Metamorphosis

For FDN020 I had to create a project based on my specialism (Media production) and create something that represents the theme. For my group in the project we had to create something using "labanotation" a notation system for recording movement. I decided to think outside the box and draw a labanotation diagram and create a set of movement for drinking a can of pepsi.

The images below show metamorphosis and I have chosen them because it shows transformation from one thing into something else, like a humans head transforming to become insect like. and trees growing out of a bear.

I think this image represents metamorphosis, because labanotation transforms into the act of movement. Or the act of movement can transform into labanotation.

Labanotation is always changing and becoming more refined between each person and allowing movement to be increased.

I think this image represents metamorphosis, because it shows the process of a cattapiller transforming into a butterfly. Which is the standard example used to show metamorphosis. One thing transforming into another.

I think this image represents metamorphosis, because the bear is transforming into something more than a bear and becoming more nature like instead of being in its original form.

I think this image represents metamorphosis, because the head starts off a a human and has undergone a process of becoming more insect like. Metamorphosis means change and this image shows it perfectly by a human becoming a insect.

My project

Maximum taste, no sugar

For my project I drew a labanotation chart to show a series of movement towards drinking a pepsi max. At the end I then included the movement to look at the camera.

On creating the project I found it quite difficult because of the limitations at place. Not only was it shot on a phone but the space and limitations of my choices of angles (because people would be in shot) made the video quite "unsatisfactory". However, what I intended to do with the video was to show a labanotation chart in my notebook and then transform that into the movement of taking the can of pepsi and drinking it. After it has been documented to bring it over to premiere pro and edit it. Lastly, now posting it on this blog.

What this has shown exactly is that my video has progressed from just a simple idea from a labanotation chart then transformed into physical movement and it has been documented by the phone camera. It was then lastly transformed with my editing software to combine the footage into 1 final creation.

If I had to do this project again without these limitations, I would make the shots types a lot more interactive and not so "closed in", I also would probably be able to include a lot more different shots inside of it to make it progress into something bigger than just a short video.

Sustainability

For my project on sustainability, I decided to go on a walk within covid-19 guidelines and tried to record the sound around me, like birds and the tree branches moving. However my phone and the software I used was unable to pick up the sounds around me. So I decided for my project to digitally create a soundscape to bring the nature to the people who are unable to access going outside.

I think this image represents sustainability because, it shows a beach in the background which is part of our natural earth. While showing water, a natural resource that our planet gives us.

I think this image represents sustainability because, it brings the environment on the forefront while also in the background you can make out that it is also part of our environment. The leaf being raised up, to me expresses how this image wants to emphasise how important the environment is

Sustainability Soundscape

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My project

Bringing the environment to you

For my project, I created a soundscape digitally by using a variety of Wav files, to make it as though you have gone for a walk through the forest with a waterfall coming into hearing view and out of hearing view.

On creating the project, I initially wanted to capture my own sounds and went on a walk and using a recording software on my phone, I tried to collect the natural sounds all around me, like birds and the rustling on tree branches from the wind. However, even with the recording software my phone was unable to pick up the sound.

So instead of giving up on the idea, I decided to make it digitally and taking what I heard on my walk, I looked for sounds like birds, the sounds of someone walking through leaves and stepping on twigs. I decided to really show sustainability more to include the sound of a waterfall coming into hearing view and out of hearing as the man continues on their walk.

I think I followed the project brief correctly by putting the natural world into focus and allow people who are unable to go outside to still experience what the world has to offer, with nature and its animals.

If I were to do this again, I would really like to be able to have the technology to pick up the sounds myself to capture the true essence of how relaxing and important our environment is.

I think this image represents sustainability because, because the framing of the shot shows the forest while the sun shines from above. The image only shows the environment while not showing anything else, like a person doing a selfie. So it just has the environment in focus and expresses how important it is.

Order and Chaos

For my project on Order and chaos, I created a monologue while using emotions that represent order and chaos. What I wanted to do was show how a mix of positive and negative emotions create balance between order and chaos.

However in summary, I learned how unexperienced I am in this aspect and used it as a means to learn and know what path I could go down if I wanted to develop it further.

I think this image represents Chaos more than order because the clouds represent there's a bit of bad weather coming and the arm coming out of the ocean shows they are in distress. I get the impression they are drowning and it can not represent order because of how much distress and negative the scenario is.

I think this image represents Order more than chaos because the rocks are neatly placed on top of each other and remaining balanced. The rocks are the only things in view as the background is hard to see. Showing that these rocks are the main focus and there is nothing shifting it.

I think this image represents order and chaos because the universe is very chaotic while also very much ordered.

My Project

Dredged Covid-19

For my project, I wrote a monologue. Before doing it I had to look at how to make a monologue and found that it was a obstacle I came across quite quickly. Being able to effectively write a monologue, but the general basis I followed was, each line of the monologue representing a different emotion going from a chaotic one to a more orderly one to show balance.

On the production phase of my project, I took images of me showing the emotion I am feeling along with the line of the monologue. What I learned was, it was hard to force the expression of the emotion I wanted to show and ended up taking a lot of series of photographs until I found I had showed it the best to my ability.

One thing I would do if I were to develop this further is try to extend the length of the monologue and also practice giving the facial expressions I want to and be a lot more expressive.

In the post production phase, what I did was edit the colours of the photo with more of the colour that represents the emotion, like red for Anger.

I felt finding a result I was happy with was very time consuming because of my colour vision, but I still think going by my research and what colour can represent each emotion I have been able to express what I wanted.

Overall if I were to develop this project further, I would practice to be able to create a more seamless facial expression, I would also develop monologue writing further to create something with better wording and much more impactful. Lastly, I would involve video instead of photography.

Art of Improvisation

For my project on "The Art of Improvisation" I approached it without any planning and have a full authentic on the fly production.

Instead of exchanging scores with other classmates, I decided to try something different for my approach to the brief. I used a word generator and with the words I got, I would take a photo or video of what I felt could represent the word.

This video of improvisation helped me understand the project more, because it informed me on the importance of not planning but just working with what you've been given and just creating something out of it. I also learned from it, that not to be too worried about the result but to enjoy the act of "doing the improvised act"

This video showing the use of improvisation in jazz, really helped make the idea of improvisation a lot more clearer. Because they break it down about how in music, when playing with others and improvising, you can really create your own piece of music. It relates well with the video above as well, because it's taking ideas from the people around you and creating things from it.

This video was a very informative video towards the art of improvisation. He gives nice insight on improvisation of being more open to failure and how failure just becomes natural for improvisation and gives the means to just do it again.

I also liked his exercise he did to make you understand improvisation more, by calling out little parts of a story and asking the audience "yes or no" and yes allows the story to be constructed, while all it takes is one "no" to block off improvisation.

My Project

Word Generated Guidance

For my project, Instead of exchanging scores with other people in my group. I decided to go for something else like the videos I have spoke about above.

I decided to follow the idea of when they are giving words and work with it and went forward with my project using a word generator.

So I looked online for a word generator and noted down the words it gave me like "Assembly" and followed the first thing that came to mind with the word the generator gave to me.

During the production phase it went quite well, but I made mistakes that I was unable to fix because it would be breaking the rules of improvisation. For example---> on some parts I have recorded portrait and in some of the others I recorded horizontal.

In the post production phase I just created titles of each word I got from the generator and placed the content afterwards of what I felt represented the word correctly atop of my head.

If I were to continue this process of taking ideas of the word generator, I find I would not change anything and maybe approach the words given from a different angle.

If I were to do this from a different angle like art, I would draw what I think the word means to me, for example if I got a word like sorrow, I would draw what the word sorrow would mean to me.

Lastly what I got from this development of the project was I got to understand improvisation a lot more and had to teach myself not to get stressed and make everything perfect. For example the portrait and horizontal shot differences, I realized if I reshot everything it would break the rules of improv and become more scripted.