Innovative sketching

Eric Booth music educator at Carnegie Hall, New York.

I have posted this video in relation to the PROJECT THREE sketches. The aim of these sketches is to try things, innovate without to much concern about the end point. The success of this approach is demonstrated in Booth’s example of the two groups of students in the same course taking a different approach to producing a work.

Notes:
Open to ideas before settling on an idea
“Don’t just settle on the first [idea]”
Satisficing to uni-directional and not exploratory (no chance of discovering accidents)
Uninhibited creativity – remove judgement, control – play to discover

PORTFOLIO reflections

In regards to provided reflection exercises for the 20% PORTFOLIO brief. From week 4 you are expected to complete a reflection as a blog entry after each studio session. This makes two reflections (blog entries) per week in addition to other prescribed exercises and your own self-initiated entries. I will be looking for these 2 x weekly studio reflections in the assessment of the PORTFOLIO as a whole and be interested in iterative developments across the entries.

Work with the 4 Rs of reflection as a means to frame to these reflections which will be covered in week 4.

Meerkat – video tweets

a recent video service that works with tweeting

http://meerkatapp.co/

the rules

from the article: ‘Eight ways brands can add Meerkat into their marketing mix’, march 24, 2015

The idea behind the Meerkat app is simple; it lets users stream live video from a mobile device directly to Twitter, allowing other users to subscribe to and attend the live streams. It doesn’t just broadcast video content though, it also lets you have real time interaction with other users watching the stream.

There are four psychological reasons that we as humans tend to be drawn to video:

There is a brain function that hard-wires us into using faces as the focal point for gathering information.
The human voice can help our brains convert straightforward information into more meaningful content.
Emotions shown through body language are appealing and can be contagious.
Body movements can grab attention and keep viewers focussed.

Concept statement

Here is a template for the concept statement for PROJECT TWO:

Our group has chosen the online video example ….X (link). If we contextualise this work/project in relation to the studio activities so far (the mindmapping and personal case studies) it would be placed in the genre ….X of online video practice. We will produce a number of sketches which analyse the narrative/non-narrative form of this online video practice. Each of these sketches will focus on different aspects of the work/project as a way to understand how it has been made and how relations have been formed between shots to create a narrative/non-narrative structure.

Example in practice:

Our group has chosen the online video example @55uhz (link). If we contextualise this work/project in relation to the studio activities so far (the mindmapping and personal case studies) it would be placed in the genre of experimental online video practice. We will produce a number of sketches which analyse the narrative/non-narrative form of this online video practice. Each of these sketches will focus on different aspects of the work/project as a way to understand how it has been made and how relations have been formed between shots to create a narrative/non-narrative structure.

This is a list of ideas that will be used to inform our sketches. Background on the @55uhz project and previous post supporting this analysis:

1. A sampling approach that records an activity at 000555 frames per second in line with the @55uhz project. The samples are presented in a linear format posted to Vimeo. Text may be included on each sample of video that identifies the time of sampling.

2. “Flipbook” video – what could this look like? An idea would be to make an experiment that is posted to Vine as 6 second loops in regards to getting a flipbook animation feel.

3. A work that is recorded over a period of week before submission. For instance the same activity recorded as a sample of an every day activity for seven days, presented in a linear video, with text time/date like is used in digital photography.

4. The blank space between frames that is experienced in cinematic screening. How can this blank space be emphasised in a work? A frame then an extended black space then a frame etc.

5. A one frame time-based video work with audio track. This sketch works with the idea of a film frame frozen or extracted as a still frame (a photographic image) within a set duration of time. I could experiment with sound and no sound added to the image.

6. A sketch that works with a audiovisual service or tool. This project uses programming to use twitter for a different purpose. What service or tool could work with in regards to exploring how it could be used differently from what was intended? In this case twitter is predominately text based being used for filmic type purposes. What could I do with twitter or another text tool without working with programming?

7. Found footage – this work reuses found footage. How can I break up some found footage I have or material from a copyright free website? i.e. https://archive.org/details/movies – and create a non-narrative out of that footage? In the readings Bassett proposes an “anti-narrative” form – how could I edit this footage into a anti-narrative?

8. @55uhz makes the original film highly granular. This means it breaks the film up into separate independent parts that are a single frame in duration (a film still). What would happen if I took a video activity and broke it into separate granules and then published those granules in a service or tool?

9. From no. 8 – What would happen if they were 2 second loops rather than still frames?

10. From no. 9- What would happen if I published the sampled stills from my found footage in a tool like cowbird.

Each one of these sketches would be posted in the groups’ blogs with reflection notes underneath. These notes would reflect on the discoveries made and what was learnt about the case study @55uhz in relation to the narrative/non-narrative form of that work. These reflections and sketches would be used to write up the presentation.

PROJECT TWO presentation

The format for the PROJECT TWO presentation for assessments now becomes more formal as part of the assessment.

How long are we expected to present?
For 7-10 minutes maximum. (preferably not less than 7 minutes)

What sort of visual information is required?
Prior to presenting your sketches you will need to present your ‘concept statement’ and provide the context needed to evaluate the sketches. It will be important to use whatever visuals you have to communicate your ‘concept statement’ and how it was conceived from the case study you are using. Be open to creating visuals that may make it easier to understand. Then the priority will be to show the TEN sketches.

What would the structure possibly look like? (this is not a precedent but is a good starting point)
i. The case study example/s – what it is in a brief but clear overview
ii. The concept statement (written out in text)
iii. Visual images that help your audience understand your concept statement and how it connects to your case study.
iv. Clarification of how your inquiry is exploring the studio prompt and hybrid narrative/non-narrative forms.
v. The sketches and what they are exploring in relation to the concept statement.
vi. Observations, conclusions in relation to what you will focus on in PROJECT THREE.

How will the sketches and presentation be assessed?
Refer to the PROJECT TWO assessment criteria and ask questions if you are unclear. A preliminary assessment will be conducted during the presentation then finalised after the studio.

Wk 4 – Session A & B

Session A (2 hrs)

Concept statement overview
Review new group sketches for feedback and review

Workshop submission process via the google folders/docs
Workshop presentation framework for Friday

Session B (3 hrs)

Prepare submissions with teacher feedback
weekly PORTFOLIO reflections
presentations
PROJECT TWO – due for submission
PROJECT TWO group presentations for assessment
PROJECT THREE presentation workshop (go over next brief and look at what is required and what is coming up..)

Wk 3 – Session B

The studio activities for the Wk 3, (3hrs)

T-aid photos and documentation

Check all students are subscribed in the sidebar of blog (so they get entires automatically)

Ask questions from a blog post – responses written by me or others as comments

View final PROJECT ONE CASE studies.

Reflection workshop for PORTFOLIO brief.

Students in groups (pairs) will present their concept statements and first sketches for feedback and workshopping.

Wk 3 – PROJECT ONE notes

1. Finalise the groups as pairs ASAP.

2. In pairs, bring together the ideas that have emerged out of the PROJECT ONE case studies. Clarify what you will both explore in these first sketches by drafting a short statement/sentence (a concept) to guide the investigation, which will be refined for the presentation next week.

3. To clarify your written concept read the new media and narrative readings – write a paragraph on each reading to demonstrate that you understand it in relation to the context of the studio. Remember the main aim of the studio is to investigate hybrid narrative/non-narrative forms of online video – and the studio prompt guiding all this…is – How can video, computers and the network be used to redefine online video practices? (send me a draft of your concept if you need clarification – i.e post it in your blog with notes and send the URL link of the entry) – http://www.mediafactory.org.au/2015-online-video-experiments/readings/

4. Decide how you will work together in regards to completing the sketches and preparing the presentation. ie each person makes 5 sketches or you make them all together – whatever works in your collaboration.

5. With the deadline for assessment next week – make as many sketches as you can before this Friday. (NB at a minimum get at least your concept drafted and 1-2 done before Friday for feedback and to check you are on track with the project)

6. Working from your concept statement one way to approach the sketches is to devise additional sentence that can guide each sketch from your concept statement. What you are doing is deconstructing your case study by making sketches that are informed by it…

7. Upload your sketches to Vimeo (rather than YouTube) or place them directly in your blog as entries with links if you are not making linear video sketches. Reflect on what you make as you go in your blogs under each embed/blog post. Be careful to document the complexities of what you are doing while it is fresh in your mind so it can be used to inform the presentation.

Finally, PROJECT ONE has a value of 15% and is used to get you into the sketching process so be bold and try things out. What I am looking for to do well in this project:

a. an understanding of the http://www.mediafactory.org.au/2015-online-video-experiments/readings/”>studio context (that this project is about an exploration of form over content)
b. an understanding of the production constraints (i.e. what you have to work with in regards to timeframe and resources.
c. a demonstration of the ability to explore possibilities and take and innovative approach towards investigating and idea (your devised concept)….

PROJECT ONE – case studies

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/errol-tyson/2015/03/12/ove-presentation-13315-assessment-1/ – Errol Tyson

http://www.rtfold.com/rmit/89-steps/ – Peter Walsh

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/maria-konidaris/2015/03/12/project-one/ – Maria Konidaris

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/marissa-voo/2015/03/12/17/ – Marissa Voo

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/samuel-burzacott/2015/03/12/project-one/ – Sam Burzakott

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/linda-shi/category/online-video-experiments/project-brief-one/ – Linda Shi

https://imjiajia.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/ove-project_01/ – Jia Jia

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/kiralee-greenhalgh/2015/03/12/project-one/ – Kiralee Greenhalgh

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/steven-cheng/2015/03/12/ove-project-one/ – Steven Cheng

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/james-huynh/2015/03/15/ove-assessment-1-filthy-frank/ – James Huynh

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/wei-yun-soo/2015/03/14/case-study-1-analysing-away-we-happened/ – Wei Yun Soo

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/troy-torcasio/2015/03/12/online-videowhat-is-that-comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee/ – Troy Torcasio

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nethaniel-rochester/2015/03/12/online-video-what-is-that/ – Nethaniel Rochester

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/clare-chapman/2015/03/22/ove-project-one/ – Clare Chapman