- What is the controlling idea of your workshop?
In Project Three I’m exploring the linkage between environment and sense of self and, essentially, seeking to understand what different people identify in a city that makes it an attractive place to call their home. Why do we choose to live in one city as opposed to in another? Delving more deeply into associating certain elements of self with different cities, a more specific ‘controlling’ idea of the entire piece is understanding why Melbourne is a more open-minded and accepting place. Going further into this I’m addressing how Kris, as a gay man, would feel more at home here.
2. How is your portrait film structured?
The film follows a pretty-straightforward, linear approach in answering the overall question of why Kris moved to Melbourne and, through this question, addressing the over-arching controlling idea.
3. What do you want your audience to make of your interviewee?
Kris is an incredibly extraverted and gregarious character who is openly flamboyant and great on camera. I feel as though he is appealing to an audience and engages those watching the screen and keeps them wanting more. Because Melbourne is genuinely such an open-minded and accepting place, I think Kris is a character with whom many people will relate.
4. How is your portrait being narrated?
I’m relying on the use of background music pretty heavily to help narrate and develop the overall feel of the piece as we progress and develop through the controlling idea.
5. What role with the ‘found footage’ play in your portrait?
Because Melbourne, and not just Kris, is a subject within the piece, incorporating found footage of the city itself (in various elements) is pretty key to conveying the overall controlling idea in executing the theme of identifying sense of self with place and environment.
6. Does your portrait have a dramatic turning point?
The dramatic turning point is when Kris starts to discuss and address why he, as a homosexual man, feels so at home in Melbourne.
7. When does this turning point in your portrait occur and why?
The turning point occurs around half way through.
8. How does your portrait gather and maintain momentum?
Again, the incorporating of music is essential to the piece gathering and gaining momentum and has been conditioned to compliment the content being explored. Because we start with an overall idea the music is slower and more relaxed. But, as the ideas being explored become more specific and central to understanding the subject, they become quickened.
9. Where will your portrait’s dramatic tension come from?
A key element of Kris’ interview is his coming to terms with the discrimination that he has faced as a homosexual and how he reacts and responds to this.
10. Does your portrait have a climax and/ or resolution?
In reference to the previous question, the point of resolution is Kris’ acceptance of self and overcoming of the discrimination that he has previously faced. He knows who he is and doesn’t need to justify that to anyone.
