Baby Oil Reflection

Working on the set of Baby Oil was a rewarding experience that allowed me to meet people, learn about how film sets work, and organize a green room. I also found an old man who may or may not have been dead on the side of the road and I called 911 for him. He hadn’t moved in two days. Seemed like the right call. My neurotic brain is wondering if I could have gotten to him sooner.

My role included moving lots of furniture, organizing clothing items, purchasing clothing items as well as hair and makeup items, labeling items, and organization items, preparing for “what ifs”, creating an organization plan, researching hair and clothing from the 70’s decade (specifically before 1977 and after 1970), assisting in the art department, creating a space for the green room, assisting with catering when needed, coordinating with the actors, accidentally thrifting in bad neighborhoods and then driving like an old woman with my head down, and constantly working and doing everything I can in any and every situation. There was more that I did, which I am sure I will compile into a resume and/or presentation binder for my future endeavors once my mental acuity is restored.

I also learned that Pokemon Go is making the world almost as distracted as me. I look forward to this exciting transformation upon the realization that Maura clones will soon rule the world. 

Blog 14 - Film Beatz

I learned a great deal from this workday.

For starters, I love portraits. I also learned how satisfying it is to take tiny little moments and create a rhythmic video with them.

Secondly, I think you can create an abstract story with little snippets of time, (as well as lighting and unusual patterns you catch with your camera). I enjoy movement with the camera in unusual ways and think it can create meaning, or, find meaning in simplicity. I like to find little patterns.

I didn't write this post on this day because honest to God I spent all day working on the assignment. I went to Port City Java covered in blood and the lady freaked out and called her manager because I was in a pleasant mood and I suppose this scared her and it was kind of awesome.

It was interesting how, in a way, vulnerable this assignment makes you, but ultimately I was really happy with what Viet and I created. I had to steal a copy of his in fact. :)

Microcinema Plan - Art dept! - Blog 18

 Here is our flyer:

One Nightstand - It's a cinemaffair!

Today Kyndall and I went shopping.

We have all our supplies and tomorrow we create!

We also have prizes for corn-hole.

They essentially are morning after things and silliness.

We will be decorating with red and black: red roses, red goodie bags, etc.

We have a red backdrop for the photobooth, and are collecting items. We also have playing cards and I was planning on decorating an air mattress with sheets, prizes, etc. if that is acceptable.

Tomorrow we create :). And, programs! Lots of programs. :)

Title & Logline

Proximity

A psychological interpretation of relative distance.

Starring the one and only, Viet Nguyen.

Blog 17

Microcinemas are beautiful in the sense that they can project art in any casual setting.

And a multitude of art - not just films - the sky's the limit. Really, though, if it rains, that's your limit.

Personally I think they are more enthusing than actual movie theaters (although even IMAX is becoming outdated).

But I remember enjoying installations and projections at Jengo's in 302, and that scene made me realize how lovely it is - and that, sometimes, screens and buildings and those red boxy seats are actually limiting - and the poor consumerist doesn't realize it until faced with the intricacies of simplicity - and it makes you see how naive you've been, and blinded with products - and this is a wonderful realization to come by.

And I certainly think we should embrace microcinema. It's such a beautiful little secret.

Well - to me it feels like a secret. I have just barely come by it. But I am happy to have.

Blog 15 - Blocking Plan

Here is our current working plan:

Right now we all are working on our prospective planning and idea-making for our roles. We have a google doc we are communicating through and have been expressing our ideas and progress. Tomorrow we meet up with the resources we have found and finalize the plan, including location, time/date, and actors.

I've created a casual look-book of the costume design and visual aesthetic, and with input from group members, it includes aspects of Turbo Kid, Suicide Squad, and fun, gritty textures. Knox is securing location, Viet is producering, Ian is working on script and vision, and Paul is preparing equipment. We have agreed on "The End of the World" for song choice, potentially the cover by The Suicide Machines. So far the overall design appears to be taking a punk-ish turn. But that's also flexible depending on the direction Ian wants to take the film.

Turbo Kid

Suicide Squad

I've been communicating with GoreDolls in the hopes of booking their models, and have been receiving positive responses.
Here is the site for reference:

https://www.facebook.com/goredollsproductions/

I am hopeful that I will have a few of these beautious creatures on-set, but if not, we have the general aesthetic and I have plenty of supplies. I will be reaching out to other models/actresses that I feel have an alternative presence and can evoke darkness. Tomorrow I will be experimenting with saran wrap and tin foil for the sci-fi qualities as well. Tonight I lay out my supplies and have made a plan for what I will purchase tomorrow.

 ....Annnnnd, guess who just found her hidden garbage bag full of paints, blood, hair gels I used for Harley Quinn, and zombie spray :).

I also have a fake IV sac full of blood. I don't know where that came from. I can cut it and insert it in someone's shirt so when they clutch their heart blood comes gushing out.

Blog 13 - Title & Logline & Reflection

Metamorphosis

A juxtaposition of life and death, Metamorphosis reveals beauty in pain we don't wish to see.





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I am intrigued with death and semi-gothic themes, not because I've succumbed to nihilism or anything, but because I've realized rose glasses don't make it disappear. Since 18 my favorite quote has been, "Vivre la vie en rose". Literally it means, "to live life in pink", which in theory translates to living life with rose tinted glasses.

In a way I am a color dichotomy; I am attracted to bright, punk pastel hues, to which I credit my self-proclaimed optimism, my slice of sweet heaven. And then I jump to deep, vampire reds, gritty textures, and an omnipresent gray scale that seems to whisper ghost-like tunes. To these colors I credit my passion, curiosity, and empathy.

I believe in pain. But I also believe in hope too.

The French language developed interest in me upon the realization that I can speak in code. It's like speaking little truths in secret and no one deciphers unless they want to.

In high-school I found a little folklore band called Delta Rae, and my attachment to the intensity of their music ignited a little spark in me, that was truly always there, but perhaps dulled out. And parts of me previously turned away turned into drive for existence.

I crave work that reveals pain, because there is a rawness to it; an unapologetic admission of truths and souls most forgotten. I like to acknowledge pain, and in this unorthodox, I think there is beauty in it too. Appreciating pain is my own form of optimism. It's like saying: here is something I know; I want to know more, but I breathe strength in having known it.
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These rhythmic edits are devilishly charming. Today Viet and I head to his place and the graveyard for shooting, where I suppose I will be frolicking and handing out flowers to some unknown friends.

Psst.

Here is the song I fell in love with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bimam2j2gEg

And here is my dub idol version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4GkNw-8-90


We were required to have accompaniment. So I picked out a nice trashcan.

Blog 12

Today we completed a lot of work.

More than expected. So we are ahead of schedule.

Currently our animation is complete and we will use the rest of our time on the soundscape.

We projected the aging process using cutouts and charcoal, and concluded the imagery with animation by sand.

We also sequenced the sections together. I am in the edit lab as we speak!

My group meets tomorrow to create what we hope will be a beautiful soundscape.

After 12 hours of work, I am casually turning into one of those crazy cat ladies who walks into film festivals and sneaks her films into the screenings.

I suppose I should sleep.

Yes, I will do this. :)

Blog 11

My group and I worked hard together and successfully finished our first section of our animated piece.

After hours of adjusting minute details, I am proud of the work we have done thus far, and am excited for the remaining parts.

We ended up choosing charcoal because we wanted to create a world that is continuously adding on top of itself around the creature. 

I also have learned that I am capable of focus sans meds when it is a creative task. This was a valuable lesson for me to learn and I can utilize this to my advantage.

We added a lot of detail, not because we had to or anything, more because it was awesome and it just seemed better that way. Although I like that we had that requirement because I love detail so I was smiling in my brain.  

For the remaining days we will complete sections 2 and 3 on Thursday, 4 on Friday, and we will create our soundscape over the weekend.

Blog 10

Today I learned that you can create a pretty solid looking animation on an iPhone.

I also learned several different methods of creating animation and was able to experiment with these in my group.

Working hands-on is a helpful way to learn. I think this is probably the most effective way to remember information.

The apple boxes and sandbags were an interesting and effective way to set up these stations and I am processing all these things to acquire in the future for my room. 

These tricks are helpful to learn for independent projects. And I love independent projects. I am very excited for my group's project, not just for the product itself, but for the process of learning these creative outlets for the future.

Blog 9 - Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

The concept of my group's animation is the cycle of life.

Inspired by the great Mapplethorpe's surreal take on his own deterioration in his final stages of life, Metamorphosis will juxtapose the life of a butterfly with the aging process of a human. The goal is to show beauty and sadness in combination.

Our plan is to use charcoal and sand to incrementally display transpiration as a living creature is fading away... We also hope to use newspaper cutouts for the human face so we can more effectively manipulate and convey the process of aging.

The piece is broken into four parts:

The first stage will project the development of a cocoon into a butterfly.

The second and third stages will follow the growth and deterioration of a human into dust (sand).

And the final stage will reveal the grown butterfly perching on the dust and coyly floating away.

Here are examples for stylistic inspiration by Robert Mapplethorpe:

And, finally, here are our collective storyboards we created together as a group.


Stage 1 - James - cocoon to butterfly

Stage 2 - Maura - birth to adult 

Stage 3 - Kyndall - Adult to deceased (dust)

Stage 4 - Dust to flight (butterfly path of action)

Blog 8

Perhaps the most valuable lesson I have learned from class is that it is okay to be interested in and driven by many things; a fusion of elements, in a sense.

I feel myself relating to this path, as I do not feel anchored to any one path, but rather, to a multitude of my passions.

I find myself connecting to the journey that leads to passion. Whether this journey is led by dance or song or performance art is irrelevant, because to me, the feeling is what truly matters.

Film-making is beautiful because in it's own lovely way, it connects many channels and transforms them into one. It can pinpoint beautiful moments and manipulate the way we perceive them; or it can take those same moments and reveal fragments of truth.

While I am ambiguous as to how I will earn my money, I find myself gagging at the thought of my mother nagging me to pursue a more conventional job. At the same time, I would like to sever my financial chain with my family to form my own self-sufficiency, so I am driven to unfold a means of living.

It is interesting the way that money controls people. Even artists nowadays seem begrudged with the burden of acquiring money, of pleasing others, of creating an appeal. Ethics and personal judgment are seemingly altered by this craving, and often, need or desperation for survival.

Passion is more valuable than money to me.

But passion in this world is being deteriorated by power. Because for some strange reason, little green slips of paper indicate power.

I think this is why it's so darn important to keep passion alive.

And happiness. I suppose it's all about finding a balance.

I also feel like 20-something's nowadays are having mid-life crises earlier in life. But it feels like this gets better.

Sound Journal - 4 - Sound in Darkness - Blog 7

Here is a sound I described in stillness.
I will call it Ghost.



A cold is present in darkness.

It feels with your ears.

A resounding sound that tells you.

It will be okay.

He likes to hide in shadows.

She likes to be unseen.

He likes to sit in corners.

She runs in alleyways.

She creates in color.

He unties his wrists.

He shakes off his bagged face.

She presents her mask.

She absorbs the pressure.

As he dissipates.

Sound Journal - 3 - Puking Sound - Blog 7

Air whispers.

Safely.

Cautiously.

It brushes against the cold of the room.

A device rumbles. Puking sound.

But not too hard.

It explodes and returns to the ambiance.

And footsteps speak. They join the party.

A secret world. An untold story.

Water drips. In secrecy.

An outlier. An outsider. An unwanted leak.

And nothing waits.

It shares its' turn.

Safely.

Cautiously.

Blog Journal # 2 - Blog 6

The birds hesitate to sing.

A flowering of language.

The chains threaten them in the distance.

And so they soften their tune.

As footsteps inhabit their home.

They quiet their laughter.

They smile in increments.

But the wind cradles them.

It warns them of the nothing.

And their speech begins to bloom.

For now they can exist.

Sound Journal # 1 - Blog 6

A light hum erupts the room.

Chatter is scarce and underwhelming.

As laughter builds, it screams at me.

And impales the glittering silence.

But silence does not fight back.

But lays down and absorbs the violence.

And suddenly.

Quiet.

And fragments of it breathe.

And some beauty cannot fight back.

But shines when it has mercy. 

Blog 5

I have learned that sound can be a source of isolated enjoyment.

It's as if you are closing your eyes when enjoying the delicacies of a chocolate piece of cake.

Either you can engage all of your senses. Or you can isolate one of them. And truly enhance the experience. 

I find myself relating most to reduced listening. I think it is perhaps the most serene to simply listen to your surroundings, and truly, authentically, take them in.

Sometimes I find myself shutting out the world, and enjoying its' simplicity.

I think this is a divine way to enjoy the fabrications and textures of stillness.