complexity of organic growth and life, while still retaining the sinister side we normally associate with mould.

I’m interested in researching how to make use of 2D images to create a 3D motion environment. I plan to look into how flat images are dissected components to make the 3D atmosphere. After Effects is one of the leading software programs for compositing, so I will be exploring tutorials to discover what tools and techniques are necessary to create this illusion. I will also be taking a look at are the details about camera movement, depth of field, focus, and perspective to fine-tune this aesthetic. Some of the sources I can consult are the problems others have run into on Youtube videos, a friend in the film industry, and videocopilot.net for After Effects tutorials. .

Sources

1. YouTube user experiements and tutorials. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXcb6WgLDW8

2. Friend in the film industry.

3. Videocopilot tutorials 1 2

Reflection/Analysis

I found the tutorials at VideoCopilot.net to be extremely useful. The three areas I tested were making a composite from layers of 2d images, creating a 3d vanishing point with 2d images, and testing camera techniques. My aim was to create an atmosphere that would feel as though objects were surrounding the viewer (not necessarily create a realistic world). Making a composite of layers was very successful in achieving this goal as it did create the feeling as though I could fly through the space. Next, creating a 3d vanishing point was not as successful with the materials in my test. It appears to be a very useful way to take a photograph of a real place and make it appear 3d. This would require me to draw out an entire 3d perspective flat drawing first to use this technique. Last, experimenting with camera techniques is not a method on its own but a requirement for the other two. I played with the position of the camera, depth of field, and aperture settings and it seems that attempting to capture the movement of a real camera is essential in creating this atmosphere.

tests

Our group decided to put a comedic spin on the video footage by replacing the audio with video game sounds and music.

Title
Lasting Childhood

Text Fragment
Noise from raucous children fills the room but a gift takes my full attention.

What
The sound of children fooling around at a birthday fills the room with energy. Confetti and colourful streamers litter the carpet floor. A thin ribbon dangles over the edge of a coffee table. A popped balloon is at the other end of the ribbon. Used napkins, paper plates, party hats, and candles scatter the table. A wrapped present comes into view and the raucous noise fades to silence. The camera tilts upwards putting the gift out of view, but it reveals a shiny ‘happy birthday’ banner on the background wall. Scraps of gift-wrap fly into the air. The camera tilts back to the gift while the screen fades to white.

How
A living room will be set up to resemble the aftermath of a child’s birthday party. The scene will be filmed as a long hand-held moving shot. It will be a series of close-ups of different party objects until reaching the wrapped present. Different sounds will become audible as the objects become visible. The wrapped present will be replaced with an open one when it is tilted out of the shot.

Why
I want to capture that childhood moment. I would aim to create those feelings of fun and excitement, as well as the hectic environment without the emotions signified by facial expressions. Key imagery and sounds would be used to trigger that similar memory in many people as well as my own. It represents a time where life was simple and carefree. A single toy you may have wanted all yearlong could fill you with joy until it was to fall apart the following year.

Statement of Theme
The video will explore triggering memories by creating an atmosphere where viewers could fill in the people who are in their thoughts.

I found sounds evoking an image to be the easy to make note of.  It seems to be that way because sounds are associated to the objects that make them.  If I heard chirping, then I would definitely think of a bird. I can’t think of any sound off the top of my head that exists without something creating the noise. On the other hand, images that evoke a sound were slightly more difficult to find. It was not an incredibly hard task, but usually objects that would make loud noises were best at evoking sounds. The image I noted was a glass shattering on a kitchen floor. That sound was also able to provoke a feeling, which was shock.  I felt that sounds provoked feelings much more quickly than thoughts. It creates an impulse or reflex, whereas a thought seems to come after that initial feeling has passed.

1. A group of young girls in frilly dresses sit in a circle playing with dolls as I stand alone as the sole boy at the party. One of the girl’s father turns on a movie for me, and a catchy novelty tune starts up with the lyrics ‘Ghost Busters’. My eyes widen from the excitement of wavy neon plasma beams, while high pitch screeching of charging and draining electricity flood my ears.

2. Sporadic popping of balloons adds to the noise of a sea of children bouncing off the walls. A humongous bright red present appears behind my birthday cake taking my full attention making the raucous noise fade to silence. Scraps of gift-wrap fly everywhere from vicious tearing to reveal a navy blue proton gun, proton pack, and ghost trapper.

3. I sit alone at the bottom of the staircase eating a plate of white rice and fried eggs for lunch after arguing with my younger cousin. The stairs creek as footsteps come from behind me. Hard plastic shatters as it explodes against the top of my head causing navy blue pieces to litter the floor.

Design Statement

The short film portrays the meaning behind postcards for a young couple dealing with a long distance relationship. It illustrates messages from the sender through photographs, drawings, and narration while being in the perspective of the receiver as his eyes travel along the images. This conveys the close lines of communication and emotional connection they have. The music sets a ‘touching’ mood while the narration is in her voice as though he could hear her as he reads and views the postcards. Each segment of narration is its own fragment but they fit in a timeline to create a single story. This portrayed by having the view travel between each card and slowing down to receive each message. The illustrations convey the sender’s personality and enhances words in each postcard, or to reveal additional meaning within them. The composition of a corkboard containing all of the postcards demonstrates that they are valuable to him. A passport at the end is also a meaningful because it signifies he is on his way to see her, and that object is what will allow it.

Storyboard

The storyboard went through major changes as difficulties came from getting video footage of Germany. It was originally planned to go into the perspective of the sender, but was modified for the better to stay in the view of the receiver.

Script

Image 1 Bicycles

• Hi! I’m finally all settled in now, it’s so different here.

Image 2 Sign Post

• I’m starting to pick up the language and I’m taking classes every morning, but my accent is terrible

Image 3 Lighthouse

• I visited so many beautiful places and I wish you were here so I could share it with you.

Image 4 Horses

• Every time i see a horse drawn carriage ride I think of you. They’re like something out of a fairytale.

Image 5 View with senior couple

• There’s so much I want to show you and I can’t wait until you’re here. I miss you so much.

Image 6 Postcard back side

• See you soon

Creative Brief

Title – Postcards and Passports. Not So Far Away

Overview – A story of the meaning behind postcards for a couple that are currently in a long distancerelationship between Canada and Germany.

Audience - Late teens and young adults. This audience is considered by having the subject be a young couple that is relatable to that age group, whereas an older couple may not have as much difficulty as them.

Key Message - I want the audience to have another perspective on long distance relationships. It does not have to mean the end. If it is worth the effort it can become an opportunity to see wonderful places. Keeping in contact and looking forward to the future reuniting date eases difficulties.

Content Planning - The original storyboard included a single postcard back and front with video footage from the destination to bring that image to life. It became a series of postcards with panning and zooming techniques to give life to still photos. The postcards were to be posted on a corkboard to unite them as a meaningful collection. Illustrations are to be used ontop of the images.

Bibliography/Credits

Linna Xu

• narration
• illustrations
• postcards

Music by Colbie Caillat – Bubbly (Instrumental Version)

Visual/Conceptual References - All work was inspired by the actual postcards and photos.

The title of the countdown sequence is ‘Obscure Lucidity’ to represent that something so easily understood can be difficult to understand. The film plays with contrasts as does the title. Lucidity illustrates shining and bright, while obscure can mean darkness.  Silhouettes of positive/negative space numbers are made through stencils with a bright light.  It uses contrast between the simple ideas of light/dark and zooming in/out to produce complexity in perspective.  The goal of the film is to show that simple does not have to be boring, but with a twist can be clever and possibly confusing at first sight.

sound effects provided by freesound.org members:

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=26873

lightbulbwink.wav
FreqMan

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=33629

bulb_smash.mp3
themfish

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=375

light-switch.wav
TwistedLemon

Obscure Lucidity

Overview

The concept of the film is based on using contrast to convey complexity from something simple.  It uses silhouettes of numbers projected on a wall in a countdown sequence to show light/darkness, positive/negative space, and zooming in/out. The other key point of the concept is that with contrast one can’t exist without the other.

Audience

The film is for the general public from the age of teens and older.  It also aims to be interesting for fine arts related students to encourage the importance of concept and that simple can be good.

Key Message

Simple does not mean boring.

Content Planning

The film will be completely made from still photos of both positive and negative  shadows. This will be generated by making opaque stencils taped to clear plastic with a bright light to form the shadows on a white wall or board. The positive and negative numbers will alternate so that they blend into one another through shadows and light. Sounds are from freesound.org.

Bibliography

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=26873

lightbulbwink.wav
FreqMan

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=33629

bulb_smash.mp3
themfish

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=375

light-switch.wav
TwistedLemon

Visual/Conceptual References

Inspired by Charles and Ray Eames’ Powers of Ten film.