Posted on April 2, 2017
studio visit
true to form: filmmaking that is true to form and content
Visiting the second year studio was, to say the least, an interesting experience. This studio looked promising for my endeavours to become a filmmaker, however I did notice some lack of enthusiasm from the second years during the workshop activity. From the little bits and pieces of information I gathered from listening in, the task was to experiment on a particular filmmaking aspect such as sound, cinematography, editing etc., and I would have to agree with the second years that it was quite a mundane task. Although feeling a little unfulfilled when leaving the class, I was brought back to Cal Newport’s ‘The Clarity of the Craftsman’ and how he discusses the little steps you have to take to get to that end goal. In my eyes, despite the studio activity’s simplicity, it was another flight of stairs that will take those second years closer to their final goal for this media course (whatever that may be). Instead of trying to fly yourself up to the final floor, it is quintessential to push yourself through each step otherwise it’s near damn impossible to get up there. So after thinking about my time at this studio, instead of whinging about how boring and simplistic this one task is, I think it’s quite an anxiety-relieving mindset to think about it as a small challenge before the ‘final boss’. Plus, you’re only gaining more knowledge and experience so it’s definitely a win-win situation.
On another note, when the second years pulled out the film cameras that was what really sparked my interest. Having only filmed content with a DSLR and shotgun microphone, the Sony film camera was alien technology to me that I was itching to get my hands on. Apparently this studio was the only studio that taught the functions and practice with a film camera, however I am still curious about what the other studios offer and wish I could’ve had the opportunity to attend the other studios.
Posted on April 2, 2017
week 5
Interview /ˈɪntəvjuː/
- noun. A meeting of people face to face, especially for consultation.
Synonyms: meeting, discussion, conference, examination, interrogation
I believe an interview is one of the most basic forms of storytelling. It is the interaction between two parties: the storyteller and the listener, thus there are almost no filters that will thin out the story when it travels from a person’s mouth to another’s ears. Interviews can come in many forms such as job interviews, where employers find someone with a story that proves their credibility for the job. Though, there are other types interviews that have the sole purpose of communicating someone’s individual story to the world. During this week’s reading and lecture on interviews, out of the blue, Tim Burton’s film Big Fish (2003) sprung to mind. Although fictitious, the film revolves around the truth of one’s identity through the stories they tell. Without spoiling too much of the plot, the narrative follows a father’s life story of adventure and monsters and witches that he tells to his son. However, as the son grows up, he begins to question his father’s tales and begins to demand the truth. Thus, throughout the film, there is a push and pull between what is reality and what is make believe fantasy that hides an uglier truth. Of course with many interviews and documentaries created, there is always a raised eyebrow with the reality behind anybody’s story. Hence, for any interviewer and documentary maker, it is our duty to be able to tell anyone’s story without rosy glasses, no matter how ugly the truth is. Often, an individual will feel hesitant to tell their story, in fear that others will react negatively to their ‘ugly side’. But, I find perfection and beauty in someone who is able to open up to their raw inner demons, because it only makes us human to accept those darker times in our lives.
Posted on March 23, 2017
project brief 2 reflection
I was never a fan of creating portraits of myself, mainly because I am in a constant state of change and moods that it’s difficult to pin down a definite moment of my life that is “me”. Along with the project’s requirements, I wanted to find a way to creatively incorporate these requirements whilst showing my audience who I really am. I figured that the still photographs would act like full stops in my sequence, so I decided to take four photographs of a few things that define the current Tessa of March 2017. To fill the gaps in between each photograph, I figured I should just be honest with how I approached this project which was literally grabbing my camera and walking around my house to find whatever holds a connection with me.
The sequence turned out more “cheesy” than I wished, this is probably from the fact that I put probably one of the most cheesiest songs as the soundtrack: Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love. I also wasn’t very happy with how the sequence only communicated a small surface of who I really am. Yes, there were limitations with time, but I believe that if I am to become a successful artist, I will be able to communicate any message no matter the challenge and limitations. From Cal Newport’s “Clarity of the Craftsman,” I thoroughly agreed with his separation of the craftsmen mindset to the passion mindset and how it is better to approach a job or task by wanting to offer something to the world rather than have the world offer something to you. I have made a few short films already that I always find imperfections, but even if just one individual tells me that my film impacted them, then I am happy with my work.
In saying so, creating a self portrait sequence was very hard for me to think in a craftsmen mindset. The topic was about me, and I didn’t know how this would impact others. Thus, I was stuck in a passion mindset where I just picked out the flaws in myself as well as this self portrait. I do think I was successful in showing a little window into my life, but I honestly wish I could’ve figured out another way to approach this task.
Posted on March 23, 2017
me.
Me. from Tessa Chung on Vimeo.
A quick self portrait that shows a small layer of who I am.
Screenshot of the editing timeline:
Posted on March 23, 2017
killing my darlings
Okay, so I didn’t actually kill any darlings, but it definitely felt like it. When I finally finished the rough draft of Project Brief 2, I noticed that it was at a length of 1:31… I needed my project to be of only a 1 minute length. So, after lots of stressing and internal tears, I had to remove a beginning scene that I spent a good amount of time creating and editing. Despite this, I’ve uploaded this deleted scene just so that it doesn’t disappear into the depths of oblivion.
I came across a similar dilemma with my reflection piece, where the requirement was a 350 word post, but I finished with 450 words. I am often told I am a “wordy” person and it does has it’s benefits as I like to unpack things in text or have minimalistic long shots in videos. However, when it comes to assessments and in the future with professional jobs, it is quintessential to obey the rules and stay within the boundaries. Some may argue that it is an artistic crime to put limitations on things, but I think it’s a good learning experience to find ways to be just as expressive, but within a constriction. So, from this project, I’m taking this as a wake up call to quickly learn the skills to stay within the required length. I will definitely set this as a challenge through my degree to find ways to be just as expressive and deep with my work under a limited length.
Posted on March 23, 2017
this autumn eve – a haiku
This Autumn Eve from Sophia Akenson-Klein on Vimeo.
Translation:
along this road
no one goes
this autumn eve…
a haiku by Matsuo Bashou
For week 2’s workshop, I paired up with Sophia to create a short sequence featuring lines of a haiku. The footage was taken just along Bowen St, and as the season was nearing autumn, we figured Matsuo Bashou’s haiku ‘This Autumn Eve’ was perfect. The project was mainly for the class to learn how to use Premiere Pro, but as I have used it in high school before, this task was more for me to familiarise myself and to help Sophia (she’s had previous experience with Final Cut Pro). A good method that I personally find very invaluable for me to learn and practise is to teach others, and so I was glad to have the chance to show Sophia a few tricks here and there with editing on Premiere Pro. I was also very glad to have brought my DSLR camera with my 50mm 1.4 lens to that tutorial, so it was very fun recording aesthetic, artistic shots.
Working together with Sophia in post production was a breeze. I have often found it difficult editing with other people in the past, as often preferences and opinions clash, leading to conflict and frustration with each other. However, with Sophia, we were open with each other’s ideas and styles and concluded with the final product with ease. In choosing a media course, I was definitely concerned with group projects and how well everyone would work together to create one product, however I guess I’ll have to find people that will be open to different ideas as well as be open-minded myself.
Posted on March 23, 2017
week 4
My thoughts on Cal Newport’s “Clarity of the Craftsman.”
Since kindergarten, I have been programmed to think about my future. Ever since my name was registered into the system amongst the sea of other humans, I was set along a path to find a function in society. At about the age of kindergarten to prep, my wishes for the future had no thought behind it. It would have been occupations that I would’ve seen on television or in storybooks; things like an astronaut, a zookeeper, a painter. And of course, the adults in my life would just laugh about it and think “how adorable, let’s dress her up as an astronaut.” As I begin to start finding identity in my life through school and my own interests and hobbies, my answer after the ellipses of “When I grow up…” would start to mold and shape according to what interests me in life. I found that I was a very artistic student, and in having a mother who was a piano teacher, I took my music life very seriously.
For kids growing up, especially in a first world country like Australia, we have the luxury to aspire for jobs that we would love doing. I’ve heard this phrase countless times in career speeches and such: “Do what you love.” Being Asian, I’m sure a lot of my cultural brothers and sisters will understand that we sometimes do not have the luxury to “do what we love” and must have a career that’s more financially stable like a doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc. (albeit there’s a lot of debate behind this logic.) I was lucky to have more “westernized” Asian parents (they spent many years studying in England) who allowed me to invest into my artistic interests. When I started VCE Media in year 11 and studied the evolution of media and created multiple film and photography projects, I felt like I had an epiphany; the curtains finally revealed the future I wanted. I still am positive I want a future in the media industry but there have been so many times where little thoughts at the back of my head tell me to give up because I am never 100% happy with the works I make. Perfectionism is something I torture myself with throughout my whole life, even with my music, and so I often become very discouraged to continue projects because of the fear of it not turning out perfect. After reading Cal Newport’s discussion on the “craftsmen mindset” and the “passion mindset”, I was transported back to the time I was creating a short film on mental illness and depression. This film called “HOLES” received full marks for VCE, but I cannot bring myself to watch it again because I cringe at every little mistake I made in it. Though, as Newport pointed out that we should focus “on what we can offer the world,” I remember that many individuals have told me how they emotionally connected with HOLES and appreciated my efforts to communicate the issue of mental illnesses. Knowing that definitely comforts me and reminds me that although my film isn’t perfect, if it makes a difference to even just one individual, then my film has done it’s job.
In saying that, I’ve linked my film, HOLES, to this post as a type of way for me to overcome my fear of its imperfections.
WARNING: this short film contains graphic content such as blood and gore and insinuates sensitive topics such as depression and self harm.
Posted on March 22, 2017
everything has a purpose
“The array of choices is dazzling, and as with mise-en-scene, decision making is at the center of film artistry. Forced to choose one way or another, the filmmaker pursues options that will give the viewer a specific experience.”
– Introduction to Cinema Studies textbook, Pg 177
Whenever I am given a piece of film to analyze, I always approach each scene with the mindset that everything has a purpose. There must be a reason why the director chose to have those props, there must be a reason why that type of music is played, there must be a reason why the camera is positioned that way, and so on. Nowadays, especially with the luxuries filmmakers have with technology, new cameras, 3D printers and such, I have noticed that some films often have too much within a scene. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I believe a truly great director is able to use very little filmic techniques to communicate a strong message. After watching 1927 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, directed by F.W. Murnau, as a silent film I thought I was in for a good nap. However, to my surprise, I could not tear my eyes away from the screen. It was the lack of audio, and the lack of extreme camera shots and quick cuts that drew me into the scenes. There were beautiful shots of the Man or the Wife who would just walk into the screen, and just by a few selected gestures and facial expressions, I knew what the character was thinking and how they were feeling. In contrast to films nowadays where the use of cuts are often quite abused, I feel that the use of cuts and changes within shot types of Sunrise have their own unique and obvious function to strongly communicate the story. Take for example, the scene where the Man is about to murder his Wife. There is a point of view shot from the Wife’s perspective looking at her husband’s reaching hands and then to his murderous expression. That one shot that seemed to linger for hours in my mind perfectly communicated in the simplest of ways, the horror and betrayal the Wife must have been feeling.
Posted on March 19, 2017
audio for project brief 2
For Project Brief 2, I created a small type of duet of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” with the ukulele and piano. I’m not very pleased with the quality, mostly due to my lack of a studio and my only audio editing tool being GarageBand. Though, I do hope that in the future I’ll have my hands on some better editing softwares like ProTools or Audition so that I can create better soundtracks for my film projects. Especially as a musician and not being able to study it for school anymore, I at least hope to continue my musical practice by incorporating this big part of my life into my uni projects.
Posted on March 16, 2017
Week 3
My thoughts on “Blood in the Gutter” by Scott McCloud
I really enjoyed how McCloud unthreaded the topic of the space between two subjects, whether it’d be in a comic, film, music, etc. Growing up in a first world country where films, TV shows and comics are at my fingertips, my mind is capable of watching two shots and filling in the gaps between. In fact, I will become bored and disinterested if a scene shows ever single movement a character would make in getting from A to B. However, this becomes completely different in the early 20th century, especially for film as this was just developing. I would believe that the very notion of a moving image would be enough spark for imagination to the audience of the 20th century, thus a director of the time could film a menial task and it would be mindblowing. As an example, the 1903 silent film The Great Train Robbery, in all honest talk, had a very boring beginning where the robbers threaten and tie up the train director. Though, I can imagine during that time, this film was a big hit in the cinemas. In comparison, the train robbery scene in The Assassination of Jesse James (2001), literally made a century later, was more engaging for an audience of the 21st century. Some reasons for this is due to the suspense created through the music and varying camera techniques, and most importantly, the speed and rhythm created through the editing. Unnecessary scenes that provide no particular purpose for the plot are omitted, and the audience are able to fill in those spaces with their own expectations and common sense. As McCloud eloquently points out: in between the gaps, in between the spaces omitted between each shot, the audience is leapt into the air like a trapeze artist to fill in the gaps with our own imagination and thoughts.
My thoughts on Week 3’s media 1 activity
For Media 1’s week 3 lectorial, we were given the task to piece together a story that was broken into several bits. I personally found this task very frustrating, mainly because of the 15 minute time restriction and it’s limitations on the laptop screen. We all agreed that it would have been much easier to have the story pieces printed out in hard copy and spread out in front of us. With this method, I believe it’d be much easier to see the links, make sense of the story and then proceed to connect everything together. Even though the task was not to create the exact replica of the original short story, I still couldn’t break my mind set of solving a puzzle. When I set my mind to solving a puzzle, I’m so used to having the original image available for my reference. Since the task was given with just the pieces and no reference image, lots of time was wasted in trying to figure out the beginning, middle and end of the short story. Despite my rants about my frustrations with this task, I honestly enjoyed it as the puzzle-solver I am. I definitely plan to piece the story together in my own time, and hopefully it will be a less stressful task.