Category: Project 3

Project 3: The Impossibilities Of Being (Process)

COMPONENT 1: VISUAL SEQUENCE

CHOSEN LOCATION: ***MENTAL HOSPITAL***

TEST SHOTS FROM CHANGI GENERAL HOSPITAL

Went to CGH to check out the location for filming.

 

INSPIRATION OF IDEA

 

For my chosen location, I’ve decided to pick MENTAL HOSPITAL because I was inspired by my friend. When he was admitted into a mental institution, he was telling me about one of his bunk mates who thinks that he’s in heaven because everything is white, people are taking care of him and that’s the simple joy in life that he wanted. He’s always shouting, “Hallelujah, thank you Jesus for bringing me into heaven” however, he’s cursing at the others that they will go to hell. So I’ve decided that my approach for this concept to be a mental hospital being a safe haven to the protagonist.

 

PROCESS –

 

FIRST DRAFT: INITIAL HI-FI STORYBOARD

FIRST DRAFT: INITIAL SOUNDSCAPE

LAYERED SOUNDSCAPE USING GARAGEBAND

Problems with GarageBand: Transitioning of sounds and lack of experience using this software

 

FEEDBACK FROM PROF SERENA AFTER CONSULTATION:

  • Happy music should be cut down and the loud thud should come faster
  • Slicing sound effect should be sharper and louder
  • Transition sound effects properly
  • Use non-diegetic to combine flow as background (Not pleasant sound but it flows)
  • The footsteps should be more amplified and dramatic to show how sensitive the sound is to the protagonist

 

IMPROVEMENTS OF ‘SAFE HAVEN’ CONCEPT

 

IMPROVED HI-FI STORYBOARD

SOUNDSCAPE OF ‘SAFE HAVEN’

The majority of the sounds are recorded by myself using Zoom H4N Recorder as shown above in the graph table.

Cited sounds:

EMOTIONAL GRAPH OF SOUNDSCAPE OF ‘SAFE HAVEN’ 

SERENE + HEAVENLY (mind state of protagonist) —> THRILL & SUSPENSE (finding out the location of the protagonist whereabouts –> PSYCHOTIC FEELING (when you find out she’s a mental patient)

 

PROCESS: VIDEO + SOUNDSCAPE

Filming experience:

Filming and directing was fun because I get to direct my sister to act out the scenes I’ve had in mind and thinking of ways to make the visuals better together with the soundscape.

Low budget filming cast:

My little sister – Mental patient; Protagonist

Me – Doctor, Family member

 

Editing of visual and soundscape on Premiere Pro:

Both soundscape and video are editing using Premiere Pro as I was familiar using this software (:

 

FINAL OUTCOME OF VIDEO & SOUNDSCAPE OF SAFE HAVEN (MENTAL HOSPITAL)

Project 3: The Impossibilities Of Being (Final)

COMPONENT 3: FINAL VIDEO – SAFE HAVEN

DESCRIPTION OF VIDEO

The protagonist is a mental patient with depression and suicidal thoughts who thinks that the mental hospital she’s in is a safe haven. Everything is white and simple and that’s what she has been wanting which is simple joy without any worries. It showcase the difference in acceptance of reality between the protagonist and her family member. To the protagonist, it is a safe haven whereas to her family member, it is a hell zone being cooped up in a mental institution. It makes you wonder what’s reality and heaven is just a place in your head that you have created because till today, nobody knows what heaven or hell looks like and it’s up to your own interpretation.

 

COMPONENT 1: VISUAL SEQUENCE

CHOSEN LOCATION: ***MENTAL HOSPITAL***

First encounter approach to this location: A safe haven to the protagonist

 

Approach for VISUAL AESTHETICS of the video:

DREAMY –> REALISTIC 

(to show the different world/perspective between the protagonist and her family member)

 

THEME FOR CONCEPT:

  • ALL WHITE, TIMELESS AND FADED to CLEAR
  • DREAM-LIKE STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
  • SHOWING TWO PERSPECTIVE OF A SAFE HAVEN AND A HELL ZONE

 

INITIAL HI-FI STORYBOARD

 

REFINED HI-FI STORYBOARD

 

COMPONENT 2: SOUNDSCAPE

Layering of small elements such as breathing and bed compressing (diegetic sounds) together with non-diegetic sound such as the happy music and beeping sound to heighten and elevate the intended atmosphere.

SOUNDSCAPE OF ‘SAFE HAVEN’ – 1 MINUTE

 

EMOTIONAL GRAPH OF SOUNDSCAPE OF ‘SAFE HAVEN’ 

SERENE + HEAVENLY (mind state of protagonist) —> THRILL & SUSPENSE (finding out the location of the protagonist whereabouts –> PSYCHOTIC FEELING (when you find out she’s a mental patient)

  • How do you want your audience to NAVIGATE THIS SPACE? – Associate the mindset of the mental patient with the white space (heavenly). The different acceptance of reality.
  • Attributes of the location are you highlighting? – The simplicity and whites of the location that depicts innocence and happiness.
  • Does it evoke an emotional response in your audience? – Showcase the different acceptance of reality. What is reality or real?

 

Reference for Soundscape

OUTLAST:

PEWDIEPIE (Youtuber that plays psychotic games):

 

After my consultation with Prof Serena, she suggested to use an unpleasant non-diegetic sound that flows for the background of my video. I’ve decided to use reference from thrill, horror and suspense game such as Outlast and see the gamer’s reaction to the sound and visual to assist me in my video making and soundscape editing.

 

CRITIQUE FROM PEERS:

  • Slow down on the scene where it shows the patient’s emotions on drawings.
  • Prof Serena suggested that the protagonist should play all the characters and roles in the film so it will be more psychotic.
  • Find the balance between showing the two perspective of the safe haven to the protagonist and hell zone to family member by making a distinct difference between the opacity of the visuals. (More dream-like and faded for protagonist) and (Clearer for family members).
  • Maybe just try to do in the protagonist’s perspective of a safe haven so it will be clearer.
  • The soundscape at the beginning of the video is not clear.

 

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

  • Personally, I really enjoyed doing this project as I get to delve into filming as well as creating my own soundscape to reinforce and manipulate the visuals of my concept – safe haven.
  • I used diegetic sounds to reinforce and manipulate certain visuals such as using the rustling of leaves for the psychotic blinking for a more dramatic effect.
  • Referencing and learning how to incorporate non-diegetic sounds to heighten the atmospheric value of the film and sound even though it is unpleasant, it flows with the visual to give it a thrill and suspense effects.
  • In addition, layering of sounds such as foreground, mid-ground and background of the small elements really brings the scene alive and it reminds me the importance of soundscape as it enhances the viewer’s experience.
  • As I delved into a new sector which is filming, it’s an interesting experience as I get to direct my sister to act and get the framing and shots I’ve envisioned in my head while considering how I’m going to edit it.
  • Editing wise, it will a little bit tedious using Premiere Pro as I have to ensure the movement of my protagonist aligns with the soundscape but all in all, I really want to do more film projects and create more interesting concepts using the techniques I’ve learnt.
  • After the critique, I really loved this project’s objectives as I get to see the different styles of my coursemates’ work. You can see different emotions attached to the chosen location of theirs and widen my perspective on how certain concepts can be interpreted into different style  such as animation, film, stock film and many more.