This project for Creative Media Practice required us to
create a three minute audio sequence that would consist of a soundscape to go
over a 3 minute experimental film which we would then be required to film and
edit all based on the theme Sense Of Place. Before the project started we had
semesters and lectures that had given us an insight into an introduction of
experimental film and sound pieces that
had created different atmospheres.
Myself and Heather Hall decided to work together as we knew each other
and therefore could easily communicate well when needing to meet up to come
across different ideas and concept outlines for a piece.
The first
element we needed to explore was to come up with ideas that could make a
soundscape for the audio project. We drew out a mind map which explored sounds
and through this we came up with a concept idea which consisted of two parts.
The first part would consist of a set of sequences containing morning routine
sounds that you may find before your day starts. For example the sound of a
kettle boiling or the sound of someone picking up their keys, all the sounds
you may find when you're waking up and getting ready for the day. Critically
however the identity of the character in the audio project and the experimental
film would not be reviled as we wanted to add some mystical effect around him.
We developed the character as being a criminal and murderer but the audience
would not realize this till after the set of sequences at the end of the piece.
The first influence that allowed and helped us to come up with the idea was
that of Salaryman by Jake Knight (2002). In this we see a set
of sequences that shows how a businessman's life seems to be a never ending
cycle of routines where everyday seems and feels the same to the character
shown. Again this idea of routines and sequences was similar to the idea
Heather and I had come up with so it was interesting to see how they had edited
it. With repeated sequences and
different tempos within pace of the editing it linked in with the soundscape
created for the film. The second part of the film would then start to show the
person for who they really are, so once they have left the house we would
record their journey till he meets a certain character that would owe him money
and an argument would commence. We wanted this argument to come right at the
end of the journey so that journey could have built up tension and we find out
what happens right at the end before cutting to black and cutting the sound
suddenly. The concept for our work however then was to create tension by
building up the set of three sequences with pace and volume before then cutting
to the journey also building up tension as he confronts this character at the
end. Another influence for our work was the film Blue Velvet (1986) by David
Lynch, this gave me inspiration due to the way the soundtrack
creates an atmosphere as well as the way its filmed but what is so brilliant
about the opening sequence is the idea that little things start to creep in to
make the audience uncomfortable which is the approach I am taking with my audio
piece and experimental film. This is also when we realized what our target
audience and genre for this piece would be as swearing and violence would make
this piece substantially more effective so anyone over the age of 15. we would
advertise for people that are into crime and thriller films.
The second element we
worked on after coming up with the idea was to work on these sequences and gain
a library of sounds that we could use while editing the sequences together.
Having had a few seminars and some practice using a zoom H4n condenser mic
Heather and I were able to record the sounds within the sequences. This was
done in my kitchen using objects and household appliances such as mugs,
saucepans, frying pans and more kitchen and bedroom based objects that were on
the list we had come up with of all the sounds we could record. I took the job
role of recording the sounds whereas Heather took the job role of making them
so she would pull a mug from a cupboard and put bacon in a frying pan. This
worked effectively and after about an hour we were able to gather the required
library of sounds that could be made into when editing sequences. I was also able
to record the second part of the audio piece as this required footsteps and
then a number of different atmospheres from different locations which we had
scouted, these included a under path, a couple of different alleyways and a few
pavements alongside busy roads and a gravel car park. Having recorded all these
the final recordings we needed were those of the argument, we picked two people
with voices we thought would be good for an argument and these were two people
we knew. Having written the very short script of 2 or 3 lines each for the
character we were able to record them quickly and were ready for editing.
For the edit I decided to use soundtrack pro as this is what
I was used to and having been so newly introduced to pro tools I wanted to use
something I was familiar with for my first audio project. I put the sounds on
the timeline and cut them into place for the set of sequences. These sequences
were then duplicated two times so there were three, the second faster than the
first and third faster than second and third, the final sound of the door was
then added to the final sequence and the atmosphere sounds were added with the
footsteps and finally the argument at the end of the piece. The pan of the
sounds and volume pan was the adjusted so the sounds started quiet but then by
the time it got to the argument they were as loud as could be building tension
throughout the piece. After this edit was finished we were then ready for our
constructive criticism from the class and project tutor.
The class feedback was really useful for us as it gave us
ideas to make out piece stronger as a whole. Having reviewed the comments and
feedback given we were to restructure the audio piece. The original sounds
didn't have to be changed but the concept idea was tweaked. Instead of having
the set of sequences and then the atmospheres like they were almost two
separate pieces of work we could blend the two. Flashes of the footsteps and
the atmospheres could be applied in the soundscape as one. This would build
tension and much like Blue Velvet
would create tension in a different way making the audience think something is
not right. The whole piece would then be made up of all sequences. I re-edited
the sound piece so that they blended but also took the argument voices out at
the end as from the feedback seemed very untrue and fake which I had agreed
with. This meant that the soundtrack was complete and we were able to look at
the experimental film.
The idea for our experimental film was simple yet effective.
We both had a strong idea of what we were going to film and what the story was
going to be due to the soundscape we had created. Using the sequences we could
film these house hold objects but my idea was to keep it filmed in close up to
keep the identity of the character hidden until the end where the flashes of
the argument would be intercut with the sequences. The job role I took was to
be the cameraman and the D.O.P. and Heather agreed she would edit the piece.
Another topic that came up was to stay away from student kitchens so having
discussed locations we decided to go film at Heathers house in Leeds which
turned out to be a good decision as the laminate worktops looked really nice on
camera (Canon 60D with 50mm lens) and added a effect of mystery around the
piece. When recording we didn't come across any problems as all the sounds in
the sound piece we were able to re create this time filming them as close up
shots. Heather was also able to come up with a couple of shot ideas that we
could use such as placing the camera inside a cupboard. Having gained enough
coverage and many shots to chose from and different white balances when it came
to editing. All the shots taken were a variety of pans, tilts, statics and
tracks which I decided on when exploring what looked effective in the frame of
the camera for that certain house hold appliance.
I then gathered our two actors together to film the argument
scenes and for the main actor the footstep scenes for the character he played.
Again filming much of this close up we were able to show what kind of person
the character was without giving their identity away. Tracking shots and close
ups of fists would build tension as well as filming the close ups of footsteps.
The video edit was then created by Heather editing the
footage I had shot along with a few shots Heather had helped to do to and was
made linking it with sounds from the audio project. I looked over it and helped with some of the
fine cut as well as offering my opinion on certain shots that could be used in
the edit. We didn't decided on a few but were able to come to a mutual
agreement on the majority of them making it a successful process and overall a
successful piece.
I thought that overall the piece is exactly how we wanted it
to work out. Having changed it from the original idea which looking back on it
was the right decision due to the larger effect it has on the audience and now
it gives of a bigger emotion. We managed our job roles well setting frequent
deadlines for each other or suggesting ideas and constructive criticism for one
another when helping into each other's roles. The final piece consists of a set
of sequences looking at house hold appliances with the main character shot in
close up and over time these gain in speed and diversity till at the end the
flashes of the argument interchanged with the sequences the audience realize
what the main character has done. The main problem and annoying disadvantage
our piece may have compared to others is the actors having used people that I knew from the class
rather than trying to find some more close to professional standard ones,
however for future reference I will use actors from the drama society and I'm
sure over time I can pick and choose between actors that I like and could work
well with. Creatively with the project having come up with the concept idea
along with Heather I feel I have learnt how to structure and developed an idea.
as well as how to time manage between
different roles setting deadlines for myself and learning key skills within
production that I can use for future reference. Technically getting familiar
with pro tools throughout the project even though we used soundtrack will be
extremely helpful for future projects as well as revisiting and becoming
familiar with final cut again. I see that there was room for improvement
especially towards the end where the argument occurred but as I said this may have
been due to the actors we were using and if we had different ones it would have
given a stronger intent to the narrative and made the overall piece in a sense
more real and believable.
Overall as a pair I feel Heather and I worked well together
as we contributed towards the project fairly and equally managing our job roles
well. I feel that our main strengths consisted of communication skills as well
as being able to give each other positive but constructive criticism at times
when it was needed. Scheduling our time also was key in our success to make the
deadline and a good finished piece of work we could be proud of. The one negative we have as a pair is that we
can sometimes lose concentration and could take us a little longer than if we
were to focus the whole time we were working, however in this time we sometimes
came up with creative ideas towards the project. Overall I feel we spent a huge
amount of time on this project and overall have accomplished what we set out to
do by researching. creating, and producing our experimental film touching up on
appropriate skills.
