Bolex shoot

The bolex is by far the best camera I have ever used.  I used it last semester in Shannon’s class and could not wait to use it again in 6x1.  I think both the assignment I had in Shannon’s class and in this one really complimented each other, as we had to split up frames in hers and do in-camera editing, while we had to plan a little more in 6x1.  I’ve never used a film camera other than the bolex, so it was interesting to be able to use it both ways.  I can’t get over how good the richness and textures of the black and white looks.  It makes me sad that we don’t get the same quality from digital cameras, but that’s a whole different topic.

            I think the idea my group went with for this shoot really lent itself well to the idea that we could only use 1 minute of film.  We had to logically compress our plan in order to make sure we captured everything in time, but it was easy to get every action into the film with as much film as we had.  Our shoot went really well, and I still can’t wait until the next time I get to use the bolex. 

Bridgeman Packer Response

I liked the Bridgeman-Packer experience very much.  I was really interested in their techniques and how they combined dance and film, as well as still images.  I have seen a few things like that before, in exhibits in Discovery Place and random other locations, but I have never seen it be so interactive before. 

            I also enjoyed seeing professional dancers and all the film students work together.  While the dancers didn’t know much about the film aspects of the project, our class didn’t know all that much about the dancing aspect of the project, and it was obvious that, by working together, we all influenced each other in our activity. 

            As much as I loved being involved in the group activity, I was not too thrilled by the performance that only Bridgeman and Packer put on.  It may have been because I have only encountered a more fast-paced, or because I would have liked for the dancers to be more involved with the background, but it was fairly hard to stay awake during the performance. 

            My favorite part of the performance was the second “Under the Skin” composite, because it really took advantage of the illusionary perspectives of the footage projected on the dancers.  The match up of the bodies was humorous and impressive.  It was obvious how much they have rehearsed, and it was nice to see them so synched up with the film. 

            They also did this when they would run back and forth along the curtain and multiple digital versions of Bridgeman and Packer would follow them, interact with them, and disappear again.  This was probably the only part of the performance where my eyes were actually tricked a few times.  It got to be difficult to keep up with the digital version of the performers and where the actual physical performers are.  I think they could have interacted with the digital versions even more.  With some better color correction to make the images more life-like, and maybe with a few enlargements, the digital version would become even more realistic and the illusion would be more appreciated by the audience. 

            I did like that they brought the audience on stage to examine the stage, because I know I was very impressed by the simplicity of the technology, and the result of how little they had up there.  All in all, I was impressed by the company and would probably go see them again, given the chance.  I appreciate the opportunity to work with them, if only for the day.

Crowdsourcing response

While I enjoyed being a part of a larger project like “And Then The World Stopped,” I also don’t know how satisfying it will be once the final product is made.  I spent hours creating these frames during the frame factory marathon, only to produce less than 2 seconds of film.  I know that this same thing happens during the shooting of an actual film, but I also know that my work will be more emphasized and individualized when it comes to another type of filmmaking. 

            I liked coloring, and I liked being able to bond with other members of the class, but I also did not feel as though each frame will be placed in the film for such a short amount of time that, though the individuality of the process was stressed during production, the community aspect of the whole thing will be much more evident, which makes me wonder whether this aspect should have been stressed more from the beginning.  Maybe that’s the point though: that even though we’ve all been working on these frames separately for so long, the end result will pull each of them together and create something completely new.  None of us can actually give ourselves credit for more than just a blink of an eye worth of footage.  It’s become anonymous. 

            It was really interesting to see how the whole process works.  I did not think that it would take so long to fulfill the requirements of the project, having first looked as it like a glorified arts and crafts assignment, but now I can see how different this is from they typical coloring book.  I like that about this assignment.

Acoustic Ecology Post

Reading this has made me want to start my own crowdsourcing project.  My father actually suggested it to me as a project about my mother that seemed nearly impossible given the time limit I had and the amount of traveling I would have to do.  This idea is a documentary about my mother’s sister, Mindy, who died some time ago from cancer.  I would get relatives from all across the country—from upstate New York, to Indiana, to Arizona—to interview with me about what Mindy meant to them and to tell me stories about her.  I would then send it to my mother and Mindy’s sons as a graduation gift for my cousin Tim.  Now that I’ve learned more about crowdsourcing, I find this project to be extremely possible, and that it will be even more exciting and interesting, given all the different personalities of those who would be participating. 

            In response to the readings/videos, it was the Wikipedia viewing that intrigued me the most.  Even though I’ve heard the basic story before, it’s incredible to me how successful the website has become, as well as how accurate the information on the online Encyclopedia is.  I never realized how much the website checked its facts, but it makes sense now.  It shows how far crowdsourcing can spread, and how affective it can be as a process of gaining information. 

            Though film crews are already broken up into such diverse categories, having many people do many things, it will be interesting to see how crowdsourcing, as it expands in interest, will affect the film community even more in the future.

Crowdsourcing Response

Reading this has made me want to start my own crowdsourcing project.  My father actually suggested it to me as a project about my mother that seemed nearly impossible given the time limit I had and the amount of traveling I would have to do.  This idea is a documentary about my mother’s sister, Mindy, who died some time ago from cancer.  I would get relatives from all across the country—from upstate New York, to Indiana, to Arizona—to interview with me about what Mindy meant to them and to tell me stories about her.  I would then send it to my mother and Mindy’s sons as a graduation gift for my cousin Tim.  Now that I’ve learned more about crowdsourcing, I find this project to be extremely possible, and that it will be even more exciting and interesting, given all the different personalities of those who would be participating. 

            In response to the readings/videos, it was the Wikipedia viewing that intrigued me the most.  Even though I’ve heard the basic story before, it’s incredible to me how successful the website has become, as well as how accurate the information on the online Encyclopedia is.  I never realized how much the website checked its facts, but it makes sense now.  It shows how far crowdsourcing can spread, and how affective it can be as a process of gaining information. 

            Though film crews are already broken up into such diverse categories, having many people do many things, it will be interesting to see how crowdsourcing, as it expands in interest, will affect the film community even more in the future.