The Contemporary Period - Independant Poster

The Independent films created in the Contemporary Cinematic period show certain aspects and conventions that I will choose to make a poster; this is an original piece that does not exist.  Posters are a product used for film promotion yet also have high artistic value beside it's commercial purpose.  These a few examples of Independent releases and their posters used to promote the products.  Independent films/ their posters contradict stereotypical, mainstream plots and conventions - such as a Blockbuster movie poster would typically suggest the plot straight away through the cast and prop use on a film poster - promoting the cast.  Limited independent film availability makes them unique and exquisite and are not traditional to the Hollywood system.  poster art plays an particularly significant role in an independent film’s marketing strategy.  These posters are imaginative and thoughtful while not forgetting the fundamentals such as colour and typography. The result is more often than not an eye catching work of art that sparks your interest and curiosity  

 

PEACH PLUM PEAR (2011)

 

The film features Pretty Little Liars actor Tyler Blackburn, playing Jesse who attempts a trip in order to connect with his father.  He learns lessons about relationships and himself.  The film poster uses a digital photograph featuring 3 main characters, placed in a confrontational manner as they look the camera in it's eye.  It seems to leave little to the viewer allowing them to further question the characters situation to suggest a mystery; the audience are therefore intrigued. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MACHINIST (2004)

 

Featuring Christian Bale, Machinist is a Thriller where an industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to question his insanity.  The poster is simple and mysterious, upon a gritty green background shows a post-it note where hangman is being played - 'ER' suggest 'KILLER' is going to be spelt out.  It is not stereotypical, mainstream poster where the main character is expected to be the feature of the poster where attention is more drawn to him - therefore fitting to Independent conventions and genres.

JUNEBUG (2005)

This poster is indeed very unique as it is not created using digital images but drawn artistically with the use of paint and illustration to suggest the characters.  It reflects the plot perfectly, about an 'outsider' artist owning an art gallery who seeks to threaten her middle-class inlaws -  Madeline's presence exposes the fragile family dynamics as hidden resentments and anxieties surface.  It seems to be simple, perhaps childlike in it's drawings and slightly distorted and we cannot be entirely sure what the meaning is - but art.  The interpretation is altered between every viewer.



THE MOTEL (2005)

This poster is also artistically presented; in form of a cartoon like comic strip.  A young 13 boy living and working at a motel on a suburban bi-way befriends a Korean man who checks in and teacher the fatherless boy the rites of manhood as he blindly careens into puberty.  The carton strip seems to feature the young boy in most windows, it seems to suggest confrontations in his family and the role he has as he works at the motel from a young age.

An independent poster shows a pattern of conventions as they allow a viewer to question what is being portrayed; and symbolically would show the plot of a film.  The main character is rarely places at the front with large bold font to display the cast - yet could focus on an elaborate object that has meaning and representation to the product - unlike mainstream blockbuster posters.  Many art forms are explored such as the use of illustration or sketches to enhance the attention drawn to an independent movie poster - it wouldn't necessarily aim to appeal to a large mainstream audience. 

After Effects Use - Melting Clocks

After Effects was a suggested option in which I could attempt to distort the clocks used in the opening scene of the film; I have used footage with acryclic paint and clock faces (out of focus) in the background of a variety of closeup shots.  The 'Liquify' tool enabled me to distort the clock faces; sub-categorized tools include 'Warp', 'Bloat' and 'Twirl'.  These effects suggest the irrelevance of time prior to the dream sequence - my film contains two different locations, therefore a stress in the contrasting environments.  Further work on After Effects would enable me to animate a sequence in terms of it's shape transformation using the timing tools to adapt the shapes, on a time scale.

 

'The Persistence of Memory' painting by Salvador Dali

'Liquify' effects on the clocks 

Filming - 'The Persistence of Memory'

PREPARATION - VINYL MELTING AND MANY CLOCKS

Take my advice, NEVER PLACE VINYL IN THE OVEN. THE FUMES ARE HORRENDOUS. After my plan to replicate melting clock shapes, it was unfortunately unsuccessful. The vinyl was left for too long and before I was aware it was very melted. Luckily, that was a last resort and my many gathered clocks collected from friends would be used in the opening scene. I have purchased cheap alarm clocks and the use of acrylic paint can be used to suggest the melting. Perfect.

The dream state scene is in the dining room, where my character will be transported. My props have been organized; using crystal glasses and bowl and candle holders. I have placed. A large clock which will not be functioning to emphasize the irrelevance of time.

The clock is not functioning in this scene, the bowl is filled with soil and the crystal glasses are empty.  The connotations of the soil in Unknown Female's palm are almost similar to Un Chien Andalou with the ants.  I will portray my ants/ insects through scuttling sound effects and some manipulation of the shots.

Location Research

1st LOCATION - BEDROOM

The first scene is in the bedroom, where the male lies and is seen asleep.  The character is mature therefore using my mother's bedroom where a large, dark leather king size bed which the male will be sleeping upon.  The cream coloured walls will also reflect the maturity, and neutral drapery across the window is a suitable setting for an adult.  Wooden bedside tables are useful as many clocks will be placed on the side, which moments later will become disfigured.  My mother's bedroom immediately is a very suitable location and will effect the mise-en-scene greatly; in contrast to other locations such as my brother's bedroom.  The setting would not be suitable for the character, the blueish wall colour would perhaps seem suitable for a male, yet it is a light shade and could be more childish.  A large, purple coloured bunk-bed will also not be suitable for the scene and may suggest a child to the audience instead of a young adult, male lead.

2nd LOCATION - DINING ROOM

The second location is the dining room where the character awakens as he is transported to his dream state.  The table holds a variety of props with symbolic meaning very suitable to the mise-en-scene, the table is wooden which implies again an adult-like, mature use of prop.  The dark brown leather chairs are also very suitable and can suggest a neutral, adult like colour. The prop use effects my mise-en-scene as they each suggest symbolic denotations which are crucial to my surrealist feature.  The candles for example portray the memory, that was once there.  The soil in the bowl for example represents life.

There is not a large difference or variety of locations; I have chosen the symbolism and surrealist aspects to be a main part which enable the characters to progress and develop with their strange encounter.  I chose to film in my house as I was confident that the design was most suitable, perhaps other houses may not have a neutral feel suitable for both genders and my characters, which would have affected the overall mise-en-scene.  The lighting in the bedroom was minimal when shooting to suggest night time and sleep - a small lamp shade was useful in creating the desired effect in the bedroom.

Prop and Costume Planning

BENDY RECORDS?

 

Creating melted clocks like in Dali's painting will be an artistic challenge; but an idea suggested by a friend was the use of vinyls which become very versatile once heated.  The central mark with the paper can have arrows attached to it in order to replicate a clock form.

 

  PLASTER CLOCKS

 

Plaster can be used to manipulate and again create a clock like figure, slightly distorted around the edges; I will have to also create it's duplicate for the before and after state.  I will paint a variety of shapes and sizes.

 

REAL CLOCKS

 

My initial idea which I think is my most preferable suggests the use of real clocks gathered from a variety of places such as shops, borrowed, charity shops etc.  These will come in the form of many shapes and sizes such as wall clocks, alarm clocks, and grandfather clocks.  This variety enhances the characters obsession with the element of time. 

 

CRYSTAL WINE GLASSES

 

Crystal wine glasses will be used in the following scene commencing in the dream state; the dining room table is another symbolic aspect of my feature where the actors are seen 'drinking' from questionable empty glasses.

 

CRYSTAL BOWLS

 

This will be the centrepiece of the dining table, filled with various again questionable elements.

 

CANDLES/ GOTHIC CANDLE HOLDERS

 

 Gothic candle holders placed in the centre will enhance an old fashioned aspect, they are usually used as a centrepiece, instead of being alight they will be dull and slightly dark where they have been blown out, smoke will arise.

 CUTLERY/ PLATES

Each character will have an empty china plate and cutlery placed in front of them.

A memory is shown through various elements and props which will decorate the dining room; such as through aspects of his childhood. 

COSTUME

Unknown Male is seen first in bed, asleep.  He wears pyjamas, striped is most preferred.  A large watch is seen on his wrist.  The scene following is in the dining room; where he is transported from his peaceful sleep into the dream state - he is still wearing his pyjamas.  Unknown Female is an element of sophistication; dressed in a large knee-length skirt and brogue like shoes, with a heel.  A blouse can be seen beneath her cardigan, further accessories suggest her seductive, glamorous role.

MAKEUP

Unknown Female is subtle in terms of eyemakeup, black liner highlights the top eyelid.  Rouge lipstick is elegant as it accentuates the lips. 

Production of Short Films

Exploring short films and the production process, different stages must be considered such as the use of sound or camera angles - and the portrayal of narrative styles, also the editing process.  These aspects guarantee the overall media product in how it depicts the genre of a film, and a plot/ convention.

SOUND

Film isn't just a visual experience; the use of sound creates an atmosphere which cannot be underestimated - sound consists of three main aspects. These are the human voice, sound effects and music - mixed and balanced, these three tracks include dialogue, synchronous and asynchronous sound, and music.  The use of dialogue as referred to by 'human voice' authenticates the speaker; telling the story and expressing feelings of the characters, this way little difference between character and actor is shown.  Contrastingly, little use of dialogue can also be effective - such as by fully using sound effects/ music to create tension etc.  The contrast of silence and sound is effective in genres such as Thriller/ horror films.  

The Lake by Garry Lane (1994) is a short film that uses narration, and minimal dialogue - sound are used to exaggerate the situation of the characters via screams, splashes etc.

SOUND EFFECTS

There are two types of sound effects used in film; synchronous sound refers to those sounds that match what is being shown; such as a character playing piano in a shot - we would hear the sound of the piano.  Synchronous sounds are effective in creating a realistic atmosphere, and can engage an audience such as in a moment of suspense - such as if they were to be heard creaking the door open.  Asynchronous sound effects do not match the image being viewed, and can therefore create a sense of emotional nuance - for example, the background sirens add to the suspense as we see our beloved hero fall to the floor in a scene.  This type of sound acknowledges surrounding scenery and atmosphere, again heightening realist aspects.  

This video shows effective use of foley sound used to create synchronous and asynchronous sound.

Music can also be used in films to add emotion or rhythm, it provides an emotional attitude and doesn't necessarily have to be notices in order to create effect.  Distant use of music implies a change in mood; such as dissonant music foreshadowing an upcoming tragedy. Background music can also help the viewer to link scenes. For example, a particular musical theme associated with an individual character/ situation may be repeated at various points in a film in order to remind the audience of salient motifs or ideas.

Use of Medium Shot in 'Get off my land', dialogue scene

CAMERA ANGLES/ SHOTS

Camera angles and movements define the sequence and creation of images in film; in order to gain interest in a shorter length feature, a variety of shots is vital.  Camera angles and shots refer to the framing/ length of shot, angle and movement tracking - the transition between different shots is referred to as a cut.  

SHOT LENGTHS

• Extreme long shot (taken from a 1/4 of a mile away, scene setting, establishing shot, e.g. 'Get off my Land')
• Long shot (image is almost 'life size' from a distance)
• Medium shot (figure shot from knees/ waist upwards - normally used for dialogue scenes)
• Close-up (shows very little background, specific detail of mise-en-scene, magnifies object/ importance)
• Extreme close-up (magnifies beyond the human eyes ability, an artificial shot for dramatic effect)

ANGLES

• The Birds Eye View (directly shot from overhead, object is smaller with less significance)
• High angle (elevated above action, shows superiority)
• Eye level (neutral shot, human level)
• Low Angle (increase height - speeded motion, add disorientation to the viewer)
• Oblique/ Canted Angle (titled, suggests imbalance, instability e.g. in horror movies)

MOVEMENT

• Pans (scans scene horizontally)
• Tilts (scans scene vertically)
• Dolly shots (track scene)
• Hand-held shots
• Crane shots 
• Zoom lenses (increase magnification)
• Arial shot (powerful, even use helicopter)

EDITING

The post production means of film-making is the editing process; the use of technology allows the variations of editing through expansion of software's, programmes etc.  Well known editing forms and styles such as Classic Hollywood editing is enhanced through a large use of match cuts, of takes less than 7 seconds.  Montage editing is rarely used within Hollywood creations and is more likely to be seen in independent shorts.  This style of editing refers to many images juxtaposed together rapidly; and doesn't necessarily make sense.   

DROOM - A Surrealist short on the BBC film network is an example of a montage style product.

TWO AND TWO - This film is a symbol of dictatorship and tyranny and it's absurdness; is clearly edited in term of time-scale and continuity editing.  

Narration

Excuse my weirdness. A video about Narration types, and it's use in short films.

Consumption of Short films

The consumption of short film has expanded as new methods of technology have grown; blogs, festivals, websites and DVD/ Blu Ray releases enhance our ability as the general public and audience to access shorts that have been created from independent film makers, to Pixar shorts before their features. 

VIRGIN MEDIA SHORTS

Virgin Media Shorts allows submission of created shorts, where 12 films are elected by a panel of judges then screened in UK cinemas for a year - across the Picturehouse network and many independent cinemas nationally.  The films that are chosen mean that filmmakers are given an opportunity to be recognized on a large scale - with the grand winner winning £30,000 funding for their next project.  Makers will turn heads of many industry specialists; this organisation enables the consumption of short film to be easy, with categories and genres to allow easy browsing of thousands of short films.  

BBC FILM NETWORK

The BBC film network allows the submission of short films that can be viewed on the website, many films have been created by independent film makers - the website is well known and therefore allows easier consumption of short films as people have the ability to browse certain genres.  Films such as 'Get off my land' which we replicated and 'My Beast friend' can be found on there.

PIXAR SHORTS

Pixar have released a Short Films collection volume (1); a DVD and Blu Ray title which shows all works from 1986-2006.  The shorts included are:

• The Adventures of André and Wally B. (December 18, 1984)
• Luxo Jr. (August 17, 1986)
• Red's Dream (November 30, 1987)
• Tin Toy (December 30, 1988)
• Knick Knack (re-rendered version as seen on Finding Nemo) (January 3, 1989)
• Geri's Game (April 2, 1997)
• For the Birds (May 1, 2000)
• Mike's New Car (November 4, 2002)
• Boundin' (May 7, 2003)
• Jack-Jack Attack (March 15, 2005)
• One Man Band (May 5, 2005)
• Mater and the Ghostlight (October 31, 2006)
• Lifted (December 21, 2006)

Short films like Pixar are easily distributed as they are shown before their main features in the cinema - releases on DVD and Blu Ray have allowed an expansion in the consumption of short films, as they can be purchased and watched by many audiences, educating audiences into differing short films and their genres.

SHORT FILM FESTIVALS

Short films can be submitted by filmmakers into many national and even global short film festivals, which allow the distribution of one's product. The London Short film festival is highly recognized as the premiere UK showcase for cutting-edge UK independent film.  Screenings and events allow audiences to attend, it developed in 2003, with 75% of events sold to capacity, and over 5,000 tickets sold.

FRANKENWEENIE

After long anticipation of Tim Burton's new feature; Frankenweenie I must admit the dark, black and white, stop-motion animation met my high expectations - after long periods of counting down and viewing it the day of it's release. Being aware of my sensitive nature, especially when watching films - my ability to sympathize with characters led to my prediction of tears in the cinema after Victor's dog dies.  The plot emphasizes Victor's talent and intelligence and he conducts a life changing science experiment where he is able to shock his beloved dog, Sparky back to life - creating his FRANKEN-weenie! What we do not is expect is that this action leads to terrible consequences as his class-mates drive for competition due to the upcoming science fair.  The quirky, comedy-horror is a remake of Burton's 1984 short film, also challenging Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  Released by Walt Disney Pictures, on 5th October 2012 - the film has met many positive reviews and is also known as the first black and white stop-motion animated feature to be released in IMAX 3D.  

So my score out of ten? Probably a 100.  I absolutely loved the film, it is extremely artistic and characters develop comically and are depicted darkly, with animation artists from the also fantastic Corpse Bride being included to work on the feature.  Amazingly, Sparky's little grave stone has also been added to the Haunted Mansion Holiday event of Disneyland where characters from The Nightmare before Christmas are also placed.  Also being an enthusiastic fan, I was keen enough to purchase the soundtrack for the fiilm - which may I point out was one of the main reasons I was that attracted to the film - with great tracks from Passion Pit, Grouplove etc. - currently my favorite album.  I am now awaiting the release of Frankenweenie on DVD in January 2013!

Audience Research

I asked family members on what they believed a short film is to be, and what conventions/ genres are most common in a short film.  The feedback suggests that short film as a product is reasonably new, and that they aware of the fact that a short film is vulnerable in nature and can easily suit a variety of genres and conventions - aiming to engage audience's for a short period of time.

Final Script

 

Paranoiac Critical Method and Freudian Influence

What I find extremely stimulating is a Surrealist Artists ability to reach within their subconscious in order to produce art forms which we an audience or viewer are able to also interpret subconsciously.  A surrealist method developed by Salvador Dali in the early 1930s which he used in his production of his artworks, especially his paintings that involved optical illusions. He described it as being a "spontaneous method of irrational knowledge based on the critical and systematic objectivity of the associations and interpretations of delirious phenomena."  This method is used by Dali and then adapted by other Surrealists which allowed him to access a part of the mind which is not usually obvious, resulting in bizarre use of imagery and ideas.  The influence of the Paranoiac Critical method can therefore be used to trigger subconscious thoughts which can effectively be used as symbolism in a variety of art forms including film.

Dali was also very influenced by Sigmund Freud's theories of the unconscious mind and it's powers, which we can not access.  The unconscious mind is thought to contain repressed memories and thought processes which are stored from events from childhood, later reflected in actions such as speech or simply emotions.  Actions such as the well known 'Freudian Slip' - a mistaken word substituted in a sentence accidentally... or is it accidentally?  Freud emphasised the importance of dreams to being the 'Royal road to the unconscious'  which stresses the importance of dreams to being a portrayal of repressed memories and wishful thinking.  I find the concepts of psychoanalysis extremely important in defining our ability to express ourselves as human beings, scientifically although it is difficult to reach our unconscious, methods of relaxation or simply dreams are a reflection of powers that are beyond us. 

Dadaism

Dada was an art movement in Europe developed in the early 20th Century; first beginning in Switzerland then spreading to Berlin shortly after - Dada depicts the the horrors of WWI.  It is a negative reaction which created a vast and international movement, created by a group of artists and poets in Zurich, Dada promotes nonsense and irrationality rejecting reason and logic - this is even depicted in the name itself - Dada simply has no meaning.  It is contemplated that the name came from the frequent use of da, da by Romanian artists Tristan Tzara and Marcel Janco meaning yes.  The movement concentrated it's anti-war politics through a rejection of prevailing standards in art/ art works - the use of visual arts, literature, poetry, art manifestos, art theory, theatre, and graphic design mirrored these views. 

 

A prelude to postmodernism and an influence to pop-art; Dadaists tended to believe that reasoning and logic were the cause of war, bourgeois capitalist society were to blame.  Therefore they expressed this rejection through irrationality and chaos; perhaps Dada intended to offend any sensibilities appealed by art.  With Dadaists rejecting traditional culture and aesthetics, they hoped to destroy this.  Dada artists described the movement as "a phenomenon bursting forth in the midst of the postwar economic and moral crisis, a saviour, a monster, which would lay waste to everything in its path... a systematic work of destruction and demoralisation... In the end it became nothing but an act of sacrilege."

Surrealism developed out of the Dada activities, it's works feature elements of surprise and unexpected juxtopositions.  Freud's work with free association, dream analysis, and the unconscious was of utmost importance to the Surrealists in developing methods to liberate imagination.

Surrealist Cinema

A modernist approach to film and production; Surrealist cinema is often characterised by juxtapositions and frequent use of shocking imagery, it often rejects dramatic psychology.  Surrealist works are often not characterised by a particular style or form  therefore most surrealist artists explore conjunctions, points of contact between different realms of existence - Surrealism therefore explores a "departure rather than an arrival". Richardson defines surrealism as "a shifting point of magnetism around which the collective activity of the surrealists revolves."  The subconscious mind is a heavy factor that influences Surrealist works, most surrealists promote themselves as revolutionaries and shouldn't be mistaken for being irrational incapable of logical thought.  Surrealism is an ever shifting art form. 

 

SURREALIST FILMS/ FILM-MAKERS

 

Un Chien Andalou - Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel (1929) 

 

The 16 minute long silent film is in black and white - with no actual conventional plot, disjointed chronology shows the opening 'ONCE UPON A TIME' and a jump to 'EIGHT YEARS LATER'; the characters and events do not seem to have changed.  Freudian free association is used as dream logic is depicted in the short film; with a serious of tenuously related scenes.  It has been implied that this film has inspired many independent artists to create low budget features; the opening scene ranked as 10th out of 'The 25 most shocking movie moments in history'.

The Seashell and the Clergyman - Germaine Dulac (original scenario by Antonin Artaud) (1928)

The experimental French film portrays the erotic hallucinations of a priest who lusts after as general's wife - the ironic techniques of surrealist cinema are suggested to be borrowed from this film.  Lee Jamieson analysises the film:

"The Seashell and the Clergyman penetrates the skin of material reality and plunges the viewer into an unstable landscape where the image cannot be trusted. Remarkably, Artaud not only subverts the physical, surface image, but also its interconnection with other images. The result is a complex, multi-layered film, so semiotically unstable that images dissolve into one another both visually and ‘semantically’, truly investing in film’s ability to act upon the subconscious."

L'age D'or - Luis Buñuel (screenplay by Salvador Dali) (1930)

Another Buñuel surrealist feature - L'age d'Or (translates to the Golden Age) is a comedy about the insanities of modern life and the hypocrisy of sexual mores of bourgeois society - and the value system of the Roman Catholic church.  There are thematically-linked presented scenes where a couple attempt to fulfil sexual desires yet are continuously confronted by values of Church, family etc.    There is a reference to Marquis de Sade's novel 120 Days of Sodom; where surviving organists are prepared to emerge to the light of mainstream society.  This was the second artist collaboration between Buñuel and Dali - Buñuel overcame his ignorant cinematic technique in production by filming most of the screenplay (written by Dali).  The film caused political upheaval by the right-wing League of Patriots, angry viewers were offended by the feature.  Violence is said to have been bred by film critique Robert Short due to the implications of social and psychological repression of the libido in a bourgeois society. 

L'Étoile de mer - Man Ray (1928)

The film; which translates to 'The sea star' is based on Robert Desno's script, featuring a couple acting through various scenes, shot out of focus - such as through diffused or textured glass.  Short scenes such as the female actress adjusting a stocking or a man purchasing a sea star in a are shown - there is no clear plot which depicts the epitome of surrealism.  This is a silent film; yet recent copies have been dubbed using Man Ray's personal records from his collection. 

Entr'acte - Rene Clair (1924)

The french film premiered as an enteracte for a ballet production in Paris - Relâche at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.  Influenced by Dadaists who contributed to the project, the film explores techniques such as people running in slow motion or reversed actions and vanishing actors. 

Casting and Character Development

JAKE BROWNBILL - Unknown Male

Jake is an extremely artistic character; I chose to have him portray the male in my feature with plenty of acting experience.  He will be able to add mystery to the film, and adapt to the surrealist nature of the piece.  He featured in another student's film opening sequence for AS in the previous year, and currently contributed to a friend's narration to her piece; with some theatrical experience such as local productions such as 'Basset'.  

 

ELA GÖK - Unknown Female

 

Half turkish, half English, my best friend Ela is an artistic individual studying A2 Fine Art and is very suitable for being a cast extra who appears in my Unknown Male's dream.  A love for vintage style in terms of items and clothing; her mannerisms are almost identical to those of sophistated women in the early 20th century era.

I have not developed my main character, Unknown Male as his obsession with the element of time overpowers and is the main characteristic of his persona.  Unknown Female is also a shadow shown in his memory.  We do not know who she is.

The characters are seen to communicate through the use of body language and facial expressions which create the narrative of the short feature; the use of props highlight the intentions of the characters.  Due to the film being silent; a lot of depth and emotion allow the audience to engage with the story and question the actions in the scenes.

Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali is my main inspiration for my feature; a surrealist painter and film-maker born in Figueres, Spain in 1904. He was well known for the portrayal of bizarre surreal images in his works, his painterly skills were often attributed to the influence of Renaissance masters. Dali explored many artistic methods such as film, sculpture, and photography, in collaboration with a range of artists in a variety of media. 'The Persistence of Memory' was completed in 1931, and was his best known work. His eccentric manner and attention-grabbing public actions sometimes drew more attention than his artwork, he was highly imaginative.
 

The Dali Atomicus, photo by Philippe Halsman (1948)

ARTWORKS

THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY (1931)

The painting by Dali stresses his theories of 'softness' and 'hardness'; the soft watches connote to "the unconscious symbol of the relativity of space and time, which is a Surrealist meditation on the collapse of our notions of a fixed cosmic order" - as described by Dawn Ades. This painting is believed to support Einstein's Special theory of Relativity - but Dali would deny this to perhaps confuse viewers and suggest that the softness is likened to melting Camembert cheese.  A human like figure is clear in the centre, which suggests Dali himself, the use of ants such as on the orange clock represent either death, or in other painting female genitalia.  The figure in the middle of the picture can be read as a "fading" creature, one that often appears in dreams where the dreamer cannot pinpoint the creature's exact form and composition.  The iconography may refer to a dream that Dalí himself had experienced, and the clocks may symbolise the passing of time as one experiences it in sleep or the persistence of time in the eyes of the dreamer.  Dream like imagery is more likely to be portrayed rather than full-waking consciousness.     

DREAM CAUSED BY THE FLIGHT OF A BEE AROUND A POMEGRANATE A SECOND BEFORE AWAKENING (1944)

 

Refferred to a 'hand-painted dream photograph', this surrealist piece by Dali suggests his wife Gala, his wife as the main subject of the scene.  The bayonet is a suggestion to a stinging bee, the tigers distinct stiped pattern also suggest the bee body shape.  This is a reference to Freud's dream theories, where the womens abrupt awakening from her peaceful dream is represented.  The fish may represent the bee's eyes, because of similarity of the fish's scaly skin with the scaly complex eyes of bees.  The elephant is a distorted version of the "Pulcino della Minerva" sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini facing the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.  There is a heart-shaped shadow cast by another, smaller pomegranate which represents Venus.  It has also been a suggestion that this is representation of the Theory of Evolution.  Dalí said his painting was intended "to express for the first time in images Freud's discovery of the typical dream with a lengthy narrative, the consequence of the instantaneousness of a chance event which causes the sleeper to wake up. Thus, as a bar might fall on the neck of a sleeping person, causing them to wake up and for a long dream to end with the guillotine blade falling on them, the noise of the bee here provokes the sensation of the sting which will awaken Gala."

 

THE FACE OF WAR (1941)

 

The trauma of war often served as an inspiration to Dali's artworks; he painting towards the end of the Spanish Civil War and World War 2.  A disembodied face hovers aganst a deser landscape, almost like a corpse which suggests misery.   In its mouth and eye sockets are identical faces. In their mouths and eyes are more identical faces in a process implied to be infinite.  This is an emphasis on the results of war; a symbol of endless death and decay.

LOBSTER TELEPHONE (1936)

Dali believed that objects were a reflection of subconscious motives, that also revealed secret desires.  The lobster usually appears in drawings by Dali that suggest sexual connotations and erotic pleasure - this piece is playful and witty.






THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY - SCULPTURE (1980)

Dali examines human perception of time again through the same painting, through sculture form that suggests a limp clock on a tree branch, a symbol of life.   In his words, "Materialization of the flexibility of time and the indivisibility of time and space. Time is not rigid. It is one with space - fluid".  The limp watch no longer 'keeps' time; it does not measure its passage. 

Film Pitch Responses

Stop-motion Animation

Stop-motion of moving penny

Stop-motion is an animation technique which allows the manipulation of inanimate or animate objects to move - with minuscule movements in between individually photographed frames, that therefore create the illusion of movement after the sequence is played continuously.  There are a range of computer software's that can be used to create this stop-motion effect; there are different types of stop-motion animation:

 

PUPPET ANIMATION

 

'Coraline'


Puppet figures interact with each other in a constructed environment,  created with armature inside them to keep the structure firm and steady, during the movements and photographing stages.  These are used in many films such as a favourite of mine, 'Coraline' (2009) and Tim Burton's 'Corpse Bride' (2005) and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993).

 

PUPPETOON

 

This technique created by George Pal is similar to regular puppet animation; but rather than using the same puppet to create different poses for each frame there are a variety of different versions of the same puppet to be used for the animation.  Therefore a near duplicate version of each puppet is used for the next frame, replacing the previous one. 

 

George Pal's Jasper Puppetoons Films

CLAY/ PLASTECINE ANIMATION

 

'Wallace and Gromit'

 Malleable figures/ dolls are created using clay or a similar material to create the stop-motion frames, with an armiture or wiring inside to create the skeleton - keeping them steady and easy to manipulate to pose the figures.  The figures may be made entirely out of clay and morph into a variety of shapes and sizes inbetween different frames - such as the famous 'Dimensions of Dialogue' by Jan Svankmajer and 'Wallace and Gromit' shorts and 'Chicken Run'.

 

CUT-OUT ANIMATION

 

'South Park'



This stop-motion technique uses two dimensional cut-out shapes using materials such as paper or cloth; using either scanned images on a conputer or vector graphics that physically cut the shapes - this type of stop-motion is known to be one of the earliest methods.  Feature animations such as 'South Park' were known to first use this method in the earlier epidsodes before switching to actual computer animation. 

 

    

 

OBJECT ANIMATION

 

Object animation is the use of inanimate objects opposing the idea of specially crafted objects for a specific use.  These are just moved along in stop-motion like in Jan Svankmajer's films such as 'Alice' and many others.

 

GRAPHIC ANIMATION

 

Jan Svankmajer: 'Historia Naturae'

Flat, visual and graphic material such as photographs, newspapers etc. are used and manipulated frame by frame to create a moving image using stopmotion.  The graphics may stay stationary, whilst the camera is moved along to again create the effect.    

 

BRICKFILM

 

Again, another stop-motion technique uses objects such as LEGO or other similar brick-like toys to create animation - the bricks are pieced or moved and again photo's are taken in order to be pieced

together later.  This type of animation uses a micture of stop-motion and live action. 

PIXALATION

 

Pixalation is the use of live humans as stop-motion characters which creates a variety of surreal effects such as sudden and instant disappearances/ appearances - which can allow interesting atcivity to take place such as levitation or sliding around in various positions.

 

 

Jan Švankmajer

Stop-motion film maker, Jan Švankmajer is a Czech artist who is well known for his 'surrealist' animations and features.  A puppet theatre was given to him at Christmas when he was a child; an early influence to his artistic development, later studying at the College of Applied Arts in Prague, then the Prague Academy of Performing Arts.  He later joined the Czechoslovakian Surrealist group and was soon gaining a reputation for his distinctive use of stop-motion to create animations/ pictures, also using clay animation and breathing life into inanimate objects.

'Dimensions of Dialogue'

He is known to create short films, his trademarks in his films include exaggerated use of foley sounds - such as in eating scenes and fast motion sequences - such as when characters are walking or interacting.  Food is usually a favourite subject and medium in his films - such as in 'Food' or 'Meat Love', which are very experimental and artistic.  Many of his films are depicted from the idea of a child's perspective - yet have a night-marish and thrilling outcome which is almost disturbing; yet have a comical outcome.  I think this is effective - especially in a short film as they can entice the audience.

'Meat Love' is a very comical one minute long sequence that shows two pieces of meat, romantically involved.  They spin and dance to the music and play in the flour - and are then brutally plunged into a pan to be fried.

'Food' is one of my favourite films - the sequence is amusing and comical; split into the three meals of the day.  Starting off with Breakfast, a man is seen entering a room where he reads instructions, using the robotic waiter style man to dispense the food - it is some sort of spell as once he eats, he is frozen, freeing the previous waiter.  Lunch shows two men failing to catch the waiters eye at a restaurant - and therefore end up eating everything inside, including the table, chairs, clothes, cutlery most probably themselves.  The final meal of the day, shows dinner being presented and garnished on a plate with a variety of sauces and dressings, we soon realise that these are all organs - after a waiter nails a fork to his wooden hand prior to devouring his real hand.

'Alice'

I find that Jan's use of stop motion is very artistic - especially in depicting surrealist themes as the images form are almost ever so slightly disjointed to create a moving product, which I would love to re-create - however due to timing and lack of experience I feel I will not be able to.  In terms of mise-en-scene, he uses inanimate objects and brings them to life, creating scenarios that we may not understand - I find it however comical and amusing - also slightly disturbing for an audience.

Big Brother Audition

We were given a scenario - to imagine who the worst character would be to endure in a lift that is out of order for two hours, to help my understanding of character development and portrayal.  From a personal point of view; I dread a character who is obsessed with make-up and their appearance in a 'plastic' way,  a person who is under-educated and does not take in account people's feelings or opinions.  I used Martha to portray my dreaded dumb and naive character in the style of a Big brother audition tape, which allows her to improvise using her amusing acting skills to create the character introducing themselves in order to be chosen.

Get off my Land!

Casting to find suitable characters was pleasant - using our Producer/ Location director Aimee Shingfield's father for the farmer role; luckily that is his actual job! He was therefore very suitable, being a similar age to the actor in the original clip (of course younger) - he also has a gun!  The young male and female character were portrayed by Abi Jacobs and James Softly; fellow students and also our friends at Wymondham High Sixth Form.  Abi had previously studied Drama at GCSE and was therefore able to act excellently.  Her physical appearance also supported that of the female character in the film, with reddish/ brunette, wavy hair - which is why we chose her to feature in our remake.  James has not had any acting experience per say - yet he was very successful; with a similar build and hair.

Shot of James and Abi

Our camera operator was very skilled in recreating the shots as we all attempted to create the film shot for shot - using the same camera angles and types of shots.  After organizing props and the location - Aimee's farm we were able to shoot successfully - Ben's camera being fitted with a decent recording microphone therefore we did not have to re record our dialogue.  It was a pleasant experience - especially creating a ketchup and BBQ sauce concoction to flick on our actresses face for the splattered blood effect.

Evaluation 

• The media product captures real conventions in the sense that it replicates a short film, with a quirky and unique plot.  We used professional planning methods such as creating a script and drafting a storyboard in order to create the film like the original; organising props and costumes and effective casting.  This way the recreation is well thought and organised, this is always clearly seen in the end product.  
• Audience feedback suggested that it was humorous and replicated well; framing the shots exactly like the original media product and using the same angles, timing and editing to create the narrative.
• I think that as a group we all cooperated and were able to work successfully; each group member being given a particular role we could finish the job and do as best as we were able to.  If we were to improve the recreation - we would have made sure that the storyboard/ outline wasn't simplified to match the real product as much as possible.