What a video to conclude this semester with. From the beginning of this semester I wanted to evolve as an artist, and I think this represents that transformation excellently. For screen project 1 I was focused on developing skill and familiarity with the tools at my disposal. While also further developing the glitch-punk noise aesthetic I am interested in. It resulted in something I am still proud of. I learnt that I should focus more on high contrast imagery and could use grainy low resolution imagery too my advantage. I was trying to break out of the vision of a typical editing process.

For Screen Project 2 I wanted to build upon the foundation I built in the first half of the semester. I figured that it would not be advantageous to continue practical development, but to instead broaden my horizons theoretically. I began research into what I now call ‘Reiteration Artists’, people who take things and combine them (or alter them) in order to not only increase the meaning present in their first form, but build upon and extrapolate it into a much larger and more powerful message. The decision to research this, in conjunction with the film makers, film theories, and concepts James introduced to us through out the semester was astonishingly helpful. I’ve always been aware of the Avant-Garde, but was never confident enough to delve into it creatively. I think for a first proper attempt I did a good job.

I factor I wanted to improve on with Screen Project 2 is  that I believe I was too reliant on chaotic imagery and violent movements. I think it is a cheap way to display horror (especially Cosmic-Horror). The greatest horror films don’t need this kind of movement language, The Shining, The Exorcist, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, The VVitch, and so on. I wanted to scale it back to a more pure and stream lined audio visual experience. I cited La Jetée as a major influence. La Jetée manages to create an incredibly captivating and engaging film though a great soundtrack and just still images. It is just masterful. I wanted to make my short film as still as possible, while also having a great underlying sound mix. This led me to do something I have never done before, I created the sound mix before the visuals. When I listen to music usually I have a visual reaction in my mind, seeing scenarios play out and creating stories to go along with the track. I didn’t want to use any form of music, and decided on mostly industrial and natural sounds. I planned to recycle materials I had used in other projects too, to keep inn theme with the concept of recycling.

The last few weeks I have sprouted a fascination for poetry. I think it may be due to some research on Tarkovsky I have been doing for a separate assessment. I found this reading of Ozymandias (by Percy Bysshe Shelley). I thought it was thematically relevant to the ideas of death, hell, and chaos I am portraying in the video. A major concept I realised was consistent with recycle created artwork is a critique of the world. It may not be obvious in all creations, but it can be seen. I believe this is a direct response to an over industrialised society overrun with rapid consumerism. I tried to employ some of that concept into my video.

I could go on for another thousand words about how Jean Epstein, Maya Deren, Bill Morrison, etc. were hugely influential in the creation of the video. But I think it is just best to say that the Studio as a whole, including the creative endeavours of other students, was hugely influential in its’ entirety on me as an artist.

The reaction I got from my friends and Peers was overwhelmingly positive, I haven’t gotten such a large response as I have with this video ever. It has definitely inspired me to continue down this path over the summer, and even start filming my own footage. I recently ordered a Canon 1014-xls to create with. I think this area of Punk-Glitch-Avant-Horror is something I can continue to build upon into something great.