final project

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Final post

1. The most surprise thing that I learned about myself is that I am not that dumb on "new technology". At the beginning, when I realized that we have to use computer and software programs for this class, I felt extremely bad; because the only thing that I could do with this computer is the internet and iphoto. But then as we go along, I feel much better. At least, I know how to use iDVD and sound studio; and I am having so much fun on that.

2. Honestly, I hate this class so much at the beginning. I am so scared of going to class because every time when I go to class I feel so dumb. It just seems like everyone has a TONES of knowledge on those software that we are using and the computer. I am always scared!!!! Scared of what is going to happened if I clicked something wrong or accidently deleted something. It was  a nightmare for me...(every thursday...) But fortunately, even though I am really slow on getting use to things, eventually I got use to them~ I think the only thing that I did to solve my problem is that I prayed every time before class...I know it sounds so weird but I just feel much better afterward~

3. I think I would pick tone, pitch, spatial. Tone- it is very upsetting, traumatize, a lot of suffering.

                                                                                 Pitch- high pitch (screaming)

                                                                                 Spatial- emptiness  

4. WO~ I think the most challenging assignment for me is the final project. NO DOUBT! Seriously, I felt so bad at the beginning because I did not know what I was doing. I felt really lost. I remembered that I was crying in the bathroom because I felt like a loser. Everyone in class seemed so confident about themselves, but I was like the only one who got  stuck on it.  But finally, I solved my problems by talking to my friends, asking their opinions and thinking back and forth myself. 

5. The assignment that came most naturally to me is the abstract sound video. I love that assignment so much. I just feel so confident about what I was doing (because I had a very clear idea on what I was going to do and I knew how to play with iDVD). I had so much fun on that one. 

6. I think both analysis have shown me that I should always be confident about myself, and sometimes if I do not understand something I should ask, because the others might have the same problem.

7. Well~ I am not sure if I am very very creative but since we have a lot of freedom in this class, I think it helps me a lot on developing my creativity skills. At least I learned that I should always think of some BIG, something that is out of the circle (topic). 

8. I learned a lot of things when participating in this creative group. I learned about how one subject can be presented in many different ways. Its just that when you look at the others' works you can just learn a lot of things (idea on how to present their subjects, the ways that they used)  from it. 

rough draft for final project

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Footage

* I think I have to re-shoot the playground one because there are a lot of shakings and the pace is not constant. Also, I will try to shoot a footage this weekend when going to the Jewish Museum. Additionally, I am going to shoot more depressing footage in order to build up the depressive feeling of the Holocaust.

* Since there is a screaming sound in my sound clip, I will take more pictures and shoot more footage that are very blank(without any people); I think that will create the sense of horror. Also, I will add more information to my sound clip, for example, interviews.

Possibilities for structuring this video:

*scary feeling (the whole piece- it grows stronger as it approaches the end)

*scary feeling at the beginning-->weeping (women/children)

*scary feeling at the beginning-->glory finally came(end)

continue on Concept Brief

Pictures (theme:glory,depress,sad)

Permits and permissions:

 

                       If I have to take pictures in Jewish Heritage Museum, I will have to get the permission from the security guards. 

                          

Potential Problems:

• need to figure it out how to get footage and pictures for this historical event
• I might not allow to take pictures in the museum
• Jewish Heritage Museum is closed on Saturdays
• look for really depressing places , images
• interviews with Jewish (since I don't really have any Jewish friends...)
• attempt to take pictures in the cemetery, but seems very scary and bad luck!

Timeline:

     week of Nov.6 -Nov. 13

     (Planning) going back to the city to visit the museum at the weekend; to get footage and pictures in the museum.

      Take more depressive pictures. 

      Record more sound for the theme sound track.

     

     week of Nov.13

      Meeting with staff and peers.

      Put everything together.

 

     week of Nov.20

     Rough draft.

     week of the Thanksgiving 

     Improve the video.

     * add more pictures/footage

    week after Thanksgiving

     Final Critique 

Witness

1. 3 techniques that you can use when trying to shoot steady shots without a tripod are, holding the grip right with both hands; using both feet to support the whole both, sometimes you can even lean against the wall and that will help to support your whole body too; when lying down on the ground use both elbows to support. 

2. When walking and taping, you can minimize camera shake by keeping your knees bent and lower your body all the time, also keep you feet close to the ground. When walking backward, it is better to have someone walking back behind you, so they can clear the way for you. When crabbing sideway, you should walk slowly with you knees bent, one foot in the front and one foot at the back. You can also use wheeled vehicles such as, office chair and wheel chair to get you smooth shots. Also,  you should support your camera, when moving along.

3. Camera movements actually mimic the way the eyes move, such as, panning (from left to right or from right to left) ; tilting (looking up from the sky, then moving down to the ground); when panning or tilting keep the movement in a constant speed, hold shots for 3 seconds before and after, do not stop recording and always use your upper body to move.

4. It is so important to consider how long you remain on a shot and how quickly you move the camera. If you remain on a shot in a very short time or you move the camera too quickly, the images will become very blurry and the audience will not able to understand or see what your are trying to show.

5. To avoid seasickness, you should remain on a shot for longer and when zooming in, try to get closer to the object and avoid standing far away from it. 

6. To avoid lighting problems, the object should be facing the light when recording. You can also add a mains light if necessary. When using a mains light, you should wear gloves to prevent the heat. You may also use the exposure function to adjust the light. When you are filming from an exterior to an interior or from an interior to an exterior, you should always fix the white balance system. 

7. When framing an object, you should always use the rule of thirds. When interviewing, the interviewee should look into the frame; and when recording an action, the action should move into the frame.

8. 

Concept brief

Theme : Holocaust

3 approaches to making this video:

• Pay attention to interviews of the Holocaust survivors; watch Holocaust related movies
• Take pictures and footage of very depressing objects or views
• Go to the Jewish Museum 

Why is it matter you?

      I think Holocaust is an event that I would like to focus through out the history. I have a really deep impression on this. I still remember when I was in 10th grade in high school, I spent almost the whole year on Holocaust and I think that is why it is so memorable. I am really interested in exploring this topic. I have watched several Holocaust movies ( Diary of Anne Frank, The Pianist,Schindler's Lists etc.), and I have a really strong feeling on Holocaust. I think I am so lucky that I am (was) not living in that kind of environment. It is worth do focus on Holocaust because it is a fact and it will never go away from history.  

Critique on my own abstract sound video

                        The abstract sound video maintains continuity by both graphical and rhythmical relationships. In some part of the video is showing the change of color of an image.

    

  

For the rhythmical relationship, the movement of the image or the image itself matches the sound when it goes on. There isn't any real transition technique, instead, the sound has become the transition technique for the video. In some way, this video includes a cyclical structure. For example, couple of scenes at the beginning is being repeated at the middle and the end. 

                        The structure of the video is that, the sound and the images are matching each other when the video move forward. There are slower and faster pace within. The artist paid attention to the changes in graphical and rhythmical relationship; and it is very clear. 

                        Additionally, the artist tried to abstract some of the images in the video. Here are some examples,

       

                

                  

Abstract sound video

 

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Abstract sound that I have chosen

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I'm choosing this sound clip as my Abstract Video project because I think its structure is really interesting and the sounds are funny. It just keeps floating and floating, meaning that it is bring me forward or I should say, it is approaching to a higher level as it goes along. I think that will help me with the transition of the images.

DJ Spooky

             DJ Spooky tried to pay attention to the audience in the club while he is dealing with visual sampling. He wanted to find out how the audience react when they saw the film. As a result, the audience stopped dancing for a few seconds and focused on the film. When he is doing the visual sampling, he tried to focus on the central turning points of the film and the order of each image is going from motif; in another words, his film clip is on a storytelling level. And he believed that there is always a pattern within a movement; meaning that when a person move, the pattern will change. 

              I think some similar thing that I have experienced when I was doing my sound clip is that I tried to put sounds in a logical way; and I think this is how it is similar to DJ Spooky's idea that every image is going from a motif. Also, when I was recording sounds, I tried to pick put some main points of my topic and put them together; this way, the audience can have a clearer picture in their mind of what is going on in my sound clip. 

Article on the film clip of DJ Spooky : "Does the work do what DJ Spooky says he hopes it will do?"

               In the film clip, Rebirth of a Nation, by DJ Spooky, he uses recurring images and repetitions to promote the central idea of the film. As an artist, DJ Spooky has experimented on putting the images and sound in a logical way. According to his theory, he believes that there are always some patterns within a movement, therefore, when a person is moving, his or her pattern will also change. In his film clip, the transition from one scene to another scene is always with a pattern or it is layered; it never goes to another picture in all of a sudden. 

               Moreover, the film clip, Rebirth of a nation, is a very successful film clip from DJ Spooky. It actually serves the main idea of the original film, and it also practices the idea of how DJ Spooky wants it to be. 

2 screen shots :

           Here are two completely different images from the sound clip, Rebirth of a Nation by DJ Spooky. As DJ Spooky said, he believed that there is always a pattern between a movement. From the transition above, DJ Spooky is applying a pattern like effect in order to advance to the next image. 

sou_hsi_final

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sou_hsi_survivor story 6

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sou_hsi_survivor story 5

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sou_hsi_yelling in German

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sou_hsi_survivor story 4

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sou_hsi_survivor story 3

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sou_hsi_survivor story 2

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sou_hsi_survivor story 1

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sou_hsi_survivor story 1

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sou_hsi_water

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sou_hsi_screaming

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Sound samples

The Anchor stone

High pitch

Narrative + Abstraction

Voice – obscure

Pyramid of sound

 

Sixteen great turn-on from the kitchen

Abstraction + noise

Low Pitch

Sequential

Machines

Comparing different sounds

 

Territoires de sans blanc

Spatial

Low pitch + tone + Rhythm

Repetition

Very obscure

Washing machine

Engine

 

 

On the audio walk by Janet Cardiff

Narrative + Spatial

Pitch – going up and down

Contrast

Very clear voice

Pyramid of sound

Leading you forward (keeps going on and on)

Sequential

Bright (clearer voice) + Mysterious (quieter voice)

Elder Bush's Voice

Spatial + Narrative + Abstraction

repetition

clarity - obscure

Abstract sound analysis

Abstract sound : LHu

                            This abstract sound piece has a clear emphasis on pitch/tone/timbre. There is a crescendo at the beginning. The sound is in a very high pitch and when it gets louder it turns to a lower pitch. The beginning sounds like a group of bees flying around and it is really abstract. The pitch sounds like a spray and it is trying to kill the bees. And when it gets to the end, the high pitch part starts to disappear. Also, it has successfully created an integration of simultaneous sounds  without creating music or using ordered language. For example, there isn't any words within the whole piece and it sounds really abstract. It sounds like a bunch of bees flying around you. In addition, this piece flows without interruption. When you are listening to it, it catches your attention to go on and on. It doesn't just stop strangely, it leads you to the ending. 

6 questions on my topic: Holocaust

*Who were the people who suffered in the Holocaust?

*When did it happen?

*Where did that hold?

*What do you think when you were caged up as an animal?

*Why is it unforgettable?

*How did it affect you?

3 things that I've noticed from my last class

             First thing that I noticed was that my 30 second env. sound track was really bad. Finally, from the critique from last week, I found out that I am missing layers in my sound track. And that is actually one of the goals for that project. In order to improve it, I will add a background to it.

             The second thing that I learnt was actually from the critique. I realized that when critiquing on the others' works, I could actually learn more from it. Once I discovered something new, I would try to put that question to myself, and see whether I did it or not. Even though I don't like to critique, I still like the way that I could learn more from it. 

             The last thing that I noticed was that it is really difficult to only emphasize on either "rhythm" or "pitch" on my abs. sound track. Meaning that it is really hard to separate them. I tried many times, but still, I don't think I am getting it. I hope I can do better later. 

test result and 3 things that I can do to improve my learning attitude

           According to the result in this test, it indicated that I am a visual learner. In order to help myself out, I should try to find more diagrams, pictures, video etc. that is predominately verbal.

And I should use highlighters to highlight important parts when I am reading or studying. Also, I should try to use symbols to mark down key points. 

           Also, from this test, it showed that I am a global learner. I think one thing that could help is that I should skim through the reading before I read it carefully. Try to relate things that I already knew from the past, and it will help me a lot.

           The last thing that I should do in order to help myself out is to study in group. Since it resulted that I am an active learner, I will get benefit from studying in group because I can actually get more information from the others. 

The Art of Noises

                    Russolo would feel bored and too silent in a world without simultaneous sound. According to his article, he mentioned that the world was silent before the arrival of the machines, which was the sound of noise. To him, the arrival of noises has created another view of this world. And it is actually a good creation, instead of a bad contribution. He especially used the phrase "marvelous innovation" to describe the creation of noises. From that it showed that he had a really positive perspective on the art of noises. 

                    I don't think Russolo actually value "noises", but instead he divided noises in different categories. To me, I think I do value "noses". I value "noises" because  it is something that makes me feel uncomfortable and annoying. 

                    I think I would enjoy the role of noise in the video games. It is because those noises are not real(actual), in another words, their role were to pretend. 

3 things that I have learnt during class

                           The first thing that I have learnt was"fore, mid and background". When I was listening to the sound project of the other student, I always tried to find out those 3 things in their project. It is a very interesting thing because in the past, when I listen to music sound track, I never focus on those 3 things. But now when I focus on that, I found out a lot of meaning from the sound track. It is no longer a normal sound track, but it means something.

                          The second thing that I have learnt was "space". Other than just focusing on "fore,mid,background", space is another important thing to pay attention when listening to sound track. I learnt that from those two students' sound projects which were played during class. The first one has given me a sense of huge space, because the sound was loud and very clear, and it gave me a feeling of spreading out. Oppositely, the second one was very obscure and slow, and the sound seemed like getting into an inner space. 

                           The third thing that I have learnt was that it is pretty hard to put many different sound tracks together, in order to create another sound track which contains both "fore,mid and background" and "space". It is easy to handle only one of those, but it is hard to handle both of them at once.