Experiment

An experiment I did using two videos in slow motion superimposed onto each other. The bad transition doesn't bother me as this is simply an experiment with chance. A girl watching herself dancing on the bed. Breakcore music in the background. Initially I tried the video with a 50s song and I liked it, but then I decided to try and annoy myself and choose a song which 'doesn't fit' with the video. I still liked the outcome.

Even though this might look experimental, it is actually something which could easily happen in everyday life. A child dancing in her room, her older brother listening to music in his room. Two subjects which do not usually go together can still harmonise (according to David Lynch, because of this Unified Field - I'm still not entirely convinced about it, but it's hard to ignore).

The music is actually by a friend of mine, and is one of the pieces I am considering to use in the database.

Research paper title, abstract, and some new screenshots

Some new screenshots from a recorded story:

The above pictures were recorded on webcam because the recorded story is about two individuals who spoke regularly online. I just wanted to capture a person chatting online in various different rooms, being as natural as possible - in fact this is my friend Andreas, so it was easy to get him to act natural because we were having a normal conversation online. I still need to film character number 2, but the first part went quite well.

Today I showed my title and abstract to my tutor. He made some minor changes in my title.

From:

Generating meaning in chance. How modular and database narrative structures (in time-based media) provide a more natural, yet engaging experience for today’s active audience.

To:

Generating meaning in chance. How modular and database narrative structures challenge traditional filmmaking techniques, allowing space for the unexpected.

[Changed: got rid of natural & engaging - both very subjective, so I'm glad to have eliminated them]

For now I will be using:

Generating meaning in chance. How modular and database narrative structures challenge traditional time-based media techniques, allowing space for the unexpected.

[Replaced filmmaking with time-based, because I want to include sound but not in a film-making context. This might be slightly unfocused - will have to see how the essay develops]

My current Abstract:


When the use of chance is employed in art and media, intention is bound to take a step back to make space for the unexpected. In essence, chance is lack of conscious design. Almost certainly, the author will have to give up a certain amount of control over his/her work, and leave it in the hands of natural or mechanical processes. The question is; why should authors sacrifice their creative expertise for something that might result in disorder, lack of aesthetic appeal, and failure? How does this come across to an audience, who to this day, is still presented with films that follow a formula that is more than two thousand years old?

Filming

In between all the reading, I found some time to do some filming. Here are some behind the scenes pictures of my friend, Eleonora  who took the role of a cinematographer throughout this whole process. Yesterday was my first time working with children as well - I have to admit, it was the hardest but most fun scene to shoot.

this one didn't quite work out...

looking straight into the camera 

The cut-ups & Zen

A quick reflection that I have found after starting to read some of the books that I got.
David Lynch is extremely influenced by Transcendental meditation.
John Cage states that he is immediately labeled as 'Dada and Zen'.
The Dream Machine is meant to put you in a state of Zen.

A very strong link which I did not consider when choosing my key figures.

Demdike Stare

Had a brief break this weekend since a few of my friends brought Demdike Stare to perform Malta! I was very interested in their visuals during the performance, which are mostly sampled from Horror B-Movies and experimental film.


I would describe their visuals as evil, sexual, satanic, and also beautiful, mesmerising and hard to forget. It was a nice boost of inspiration.

In the meantime, I have recieved my books and I have started reading David Lynch - Catching the Big Fish. I am already finding some very relevant information, and the book itself is very easy to read.

Filming

* Bad white balance especially evident in top pics - eh.. new camera, can fix it in editing, but will try to see what's happening...

Books / animation

One of my latest frame by frame experiments - still very stiff.. I also tried overlapping a moving scanned image over video on flash. Still a lot of work needed on the animations, however I'm not too concerned since this can be done in the coming months. Filming however, needs much more time / assistance / actors .. so I must finish most of it in the summer.

Yesterday I did some online book shopping for my research paper. Have to admit finding what I think are the right books wasn't easy, but it should be fun inspecting them once they get here, I can't wait...


"Modular Narratives in Contemporary Cinema"
Allan Cameron

"Silence: Lectures and Writings"
John Cage

"Story and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film"
Seymour Chatman

"Chance (Documents of Contemporary Art)"
Margaret Iversen

"Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity"
David Lynch