I've made up my mind

My final movie will be about what people think versus what they do. I will film a group friends sitting at a table. Each person hates someone at the table, but no one hates the same person. Throughout the movie the viewer will see what each person really thinks about who they dislike. 

For example: Person A and person B sit with a group of people they both get along with, but A dislikes B. The viewer will see the negative thoughts per A has about B. 

Ex: A will imagine a huge knife going through B's head repeatedly. The objects the abuse each actor will be animated.

For the end of the movie, everyone will see someone that they all like and greet him/her. That person will greet them back, but he/she hates everyone at the table. The movie will end with the last person daydreaming  about everyone at the table being set on fire.

3 IDEAS FOR NEXT MOVIE

something involving graffiti

maybe using spray paint cans as flame throwers if possible

chase scene

short movie using still images like stop motion

jay walking 

why the light on poplar pisses me off

some one trying to hide a dead body

talk w/ a psycopath

mock screen shots of an upcomming video game ex: ign.com street fighter ( people in process of getting beaten)-narrator will speaking over screen shots? cel shade images to give video game like quality?

Second Test Shooting Response

Overall test shooting went well. My subject was easy to work with because he knew about about anime and was able to elaborate on the various topics and because of that, I was able get certain responses and cover multiple subjects within one question. The volunteer was able to talk about the topics at random so he did not need a guide or any reminders when ever I had to pause recording to get a different shot of him. He was confident about his responses and showed a lot of personality while speaking such as in his hand gestures while elaborating on his responses. A lot of interesting points were made. For the final shooting session, I will try to prepare examples of what he goes into detail about. Iill also have to condense the responses. My only concern is that shortening his answers will make them unclear.

Movie Pitch

My next movie will be about people within the anime fan base venting about their likes and dislikes and  various subjects within the anime genre. (shows, other otaku etc. people etc)

An example is the scene in "Do the Right Thing" where the different characters in the movie vent about each other's race.

 

characters: interviewing employees/owners of comic stores in memphis/anime fanbase

Memory Essay

I wake up. It's 7:00 in the morning. I don't usually wake up this early. Before I can wipe the debris from the cracks of my eyes, I'm greeted by the cold wind being pumped from the air conditioner. I face the television only to be blinded by its bright screen. Its light with the help of dawn crates a dark, blue, relaxing tint on the walls of the room. After about fifteen minutes of trying to regain my sight, I patiently watch paid programming, waiting for the usual Saturday cartoons to come on. Fox Kids, WB and all that. There were missing buttons in the television. One had to change channels by sticking something through the holes where the channel buttons used to be. As I reach for the nearest ink pen, something catches my attention. What?! Is this a cartoon about to come on? Cartoons don't come on Sci-Fi channel. This was the moment I discovered anime. The show was called Saturday Anime. Ever since that day, I watched that show every Saturday up until the day it was cancelled. All of the movies aired were raw. Anime wasn't well known in my early childhood. Back in the day, I was used to Superman and the X-Men disarming bombs before it blew up a building. In the opening scene of Akira, an entire city is blown away by a child. It wasn't just the fact that a city was blown up and no one saved the day but that the scene was so realistic. Each background in that movie looked like a renaissance painting. Akira takes place in a make believe yet believable reality. No one saved the day, no to be continued and something stops the destruction. Nothing was sugar coated. When I watched that, I was thrown into a state of confusion. I assumed that no matter what, the people always had to be saved. I was always nervous when my parents were around when I was watching Saturday Anime because of the graphic nature of certain movies such as the 80's Vampire Hunter. I miss having anime to myself.

Role as a Filmaker

learn about myself through my work and constantly improve on my skills

express subject matter while keeping the viewer's attention.

express myself to the viewer

use film as a way of addressing feelings towards subject matter that I've held in

entertain 

create some kind of motion within the viewer.

take viewer away from real world

ex: Ever watch a movie and forget that you are in a separate world from that movie until you look away from the screen or remember that you are watching it ? I hope that made sense...

motivate viewer to be creative 

My work should function

cause viewers to get an excited reaction or feeling whether positive or negative

entertain viewer

express my views and ideas-not to win viewers over but get them to consider what I'm

 expressing

reflect who I am - each movie should reveal a part of me to the viewers

way of understanding people through their reactions

pay homage to work that inspires me

Styles & Techniques used in Past and Current Work

movies (the only movies I made were the class assigments)

jump cuts

shooting from worm's eye view

3 point lighting

other work

painting-oil/acylic/ imposto

charcoal drawings

oil pastel

surrealism

comics

30 second animation

one minute collab animation

am now learning 2d cut out animation

various subject matter from direct observation

Things I Love

hardcore anime:

Akira

Iria: Zeiram the Animation

Macross Plus

Grappler Baki OVA

Dead Leaves

Afro Samurai

Serial Experiments Lain

Sol Bianca

Red Line

Trava the Fist Planet

FLCL

Animatrix

Memories

Venus Wars

Gundam series

Robot Carnival

comics/manga:

MBQ

Afro Samurai

Madamme Mirage

Metal Gear

Vampi

Cannon Busters

work from Udon comics

Battle Angle Alita

Ghost in the Shell

Akira

video games (primarily fighting or rare games)

Street Fighter (especially Street Fighter 3/ Alpha 3/EX 2 Plus)

Tekken

Virtual-On

Marvel vs Capcom including pt 2

all other Marvel/Capcom collaborations

Power Stone 2

Ape Escape original

Bust A Groove 1/2

DDR Konamix

Ehrgeiz

Hate

horror movies

romance movies

redundant anime

redundant comics

commercialized music

blasphemy

most new cartoons on television

VH1 rerality shows

BET

Viacom

close minded otaku 

arrogance 

Response to Manifesto Feedback

I got some good feedback for my manifesto critique. I was nervous about presenting it because I know that there is huge anime fan base on campus and I may have offended some people. The manifesto is based off of feelings I have had about anime that I have been holding in. One thing I was warned about was appearing stereotypical. Someone suggested pointing out cultural and social topics through my topic to counter that appearance.

For the movie:

Should the movie be about a character that is continually ranting about the negative aspects of today's anime? 

About negative aspects of otaku or a really annoying otaku. common BASIC meaning of an otaku-one who has an interest in anime.

Does subject have to be about anime? Can the performance be used to comment on another subject?

Can it be about an annoying person ranting?

What culural or social topics can I comment on in general or through the anime.

HOW I WOULD CHANGE ESSAY:

commenting on other subjects through anime. I've  been researching stuff about subliminal messages in media lately.

cite stuff characters (s) are ranting about fro credibility.

going to a comic store and filming store owners/ employees views about todays anime /otaku culture.

IDEAS? SUGGESTIONS? HELP!!!

TIME INFO QUESTION #1

#1

a) 3 actors

b) Ken Bryan Killer

c) 3 total:

Main building: Mac Lab 1/ Myers Auditorium/ Studio 1

Overton Park: walkway behind museum/ across from Graduate Center on Poplar 

 

Metz Hall: entrance/ inside dorm-hallway/living room

d) N/A

e) foam core avatars worn on faces

f) foam core avatars worn on faces/ snacks/ box cutter

1) key light/ fill light/ back light

2) rim light

3) key light

4) fill light 

5) bounce card

Script Breakdown

 2 main characters/ 5 extras

2 locations- Metz Hall dorm/ main building: Mac Lab 1/ Studio 1/Myers Auditorium

special effects-2 matte shots

stunts-N/A

costumes- foam core boards worn on faces w/ avatars on them

props- fake soda products & 2 fake movie clips

Test Shoot Experience

 I was nervous during the first shooting because it was my first time making a short video. As my actor and I started working, I began to loosen up and just have fun with the project. I became so focused on getting the shots the way I wanted that I wasn't paranoid anymore about breaking the equipment or some random situation that would mess everything up. 

One problem I'm sure I might've had with the video is that the first scenes might not have came out clear. I thought that we were not supposed to use some of the other light settings on the camera as well as other lighting. The only major problem was that my second actor did not show up for the rehearsal so I found someone else to replace him.

Being a director felt strange because I was telling my friends what to do. Overall there was good communication between us. My actor understood what I wanted from them, the characters, and they cooperated well. We did not get through the entire script because the remaining actor had to leave, but we were able to get through half of it. 

One of my biggest concerns was making sure that the actors were not bored with the script or during the rehearsal. If they dreaded the script or the rehearsal, then it might have shown in the acting. Also, I wanted to create a loose, comfortable atmosphere with the actors on and off camera. Because everyone was not uptight about this being a homework assignment, or how they looked on camera made this a fun experience. I did not playback the video because I do not want it to mess up on Final Cut, but hopefully the video came out decent.

Further 'Time' Developmemt (What I have so far)

a) Main character's goal: control time/prove to peers his theory of controlling time

b) obstacles: people don't believe him/characters have one sided conversations with him/peers get distracted 

c) beating obstacles: tricks peers into experiments that prove theory

d) means of doing so: talk characters into experiments

ex: peers favorite show comes on at a certain time. Dude will remind peer of tasks that need to be taken care of before the show

*this may be the key hour of time-which is basically the execution of the time theory*

*or time can be divided. 30min of experiments + 30 min killing time

e) what if they fail: 

  after realizing the flaw of time theory, out of anger, he convinces his peers to help him kill time. or 

*friends think he's lame for misleading them and character has to kill time in x mins to keep them believing his theory.

f) characters realistic doings in movie:

watching TV/ eating or drinking made up beverages

characters' looks:

-main character: wears green plad w/ black dickeys or jeans w/ one pants leg rolled up w/ black timberlands for early 90s look.

*possible variations of wardrobe for diff scenes?*

-others: foam core boards on their faces w/ dead smiley face avatars drawn on them reflecting their thoughts and emotions. 

(foam core faces show what everyone looks like in main character's imagination as he daydreams about them while in contact with everyone.) Main character is an escapist. He daydreams to cope with bland moments of his life.

Possible areas to shoot:

-grafftti murals:

-behind Circle K

-side of High Tone near apartment complex. There are spots-steps,other access points to areas- that allow me to shoot a great distance above characters. (Shooting from high perspective suggests that time is watching over the characters.)

-Dorm/main character's bedroom

-maybe sleeze and slime & various classrooms (for capturing redundancy of main character's daily routines)

-Poplar(across from Overton Park in front of Circle K)-I plan to do a scene of the main character crossing the street. 

This will show how- according to the time theory-focusing on his negative emotions about crossing the street increases 

the lameless of trying to complete a task in this case, crossing the street.

 

 

matte example:

Ice Cube-Who's the Mack 1:42&2:14

Souls of Mischief-wipe example

wipe example

Artists: Souls of Mischief-93 Til Infinity

Black Moon-Who Got da Props 

clothing/character example

Refference

-camera techniques from early 90s movies and hip hop videos.

-clothes of main character mimic that of early 90s.

Settings

-wood trail behind school near zoo

-debris of building (can see going downtown)

-graffiti murals next to circle K

-Poplar(crossing light from Circle K) 

to address time and the character's desire to control time as a result of its annoyance to him.

Another Prop

making a short film 1min or few sec. film characters watch in movie. Make feel like we are looking into another world. Ex. Grand Theft Auto stations & TV channels in the game. 

Ex. favorite shows cartoons watch; Dexter's Laboratory-Justice League-esque superheroes

Visual Devlopment

props: foam core with crude drawings on them.

-crude drawings serve as avatars for characters. 

-main character's perception of everyone else in film. This shows that he is daydreaming to cope with his monotnous reality. 

-Other characters only wear foam core from main character's perspective never their own. We'll only see main character's face.

Synopsis

While daydreaming in class, an escapist creates a theory that time can be controlled based on his comparisons of his daily monotnous and exciting activities. According to the theory, one can manipulate time based on his or her excitement and boredom in such activities as daydreaming. Does time control us in instances when one overworks their self to meet deadlines? What is time other than the system humanity uses to maintain functioning? How is time perceived outside of your social and cultural setting? 

After analyzing his theory, the character goes through trial and error situations to prove the time theory to his peers and eventually convinces them that it is true, however, his theory is disproved when he encounters a so called near death experience-passing out after eating what appears to be poisoned or spoiled food. While unconscious he assumes that he is dying and tries to prologue his death using the time theory. As he struggles to regain his conscious, he sees flashbacks of life and gives into the notion of death when he is suddenly waken up by one of his friends. The escapist is informed that he was dreaming, and passed out from smelling his own fart. Upset that time cannot be controlled, the escapist and his peers try to find a way to kill time.

Logline

After convincing peers that time can be manipulated, an escapist searches for solutions to kill time.

Genre

Sci-Fi/comedy

RESPONSE TO MAYA DEREN

Overall, I liked the film. What I liked the most was the music. The music combined with the quality of the black and white film created a morbid atmosphere, especially the deep humming when the cloaked figure appeared. What I also thought was interesting was at first we only see the silloette of the woman which made her seem in control of the her world up until the cloaked figure appeared. When her fear or emotions start to show the shift of control/power goes to the cloaked figure. I thought this was an interesting method of showing the shift of control.

IDEA PITCHES

For my film, I will portray time by showing the progression of an artist's art style. The individual will be headed towards a destination and throughout this journey, the individual will be turning into animations of his or her past styles up to the most recent, showing the progression of time.

My next concept will explore the killing of time. My theory is that one can manipulate time based on his or her emotions and actions such as daydreaming. Or does time control us in instances when one overworks their self to meet deadlines. What is time other than the system hunanity uses to maintain functioning.

williams_1.mov

Ideas for TIME Project

-showing progression/development of artist's style using: 

performance art

stop motion-character is trying to get to destination. as person is going to destination, he/she changes into diff phases of his/her style(art) in the progression of its development. 

-portray the killing of time

Theory: time can be manipulated based on our emotions & how much we do or don't know,or does it control us and how?

(about how much time is left), (concerns about meeting deadlines vs having nothing to do), (rushing vs taking your time)

tie other brainstorms into this

killing time(making self feel like time is passing faster) by daydreaming

- by breaking down reality

(what is time's connection w/ reality?) Time exists diff in imagination vs reality?

time's connection is control. (everyday use of time time as 3:00, pm, am, is what we established to maintain functioning.) So, time existed before us or started when documentation did.

-Do something with black holes or possible circumstances after being sucked into one?

black holes connection w/ time

-contrast btw youth adult (when younger, time seems to go by slower/ older time seems to go by faster)

portrayed: youth shot w/slower frame rate & older age shot with faster frame rate

Critique Write Up

I did not use any special materials for this project. My goal is to show a side of myself that I do not usually show to unfamiliar people. Through this assignment I wanted to loosen up and get comfortable with being on the camera. I have made pervious attempts but I was not satisfied with  most of them. One of them was just strange. Part of why I may be a little tense is because I sometimes censor myself. I wore a shirt that said please don't interrupt me while ignoring you to play off the idea of being in a public area and not caring about who's witnessing me in the strange behavior.

Quiz 01

Mise en scene is everything that is put in the scene inlcuding setting, decor, lighting, costumes, and performance.

A scene is a particular segment of a film, taking place in one time and place. A shot is a single stream of images uninterrupted by editing.

Editing is putting together clips of film into one filmstrip. Three techniques of editing are dissolving, elliptical editing, and continuity editing. 

DIGITAL CINEMA HMWK 1

I recorded myself repeating my four words while making random facial expressions and poses. I then copied and pasted different parts of the film to give it a sparatic,trippy effect. I've always been told that I look angry or troubled. In this film I wanted to show sides of myself contrary to those assumtions.
I was nervous throughout the entire process. On my previous recordings I was too tense, so I kept recording until I was satisfied. One of my biggest challenges is going to be loosening up on the camera. In some instances, I forgot to look into the camera. Another problem I'm dealing with is over thinking my ideas. I'd find myself spending too much time thinking about what to say and begin wasting time.
For future experiemnts I should consider manipulating the environments, to create different moods and atmospheres. Also, recording fron different perspectives adds interest.

4 WORDS IN SENTENCE

I'm day dreaming in class about day dreaming in the shower about piloting a gundam sniping people from space like SNIPE!

4 WORDS

GUNDAM SNIPE SPACE SHOWER

1/22/09 Ramdon Class Typing

 I/m sitting here in this classroom and I'm like man, this is the last class before I go home. Maybe I should make this interesing by day dreaming or something. Aiight. It'll be crazy if someone took a shower and pretended they were in a gundam cockpit, or if I had a Gundam that can snipe people from space. I would snipe people in space while they are taking craps. That's funny. What if I sniped someone from space, and they had tissue paper stuck in their butt.

List of Concepts and Links to Inspiration

Concepts:
-anime/manga
-comics
-vidoe games/arcades
-slice of life{ordinary people getting into random situations}
-old school/underground hip hop

Links to Inspiration:
-www.leseanthomas.com
-www.artcrimes.com
-nawls.com
-undergroundhiphop.com
-www.vgmusic.com
-www.shoryuken.com
-www.startdrawing.org

Comments on Inauguration

Watching the inauguration was inspiring because everyone of all races seemed united.It was amazing to see people of all races inspired by a black president. Not that this event is all about race. After all, Barrack Obama spoke as an American in all of his speeches and never referred to his ethnic background to separate himself or any race from another. This inauguration reflects how much race relations have improved and are continuing to improve in the US. I feel that the big picture is the influence Obama has on the world and the potential for positive changes.
Excuse my next comments. I know they are retarded. As Barrack Obama was speaking I noticed that his lining was slightly off. One of his side burns was pointed and the other was squared. Also, he stumbled in his words a little during the inauguration. Its not a big deal, but its just that I've never seen him do that before. I'm sure he had a lot of pressure on him. I would've been nervous too.