Proposal for Final media artifact.

I have decided upon creating a Triptych as during the mini briefs, it was definitely my favourite to work on, amongst the others, and wished i had more time to finish and develop it with more time i could have filmed so many more clips and been more creative with locations. 

My original idea, which i posted about his morning, well last night, I don't think will work, I get very confused with the Production Project and this, and which was which so, I think that confuse me a bit.

But now that i'm on the right track its inevitable that I definitely won't have the time to complete a Triptych Youtube narrative, especially to pull off my idea within two week, as getting contributors within the time frame would be impossible, and with the weather being so bad lately there would be a lot of risks within it.

SADFACE

SO, finally I have come up with my final concept, inspired by my favourite composition at the moment called 'Nocturne' 

I'm actually unsure of the composer, after researching for months, i'm still unsure, however here is the full track.

. It follows the journey of a cat, who only ever goes out of a night- hence the name 'Nocturne'- as soon as his owner goes to sleep. 

I do have another concept that, when I fell asleep, and my cat does, That when I awaken, I am in my cats body, and the journey would be me experiencing everything for the first time, such as the sharp lights and distant sounds, that humans cannot hear.

I'll use a Canon 600d and an LED, and probably a tripod, however as most of the shots, will be shot from a low angle I won't be needing it the majority of the time.

Clips i want to include:
POV shots of 'the cat' on his travels, such as walking out the house, and looking around,
crossing a road,
hearing distant sounds of birds,
or leaves blowing in the wind,
hiding under a car,
observing people walking,
waking up/going to sleep,
looking out the window.

I will also need an ECU of my eye closing, and then another of my cats eye opening, and using a light burst effect in Post production, it will give the effect as if I've woken up in his body, or if using the first idea, just a chapter point that a journey is about to begin- if that makes any sense.

I do want to incorporate sounds into this, so you get the notion of what is happening; hearing distant sound, and quick sharp movements.

I think until I get out and film, as well as not knowing what the weather will be like, knowing my luck it'll rain, but until then, I don't really want to story board anything. I know exactly what i want it too look like, however, with not filming and editing an awful lot, I would like to experiment different shots, such a shallow depth of fields with lights, and CU's of things we as people don't normally recognise, which cats do.

Ideas for my Final media Piece

The Triptych mini brief was by far the most enjoyable, however having missed the opportunity to create an interactive narrative through Youtube annotations I want to combine the two together.
Most of my ideas around split screen are based around the idea of two people meeting through two different times, or lifestyles and then coming together. During the session a few weeks back we watched a Triptych video called 'Love Story' which i loved, because It was two peoples lives contrasted, but the way they were filmed was identical, and very refined, and at the end of the journey they met.


I remember seeing a short film called 'Signs' (Link Below), It is a 12 minute film with no dialogue, about a lonely guy, bored with his repetitive job who starts communicating with a woman in next building across form him using written signs and eventually they met each other.

I loved the whole concept around this, and thought I could use this as inspiration to create a Love story between to people, who write notes to each and send gifts through a mail box, however, to make it interactive, you can choose which items they sent, and what they write to each other, and in each path will come a different scenerio.

My idea is greatly inspired by the Film 'The Lake House' too, where two people connect and communicate wih eachother through letters, who are in two different time zones, being 2 years apart, but happening at the same time, but she uses her letters to rewrite his fate, which is exactly what I'd want to do using the interactive narrative on Youtube.

Although id this doesn't turn out, seems though It is A LOT of work, and a lot of people who i'd have act are going to be busy, it could create a big risk in the production. However, I know I do still want to create a Triptych.
  

Youtube Annotations

Having not been in for the actual lesson introducing us to the topic and brief, it was difficult for me to understand why there was a brief set about this, as from my knowledge Youtube annotations are just pop up comments used by people who do vlogs and videos to just add to their own comments at certain points to the video or simply to expand or comment on something that they mentioned during it. In most cases they are used for linking its audience to other videos in relation to the video itself or link to advertisements or video responses that other users have made and have linked to the video. 

However, once i'd looked at the prezi on blackboard I started using the links to research the different kinds of Interactive Youtube videos. A lot of them, such a the Jamie Oliver 'Give me a slap' video, primarily just for Play seemed just completely pointless. There were quite a lot of these examples listed, which i don't understand the purpose for them. I think most of the time Youtube users switch off the Youtube annotations button off, I know i do, because a lot of the time they are useless and annoying pop ups that get in the way of videos.

However, When looking into the Story element of Annotations I seemed to be less pointless, and more intriguing. The video below of 'Choose a different ending' was a really great concept to look at especially as i personally didn't think this could be achieved on Youtube(shows how much i know about recent technology) but I thought it was a great idea, considering how many people nowadays use Youtube, and bring in a more profound element of interactivity, instead of just comment and video responses, its audience can inevitably choose how the story unravels, using numerous outcomes and paths using these annotations within each chapter of the story. 

I really like the idea of of the story unravelling, but after looking at a few examples using this notion of letting the audience being the decision maker, it was apparent that a lot of these involved a moral dilemma, and really questioned peoples morality, such as in this interactive story, about a Zombie Apocalypse, where you are asked to either let a man in, or leave him to die.

I think If I was to create a narrative using annotations i would use these as inspiration more than i would a campaign using then for advertising and links to further inspiration, because i love the fact stories are becoming more virtual and interactive. 

Having looked at the whole horror aspect producing this based around that theme would be the best route to take, however, if i wanted to be more creative I'd want to expand the idea from an old fairytale, however, mixing it up a bit to change the stories path into several different outcomes.

Isadora

Well, Isadora, I knew from the start of hearing the names I wasn't going to like, or understand this software. 

The concept around it is mainly a graphic software which manipulates media to create stunning real-time interactive visuals, sounds and environments. Although this is a brilliant software, i think to me if is mostly relevantly used within  Dance shows, concerts and festivals.It brings Audio and visuals and brings them together to interact with each other to create sequences. I was looking through Vimeo for inspiration on the software and came across this video, which i think demonstrates just how effective the software is for using it sided with music .

Study for a shadow from Annalisa Terranova on Vimeo.

For our mini brief we were asked to create an Isadora Project inspired by Halloween. Right up my street!
It didn't take my group- Mark, James, later joined by Emma- to come up with ideas for this. We finally decided that we wanted to play on the idea of how somebody was in charge of somebody's fate, sort of like the concept around the film of 'The Cabin in the Woods'. Where somebody was in charge of controlling different outcomes of a 'paranormal experience' which was shown through the effect of a CCTV camera.

Using the software we were able  to create a sequence where by pressing the number keys on the keyboard, you could control numerous videos showing this experience. During filming we used one camera positioned quite high up in the corner of a room, to create the angle of a CCTV camera, and then filmed different scenarios of paranormal behaviour such as; a door slamming on its own:

Lamp switching on and off (this was quite funny to create, as i was crouched into a tiny corner behind the coach with a sheet on myself switched the lamp, it took a few shots as the lamp kept falling over onto my head(not fun) as it was balancing on the arm of the sofa) 

A flickering clip of myself(the ghost in the corner) appearing and then disappearing.
and other clips of the sort. Mark was kind enough to edit the CCTV footage effect on after effects.

I watched the tutorials that were linked from the download website, however, watching them all, I was still confused about the whole thing, I experimented with some of the videos, but every time it just wouldn't seem to work for me, however Mark and James helped me understand the concept and how to link them together, which i was grateful for, even though i still don't fully grasp it all.

It seemed easy enough and our layout was quite simple for the sequences to be connected

I mean, although this is a wonderful software to create amazing visual performances, I do feel like, with me fully not grasping the concept for what I want to create in the future, I won't be wanted to use it in the future.

Here a DropBox link to all the videos we created

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tfkts8wawl4dg87/kCRQk3PYk9#/

QR Coding

For Creative Media Practice, we were to create a short QR code storytelling experience. I'm not a huge fan of QR coding. Though mainly being used as advertising and promoting, i think a lot of the time they are being misused. Not to mention they look ugly and personally I think lack creativity. They seem to be popping up everywhere increasingly. Having said this i still do not think they are extremely popular with people as i do not feel they are inclined to use them most of the time. Usually people are more compelled to use them if they see 'Free download' or for getting more information on thins such as bands or links to competitions.

Having said this QR codes, aside form used as adversing can be used creatively in producing more visual information. I loved the idea that a Polish Museum came up with using QR codes in their campaign. People that visited the museum could use their phones to scan the codes on the paintings, a visual story could appear on screen and act out scenes from the paintings and bring the whole museum to life. This is a lovely example of using the codes to engage people into something people would normally find boring, but bringing it to life, gives a whole new element to the paintings, making people more intrigued and excited to learn more about it. Its a great way for children, who are very technology driven to be more involved within art.  

Having looked at more unique examples of using QR codes on the prezi, the idea of of QR codes on Tombstones, yep, tombstones came up. I was a little bit thrown by the idea, because I;d never imagine having something like that on anybody's grave. Having said that though, looking into some of the examples, I think its quite a special way of honouring somebody through a websites for example.It gives visiting loved ones’ graves a more rewarding and satisfying experience, especially as these websites could be updated regularly,. As well as the fact these memories would never fade. I guess a tribute to a loved one would be quite heart warming, however I do think an ugly qr code on a headstone would sway me off the idea.

 From this idea myself, Becca and Gemma formed a group and started looking at idea to form an idea of creating memories. At first our idea was to create a family tree, where people could use the codes to get more information on a person. However, for obvious reasons this may have proved difficult to do within a few hours.

Our second idea was to make a photo album. I personally loved the idea, as instead of images presented within a book, it was QR codes which would link you to images, video and music in relation to certain moment in ones life. We decided to go for 4 different 'big moment' in somebody life, which would usually be featured in a photo album/ life album; Birth, First Kiss, Wedding, First Child, Retirement,

For each of these we deciding to use a couple qr codes relevant to the life memory.

For Birth, we linked the code to a Google map location of a hospital, where our character (Lizzy Parker) was born.

For the first kiss memory, a link to a photo of their kiss, as well as a link to a spotify music track that reminded her of it.

For her Wedding chapter, a code that took the audience to the wedding video, uploaded onto YouTube; and another code that spoke the vows the couple took ( though the voice did sound a bit like Dracula)

For the First born baby memory would link to a calender event of the due date of the baby, with another code linking to the ultrasound scan on Youtube!

Finally for the retirement code, am adorable video of the couple in retirement. playing the piano together.

I really wish I'd taken a photo of the book we created, however, I did forget, so I included some of the codes here to remind you of a few that I'd had saved. Overall, I do think the idea of using QR codes as getting more information and using them as permanent memories are a brilliant idea, especially in this modern era, where photo albums and books are becoming less popular. Even though i'm quite traditional and love looking as photographs in front of me, and not uploaded onto the internet.

Autumn Triptych completed.

It was the perfect time to go out filming and capture the crisp leaves in St. Johns park, however, we had to create some form of narrative to. So with that in mind, we decided to create somebody's typical day in town, travelling, showing different things inspiring autumn.

With it being split screen, it was essential to use creative camera angles as well as the narrative visually making sense.

When editing we went to use Adobe After Affects however, it took a long time for the clips to capture and render as the camera we used was full HD. So with that we found that Adobe Premiere was much better to use, as well as having better understanding of the software, so we could be more creative, with effects, in a shorter space of time, within the deadline.

It proved quite simple to create the split screens, however then only downfall was the rendering time, in which we did not have time to get in all the clips we would have wanted to, also changing the colour saturation. Regarding that, if we were to have more time, it would have been more complex, and to expand it it, could have infused more of the autumn events such as Halloween and bonfire night. It was also a shame we couldn't incorporate the sounds of some of the clips, such as the crunching of leaves and the rain falling which I think would have added more depth into the clips and allowing the audience to focus more on the individual clips. I really wish we could have had more time to develop and finish this properly as it was quite rushed, piling all the clips to complete it in time. I think in the future i;d like the evolve it into a longer film, and work more with effects.

Here's our final product, which i think turned out rather well- Its also my favourite song, Ed Sheeran- Autumn Leaves (pretty much the perfect song for our film)

Triptych Idea

Having absolutely no idea what it was when I heard it, I wasn't so enthusiastic to try it, however, when i learned it was just 'split screen' my view had changed.

I love the idea of narratives being told through multiple screens.

Our brief was to create a narrative across three screens; but within one computer monitor.

The only split screen i could think of that i already knew of was 'Hey there Delilah' by Plain White T's

I liked the multiple narrative playing at the same time. Which led us to think up our idea.

Myself, Gemma and Becca, had an idea of doing an Autumn inspired video considering it has just approached.

We then all listed ideas of what we could include within it. I suggested we keep to a theme, so being Autumn i thought it'd be nice to have Orange as a colour theme.

As with that, Leaves, and pumpkins and halloween. came to mind. We then began to think of other creative shots we could include within this, to give it more depth, as we wanted more than 3 clips playing on the screen at one time. We listed ideas such as;

Coffee- the steam coming off it in a CU shot would looks great, mixed with one's breath from the cold weather

Halloween- pumpkins, leaves twigs, children playing, costumes, nightimes, moon, earie feel 

Bonfire Night- fireworks, spearklers, binfire, gloves, friends, gathering

Rain/Umbrellas- raindrops falling, puddles, umberella shadows

Fire/Candles- flames, orange light, warmth

Its all coming to an end.

So, the final year, I can't believe how quick the past 2 years have gone. As much as I've hated all the work an stress of deadlines, I have absolutely loved my experience at uni so far, and i will be really upset when it all comes to and end, because after that I'll have to choose a path, and being the most indecisive person ever, its going to be a hard decision.

 

Just think in 6 month time i will have finished all my work, It's actually quite terrifying that i'll have to go into the real world, and actually get a job, AHH. Though part of me is quite excited about it.

I've got really good feeling about this final year, I've made some amazing friends, and can't wait to spend more time with them this year. Even though its actually just dawned on me that I have so much work to do, including an 8000 word dissertation and then a main media artefact for my Production Project(which I'm quite looking forward too!) and then other, but I'm not too worried about them!

My summer was great, especially doing the 2 week placement at Lime Pictures. I'd never actually watched Hollyoaks prior to going, well I had but it was about 4 years ago, so i was a bit worried about how that might pan out. Having said this, after my time there, I'm now the biggest fan! I can't stop watching it. I also got put in charge of designing their promotion posters for the '6 weeks of summer' period, which was amazing. I did get thrown in the deep end form the first day, but i think that's what motivated me more to do well and try to impress them. I got to do a lot of Photoshop work which i was extremely pleased about! 

Here's a few posters i created for them. Its not really my style, but it's what they asked for!

Moving into this final year, I want to prove to myself that i can work hard, as last year i know i didn't try my best, and i let work slip under and pile up. I'm going to try and not to leave everything till last minute, though i know i will, because i say that every single year since I've started. However this year involved a lot of independent study, which I'm thrilled about.

I prefer working by myself as I get far to distracted working in a team, and I do have a tendency to want to take over, or get irritated if i don't like an idea. I just think being able to focus on my own work will improve my work, and it'll allow me to be more creative within my ideas and skills- as a lot of the time, when working in a group, you have to share processes such as editing or filming, and well i never usually get the chance to fully focus on editing. So it'll be nice to experiment this year- especially as in this module, we'll be focusing on some new techniques which I'm excited about!