Introduction
For my final project, I am going to work on a scene that I developed from a moment that I found magical. I have a clear visual moment that I want to represent in my final project, based on my own memory, but I want to make this moment more than a recreation by creating a soundscape out of non-diagetic sounds.
This project will be shot as a drama, using drama conventions of shooting, editing and sound. – doco beginnings, i have never shot drama before, more comfortable in doco
Synopsis
K is a young woman who is walking back home from the supermarket. On the walk, she opens a carton of strawberry milk and spills it all over herself. She feels defeated and embarrassed, but is pulled out of self pity when she notices a glamorous woman across the road, sitting amongst shopping bags, with two dogs. The dog’s fur is the same colour as her fur jacket. K watches the woman and her dogs, trying to imagine why she is that way, until the woman notices her. K holds her eye contact for a moment, before averting her eyes and walking away.
The setting is a suburban main street, with medium levels of traffic, a wide footpath and houses on each side.
Rough Storyboard
- simple coverage to remain open for change/acting
Soundscape
The sound of this project will be diagetic, except for the moment when K sees the woman with the dogs. At this moment, I will be using non-diagetic sounds to instigate an emotional response to the woman with the dogs. I want to create a soundscape of the woods at night, sounds of leaves rustling, wind, a stream, owls hooting and most importantly, wolves howling. If I have time, I would also like to make alternative soundscapes for this moment to see the range of emotional responses that I can create out of this moment by manipulating sound. Some other possibilities include underwater sounds, the sounds of a glamorous party or sounds of the city. I want the soundscape to reflect what K might be imagining about the woman with the dogs.
Research themes
The main themes that I want to research are films with encounters between strangers on the street, and films that use non-diagetic sound to manipulate the audience’s interpretation of the scene.
Plan of action
Week 8
- stage and shoot a rehearsal in class
- find a location
- confirm shoot date
- confirm crew members
- contact and confirm actors for shoot
Week 9
- gather sounds for soundscape
- book equipment
- start paperwork for safety/production stuff
- learn some lighting techniques (for outdoors)
Week 10
- edit soundscape
- confirm everyone for shoot
- organise food and production stuff for the shoot
- shoot on the weekend
Week 11
- edit first video
- brainstorm where to go next
- make plans for reshoot
Casting
K
Woman with dogs
Conclusion
- focus on creating a soundscape or multiple that manipulates emotions
- shoot this scene multiple times to see the effects of different actors/locations
- getting better as a director and working with actors
- getting more examples of films with strange encounters, surreal meetings
- although i have a clear vision of what i want to do, i am completely open to compromise and change and hoping that the people i end up working with will help me develop the idea, look and sound of the project
