For our first class in Integrated Media we had to familiarize ourselves with K-films and discuss what we noticed about them. Being new to K-films I was interested to see how they worked and to realize that there really is no limits as to what you can create. I really like the idea that you can create something interactive that people can be a part of while still demonstrating a real-life experience. While I am usually trying to find a story to create, I like that the freedom that K-films provide means that you can discover stories or patterns from what is around you.

The first one I watched was called ‘The Market’ which toured a market place, showing people grocery shopping and the various items being sold (including fruit and vegetables as well as fashion accessories). This was accompanied with the ambient sounds of the market with each clip. Some of the clips used long shots and motion, while some were close-ups of the items.

I liked the ambient sounds that accompanied the clip which made it feel as though you were getting a full experience of the environment. I liked the unintentional suspense that came with clicking each new clip to see whether something dramatic or out of the ordinary would occur, eg; a whole box of apples falling onto the floor. However, this didn’t occur. This is also one of the things I didn’t enjoy abut this K-film as it felt repetitive. Perhaps if there was a change in sound or some different activity in the clips it would’ve been more enjoyable. Another thing that didn’t appeal to me was how small the clips were; this made it hard to engage with the film.

The second K-film I watched was ‘Life’ which is a poetic look at the obstacles we face in life. This film is more fragmented, using vision of people on the streets, individuals carrying out various tasks and close-ups on objects. It is accompanied by melancholic R&B music and poetic text (possible song lyrics) that match the vision being shown. The links are in different shapes; angel wings, sprockets and faces which all add to the viewing experience.

I really enjoyed this K-film as it took a more artistic and fragmented approach than the Market. It took its theme of life and demonstrated a melancholic mood which is achieved through the various lighting, vision and sound choices. I enjoyed the poetic text that matched the video and music that sets the mood. Without either of these, the vision can be interpreted in various ways. While every individual will have different perspectives of the film, the text and music add a particular mood that wouldn’t have been achieved without it. However, some of the vision was hard to interpret because of the low-res; the first clip of writing in a diary was impossible to read. While I enjoyed the music, there could have been more variation which would’ve added to the viewing experience.

Overall, I enjoyed watching the K-films and seeing how different creators have taken different approaches to their own films.