Concepts of Digital Imaging Assignment 2: Movie Campaign for your film production

This is the plot for my movie:

A multi-national organization operates the business of allowing illegal immigrants gain access to countries of their choice via stolen passports. The movie follows one of the victims while she is on vacation in a foreign country and an assassin from the organization is targeting her.

Process

First, I had the idea of having the assassin from the organization peeking out from within a crowd on the audience through the eyes of the victim.

So i went around many places to take a few photos of crowds where i can hide the assassin:

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9

After which, I did a further selection for a photo with a decent number of people which also includes a location for the hiding of the assassin.

Which results in this picture being chosen:

Photo 8

This photo was chosen out of all the other photos for these 2 reasons:

  1. There is an event that is occurring which attracts the attention of tourists – the setting for the main character of the film
  2. There are multiple spots in the photo which i can use to hide the assassin – without it being too difficult for the audience to spot him

So now that the location is set, it’s time to get the assassin into the photo.

For this, i wore a jacket and black long pants while holding my little brother’s toy gun:

Photo 10
Photo 11

With the assassin and location decided on, the work on the poster begins:

First, I photoshopped the assassin into the location:

Photo 8 photoshopped

then de-saturated the image for a cinematic effect:

Photo 8 desaturated

After which, i created the poster with the photoshopped image:

Poster 1

Posters and Movie campaign:

Poster 1

Explanation for image:

  • The poster is depicting a scene viewed through the eyes of the main character of the film, a tourist who is the victim of the assassin
  • The assassin can be found at the top of the photo, just a little to the left from the center
  • Font of the movie title: “Passport” forms the shape of a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, a tactical knife and a grenade for stylistic purposes

Explanation for movie campaign:

  • QR code can be found on the bottom right of the poster – which links the audience to this page:
Website
  • The website will state the id of the poster, player and number of points the player has
  • The player will then have to tap out the location of the assassin from the poster to gain points
  • After gaining a certain number of points by spotting out the assassins from many different posters, the player can receive a gift from the cinema when purchasing the tickets for the movie.

Here are a few other examples of the posters featuring different photos in different advertisement outlets:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
  • As shown, the location of the sniper changes for each poster and this encourages the audience to hunt for the many different posters shown across the country to gain points.
  • A leader-board system may be implemented to award players that scores the highest points with greater prizes.

Digital Flimmaking Assignment 1: SPLIT – A 7 Shot, 3 min Sequential Audio Video Narrative

Video

The term we were given for this assignment is “Split”, and i decided to go with the theme “Split-Personality” for my work.

Process

So firstly, i came up with a storyboard for the video:

Storyboard page 1
Storyboard page 2
Storyboard page 3
Storyboard page 4
Storyboard page 5
Storyboard page 6
Storyboard page 7

After which, filming began.

Sound

Since we are not allowed to use sound effects or music downloaded from the internet, I create sound effects by myself.

  • Ambiance sound for classroom (because classroom was occupied during filming, resulting in conversational sounds)
  • Sound effect during screen flash (During the character 1’s consciousness shift)

– recorded a metal spoon hitting against a glass table

  • Sound of character #2 writing and closing his book

– recorded myself writing and closing a book

  • Noise of character #2 hitting the leg of character #1

– recorded the sound of me hitting a leather bag

  • Sound effect of Character #1’s heart pounding

– recorded myself thumbing my chest with my hand

For the scenes where the “other personality” of character #1 is active, I increased the pitch of the background sounds to create a distinction between them and the other scenes where the “normal personality” of character #1 is active.

It also serves to create an uneasy feeling in the audience, setting the mood for a situation that isn’t going to turn out well.

Visuals

For the scenes where the “other personality” of character #1 is active, I had the video colors turn red through Adobe Premiere Pro:

Premiere pro 1

I want the audience to instinctively understand that this is not the “normal” character #1 so i used this obvious change in visuals.

For the last scene after character #1 has killed character #2, i purposely reduced the brightness of the video to create a dark atmosphere, to induce a mysterious feel to the overall strange event of the video:

Premiere pro 2

 

Video analysis

Scene 1

For the first scene, I had character #1 be established as a victim of bullying through the use of the letter he finds in his locker.

After which, character #2 hits his bag against character #1 to further bring this message across.

Scene 2

For the second scene, I had the setting be a classroom where both character #1 and character #2 were having a lesson in.

The camera is fixated mostly on character #2’s table as the book that is on it will be the point of focus for the next scene.

Scene 3

For the third scene, the audience would be taken aback by the change in visuals and sound.

After which, this confusion would be resolved when character #1 starts ripping up character #2’s book, as it would imply that this is the work of a “character #1” that is different from the one we saw earlier.

Scene 4 part 1

In the fourth scene, character #1 is woken up by character #2, and he goes into a state of confusion before running off.

This would suggest that character #1 has no memory of ripping up character #2’s book as he does not seem to have any emotion towards character #2.

This would lead the audience to understand that the previous “character #1” and this “character #1” are separates entities that are sharing the same body and thus bring the term “Split-personality” forward.

Scene 4 part 2

In the next part of the scene, character #2 finds the torn-up book, which sets the logic that whatever happens during the red scene, does indeed happen.

This will be important for the later parts of the video.

Scene 5 part 1

For scene 5 when character #1 is about to enter the room for the meeting, I had the actor retrieve the letter from his pocket to suggest to the audience that he is now entering to the room for the meeting.

Scene 5 part 2

For the part where the sender of the letter meets character #1, i had him ask for money to answer the question of “why did character #1 have his thumbdrive stolen”

I decided to go with an exchange of the thumbdrive for money instead of the whole thing just being an act of bullying as it felt like a more compelling reason for going through all the trouble.

Scene 5 part 3

When character #1 picks up his thumbdrive, I had the sender throw his wallet back at him as an act of humiliation fit for a victim of bullying.

Scene 5 part 4

After that, I had the camera zoom onto character #1’s face to show a buildup of anger and hatred.

Flashes and the beating of a heart is also added here to link it to the next scene.

Scene 6

In this scene, the choice of red for the “split-personality” scenes is further explained as this “personality” of character #1 is violent.

The camera stays on the bag and slowly zooms in to create a feeling of tension between the audience and the action that cannot be seen.

This tension is used to further alienate the audience from this “personality” of character #1 for him to appear more foreign and mysterious.

Scene 7 part 1

For this scene, I had character #1 wake up on the floor, similar to that of scene 4.

Scene 7 part 2

After which, he checks the room to find that nobody is there, suggesting to the audience that whatever happened in scene 6 could have not happened at all.

But due to the logic set by scene 4, the audience knows that whatever happens in the red scene does happen. This hence creates a temporary conflict between what is expected and what is happening – a twist to perk the audience’s attention.

Scene 7 part 3

After which, the conflict is subsequently solved with the appearance of a blood-stained knife – that confirms the occurrence of the events of scene 6.

However, even after this conflict is solved, the audience would still have a thought lingering on in their minds – what about the split-personality of character #1? What is going to happen after all this with a serial killer on the loose?

That is where i would end the video with questions for the audience to think about after it finished playing.

Concept of Digital Imaging: Assignment 1

For the first assignment: 6 Human Emotions with Digital Images, I have decided on the narrative:

“Camera shots taken from the inside of my mind through a day”

 

Research

Having the idea of showing the hallucinations i have through a day, i looked up on some images pertaining the subject and found these works:

http://neurosciencenews.com/hallucination-psychology-visual-5277/
http://www.toptenz.net/10-strange-facts-hallucinations-around-world.php

Through these works, it is evident that hallucination is usually represented in photos through fantasy-like effects and the presence of fictional objects.

 

Process

Image 1:

For the emotion of sadness, I had the idea of having a fast-paced environment being portrayed in an image.

Thus, i took this photo:

Train station 1

However, it does not present the speed of society enough, thus i went on the search of a site that has a clock.

Train Station 2

Thereafter, I edited the image into a black-and-white profile, created motion blur among the different elements in the photo and then altered the clock to achieve the effect that was required:

Image 2:

For the emotion of Fear, I decided on having an image of a creature emerging from the bottom of a flight of staircases.

Here is the photo of the first staircase that i tried taking a picture of:

Staircase 1

However, this staircase is too narrow and after going through a few other staircases, i found this one in a multi-storey carpark:

Staircase 2

After which, I added a bluish hue and a vignette effect to the photo before drawing in the creature digitally:

Image 2

Image 3:

For the emotion of happiness, I decided on a image that portrays a dream-like happy scene.

For that, i went ahead to McCafe to order some props for this photo:

Mccafe 1

After various shots with the two items at various positions, I decided on the following shot:

Mccafe 2

After which, I increased the brightness of the photo and drew in some characters digitally for the final image:

Image 4:

For the emotion of disgust, i decided on an image of someone leaving food trash in a public area.

Thus, once again, I bought some food from Macdonald’s to use as the props for the following image:

Park table area

I staged the scene by having the half-eaten macdonald’s meal and an extra packet of spaghetti sprawled across the table.

Then, i waited for a passerby to pass by the table before taking the camera shot in order to use him as part of the composition.

After that, I added a brown tint on the photo and then digitally manipulated the image to get the effect required:

Image 5:

For the emotion of anger, i have decided on having an image based on a past accident i had which made me feel frustrated at myself.

Thus, i cleared my table, placed a white vanguard sheet over it, and staged the scene of my ink bottle getting toppled over with ink splattering across a manga page i am working on:

Ink splatter on manga page

Next, I applied an effect over the photo that further intensifies the splattering quality of the ink, added a red hue and then digitally edited ‘blood stains’ onto the edges of the image:

Image 5

 

Final works

Image 1

Emotion: Sadness

Meaning:

  • There are times when i find myself unable to catch up with the speed of the world due to many challenges and setbacks
  • However, the world is unforgiving and moves on without a single thought towards any single individual
  • It doesn’t matter what i think as one out of countless number of organisms living in the world, the world will still continue in its processes, everyone will be out and about, busy with their own lives
  • Even without me, tomorrow will still come and continue onward

Explanation:

  • I chose a grey tone for the image to give it a melancholic feel
  • The blurred lines represents the world’s rapidity and as the viewer, one would feel slow in comparison to the surroundings
  • The clock’s hands are spinning furiously to echo the speed of the world
  • A crowded area full of people is used to portray the sense of the world
Image 2

Emotion: Fear

Meaning:

  • I have a fear of heights
  • Whenever i am near a ledge facing towards a deep drop on height, i feel like i’m falling, as if something is pulling me down towards the floor down below

Explanation:

  • I added a blue hue to the photo for the chilly feeling, similar to that of a spooky scene – setting up the mood for the ‘black creature-like being’ in the photo
  • A ghastly being with claws reaching out to the viewer is utilized to portray the sense of being pulled down into the bottom of the stairs
  • A vignette effect is added at the edges of the photo for a tunnel vision effect – to emulate how i feel like fainting whenever the fear of height catches onto me
Image 3

Emotion: Happiness

Meaning:

  • I get elated over the small little joys of life – like having a nice slice of cake and a frappe
  • When i’m feeling happy, i start seeing visions of anime characters frolicking around in a paradise-like environment – like how angels come to bless a happy scene
  • Everything turns a bit tipsy and i also start seeing sparkly effects and manga effects appearing around objects

Explanation:

  • I increased the brightness of the image to achieve a dream-like touch to the photo – setting the tone for anime characters appearing
  • I had the characters interact with the food so that they would mix in well with the entire composition of the photo
Image 4

Emotion: Disgust

Meaning:

  • I find disgust at people who lack basic courtesy and social morals – such as leaving trash at public areas
  • To me, it feels like the peace within our living realm is being torn apart due to the misdoings of certain individuals

Explanation:

  • I had a brownish tint placed over the photo to enforce the sense of disgust in the viewer – since brown is equivalent to rotting and all the disgusting things
  • I had the objects in the foreground ‘disintegrate’ into small pieces for a feeling of the peace in the scene being torn apart
  • The different pieces are floating to signify how they tore up on their own accord instead of someone physically pulling at them
  • A man walking away from the trash on the table is included to reinstate the idea of the trash being left on the table purposefully
Image 5

Emotion: Anger

Meaning:

  • I don’t hardly ever get angry at anyone so i decided on anger that is directed to myself instead
  • Whenever an accident happens, i naturally blame myself for causing it
  • The accident portrayed in the image did happen before, and i sincerely hate myself for not handling the ink bottle properly while inking the manga page

Explanation:

  • The color red is used extensively to portray the emotion of anger
  • All drawing tools are positioned to face the ink bottle to lead the viewer’s eyes towards the cause of the incident – allowing them to understand the situation more easily
  • The red blood-like stains at the edges of the photos represent my bleeding heart and frustration at the scene