PROJECT One
The title is called LOST IN THE CITY. But I would like to call it DA VINCI CODE.
The reason: the shots were all over the place when I first got it back in the editing room. I had to piece the scenes together like a jigsaw puzzle. And everyone were so confused when it was screened...
Objective:
1. To present the claustrophobic nature of the city.
There are too many a time when we lose our way in midst of the concrete jungle in the city. There is anxiety, confusion, and finally, the stress escalates: the imposing high-rising buildings and the narrow, constricting sidewalks seem to cave in – a sense of nausea. A revelation unfolds when we find our way, only to carry on with the endless activities that crowd the very streets of the city.
2. To present the project in the form of black and white silent film within a 100 footage with particular attention to continuity of action from scene to scene.
Treatment:
Man enters scene of a rusty, graffiti-filled door. He shuffles in his step, lost and flustered. He is trying to find his way around the relentless streets of New York.
He trudges ahead. A scene of human traffic flashes by.
Man looks left to find an inviting junction. He crosses over, half-jogging. Then, he finds himself walking past the imposing concrete walls again. Another scene of human traffic flashes by. He walks to the end only to see a huge volume of vehicle traffic. He falls into further confusion as the cars zoom by.
He turns another corner into a dim construction pathway. The yellow, luminescent light bulbs seem to stretch out the pathway into an endless distance. Under the low wooden shelter that had isolated the surrounding activity, the path of light bulbs conglomerated to form an ominous glare. Man chokes and coughs – a strong surge of nausea.
Man survives the pathway to reach a t-junction. He ponders where to go again. The pedestrian light flashes red to a blur. The green man comes on and Man crosses the junction.
He walks into another sheltered pathway. But this time, he seems to know his way. There is light at the end of the path, a flurry of human activity. He enters the hustling sidewalk of Broadway. He finds his peace among the crowd as he walks in tandem with the consortium of activity.
Pre-screening Evaluation:
The film turn out little like the treatment above. I had allowed David to give suggestions for his acting and I also asked Meghan for suggestions for her role as a DP. It did cause some confusion to the crew and changed my original plan. I ended up not meeting any of the objectives, changing my mind as I shoot.
I call my style of directing...hit and run directing =p
There was a homeless guy who blocked our shot and refused to leave until we gave him some change. There were spots where there was too much sunlight and I had to use other locations. There was a security guard who obstructed us from shooting along a particular pathway that was in my plan.
However, I have received good reviews from two people who had seen my film before screening in class and I do like my film. At least I put up a decent film together.
FILM CRITICS:
'I thought it was cool when the two ladies walk past unknowingly and seem to block away David...and then again when the kid who walk by unknowingly when David was walking towards Michaela...and then there's others...'
'The shots of people and traffic that you cut in...did they have any meaning?'
'When David and Michaela met, it was too far away and overexposed...I could not tell what was happening'
Confusion, confusion, confusion...
'Who think that the cutaway scenes were just random?'
class raises hands...
'Who were confused about shots without David'
class raises hands...
'Who understood what story the film was trying to tell?'
class raises hands again...
'exposure issues...some technical problems'
'David looked like he's looking for the toilet'
... ...that's a bit too much...
CLASS'S VERDICT: Thrash
MY VERDICT:
Everyone went into confusion after the screening. So, it's was a success after all!
Well, the story and the random scenes were for them to interpret in any way that they want to. It was to throw everyone into confusion and I was even confused myself when shooting the film. I didnt even plan an ending (the part when David met his girlfriend). It was David who suggested the ending before the shoot. I thought that would please the audience and I decided to put it in.
The reason: the shots were all over the place when I first got it back in the editing room. I had to piece the scenes together like a jigsaw puzzle. And everyone were so confused when it was screened...
Objective:
1. To present the claustrophobic nature of the city.
There are too many a time when we lose our way in midst of the concrete jungle in the city. There is anxiety, confusion, and finally, the stress escalates: the imposing high-rising buildings and the narrow, constricting sidewalks seem to cave in – a sense of nausea. A revelation unfolds when we find our way, only to carry on with the endless activities that crowd the very streets of the city.
2. To present the project in the form of black and white silent film within a 100 footage with particular attention to continuity of action from scene to scene.
Treatment:
Man enters scene of a rusty, graffiti-filled door. He shuffles in his step, lost and flustered. He is trying to find his way around the relentless streets of New York.
He trudges ahead. A scene of human traffic flashes by.
Man looks left to find an inviting junction. He crosses over, half-jogging. Then, he finds himself walking past the imposing concrete walls again. Another scene of human traffic flashes by. He walks to the end only to see a huge volume of vehicle traffic. He falls into further confusion as the cars zoom by.
He turns another corner into a dim construction pathway. The yellow, luminescent light bulbs seem to stretch out the pathway into an endless distance. Under the low wooden shelter that had isolated the surrounding activity, the path of light bulbs conglomerated to form an ominous glare. Man chokes and coughs – a strong surge of nausea.
Man survives the pathway to reach a t-junction. He ponders where to go again. The pedestrian light flashes red to a blur. The green man comes on and Man crosses the junction.
He walks into another sheltered pathway. But this time, he seems to know his way. There is light at the end of the path, a flurry of human activity. He enters the hustling sidewalk of Broadway. He finds his peace among the crowd as he walks in tandem with the consortium of activity.
Pre-screening Evaluation:
The film turn out little like the treatment above. I had allowed David to give suggestions for his acting and I also asked Meghan for suggestions for her role as a DP. It did cause some confusion to the crew and changed my original plan. I ended up not meeting any of the objectives, changing my mind as I shoot.
I call my style of directing...hit and run directing =p
There was a homeless guy who blocked our shot and refused to leave until we gave him some change. There were spots where there was too much sunlight and I had to use other locations. There was a security guard who obstructed us from shooting along a particular pathway that was in my plan.
However, I have received good reviews from two people who had seen my film before screening in class and I do like my film. At least I put up a decent film together.
FILM CRITICS:
'I thought it was cool when the two ladies walk past unknowingly and seem to block away David...and then again when the kid who walk by unknowingly when David was walking towards Michaela...and then there's others...'
'The shots of people and traffic that you cut in...did they have any meaning?'
'When David and Michaela met, it was too far away and overexposed...I could not tell what was happening'
Confusion, confusion, confusion...
'Who think that the cutaway scenes were just random?'
class raises hands...
'Who were confused about shots without David'
class raises hands...
'Who understood what story the film was trying to tell?'
class raises hands again...
'exposure issues...some technical problems'
'David looked like he's looking for the toilet'
... ...that's a bit too much...
CLASS'S VERDICT: Thrash
MY VERDICT:
Everyone went into confusion after the screening. So, it's was a success after all!
Well, the story and the random scenes were for them to interpret in any way that they want to. It was to throw everyone into confusion and I was even confused myself when shooting the film. I didnt even plan an ending (the part when David met his girlfriend). It was David who suggested the ending before the shoot. I thought that would please the audience and I decided to put it in.
Ohhh...perhaps it was just a joke...will have better luck next time then! Hurhur...
posted by jax at 6:14 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home