Showing posts with label 1-Minute Sound Design Film. Show all posts
Finally finished both of these projects!
Here's the finished productions
1 minute sound design
Ophelia
Directed by Andrei Allen
Sound Design by Aaron Evo Boswell
4 minute dramatic film
A Journey Through Anger
Produced and Directed by Andrei Allen
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// 4-Minute Dramatic Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// Project Completed,
Tag :// Project Update
To help create my
soundtrack for this project, I contacted my good friend Aaron Boswell aka Evo,
whom is a sound engineer/producer that I’ve known for many years, and also
worked with on different projects in the past. When I briefed him on what it
was that I wanted him to do, and gave him the Ophelia picture analysis, he was
on board with the idea straight away; even commenting on how we could go about
getting some of the sounds.
When I’d created the
story, plus the storyboard and presented them to him, he had already found most
of the sounds that we’d need for this project, from various sound packs that
he’s collected from over the years.
There were a few
sounds that we needed to record such as: pill bottle shaking (bought some
vitamin tablets for 30p from Tesco!), slippers being taken off and sitting on
the couch. These sounds we could not find to our liking in the sound packs that
he had and also online, so we used the mic set up in his studio to record them.
Once I’d created the
sequence, I sent over the footage to Aaron so that he could score the
soundtrack to the video. The software that he used was Cubase, in order for him
to score the video, he imported the file into Cubase so that he could watch it
and compose the sound track at the same time.
(INSERT PICTURE OF
VIDEO IN CUBASE)
Where we were both
working from home, he would send me drafts of the sound track and I’d send him
back notes with amendments for him to do.
Because Aaron lives
close to me, I would sometimes visit and work through the project with him,
where I too also know how to use Cubase.
While working
together, we would discuss and figure out ways how we could achieve the sounds
that we wanted, justifying the reason for the Foley sounding how it does i.e.
The police radio ‘sound’ predominantly panned to the right speaker, and volume
turned down; with the high end frequency turned down, to connote the idea that
the police are outside the front door. Or, using a sound that was intended for
something else such as a heart beat, and layering it with the footsteps from
the stair creek to give it bass, as using a kick drum had to much high end
frequency, even when turned down, and sounded unnatural.
Here are some screen
shots from the audio project in Cubase.
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// Post-Production,
Tag :// Production,
Tag :// Project Update
I've been looking at various intro templates online, and i came across one that i really like and feel fits the style of my production perfectly.
Im going to use the intro of this template for the 10 second intro gap i have at the start of my sequence, and i'll probably also use elements from it again for the outro, keeping the text and the animation from the keyframes; removing the background from the template, so that the text animates over the Ophelia picture as we get a wide shot near the end of the sequence.
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// Post-Production,
Tag :// Project Update
First thing I done was
select the resolution and the length for the main part of the project, which
was 50 seconds (not including the intro) as my outro is going to be included at
the end of the main sequence
I then began to
produce the sequence according to the storyboard that I’d created, using the
camera tool to arrange my shots.
For my glitch
transition effect I used a plug-in called Twitch. How I achieved this was by
adding an adjustment layer over the current picture showing; having it overlap
onto the next picture, so that it would affect anything underneath it. I then
switched on the blur, light, and slide controls within the plug-in that
affected the picture like shown below. So that the picture being introduced
after the transition didn’t leave the frame; whilst this effect was happening,
I applied the CC Tiler effect so that it would mirror/extend the edge of the
picture.
Once I’d finished
arranging the first 35 seconds of the sequence; I then pre-composed it. With
the new pre-composed layer, I renamed it first flash back then duplicated the
layer; with the copy I then time remapped the comp making it 3.5 seconds long
from its original 35 seconds, I then reversed the layer. Using an adjustment
layer I repeated the same process using the Twitch plug-in.
This is what gave me
my flash back affect
Once I’d done this, I
then linked the composition over to adobe premier, which is the software im
going to use to add my sounds into.
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// Post-Production,
Tag :// Project Update
This storyboard is a
guideline for me to stick to, when it comes to editing the sequence for the
sound design.
The reason I chosen
these specific shots; is because it helps to give the idea of my story. These
shots help tell my story visually before I’ve added in the sound.
The narrator/actor of
this would be the “spirit” of Ophelia, taking you on a journey through her last
moments alive, in a chilling experience as segments of the picture is revealed.
Supported by the sound we’re guided and signified as to what is happening with
what we’re seeing.
There’s various plot
devices focused on within the storyboard (flooded front room, pills, glass of
water ect), which, supported with sound will help to guide you through this
journey, gradually revealing the story.
This storyboard; together with my Picture sound analysis, is what i'm going to use to help construct my sound design project.
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// production prep work,
Tag :// Project Update
Genre: Thriller
“These
include such genres as mystery, detective movies, gangster movies, crime, spy
films, science fiction, film noir, occult
and haunted house horror movies. An
atmosphere of creeping menace and sudden outbursts of violence, crime, and
murder characterise these films; the withholding of crucial information from
the viewer is also an important device, as are action set pieces such as gunfights
and chases. Thrillers often present a
vision of the world and society as dark, corrupt and dangerous, but in
Hollywood they usually feature upbeat endings in which evil is overcome and the
status quo is restored, often with lingering side effects.”
Theme
The theme can arbitrarily be taken for one or even a
collective of these suggested themes in the list below, because when you view
the picture your witnessing many themes at the same time, the way how I’m going
to story board this story will hopefully help convey the idea of some of these
selected/suggested themes below.
Depression, suicidal, lonely, death, despair,
evil/sin, fear, illusion reality, spiritual/ fighting inner demons.
The idea/story
Ophelia, a 38 year old widow whom has been made bankrupt
because of her husband’s death; taking on his financial debts, with nothing to
live for; commits suicide by overdosing on pills to put herself out of misery.
She attempts to flood her house in the process so that she can drown away her
sorrows with her demise. Having overdosed on the pills, she entered into an
unconscious, mysterious; surreal, timeless; hyper-reality, parallel universe of
her suburban house surrounding.
Because the lights in the house have been switched on
constantly for a week straight, the neighbours are suspicious as to what has
happened to Ophelia. A neighbour decided to contact the police and notify them about
the house; and also the recent events what has happened concerning Ophelia. Two
police officers were dispatched to go and investigate the report. Up on arrival
to Ophelia’s address, walking up the pathway to the house, before they reached
the door they were greeted with the most prevalent, overwhelming disgusting
musty mist of stench, which smelled like wet earth mixed with stale cider and
cigarette smoke; to which immediately they rushed to the house and began to
bang at the front door to see if anyone was behind it before they broke it down
to enter.
Meanwhile, while we’re still exploring this unconscious, timeless, hyper-reality; parallel universe, we’re distracted by the prominent sound of the
house phone ringing, gradually getting louder; which signifies us to wake up
(exit this hyper-reality; parallel universe); to which we are then brought back
to reality as we hear the door banging, and shouting from outside, assisted by police
walkie talky sounds. The police eventually break the door down, and are overpowered by the strong smell of death as the water gushes out the door onto the pathway, surrounding their feet carrying Ophelia with the current, whilst the audience of neighbours, startled, watch in awe.
The end.
Characters
Name: Ophelia
Age: 38
Ethnicity: white
Physical appearance: 5 ft 5, dark brown hair, brown eyes, smooth skin,
Marital status: Widow
Personality trait
Polite, sociable, well spoken, responsible, kind, gentle,
loving, and morally vigorous. But ever since her husbands’ death she has become
upset, stressed, agitated, unsociable, escapes to an alternate reality in
reading books and rely’s on consuming off the shelve drugs for happiness,
Name: Police
Ethnicity: One officer is black and the other white.
Age: 36/37
Physical appearance: one is overweight with a endomorph build and the other has a slim mesomorph build
Pitch
Recently widowed, faced with financial crisis, house about
to be repossessed, Ophelia normally drowns her sorrow to escape reality, but this
time there’s no return.
Using photoshop, I made a canvas bigger then the photograph and deconstructed the different elements in the picture; using the mind map method, also making brief comments as to why certain elements might be placed in their location, and what could it signify (pills on the table, overdose?), and what could be happening around other elements such as the window (outside noise, birds chirping?).
Conclusion
From the analysis of this photograph, its definitely helped me to identify many different elements/sounds i could use, and also different angles/orientations of the how i could display this picture to help produce my 'story'
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// Idea development,
Tag :// production prep work,
Tag :// Project Update,
Tag :// Research
I've been doing some research to understand exactly what this picture is about, and what is happening in this picture from different art critiques interpretations; and have found some really good breakdowns of the scene description plus ideas about the narrative from these two sources.
Ophelia by Gregory Credson
Post By Donbullock
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
In Ophelia, Crewdson takes the setting of a flooded suburban house and introduces a floating female corpse. The furniture and style of the interior of the house is very plain and could be almost any older middle income suburban home. The introduction of water, as if the neighborhood has experienced a flood would make for an unsettling photograph, but Crewdson takes the process one step further and introduces a floating corpse to the composition. The introduction of the corpse should make the scene demented, but in a strange way it matches the calm water and adds a weird, all be it morbid, tranquility to the scene. Crewdson divides the aspects of his set for Ophelia into an upper half and a lower half. The upper half of Ophelia is mundane and normal suburbia while the lower half, defined by the water level is mysterious, surreal and sinister.
Crewdson creates a private space that he invites the viewers to peak into. The lines of the stairs, corner of the room and furniture guide the viewer’s gaze to the floating corpse. The corpse is framed by the flood water and the viewer is left to guess what lies just below the waterline. The position and pose of the female corpse is of interest. Instead of floating lifelessly, limbs sprawled, the corpse is rigidly posed with arms to her side and feet together. The corpse creates an unnaturally harsh horizontal line.
http://donaldbullock.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/ophelia-by-gregory-credson.html
CONSTRUCTED REALITIES AND METAPHOTOGRAPHY:
GREGORY CREWDSON'S TWILIGf-ITSERIES
by
Ashlee Cook
A thesis submitted to the faculty of
The University of Utah
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
IN
Art History
Department of Art and Art History
The University of Utah
December 2009
CHAPTER 2
TWILIGHT AND PHOTOGRAPHIC TRUTH
Gregory Crewdson's photograph Untitled (Ophelia) depicts an ethereal woman
floating in the center of a flooded living room. The walls are lined with floral wallpaper;
family portraits hang in a row above the stairs. An exterior light source muffled by
shutter-covered windows adds a strange atmosphere to the dark room. The interior is
decorated with contemporary furniture; a bookshelf, a table, a couch and a chair all half
submerged in the still, dark water. Little traces of life are scattered around the typical
suburban house, pedestrian objects like coats hung on hangers, slippers discarded on
stairs, a glass of water and an open pill jar on the table. The woman's translucent
nightgown emphasizes her pale, limp body. Her dark, cold eyes remain open and her lips
slightly apart.
Ophelia is both haunting and alluring. The mystery surrounding the woman in
this photograph and the implied narrative of her drowning provoke more questions than
answers. The carefully crafted composition including the line of the stairs, the curve of
the couch, and the three diagonal windows on the door that are reflected in the pool of
water brings the focus continually back to the woman in the center of the image. The
strange lighting highlighting her cheekbones, chest, and hands emphasizes her beauty, and simultaneously, her death. It is easy to fall into the photograph, be held captive by it
much like a child stationed, eyes transfixed in front of a horror film in the hazy aftermath
of tragedy.
Conclusion
From this research, it has definetly helped me towards analysing this photograph from an experienced/studied point of view; saving me time on trying to understand it myself. This has also helped me to deconstruct the picture to find the different elements in the scene such as, the slippers on the stairs; the pills on the table next to the glass of water, to which, whilst doing so i'm identifying the different sound elements in the picture and its giving me ideas towards different narratives for this photographs story.
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// Idea development,
Tag :// Research
So that i know what i have to do, i've outlined the main things that i need to make sure i've covered whilst doing this project so that i can keep on track. Like a guide/plan/ project blue print for me to follow.
Check list for sound design film:
Research artist
Research example of this style of sound design on picture
Choose picture
Research picture
Examine elements from
picture to build up sound library list
Create story or an idea
about the picture
Create intro and outro
title that compliment story
Create storyboard
Produce the story
Edit in post
Conclusion
All of the sections on the check list are tasks for me to make sure i've covered, for each task it will definitely have its own sub tasks (i.e. research, idea development, equipment and so on) that will have to happen in order to complete the task. But so long as i have my main objectives i know that i'll be on track.
To see what examples is out there I decided to
search around on the web to see what I could find; surprisingly it was really
hard as there is not much material out there that fit this genre of art. I
Crawled the web typing in keywords that would relate to this area of art to see
what examples I could find, I found few but not nothing with such detail as used
in cinema, mostly student or nature stuff, which is still good. However I did
come across a style of photography I didn’t know about called Audiography
which is someone video/audio recording where their taking a picture of, which is a good idea, because you could build up your own sound library of uniques sounds from the location your taking a picture of at that time.
These are the keywords
I used in my searches:
Still Images with
Sound
Still Images and Sound
Sound pictures
Still picture movie
Still image sound
design
Sound and shot
Picture with sound
Sound motion picture
Audiography
These are the results that came up which I liked:
Example of Audiography
Tag :// 1-Minute Sound Design Film,
Tag :// Directions Unit,
Tag :// Idea development,
Tag :// Research
I've decided to do some research on Gregrey Crewdson since this project is based off of his work, and also to find out what sort of person he is, the way he does his work, and also the inspiration behind his work so that I could possibly understand the ideas his trying to convey in his work of art.
So just who is he?
Gregory Crewdson (born September 26, 1962) is an American photographer who is best known for elaborately staged scenes of American homes and neighborhoods. Gregory Crewdson's photographs usually take place in small town America, but are dramatic and cinematic.They feature often disturbing, surreal events. The photographs are shot using a large crew and are elaborately staged and lighted (from Wikipedia).
interesting read about his inspiration and thoughts on his work in interview he done features in the telegraph
 |
| Dead calm: an untitled 2007 photograph from Gregory Crewdson's 'Beneath the Roses' project |
 |
Alex Soth born( 1969) American photographer
|
 |
| Russell Banks (born 1940) is an American writer on fiction and poetry |
Conclusion
So yea this research i feel has been very useful, from knowing nothing at all about Gregory Crewdson, to now understanding some of the inspiration behind his work and the detail he puts into it; and also how his work is interpreted has definitely given me some more creative ideas towards my approach for the planning of this project, so hopefully the sound design i create would match the way how the picture was intended to be perceived as.
For this project, we have to choose a picture from a selection of Gregory Crewdson's photos, and design a 1 minute sound track that compliments the picture; looking at the elements in the picture to help convey a story for the scene.
Here is the project brief:
Pictures to choose from:
.jpg) |
| Beneath the Roses (Woman at the Vanity) By Gregory Crewdson ,2004 |
 |
| Gregory Crewdson Untitled |
 |
| Gregory Crewdson Untitled (House Fire) from the series ‘Beneath the Roses’ 2004 |
 |
| Gregory Crewdson ”In a Lonely Place ” |
 |
| Gregory Crewdson, (American, b. 1962), Twilight (1998-2002), Untitled, 2002. Digital C print, 48 x 60 inches© Gregory Crewdson. Courtsey Gagosian Gallery. |
For this project the picture that i'm going to choose is this one:
|
| Gregory Crewdson, (American, b. 1962), Twilight (1998-2002), Untitled, 2002. Digital C print, 48 x 60 inches© Gregory Crewdson. Courtsey Gagosian Gallery. |
I feel as though it would make good for a story, and there is lots of different elements that i can choose from in this picture to build a good sound track that would help convey the story.
