FINAL REFLECTION

I have learned a lot in this class. I took experimental because it is the mode of film making I feel that I can successfully practice at this time. The possibilities of experimental cinema far exceed that of narrative. That is a fact that this classed especially underlined. In experimental cinema there are no rules. There is less pressure to create a manufactured or commercial object. Experimental cinema is born from passion only. In this class I learned about many film makers through lectures and presentations that now I am very interested in such as Martha Colburn and Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould for example. I learned technical aspects of being a film maker related to technique, style, equipment, and editing. I really learned a lot about discipline through Shannon who is harsh on all of us only to better us as filmmakers. We also learned a lot about the use of sound. I have grown as a film maker because of this. I really struggled with sound before this class and would not even make an attempt to record my own sound. Now I have been forced to try to make soundscapes and it is still difficult for me but I feel much more confident about the effort. I have learned more film makers in the class and there fore have become a more aware filmmaker myself. I want to keep pushing myself and my work and this class was a good exercise for me to work. I can take my new knowledge of film makers and networks with me. I now have so many new interests that I can research and apply to my own efforts. I can now tolerate working with others but now I know for certain that I can only work with others if it is a true connection without a film becoming a pseudo  work. I know my strengths through practicing making these film and my weaknesses and I know where to strive to expand.

Aaron Koblin presentation

Anthony & Charles presented on Aaron Koblin. I had never heard of him before. He is a very intriguing artist because it seems as though cinema is not necessarily what defines him yet it is relevant to his identity as an artist because it is a medium that supports his work and collaborations. His methods are pushing the envelope of the future in a way I had not contemplated before this presentation.

Guy Maddin presentation

Guy Maddin is a filmmaker that I found interest in through my interest in David Lynch. Destiny & Daniel presented good examples from his works. They provided correct examples of his influences as well. Guy Maddin is so unique in his style and is a special experimental film maker who breaks into the mainstream.

Martha Colburn presentation

Martha Colburn is an artist I have never heard of before.  Thanks to Marika & Amy I now have knowledge about her. I find Colburn to be one of the more interesting experimental film makers I have learned about. Her style of animation is so particular and recognizable. It is really cool to see someone from the punk community in Baltimore be such a successful and respected artist. It really comes as no surprise though. I am going to seek out Colburn's films for sure.

Marlon Riggs presentation

Austin and Molly presented on Marlon Riggs. The presentation was truthful to Riggs legacy. The personal context of Riggs life was something I learned for the first time during the presentation. I think Molly and Austin did a lot of good research on Riggs and it was nicely informative with good examples. I enjoyed the examples from more of Riggs works other than Tongues Untied like Ethnic Notions because it gave more context for his growth as an artist.

My self portrait was difficult to make. I knew it would be time consuming. There were times that I feared that the exports from datamoshing would break my MacBook. I continued to make the film though despite the effort and time it took to make it. It was difficult to find space in which I could access the emotions in my brain I wanted to express in the video. I took many videos of my eye for example and I really wanted my eye to communicate pain and so I would sit in front of the camera and play music that reminded me of certain things and I would try my best to go to the places that were difficult to face. I struggled to learn the software for data moshing as well. There was a learning curve that I had to learn that was even more difficult considering that each time I edited, a new video would export. The audio was difficult to conceptualize as well. I did not go into the video with an idea of the audio track since for me the video was more visually oriented. I ended up writing something very personal for me and then decided to distort the audio to match the distortion of the image. After I showed the film in class I added music as well. I am now happy with how it turned out. There are things in there that make me sweat but to others there is just pixels and a dark tone. I wanted the content to be anonymous. I am ultimately happy with the final product. This datamoshing with my own footage is something I am interested in revisiting soon.

Video Installation meeting

When we had a group meeting in class we came up with a direction for our project and left with some agreement and disagreement. We knew we wanted the project to be dark but some wanted it to be more dark and disturbing than others. We agreed that the project will incorporate found footage into the project. The group met again on Monday night but I was unable to make it due to having a final during the meeting. I contacted the director Austin and he filled me in on the meeting. I know what we will be projecting images onto as well as a tighter tone. Charles is going to search for a band to play during the installation, destiny and I are going to search for found footage and edit it together under Austin's direction. We have a good group and I am confident that our installation will be a success. We seem to be on the right track.

Self Portrait revised

For my self portrait I will have extreme close-ups of my eyes. A layer of video will then begin to play on my iris. There will be cuts to both archival footage of things I have shot and found footage of films and other content that I relate to. These images will be heavily distorted and edited to portray the pain and heartbreak that has been dominating my life this year. Throughout the distorted footage there will be intercuts of my eyes that become more and more expressive. I know that I will be datamoshing a lot of the found footage together to make beautiful compositions and images that are not recognizable by content but will have personal significance nevertheless. The audio will be distorted audio from clips and a voiceover of my poetry that will be un comprehensible along with soundbites of me playing my keyboard throughout. The effect I wish to have is a visually engaging work that communicates anxiety, sadness, and disarray while being composed of things I attribute heavily to myself while being anonymous.  

Ok Go Presentation

I had never heard of OK GO before this presentation. They are an interesting group to me in the context of the viral video. This band seems to have ditched their initial intent of being a band and embraced the fact that they have the ability and fame for these highly planned performance videos. They even go as far as stripping the music to a bare minimum to draw attention to the videos only because they know that is why they are famous. Also the experimental nature of their videos really work in an interesting way with their marketing sponsors. They are a unique object.

Cucalorus Reflection

My intentions for the festival were far exceeded during my time at Cucalorus. Not only did I see many impressive short films but I also got to learn many other things. I met many of the filmmakers whose shorts I admired. People during the festival were very approachable and easy to talk to. I had good discussions with the directors of many shorts and features. I asked questions like I intended to do and got great results. I also went to many different types of screenings to get a good variety such as shorts on race, children films, horror, documentaries, and experimental films. I saw many more films than I intended and this was the first film festival I have attended and so it was worth it. My intention to see the film Burning (2018) did not pan out though because of my work schedule. Despite that I saw many pleasant films.
My favorite experience at the festival was the sound and image block that took place at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Thursday night. The films were all music videos made by bands across the country. Most filmmakers were hired by musicians while some others directed the videos themselves. I saw some very impressive stop motion music videos as well as videos shot locally. I met a filmmaker named Kira Bursky who directed a music video I really admired. She made visuals and then projected them onto a wall and had the actors choreographed to move in relation to the images and then recorded that for her film. It turns out she is from Asheville and we have been living among each other our whole lives. I got her information and we plan on meeting up during winter break now.
The thing that surprised me the most is how approachable and kind spirited everyone at the festival was. When you think of filmmakers an ego is usually attached to the concept and each filmmaker I met was very willing to discuss their film and other topics with anyone who approached them. It was a very pleasant surprise and it made the whole experience better.
Next year when I am a filmmaker at the festival I will know how it operates and I will be comfortable and confident in my ability to maneuver around Cucalorus. I have an understanding of the atmosphere now as well.

My favorite films were
KRISTA
POOR JANE
WHITE RAVENS
BOXED
HAIRCUT


I lost my Pegasus pass and so I do not have any images to share :(

Self Portrait brainstorm.

I have a concept pinned down for my self portrait film. I am going to cut between an extreme closeup of my eyes and then to images in between. At this point in my brainstorming I have a few ideas about what emotion I want to portray but I am struggling to find a concrete base idea for the images. I have been consdiering multi layered images of distorted light and or stop motion. I may however also shoot images of things that I do in my normal life and edit them until they are unrecognizable. Another idea I have is creating a heavily distorted montage of images that are very important to me using found footage. I feel as if this method may be my best bet given the amount of time and resources I am able to have for this project. I want it to accurately portray me while being visually stimulating as well.

Sound Design

In assignment 1D we recorded soundscapes before adding images. This process was different than the method I usually employ and it was challenging. This order of filmmaking really draws attention to the importance of sound. Sound and image work together in horizontal montage. Sound design can completely change the context of the image you see on screen. Sound design is a labor heavy process and for me it was much more challenging than simply laying images down next to each other. The sound leads the mood and it sounds awful unless there is careful intent and attention to detail. I learned that you can manipulate sounds to operate in an entirely different context than their usual function such as when we edited a vibrator into the noise of falling through air. What you hear informs you just as much as the image.

1C

While shooting on 35mm film with my group members I learned new things. The most notable piece of equipment I learned to use was the light meter. I had never handled a physical light meter before and it was a challenging experience to use it correctly. I learned that 400 IS0 film can in fact shoot nicely exposed photos at night with the right lighting. I had never attempted it before. I enjoyed shooting with other people which isn't usually the outcome for group projects like this. Everyone had a good eye and although we were crunched for time we all had an enjoyable experience shooting together.

Cucalorus intentions

I am signed up as a screen coordination volunteer this year at the film festival. I have intentions to perform well during my shifts because screen coordination is considered to be an important role during the festival. I have to email the filmmakers that are showing films during my shifts. I plan on networking and meeting my fellow volunteers this year and also talking with the filmmakers. I plan on asking any questions I can think of after seeing films. I am lucky to have received a Pegasus pass to the festival due to my posisition as a screen coordinator. This means that after my shifts I can go to see any films that I am interested in seeing. I also have access to the afterparties with this pass which will allow me to go to social events with filmmakers and other people involved in the festival and get to know them. I plan on trying to see experimental films made locally to network with other artists and film students. I want to see more experimental films that challenge me while also introducing me to new filmmaking methods and styles that I can learn from. I am very interested also in making a film for the festival next year.

From Arthouse to Microcinema

Arthouse film lovers and academics are not limited to large cities. This article tackles something that I myself have been frustrated about for years. There is an audience for arthouse cinema beyond the clusters of population, and limiting showings to just large cities mistreats the films and the audience who yearns to see films. I is damaging to cinema. It is good to see the work that microcinema have done in the recent past. In the case of my home town Asheville, I have noticed a huge focus on arthouse film in the venues in the last 2 years. Hopefully this trend will continue and spread to even more small towns.

Harry Smith presentation: Matt and Kyle

I have never really learned much about Harry Smith. In researching experimental films and on the topic of Stan Brakhage, I had heard his name in passage. This presentation was really informative and I think that the group really emphasized Smith's personality. Although there is little to no footage of him that I can find myself, It seems that Matt and Kyle were intrigued by the personality of their subject. I found the presentation to be easy to follow and grasp considering the nature of Harry Smith and his films. I appreciate that the group went into detail regarding his obsessions and habits as well. For me it made watching the clips much more interesting with that context of character.

Jonas Mekas presentation: Lily and Rory

I have background information on Jonas Mekas and even a bit of an obsession with him as well. That being said, the man has such a prolific career that I have yet to learn everything there is about him. Lily and Rory provided information I had never heard before. For example I knew little to nothing about his film conservation efforts or the lengths he went to fund and assist other artists. This presentation touched lightly on a vast array of what Mekas has done in his life. I felt involved and I learned even more about Mekas.

Light Observation 2

The sun shines outside my window. The blinds are slightly open. The light filters through the openings. On my wall above my bed there are parallel lines that run across photographs. The light leads down onto my bed. There is another window open and light floods that side of the room. My stereo system is casting large distorted shadows behind it. In the window there is a leafy plant that is illuminated by the rays of sunlight passing through the bright green leaves. My cat jumps onto my bed and a line of light rests across his mouth as he sits on my pillow. A cloud passes over the sun and suddenly the lines dissipate but they return once again.

Light Observation 1

In the library at UNCW in the cube studying area the light has more detail than it seems. Although The lighting is not flashy or instantly interesting as I study it I find interesting qualities. The lights come out of rectangle lights that make a long pattern across the entire ceiling. The lights are yellow and are very dim. It may appear the lights are bright but it seems that each light has a dim quality and all together they form a brightness. When the light falls on a person it appears that they are dimly lit from all angles. The patterns on the ceiling lights zig zag and merge together to create a dizzying effect if you stare for too long. Each source of light is perfectly positioned in comparison to the surrounding lights. This is something I have never noticed before.

Assignment 1B learning outcome

Assignment 1B was helpful to learn a bit more about audio effects in premiere for me. I knew a lot of tools but there are so many that one ussually doesn't get around to using all of them. I was able to play around with more effects to see how they warped or affected the audio the class had recorded. AU Distortion is one of my favorite audio effects in the program and during this assignment I used the effect more than ever before and learned how to edit the degree of distortion of each setting. We also added reverb and other echo effects on our project. Overall it was a good learning experience.

Sound Observation in Hoggard Hall Lobby

The heavy doors swing open, sound enters the room. Two men speak and their voices fade as they make their way down the hall. The air conditioner cuts on. A phone rings with jazzy piano keys, and a man answers as he opens the outside doors you can hear his voice. More voices spring up from around the corner. Two girls talk laughingly as they exit the building. Silence now. I can only hear the air conditioner. There is a faint buzzing noise perhaps coming from outside the building. Maybe it's traffic. More silence. Thats all I hear for about 60 seconds longer apart from my own breaths.

Bela Balazs's Theory of the Film: Sound Reading Response

Balazs presents a variety of points regarding sound in film. I agree with most of them. Balazs presents  points on the versatility and importance of sound in relation to image in different categories. I think that sound and image compliment each other with an equal balance when seeing a film. Sure one could in some cases mute a film and watch with subtitles but at that point half the experience is cut out. Speaking of silence, I think that silence is a powerful and under utilized tool in modern cinema. Silence can add so much power to the sound that arrives after it. Balazs at one point claims that sound has to be directed and arranged to become art. I disagree. I think there are many possibilities of artistic filmmaking without altering sound at all. You can do anything you want especially within the range of the Avant-Garde. For example, someone could record dogs barking at a shelter and juxtapose that with images of high school classroom and the sound could remain unedited and still be art. Asides from that point Balazs made I found the reading to be informative. It really made me think about the vitality of sound that I often forget.

Sound Observation in Port City Java

I hear Lorde playing behind the counter from a small speaker. To my right two people speak about an assignment they have due with a group who is not taking part in the effort. In front of me heavy wooden chairs drag across the hardwood floors as people attempt to rearrange the table layouts to fit to their own convenience. There are footsteps in the distance. A lot of footsteps. They start briefly and then stop. A barista asks what a customer wants. After the transaction the footsteps occur once again for a moment. Across the room a group of girls laugh. I can tell it is across the room because of the echo but the laughs are at such a high volume that they drown out everything else. Everything is drenched in the ambience of a loud refrigerator running at the bar. Once again I hear feet tapping to my right and the two people complain about other things. More chairs drag again. The footsteps occur again and the pattern of sounds reoccur with slight variation.

THE STUDENT 7 A GUIDE TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MEDIA PRODUCTION EDUCATION Reading Response

This article presents advice for those in film school or any other type of media production studies.
It is able in research and input from faculty and students across the U.S. The article presents seven useful guidelines to assist media production students in making original and impressive work.

1. Exposing yourself to new media is highly important to gain new perspectives and thought processes
2. The way you present your story matters. You must put your own views into a work and be mindful how its presented
3. Working together with your team is highly important for a collaborative success
4. Understanding the history, form, equipment, and philosophies of your medium are essential to producing quality work 
5. There are rules you learn as a student and If you don't learn to break them there is nothing special about your work
6. Expressing yourself is key
7. Always be willing to improve 

This is the ,majority of what I got out of each of the seven sections. 

Maya Deren's Amateur Versus Professional Reading Response

In this article Maya Deren the differences between a "Professional" and "Amateur" are explained according to Deren. Professionals have a lot of expectations to meet that also come along with perks. Professionals must stick to strict schedules, organize crews, and meet all sorts of deadlines in order to complete the product on time. In return professionals are rewarded with trained actors, sets, large budgets, extensive crew members with various talents, and equipment. Professionals make films that are sold as product and if the product is successful they are paid. Deren states that the word Amateur should not be frowned upon. She reminds the reader that the latin root of the word translates to lover. "Amateurs" make film out of necessity and love. The passion is what drives them. There won't be a budget or profit or fame, but the filmmaker has what professionals don't. They have freedom. In return there is a lot of work put on the shoulders of a director but passion often alleviates the sense of work. Amateurs can truly do whatever they want within their limitations. This is arguably a more pure experience when compared to a professional's line of work. I would personally take the freedom over fame and success because I am studying cinema out of passion. I think this is a thoughtful article.

Fred Camper's Naming, and Defining, Avant-Garde or Experimental Film Reading Response

Fred Camper's article explains Avant-Garde cinema by presenting six tendencies (not rules) that are common in the film form. Not all Experimental films fit these criteria but the threads presented are common throughout the filmography of many artists. 

1. Experimental films are mostly created by a single artisanal filmmaker. I think that this is something that is instantly noticeable when introduced to Avant-Garde Cinema. On occasion filmmakers in the experimental community collaborate but this seems like something that occurs more sparingly. Financial success is not a likely outcome.
2. The artisanal filmmaker takes on writing, directing, cinematography, and editing into their own hands. They are in complete control of their own films. When I make films I tend to fit this guideline. I enjoy taking all the reins of a film into my own hands
3. Experimental Cinema isn't a mode that usually presents a linear story. This is what is the most instantly striking quality of the Avant-Garde for me. I have seen some experimental films that do present a story but most do not. 
4. Experimental Cinema often draws notice to the medium of film. For example many filmmakers draw on film and manipulate limitations to draw attention to film. An example of this I can relate to is Mothlight. 
5. Experimental Filmmakers have an oppositional relationship to film style and convention. This seems to be another vital quality that is mostly shared in any film that fits the Avant-Garde label. There are no rules or limitations to what an artist can produce. They can do anything they want that is within the realm of possibility because there aren't typically any expectations to meet. I strongly align with this sentiment of freedom. I want to be able to defy the rules I learn because the rules only hold you back. 
6. Avant-Garde Films often seem to have an unclear message. Most films have a message of some sort but when it comes to this cinema the message may not be easily understood all the time. One film could be an allegory about war while containing images of goldfish while another could bluntly state its about enjoying the act of clapping. Messages are only as obvious as the filmmakers choose them to be. 

Introduction/BIO

I am from Asheville, North Carolina. From a very young age I have had an obsession with film. I now want to take my passion for film into a career path. My goal is too someday teach film on a university level. I take inspiration from many artists of different backgrounds and mediums. I am always striving to push myself out of my personal boundaries and to learn as much as I can. I am interested in experimental cinema because there has not been another mode of film that has made me constantly reevaluate the possibilities and different perspectives of cinema. I hope to use my knowledge to create my own films as well. I have always desired to create narrative films. Aside from film, I am very motivated by visual arts as well as music.