We have come up with a plan, and an idea that acts as a structure so to speak, and it is about the journey. Carly starts at Williamstown and ends in Blackrock, before she turns around and goes back. We want to follow her and her friends on this ride, and document the stages through the use of locations and maps. We like the bridging structure that Matt Soar uses with seasons. A way to distinguish the different stages, when the videos are all brought together. It is a way of dissecting her ride, so that the user can follow her journey.

We like the idea of using a map to set the journey, to show where she is going and were she has been on her bike. The use of animations would be effective which leads into different video and filming techniques.

To follow this journey in more detail we are wanting to connect a camera to Carly’s bike, and have that camera recording while she is riding, that way the user cans he what she is seeing and saying. This is a more personal perspective, a more intimate view which is a way of engaging with the content.

Other techniques we wish to use:

-Collage

-Interviews

-Landscape shots

-Observing

-Cutting together of different materials – montage effect.

Coming together and regrouping with our new idea that we had decided on, it is time to plan how this is going to happen, and what we need to do to prepare for project brief 3. Working as a group of 3 is beneficial, as there are more ideas, the work is spread out, and we can rely on each other for both positive and constructive criticism.

PB3 Criteria:

-A working draft k-film prototype that demonstrates the theme you will focus on within the topic and how it will be recorded. A presentation that follows the criteria in the teaching blog.

-Focus on determining the design of the content for the major production in PB4.

-Use the discoveries from PB2, and work towards finalising the design and production of PB4.

-Finalise them for nominated i-doc topic.

-What we will be recording and how it will be recorded for PB4.

-All recording protocols will be organised in relation to locations, the people you are recording, ethnical issues and copyright.

-This process will involve more field research and sketching, with the aim to move towards a draft prototype example of material in Korsakow.

-Document the process and reflect on issues and problems encountered.

All of theses points are what needs to be covered for PB3. After the PB2 presentation, my group and I want to tick all of the boxes and give a strong presentation at both the PB3 submission and the mid-semester critique.

Just some background information about the topic that we have chosen to go with for PB3.

Gran Fondo is a type of long-distance road bicycle race, that comes out of Italy since 1970. It is a mass participation cycle event that has gathered momentum around the world. The proper translation of Gran Fondo is “great endurance”, and it can be both a full-on race, or just a ride. This event is run on challenging courses that are usually between 120km and 200km and have between 2000m and 4000m of vertical climbing, however some events also offer a shorter and easier version. A range of people can be involved with this event, which is part of the hype around this race, anyone can do it! Some riders just participate for the satisfaction and are proud of just making it to the finishing line, whereas others want to improve their previous times, and challenge themselves physically and mentally.

Project brief 2 consisted of all three group members getting up and talking about what we have done as individuals, and we we bring to future project briefs. We came away with our final idea of Gran Fondo. This is an event that takes place each month, that sets a certain amount of kilometres you have to ride in 24/hrs. Overall the presentation was good, but it could have been stronger and more cohesive. We all had our own ideas that we are putting together for PB3, and we showed the work we have done to get to this point. The way we delivered our ideas wasn’t as explanatory as we would have liked, which comes down to preparation and group meetings (this is a note for next time).

After PB2 I have a clear understanding of the direction that we want to head in, meaning we are all on the same pathway now, which is good for the best group dynamic. We all want to come together  to create a piece that we are proud of, and that incapsulates what we have learnt across this course.

For this presentation, Sonia had already interviewed Carly (the cyclist), which is good for pre-production purposes. Rachel has gone away and focused on a different topic, BMX in Melbourne, which allowed her to develop her own filming and Korsakow techniques, which is what she brings to the group; along with me, who mainly focus on my method of working, seeing what works best in terms of content and narrative techniques.

The feedback that was given, showed me that I don’t have to have a linear narrative, and it is encouraged that we don’t. It is all about multi-linear non-narratives for these projects, and working with that structure, which is none at all. The point of a k-film is that it is not planned, it doesn’t need to be structured because that isn’t the point of it. This made me look deeper into the concept of linear and non-linear story lines, which lead into Korsakow and the user experience.

As a group of three, we each started with a separate topic in order to see what works and what doesn’t when going forward into future project briefs. We were able to individually discover elements of Korsakow and see how we work best. This will be beneficial in bringing the group together.

The point of this exercise/test for me was to see what structure I could or wanted to work with. I liked playing with the idea of not revealing the character until later in the online documentary. I experimented with the idea that what if the bike you rode/ owned told us about who you are. I used someone that I know that rides a bike.

Altogether I have 12 videos that I made into a k-film, 10 to 20 seconds long each, with the project having a start SNU and an end SNU. The videos throughout have various outpoints, giving the user more options. I wanted the viewer to be able to see the bike or parts of the bike before showing the character. This way the viewer can create expectations about the bike and decide what person could be riding it. Over the videos there are voice overs of the character telling the viewer why they ride and what they think of cycling, and what they use their bike for, and where they go.

I wanted to start with the outside layers, and slowly work towards a more intimate level. I created this project so that the viewer would see the most important videos, besides that, they created their own journey.

I experimented with text throughout the k-film, so I created two projects, one with text and one without, to see how it affects the project. I didn’t think that it was as effective, as I didn’t want the text to be explanatory, and I didn’t want it to influence where the viewer clicked next. The text I used was more questions that applied to the story, not the videos themselves.

The technical issues were not the most important feature when creating this test, as I was mainly focusing on my method of working. From doing this brief I have learnt possible ways to approach the future projects that we will be doing as a group.

My whole aim of project brief 2 is the idea of revealing a character and their attributes, by moving in closer and closer, gradually as the story progresses, thinking about the form, and getting to know the character. I need to look at the topic, and then look at the style. I am trying to figure our the ways of an online documentary through the Korsakow program. At this stage it is not about the footage quality, it is about finding a way that works, through the type of narrative that I am portraying. I had to edit my 12 videos together and make a k-film, that worked and showed what I have learnt and how far I have come.

Types of form in documentaries:

CATEGORICAL FORM:

-Categories are groupings that individuals or societies create to organise their knowledge of the world.

-We tend to group the things around us based on common sense, practical approach or on ideological views of the world.

-Categories and sub-categories may provide a basis for organising the films form.

-This form normally begins by identifying its subject.

RHETORICAL FORM:

-The filmmaker presents a persuasive argument.

-The goal is to persuade the audience to form an opinion about the subject matter, and to the act on that opinion.

-It tries to make an explicit argument.

-There are 4 main attributes to this form:

1. It addresses the viewer openly, trying to move him or her to a new emotional attitude or action.
2. The subject of the film is usually a matter of opinion, where a person may take a number of equal attributes. Filmmakers do this by resenting their different types of arguments and evidence.
3. If the conclusion can’t be proved beyond question, the filmmaker often appeals to our emotions, rather than presenting only factual evidence.
4. Film often attempts to persuade the viewer to make a choice that will have an effect on his or her everyday life.

-There are 3 main types of arguments a film may use:

1. Arguments from source
2. Subject-centered arguments
3. Viewer-centered arguments

EXPERIMENTAL FILM:

-The filmmaker may wish to express personal experiences or viewpoints in ways that would seem eccentric in a mainstream context.

-Types of Experimental Film:

1. ABSTRACT FORM:

-There is no argument or no survey of categories.

-Slowly changing pictorial qualities of line, shape, tonalities and movement.

-An abstract pattern becomes a means to an end, and is often organised in a way that we might call theme and variations.

-Experimental filmmakers often start by photographing real objects.

2. ASSOCIATIONAL FORM:

-Systems suggest ideas and expressive qualities by grouping images that may not have any immediate logical connection.

My original idea for Project Brief 2, was to see how someone’s bike represents who they are as a person. What if you saw someone’s bike and automatically knew who they were, where they might be heading, what they use their bike for. Their personality can shine through their bike, and it can determine what kind of person you are. Also you bike normally will show what you might be wearing when you cycle, for example if you had a road bike you would probably be wearing lycra, and the advanced cycling clothing, whereas if you were on a vintage bike, riding through the streets, stopping at cafes, you might be wearing something more casual or an attire you would wear when you went out during the day. Normally a girl would still wear her dresses and skirts. I wanted to capture this by filming cyclists and showing their bike before revealing who rides them. I wanted the audience to picture who might ride a certain bike, and they will create expectations, and then will discover you rides them. This is like an onion effect, slowly revealing an object.

During this tutorial we had to pitch our ideas to the class. Some ideas that I had accumulated from the input from other students was how bikes don’t move. Cycling classes, cycling for electricity, treadle.com.au, Bike n Blend, Medibank, Cargo Bikes (smith street).

This class focused on the Presentation our tutor was giving us. Below are some points that he raised about online documentary.

Online documentary is going to adapt, and it has demonstrated an increasing attention to interface and user experience design as dynamic structural elements. A documentary designer is broken into four groups: Interactive Media, Affordances, Web of relations, and design methodologies. The designer brings a unique way of looking at problems and finding solutions.

Interactive Media:

-When you create a documentary you are engaging in a process that is actively rethinking the project, where they make content for “lean-forward” users. The designer will come up with strategies of what is being designed and produced, as the tools are not permanent and fixed, they are constantly changing. Practices of technology will have to be created, which involves being open to working with software, hardware and practices within other fields.

Affordances: Granularity, Remix, Indexing, Spatial Montage.

-The designer understands the affordances of the format they are working with in relation to the content, the user interface, and the digital platforms. They have the ability to determine what matters and doesn’t matter, and how these affordances will be made available. You need to be able to understand granularity as an affordance in relation to fragments of content, that is being created to work in a self-sufficient way. Designers will use indexing to form multiple relations between shots.

Web of Relations: Linear narrative, linear non-narrative, multilinear narrative and multilinear non-narrative (what we are working with this semester).

-Designers work within structures that may have no beginning, middle or end. The work may not be viewed entirely, but may have multiple viewings. You need to be able to refer to other structures, rather than the narratives that have historically been created in linear documentary.

Design Methodologies:

-Here, you work as a “reflective practitioner”, to reflect on what is made and use this reflection to inform what is made next. The research is often imbedded into the practice, because they will often need to explore new ground. You need to understand how to use sketches to iteratively explore possibilities, to probe and question options, make connections. They use prototypes in real world environments.

Dexterity: The ability to adjust to change.

Before you insert media into the Korsakow program, you need to prepare you media files accordingly, in order for them to work, and run smoothly. You need to work with a 16:9 interface to match the proportions of the photos and the default sizes in this interface. Make the video clips and previews at the same time and name them both the same, as they will be used together when they are put into Korsakow and SNUified.

The photos that I took on my iPhone 5 were 3264 x 2448 – These images need to be sized down in photoshop to go into the K-Film.

Reducing data: The proportions that are required for the media to work in Korsakow are 720 x 405.

(When you are editing, keep the original images separate to edited images (different folders).

Now that the file is the correct size, the next step is to open it in Quicktime 7.

(Video compression varies in Korsakow and is dependent on the context of the clips and how it converts within the application itself into .flv files. this means it is complex and is often based on a trial error with your first clip to get a workflow).

Korsakow Tips and Tricks:

-.mp4 – extension

-H.264 – compression

-ACC audio

-Frame Size: To suit your project

-Aspect Ratio: To suit your project

When it comes to the previews, simply save to the web and resize them to 240 x 135. Put the preview with the same name next to the movie file. Now these two files (the video clip and the preview) can be tested in Korsakow.