fjesusdocumentary2020

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

Final Video of ‘Documentary’. The resolution was cut in half (on After Effect’s settings) and the file’s size was reduced through VLC. 

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

critical self-evaluation

I think I have demonstrated aesthetic consideration and conceptual coherence in creating moving image works exploring the theme of ‘documentary’, as I produced a documentary about my cats and correlated it to how I felt during quarantine (LO1)&(LO2)

By having researched and analysed varied documentary works that resonated with mine, I critically examined the context for moving image practice acknowledging working processes and visual references (LO3)

I think I have demonstrated that I applied technical skills in the realisation of moving image work by editing my project on After Effects and recording my voice, layering audio with video, meshing fast cuts with longer shots and colour correcting certain shots. (LO4)

By writing this reflection alongside all the artist researches I made during the whole process, I have presented and critically reflected upon moving image work around the theme of ‘documentary’. (LO5)

The strongest part of my project I think was the beautiful imagery of my cats just standing around my backyard. While at times it might have felt repetitive, it always felt beautiful and soothing. I loved the colours of the video, like deep blue (of the sky and the pool) and the pink and green from the flowers.

The voiceover was undoubtedly the most difficult part of this project and I’m still not sure on what to feel on how it turned out. I contemplated having the words written on screen instead of spoken but I thought it wouldn’t have the same effect. I wanted it to feel as a confession, in an almost form of a poem. I decided to use my original idea for the voice-over instead of the longer one because I felt it got repetitive and too much. Looking back, I should have made it even more intervaled. While I’m aware the voice-over was what glued the video together, at times it felt constricting, as I had to find imagery that matched my words. And for that, I feel like that there are parts in the video that are not as aesthetically pleasing as others just for the fact I tried to make the images match what I was saying on the voice-over.

Other difficulties that delayed this process were a health scare that impeded me to work on this project for a while and poor internet connection. I ended up reducing the video’s resolution and file size in hopes I could upload it quicker but still the internet did not cooperate. It was very frustrating to have to lower my video’s resolution in half just so I could upload it, as the audience won’t be able to see the full beauty of the images.

To conclude, I think the project turned out alright. I am mostly satisfied with it. If I could make improvements, I would space the audio out more, to give more breaks between my talking to give some “air” to the audience, to not let them feel overwhelmed by the voice-over. I would like to revisit it in the future and maybe make it more abstract and not as ‘quarantine-based’ as this one (no voice-over + more focus on beautiful imagery of the cats).

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

Been trying to upload my final video for over a day now,

My internet is very slow and the upload hasn’t moved for over 12 hours (12:46)

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

my health these past few days has not been good (not covid related) and I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish the video in time

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

finalised voice-over transcript

“Today I feel like one of my cats

I too am trapped at home

But unlike the cats

I know why I can’t go outside

And the cats, unlike me, can wander around freely,

Blissfully ignorant of what’s happening around them

I feel like them in the sense that

I just want to sleep the day away

Why bother? Tomorrow’s going to be the same anyway

Wake up, look out the window, eat, do nothing, sleep, repeat

It’s not easy making a documentary during these times

Maybe it is easy to some people but not to me

I can’t seem to find the concentration I need while being trapped for too long

My cats are not the easiest to film either

They’re not very interesting to begin with

Just normal domesticated pets

Not much to them

I find them interesting cause they’re mine

But I understand if you don’t

I’d feel the same

Overall, it’s been nice to experience these weird times with their company

Being back home brings back a lot of stuff

But their soothing presence feels like a buffer

A breath of fresh air

A reminder that not all is bad during these chaotic times

I bet they’re already tired of having us humans around for so long now

I bet they can’t wait for us to go back to our normal lives

Or maybe, and that’s probably the most likely answer,

They couldn’t care less

They don’t think about anything

And that’s the innocence we wish we had right now

If only we could all be cats for a day

And not think about anything for a while

But we must not lose hope

Maybe we could take some inspiration from the cats

And learn to live in the moment

Stay safe and cautious

Use the fear you feel as a push

To be better

Instead of careless

And soon these bad times will be over

And we will be free again

Just like cats”

After tutor recommended me to talk a little more in my voice-over, I decided to add a few bits more to the end (part in bold), as I wasn’t happy with that ‘sadder’ ending, I wanted to end the video on a hopeful note and I think with this new one I have achieved that.

I also didn’t add that much more because I think if I talk for too long the video can become ‘boring’ or repetitive. The footage I have of my cats can be repetitive itself so making the video shorter rather than talking for 5 minutes seems like the best idea.

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

tutorial 28/05

Tutor liked the voice-over, finds the soft way of speaking appropriate with the atmosphere of the video. More upbeat voice would probably ruin the mood of the video. Try different ways of voice-over but always with soft voice.

Suggested for me to try and add more to the voice-over; talk about more things such as the global uncertainty we’re all feeling right now and maybe take inspiration from the subconscious, as dreams during pandemic are more vivid and maybe I could mention that since this video has a dreamlike feel to it.

Maybe use non-diegetic sounds as a form of demonstrating the passing of time? It needs to be understood by viewers that those are not ambient sounds from the videos, so maybe add those sounds without image to get point across.

I was recommended to look at Hito Steyerl whose work we discussed in our HCS2 module. I was recommended both ‘How Not To Be Seen’ and ‘November’.

Overall, tutor liked the fast cutting and thinks the video’s “sun drenched melancholic” vibe is working. Try to make it longer (have more voice-over + more pauses). Focus the voice-over more on internal, non-worldly themes but also try to capture global worries.

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

project first draft

Notes:

I don’t really like my voice/how it sounds in the video. I recorded it under a duvet and spoke softly almost in a whisper manner because I think that’s what fits the atmosphere of the video but I don’t like how it turned out. I’m unsure of the voice-over in general but I’m going to record myself again, speaking slower, with more pauses and maybe with a slightly more upbeat voice and see how it turns out.

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

sound recorded from the street, someone in a nearby house had music playing and the kids were not happy

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

sound recorded from my hallway, with my mum’s voice in the background

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

sound recorded from my kitchen

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

non-diegetic sound tests

I was recommended by both my peers and my tutor to included some non-diegetic sounds on my project.

I will be posting individually each sound test I have made

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

voice-over (transcript)

Today I feel like one of my cats

I too am trapped at home

But unlike the cats

I know why I can’t go outside

And the cats, unlike me, can wander around freely,

Blissfully ignorant of what’s happening around them

I feel like them in the sense that

I just want to sleep the day away

Why bother? Tomorrow’s going to be the same anyway

Wake up, look out the window, eat, do nothing, sleep, repeat

It’s not easy making a documentary during these times

Maybe it is easy to some people but not to me

I can’t seem to find the concentration I need while being trapped for too long

My cats are not the easiest to film either

They’re not very interesting to begin with

Just normal domesticated pets

Not much to them

I find them interesting cause they’re mine

But I understand if you don’t

I’d feel the same

Overall, it’s been nice to experience these weird times with their company

Being back home brings back a lot of stuff

But their soothing presence feels like a buffer

A breath of fresh air

A reminder that not all is bad during these chaotic times

I bet they’re already tired of having us humans around for so long now

I bet they can’t wait for us to go back to our normal lives

Or maybe, and that’s probably the most likely answer,

They couldn’t care less

They don’t think about anything

And that’s the innocence we wish we had right now

If only we could all be cats for a day

And not think about anything for a while

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

tutorial notes 21/05/20

Tutor talked about the suggestions by my peer Caprice who wrote on her blog her critic. I agree with all her suggestions and I will definitely take them into consideration when making the final draft.

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

tutorial notes 14/05

Tutor and I want to test the angles of my voice over

He suggested for me to talk about my feelings in quarantine while videos of the cats play, maybe portraying what I’m describing

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

change of angle

I want my project to be narrated by me, telling stories about my cats/explaining their behaviour that’s being filmed + videos that will match the voiceover. This way it’ll give an intimate feel and the video will have more of a purpose

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

As I was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty

While this film is very long (almost 5 hours long), I only watched a few excerpts from it like this one above. 

I like how intimate it feels, both with the way it was filmed and the voice-over. I also quite like how he talks about the making of that film in the voice-over

[fjesusdocumentary2020]

new video plan

I’ve decided that instead of literally filming a day in the life of my cats, I will make this project about what cats do everyday