August 2020 – Eleanor's Mediafactory

For this third exercise, my initial aim was to explore the sense of self and the perception of the world around me through sound. I definitely had this in mind whilst filming, but the work took a different turn to what I had initially expected. I was always inspired after class to get footage, which would be just as the sun set. Much like A Distant Gaze, I used my zoom lens, and found that I shot everything around the afternoon. Additionally, I find the light most beautiful at this time, because silhouettes can be used in the footage. Also, car headlights can be of visual interest at this time.

I was inspired to just begin filming, and I think there was most activity at this time of day outside – around sunset is when people are coming home, winding down, and generally relaxing. I found rhythm in how animals, vehicles, and people would pass by the windows. I was able to get the hang of changing the exposure and adjusting settings in the moment, which is something I haven’t been great at in the past. I also think I encapsulated my presence by showing the curtains that framed some of the shots. Additionally, I shot partially through venetian blinds, and changing the focus through the blinds added an interesting effect to the shot (mainly the last shot of the red car).

When I sat down to edit, I immediately recognised a red motif dispersed throughout my footage. The distant woman walks with her red jacket, and there is often a red car shown. I am glad I took the ‘just film something’ approach, because I was able to stumble across these connections in my work.

In the sound editing, I still wanted to play with the idea of subverting expectations, so I combined music with some general nighttime ambience mixed with daytime ambience. Each clip is accompanied by sound, and this brings the viewer straight to the outdoors – even though all of it was filmed inside. I wanted the sound to not be so obvious. Some elements were conventional, especially in how the sounds mixed together, but overall the sound was unconventional in how it was applied. I see structure in the order of events in the visuals, but the sound I think was not so logical. I enjoyed branching out of my comfort zone to do something like this, because I think the combination of all of the elements made for an interpretable, or even just uncomfortable, whole piece.

Overall, I am satisfied with how the exercise turned out. Although I strayed from my original plan, I created something that still explored the idea of subverting expectations and creating connections where there may have been none previously. With better time management, I could have experimented more with the ideas in post-production, but I nonetheless have created something I am happy with.

August 30, 2020August 30, 2020

W6 Reflection

On Monday, we watched an excerpt from A Distant Gaze, and I found it particularly inspiring. The way the seemingly random clips were compiled, in addition to the music, made for an interpretable structure that, as an audience member, I could grasp. The way the camera moved was almost rhythmic, in following people – especially when it was static and almost picked up on the next person. Additionally the way the quick zooms compiled in a section created a moment of climax was an effective technique, and it felt engaging from start to finish overall. It was inspiring for me in that I enjoy filming somewhat randomly, but had not previously seen clips like that compiled and eventually created something whole. Even though they weren’t completely random (there was clearly the idea that people were to be filmed) the way I made associations and assumptions based on the cutting and the music was a refreshing way to watch. After the class I got to filming and felt like I was on the right track for exercise three.

The second piece that I found quite inspiring this week was Die Geträumten, again because I had not seen something like it before. In another class I have this semester, I have learnt from a researched point-of-view how we as viewers bring our own assumptions to what we watch, so it can be interpreted in very different ways by different people. This, in my opinion leads the film to be more of an experience overall than that of a typical fiction film. With the break coming up I will definitely give it a watch from start to finish. The way this was most inspiring for the filmmaker side of me is the way the shots were put together. Whilst the woman is smoking outside, the dialogue is explaining the distance of the couple – even though that footage could be from a completely different time, I was convinced that it was part of it in the moment, and it carried a lot of weight that way. The part of me that is inclined more to editing and post-production rather than pre-production is excited by watching this, because the film can really be shaped after all of this footage is compiled. Much like our observations, there can be interest and beauty found in the most random or unexpected moments, that can then be utilised well in a film.

I found my observations this week to be like a stream of consciousness, in the way that my thoughts were the glue that held the action sentences together. In previous weeks I made a point to not be too interpretative of the moments that were playing out, and be quite descriptive instead. After reading some of the examples provided throughout the last few weeks (notably the John Berger extracts), I thought it would be interesting to see how these observations would take shape if I ran with my thoughts. This week when writing I made the point to not think about the stimulus too much before I sat down to write, and I think that helped in my writing becoming more organic. Overall I am happy with the writing I have produced this week, and it shows more of a unique style than I think I have seen from myself in previous weeks.

August 30, 2020September 7, 2020

Observation #12

Where we once stood in line, spoke to a server to order our food, and paid them physical money; we now access anything we want through the pressure of our own fingertips to a screen. The beauty of a fast-food restaurant, if you can bear to find it, perhaps lay in the fact that each establishment is just as similar to the one thousands of kilometres away. We can be famished after a day of travel, and roll into the all too familiar sea of red pleather. Nostalgia lives in country fast-food restaurants, where Rage still plays on the single 2006 plasma television mounted to the wall. I am reminded of long road trips, and small country towns when I enter the restaurant. But ordering now feels different. No matter the time of day, it never seems as sunny as it was when the heat neared 40C and I was crammed between my sisters in the backseat, driving home from Christmas at the beach. The food isn’t filled with the same flavour that 4 year old me gloriously enjoyed after breaking my collar-bone, playing with the small puppy tokens from the happy meal with my one available hand. Now, at my ripe old age of 21, the only thing I think of when ordering is how unhealthy the food is going to be. And there will probably be an element missing, no matter how meticulous the ordering process seems to be. And about halfway through my meal, the novelty of ordering fast-food will wear off, and I will be left with the realisation that I simply bought too much. These things cross my mind as I scroll through the options on the virtual menu. But you know what, I’ve been working hard lately, and I barely ever treat myself anymore. And I am already here, aren’t I? I tap my card. No longer than five minutes later, an employee shouts ‘162!’ and before I know it i’m walking back to the car with my warm bag of food. I scoff the meal down mindlessly, and then drive away.

August 30, 2020

Observation #11

I don’t often wake up early, but when I do it is almost definitely for the purpose of uni work. This particular morning, the bright eastern sun peeked through my curtains. My sleep mask fell off during the night, so that hint of sunlight was almost unbearable. ‘7:02’ is what my phone read. I spent the next few seconds with my eyes closed, before reality slowly washed over me. Your own bed is never as warm and as comfortable as when you need to leave it, so I half-consciously spent the next few minutes scrolling through social media, one eye still closed.

‘7:34’. Uh-oh. I rolled out of bed, making a beeline towards the coffee machine. I’m not one for routines usually, but I need to crawl back in to the warmth once I have that coffee made, making sure that glorious first sip is taken in the perfect atmosphere. The next thing of course was to open my laptop. Still sitting in the dark, I managed to squeeze in a few YouTube videos before I had to be in my 8:30 class. I always leave it to the last second, because watching something mindlessly never feels as good as when you have something else to be doing. Before I knew it, it was 8:27. Why do the minutes pass so quickly right as I am just getting comfortable? And yet, for the next two hours, time will move at a glacial pace.

August 28, 2020August 30, 2020

W5 Reflection

This week started with some feedback about exercise two. Although I was limited in losing my partner, I believe I still managed to create something somewhat interpretive, and with distinct style. We discussed that it was taken very literally, and I agree – it was perhaps harder for my interpretation of my own work to be anything but literal, and very close to the real events. That being said, it was a valid interpretation. I do agree that it could have been taken somewhere further, and I will be exercising this in the future. Even though I did not have an ideal experience, I was able to try something fairly simple to start out the idea of interpreting work and I know now that it is not the direction I am happy with. It was definitely a tired approach and I look forward to branching out with that.

On to the observations. I definitely feel myself becoming more confident with writing, and not stressing so much over writing a perfect sentence in the first go. In being more free I am able to get more words down, and the work ultimately turns out better, in my opinion. I also am trying to write with more detail, so in observation nine (about the kebab shop) I aimed to write with purposeful detail – which to me means detail, but with a point to it. I reflected previously that this was what I liked to read in other’s work, too. I think I am developing a sort of style where the observations are beginning to have a punchline, of sorts. I did not notice at the time, but both observations this week have that literal ending sentence in isolation at the end. I will try to not over-do that, but I like the wholeness that it can give to a piece.

This week we focused on voiceover, and it opened my eyes to just how different the effect of a voice-over can be on a film. Additionally, as an audience member I respond and interpret the style of voice-overs completely differently, which I wasn’t so aware of before. For example, the beginning of Dr Strangelove has an omniscient yet satirical tone that perfectly establishes the style of the film. The voice-overs in Love Actually and Geri, whilst setting up the film still, seem a lot more personal and directed towards social issues. It effects the way I will view the film quite dramatically, which is not something I considered too much before. Before I began this class I worried about not having a lot of writing skill and not being able to mark my style in a piece of work, but after looking at voice-overs this week, I know that style can so fundamentally be established through a voice-over (at any point of a piece). And not just in that way too, but by bringing in the whole ‘reliable narrator’ aspect (as seen in The Kid Stays and Band of Outsiders) is such a strong way of characterising, that the whole ‘voice-over is overdone’ take from Adaptation is now something I will strongly disagree with!

After meeting with Robin, I have a few ideas for my assignment two exercise. We spoke about the ‘bubble state’ style that Kafka often employs, and there is a sense of that coming through in my observations. I want to try out a few techniques and ways I can play with the sense of self in a space, through the relationship of sound and image especially. I am becoming a bit behind lately, so I am going to attempt to catch up as the mid-semester break approaches, and especially think of some ideas for this task ahead.

August 28, 2020August 30, 2020

Observation #10

“It’s snowing!” I hear from the lounge room. I leap up from my bed quickly, running to the backdoor. I barely have my shoes on as I race outside. Snow was falling gracefully across the fields, decorating the tops of trees and evaporating on the concrete beneath me. The flakes are falling in my hair, on my hands as I desperately try to get some footage, and on my bare legs – maybe I should have changed out of shorts before I decided to stand in the snow in the middle of winter. The few minutes that it snowed seemed as short as seconds. I imagined it was Christmastime, and hoped the weather could last a little longer so I could remain in the fantasy. Alas, the snow stopped just as quickly as it came, and i trudged back inside into the warmth.

Around five minutes later, the clouds parted to reveal a shining sun and blue skies.

August 28, 2020August 29, 2020

Observation #9

The anticipation of a hot delicious meal fills the air, even on a cold winter night like this one. You can almost smell the rotisserie meat, being shaved into perfect strands and spilling over the sides of a wrap. Or, perhaps stuffed into a styrofoam box, with the oils swirling in with tabbouleh and rice. There are so many options, it is almost overwhelming looking at the great long menu in the car before arrival. The excitement of the food, smell soon to fill this very car on the short journey home, is almost addicting. If only it were a weekly tradition!

Finally arriving, we step out of the car. The Turkish takeaway shop feels further away with each step, yet finally we make it through the winding car park and at the doorstep of the store. Something is different. There aren’t the lines of people waiting with anticipation like usual. There is no smell of the juicy rotisserie meats, spinning enticingly behind the counter. In fact, the lights aren’t even turned on. This can’t be possible, we double-checked the opening times to make sure they would be open. A young couple nearby approach the windows, and have a quick peek through to the dark, empty store before turning away again. To confirm our suspicions, we have a look too. Alas, no delicious kebab will be enjoyed tonight. My stomach gurgles, a cruel reminder of the disappointment now washing over me. What are we to do now? There is a Vietnamese place around the corner, I suppose we could try that.

The beef pho ingested later than evening, although nice, seemed to not satisfy the hunger.

August 20, 2020

W4 Reflection

This week we started out by reading other’s observations and discussed in class. It was nice to read those and see everyone’s individual writing styles revealed. We especially liked Sufeeya’s, which contextualised the moment within the current lockdown, without being too obvious. I also particularly liked Rachel’s about the bowl of ‘chinese porridge’. It went into specific detail but was not taxing to read, rather it was harmonious and artistic in the way the elements were described. In terms of my piece, even after putting my preferred in there, I now am seeing where I could have cleaned up a few of the sentences – just goes to show how important proofreading is, and not just the once but multiple times. Overall from reading other’s work I found that it was quite effective when some excluded themselves, or any character at all. I enjoyed reading those, and I think I could do with remembering that work when I go to write, or even just think about, my observations and what they will become. This week I attempted to exclude myself completely, which was a nice change from previous weeks. Another point that I did make in my notes was that sometimes the intention or point of the observation was lacking for some, which led to pure description to become repetitive. The work seems a lot more impactful when there is an overall point to the work, or is edited to have that point.

This week we also got the change to watch Jane Campion’s student film “Passionless Moments” which i thoroughly enjoyed. The scenes themselves were very reminiscent of our own observations. Every scene had a distinct feeling, whether that was more somber or more comedic, for example. Each too had minimal post-production in terms of music and cuts, but it was more impactful that way because each choice for one scene was therefore contrasted with a choice for another. I would perhaps describe the film as art-house, with it being sort of alternative or definitely not aligning with the mainstream. I think it was generally comedic in the end, as the scenes eventually complemented each other in depicting these idiosyncratic situations in one’s daily life. I think going into filming some things in the coming weeks it was a valuable lession in a) we can do a lot with very little – meaning equipment, locations, and people, and b) these small moments depicted can hold a lot of meaning or value, in the way they are shot and what the specific message actually is. I don’t mean that it has to be some deeply emotional scene, but more so that even a comical accident can be portrayed to it’s full potential in a small amount of time if we do it right. Learning to do what is ‘right’ is where I can look to my own observations, for example, and see what may or may not have been successful. I think overall, going back to what I reflected upon after reading everyone’s preferred observations, is that the piece becomes a whole lot more interesting if there is a point to it.

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020

Observation #8

‘Tap’.

‘Tap tap tap tap tap!’

A small hummingbird, with a brown feathers outer feathers and a soft yellow stomach, continuously taps at the window. It simply doesn’t matter what time of day, or even what room of the house; the tapping is incessant. It is trying to enter through the window, of course. The ongoing green fields, flowing fresh air, and gardens full of flowers are not enough to satisfy this bird, because all it wants to do is go to a new place it has not been before. Acres and hectares full of nature and sunshine and the bird decides this house is the place to be. Maybe it is understandable, on a rainy day – it is cold and miserable and maybe the bird is just looking for some shelter. But when the sun is shining and the flowers are in full bloom, what measly house could beat that? Unless any hummingbird-sized doors appear on these windows, then it is not coming inside. Listening to the endless tapping it will be, then.