Screen Shot # 3 ‘Life is a Musical’
Screen Shot # 2 ‘Life is a Musical’
Screen Shot # 1 ‘Life is a Musical’
Readings Relating to Non-Narrative and Experimental Films
Marie-Laure Ryan attempts to define and differentiate narrative and story in this reading. The incorrect interpretations of narrative that have formed over time from identity to capitalised history are explained and a guideline to the conditions within narrative are explained extensively.
The variety of mediums available for creating various forms of content offer individuals an opportunity to define their work at some stage in the process. Ryan’s definition aims to assist these individuals in accurately assessing their work by highlighting the importance of ‘semantic features’ and expanding the concept past the traditional verbal forms of narrative. This definition also seeks to relevance across all mediums.
Ryan explains ‘story, like narrative discourse, is a representation, but unlike discourse it is not a representation encoded in material signs. Story is a mental image, a cognitive construct that concerns certain types of entities and relations between these entities’ (2006, p. 7).
The audience has the power to interpret content of any kind and therefore the outcome individuals comprehend may be different to what the creator intended.
Ian Bogost discusses the idea of lists in this reading. The non-narrative format of a list should not be thought of as any less of a device for communicating an idea because it is not thought of as artistically expressive. In facts, the simplicity of lists provide the creator with freedom to focus on the idea/concept rather than abstracting it to form some sort of poetry. This idea of lists as a form of cataloging is relevant to many pieces of work that are considered art.
Bogost claims that lists ‘do not just rebuff the connecting powers of language but rebuff the connecting powers of being itself’ (2012, p. 39).
More K-Film Inspiration
I have been impressed by the student interactive documentary from previous years. I have been able to form my own understanding of their concepts.
I am looking forward to exploring my own concept. Previous filmmaking experiences have taught me that I tend focus heavily on visuals. I realised the importance of continuity to assist the editing process and many other elements that are required when creating fictional narratives. The observatory nature of the clips I create for this K-Film forces me to concentrate on my concept. Although I can still present some aesthetically pleasing images, it is not the purpose therefore I feel this medium is giving me freedom for my previous constraints.
I watched the student film Body of Memories by Erin Rosenberg, Carla Reid, Megan Whytcross from 2012. I am going to adopt the ‘De Bono’s hats’ idea for critiquing other works.
Red Hat: I engaged with the natural and endearing personal stories.
Black Hat: The difference in quality of the clips.
Yellow Hat: I enjoyed the concept of sharing memories. I love nostalgia. The design of the layout reminded me of The Brady Bunch opening titles.
Green Hat: The repetitively framed visuals could have contained cutaways of pictures relating to the memories.
First Lesson Using Korsakow
Surprisingly I was not overwhelmed by the software at first glance. I was expecting something much more complicated. The idea of creating connections from the sketches I have developed seems possible. I am already starting to imagine how they may connect.
I realise I have not completely grasped the Korsakow lingo at this point in time. I expect this to develop over the coming weeks whilst using the program.
Some things I have learnt:
- File management is integral. Create a folder at the beginning of a project. Create a media assets folder for all JPEG and H.264 files. Create an exports folder. Save your Korsakow project file to the original project folder. Do not move items.
- Save frequently. I am determined not to lose any valuable work.
- Ensure I am double clicking on the video files (not the picture files) when SNUifying. Assign Jpegs (preview) to videos.
- Refer to the keywords window frequently. This will show me if there are any ‘dead ends’ within my work.
- Replace old export with newer version when exporting. Do not ‘save as’. I had more success opening my .html file in FireFox than Safari. Allow all plug ins.
- I can alter the layout of my preview windows.
- Red= in, Blue= out.
- SNU= smallest narrative unit. POC= points of contact (in and out), created by keywords. K film= connection of SNUs (web of relations).
- Define lives of clip and whether there will be loops.
- Do not be too literal and do not be too ambiguous.
- Refer to the Korsakow resources on Seth’s blog.
What I am expecting to learn next
- The best way to capture a still. I am wondering if a screen shot will do.
- I am also expecting to face a few problems.
I intend to post on Adrian’s tech help page, questions and answers!
Instruments & Live Music
Instruments and live music around my home are things that I have that define me.
Tea Drinking Mother
Tea drinking represents my immediate family.
Merri Creek Stone Crossing
This Merri Creek stone crossing near my house is part of a place that defines me.