Song:
Mary Swick
Michael Mulig
Adava Gerace
Soundscape:
Chelsea Kardos
Mary Swick
Monday, April 25, 2011
Brainwashed
Brainwashed Article
Seth Godin has a very interesting outlook on the creative process, and in this article he presents seven layers that are vital to reinventing yourself. The first is about "Acknowledging the Lizard", which may sound ridiculous, but is something that every artist struggles with. In this case, the Lizard is that annoying little voice in your head that tries to discard every idea you create in fear of being made fun of. Before an artist can complete a potentially magnificent idea, he must always overpower the Lizard and continue to work out the idea. There have been many times that I have begun to flesh out an idea and stopped because I thought people may not like it or understand it, and in these psychological battles, the Lizard won.
The second layer that I identified with was the "Fail" layer. Godin suggests that artists must fail in order to succeed. This idea has been presented in a trillion different formats, like Michael Jordan talking about how many game-winning shots he's missed. For me, though, its a little different.
I have never succeeded.
And I never will.
My definition of success is to be completely done. I fail everything because I never want to be done with anything. When I 'finish' a movie and watch it, it is impossible for me to watch it without finding everything that is wrong with it. The day that I can watch a movie I made in its entirety and cannot find one mistake is the day I will succeed, but I believe that day will never come. It is because I fail, every single time, that I will become better because I will never be satisfied with what I create.
I can relate to Godin's layers until he starts applying them to school. While he basically talks about school being useless, I believe school is wonderful. It is not what we learn in math class that is important. Memorizing factors of 32 is no different than memorizing the rule of thirds. By figuring out what makes up 32, you understand the number even better than before, similar to understanding why the rule of thirds is important to follow.My knowledge of calculus may never help me in life, and I could certainly advance without knowing it. It is how I learned it that is important. Working out problems over and over again helps student develop techniques to solve other types of problems as well. It allows us to remain calm when stressful situations arise in class or during a video shoot, and that will help us create solutions to make our final product better.
Seth Godin has a very interesting outlook on the creative process, and in this article he presents seven layers that are vital to reinventing yourself. The first is about "Acknowledging the Lizard", which may sound ridiculous, but is something that every artist struggles with. In this case, the Lizard is that annoying little voice in your head that tries to discard every idea you create in fear of being made fun of. Before an artist can complete a potentially magnificent idea, he must always overpower the Lizard and continue to work out the idea. There have been many times that I have begun to flesh out an idea and stopped because I thought people may not like it or understand it, and in these psychological battles, the Lizard won.
The second layer that I identified with was the "Fail" layer. Godin suggests that artists must fail in order to succeed. This idea has been presented in a trillion different formats, like Michael Jordan talking about how many game-winning shots he's missed. For me, though, its a little different.
I have never succeeded.
And I never will.
My definition of success is to be completely done. I fail everything because I never want to be done with anything. When I 'finish' a movie and watch it, it is impossible for me to watch it without finding everything that is wrong with it. The day that I can watch a movie I made in its entirety and cannot find one mistake is the day I will succeed, but I believe that day will never come. It is because I fail, every single time, that I will become better because I will never be satisfied with what I create.
I can relate to Godin's layers until he starts applying them to school. While he basically talks about school being useless, I believe school is wonderful. It is not what we learn in math class that is important. Memorizing factors of 32 is no different than memorizing the rule of thirds. By figuring out what makes up 32, you understand the number even better than before, similar to understanding why the rule of thirds is important to follow.My knowledge of calculus may never help me in life, and I could certainly advance without knowing it. It is how I learned it that is important. Working out problems over and over again helps student develop techniques to solve other types of problems as well. It allows us to remain calm when stressful situations arise in class or during a video shoot, and that will help us create solutions to make our final product better.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
99 Red Balloons
The song that I decided to choose is 99 Red Balloons, originally done by Nena and covered by 7 Seconds
Original
7 Seconds Cover
Although the lyrics are the same, there is a very noticeable difference between the two songs. The melody, which is basically the tune that you hum along to, is very similar but it is driven by different instruments. In Nena's version, there is a heavy synthesizer, while in the 7 Seconds version, the song is driven by the distorted guitar. With the guitar and the heavy drums, the intensity of the 7 Seconds seems higher, although the synthesizer can get pretty loud at times. The pitch of the Nena version is a significantly higher than the cover with the synthesizer playing higher notes than the guitar. Distorted effects on the guitar also changes the timbre of the instrument, making it sound more complex than the basic synthesizer notes.
The most interesting difference (or rather, similarity) between the original and the cover is the speed. Even though the two are singing the lyrics at the same speed, the 7 Seconds version seems faster because the drums are playing very rapidly.
Original
7 Seconds Cover
Although the lyrics are the same, there is a very noticeable difference between the two songs. The melody, which is basically the tune that you hum along to, is very similar but it is driven by different instruments. In Nena's version, there is a heavy synthesizer, while in the 7 Seconds version, the song is driven by the distorted guitar. With the guitar and the heavy drums, the intensity of the 7 Seconds seems higher, although the synthesizer can get pretty loud at times. The pitch of the Nena version is a significantly higher than the cover with the synthesizer playing higher notes than the guitar. Distorted effects on the guitar also changes the timbre of the instrument, making it sound more complex than the basic synthesizer notes.
The most interesting difference (or rather, similarity) between the original and the cover is the speed. Even though the two are singing the lyrics at the same speed, the 7 Seconds version seems faster because the drums are playing very rapidly.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Finding Your Howl
The story that Jonathan Flaum tells is about the only kid in his fifth grade class to get an A on a certain writing assignment. The students had to write a five-page long story, and the student achieved this by writing about a tiger attempting to escape from it's cage at a zoo. The tiger plans carefully and trains hard to make the jump out of its cage, but when it leaps out of its prison, it lands in another cage. To reach the five page minimum, the child repeats this action over and over.
Connecting the cage with the tiger helps us realize that the 'prisons' we surround ourselves in, which are made up of our fears, doubts, and weaknesses, are created by ourselves. Moving to a different country or trying to act differently won't change anything; to escape your cage, you have to thoroughly understand it, and instead of trying to leap out of it, you have to dig deep into the cage. Breaking through the dark unknown without the feeling of safety is the only way to create your true self.
I recently discovered a quote and have been trying to adapt it into my creative lifestyle: Don't wait until you know who you are to make something.
Connecting the cage with the tiger helps us realize that the 'prisons' we surround ourselves in, which are made up of our fears, doubts, and weaknesses, are created by ourselves. Moving to a different country or trying to act differently won't change anything; to escape your cage, you have to thoroughly understand it, and instead of trying to leap out of it, you have to dig deep into the cage. Breaking through the dark unknown without the feeling of safety is the only way to create your true self.
I recently discovered a quote and have been trying to adapt it into my creative lifestyle: Don't wait until you know who you are to make something.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Do we create or do we discover?
http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/49.06.14Ways
(Click the picture on the left to get the article)
In this article, "Fourteen Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas", Mitch Ditkoff suggests possible solutions to every artist's worst nightmare: creative block. Everyone has been stuck in that 'no idea zone', but sitting in a chair with your head on the table may not be the best way to find a spark of inspiration. Ditkoff starts by explaining two basic thought processes relating to the process of getting an idea; either you create the idea by yourself, or you 'find' the idea, suggesting that all ideas that people obtain are preexisting. Then, he goes into all of the different mindsets that creative people should try to attune themselves into while trying to become innovative.
The first one that stuck out to me, something that bugs me time after time whenever I visit a movie theater or watch student films, is Noticing and Challenging Existing Patterns and Trends (#9). I have noticed that over half of the student films I have ever watched begin with/end with an alarm clock going off, mainly because I did it in one of my first movies and thought someone was trying to copy me. Now, I stray from alarm clocks as much as I can, and I feel like doing so will push me to come up with original ideas on how to start a story. Hollywood does an amazing job at noticing trends, but a terrible job at challenging them. Certain formulas for stories make the most money, and that is what most production companies look for. As an aspiring film director, I have complete disgust for it, but I understand why they do it. My only hope is that one day, the general public starts to challenge the traditional story-lines and demands more creative context.
The next one I didn't realize the tremendous effect it could have until earlier this year. Hanging Out with Diverse Groups of People (#10) can help create ideas faster than anything else I have tried. A few months ago, I went to lunch with someone I met at orientation but never really talked to until we had a class together. Just by listening to his ambitions and one of the stories he told me, I began formulating a great movie idea in my head that I plan to make in a few years. Hanging out with the same people every day means subjecting yourself to the same familiar activities and conversations. I strongly believe that real life experiences can help amplify the level of intensity or artistic emotion in a creation. Surround yourself with people you are unfamiliar with, be receptive of their ideas, stories, and beliefs, and be sure to pack a pencil and some paper.
Suspend Logic (#14). This is by far the most important part of creating ideas. Do not trash an idea before fleshing it out because its 'stupid'. While explaining the idea of one of my short films to a friend, I realized how dumb the idea sounded. "I want to make a movie where you can 'see' sounds". I almost scrapped it (the only reason I didn't was because I was on a time crunch). That idea ended up winning me multiple awards, including an entry to a contest that ultimately put $3,500 dollars into my pocket. The same goes for other films that I've watched. If I think a movie is stupid because of the title/cover/intro scene, I become easily encouraged to stop paying attention or stop watching the movie altogether. Early judgment is my worst enemy. While coming up with an idea, withhold all judgment and practicality until the very end; you might create something spectacular.
The last one ends with a question "What can you do this week to suspend practicality, logic and rationality in service to birthing your big idea?"
I did this while working on a script for one of my movie ideas I want to make when I have the resources. One of the scenes involves transforming a supermarket into a Vietnam jungle. I couldn't find a way to add water into the aisle. At first, I thought it would be too complicated or ridiculous to pull off, but I suspended my judgment and tried finding a solution. Outside of the aisles, I can put some form of water slides that can flood water through the end of it. As crazy as it sounds, it makes sense drawn out. By suspending logic, I created a solution to a problem that almost caused me to throw away a potentially interesting scene.
(Click the picture on the left to get the article)
In this article, "Fourteen Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas", Mitch Ditkoff suggests possible solutions to every artist's worst nightmare: creative block. Everyone has been stuck in that 'no idea zone', but sitting in a chair with your head on the table may not be the best way to find a spark of inspiration. Ditkoff starts by explaining two basic thought processes relating to the process of getting an idea; either you create the idea by yourself, or you 'find' the idea, suggesting that all ideas that people obtain are preexisting. Then, he goes into all of the different mindsets that creative people should try to attune themselves into while trying to become innovative.
The first one that stuck out to me, something that bugs me time after time whenever I visit a movie theater or watch student films, is Noticing and Challenging Existing Patterns and Trends (#9). I have noticed that over half of the student films I have ever watched begin with/end with an alarm clock going off, mainly because I did it in one of my first movies and thought someone was trying to copy me. Now, I stray from alarm clocks as much as I can, and I feel like doing so will push me to come up with original ideas on how to start a story. Hollywood does an amazing job at noticing trends, but a terrible job at challenging them. Certain formulas for stories make the most money, and that is what most production companies look for. As an aspiring film director, I have complete disgust for it, but I understand why they do it. My only hope is that one day, the general public starts to challenge the traditional story-lines and demands more creative context.
The next one I didn't realize the tremendous effect it could have until earlier this year. Hanging Out with Diverse Groups of People (#10) can help create ideas faster than anything else I have tried. A few months ago, I went to lunch with someone I met at orientation but never really talked to until we had a class together. Just by listening to his ambitions and one of the stories he told me, I began formulating a great movie idea in my head that I plan to make in a few years. Hanging out with the same people every day means subjecting yourself to the same familiar activities and conversations. I strongly believe that real life experiences can help amplify the level of intensity or artistic emotion in a creation. Surround yourself with people you are unfamiliar with, be receptive of their ideas, stories, and beliefs, and be sure to pack a pencil and some paper.
Suspend Logic (#14). This is by far the most important part of creating ideas. Do not trash an idea before fleshing it out because its 'stupid'. While explaining the idea of one of my short films to a friend, I realized how dumb the idea sounded. "I want to make a movie where you can 'see' sounds". I almost scrapped it (the only reason I didn't was because I was on a time crunch). That idea ended up winning me multiple awards, including an entry to a contest that ultimately put $3,500 dollars into my pocket. The same goes for other films that I've watched. If I think a movie is stupid because of the title/cover/intro scene, I become easily encouraged to stop paying attention or stop watching the movie altogether. Early judgment is my worst enemy. While coming up with an idea, withhold all judgment and practicality until the very end; you might create something spectacular.
The last one ends with a question "What can you do this week to suspend practicality, logic and rationality in service to birthing your big idea?"
I did this while working on a script for one of my movie ideas I want to make when I have the resources. One of the scenes involves transforming a supermarket into a Vietnam jungle. I couldn't find a way to add water into the aisle. At first, I thought it would be too complicated or ridiculous to pull off, but I suspended my judgment and tried finding a solution. Outside of the aisles, I can put some form of water slides that can flood water through the end of it. As crazy as it sounds, it makes sense drawn out. By suspending logic, I created a solution to a problem that almost caused me to throw away a potentially interesting scene.
Inspiration
As a video production major, I tend to dissect movies and point out flaws instead of sitting back and enjoying a flick. There have been few directors who continue to impress me so much that I get 'sucked in' like the rest of the crowd, completely oblivious to the outside world while engulfed in their created story.
The first director to do this was Christopher Nolan. When watching Memento, I ignored two phone calls and postponed going to the bathroom because I did not want to interrupt the 'backwards' flow that the movie was executing so perfectly. I watched Memento when I was still debating between potential majors in the summer of my Junior year in high school. From then on, I became hooked in the production world.
The story is told with a great emphasis on subtext, particularly with having an unreliable narrator. The viewer learns very early on that the main character, Leonard, has a brain condition that inhibits him from creating new memories, resulting in him forgetting everything that just happened every ten or fifteen minutes. This creates doubt in the viewers mind at some moments as to whether or not the story being told is true.
The second director that caught my attention was Quentin Tarantino.
What I like about Quentin is his style. He has an incredible knack for creating Tension and Release in his movies. The example above may not create an uncomfortable feeling out of context, but during the movie I was on the edge of my seat. Another great example is the cabin scene of Inglorious Basterds, when the Nazi general is interrogating the owner of the home while a Jewish family is hiding beneath the floorboards of the room. One shot holds for at least two or three minutes straight, without any camera movement or dramatic character action, and creates so much tension that it is unnerving to watch.
Michel Gondry, in my opinion, is the most creative man ever to exist, ever.
During the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", the viewer notices an incredible contrast between the main characters. Clementine is spontaneous and outgoing, while Jim Carrey's character is introverted and shy. This contrast sparks many arguments between the couple. Eternal Sunshine also has a subjective meaning. During the movie, the characters' memories become so painful that they erase the memories of each other, yet at the end, fate brings them together. Should they give their relationship another try, or is failing once enough of a sign to quit?
All of these movies have great aspects that I want to creatively incorporate into my future films. These directors have truly earned the respect they have gained, and I can only hope to create a work of art that is half as good as theirs.
The first director to do this was Christopher Nolan. When watching Memento, I ignored two phone calls and postponed going to the bathroom because I did not want to interrupt the 'backwards' flow that the movie was executing so perfectly. I watched Memento when I was still debating between potential majors in the summer of my Junior year in high school. From then on, I became hooked in the production world.
The story is told with a great emphasis on subtext, particularly with having an unreliable narrator. The viewer learns very early on that the main character, Leonard, has a brain condition that inhibits him from creating new memories, resulting in him forgetting everything that just happened every ten or fifteen minutes. This creates doubt in the viewers mind at some moments as to whether or not the story being told is true.
The second director that caught my attention was Quentin Tarantino.
What I like about Quentin is his style. He has an incredible knack for creating Tension and Release in his movies. The example above may not create an uncomfortable feeling out of context, but during the movie I was on the edge of my seat. Another great example is the cabin scene of Inglorious Basterds, when the Nazi general is interrogating the owner of the home while a Jewish family is hiding beneath the floorboards of the room. One shot holds for at least two or three minutes straight, without any camera movement or dramatic character action, and creates so much tension that it is unnerving to watch.
Michel Gondry, in my opinion, is the most creative man ever to exist, ever.
During the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", the viewer notices an incredible contrast between the main characters. Clementine is spontaneous and outgoing, while Jim Carrey's character is introverted and shy. This contrast sparks many arguments between the couple. Eternal Sunshine also has a subjective meaning. During the movie, the characters' memories become so painful that they erase the memories of each other, yet at the end, fate brings them together. Should they give their relationship another try, or is failing once enough of a sign to quit?
All of these movies have great aspects that I want to creatively incorporate into my future films. These directors have truly earned the respect they have gained, and I can only hope to create a work of art that is half as good as theirs.
Friday, April 1, 2011
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