“Black-Eyed” Production Notes/Critical Analysis
Video draft #1 below.
Objective
The objective of the project was to tell a fictional narrative about two characters, female and male (replace with male/male, female/female, etc. if you like), in this case Barbie and “Wrestling Ken”. The story focused on the object/name “Black-Eyed” relating to the flower and Barbie’s rejection of WK.
My objective was also to show my understanding of some of the basic elements of video production including a some of those listed on the assignment:
“Mise-en-scene; Leadroom, headroom; Camera angle and significance (low, high, position placement), pacing and timing”, etc.
Process
I was pleased with most of the photos I shot at the park yesterday. As I mentioned the storyboard helped a great deal to keep focused on the story. Although only as a guide, it provided me with the freedom to experiment once in the environment.
I put the video draft together last night using Final Cut Express. I spent a few hours deciding on which photos to use in each sequence of the story and then placing the videos in the timeline.
Once the photos were in order, I focused on the tempo. I counted four, three, and two beats at roughly 120 bps (beats per second) to find the desired pace. Interestingly, I found that the tempo I was most drawn to had was more waltz-like.
I am mostly pleased with the video draft #1. I think I could spend more time on the pace/timing of the photos. I’d like to spend more time drawing out the first four photos, before Wrestling Ken enters. While I like the video short (under 3 min.), I’d like to draw it out a bit. The video could be more deliberate.
I am happy with the “she loves me, she loves me not” sequence. There is a slow building progression of four frames each building in speed. The video slows on the final leaf on the black-eyed susan stem before WK pulls it off.
I’ll have more comments as I work towards the final draft. I’m showing the draft this evening in class and look forward to the constructive criticism. Also, to any of you out there who might happen to come along during this process.
I am sharing my process here to invite further participation and collaboration in this process with others - a major theme while in grad school.
