final cut pro shortcuts:

a-arrow

b-blade

i-imput

o-output

p-pen (markers)

c-crop

z-zoom
cmd r-render
cmd j change speed

Post Production

During editing we speeded the majority of the footage up, however it's still feels 'juttery', this is due to there not been enough frames per second (which we could have resolved by taking more picture in less time at the stage of production), however I feel this works as in a lot of experimental films there is a lack of realism, so the fact it's obvious that it's stop motion photography doesn't matter as our aim wasn't to encode a high degree of realism.

Music for experimental

We chose the music ' Claire De Lune' by Claude Debussy as the main soundtrack for our experimental film as we believe this will help us to create the emotional connection that we want to associate with something that is otherwise purely just seen as a object-the teapot. It also adds to the traditional connotations of a teapot. I found the quote 'music isn't the notes, it's the space in-between the notes' (by the same music artist) inspiring, and this song is the perfect example of how the gaps in-between instrumental music can say so much and really trigger the listeners emotions.

We also used some more uplifting songs such as the very popular/familiar 'carousel' song, as we wanted the audience to go through an emotional journal, rather than been a purely sad emotion, especially with this been an experimental film, it adds a randomness to the video. It also works to our advantage as it fits with that part of the narrative.

Shooting Locations

outdoors:
cleethorpes- beach
scunthorpe- in the snow
sheffield- peace gardens


indoors:
set up studio in flats

Stop Motion Photography Film

http://photodoto.com/stop-motion-photography-to-inspire/

I watched the first stop motion video on this website, this was a lot smoother flowing than others i have watched, it was almost as if it was film and not photography. It took things that move in real life, such as traffic, running water, and used many frames per second to create movement. The colours are very bright and contrasting, almost creating a gaming world, as if the audience should be in control of whats happening within the scene.

Photos:

Reflections played a big part in our photographs, we tried to include the teapots reflections and shadows within the photo, as they express the 3D, and show different perspectives and ways of looking at the teapot, all within one single photo. 

We also experimented with depth of field (especially within the cleethorpes photos) to really focus on the main object within the scene...the teapot.

Stop Motion Film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Et7UQh1tg&feature=player_embedded#!

I like the pace of the editing, as there is enough frames per second to give the appearance of fairly smooth movement, however you can still tell that it is stop motion rather than film footage, which look quirky.

I like how photos within the photos have been used to tell a story, and create a film. I also like the mise en scene surrounding the main object (the photos), featuring day to day objects such as a jug.

equipment we used in production:

Nikon SLR camera D3100
coloured filters
Tripod
dedo lights
Teapots as the main props

lenses used: 24mm tiltshift

16mm wide angle

180mm

Most of our shots were took in a naturalistic settings , however for the 'romantic' scenes we set up a studion using dedo lights, white sheets, etc.

Existing Experimental Film:

Wavelength

Directed by Michael Snow 

1967

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzPwuP6AmCk&feature=player_embedded

An important aspect within this film ‘Wavelength’ is the director’s choice of soundtrack. While the shrieking starts off quite quiet, and reminiscent almost of a kettle, as the film progresses the sounds get higher pitched and much louder, almost as if it wants to give the audience an ‘on edge’ feel, like they are waiting for something unexpected to happen, which is also exaggerated through the singular long shot of a room: it is as if the camera is placed there, waiting, for something or somebody to come into the room. The camera also gradual zooms up into the door, so much so that the audience forget what it was, as its appearance as a door is unrecognisable. In my opinion, it is a very jumpy film, which could either indicate unprofessionalism, or the director is trying to give the film and the feel of it, a certain ‘edge’. At various points there is also a 'scratched tape' effect, which is a common occurance among experimental films. The lighting changes the movie progresses through give it a time lapse feel, showing the passing of time, emphasising the long drawn out wait for something to happen.

Research

Book:

A.L. Reese - A history of experimental film and video

Experimental Film

common characteristics of experimental films:

radical filmmaking techniques
non diegetic (no storyline/linear structure)
blatant disregard for the cinematic status quo
random-doesn't necessarily make sense to the audience, however generally sticks to a theme
contrast within the image/sound
rules are made up by the filmmaker, don't conform to standard mainstream film conventions
rapid editing
minimal dialogue
choppy editing
irrational, non-contextual arrangement of images
out of focus
non diegetic/no music/instrumental

black and white/old fashioned looking
rhythmic-timing is important-sound fits in with image
repetitive
abstract shapes-also timed according to the music
mirrored images/shadows
very loud non diegetic sound e.g. annoying piano (sets the audience in a trance like state)
limited/no dialogue

Existing Experimental Film:

L'Age d'or is a collaborative film by Salvador Dali and Bunuel (1930).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYbwv9ZXPEM&feature=player_embedded

This clip taken from the film, uses an interesting choice of camera angles. the first long shot appears at the beginning, and the camera almost closes in on the subject as the narrative progresses, of a young couple fooling around. It is obvious when this particular scene reaches its climax (no pun intended ) because the camera is extremely close up to the man and woman , as they caress each other, albeit in a strange and maybe unnatural way. This could possibly question what kind of acts and fetishes people are into behind closed doors or in private

Existing Experimental Films

Meshes of the Afternoon

Directed by Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid 

1943

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDGBFLPCaDE&feature=player_embedded  

On first viewing of this video, it is apparent that the director has been experimental with both subject matter and the way it is portrayed....the slight jagged nature of the camera hints that, unlike the carefully still hollywood cameras, this is possibly hand held adding to it  more natural movement to the action, like we are viewing through our own eyes and that we are moving along with the woman. The repetition of images is particularly interesting... creating almost a loop to the video, which at first is not apparent. It is not clear why this happens, but to me, it is an act against the conformity of structured Hollywood films, and it also gives it an eerie gloomy feel, portraying that the subject matter may possibly be losing their mind, while we too, begin to question our sanity as we are forced with image upon image which is the same.

Creating sound

Garageband

movie ---> create

 software instrument

window ---> keyboard

sound effects possibly suitable for our experimental film:

synth pads- angelic organ 

                       aquatic sunbeam

the idea was to create a kind of 'controlled accident' in terms of the location of the teapot, we wanted to make the audience become a active viewer by creating a rather weird movie that would make the audience question why a teapot would be in such locations and what this could possibly signify. Our aim was to have a rather spontaneous feel to the video, with no set linear structure and little focus on continuity. We juxtaposed long shots of the teapot in a location, with close up shots of the same location to show different perspectives

Ideas Developed:

zoom up on parts of the mise en scene up to the point of them becoming grainy, blurs of colour or blobs of light?
negitive images?
under/over exposure photos
extreme tilts of the camera
rapid camera movemnts=blur

Stop Motion Videos

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/12/31/50-incredible-stop-motion-videos/

We have decided to use stop motion photography to create a film. We plan on taking an object, such as a teapot and moving it slightly between individuall y photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence. There were plenty of stop motion videos on the website above that inspired me.

Initial idea

Our original idea was to base our experimental film around the poem 'if' by Rudyard Kipling. We were going to use contrasting footage combined with narration of the poem's words. However we decided against this due to the lack of a strong direction this would take us in. We would also be required to have a much deeper understanding of the poem.