On the first lesson of silkscreen, I was 50/50 with my design cause most people chose this design than the other design (which I really like). So on the second lesson of silkscreen, I decided to change my design after editing it.
My first design on the first silkscreen lesson (test try can be found in my journal)Doing my finalised design
Test try on my unused shirt‘The girl on fire’ on my tote bag
During the second lesson of silkscreen, our work-study was Clara. She was so nice and understanding as she knows that most of us wanted to get out screen ready, so that we can do it on the tote bag as soon as possible. So she chop-chop and give us the short-cuts to do the things, such as reusing the silkscreen that is dry and not putting a thick layer of the blue paint and more. She even made an effort to remember some of our names. So nice of her!!
After 2 lessons of silkscreen, I learnt that there should be not hesitation in doing silkscreen. Like the malay used to say ‘Go jer!’ means just do it. Although silkscreen is a troublesome process (to me), I still find it enjoyable while doing it and seeing my work being executed.
One of difficulties that I faced while doing silkscreening was it execute on different material differently. And the amount of ink use also plays a part. On newsprint, my design looks so good with a single stroke. However when I did it on my shirt and tote bag, it gives a darker look and the inks absorb faster on the cloth. Hence to overcome this, I had to ‘Go jer!’ and just do it.
About a girl being transferred to a new school. In the new school, there were no humans in it, except her. Everyone is in an animal face. She feels secure and anxious as she is different from others.
When she first entered the class, there was only an empty chair beside the fox. She feels scared and awkward as normally fox are sly and they have their mysterious side in them. But eventually, the fox was friendly and nice to her.
During lunch, fox offered her a piece of meat. She was not quite sure whether she should try it or not. So she accepted it and ate it. With the feeling of weirdness going in her stomach, she realise she turned into…
“… one of them.”
Feedback
In a short film, I was able to bring out genre to the audience
Good use of colours – Blue fits the setting
There are lines on the video – to remove it, save video as interlaced
Why I did not put in footstep when the girl is walking along the hallway? I wanted to bring out the mood by using the background movie and focus on the fox who was spying the girl.
Can’t* wait for the outcome of it
Reflection
I was relieved and glad that the audience understood the storyline of my film and the genre. As I was not a fan of horror & mystery movies. Another reason was when I showed my sister (she is a huge fan of horror movies) my draft 2, she laughed after the ending. That was not what I wanted my audience to react towards my film. Hence she give me her suggestion to remove the 4 people at the ending and change the text, as both of it are contradict against each other, which simplified the overall story.
My group mates were my inspirations too. In the beginning (my draft 1), I was stuck as I did not have much research and understanding about horror film. Hence by looking at their processes, I understand a bit of how they uses sound effect and colours to show the horror and mysterious.
What I wish to improve on is definitely the experimenting and exploring of sound like how some of my classmates did.
Here are just what I observe and my interpretations in each movie:
Pan’s Labyrinth
It uses different colour scheme to differentiate the scenes
Daylight – abit gloomy
Why most of the scene are blue? Blue represents cold and isolation
Why there is a scene where there is orange? Exotic – where the character its different from human and its in her own world
Orange and blue – is it because its contrast with each other? Conflict between the day and night – real life and fantasy
The strangers Part 2: Breathless
Does not use the literal sound of the animal.
ET
Screenshot of ET trailer
use of blue and purple – to represent fantasy
orange/yellow – daylight
Silhouette – background light & shows the figure
Alice In wonderland – a good example of colour scheme
Real world – pastle blue, light colours to show fairytale and green as the contrast colours so that It wont look flat
Got into a hole – dark with a shades of orange
Sound when the man is walking too – to show his personality/characteristic
Red queen – which explains her setting to be mostly red, her soldier are in shades if red too
Red vs white
Sound effects used – very fantasy
Star Wars: The force awakens
A pinch of sound
When showing the bad character – the sound becomes lower
The background music – fantasy
Lighting and the music syncronize each other – Rain with lighting, did not show the rain sound
There is narration on a blank screen
Maleficent
blue/purple effect
Light from the back – giving shillotte to the character – introducing the character
Light on the character – half side
Sound transition from 1 scene to another with the THUM effect
Shows the eye – slowing revealing her whole face
Thummm then silent, THUMMM louder abit, then THUMMMMMMMMM loudest – same scene different angle
Only her narrations with blank image – to emphasis what she is saying
Reveling sound effect
Sound of the bird
Sound effect between the conflict and narration – like it comes down to silent and the narrations speaks
Colours
Filmmaker David Fincher uses color to create emotion.
Complimentary colour – Opposite colours represent conflict both inside and out
Monochromatic colours – to convey rigid worldview of unbalanced characters. – character are all taking in cafe
Discordant colours – draws attention to out-of-place elements to build anticipation
Colors can
Elicit psychological reactions with the audience
Draw focus to significant details
Set the tone of the movie
Represent character traits and more
Show changes in the story
source: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-use-color-in-film-50-examples-of-movie-color-palettes/Test try of editing the images
Before I start editing the images, I really thought deeply on the colours that I want to insert as I wanted to show the contrast of reality and fantasy. Initially, I wanted to make the daylight more yellowish to show the youth of the girl. However, it looks very vintage and old. Hence I decide to keep the natural light for the daylight.
Sound
Sound artist reference – Ben Burtt
I was amazed by how he used the traditional method to create sound. Even a bear sound can be used for a character’s voice. He also used human sound to create character voice by mixing the humans voices (I think this was use in Starwars). A lady with a low voice as ET voice. He explore sounds anywhere he can find which inspires me to go out and listen to the sound around me
In Wall-e, it require a whole new world of original sound such as the background, ambience, robot sound, space. There is no dialog, so it emphasis on the little details like the squek sound. Each sound created by Ben Burtt shows the personality of the character. (Note: Control the sound, loudness and hierarchy of the sound and use sound at the right choice, right moment).
He was inspired from history of sound like Disney, musical sound by using props that they have. Previously, sound were made in studio and it has to match with the scene as there were no technology. Wind sound were made by using wind machine. Thunder sheet metal is used to create thunder sound with echo in it. The even combine sound from different items to create a new sound.
Experimentation
So I went and recorded a few sound. However, I recorded it using my phone and I could not find a way to upload the sounds. ):
Screenshot of the sounds I recordedThe snack I ate while recording the sound of eatingI stood by the side of the road to record the traffic
Based on this video, here are by observations & interpretations:
Focus more on the sound of the small details on the moving image
Able hear the table – fork and spoon – dining ambiance with the glass and stainless steel
Magic sound effect
Vibration phone
jingles – elephant wearing the gold crown
background music
taking pictures, beep phone
Silent – to show that everyone is quite surprise, spoon & fork down, stop eating to hear what she is saying
After researching about the colours and sounds, I input whatever I have observed into my video.
The blue and purple colour to represent fantasy and mystery type of setting. Some images are in natural lighting to show that its is reality. This is to differentiate fantasy & reality. I added a few glitch images and texts to show what was the main character is thinking, like her state of mind was not stable at that time. I tried to keep the sound minimalism and play around with the breathing space to create tension. I tend to focus on the little details such as breathing, walking, opening the door and etc.
For the draft 1, I did not edit the images yet, instead I wanted to focus on the storyline and sound. However, after consultation, I realise it was the wrong thing to do and I had to redo most of it.
The problems that I encounter while doing draft 1 were:
Sound transition – how to make it flow smooth? Solution: overlap the sound or show the setting of the place
What should I consider if I want to input narrations into it? Solution: hierarchy of the sounds
The comments given for draft 1:
Missing of genre – It can be horror as it has creatures in it or fantasy where colours can be added in
Comedy part feels abit awkward
Image has to be brighten up – some are too dark and use the principles of lighting
Hieracy of the sound
Suggested steps to be taken after draft 1:
Find reference images of fantasy or horror – the use of colours and lighting
Think of a genre – it will help me when adding in the sound
Look for films with similar genre
Edit the images – colours & light
Then Insert sound
My notes during and after consultation
Came up with my storyboard
Research on the animals
Dog as the main character
Dog are closely related to humans – in terms of attitude, social & behaviour
Dominant
Leader
Campanion
Some dogs are socialable – able to pat them although you are a stranger
“It’s better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.” – it’s better to be a big part of something small, than a small part of something big.
“Dog eat dog.” – People will do anything to be successful.
“Like a blind dog in a meat market.” – Out of control, frenzied, or aimless. Unable to take action in the face of many choices.
Fox as the second lead
hunt or sleep alone
Fox is most active after the sun
It even hunts by stalking and pouncing (a sudden spring/swooping) on its prey.
loyalty – they take care of their family
Playful, friendly and curious
Adaptable & Independent
“clever as a fox” – extremely clever, and remarkably resourceful – from hunting strategies to camouflague
Rabbit as supporting character
sound navigator – in the dark
Sensitives and Seers
Hide
movement – hopping in zip and zag
quick witted
Rabbits are quiet, but they let you know they’re around
Rabbits can make friends with your other pets – friendly
Bear as supporting character
Bears are highly evolved social animals with intelligence comparable to that of the great apes.
Bears often share friendship, resources and security.
Bears are not mean or malicious; they are very gentle and tolerant animals.
Bears can be empathetic, fearful, joyful, playful, social and even altruistic.
They’re all individuals and have unique personalities.
Bears communicate using body language, sounds and smells.
A bear’s hearing ability is excellent
Bears see in colour and have good vision, similar to humans.
Input the research into the character’s personality
Gir
Newbie in a new school
Shy, introvert
Awkward at first, but becomes more comfortable after knowing someone
Why she become a dog? It is the closest related to humans
Fox
Mysterious
Active after during the dark
Playful, friendly and curious – curious about the new girl
Rabbit
Sensitives and Seers
Quiet, but they let you know they’re around
Bear
Gentle
Communicate using body language, sounds and smells.
Hello! So my group consist of Alina, Ying Hui, Syadza & me.
So how we start of was each of us came up with a story and we tried to mix it and match each other story. So as a start, we discussed individual story on WhatsApp.
Draft idea for storyline
So my idea (top most whastsapp chat) was about my childhood friend that I have not connected since we left primary school. Whatever she is doing now is a mystery to me and sometimes I wonder what she’s currently doing.
Then Ying Hui’s idea was about her long lost friend, where Ying Hui thought she would not turn out that way. But they both are still contacting with each other on social media.
Then Alina suggested to do like a fantasy story, which I though was a good idea. Because if this was an individual project, definitely I would not be able to create a fantasy story, so why not do it as a group then.
Syadza’s idea was about a girl who had a traumatic kidnapping accident, which plays around with the girl’s mental state.
So to conclude our idea, we mix our idea by having a girl, not in a stable mental condition, being transferred to another school which has fantasy in it.
Storyboard
After the discussion on Whatsapp, we met up to discuss in more detailed about our story. So our story is about a girl being transferred to a new school. In the new school, there wasn’t any humans in it. Everyone is in an animal face. During lunch, she thought that everyone will have a normal meal like rice or bread, but it turned out to be the opposite. Some were having meats, carrot, rats, lizards etc. Then the animal beside her offered her a piece of meat, she accept it and ate it. Soon after, some of her body changes and she became one of the animal in school.
We wanted more scene as we felt that the ending was quite abrupt, and we had to fit it in 20 frames.
After confirming our storyboard, we went out to find props for our shot. The most important thing was to find animal mask as it is our concept in the storyboard. So I went to Daiso, and Ying Hui went to a shop in Bugis where they sell animal mask.
Searching of props
Image reference
Before we shot our images, Alina sent those images as our reference. The setting of the image should be dark, with a bit of lighting on the subject.
During the shot, we had 2 camera: Alina’s camera & Syadza’s camera. In Alina’s camera, she changed the setting of her camera so that the image will look dark when it is take. And in Syadza’s camera, we took it in normally lighting.
Alina’s cameraSyadza’s camera
The difficult part was editing the images, as some images are darker (in Alina’s camera) and some are lighter (in Syadza’s camera).
After we got our images taken, we realise that it does not have to be 20 images. So we went to shot for more images as we realise that the previous images might be too short to create a sequencing image.
Ying Hui’s drew the storyboard and she was just lazy to redraw the last few scenes.
So went to reshot a few more times and I realise that we had too many images. There were a lot of images that we took as each of us has our own storyline that we want to portray. And each of us also has different ending that we want to show. Hence, it was the only way to help each other to shot more images as teamwork makes the dream work.
For humour references, I will always look for Adam Ellis‘ comic strips. His works are injected with humour that are we can relate to. Some of his works are:
When I was searching for references for wood engraving, I found an artist named Andrew Davidson. He does different the of techniques such as wood engraving, painting, illustrations. What I admire about him is his strong sense of design by solving design problems and conceptualised.
Since one of this project visual vocabulary, here are some wood engravings done by Andre Davidson.
More of his work can be found here: http://www.theartworksinc.com/portfolio/andrew-davidson/
After my classmate presented about Abnormal art, I was inspired by it and i thought of putting it in this project. So I research about abnormal art, and found an artist, Eugenia Loli. What I like about her artwork is she uses collage to create abnormal art and some of her artworks have interesting composition.
BipolarRocket ManUpper Class Dealer
My last artist reference is Lynd Ward. He is an artist and storyteller, he used wood engraving to create visual storytelling. For this project, we are required to express our quotes through visual narrative and it has to be black and white. I uses his work as an example as his artwork matches the project brief closely and his artwork can be referenced.
After experimenting the different types of strip, I thought of making into a rollercoaster as rollercoaster has different types of loops, twisted and up and down. And I recalled going to one of China’s theme park where the rollercoaster has 10 loops. After riding this, I was not afraid of roller coaster any more.
The rollercoaster with 10 loops
Here are other rides that I took while I was in the theme park, which can be my inspiration:
Feedback for Planar 1
Remove the broken panel to create different sizes of void
Make the longest strip flow naturally
Suggestion: Make one part of it busy/cluster together
With the feedback given in class, I refined it. Making one part of it busy and let the longest strip flow naturally.
Feedback for Planar 2
The broken can be removed to crate more voids
Make the SO look like an obvious 2D twisted panel
Suggestion: Make one part of it busy/cluster together
After refining Panel 2, I wasn’t sure about making the SO twisted 3 times. It feels like it is taking attention from the 3D broken panel, which is the SD.
Behind-the-scene images:
My cat helping me to check D, SD, SOStill checkingMaking sure I get a correct angle while taking an image of my planar
The Hunger Games universe is a dystopia set in Panem, a country consisting of the wealthy Capitol and 12 districts in varying states of poverty. Every year, children from the districts are selected to participate in a compulsory annual televised death match called The Hunger Games.
My choose 4 quotes are:
Katniss, the girl who was on fire!
“I volunteer as tribute!”
Here’s some advice. Stay alive.
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.”
So before starting to design it, I research more in-depth about the main actress, Katniss and her characteristic.
Katniss, 16 years old
Black hair with a long braid
Katniss’s first name comes from a plant called Sagittaria or arrowhead, another name for this plant is katniss
Hunter, archer, trapper, tree-climber
From district 12 – a coal-mining district – poorest and least populated
Survivor – Work to help her family to survive by hunting
Independent, strong woman with no knowledge about romance
She has trust Issues – as it can be seen in the games
Well educated on plants – she knows which plant is edible/poisonous
Beautiful voice that makes the birds silent – whistle sound
Her first dress in The Hunger GamesHer second dress in The Hunger Games and it became a mocking jay
“Katniss, the girl who was on fire!”
Fire to show fierceness
Her dress turn into flames as she twirls
It was designed by Cinna, someone who Katniss trust during the games
In the later series, the dress changed to fire then to a new dress.
(a song) Girl on fire by Alicia Keys: Looks like a girl, but she’s a flame. So bright, she can burn your eyes
“I volunteer as tribute!” – Katniss
Katniss volunteer in replace of her sister, Prim.
She cares a lot for her sister and mum
Tribute as a 74th Hunger Games – can the context be changed to other games?
She knew it was a risk to volunteer, as there can only be 1 survivor in each games
ideation: I volunteer as tribute in a food completion games – something relevant to most people as food is one of the trend.
“Here’s some advice. Stay alive.”
Stay alive in the hunger games – Can it be change to other context? Stay alive for school > add abit of humour
Katniss wanted some advice from her guardian
ideation: Phone, battery low > said to it to stay alive. Or during submission week, we had to stay alive during the night time. I intended to put humour in it.
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.”
Said by President Snow of the Capitol
Katniss wanted to go against the Capitol
She has fear of going against the Capitol/President Snow
But her Hope is wanting to stop the hunger games as it is killing people and hunger games is an entertainment for the Capitol
After consulting my ideation, it wouldn’t be able to work as it will be difficult for audience to decode the message of the story through the movie context.
When I heard about movie quotes, the first few movies I thought of was One Day and The Hunger Games. Why those movies? Because I have read their book then watched their movies, and they become my all time favourite movies.
Above is a popular quote from the movie, One Day. Below are the list of quotes from this movie:
“This is where it all begins. Everything starts here, today.”
“Just kidding’ was exactly what people wrote when they meant every word.”
“You can live your whole life not realizing that what you’re looking for is right in front of you.”
“Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I’ll always remember it”
“So – whatever happened to you?’ ‘Life. Life happened.”
“People change, no use getting sentimental about it. Move on, find someone else.”
“Envy was just the tax you paid on success.”
“She shouldn’t speak her thoughts; nothing good ever came of speaking your thoughts.”
“No, friends were like clothes: fine while they lasted but eventually they wore thin or you grew out of them.”
“At some point you’ll have to get serious about life.”
“May the odds be ever in your favour” was a popular quote from The Hunger Games. That quotes was used throughout all the 3 series of The Hunger Games. Here are some other quotes in The Hunger Games:
Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.
Destroying things is much easier than making them.
I don’t want to lose the boy with the bread.
Katniss, the girl who was on fire!
I volunteer in this tribute / “I volunteer!” I gasp. “I volunteer as tribute!”
Here’s some advice. Stay alive.
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.”
“Her name’s Prim. She’s just twelve. And I love her more than anything.”
“Okay, listen to me, you’re stronger than they are. You are. They just want a good show, that’s all they want. You know how to hunt. Show them how good you are.”
Other than those 2 movies, I went to research on my favourite Disney movies which is Tangled & Frozen.
Some quotes from Tangled:
Mother Gothel: The world is dark, and selfish, and cruel. If it finds even the slightest ray of sunshine, it destroys it!
Mother Gothel: Look in that mirror. I see a strong, confident, beautiful young lady. [Rapunzel smiles] Oh look, you’re here too.
Flynn Rider: [To Rapunzel] Here’s your pan, here’s your frog.
“This is just part of growing up. A little adventure, a little rebellion.” – Tangled
Rapunzel: We’re alive! Flynn Rider: Her hair glows
Rapunzel: Something brought you here. Fate. Destiny.. Flynn Rider: A horse.
“I have magic hair that glows when I sing” – Rapunzel
“Did I ever tell you I’ve got a thing for Brunettes?” – Flynn Rider
The quote above is one of my favourite quotes from Frozen, and here are some other quotes too:
Do you want to build a snowman?
And what is that amazing smell? CHOCOLATE
Only the act of true love will thaw a frozen heart.
Conceal, don’t feel.
I don’t have a skull, or bones. – Olaf
Other than the 4 movies I mentioned above, I also did research on other movie quotes.
Never forget who you are – Lion King
Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. or forgetten – Lilo & Stitch
We accept the love we think we deserve – The Perks of being a Wallflower.
I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now – Edna Mode, The incredible
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
A queen is never late. Everyone else is simly early. – Princess Diaries (2001)
Me, a princess? Shut up! – Princess Diaries (2001)
It was so fluffy, I thought I was going to die! – Despicable me
Sometimes fantasy is better than reality – A cinderella Story (2004)
After much thoughts, I decided to go for 1 movie for all the 4 quote which is The Hunger Games. Why The Hunger Games? Because that movie has 3 parts to it, and I have all of them and read all the book. So basically, I’m just an avid fan of Hunger Games.
