environmentalentropyavp

[environmentalentropyavp]

Final Video:

[environmentalentropyavp]

1st June: Work Session 5

This was my final session of work in which I Edited my video and sound together to create a final product. The process was fairly simple due to the already high quality of the video content and designed to sync visuals.

I made the project in Premier pro and lined the clips up based on what felt best for the flow of the video. In the audio section, I loaded in a muted click track that matched the musics bpm. This allowed me to line up short video cuts with the visible peaks.

I arranged the video so the individual silhouette groups stayed together, with the progression as sun, birds, grass, boots, house and then the car. The first half of the track used longer clips of the structure and less experimental visuals (as previously mentioned) whereas I implemented shorter cuts and more contrasting sections in the second half to create movement and slight chaos.

The final step was adjusting the visuals slightly as I wanted a slightly darker background. I did this with an adjustment layer and changed the settings for shadows and black. I then cropped the video to exactly 6 minutes

I am extremely pleased with my result and could not have hoped for a better outcome.

[environmentalentropyavp]

31st May: Work Session 4

This session focused on the music side of the work. After filming the visuals, I scrapped my previous plan to remix an older track of mine and opted to create a more suitable track from scratch. The slow ambience of the first track just didn't make sense with visuals that so naturally synced to a beat (though I did still follow a similar idea and used some of the same effects from it). I created the track in Ableton and used various plugins such as spitfire audio.

I started the track with a guitar arpeggio for a warm and organic sounding foundation for the track.

I wanted the first half of the track to represent nature and so kept the track simple and organic sounding. I used two layers of the arpeggio and some simple drone like notes for most of the first part, and then had a chopped up birdsong sample come in with the drums just to reinforce the point.

After the first 2.5 minutes, I dropped out most of the instruments for a short break which helps exaggerate the second half of the track.

The second half consists of an altered arpeggio played by 2 new sounds, heavier drums made from interesting samples and more metallic sounds which I achieved by sending the instruments through a 'metallic resonator' return channel.

towards the end of the track, I reintroduced the original guitar arpeggio alongside the two other instruments and dropped out the drums for a few bars, before fading into a sample of audio recorded from the metallic send. This gave a nice smoothed and airy outro that still had structure.

When recording the video footage, I recorded shots of the turntable starting up and slowing to a stop, and by checking the lengths of these clips, I was able to automate the track temp at the start and end to sync with the turntable in those videos.

To mix the track I mostly used EQs and adjusted certain instruments to reduce the mid range frequencies until I felt the track was polished enough.

I found the process of creating music to match the essence of recorded footage to be very interesting, especially as the video will be edited to match the music in the next session, meaning the video and audio both informed each other at different times. The next session should be my last.

[environmentalentropyavp]

30th May: Work Session 3

This session was very productive and I managed to make significant progress in my project.

My first aim for the day was solving the problem of panels falling down. After considering many solutions, I decide on gluing the frames into a hexagonal shape in order to create a solid structure before gluing the hexagon down to the base.

To test the stability, I set the structure up on the turntable and span it at 45RPM to match the 90bpm tempo of my music.

After completing this, my next goal was to design and cut the card for the silhouettes. I mostly stuck to my original ideas for the designs but decided to make 3 variations rather than 6 and changed the building brick design to a house construction design.

After this, the only step left for the visuals was to finalise the set up and film. I used a projector with a white screen as the input to shine through the spinning structure and cast a bright image of it on the wall.

I filmed different angles and perspectives of each silhouette set and got progressively more experimental with my filming as I made my way through the narrative. Within the second half of the sets I began filming with mirrors and layers of projection to add interest to the final result. Overall the visuals turned out exactly if not better than I had hoped for.

My next session will focus on creating the music and possibly editing the footage.

[environmentalentropyavp]

18th April Until 9th May: Work Update 2

Across the past 3 weeks, I have completed many shorter sessions of work on my project. Whilst waiting for a more suitable glue, I measured out and cut a template for the coloured film to glue onto the frames. I used a spare piece of cardboard for the template and the coloured film was handy from a previous project, but originally from a local scrap store, so environmentally friendly and on theme. I had a total of 5 different colours so decided to double up on the orange frames rather than buy more material.

After acquiring a hot glue gun, I was able to complete all 6 of my frames using measurements from my previous notes and then glued on my film cut outs to each one (across a number of sessions). See below my decided colour order too.

The next step was to create the circular base, which I did by tracing the edges of a slip mat onto black foam and cutting the result out. I made the centre hole by stabbing and twisting with scissors and then cleaning the edges up afterwards. Using bluetack I roughly arranged the frames on the base however I still need to find a way to get them stable.

My next goals are starting the silhouettes, tweaking the audio I had in mind, and stabilising the frames enough so they can spin and stay in tact.

[environmentalentropyavp]

10th April: Work Session 1

My session today consisted of planning, designing and calculations in my notebook. I drew a rough sketch of my complete vision and a few rough silhouette animation ideas before calculating the measurements for the frames and how many I could fit on the record player base (6). I also marked the lengths on the dowel rods ready to cut and sawed a few lengths to create a test frame with my glue (which did not stick properly). The time was cut a little short due to the glue not being strong enough but work will continue once I have updated my materials.

[environmentalentropyavp]

Introduction

Environmental Entropy will be an Audio visual project about construction on green field sites and destruction of nature. The visuals will consist of colourful projections, vaguely animated silhouettes and experimental camera angles. It will accompany an ambient track that traverses from acoustic to electronic. My inspiration for the project comes from many areas such as Javanese shadow puppetry, 3d zoetropic art, light and colour artists and simple art animation.

Some of my inspiration includes:

James Turrell's Aten Reign

2. Walther Ruttmann's 'Der Sieger'

3. Butterfly Specimen 3d Zoetrope

4. A Wayang Puppet Theatre Show