Playing The News

Off of my original topic, this is something interesting I have stumbled upon. Playing The News presents new ways for people to get involved with issues in the community. (follow the address since I can't get the video to work) :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ-37RZPVUQ

I find this to be an interesting way of presenting potentially serious issues. This is from the Knight News Challenge grant project at the University of Minnesota.

Another interesting site I have found(again, just re-type the link):

http://civic.mit.edu/projects/community/playing-the-news

This site has a massive collection of projects and all the links to the people involved. I can only imagine the level of change this could incite in the way of film and graphics if such a world were creatable from the same means. A whole new cyberspace of seeing.
http://psychology.about.com/od/phobias/f/dis_phobiadef.htm

A potential list of phobias for my production piece coming up soon. Not playing too apparent of an angle, these will be (at least one of them) part of the "main character's" personality. I am thinking of Papyrophobia or a made up fear of metal.

In addition, I will be studying several episodes of the "Three Stooges" for the aspect of humor and working this in with the aspect of mental ailments. True experimentation and results will be realized upon the shooting days (and of course in post).

In light of media past

Proof that digital technologies has lead to new doors for media art is still apparent today, with giant screens in modern cities being one example. This leap in media art has also given new opportunities to the common man, jobs included, since it's inception (like MTV). This is a good shift to me and I hope it will continue. Another helpful fact is the revealing of cultural values in entertainment through such media and, at least for me, letting us figure out ways that we can make or break a certain medium or aspect of it. Spatial warping within the frame has been one way we can make or break a medium, and since this is held as one the main values of cinema and photography, has been done since earlier years.

The visual trends are rather interesting to watch, be they use of kaleidoscopic images or colored images. The creation of a simultaneously real and fake world (the "hybrid spaces") in accordance with a particular theme is a favorite of mine, and one that I hope to incorporate in future works. Compressing a large space (like the distance around the world) into one seemingly connected frame space is not so used today, but is still an interesting montage. Using animation to create a flat and seemingly 3D world is a very entertaining branch of visual trends that has lead to great festivals, like Annecy, allowing artists to push the envelope of animation of many media. I look forward to what this could create in future companies. Flash is a good program for anyone who wants to create such work of their own, but this is one program that I still need to learn to use.

Web Cinema has become easier for people to gain access to, and yet this creates the problem of a lack of innovation for some. The web, and computers in general, have a great potential for breaking the laws of any medium to create a whole new medium with more immersive properties. Works that can incorporate live footage in tandem with the presented work are interesting to watch, and especially take part in.

It is with these new ideas and developments that make me wonder just when we will stop having innovative ideas that relate to the styles and/or technologies we choose to incorporate. To me, the creative aspect lies in the breaking of rules and mixing of styles. Perhaps the hybrid we create will blow our minds for a while.

Future of the Feature Response a.k.a. On Film in the Hands of the Common Man

The early advances of cameras lead to many types of cinema presentation as well as diverging paths from the norm. The culture of society had just as many affects on films as people advocated "real" and "unreal" scenes. The movement of Dogme 95 established a set of rules or "vows" to counter the farther out idea of film.This process was helped by the availability of cameras to the directors (sometimes using a lot of them at once). Personally, I am still slightly confused about Dogme 95 as a genre of film and what it truly tried to connect to as "authentic," but such works did provide experimentation in the world of film.
When the projects like the "Blair Witch Project" rallied the common man to take up the camera as well, this lead to a more personal and often more dramatic look into political issues and the way a film could have been and was directed. When this type of filming was combined with the element of art and "elastic reality" in post, this opened up even more ways to portray one's point, whatever it may have been. I agree with this since this is the technique I use in my works, just with a bit more fancy of camera and software.
I like the concept of the frame being used as an aesthetic device while also being a potentially limiting factor. This goes along well with the style of showing communication (between the actors and the scenes of the film) in bits and pieces. With the distribution power of the internet and the attention one could garter for their work, it is now easier than ever to show off what one has done and look for ways to do more.

Database Narratives

In my opinion, if the parts of a story are interchangeable according to the experience of the viewer, then this adds a personal element to the mix that can make a story more memorable. The structure of databases in relation to stories is difficult to see, but it is always a structure we can sense. The rules of these "structures" can be so different that defining them would ruin the story element in some parts, and even in defining them as related to the cell structure of this or that only furthers the speculation of complexity and only draws out the point somewhat. The computer has been so crucial in this, among other technological inventions, that the entertainment will keep changing along with the development of the technology. Personally, though, I look forward to the potential dynamic changes the future stories will have for us and how much the common man can and/or will have access to the new art mediums. Within the ever expanding web of possibilities of merging culture with interactivity perhaps lies a way to better the world through the hands of those who exist at the most basic level within it and its various societies.

YESSS!!!!

The documentary is finally done. Although the result is not exactly the way I had visioned it, the project is complete nonetheless. I was unable to acquire the footage I wanted but this taught me an excellent lesson of how to work with what files I had on hand. I pray this works for the long run as well as other times now.

Hopefully I will also be able to find some time to draw for fun and will be fleshing out my idea for my possible senior project or sooner project, but a good idea still. Wish me luck! :3

Upon the perfect triangle

I am confused at this point as to how to draw an equilateral triangle without any tools. More on that later though.

I am 1/3 of the way through my documentary process although the rest of the process of replacing or placing clips may get a bit muddled. So far the clips look solid though. I just hope the other projects, which require a make-shift green screen, go well software-wise.

I hope I am not getting sick. I have been feeling a bit of hard breathing lately, but that might just be the weather. Anyway, more on these processes as soon as I find out more.

Con Adventures

Well, I have returned from Naka-Kon and have secured a guinea pig for my future film, except it may take a bit longer than I thought to procure the communication. Nonetheless, I shall persevere and complete the task. Hopefully by Wednesday I shall achieve communication.

Many things bought from the convention and at least $250 down the drain, but good stuff either way. The yaoi panel was wonderfully entertaining and if proof gets out onto facebook or what have you, you will see so. ;3 In hindsight, I should have bought more yaoi for myself and spent more time wandering in random fashions than resting in the room, although the beds were nice and warm. I also found out how ichy fake beards can be and how awesome they can look (also making me look 10 years older).

Anywho, I hope this week turns out well and is productive. Blessed be til next we meet.

Naka-Kon and interesting events

So this weekend is the Naka-kon convention that I have been dying for since last month (even earlier than that technically but really planning for since last month). I hope I can finish my costume in time (hopefully using the easier of the two I have). There is even going to be a masquerade ball too!

Group/collaborative work is getting to be difficult due to so many schedule conflicts between us. I am willing to do as much as I can but with living at home it can prove hard at times. Still, I do what I can and will go as far as need be to help the group.

On a side note, I hope that I am not dragged too thin in relation to my friends this week, since I have three wanting my time.

Interviews and processes

It still amazes me how much work is required for a successful interview to go off without a hitch (or even a hiccup). The amount of research that is required for knowing the intended subject's story and history is much more than I remember. I would tend to take more of an intuitive approach to my interviews and wish to empathize more with my subject to promote more conversation, since loose conversation can lead to more depth to the core subject being discussed (and even to subjects that can be awkward or embarrassing). I also try to ask questions that have longer answers and I encourage a thoughtful response, even if this takes a bit more time to consider. Still, the style of interview would be adapted according to the person and situation and I understand the discipline and art that goes into the interview and that it takes much practice to get it right and for it to seem second nature. For me it has not been difficult to understand how the interviewee feels and how to best react/interact with them for best results.
"It was probably the peanut butter," said the grape salad.

To walk

It is always at one point downtown, near 13th and Wyandotte street, that I begin to wonder about the weight of my steps and the repetition as I pound the concrete the iron steeds travel on. Perhaps it is strange that I miss the thick blanket that used to cover those giant steel trees. I suppose it feels comforting within my nostalgia (among whatever else is floating in the grey matter mortals call a brain. :3

In relation to film's voyeurism

To those that this would concern,I recently read an article about colonialism in film. To me, film is like a history book, portraying the subjects in relation to those we want to see as the victors. It is shocking at times and subtle in others, but overall a necessary, if sometimes unavoidable, aspect that film (both digital and non-digital) has created. Such a diversity of the viewers' identification, for whatever reason behind the set(s) is half the challenge and the fun of digital film.Doesn't this create an interesting mix of feelings and impressions? One of the wonders that digital film is made of, I suppose.

Official first post is yet to come, but random rants are always appreciated.