Process – SliceOfWhit

4D Project 3 – Impossibilities of a Being (Process & Artist Ref & Final)

Research – Component 1

Brainstorm a list of 20 places that you have never been before
1. Winter, Autumn
2. World War 3
3. Back in ancient periods
4. Conscience
5. Paralyzed
6. DayDreams/ Dreams/ Nightmares
7. Northern Lights
8. Conscious
9. Being an insect, bird
10. Moral Values
11. Being a flower, Potato
12. Illusion, Delusion
13. The Atlantic Ocean
14. Magic Magic Magic
15. Telephone
16. Psychopath
17. Smoke
18. Harry Potter
19. Clock/Time
20. CartoonShows

Narrowing down & ideation for some places.

Conscious (Moral Values) Brighter and calming sounds can use to represent the right decision to act upon while darker heavy sounds represent the wrong decision.
DayDream (Musical box, Clouds, Giggles, Heavenly like atmosphere, Peaceful)
Anxiety (Fast-paced, Anxious, Heartbeat, Quick Flashes, Multiple vision)

I decided to choose “Anxiety” as my concept for this project.

Everyone will experience anxiety at some point in time. It can be hard to tell the difference between anxiety disorder and normal anxiety. I do feel some anxiety during stressful periods, but personally, I have not experienced anxiety disorder first hand. I believed the symptoms are a hundred times more intense of normal anxiety.

More than often, we always brush off things that they could not visually see, unlike other disease or illness. Mental disorder has always been hard to spot and discovered by another individual. It seems to be a taboo to raise the issue and they will rather suffer in silence than to speak up.

Thus I wanted to venture into how it really feels like to have a true anxiety disorder. Anxiety takes places mentally, it is a place that Ihas never been before.

I watch video on people who have talked about their anxiety and this is my interpreting their anxiety.

Artist references

Short Film About Anxiety – Mikey Murphy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXiqond9hmYA

This was one of the videos I stumbled across as I was looking into how anxiety feels like. He plays with the visual of the film, where he flashes the main character sitting in the room and the next second he is in pain underwater. This gives me a good idea of how I should arrange my scenes and the visual effects that I can play with complementing my sounds.

Raven Kwok – 1194D^3

The visual here does a fantastic job in complementing the sounds he uses. The black and white color shceme in contrast to the super colorful scenes shows the big difference between the two moods. I think it would be good to apply this contrast between the reality and the anxiety world so that it is clear to the audience.

Storyboarding

#1st attempt Lo-fi Storyboard

1) Main character looking at herself in the mirror to ensure herself she can do it. She walks into a crowd in school.

Visual: Middle Closeup, Longshot, Middle shot
Sounds :
- Foreground – Footsteps getting heavier each step
- Midground – Soft ticking, breathing sounds
- Background – Crowd talking noisily

2) The symptoms of anxiety start showing

Gradually transit into a faster pace
Sounds :
- Foreground: Heavy breathing, heart beating faster
- Background: Stalking, Creepy music
Visual: Close up, Extreme close up

3) Climax most intense point of her anxiety

Visual: Quick Flashes, Blurry, Double image
Sounds :
- Foreground: Non-diegetic sounds, Diegetic
- Background: Intense, Fast beats

4) Main character took a breather on the rooftop alone.

Visual: Longshot, slow panning, space.
Sounds :
- Foreground: Slowing down of heartbeat, footsteps. Heavy to light breathing
- Background: Calming music, lighthearted

#1st attempt Hi-fi Storyboard

Recording my sounds

Some of the sound clips that I have recorded by myself.

Small Water Foundation Raw.m4a

People Talking Noisy Raw.m4a

People Talking Noisy Raw Sample 2.m4a

Breathing Sound Raw.m4a

Noisy Atmosphere with People Raw.m4a

Room Fan Atmosphere Raw.m4a

Running Up Stairs Raw.m4a

Walking Up Stairs Raw.m4a

Room Fan (Atmosphere) Raw.m4a

Knuckle Cracking Raw.m4a

Eating Chips Raw.m4a

Soundscape draft – week 8

Music Used:

Purple Planet Music: Last of Us, Creep, Space Journey, Stalking the Prey

Feedback by Serena: My sounds are messy and do not have a smooth flow, it stops abruptly hahahaha *sweats*

After the initial draft, I felt that the introduction of the character in the crowded environment was taking up too much time, leaving lesser time for me to show the anxiety world in the main character. I decided to move the scenes around to leave more screen time for expressing the world of anxiety.

AFTER CONSULTATION

#2nd attempt Lo-fi Storyboard

Exploring non-diegetic sounds & diegetic sounds.

I am intrigued by the idea of matching using non-diegetic sounds. When the sound does not match the visual, it will create an interest in the audience leading the feeling uncomfortable as it isn’t right. This off feeling sets the audience into an uneasy mood, which is my main aim for me to express anxiety.

Diegetic Sounds that I am going to use
• Running Footsteps
• Heavy Breathing
• Crowd Talking
• Clock Ticking 

Non-diegetic sound that I am going to use

• Gentle waves, Water splashes (Visual: Main character running)
- The sound of the crash then fades away and the listener is just left with silence, giving the feeling of isolation or abandonment, the sound of rain further emphasizes these negative feelings.

• Clock Ticking (Visual: Flipping through a book)

• Gun trigger (Visual: Lightstick turn on)
- I tried to explore changing the sound of the “trigger” then tight and suffocating feeling.

• Metal Chain (Visual: Ribbon tightening on hand)
- I play around with the left and right sides during the metal chain part. I adjust the reverb effect to a big hall, which has more echo. I played with the left and right audio, so when the audience listens it seems that the chain is being dragged across the room, then finally the sudden tightening of the ribbon.

• Crushing of Glass (Visual: Crushing empty bag oe stepping on empty water bottle)
- Showing how an indivudal feels so suffocate and pressured during their attack
• White Noise (Visual: Main character in the state of anxiety attack)
- This sound is commonly usde to express creepy silence or no thoughts in the main character's head. However I want to express the chaos in her head thus I reduce the lenght of white noise used in the video.

#final Lo-fi Storyboard

1st half of the Soundscape (Visualise it with the above storyboard)

Sounds: Musical box, Walking sounds, Heavy breathing, Crowd talking noise, Gun Trigger, Heartbeat

#FInal hi-fi Storyboard

I rearranged my storyline as I think by arranging them like this, I am able to play around with the mood of the video better.

Using the raw audio I have records and some taken from royalty free websites. I have explored premier pro various audio effects and tried to apply them to my raw sound clips. As mention by Serena during the consultation that my sounds were all over the place. This time I took extra note on the transitions to smoothen out between each audio clips so that it doesn’t feel choppy.

Reverb Effect - Gives a little echo, depth into the audio by simulating of the sound of the audio playing in a room, hall, cathedral.  

Constant Gain Transition – Gain crossfade at constant rate in and out.  

Constant Power Transition – Smooth gradual dissolve transition, audio decrease slowly then quickly at the back.  

Exponential Fade Transition – fades out first clips smoothen with a logarithmic curve while bringing up the second audio clip.

I tried to use the layering method to slowly build up the intensity of the anxiety emotion. After introducing the first element, before adding the second element, I will lower the volume for the first element and it fades into the background or midground. It was super hectic and confusing to have too many layers and parts.

FINAL VIDEO – Anxiety 1min 16sec

Feedbacks

Feedbacks: (Welp, I didn’t expect to have a good response, I thought my sounds were all over the place, but I guess that is the main point of it heh.)

Why not try to merge the two worlds between each frame? Instead of separating them into the first scene (walking in school), second scene (the world of anxiety) and the last scene (back to reality), it would be more intriguing to intersect the two worlds. The challenge would be how to differentiate the 2 worlds as they intersect each other.
The color scheme of the 2 worlds can be more obvious. (Initially I wanted to make everything that happens in the world of anxiety to be black and white, however, I felt that it will dull the impact of the chaos.

Random thoughts on my classmate’s projects

Gwendolyn: Using non-diegetic sounds as she puts on her makeup. It was really interesting to see her applying lipstick while having a matchstick being lit sound effect. It was sizzling hot when she added the fire at the end as she finished applying her lipstick. The concept was strong and powderful (get it, cause she’s wearing makeup). I hope to see more out of this concept.
Siti: It would be very interesting if the main character plays the roles of the patient, doctor, guard.
Debbie: Be more daring to try and exaggerated the cutesy sounds.

4D PROJECT 2: The Subverted Object (Process)

Artist Research

I searched up a few of the photography artist that were listed in the brief. Chema Madoz’s photography caught my interest the most. A lot of his works involves changing an object’s usual environment to an unfamiliar one. He is very creative in the way he creates optical illusions. What I picked up from Chema Madoz’s art is that he has a good well-balanced visual interesting composition which makes the object seems so natural in an odd environment. His works are mostly in black and white which helps blends the object with its new surroundings. I think I will try to go towards a minimalistic composition style so that I will be able to direct my audience’s attention to my object itself.

Exploring my object – The Iron

For the first shoot of my object is in its most commonly situated environment – the laundry room. The next few shots are how the iron performs its function. Since the newer iron has a steaming function. I contemplated whether I should also explore in that direction, but I decided to eliminate it and narrow down as I think the main function of an iron is still removing of wrinkles.

Background Reseach

I decided to research the history of iron, perhaps they were initially used for other purposes. I can’t believe I actually found this antique from my house. This is a charcoal iron, it generates heat to smoothen the wrinkles by smelting of iron ore with charcoal. It is very rusty and dusty.

Afterward, I explore the different parts of an iron through taking close up shots. For the newer iron, they come with a little hole at the first, making it look like a front seat of a vehicle.

At the start, I thought that the base of an iron would not be an interesting area to focus on. After the in-class exercise 2 where we listed out all the components of our object, I started to pay attention to all areas of an iron. As seen above, I had taken shots of 3 different irons and each of them has a different design on its base.

Component 2

I tried to subvert the message by using it as a beauty product. I switched out its function, instead of ironing clothes to ironing a woman’s face that is full of wrinkles. If I were to choose this for component 3 I would probably be promoting an anti-aging cream as it implies the product to be as effective as an iron.

The iron looks some sort like a mode transport, a train or big truck. I decided to scale up the iron’s size and presented it on a terraced hill.

I thought that the metal triangular part of the iron looks like a defibrillator. I changed the function of the iron and presented it as a defibrillator.

Component 3

I decided to further explore 2 of the component 2 ideas.

IDEA 1

Purpose: Promote anti-aging cream by showing how effective it is.

Denotation: One half of the face will be wrinkled while the other half will be smooth free of wrinkles.

Connotation: The anti-aging cream is as effective as though you iron all your wrinkles out.

Linguistic: “Can never be smoother?” “We will get the hand done” “It can never get smoother than this”

Logos or product: Famous beauty product brand, Innisfree, SKII, The Face Shop…

The initial development from the rough sketches of my ideas (It’s so cringing I can’t HAHA)

IDEA 1

Purpose: Promote awareness of exposed wires.

Denotation: A full human lying on the ironing board. At the hospital elements (with IV drops, machines, monitor in the background) An pair of hands holding and two irons that have frayed wires.

Connotation: It is the doctor that is trying to save the human lying on the ironing board. The irons look like a defibrillator. Did he get burned by an iron?

Linguistic: ” Don’t shock your loved one” “Exposed wire can expose you to electric shock” From the linguistic the audience will make the connection that the curly frayed wires seem to have electric shock him.

Logos or product: Singapore safety awareness organization, a household appliance promoting to change to their product.

First attempt to get a shot of the angle for my poster

In the beginning, I had a composition where it is a directly top-down view of the iron, as it resembles how the doctor will look at the patient in bed. However, I needed to have an angle that still shows parts of the iron component.

Based on the first consultation feedback and after showing a few from my friends, they were not able to distinctly identify that the environment was in a hospital on a patient’s bed.

I had to add elements that hint to the hospital. I got myself a pair of purple medical gloves (Special thanks to Zi Xuan) to be the element that hints that it is situated in the hospital.

I was contemplating whether I should include a white blouse as that is usually what the doctors wear. However, the overall composition and color felt a bit off when I took the test shots. I decided that less is more. I figured that I could either add texture to the bedsheets maybe add the bed rails on the sides to further hint it.

In reference to the first project, where I research on the artist Lee Friedlander. He uses silhouettes to show his presence in his photographs. I chose not to use an actual human, it will be a distraction to the audience as it is the biggest element in the composition. Less is more.

The linguistic play a part to emphasize the main message that I wanted to get across. The words “Exposed Wires” gives confirmation to the audience that the emphasis is placed on the iron’s wire. There is a play on the word “Trip” as it meant both a journey to the hospital and when the wires electric shock the user. Lastly, the word “Hospital” reinforce the scene of the white sheets that depict the person in the hospital.

4D Exercise 2: Irrational Objects

Exercise 2a:

Answering the questions

Used both in the day & night
Capable of metamorphosis? Yes
The object’s position in relation to the individual
Era – The first iron invented was 1882 late 12th century
Historical Figure: The inventor Henry W. Seeley
Which part of the world uses it: Everywhere
Profession: Laundry, Fashion Industry, Household Items
Material Being: Metal Iron, Plastic handle
Neutral: Hot warm intense
Mode of transport: Carried and used by hand

After answering the questions, I got a better understanding of my object itself.

Exercise 2b:

Sketch 10 concepts according to the verbs given

(Blooming, Fleeing, Flirting, Pleading, Camouflaging, Healing, Screwing, Eavesdropping, Expanding, Mumbling)

I started to look at my object differently as the verbs brought my object it’s character and personality. This allowed me to broaden my imagination as I started looking beyond its typical traits and functions.

Exercise 2C:

Using the 3 different templates

Identify all the different components of the object. List out all the elements and features. Apply the 3 templates to the object.

Removal Template (Remove one element of the object)
Replacement Template (Substitute one element of the object)
Redefinition Template (Redefine the object’s function by changing its environment)

Conclusion:

I think this exercise has definitely benefited me a lot. By deconstructing each component, it helped me to break out the box where I see the iron as an iron.

(Process) PROJECT 1: PICTURE STORY – CURATING SELF

Component 1 – Me (Test Shot)

For this test shot, I wanted to use the strings to feel a far distance between me and my audience I wanted to convey that there is always a big protective wall or g a p separating me and this world. I decided to change this shot as it does not express my thought as clearly.

Dancing has been a huge part of my life. It helped me with my confidence. I became more lively and active person. Inspired by Lee Friedlander, I had the idea to shine one strong light on me the shadow to symbolize how dancing made me feel more confident and powerful.

I have journalling since young, so I wanted to show the many art materials that I use for journaling.

Component 2: Object & Representation of Self Test Shot

Some of the concepts that I brainstormed

Strings
Teddy Bear
Journal
Paper

1st Attempt Test shots – Interacting with my object

Feedback: There are too many objects in the shots, the audience would not be able to tell which is the main object. I should only have on ONE object in each photo. Focus on interacting with that ONE object.

Ideas

putting a page of my journal in my mouth ( how my thoughts and feelings are easily expressed in my journal)
Print or draw myself in my journal and tear them into pieces (the journal would show the bits and piece of me, journaling makes me, me)

2nd Attempt Test shots – Interacting with my object

I want to express how my thoughts were all spilled on to my journal. I choose to look sideways to avoid the camera’s glare because sometimes I feel that I am not proud or ashamed of my thoughts/ feelings.

(I feel that this shot can further explore in more extreme angles and framing)

Most of my test shots were taken in the light. I wanted to try out a dark lighting to see how it will affect my shots. I had my favorite blanket over me, it symbolizes my personal space. The tiny rays so lights show the limited amount of thoughts I was willing to share with some of my friends, while the rest are to stay in the dark.

For this shot, I wanted to portray being protective over my journal, yet uses it as a shield I hide behind. I felt that this shot portray more of me being ashamed of what I wrote.

(I felt that my pose could be more extreme, e.g curling up my toes, curve my back even more)

Component 3: My World Test Shot

I wanted to show the audience the “world war” in my world back when I was a child. I have thought of making the photos black and white to hint that it belongs in the past and I have a new perspective on this “world war”.

This was what I felt when I play on the swings, it was exciting and my happiness trigger. As such I increase the overall saturation and brightness of the shot. I initially framed this shot to show one of my hand on the swing. I also have tried to show a part of my leg to hint that I am playing on the swings.

Category: Process