Considering the aesthetics of my final advanced video piece “How do you like your eggs?” – What informs an aesthetic? is a question I have been grappling with; what makes up the reasons behind why I want my film to look a certain way?
In discussions with Darcy and Darcey around how this piece will look the filmmaker Wes Anderson has come up a lot. Certainly the symmetrical, stylised aesthetic of Anderson films is enchanting but not something I am aiming to emulate in my work.
Reflecting on the visual qualities I aim to create in this piece, my personal style will have an impact – I prefer bright, stylised settings (over a more realistic, greyscale streetscape for example) and context of the film – set in a kooky realm where it is accepted that you call to receive instructions on how to cook an egg makes sense to pair with a kitsch stylised settings. Additionally, there are characteristics of the visual qualities of this piece that will come down to necessity and logistics.
I plan to shoot mostly close-up shots based on the knowledge that I don’t have access to professional actors or a studio setting, and it will be easier to achieve a professional looking film if my amateur actors’ expressions are obscured or emotions are conveyed in other ways, such as by use of music or sound.
The lighting is another part of my work’s aesthetic that is being planned based on what is achievable – if I had access to steady natural lighting, I could consider a differently lit set. Considering the circumstances of the set and the weather forecast for the day of shooting, I have decided it is easier to similarly light all scenes (bright, with dramatic shadows) and achieve a consistent feel throughout the work with our limited capabilities and time.
I’m excited about the way the film will look and reflecting on what informs an aesthetic; personal style, context, and logistics – is something I will carry with me to future filmmaking.
Update:
Now that How do you like your eggs? has been made, this experience has confirmed to me it is possible to make something beautiful and visually appealing, while using only the tools that are accessible. If thinking creatively, work that meets an artistic vision can be made while remaining realistic about what is possible in it’s making.
