Reflection

This class turned out to be different than I expected. I was not really sure what to think going into an experimental class, but I knew I would like it more than documentary and narrative was full. In the end I had a lot of fun. I had a ton of technical difficulties though, especially with the first project with my film development. It was awful. I am very thankful for my support system. The people in this class are some of the best people I have ever met and I will definitely take another class taught by Andre. I learned a lot about myself as a filmmaker and about experimental films. I also learned that I am interested in checking out the Austin Film Society in case  I want to head that way in the future instead of straight to California.
As I filmmaker, have learned that coming from my art background that experimental is a better fit for me over narrative. I like telling stories, but I can be more creative with experimental. I can do whatever I want physical artwork and I can now film that and edit it funky then book I got an experimental film. I am really excited to try this out in my free time.
Overall I am very grateful for this class and the experience I am walking out with. It also led me in the direction of visions and I cannot wait for that next semester!!

Cucalorus

I saw Shirley Gnome on the buzz repeat, the Lumpsucker shorts, Fare, The Love Witch, and Slash. Shirley Gnome was my emcee for a couple showings so when I saw she was one of the repeats on Sunday, I just had to go. Her show was raunchy, and the boys in class were not exaggerating. She can play kazoo with her lady parts.
The Lumpsucker shorts were brutal. The only one I liked was the first was called Curve. Curve showed a woman wake up in a pit made of two curves. We watch her struggle until she thinks she is safe, then it rains. The end. It was intense but very well done.
Unfortunately the shorts were st Jengo's Playhouse and it was a tight fit. I sat on the floor at the top and could see half of every short. The rest of the shorts were either really inappropriate or gruesome. I did not really like the rest of them because they made me uncomfortable. Most shorts were also foreign. The last one was the worst. All I am saying is I could have easily gone my entire life without see those shorts.
I really like Fare, The Love Witch, and Slash. Fare was just a really well done film and I wish it gave me more at the end. It was about a boyfriend and him being an Uber driver catching his lady being a cheat.
The Love Witch was different. At first I was not sure what to think about it. All you know going in is that it's a film meant to look like the 60's but it has newer cars and iPhones. I think it's meant to be comic relief. It was kinda brutal because her lovers died, but I still thought it was cute. She was like this unusually bubbly woman just trying to find love. - it does have a plot twist at the end that you also saw coming. Worth the watch,
Slash was my favourite, I think.
It was cute and was kind of a coming of age film. It's these two teenagers writing fanfiction. They find love in each other and grow a solid friendship. They build up each other's character and I really liked that. It also did not make me uncomfortable or want to vomit. It may have been different but it was worth seeing.
Overall Cucalorus was fun and I can't wait to volunteer next year!

Post Self Video

I had a fantastic time at the Electric Daisy Carnival and that is what I ended up using for my Self Portrait video project. Unfortunately I got more photos than videos. I especially wish I caught the closing ceremony on my phone because it would have been the perfect end. When I put the video together, it did not look that bad, but in class I was kinda bummed. It was hard to cram everything into 2 minutes. I feel like it could have came out a lot better if it was in 5 minutes. After the feedback in class, I think I might go back and rework it for my own sake because that would be a good way to get more of my friends interested in going. I might try what Andre suggest and play with the beats to make it more smooth sounding. The visuals would still have to be cross dissolved or something similar because it will be obvious that it's not the same if you see the way the stage or closeness to stage shifts. I'm still learning the edits and technicalities of film making, so I'll get it down soon enough! All of this is still fairly new to me, as I come from a 2D design aspect. To reflect on the self portrait, I am excited to rework it and see what happens! Maybe I'll make it more experimental!

Self Portrait thoughts

The first thing I did was post to both my facebook and instagram asking people what they think about me or what first comes to mind when they hear my name. I got things like "hair, coffee, smiles, happy, loyal, beautiful, follows the rules," "Explorer, wandering, originative," Perfect daughter," "artistic, beautiful, caring, intelligent," "you are the most down to earth, sweetest and most caring person I have ever met."
The list goes on. People had so much to say about me. So many kind words. I would be typing for a while if I recited all of what people have said so far!
One also said I remind her of a lion! I would like to do something with lions for my video. Maybe show how lions are confident and strong and relate it back to me. Most people call me a lion because of my hair or they are trying to call me fierce.
If I don't do that I want to do something revolving around little aspects about myself like how I am an artist, I love lightning, my fave colour is blue, etc.
Ooooor! I could do something around my addiction for concerts. I go to a lot of concerts, I am actually going to an EDM festival in Orlando call the Electric Daisy Carnival here soon and I am so pumped! Then two weeks after that I am going to a small show in Richmond! Concerts are the best.
I'm not sure which direction I will take but I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever I do.

Music Video Role

I am given the opportunity to be the director of a music video. Most my music friends are in Boone or Charlotte, so I know their music and how to work with it the best. Danet said she would get back to us with Wilmington musical talent through ACE.
We eventually found Gnarly Feat. By looking at a couple songs from my friend in Boone and Gnarly Feat, I figure we would do a memories type story line. I'm not sure yet how to go about it without being a cliche. Me and Danet, the producer/Art director, will be working out some design kinks to lead us in the right direct. I am super excited for this project though and I think my group will be able to coordinate on ideas really well.

What I learned while shooting film?

Good question. Our group (Paul, David, Lauren, and myself) have had a lot of issues while shooting film. We started out a head of the game and some how we have fallen so far behind. The first day the Pentax k1000 were shown to us, I was excited, until I saw our duct tape neck strap. I knew it was trouble at first sight.
In class we briefly learned how it and the light meter works. Then not long after my group got together to start filming. When we first started we did not have the sheet so we got set back, but once we were ready, we went to the forrest preserve to begin our photo journey.
We took day and night photos. I learned that during the day it is really easy to use the light meter and not so easy at night. We may have used our phone flashlights at night to light the image but the light meter could not register well what we were doing. We also did not think about the bulb setting while shooting at night - it could have made for some really great shots. Eventually I was able to understand the bulb setting and will more than likely use it again during reshoots for the project.
We have had to reshoot twice now. With this experience, I know how to load the film properly and I understand better what film to use and what settings work best for it. I also know how to rewind the film without complication after having complications. I also learned that the people at Southeastern Camera are pretty understanding and willing to work with you when something goes wrong. They also do a student discount and have a ton of film product that I will further use.
Despite all our issues, I am grateful for the experience because at the very least it has made me appreciate film and it's delicacy a lot more.

The Forest Preserve

This one was fascinating in itself. It was day time, but the forest is very full and shadowy because of the trees. It created this dark ambiance that just felt right. For example, Lauren has red hair and in the light against the trees in was the perfect contrast because light was not overpowering any part of the visual. As we moved further, we went to the pond, and subtle bits of light shimmer on the waters. Over all it was very calming until you got bit by a mosquito.

The beach

This was another night adventure and the only light was the light in the distance. We had light coming in from the street lamp through a sandy path passed the gazebo. Beyond that there was light from the buildings along the shore and that created layers in the sky. The skyline was cloudy but it had different shades of purple and it looked like mountains in the distance. Everything against it looked like a silhouette, you can especially see that with the cattails. This was a beautiful sight.

Downtown Wilmington

This was my favourite light observation. We were walking down the street that is against the river in downtown Wilmington and I decided to walk to through two buildings because of the stars. I approached the railing and it was beautiful. You can see a line of lights similar to the ones on Chancellors against the railing all the way to the end. Then in the distance you can see the lights on the bridge. The stars are there but they are not as clustered because of light pollution but it was a peaceful scene.

What did I learn about sound design?

Sound design is an interesting concept because sound is all around us. Every sound we hear is an ambient sound because it is all just background noise usually. What makes that sound different from sound design? If you think about it, design is well, a design. Sound design is manipulated sound. For example, we had a sound called metal hits and another called clicks. These two sounds separate were very different sounds and we decided to overlap them to attempt a clicking similar to that of a camera. Instead we accidentally created a clock ticking sound and it worked out a lot better than what we were planning for. These types of adjustments in the real sound are what sound design basically is - creating sound for some type of format so it can be heard a certain way.
My favourite type of sound design is foley art. Foley art is a physical manipulation of sound. For example in Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, they used (if I remember correctly) wet cloth balled up dropped on the ground to create the sound of burgers dropping when they were on the dock. Foley art is a productive way to create emphasized, more vivid sounds. This is effective because majority of the time you have to record your sounds post filming because while on set the sounds do not always sound the best.
From this project I learned a quite a bit about how to change sound for the best within the program. I especially learned how to work with the sounds you have and use them to your benefit because it was a challenge at first. Our concept set us up for a lot of film sounds and we did not have a whole lot of those. We had to use sounds from a blender, a switch, metal hitting something, etc to create the kinds of sounds we needed. I'd like to think if someone was listening to our soundscape they would not be able to tell where the sound originated, but could only hear the sound that was meant to be heard.

The Absolute Film

Absolute Film is a film moved from the early 1900's that may also be known as "Pure Cinema" and "Integral Cinema" depending on the location. This movement was named and based off of "Absolute Music" at that time. In the early 1900's all film was considered experimental and some filmmakers at the time painted on and changed film strips to see what would happen. At the beginning they associate art with making film and that is how the first few films came to be. I really like the way they went about it because Ruttmann, a painter and a musician brought his together to create films and move from just being an artist. This is something I am trying to do now, and he created Absolute Film by taking a new direction.

Response to Natalie's Presentation

I think her Prezi was really well done and it never lost my attention. You can tell she really researched Mekas and what he has accomplished. I was interested to hear about the kind of movies he made.I am not a fan of documentary anything normally but his approach for that time was different from other filmmakers. It was more in the experimental direction because he used an amateur-like style. Through his experimental film making he became known as the godfather of American Avante-Garde Cinema. He is the one who discovered these types of films and it eventually branched out to be more intricate than the films he produced during his time.

Synesthesia and Cymatics

Synesthesia- I am actually really fascinated by this concept. I wonder what it would be like to hear a name that comes with a taste, or to see colours every time I hear a certain musical note. To people born with this, it does not seem like a big deal, but I feel like you are enhanced on your senses when they crossover. This crossover lets people feel their interactions with life a little deeper. It is like a whole new understanding of the world around them.
I was very appreciative of the musical video featuring the girl playing the violin and sharing with us the kinds of colours she sees and how she sees it when she hears certain notes. It was a beautiful light show, and I cannot imagine an experience like that. I could see the downside of it at night while you are driving for example, but besides that I think people with Synesthesia are gifted.
Cymatics- This phenomenon is an interesting idea but anyone can manipulate sounds to create movement. It's a matter of the vibrations. People who cannot hear, can feel the vibrations of music and still feel a connection to the sound being played. In class, our example was images of sand being shifts on a plate-like object. Vibrations are a hum and that physically hum adjusts whatever is touching it. So for people who cannot hear, that hum lets them understand what others are listening to. When it is something grainy like sand, the vibration sends out waves and pulls the sand in all directions, but it usually patterns out. I find this fascinating as well and it is very experimental. People can find new ways to manipulate things like sand just by adjusting the sound waves.

Sound Recording Experience

We spent our time at Wrightsville Beach and the Mayfaire Town Centre. In Wrightsville we parked a little ways down the street, perpendicular from the shore. As we walked towards the beach access, we focused on the sounds around us and I made some noise on the objects around us. Once we got the beach, we gathered shells and made noise under the pier. It was a busy day at the beach, we just had trouble get the right levels for when the waves came crashing. Eventually we walked back up  towards the cars, and found some neat sounds near the showers and entrance to the pier.
After that we ventured over to Mayfaire to see what kind of sounds were over there, and we went into Barnes and Noble and Michael's to get their noises. We also got an ambiance for Cold Stone. It was definitely an experimental journey for us because we observed a lot of different ways to create sounds with the objects we found. My favourite thing to stumble upon was the echoing alley way. It was a different kind of sound that we all found interesting.
Overall it was a solid sound experience.

Balazs

This article discusses how sound works in every aspect of the world. It touches on sound in general, silence, the discovery, visual sound, intimate sound, etc. There is a lot to understand in the world of sound. I agree with the idea that when you see an object and hear a sound, you associate the two and it changes the way you view that object. For example when you see a picture of a beach you can hear the waves because that is the sound you have heard before when physically being there. If you heard the sound of waves but you were looking at a photo of the forest, your perception would be thrown off. People are taught to associate certain sounds with certain visuals, and they are taught how to listen. Sound is usually just a mess of noise, unless you choose to focus on something that just that bird chirping in the distance instead of the conversation you having. Sound is very specific to life and it helps you separate and blend the sights in the world around you.

The Dog Park

This is a place for activity. When you enter you hear your tires on the forest ground because there is not parking lot, its just a space between trees. I park and as soon as I do, my cars humming stops and my pup begins to whine. We get out of the car and as soon as we approach the gate, you can hear the thump of my pups tail against the ground as he excitedly, yet patiently waits to enter the park. As we walk into the park, I release my dog to the dogs rushing towards him. When the dogs come running you can hear their paws as it stops abruptly in the sand, only to turn and run the other way. While my pup plays I sit on the bench. While sitting there I can hear the conversation of the people next to me and off in the distance. People are everyone calling to the dogs and talking to each other. You can also hear the guys at the basketball playing their game. The entire time you can hear the dogs running, hitting the sand, barking, growling, and panting. It made sound like chaos but the pups love it and mine will go out of his way to walk to the car at home so I know to take him there.

Apartment Living

Usually I sit in my room watching the television or listening to music. In the calming of only my controlled noise, there's my two male roommates having loud conversations in the kitchen, then both the pups start to play and growl. Following that my pup will bark in my direction so I pick up his toy. After all of this chaos passes, I step outside. It's a rainy day so you hear the rain gently hitting the ground. I take my pup for a walk and you can hear his little feet pitter patter against the side walk. As out walk continues, cars drive by and theres an ambulance in the distance. You can also hear the wind rustling the leaves as it passes through the trees. As I approach the apartment building again you can hear the AC units cut on and the cars as they are trying to park. There's birds chirping and my dog brake checking me to following every squirrel and noise. When I reenter the apartment, it starts all over again.

Experimental Film

According to the "What is Experimental" article, experimental film and avant-garde films go hand in hand. The ideas listed in the article discuss what makes an experimental film. It all makes sense, but I did not realize how deconstructed it was. Everything has some sort of order to it, but experimental film thrives on disorganization and the idea of it not necessarily making sense. I like that it is basically structured chaos.
What I like most about experimental film is how they get to their end results. How filmmakers are willing to permanently alter a strip of film to find something new in it. It is basically a science experiment but much more interesting and can be viewed by everyone if published.

Maya Deren

Reading Maya Deren's Article, Amateur VS Professional, has made me wonder how professionals are still able to fully express their creative mind. As a student filmmaker, we still have to work and create with guidelines. However, these guidelines do not hold us back because we are able and encouraged to be as creative as possible. Unfortunately in today's world to be successful you must make sacrifices. Those who do not will still get there, but it will take longer. For example, there are independent filmmakers and independent production companies, but they are not as well known. They can create virtually anything but it is harder to promote their work unless they know all the right people.
Being a filmmaker is tough no matter if you are the amateur or the professional. What really matters is whether or not you love what you are doing because that will reflect in the products being made.

A Little Bit About Me

                                      
My name is Ashley, but some people call me varying nicknames around Ash, but Ashley is just fine. I decided to become a filmmaker after I wanted to shift from just 2D design. I worked at a movie theater for about 3 years and I have always been fascinated by how they were created. That led me to being a Film Major at UNCW. I am a Digital Arts minor because I have always wanted to do animation but I wanted to do 2D animation before the technology shift in society.
I have not done too much in the film world just yet due to the fact that I work on top of go to school. I so far have accomplished being involved in a student film outside of classes and in the process of working on another.
For now, I am just enjoying learning new things about filmmaking and I have not sorted out what I want to do yet, but I have a good idea of which direction I am heading in!