How can something so bad, feel sooo good? part 2

Basically the same video, with some adjustments made after getting some feedback during a tutorial. I have changed some of the fonts to make them more visible.

How can something so bad, feel sooo good?

...or as formerly known `But Everybody`s Doin` it!` is one happy finished project, nestling in its comfy Youtube space now.

Voila!

After the first rough cut, it took me a few days to figure out what was missing...I still don`t know if I`ve really found that elusive something (but then again...we never find THAT elusive something, do we?), but I am quite pleased with the freeze-frames stylised to look like 50s advertising posters. I hope I captured the spirit, I tried to use as a guide Robert Opie`s 1950s Scrapbook.

I know this has turned out rather ambiguous and cheeky, having a laugh at the overly dramatic seriousness of classic digital piracy ads by using the cartoonish chase seen music and the posters are only re-enforcing the irreverent atmosphere of the whole piece...but then again, it`s supposed to inform, not judge. And observe and inform it does...the vast majority of people have this ambivalent `let`s not and say we did` attitude towards the subject, hypocrisy is oozing out of everyone`s pores and we are, willy-nilly, surfing treacherous waters in our search for our favourite online commodities.

Technical details:

Compressed file has some colour loss but there doesn`t seem to be any major issue with the uncompressed video (have tried it on three different players) altough I`ve initially had some issues with subtitles not showing up on the screen for the introduction sequence.

Also, not entirely sure about the final Hyde-Jekyll transition, the morphing might be a bit...well, a bit spooky for the overall tone of the work (or maybe it`s just me seeing it like that). Might think about having different sequences for the morphing, some that are more similar so that it doesn`t look like something out of a sci-fi film.

But Everybod`s Doin` it! part 3

Busy day today...just finished capturing some of the laptop screen images (download progress bars, illegal download searches bla bla bla) and thought I will have a go at the simulated 50s style. Slightly desaturated colours, with the exception of reds and magentas, a bit of grain, a double yellow filter and a vignette effect.

Here`s what it looks like:

I think it does the job pretty well, so I`ll probably stick with these settings for the final edit.

I wanted to include my storyboard as well, but realised I am not yet ready to be the butt of all jokes because of my sloppy drawing. They are working documents and I won`t let them see the light, no sir!

But Everybody`s Doin` it! part 2

Day 1...it appears there will be a Day 2 as well, since the weather has been rather capricious today.

But first things first...

I`ve got my hands on a Nikon D80 camera, have been delighted to try it out and now at least I know that watching all those photography tutorials throughout these years has not been a waste of time. After I got the camera yesterday, I managed to learn how to handle it pretty decently in a few hours, so, a big thank you to YouTube and all the nice people who make tutorials and share the knowledge.

Problems: sunny...cloudy...sunny...cloudy...I know what you`re saying: `But Diana, that`s what those settings on the camera are there for!`  Yes, indeed...but even when you know what to do (change aperture, shutter speed, fiddle with the EV)...it is still frustrating when you have to do it every 2 minutes, while also trying to direct your subject, trying to keep continuity notes and change focus because of the movement.

So, I`ll probably have to play around with a few individual frames in Photoshop, adjusting lightness and gamma. But hey! who cares when I had so much fun.

 

Almost feels like a pity tampering with the colours...I`ll give it a try though, that`s the fun fun fun of experimentation, isn`t it?

 

Now, for some of the close-ups...I love depth of field!

 

 

And now...la piece de resistance! The macro shots:

 

There has been a slight change of location as well. Although, it is still within the University Park campus (where we got the permission to film), it is around the Lakeside Cafe, instead of the Student Union one. Some wonderful vanishing points and quite the view really, on and off camera as well. Thanks to Roxana for the scouting...



Publish Post(er)

A month or so ago, a friend had kindly pointed me to this page of the NUS site where they advertised a poster competition for the National Student Survey`s annual campaign to get feedback for universities and prospective students from students. So, since I`ve had had enough of the summer lazy days, I thought I would give it a go (two, actually).

Both attempts make reference to popular culture icons. The strapline for each poster is based on the assumption that the public can draw from a diverse range of (personal) meanings attributed to these images and thus interpret the message in several ways. For instance, the Campbell soup poster and its strapline "Open Up"  play on the idea of keeping one`s opinions (or grievances) for oneself, or "Be Heard" (as the previous year`s winning poster suggested). On a more playful note though, the image of soup in a tin brings about knowing smiles (hopefully) from students acquainted with the eating habits of student life.

 

The Uncle Sam reference is pretty in-your-face. Alright, so it is a bit of an Uncle Sam turned Uncle Jack! We all know that piercing gaze and that commanding (and demanding) no-nonsense attitude that thinks he should have your feedback not because he is asking you nicely....noooooooo...but because he DESERVES it...and besides, it is your duty to do so...hmmmmm, maybe it is a tad to martial of an image to conjure up for such a campaign!

I do what I can...

Whaaaaat? I told you I`m guinea pigs...less! So I do what I can and with...whom I can. Good thing I still have me.

I don`t know about acting (haven`t tried it for some years now...might consider a re-run for this year with the Drama society at NTU...who knows!), but trying to make an expressive face for a few seconds in front of the camera...some lights, some props, some spice added to it...I get the cinematic trance! Now, if I could only link the trance to the narrative and conceptual, and striking a balance...then I might be actually DOING something, instead of just coming up with ideas I keep postponing.

Memo to me: if you keep posting some of these images, it would be a good idea to talk more about why you keep making them...or simply mock yourself, that`s good too!

TranSLATE 2

Nae Caranfil`s E pericolo sporgersi. Simply brings a smile to my face so I have to include it here.

-And now you want to show me your vinyl collection, or what?

-I understand you are making a pass on our girls, right?

-Have we met before?

-For your sake, we`d better not! That`s all I`m sayin`...

-You want something from me?

-Yeah! I want you to leave this girl alone! She`s mine.

-Which girl?

-You know all too well. The one that`s just left.

-So, you`ve been listening?

-No...but I know she`s been here. Why...just because we allow you in our town to do your service, you think you can have a go at our girls?

-For now, the only one having a go is you...at me!

-HEY! Watch it! I`ve done three years of boxing as a kid, if you`ll tick me off I`ll make you bleed!

-Be....careful what you say. I`m wearing a uniform and that might spell trouble for you.

-I`ve tried to argue with you from man to man, but is seems like you don`t want to...

-Maybe you want to meet the rest of the patrol?

-Maybe you want to meet my brother, who is into karate...there`ll be blood, I tell you!

-Maybe you need a beating up!

-I tried to argue sensibly with you...

-You want a fight?

-Be careful...

-Fight?

-If you touch me, I`ll break your glasses you son of a bitch!

-Who do you think you are, talking like that about mum?

-And why are you acting tough?

-You`ll see what I`m made of...

-Why did you hit me?

-Who....who hit you? Me...?

-Yes, you...you wanted to hit me. Why did you want to do that. Why?

-D....don`t make me loose my temper!

....

-You damned Bucharest scum!

TranSLATE 1

A hilarious fragment from Cuibul de viespi (Wasps`Nest), a film based on one of Alexandru Kiritescu`s plays. Probably sums up pretty well all one can say about Romanian sense of humour and the Balkan....ehrm....charm. I know it is hard to incorporate all the savory linguistical bits but...here is a somewhat valiant attempt (hopefully):

-You got the braids? Thank heaven and all of the saints! Put them there. And you? Why are you daydreaming? Get a move on…destination: braids! And get the incense burner.
-What incense burner?
-What incense burner? What incense burner? The one we use for the braids! Now go and fetch it for me….WAIT! But don`t get me the wrong one or I`ll use it on your head!
-Alright…
-WAIT!!! Bring some incense too.
-…
-WAIT!!! And make sure you don`t bring some coals instead….WA..
-WAIT! I get it! Don`t patronize me!

-You deserved that, you rascal!
-I`m late because I had to queue.
-Queue…huh? Nein! You be smooching…
-Ma`am?
-Mit soldiers!
-Wha…? You are out of it…
-Insult you me? Gypsy! You little cat! Lazy bones! Ptttt!
-Calm down you two. What`s this all about?
-She should leave me alone, coz I`m an honest girl, not like her… silly old bat!
-Wass? Gehn zum Teufel!

-Requiem it is…but a lucky one!
-Sis…did you write the (remembrance) list?
-I did.
-Read it!
-Ana, Grigore, Tinca….puuuuuuut that down theeeeeeeeeere!....Didina, Tina, Gherghina…
-Don`t stand about to see what an fool she is. She is from Caracal, she can afford it! But you are from Transylvania, right?
-I get this sort of humiliation even in front of the servants!...Balasa, Androne…
-….and all their relatives…I say, let Zamfira know how much you`re worth!
-Tase, Marghioala, Ionicica…
-What? You`ve listed all the boors from Tase`s family? Devil take them! God rest their souls!
-Arghirita, Sofronie, Marita…
-Marita?
-Yep!
-On Margareta`s remembrance list?
-Aham.
-Vanda`s mother…
-Aham.
-Where`s your brain, sis?
-Oh, gosh! You`re right! You`re so right! It`s because of that debauched woman that we got into all this trouble! Ptttt! It`s not within our nature….to curse and all….but she deserves it! May she turn into dust…may God and the virgin Mary turn her into dust!
-I`ve never cursed anyone in my life, and I won`t do it now! But may I see her buried without her shoes on, oh Holy Mother and Saint Filofteia! The Lord gaveth unto us, the Lord taketh!
-What is it?
-Hit my back! Whooooooah…you almost knocked me down!
-Well, you were coughing real bad and…

Time for a bit of maritime!

Loredana Groza`s Copiii Sirenelor (The Sirens` Children)

After a sea accident, the crew of a ship is lured by a covent of sirens. But after all, it turns out it ain't a bad thing at all.

Copiii sirenelor, sung by Loredana (Romanian singer Loredana Groza) and Loredana (three years old) is featured on Nana Nanino, an album aimed at children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, released by MediaPro Music on September 2007.

The music video, full of delightul animation, has been realized at Romanian studio Videorgy.

(Source: http://dekku.nofatclips.com/2007/12/loredana-copiii-sirenelor.html)

Simply put: just a mild case of cartesian anxiety! part 2

Browsing through P. Adams Sitney`s Visionary Film, I came across the title of a 40s American avant-garde movie: Maya Deren`s Meshes of the Afternoon. The author drew several parallels with Dali and Bunuel`s Un chien andalou, and the description of the imagery employed seemed interesting enough to gave it a go. Heil YouTube again!

Using Teiji Ito`s music was a surprising addition, as the review in the book didn`t say much about the sound used. After a quick, it seems that Ito has written the scores of several other productions of Maya Deren, the producer of Meshes of the Afternoon. Seeing that there is a definite theme of repetition and accelaration that leads to the build-up of the dramatic sense, using this sort of music seems just perfect, as the drums seem to express the angst and all the ambivalence of feelings that are not revealed to us through the characters (who often seem expressionless, bedazzled and slightly hypnotic). In terms of visual metaphors, the mirror replacing the face of the nun is really inspiring...for think of all the things you can do with or about a mirror (break, distort, reflect, attract, trick).

Strike a pose

Well, there we are then...I`m back to my bookwormish ways again, this time, bringing you seeds of boredome from the land of haute couture. I always like some inspiring reading on some area of study/craft I haven`t thought of as particularly befitting my dreams of intellectual and artistical megalomania that turns me around and makes me develop a temporary obssession for the driving, underlying, subversive concepts that animate it. Yes, for it is not so much the outcome that has swept me off my feet (although, heaven forbid one should neglect that...it would be rude, wouldn`t it?) but the processes by which these have been generated. That elusive creative process as they call it, but, to put things in a bigger perspective so as not to get lost in the mumbo-jumbo labyrinthine world of creative individuals` minds, it is the decidedly more complex picture of social transformation, especially on the psychological level, that is more fascinating to observe.

And, got to love Youtube, a 1990 documentary of British fashion matron, Vivienne Westwood.