Project 2- Audio Portrait

Audio Portrait Interview

UPDATE

Analysis: 

The topic of this audio interview was about the interviewee's experience of being from NYC and how it leads to his passion of learning, especially languages.

The style that I utilized and hoped to show was just to have listeners feel like they are having a conversation with the interviewee.

The organization of this story does sound smoothly as it begins with New York City to learning languages and his goals.

The sound recording and the sound elements were tough. I had a whole different interview that I had worked on but after syncing issues between versions of Premiere, I had to resort to this recording. There many sounds where I believe I was adjusting the sound levels and my movements were recorded, which interrupts the flow of the interviewee. The music that I used was meant to have listeners feel the culture translate to the story. The sound effect of the beginning was my favorite as its very New York City with all the traffic sounds, it sounds like you are stuck in traffic and strike up a chat. The war sound elements worked with the interviewee's talk of World War II and his learning of this period flowed well. 

I do not like the transitions that I made as I forced in some parts while the interviewee was talking and cut right into the music. It was not choppy per se but the second transition of the Chinese folk music ended abruptly. Though I have to say that I did like the 'tapering off' sound effect as it was the only way to weave in other parts of the story.

The immediate changes I would make is have better questions as it would have sounded more lively and engaging, or even used another subject/topic altogether. Another thing is I would improve the sound quality as some parts sounds of me shuffling about. The last thing I would be to record in another setting, such the music rooms, as it would have allowed better sound quality.

MOMI Trip

At our class’s recent trip to the Museum of Moving Image, we had a tour and demo of the history of television and film.

One of such demos shown to a group that I attended that was on sound production. The tour guide played only a sound file and asked us to name the film or video it derived from. As it played, a female frantically shouting “Jack” gave away that it was the Titanic film. After the sound clip finished, the guide asked us what particular sounds, other than Rose’s yell, gave it away or what other movie did we think it was. Some sounds that stood out were shots and of airplanes and artillery. One person thought the clip was from the Pirates of the Caribbean as they heard animal screeches.

The guide then showed the image alongside the sound. The scene was of the tall funnels snapping off its wires and crushing those in the water,  and of Jack and Rose attempting to get to the top of the ship. After the scene, the guide removed each 'sound' layer and played the remaining ones. It was surprising to learn how much work it takes to create a suspenseful scene than just using dramatic music. What was more incredulous was that James Cameron actually used a lion’s roar in the part where Fabrizio De Rossi is trying to avoid getting sucked back inside through one of the circular windows.

The changes in moving image technology has changed from the zoetrope to digital. The most dramatic change is especially true in this age of high definition and IMAX where, in some cases, we experience moving image hyper-realistically. 

Blog #3

From the short video below (The Kid- Charlie Chaplin), its editing made a significant contribution to the storytelling and the feel of the piece. 

The relationship of the sounds to the images is crucial as in the beginning; the music is sort of comical yet 'heroic' due to the march-like music. 

The shots are organized through content and movement.

The shots are determined by the subject’s ‘role’ within that moment of time. For example, the first different shot from the first, is when Chaplin gets up from his seat and goes behind his chair to don his hat and coat. It is here where the shot changes from a medium to a long shot. This cut is not seamless as the medium shot is darker (especially the area in the center) when suddenly we see the whole room, which also shows the difference in lighting. The next cut is seamless as we see the child exiting. The following shots are that of the boy throwing rocks at a window; it logically switches from the child, to the window, back to the boy as he runs away around the corner, it next shows the boy entering the shot as he continues to run. The shots in the next minute do follow an organized structure and right composition: the policeman catches the boy, the camera zoomed in closer to the policeman’s face, etc. The exception where there should have been a closer shot would have been in the very last, where the Chaplin and the kid are rapidly running away and get farther in the shot. A closer shot would have allowed the audience to see Chaplin’s face as the guard drew nearer before all three made a run for it and exited the shot. 

"What I Hear"- Blog Assignment #2

It is 11:15 on a late Saturday morning at the New York Public Library next to Bryant Park. 

The soft patter of rain hitting concrete enters past the gentle swooshing sounds of the revolving doors.

The sighs of foreign folks just entering the dry indoors, join that of the stomping of running children to the left. 

From the floor above, a climbing crescendo of animated voices travel down on the opposite side of the lobby. Their voices increase as they bounce around the high ceilings.

The quiet murmurs of tour guides greet and explain the newcomers in various languages. 

They leave behind a disappearing buzz as they shuffled on to their tour.

Semi-silence resumes. 

The only interruptions are that of the security guard clanging his feet as he shuffles in his seat. Or that of the lobby visit greeters stage whispering to each other. 

The rain, of course, has increased its steady, water-like stream outside--

Suddenly there's the soft clacking of heels waltzing towards the lobby. 

The person gets nearer as they muffle a hacking cough and finalizes their walk with a final stomp right behind a pillar. 

A metal chair scrapes marble and the person shuffles into their seat. 

Once again, all is quiet until the sound of fingers lightly rubbing paper, indicating the person has opened a new book as the creak of binding stings the air.

  

The sound of a person slowly walking around, halting momentarily in place, transfixed, is the most memorable sound as people actually stop and admire something within the cacophony sounds of this city.

Project 1

The Way Out

UPDATE

Analysis:

The topic of the video was meant to have the audience wary and then into panic or paranoia, as this is from a point of view. The whole footage is about trying to escape the building, but it is all for naught as there is no escape, hence the title.

The style of the video is shaky as its supposed to show the fear of the person. In the beginning the camera was held as 'calmly' but was allowed to show human movement, as the 'viewer' is taking cautious steps towards the map. The shot going down the stairs was shaky as the 'viewer' is almost sprinting. The camera was much shakier at the end as it represents the viewer shaking in fear upon seeing the mysterious figure. 

I think the organization of the story does flow as you start in the upper floors, walk down the stairs and stop at the last floor. Then you look down the hall and it ends. It's simple. There is no discernible gaps in the story.

The footage used was almost satisfactory as it was difficult to get the right amount of light/ISO without comprising the scary and dark effect of the story. Also, the footage within the video were the only shots that were clear and passable.

I think the transitions and effects were good as they were not too choppy. The first transition from the map to the stairs was quick as its supposed to show the viewer quickly moving onwards. The second transition was stopping right after the first set of stairs where the viewer slowly turns and looks at the space to get to the next set of stairs. The effect I used here in Adobe Premiere was darkening and fast forwarding a bit, since this is where the suspense really appears. The third transition is after walking this short space and just turning to descend the next set of stairs, where is goes dark for a second or two and then there's sharp light. For this light, I used an light effect where its supposed to represent the person turning on and holding a flashlight. The next transition after this is the only shot that I dislike as its too sudden, but the darkening effect that I used failed as it did not translate upon uploading to Vimeo. In Adobe, this and the next transitions/effects were fine and not too dark at all. 

Improvements I would make is to hold/make the shots longer in order to let smoother transitions occur. I would change the flashlight effect at the end and make more brighter as it barely shows up in the last two shots. Different angles would have been sublime as it would have allowed more space to experiment. Most importantly I would have shot the scenes of the basement in a higher ISO so that it could be darkened without sacrificing the footage. 

Artist Statement

I have met the Fates during my childhood. They took the forms of Art, Reading, and Writing. I encountered Art at the age of five when I took my jumbo pencil to a piece of paper saw an alternate version of myself. In fourth grade I discovered Reading awaiting to escort me to different dimensions by some books in a classroom. Writing came not long after, in the form of daydreams where I would dash home to scribble down scenes that played on my mind without end. 

Having these forms of creativity in my life have given me fruitful amount of ideas that never end. It is important for me to do so as I do not wish to taste regret later in life.

Today I possess a plethoric vault of sketchbooks, journals, and canvases filled with different themes of strangers and cities I have not met nor visited. I wish to channel my creativity to create short book or film trailers that focus on important issues from both our past and present.