Picking up where the Thinking in Fragments studio left off for Assignment #3 modularity and variability projects through a new software, Korsakow. The Assignment #4, Hannah explained to the studio that this time, we are given the freedom to explore the vast online space, with the means of applying our own interpretation of online screen media production that we have learned this far in the semester.

Still being in the same group, Sem, Samantha, Meita and I found that there are endless creative ways in which our last idea and assignment could be developed further towards. This fascinating exploration we did for the last Isolation project for Assignment #3, was created, formed and collated together through a more ‘spontaneous’ experimental mode of filmmaking. At the same time, still keeping in mind the modularity and variability aspect the project has to possess.

Due to this experimental manner that our project had before, the project depicted was constructed with the purpose of merely exhibiting distinct clips that prompt one umbrella theme, Isolation. The content as a whole in terms of, what it might mean or if it made sense is not a matter that comes to much of our attention. This is because the project was inspired by the means of indirect interaction of the viewers/”users” through their way of creating their own perspective or narrative to make sense of the project in questioning what the media fragments mean.

This nature of relying on interacting with different fragments from experiencing more – is a crucial intention that perpetuates modularity and variability characteristic for the Assignment #3 project. This led to, Sem, Samantha, Meita and I aspiring to further explore this concept, whilst still incorporating similar theories for Assignment #4 and also, switching up some parts.

Just like Assignment #3, we had an idea to further develop the theme, Isolation and depicting the feeling with no narration. However, this time around we had this idea fixed from the beginning (this week), which provided us with time to research and find inspirations along with, ideas to portray the project appropriately. The significance of content was something that we as a group intentionally did not pay much attention to, this time around we would like to dig much deeper and centralise on the content more in-depth than before.

There are many inspirations that each of us can draw from and found a key to forming this notion of online content creation as a whole. Especially, given the freedom in exploring the vast online space and interactive storytelling that we would like to focus on. Among the many online screen production each of us empathises with, I for one found a huge inspiration in another Korsakow project called, The Border Between US  by Nicole Robicheau (open in Firefox).

Prior to finding this project and producing this assessment, I drew and interacted with a Korsakow film called, The Whole Picture by Tony Nelson. Which still is a significant project to draw inspirations from, especially in terms of forming an indirect manner of interaction in interactive online media production I described above, as well as, other concepts such as modularity, variability and so much more. However, for this assessment, I was really eager to explore the theory that makes an interactive film not a jumble of clips being put in randomised order, particularly in Korsakow. Although that was an interesting knowledge to acquire from before, I wanted to learn the different side this time, the ‘opposite’ if you will.

And I got to explore a little into it through the project, The Border Between US. The project is to be considered a documentary, a straightforward documentary. It’s a lot different from The Whole Picture as the interaction was based on, wanting to know more. The narrative was directly stated through the first clip or fragment. Thus, going through the project I had an idea of what the project actually entails from the beginning.

Essentially, the project is a Korsakow interactive documentary about a border between two towns: Stanstead, Canada and Derby Line, USA. The filmmaker, Nicole Robicheau, had an intention to investigate the two different communities after the unfortunate 9/11 took place in the USA and being able to portray both towns accordingly. She did this by doing various interviews with different people and projecting images from the location that portrayed both towns.

Now, one of the things I found so interesting going through this project is that, even if it is interactive, thus, non-linear driven narrative project, I found that because the relationship between one fragment to another is strongly connected and not just  ‘random’. The project, if put altogether into a one actual documentary film would still make sense on its own. I believe this is due to the segmented or categorised order that the project portrays. Thus, if turned into one documentary film, still has the same point as if it is interactive and modular. Whilst, The Whole Picture by Tony Nelson would not.

My understanding of the project became an epiphany for me when I realised that the concept, which it surrounds on was, intertextuality. Not through words, phrases or keywords but through the relationship of its media fragments simply, video sequences that are distinguishable, conspicuous and easy-to-understand. The project’s clear and in-depth intertextual media fragments or layers is what produces the idea that it would still make sense if put altogether into one documentary film. And if not, the clear and in-depth different media fragments would still intensify the experience – producing the same meaning.

As you can tell, I was really attached to my curiosity towards this concept from the last assignment and finally found a way to sort of understand it. Thus, proposed the idea and characteristic to Sem, Samantha and Meita.

Due to the different approach, this concept and inspiration have led to. My group and I decided it would be best to incorporate this concept through projecting narratives within media prompts based on 3 segments in a form of ‘scenarios’ inspired by The Border Between US – as a beginning stage to think about.

Furthermore, my group and I thought that because we really liked the idea of forming a narrative within a character, displaying an ‘isolated’ person. We wanted to stick to that idea, at the same time, depicting intertextuality within the scenarios the character will go through.