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THE SET-UP

Assignment: Construct a 1min edited film which includes the requirements below.

Requirements:
– at least 3x original audio recording trimmed, treated, mixed
– at least 4x photographic images
– at least 2x video max. 20s each
– at least 1x piece of text
– opening titles

Restrictions:
Only self-created, original media to be used.

THE PROCESS

In contrast to PB1 (collage), constructing a film for PB2 allows us to create a more figurative and immersive environment by combining stationary and moving perspectives, change of tension and sound.

It was challenging to record and edit while keeping note of elements in film form. I tried my best to incorporate new knowledge from Cinema Studies: motif and patterns, function and meaning, development and unity.

To be genuine is to be vulnerable. An honest self-portrait would include uncomfortable emotions. Therefore, the content is largely based on my desires and insecurities.

Since emotions are intangible things, I aimed to direct focus away from the objects’ physical qualities. Instead, I explored their symbolic qualities. The narration supports this by following the visual pattern: an introduction of the subject’s positive trait (desire), followed by its negative trait (insecurity).

The first subject for example, is a flower. The word “beauty” highlights its general positive trait masses associate with. This is followed by a clip of a bee finding nectar. The words “rape” and “beasts” cause viewers to see the insect’s act as less natural but more invasive and crude. So the narration helps to paint a different picture (possibly the recent debate about women’s wear and catcalls).

I am frustrated with the soundscape. Since visual pattern is pretty consistent, sound becomes the driving force for suspense in this film but I was unsure how to create a clear climax. Furthermore, the narration is sometimes drowned out, even at maximum volume during editing. I thought the visual text at the end may be too corny and cause the suspense to die but I was being truthful and did not know how else to change the words.

All symbols portrayed are which consistently appear in my life. My family is very spiritual. Having seen death, we acknowledge worlds outside of our physical plane. I love hiking and have a strong attraction to natural elements as well.

Through this assignment, I experience the challenges in filmmaking such as pre-production scheduling and deciding when to move on with the process. I explored creative possibilities and identified my limitations to overcome.