Week 3_Multiple screen documentary “In the Labyrinth”

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Koston

In the LabyrinthbyRoman KroitorbyColin Low&byHugh O’Connor, National Film Board of Canada

A film without commentary in which multiple images, sometimes complementary, sometimes contrasting, draw the viewer through the different stages of a labyrinth. The tone of the film moves from great joy to wrenching sorrow; from stark simplicity to ceremonial pomp. It is life as it is lived by the people of the world, each one, as the film suggests, in a personal labyrinth.

In the Labyrinth was first released as a multi-screen presentation for Chamber III of the Labyrinth at Expo 67. These separate images were integrated into a single strand of film, using a “five-on-one” cinematic technique.

The way of “In the Labyrinth” produced is very similar with Korsakow film which we are gonna do it in this semester. Background music, images and short video create a non-narrative experimental film. Although this film without any commentary, it does create a atmosphere with background music and moving images. The multiple frame is very fascinating because it create a special perspective. Each frame kind of have a relationship with others. I am very inspired by that. I would like to try it in my sketch film in the future.

Week 3_Take away from Lecture_3

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Koston

At the beginning of the lecture, Adrian very concentrated on the concept of taxonomy. He defines taxonomies as a boxes in which formally categories every different kind of thing. How does plant or animal relate to each other? What sort of this or what sort of that. A serious classification. Adrian, however, points out that what is the measure of these kind of thing? Yes, exactly, the measure. The measure that classifies different species by the speciesmen. They make up a example as a centre (standard) and organise the sequence of this species based on their differences from the centre. However, Adrian’s POV just inspires me what is the measure of this measure? Who set up this measure?

A taxonomy is stereotype. It convinces people to follow the stereotype rules. Speciesmen, THEY seems to be a state of authority that set up rules or quality to classify things or people. What groups. However, as Adrian mentioned, what matters is not whether this is a new species or not, what matters is to recognise that gum trees all vary and so what matters is the extent of the variation, not the fact of variation.

What we do is not understanding the definition of a thing, what we do is to observe and think what things function and how they function. Think out of the boxes of taxonomy to think what they do rather than what they mean. Adrian suggests us to approach closely at individual works and systems and software platforms and services individually and specifically. Understanding the varies is to learn the lessons from them.

The interesting webs Adrian provided to us. The web of MIT’s moment of Innovation is a platform for people to share the historic of creative crafts. It tries to get people here to know more about things of technology. The web offers different kinds of formats of medium, video, collective images, music etc. On the other hand, The online page of ‘The Johnny Cash Project’ runs with a different concept. There is one video of fascinating juxtapositions on the main page. It seems artful and aesthetic. The web encourages people to create. The staff grapes users’ crafts to produce a montage. A collaborative art crafts is done by users.

Week 3_Something Slow_Several Shots

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Koston

Walking Melbouren 1 from Kai-feng Wang on Vimeo.

This video is not my original idea because i learn from someone on Youtube. I think that is very cool way to illustrate. This time, I choose to use Premiere for my editing so that I can use ‘mirror’ effect to stylise my video. It is pretty fascinating right?

This video is about Melbourne Walking. This perspective is very special. As we all know, Melbourne is the most liveable city in worldwide. Melbourne is a peaceful place with great weather and environment. People feel comfortable here. Above those reason, I realise how Melbourne people would walk.

Week2_The role of Television as a Symbol for 1950 ideology

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Koston

1950s is a period for a significant development of television in North American. The television set entered North American living rooms in the early 1950s bringing with it a new lifestyle. From 1948 to 1953, the rate of television sets increased virtually 50% with over 25,000,000 in American family. With television growing widely popular among North American societies, so did advertising and consumerism. With women staying at home, the television set was a perfect companion to keep them occupied while doing their daily tasks. The consumerism competition had a great influence on 1950s ideology.

The symbolic ‘television set’ is portrayed more obscurely in the film All That Heaven Allows. After the traumatic decision to leave the man of her dreams, Cary’s two children purchase her a television set for Christmas. She does not seem pleased about their gesture. A shot of Cary’s lone face is reflected in the glare of the television screen. The television itself represents the symbol of ‘companionship for the lonely’ in All That Heaven Allows. Cary’s reaction to consumerism is negative compared to Alice’s. Alice is a woman who seeks refuge from boredom, while Cary feels as if she is the victim of modernization. The television represents the ‘women’s best friend’, and plays a prominent role in the 1950s.

Females were not exclusively the sole gender captivated by consumer culture. For instance, in The Honeymooners, Ralph becomes engaged in a soap opera (intended generally for a female audience) while his friend Ed becomes engaged in the children’s program Captain Video. The plot line here obviously pokes fun at the modern “working man” and how he himself becomes a victim of consumerism and modernization. This goes to show that although women are targeted for advertisements and television programs, men have also been captivated by consumer culture, thus contradicting ideological gender roles. An obvious example is when Ed takes his Captain Video apparel out of its box and wears it while watching the show.

1950s ideology revolved around gender roles, consumerism and the introduction of the television set being a quintessential aspect of life. Lifestyles have changed over time, but television is still a large part of current popular culture. Along with other media, television still subjects us to advertising and consumerism that keeps North American capitalism thriving. As we can see, the 1950s were a crucial time for mass media to market products to housewives all across the continent. The television set was also considered a companion for many women while performing their daily chores. Women portrayed in television programs at this time reflected 1950s ideology, however at times, gender roles became ambiguous as to who was being consumed into popular culture. Nevertheless, the television was a definitive symbol of North American ideology during the 1950s.

Brainstorming: 60 years ago, we are highly influenced by the television industry because of the poor technology. However, we can use internet now to explore the world. In some way, the mode of television hardly satisfy audience because the scheduled timetable and constraint content. In modern day, audience like to create their own content and like to be involved in the production. Internet is a good platform to achieve this kind of idea.

Week 2_Integrated Media – Reading

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Koston

DIGITAL and ANALOGUE

New technology provides news means of expression. As a result of this the film medium develops from being exclusive and privileged to a common and public available form of expression.

In the last over years, we were experiencing the breakthrough from analogue artefact to digital technology. The industry of film has been restructured since the first digital sensor invented. New technology redefines the expression of moving image.

Moving images is rare in 20th century. People were excited about watching a film in cinema and they have to watch in cinema. Movie is a major entertainment for that time but filming is not easy because of the cost and skills.

Being a filmmaker was not easy for everyone. Only a string of intellectuals can be part of that sphere. On one hand, the equipment of photographic technology is unaffordable for amateur fans, because 35mm camera and films cost a lot of money. The film amateur who wanted to make a film had to acquire a 35mm camera and they didn;t have another option. 35mm camera secures the good image resolution so necessary for theatrical projection.

Things changed since the first CCD chip was created 1969 by George Smith and Willard Boyle. They first stated on the CCD “One of the things that makes the CCD unique is its ability to performs specialised functions such as a camera.” This small little chip create a huge impact to traditional film industry. Sony started to employ the CCD to produce small standard camera – “DV”, which is much cheaper and much more suitable for amateurs than 35mm camera. Photographic equipment was no longer a luxury. More and more people begin to shoot their moving images.

The most recent development in the relationship between amateur and professional relates to the transition from analogue to digital media and the emergence of the World Wide Web. People are convenient for watching a moving images at anytime and anywhere via internet instead of going to a cinema. They can make a short video by their camera on their phone or DSL camera such as 60D (the most popular digital camera for amateur). Somewhat, the meanings of moving images is changing to people. New technology disintegrates the content of moving image. There is no any constraint for people access into film industry. Whoever, pros or amateurs, enables filming.

The intellectuals lose their power to be the embodiment of filmmaking.

On the other hand, new technology expand the access to people to join the sphere. Although digital media produces a subversive impact to analogue, there are more opportunities to make creative crafts by amateurs. The success of Youtube is great example. The main reason for the enormous success of YouTube lies in the fact that it operates as an open channel for the teeming millions of prospective content producers who, thanks to the technological and economic development of digital media production equipment, now have the possibilities to exchange meanings, experiences and – perhaps most importantly – ways of expression through the film medium.

Now with digital camera, everyone could see exactly what things were going to look like that changes the way you like it. Amateurs improve their performance depending on reviewing of their clips. They retake it as many times as they think it is perfect to share. However, we cannot do it on analogue film camera, because the film has to be developed and printed overnight in the film lab. The entire process takes one night and you can see it another day. For most amateurs, this is impossible for lacking of professional skills. Film cost them very much without any funding. Therefore, digital media is more easier for users than the traditional film.

Week 2_Light

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Koston

This video is filmed by my iPhone. As you can see, this is only one take by panning my iPhone from left to right. I found an interesting place on my house’s front door. The windows on the front door changes your perspective of outside view. It seems like a hallucination or a dream so I try to use my phone to film this moment.

Light from Kai-feng Wang on Vimeo.

Week_2 Constraint#2 Something about light

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Koston

This video is comprised of three different shots. Medium shot, medium close-up and close-up shot to create a atmosphere. The first shot is establishing shot to show what is there. Then, I cut to a closer look to the subject for reveal the final shot. A skull is revealed suddenly from a black screen. This sort of step is to generate a horror atmosphere, whilst I found my lamp can expose my perfume bottle in this way.

Untitled from Kai-feng Wang on Vimeo.