Monthly Archives: February 2017
2d: CHANGES
Mimi said I would have to use my own images if I want to do this execution and I realised I do not have the time to do that. Also my ideas were not strong conceptually and I needed a strong and effective method yet simple in execution.
I also chose the following method to help me draw a clear line as to how much the imagery should help with the idea because the typography should really be the one to help the with the mood and meaning.
I took these examples as my inspiration.
Below are my first attempts for this execution and the feedback that I got from it:
ARCHITECT
- the stars confuse the viewer
- it makes the think of constellation, astrologist
- the two As that have heavily dotted lines are too distracting
- one “A” is enough to be a skycraper
- draw a real skyscraper as the “I”
- the colour blue as bg to resemble a blueprint
- grids, sketches of buildings
- font is working
FAST FOOD CHEF
- the design is not working
- the ketchup stains resemble a cow
- it is not clear that the ketchup stains are made by the ketchup sachet
- the burger looks like an “E”
- symbols are working that people know it’s a fast food restaurant
- design is too flat
HOUSEWIFE
- it is not clear why there is half brown
- the circles look like poop
- should use the texture of the brush to make dust
- create a home setting by including home items
- woman looks like a toilet icon
SPY
- looks like detective instead of spy
- make use of James Bond
- font is not working
- looks like broadway
- try to create your own font
2d: Typo infused into Pictures
For some reason I wanted my execution to resemble these pictures:
For the next four occupations, I tried to find photos that I could potentially use it for my work:
ARCHITECT
Attempts:
Blocky letters look more like building blocks for kindergarten instead of architecture.
Looks too playful
Doesn’t really fit into the picture
The font and its sketchy lines help communicating the architect idea as it looks like measurements.
I tried to blend the letters into the building as thought it was part of the building
However, it’s not really working out because I think the whole point of it is to see my name.
FAST FOOD CHEF
Attempts:
The letters being formed by ingredients
I thought the letters could be melting cheese
SPY
Attempts:
Fonts supposed to look futuristic
The man being pixelated shows the notion of being unknown
HOUSEWIFE
2d: More creative sketches
2d: drawings
POLICE
I followed the design on the badge hoping that it would give off the police vibe
FAHION DESIGNER
Having the sleek design, helps with the look of a designer brand. I was hoping that I could have the background to have a model or a landscape similar to a model photoshoot.
ARCHITECT
I thought this font is suitable as it has lines that is similar to the lines on the grid. I thought of putting cranes and construction vehicles around carrying the font.
ZOOKEEPER
For the first sketch, I thought using like marker type font with the animals hanging/sitting on the font.
The second sketch, I thought using tree bark for the font and it being surrounded by the animals which are hinted by their hand or mouth poking into the frame.
CHEF
I wasn’t really sure where I was going with this but for the second sketch I thought it could hint the viewer of what food go through during the cooking process. Like going under the fire, or being cut up (the “d”) and eventually being eaten (the last “a”)
3d: My Gift to Rachel
4d: Roti John Story
4d: Research and CHANGES
So my initial idea was to film malik cooking roti john as I narrate in the background. However, things took a turn when he told me his stall is undergoing renovation and will not be operating the whole week. (the week I was supposed to film)
I asked him if he would still be there after the renovation as I was worried about my roti john, and he said no and that he will be leaving as soon as his father has found a new place. I felt so sad and disheartened and what more a mental breakdown as I have an assignment to complete.
I thought of ways I could make the story work.
- film a time-lapse of the renovation
- film malik cooking at my house
and these were all I could come up with. My boyfriend then offered that he could act as Malik and cook the roti john at my place. I did not like the “acting” idea as it was not genuine.
However, I did agree on him cooking the roti john, just that he is not “acting”. He is just him. That way it would make sense why the stall is under renovation and why someone else had to cook it for me and will it taste nice? who knows? The story seemed very real and very genuine as I have wanted it to be in the beginning. It showed the realness of the situation where the shop is no longer operating. It showed my desperation. And it showed a reason for me, almost a tribute, to do this video of the roti john story.
This is the final script:
*Comfort food:
noun
noun: comfort food; plural noun: comfort foods
- food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically having a high sugar or carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking.*
*Blank*
(Nadia.. What do you want to eat?
umm roti johnnnn?
roti john? again? where? AL-MALIK?
yeah…….)
*Renovation Scene*
(LOUD KNIFE CHOP)
*Cooking scene*
Me and Malik are friends. Because of Roti John. The food that has brought happiness and comfort on tough, sad and especially no appetite sick days. It’s my go-to food- love at first taste. it never failed to do so every time i buy it. Malik makes my roti john and we are good friends.
The stall Al-Malik was named after him. It was the first stall Malik’s father had started up where Malik had suggested to include roti john into the menu.
Malik had been working in this industry since he was only primary 5 at his relative’s shop where had met lots of people. A Brazilian pilot for example had given Malik his contact so that when he graduates, he would come work for him. Another encounter was when he met upon middle aged identical twin sisters. He was quite shocked when they told him that they do not speak a common language. One was brought up by a malay family and the other, a chinese family. And of course, Malik would not have met me.
Malik started off by learning how to cook on the job. He says he prepares the food as and how he would prepare it for himself. He tells me, ”It is extremely satisfying when a customer praises the food I have cooked for them. Putting love into the dishes you prepare works like a salt. No matter how much ingredients of quality you put in, it is going to be tasteless without salt.
Working in this industry for such a long time, Malik had managed to pick up a couple of different languages. Just by taking orders from customers, in time, Malik is able start a basic conversation with the Malays. “nasi goreng satu pedas giler” “roti john satu bungkus”
And as for mandarin, Malik had picked up this language growing up in chinatown; his home at that time when his father was working there.
Planes and its operating principles interests Malik. He had been always curious to know how a massive piece of metal could takeoff effortlessly into the air. This love for aviation led to his dream to be an aircraft engineer for SIA. Their requirements to be one was a diploma. However when he graduated from SP, with a diploma in aeronautical engineering, they required a degree instead.
Currently Malik is doing his part time degree at ntu studying mechanical engineering in hopes of becoming an aircraft engineer for SIA.
If all else fails Malik would want to open up his own restaurant and sell various roti johns.
I asked Malik, how bout both?
He replied, “insyaAllah(with god’s will) if i have enough manpower and capital, i surely will – to serve you the best roti john possible”
Malik tells me getting extremely tired is very normal. I quote, “sweat gives you the money.” Sometimes the number of orders get so overwhelming that Malik does not look at the customers but instead focuses on writing down the orders. He feels that the workforce will teach us a lot more that we cant find in a textbook. We can practice communication skills, problem solving skills and many more that we need to deal with people of different background.
As for his friends, they are very impressed when they get to know that he can prepare such types of food. They also praise him for his hard work and perseverance in juggling both work and study
He makes sure that his studies are never compromised. He gives greater priority to his studies.
Malik always feels tired but never feels like giving up. He says,”These are part and parcel of life. As the saying goes, ‘Life is not a bed of roses’. Diamonds are created under the worst of all pressures. I see life in a similar way”
*Renovation Scene*
Malik is leaving me. He has to move out soon to a new rented place with his family as they are not singaporean. And so the Al-Malik I once knew is no more. I did not have a last good look. A goodbye. A mental preparation to face what is in front of me. The last time I ordered roti john was a few weeks ago. The space feels extremely different.
My friendship with Malik will last as I continue to long for my beloved roti john. I had made Malik promise to give me the new addresses to his new stalls in the future as he shifts from place to place. And the next time I order for a roti john it will be from Malik and I’ll always be the “roti john girl”
*Serving scene*
As for filming wise, I had took the recipe from google as I did not want to ask Malik for family secret reasons. I wanted to show the deliciousness of the food, how the food transforms from individual ingredients and the end product.
My reference, Peaceful Cuisine, on youtube was my main inspirations for the shot angles and style. It helped me a lot with my storyboarding and visualising.
For this project, I took a dumpling video as reference.
So I literally took all the compositions of each shot to analyse how they frame their shots.
AND THIS IS MY STORY BOARD:
PROBLEMS FACED:
- Lighting changed from light to dark throughout the day (rain)
It worked to my advantage as it showed the mood in the outdoor scene when I was trying to say that Malik is leaving me. But it did not help in the indoor scene as the lighting was bad and I had to use my iPhone lighting which looks really ugly.
- Shaky shots
I had a hard time taking the top down shots as I was struggling to balance the tripod but I tried to solve with the stabiliser in iMovie.
- Weird audio pauses
- The proof of my relationship with Malik. Does he exist?
I didn’t managed to take much behind the scenes but I do have this photo and video in my kitchen.
4d: Focusing on the Dimensions of Roti John
So for the past few weeks I’ve been collecting lots of information from Malik. I was not sure how to start of my interview. So as I asked him these questions on the train, I decided to get to know the WHOLE story. Not having a boundary or a focus.
I asked questions like where he stayed when he first started living here, his school life, his experiences etc.
In a way, it did help me understand the roti john story better. However, I still did not know how to frame my story as the information I have collected was just too wide and didn’t have a point to it. How do I communicate this story of the roti john?
THE DIMENSIONS:
I started off by listing what is the roti john to me/malik or what it holds for me/malik in the future.. I realised by listing it I was already listing the skeleton of the video and felt what I wanted to say was much more clearer.
Dimensions to my roti john:
MY ROTI JOHN IS….
- my comfort food
- how me and Malik are friends now
- what Malik has introduced to the menu when his dad started the stall
- how Malik learnt to cook
- when Malik learnt to cook
- the people whom he cooked for
- the relationship between customers and Malik
- is when Malik learnt more languages
- the future of hopes and dreams
- tough and sweat, balancing
- leaving me
- is the continuation of more roti johns
- my life long friendship with Malik
- nostalgia living in Yishun
- my all time comfort
From there, I formulated new questions specifically directing him to answer the content above.
Questions:
- can you think of any more funny or impactful or interesting or scary or stressful situations ever since you started working?
- how would you describe the relationship between you and the food you cook? explain.
- are the steps to cooking like second nature to you? do you put love and care to the food you prepare?
- how would you describe the relationship between you and your customers? explain.
- how would you describe the relationship between the food you cook and your customers? explain.
- what are the different phrases you learnt that were in different languages?
- while cooking, you get tired. is it overwhelming? what does this job mean to you? what keeps you going?
- you told me that your family are moving soon and also the stall. can you explain briefly about that?
- does this job help in any way for your future? your life? or just you as a person? discipline wise etc.
- what do your friends growing up and now think of you when they know you work in this line?
- how do you balance your time with school and work growing up and now especially that you are in NTU?
- do you sometimes feel like giving up?
Then, with the questions answered, I came up with the script that was in my point of view.
THE SCRIPT:
Me and Malik are friends. Because of Roti John. The food that has brought happiness and comfort on tough, sad and especially no appetite sick days. It’s my go-to food- love at first taste. it never failed to do so every time i buy it. Malik makes my roti john and we are good friends.
The stall Al-Malik was named after him. It was the first stall Malik’s father had started up where Malik had suggested to include roti john into the menu.
Malik had been working in this industry since he was only primary 5 at his relative’s shop where had met lots of people. A Brazilian pilot for example had given Malik his contact so that when he graduates, he would come work for him. Another encounter was when he met upon middle aged identical twin sisters. He was quite shocked when they told him that they do not speak a common language. One was brought up by a malay family and the other, a chinese family. And of course, Malik would not have met me.
Malik started off by learning how to cook on the job. He says he prepares the food as and how he would prepare it for himself. He tells me, ”It is extremely satisfying when a customer praises the food I have cooked for them. Putting love into the dishes you prepare works like a salt. No matter how much ingredients of quality you put in, it is going to be tasteless without salt.
Working in this industry for such a long time, Malik had managed to pick up a couple of different languages. Just by taking orders from customers, in time, Malik is able start a basic conversation with the Malays. “nasi goreng satu pedas giler” “roti john satu bungkus”
And as for mandarin, Malik had picked up this language growing up in chinatown; his home at that time when his father was working there.
Planes and its operating principles interests Malik. He had been always curious to know how a massive piece of metal could takeoff effortlessly into the air. This love for aviation led to his dream to be an aircraft engineer for SIA. Their requirements to be one was a diploma. However when he graduated from SP, with a diploma in aeronautical engineering, they required a degree instead.
Currently Malik is doing his part time degree at ntu studying mechanical engineering in hopes of becoming an aircraft engineer for SIA.
If all else fails Malik would want to open up his own restaurant and sell various roti johns.
I asked Malik, how bout both?
He replied, “insyaAllah(with god’s will) if i have enough manpower and capital, i surely will – to serve you the best roti john possible”
Malik tells me getting extremely tired is very normal. I quote, “sweat gives you the money.” Sometimes the number of orders get so overwhelming that Malik does not look at the customers but instead focuses on writing down the orders. He feels that the workforce will teach us a lot more that we cant find in a textbook. We can practice communication skills, problem solving skills and many more that we need to deal with people of different background.
As for his friends, they are very impressed when they get to know that he can prepare such types of food. They also praise him for his hard work and perseverance in juggling both work and study
He makes sure that his studies are never compromised. He gives greater priority to his studies.
Malik always feels tired but never feels like giving up. He says,”These are part and parcel of life. As the saying goes, ‘Life is not a bed of roses’. Diamonds are created under the worst of all pressures. I see life in a similar way”
Malik is leaving me. He has to move out soon to a new rented place with his family as they are not singaporean. And so the Al-Malik I once knew is no more. I did not have a last good look. A goodbye. A mental preparation to face what is in front of me. The last time I ordered roti john was a few weeks ago. The space feels extremely different.
My friendship with Malik will last as I continue to long for my beloved roti john. I had made Malik promise to give me the new addresses to his new stalls in the future as he shifts from place to place. And the next time I order for a roti john it will be from Malik and I’ll always be the “roti john girl”
4d: Exhibition Review
NO ROOM TO ENTER, KATHRYN KING, esplanade
The artist had hanging pieces of plastic with strong warm light shining through them. When I first saw the hanging artwork from afar, I had a very very strong urge to want to walk through them and see what the beauty and the grand aura of what mere light behind plastic can create. When we reached the destination, I felt disappointed that in fact we were not allowed to do so. I did not understand why the artist had chosen to do that. I felt that the artist might want to say something about “space” and how it affects us because it had definitely had that impact on me upon seeing it. By choosing to hang shining plastics, the artist had managed to successfully control my emotions and desires.
What I have read in the text had definitely made a strong link to my initial impressions. However, just by looking at the work, I did not get that second part of her work where she says that buildings and spaces are forever undergoing changes according to “institutional choices” and “the bodies that move through them”. I thought that maybe to show this constant changes the lights could shift in brightness and even flash or go into total darkness in some instances. This change in light could correspond to the movement when people walk past or around the artwork with motion sensors. Hence, linking the idea of space undergoing constant change according to the bodies that move through them.
TRANSIT, RIFQI AMIRUL, waterloo
This artwork had hanging metallic foil curtains that constantly were flying around because of the wind. When I first saw the artwork, the sounds of the metallic foil made an extremely calming sound that made me felt instantly relaxed and happy. I wanted to touch and walk through them. The silver foil that glistened in the wind and strong afternoon light was a match to its wonderful sound. I wondered if there was a reason as to why the last foil was black. I felt that maybe the artist was trying to say that activities that are held at the void deck constantly change the mood and the atmosphere of the space because I was wondering what if it wasn’t a windy day? what if it was night time? I would definitely have a different experience with the artwork. The artist’s choice of media allowed me to experience constantly changing artwork and was not as direct in its message. Although I thought the artwork looked visually appealing, I had to think a little further to what it was trying to say.
I guess I had gotten the first part of the concept where the artist was trying to say that the void decks are multi purpose yet are overlooked when not in use. However, I felt that it did not heighten my sensitivity to the architecture of the void deck. I feel that the artist could have instead hung the metal foil against the walls of the void deck; where the wall corners and stops. I feel that he should not do this to the entire space but significant and odd spaces where we often neglect. He could still allow the metal foil to move according to the wind movements. In this way, he is highlighting to the viewer the architecture of the void deck, making the space look and feel different to what once was a common sight that we overlook.