one on of the days of our recess week, we headed down to the art science museum for the NASA and Future World exhibitions. it was a really fun day.
NASA
my dad is a huge NASA fan so i sometimes get excited too about space and universe due to his influence. so this was the exhibition that i was really excited for.
inside the cockpit
the exhibition was really insightful, albeit a little underwhelming (i had high hopes for it) maybe because there were too many information about the little details that i wassssnt interested in (or maybe because im not that much of a fan yet to appreciate). was looking forward to the “OH WOW” big scale models (there were, but only a few but naaaaah, they didnt catch my attention). but nonetheless, i was really happy to go for the exhibition because ive been meaning to go (plus it was sponsored by the school! who doesnt love free entry to exhibitions hehe)
FUTURE WORLD
the exhibition was really fun because most of the installations had a lot of interactions between human and technology. the installations were colourful as well so i guess that element of colour also added to the fun experience. (colours are fun!)
i forgot the name of this installation but this was my favourite. i enjoyed watching the kids have fun with the balls, and how innocent they felt at that moment of time.
i think its a smart idea to compliment an element of fun to an installation to make it engaging, especially if its for the general public, kids will definitely love it. colours is a great way to incoporate that element. i think what made this installation even more fun was the play on sound. the colours change to the beat of the music. the music choice was also a good choice because it was somewhat “cute”, and that made it light-hearted, which catches the attention of people.
this was a really cute idea of designing your own sea animal!! i really enjoyed the thought behind this.
other engaging exhibits:
the next exhibition was my favourite.
we had a device to navigate ourselves around the museum to at end where we watch a animated video. it was really fun because it was like a digital VR treasure hunt. it catches everyone’s attention because… its digital. but i guess its con is that it gets us too focused on the screen that we dont pay attention to our surroundings (major 21st century social issue). but hey, we cant do everything to please everyone.
after everything, we headed down to the Jendela Visual Arts Space at Esplanade for the genius of the crowd exhibition.
This documentation post is written in a chronological manner:
Idea 1
Our group wanted to use utilitarian objects to present a narrative. Through discussion and brainstorming sessions, the overarching concept for our first idea is:
A significant development from Naomi and Kai’s assignment 2 where the male lead, Pierre Tan, left her. Lead actress wants to tell –
The story of how it happened through the objects she obsessively collected from her ex during the relationship and what these objects mean to her.
To tell the story of their 1 month relationship through these objects. The short time frame is used to highlight her obsessive behaviour.
Unfortunately, the feedback we had received was that our story was too convoluted. There were too many ideas brought together — Craziness, sadness, sense of lost, etc. Furthermore, we wanted to present our idea is a non-linear manner. To bring so many ideas together and present it this way, our idea no longer evokes the fuzzy feelin’ we were looking for but instead seem rather haphazard. Our story was also lacking substance. Oh yes, and our request to use the dark room was rejected too.
Major Brainstorm 1:
Story/Plot: We had to defined our break-up story and we decided that our main characters remains as a pair of young adults– an enlisted boyfriend and a undergraduate girlfriend– that broke up due to inherent problems of our society. This story is largely based on Naomi’s personal experience where the differences between the duo was pulling them apart. Some inherent problems the characters faced are the clashing schedules they have that resulted in less time together, the different goals they have in life and the income gap between them. While these problems may sound materialistic, they are the reality. As an undergraduate, the girlfriend is all eager to get things right to prepare for the future whereas the boyfriend may learn to see life beyond the paper chase during his enlistment.
Space: With our request rejected, we were forced to pick a new space. This was a blessing in disguise as we downsized from a room to a cupboard. Firstly, it was easier to fill up a cupboard. Secondly, the limited space creates a greater sense of intimacy which was a big part of our work. Furthermore, we ditched the idea of a shrine in order to better focus on what was necessary. Hence, creepiness was no longer a factor of consideration. Creating an intimate and private space was our main objective.
Props: Instead of the original 30 objects, we had also reduced to only the necessary objects because 1) it wasn’t necessary to talk about every single day of their 1-month relationship and 2) a cupboard is smaller than a room. Also, instead of merely displaying the objects, some of the objects are of different state from its original state in the film. Eg: the graduation was painstakingly taped together, the fresh flowers had dried and wilted. These changes in objects was to show that a phase had passed and also reflects the girlfriend’s obsession with keeping these objects despite they are pretty much useless.
Presentation: We had decided to do away with the non-linear film in order to convey our story clearly.Instead, we would add a voice-over in order to show that these whole project was from the girlfriend’s POV.
Okay, so we are not going to bore you with the finer details of our plan. The plans on google doc are up here for read if you’re keen! So now, let’s move on to the next exciting step – filming.
Execution:
Filming:
All thanks to Kai steady filming skills and Naomi and Chris amazing acting, we’ve managed to film all that was necessary within a day. The first half of the scenes were filmed in school and the second half at Naomi’s house. The key scenes we filmed were: *note MC = Main character, GC = Guy character
Scene 1. Object: Letters and graduation cup Have a few shots at our school first. GC and MC at school, GC made the first move to write a letter to MC, passed the letter secretly to the locker. (this is how they first met and from there, take a shot of them studying and spent time together”, Graduates but then GC has to serve the army. MC went on to uni to continue study. Scene 2. Object: Cologne and t-shirt One shot of the guy preparing to go out, to celebrate their anniversary (maybe 1 year anniversary?), wearing his cologne, MC hugs him from behind, smelling the cologne.
Scene 3. Candles GC just books out from army, MC visited him at his house and changed into his t-shirt), but GC just ignore cause had a long day, MC get pissed cause MC is also tired from a hectic day (?), broke out into a fight. (dramatic transition to when the watch stopped……. To symbolically show that from this point onwards everything goes downhill)
Scene 4. Object: Cup again Different scenes of them arguing of small things and eventually the end.
Set-up
While setting-up we tried to arrange them randomly but not messily. We wanted some form of order amidst the mess. The key objects had to be touched, letters could be read and photos could be seen. It’s tricky to re-create a mess.
We also added fairy lights to re-create this cozy atmosphere in the cupboard space. We wanted viewers to feel that opening this cupboard is like entering the mind of the protagonist.
Everything is a passing moment, what can we do to preserve those memories? Why do people obsess over the physical things that link them to a memory, in hopes to possess it?
Preservation of memories, memories of someone you hold dear, hold true to the heart.
Motive of this installation
To allow people to delve further into the obsessive nature of someone who cannot let go of the past and struggles to hold onto memories that are fleeting.
Memories are fleeting moments, hence we understand the meaning of collecting objects so we can preserve and remember them.
Storyline
It is a significant development from Naomi and Kai’s assignment 2 where the male lead, Pierre Tan, left her.
Lead actress wants to tell –
The story of how it happened through the objects she obsessively collected from her ex during the relationship and what these objects mean to her.
To tell the story of their 1 month relationship through these objects. The short time frame is used to highlight her obsessive behaviour.
A collection of 30 items as mementos to represent each day of the month:
Photographs of him sleeping
Fingerprints
Retainers
Sound Recordings
Used Scotch Tape
Used Underwear
Used toothpaste
Toothbrush
Dental Floss
Old clothes
Shades
Dried Contact Lens
Used condom
Towel
Nails
Protagonist’s diary
Wax
Comb
A lock of hair
Water Bottles
Belts
Blanket
Shoes
Socks
Shaver
Post-it notes with msg
Ugly portrait of him
Deodorant
Forks and Spoon
Cup (In the film already)
ARTIST REFERENCE FOR CONCEPT
Tracy Emmy, Everyone I Have Ever Slept With (1963-1995)
Emin creates an intimate space through the use of a tent and narrates her personal story through the visuals displayed. Photos, names and letters of the people she had slept with are stuck up on the interior of the tent.
INSPIRATION:
We’re using the idea of a limited space to reflect the protagonist’s intimate thoughts and experience. Visuals do not stand alone but coexist with the footage, space and sound to depict the theme of our work, which in this case, the protagonist’s obsession of her ex-lover.
Museum of Broken Relationships, Copenhagen, Denmark
Using objects that the audience can touch and feel and experience for themselves (e.g. reading a diary), it will be able to give clues and insights on the characteristics on the protagonist as well as the person she is obsessed about.
The amount of items as well as the nature of the items could also further accentuate the obsessive behaviour and mindset of the girl.
Artist Reference for Film Aesthetics
Movie: See You Tomorrow (2016)
There was a scene in the movie where the main character reveals the collection of items he has collected and saved in the boot of his car that were from his relationship with his passed on ex-lover. He was unwilling to let go of the memories tied to this person despite it being many years since his lover passed on.
Amélie (2002)
1:57:20 Towards the end of the movie, we the scene of Amelie and Nino riding on a bike captured in a sepia tone colour. The footage is also fast forward to create a sense of fleeting moment. Short snippets of Amelie’s solo shot are cleverly interweaved as if to remind audience the story is about the Amélie.
Execution
Location
Dark room: To give an unsettling feel
Lighting
Red tint: To show desire
Projection of Footage: Footage will contain glitches to create sudden brightness in the environment. Also, the film that would be played to reveal the meaning of the 30 objects in the course of the relationship. This is used as a visual accompaniment to the installation.
Footage: BLURRY & DREAM-LIKE STATE
To depict fleeting memories of their one-month relationship. It will be fast forward to create the sense of fleeting moment where details cannot be examined.
Props
30 objects to narrate the story of their one-month relationship. We will also experiment with mirrors with lipstick messages written all-over it and images of Pierre to depict what lead actress wanted to see everyday
Sound:
Replaying of sounds, music, recordings.
Eg. lullabies of the male lead singing for the girl
Smell:
Musky smell with a tint of cologne: To reinforce her obsessive behaviour of wanting to preserve his smell.
Diffuser labelled ‘his smell.’
we had to brainstorm on a storyline that is a parallel narrative. it was quite tough for me because my forte is not storytelling. but luckily for my group mates who are great storytellers, we managed to come up with a storyline that everybody was happy with.
however, i was a little apprehensive on our group’s story at first because i was afraid there were too many dialogues, hindering the main element of our assignment – sound.
i didnt add any background noise to my video as i wanted the narrative to explain itself, as well as the semiotics of the film.
the film starts off with the sound of a person typing on the keyboard. the scene starts off with a black screen, but preceeds with the sound. this was done using the J-Cut, which we learnt it during class. i used this technique because i felt it starts off with a surprise, especially with the black screen in place.
notification sounds are added in the next scene where the notifications pop up so to create a more engaging experience.
the door creek was specially added as well because i wanted to build up the tension of eerieness after a long pause of a lack of noise.
flashbacks were edited into black and white because i wanted to create a contrast in time. the warp sound is added before the flashbacks because i felt that it enhances the experience in telling people that it is a flashback. also, the visual parallel cuts were made to pop and go off to give it a exciting visual effect.
throughout this whole project, i’ve learnt alot of new skills and techniques. i’ve learnt how to specially select which areas to separately record sound with the zoom mic, learnt how to enhance our movie to make it look as real and promising through visual effects (fake blood from talented Jia Qi), and playing with sound effects (downloading off the internet, increasing the volume of certain areas), and the filming process (i am a noob in film. i really am. but im really glad to learn some techniques from promising film directors aka Jia Qi and Hui Min (who was so kind to help us with acting)).
