Blog #3 - Production Notes

When Sarah and I started work on this film we only had a rough idea; two individuals going about their day while, unknown to either of them, they begin to show a number of similarities in their activities and demeanor. However, the successful conveyance of this idea relied entirely on our scripting and storyboarding. Our initial idea was simply two separate sequences following each character along, with both sequences mirroring each other by the end. During the early stages of our planning, Sarah suggested we use a number of still images and edit them together to sync up with the rhythm of the song "First Day of my Life" by Bright Eyes. This decision set stricter guidelines for us on a technical level. First of all, we were now tied down to a specific time limit (the duration of the song). While this limited us in terms of which shots we could use, it also bookends our film and makes it easier to visualize the finished product. Secondly, it establishd that the editing of the piece would have to be taken with great care in orer to properly sync to the music.

Midway through the project our concept of [parallel characters and mirrored narratives was coming through. The syncing of the music created a common thread between the characters that the viewers could follow even though they seem to have nothing in common.What began as an idea in passing, ultimately tied the entire project together.

After our screening of the film in class, we seemed to get an appropriate reaction from the viewers. The parts that were intended to be funny got laughs and the rhythmic editing kept everyone curious about the direction of the plot. One comment afterward, someone joking about a further cut showing the two characters with a baby, shows that there was some connection established between the characters and the audience.

Blog #2

I’ve been watching the sketches that Derrick Comedy has been putting out for a year or two now. They’re always well made on what is clearly a restricted budget. I’ve always appreciated the homemade quality that they possess along with the great editing and camerawork that always emphasizes the punch lines.

In one sketch the editing is handled in such a particular way that the joke almost entirely relies on it. The video is titled Self-Defense and I don’t want to totally ruin the joke so I’ll let it speak for itself in terms of actual content.

Watching the video, the satirical element is obvious. It makes fun of typical self-defense training videos that use fast paced smash cuts to illicit aggressiveness and efficiency. Just like those, this sketch uses smash cuts to quickly and aggressively move from one scene to the next. Between each of these cuts the main character is transitioned over to the next scene with different exaggerated movements.

A lot of the humor lies in the fact that a smash cut affects the viewers comfort level. Rather than being eased into a change of scenery or action they are forced into it. Using this technique here plays on that feeling in its viewers. The cuts are obvious and cram together separate points in time in order to grab the attention of the viewer paralleling the aggressive and fast paced content in the video.

BLOOG #1

I draw comics and I’d like to keep doing so as long as possible. In order for me to be able to and possibly even make a living out of it, I have to fully embrace all the options that modern media offers. Today, information is disseminated at a rapid rate and absolutely anyone can add whatever they want to that. The easy part is participating in this ongoing stream of media, the real challenge lies is having anyone outside your own social circle take notice of what you are producing.

All of the necessary tools for establishing one’s presence in new media are there. Websites like Twitter and Facebook and Myspace all have specific areas and approaches for people with a product or service. There are also countless file hosting sites to use to present whatever media you have and all kinds of blogs and websites to act as a presentation of yourself and your work. In the time that I’ve been writing and drawing comics I’ve tried to use new media to expose my work to people. For a long time I used the blog part of Myspace to post up comics on a weekly basis and then would use their bulletin feature to inform people about it. Then a few years ago I started using a blogspot blog to post up the comics and put up statuses on Facebook and twitter about new posts. Unfortunately, this has really only ensured that people I already know have read my comics. Attempts at getting outside individuals to read them has been a lot harder, and has involved me directly contacting people and selling hard copies of comics all in an attempt to get gain attention for my work.

I’ve only recently begun fully utilizing the tools that the modern age has laid at our fingertips. Granted I have been using them pretty poorly, but it’s important to start somewhere.