more than fabrics

Week 5 (Thursday the 30th of March)

This week Tutor Christina was the one to present, she showcased a small display of the work she completed in third year University.

The class also consisted of various fashion videos and short documentaries on fashion throughout various eras; we got to see an in-depth peak into what fashion was actually like during a retro time period in a first-person perspective (a collection of items Christina had saved from the 40’s-80’s). We saw her works on costume design that she did as a project and got to flip through the pages. It was good seeing a tutor in the work space and they’re reflection on they’re studies. Afterwards we went to the design hub for more fashion influence.

This week is about knowing what ‘we’ as a group want to develop and film. Our group so far have concluded we would like to work with the fashion students but until we get to meet them we can’t accurately take the piece in a certain direction. I am hoping we’re able to work with a student who has work that we’re able to turn into an abstract piece as that is what I’d like to work on in my filming process.

Week 4 (Thursday the 23^rd of March)

As week four comes to a close project brief twos deadline draws near. This project included creating a short fashion film. My group for this project included Emily, Lisa, Kasia and myself. I know, personally I wanted to create a certain vibe and tone. I’m extremely into experimental film as well as atmospheric and mood enhancing cinematography. For this project, all four of us decided to film in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy- as it’s a location that has a lot of character and fashion.

 I brought my Panasonic LUMIX GH4 to film with and set it on an ISO of around 400 with a f-stop of 2.8 and a shutter speed of 1/1000, I also made the tonal quality look less vibrant and more cinematographic to create a certain high-fashion flare. I intentionally chose to go in and out of focus whilst filming as an experimental stunt to enhance the viewer’s perspective. My aim is always to play around with the camera and create something new and different that appeals to myself as well as making an audience question the artist choice. I film with meaning and emotion and I like to put that into practice.

It was fun working with a team that had a similar image in mind, it meant that compromising and working together was easy and everyone seemed to understand each other. This is an important aspect especially for me; as I’m a student who is interested in experimental film it’s always nice to have a team support my artistic choices and allow me to be creative. I also supported the idea that each of us make our own version of the edit- this meant that we all could have a practice creating a rush and messing around with the material. I know when I film I have very strong direction and I would say cinematography is one of the main aspects of film I enjoy. I really want to create a full experimental piece sometimes In the future and I never saw fashion as a place to do so until now. It was interesting to hear in Week 3 a speaker come in from the fashion industry and talk to us about his work, I know now it’s definitely an area I want to dance and roam within and hope throughout this studio I am able to.

There wasn’t anything difficult about this assessment I’d say the only thing I find ‘hard’ is re-editing and replaying footage over and over again. Although I will say when I get bored of a project I generally pack it away and come back to it when I’m in a better mind state of course this doesn’t take into account deadlines so if there’s a deadline for a project it means you have to work on it even when you’re sick of seeing the same footage on repeat. I understand this is the industry and it’s also what makes it so fun- working and testing your limits under pressure.  I  have a very artistic style that comes to me in waves, when I have an idea I like to stay true to it so it will be interesting how I evolve in a commercial sense If I need to and if i’m able to keep my style. I find this studio has given me a lot of motivation to pursue my own ideas and I question why I haven’t done so before, I really have a passion in filming and I’m looking forward to learning more from the industry professionals who visit us during our studio. Hopefully in the future I can write and direct in my spare time and create a portfolio, fashion and music video with a very dark, moody atmosphere are what I’m most attracted to but I don’t want to close any doors as I’m always open to boost my creativity in a range of directions.

Week 2 (Wednesday the 8th of March)

Different aspects of ‘Fashion’ and fashion on screen.

Drive (2011) Nicolas Winding Refn, Ryan Gosling ‘Drivers Costume Design’

I enjoyed this film for a number of reasons, mood lighting, chiaroscuro, neon noir and the costume design of the main character ‘Driver’. This shot from the film represents a whole mood that is incorporated by the toothpick the character is holding and the driving gloves he is wearing. There is a ‘sleekness’ to the photo that provokes an ‘edged’ mood that lingers with the audience.

Mamie Eisenhower
I like this photo due to it’s ‘retro’ qualities and how the back-lit reflects the color Eisenhower is wearing, the photo melds together and represents a piece of history when fashion in politics and those on the world stage created iconic looks. Eisenhower also represents a shift in how women should be represented, feminine and delicate. This denotes that fashion is cultural- it changes consistently based upon the views and values of a society and their influence by the media.

‘Sophia’ Grace Loves Lace
Grace Loves Lace is a brand that specialists in alternative (bohemian) wedding dresses, and this many of the clients end their special day with naturalistic photographs that are very mood dependent. They tend to evoke an emotion rather than an actual event. I really enjoy how the fashion element within this photo works together with the mood that’s evoked to present this very sensual atmosphere. I also like the black and white filter effect that makes the image seem very ‘whole’ and complete.

Sisters of Nature
Pastel colors and a matching color pallet is something I always find appealing, the colors in this photo of the lace gowns against the backdrop of the blue wall emit a feeling of ‘retro’ and ‘style’. I also really enjoy the lace pieces and am a big face of lace itself.

Festival Fashion, Rainbow Serpent
I’ve always found the self expressive and distinct, the idiosyncratic designs that come out of these outdoor bush festivals really evokes a sense of freedom coming from a youthful generation. I believe in certain cases it tries to incorporate the fact that body is only one factor in our lives and that the mind is just as important. The unconventional fashions you find here really mimic what it is like to change your perception weather it be sober or through alternative means.

My aim throughout this studio is to work upon my cinematography and narrative plot-lines. I take a strong interest in mood lighting and really want to work on mise-en-scene to create a specific thought out disposition. I’m inspired by directors who have character flares that are demonstrated all throughout their work, such as Wes Anderson with a prominent pastel colour pallet and Damien Chazelle with dim lighting, chiaroscuro and neon noir (inserted below). I also believe I need to work more on creating clean cut audio but this can be done by planning and finding better soundproof studios to record overlays, preparation in that area is key.

I am indeed hoping to enjoy this studio, I take an interest in the creative and fashion is a big category that edges on innovation- I’m hoping we are able to work with individuals who already have passion incorporated into their everyday lives. What I want to gain from this studio is obviously as much experience as possible; be it practical or theoretical I’m hoping to lengthen my knowledge in all areas of study. I hope this class stays bright, bubbly and inquisitive and throughout the semester becomes a hub for critical thought and feedback and I love good critical feedback that helps drive my work into a better form.

Week 1 (Thursday the 2nd of March)

The first week was an introduction into the studio with our semester studio lecturer and guide ‘Christina Heristanidis’. She gave us the low down on what the studio was about as well as initiating ice breakers in order for all the students to understand and acknowledge each other better. It is always hard to write a critical reflection when you’ve only had one class so far but I will say that the first class touched on quite a lot of aspects that would be covered throughout the semester course. This includes the major assessment that is a short film based around the theme of fashion, and in particular a fashion designer and their story. I’m most excited to start examining my own cinematography within this course to make it more contemporary and incorporate a new level of mood lighting I have been working upon.

We had a very short activity during our first class that was based around taking photographs of objects and visuals that ‘weren’t’ fashion. I decided to take photos of the shadows the clothes on display made within the RMIT Design showcase. I thought this would be ‘ironic’ as the shadows themselves aren’t fashion but a mere reflection of something that could be. I also like the mood they reflected which was somber and evocative.