The CD sleeve is see-through, allowing the art on the CD to be the main feature. A small hand is designed to be pulled, making the CD slide out of its cover. The miniature hand is attached to the CD case with a small band at the wrist to ensure it does not wiggle, but moves straight up and down:
I had an idea of using a printed hand, attached to the CD case, to slide the CD out. In the spirit or ambiguous imagery found in my film, I decided to use a hand, posed as if it was of a drowning person, making the viewer ‘pull it out’ subsequently sliding out the CD. I was holding up something above my model’s head, to make him actually reach out for it, and have the picture look realistic:
After rendering the hands in monochrome, I picked the most suitable option- top right:
Interesting CD covers. I am looking at monochrome, as this will go with my film. Some of them play on the geography of the inner disc circle. All are minimalistic:
Simplicity: I would like my CD to be labelled, but the case perfectly clear. I also want a special touch on the case, to make it different. I thought of using an image of the blue eye from my film’s opening sequence as the image on the CD. This would, as in the film, challenge the viewer with a direct stare, although the empty eyeball would add to the spookiness of the image, going in sync with the final outcome of my film. Perhaps the viewer could use the CD as a spy hole? Inspiration:
although I have experimented with other images. here are my simulations:
The finished film:
I used Premiere Pro to put the initial sequences together, as demonstrated in our tutorials. Next I used After Effects for a bit to get the perfect vignette on the opening sequence, as well as aged effect to certain pieces within the film:
Basic vignette can be achieved in Premiere, using a transparent layer:
Using my pictures to create jagged stop motion clips:
And the desired outcome:
http://https://vimeo.com/103098756
I only had to use basic audio effect such as gain and fade, as the track I have picked was just perfect for my film. The second picture shows my work on black and white, using Pro Camp settings. Values can be minus:
The film with the progressions and effects applied and imported:
I filmed a few clips with the purpose of visualising ‘comfort’ steaming from the blackness of clothing. In the first clip, a bare female body is being used. The light is muted and the focus slightly out, to create a very soft effect. The model slides her hands across her body in soft, fluent manners:
The same purpose was administered here, where the same model who did the Jesus-like shoot, modelled. This time the effect achieved was of contract between the model’s masculinity, and his relative vulnerability, as he embraces himself more for comfort, rather than in comfort. I may still use the clip:
The same day I filmed my own back, bruised from cupping, valued for it’s effect opposite to the above. The fingers are moving rapidly and twitching, allowing me to show contrast between comfort and discomfort:
Black fashion, being the key of my praxis, is finally included in a bulk:
A black silk beaded top was hung on a wash line as I zoomed in and out of focus to enhance the glistening beadwork in the sun:
The twinkling was carried on with the clip of a vintage paste jewellery, out of focus, allowing big circles of refracted light to form:
Another fashion clip features another silk lace blouse, being worn on the body:
My black brogues- I got them as a present for getting into LCA. They have been repaired many times, but have eventually been worn down to the state beyond repair. They carried me all over Leeds and were silent witnesses to many antics. I decided to use stop motion technique to film the booties- I have been experimenting with stop motion films since my first year at LCA. I needed a juxtaposition, therefore I used white substance instead of liquid black, which would disappear on the surface of my brogues. I left them dirty, as they were when I took them for their final spin on which they totally gave up. They are gritty, full of memories retained in mud and sand glued to their leather surface.
My setup:
I used Premiere Pro to put all my pictures together and after rendering and changing the speed and duration of each image, I achieved a stop motion film:
There was this peculiar black necklace I got in Blue Rinse, and I really wanted to feature it in my film purely because it looks like a fat worm, which makes me happy. It is made of hand painted wooden discs. I did not however, want it to be plain in its presentation. I used its shape as a reference to liquid black, and here it is, escaping the body as a solid (rather fecal in my unintended reference):
Again- is this disturbing? Good. I want my viewers to feel. Whether it is anger, sadness or disgust, I want them to feel. I want to create powerful images that evoke feelings; what is the point of creating something neutral, flacid? Even if the viewers find the video creepy, the module asked me to present my subjective interpretation of the theme we have been given. I must communicate the concept clearly though, although the long journey from the original broad subject has narrowed significantly, landing me slightly far from the very original batch of thoughts.
I have filmed a strip, intending to use it at the end of my fashion film. This shows a candle being blown out- finally bringing on total Mrok, total darkness, the ultimate comfort. I have coated the candle wick with liquid paraffin, to make blowing it out more difficult, and emulate an effect I would achieve using a slow motion camera. I zoomed out of focus for a while there, as I find blurred out progression to be visually pleasing and consistent with my taste.
TheExperimentumCrucis 