mly-e-dalton

[mly-e-dalton]

Context

I have a great in-depth understanding of a variety of interesting male groups I used as inspiration. In particular football hooligans and skinheads as I had the opportunity to interview a member of the well known football hooligan gang, ‘the Guvnors’ from the 1980’s, which gave me a detailed understanding of their lifestyle and what it was like being apart of the group, this clearly inspired the final outcome. This then lead to me watching documentary and interviews of men in the male tribes of the past. I was able to look into this subject matter in great detail due to my recently improved organisational skills which meant I had enough time to absorb and then take this knowledge forward throughout my research. It meant I could bring  the reality of what happened in these groups in my final outcome.

Research

Throughout my project i was able to gather an equal amount of successful primary and secondary research for me to take forward as inspiration to begin creating a final piece. For my primary research I was able to visit many galleries. I visited Liverpool to look at three different galleries but I found the most influential visit was to the Liverpool Tate. It was here that I was able to see a variety of presentation methods and modern fine artists including video art. For my secondary research I looked at a variety of artists including Grayson Perry who really inspired my outcome as he uses a variety of medias for his art including documentaries and 3D work, which is what I planned my project to be. I also looked at comedic documentaries to see how you can use comedy to interest my audience. I feel that this research had a great influence on my outcome and definitely strengthened my final piece. I was able to record this research in my own photography and illustrations which helped me practice looking at angles of the face and composition of image which, further down the line improved my filming.

Planning and Production

To be successful I needed to read and annotate the units assessment criteria to see how to pass at a high level. I also had to plan how I was going to organise my time so that I could complete my work to a good standard and to meet the deadline given. To do this I began by creating an overall weekly plan on a calendar and making daily smart targets to make sure I was on schedule for the final day. It also let me see where I could improve and where I was missing work that is necessary to move forward. Due to making myself prepared for my deadline I didn't feel pressured by it which meant I could focus on a quality outcome.

Practical Skills

During this project I was able to experiment a great deal. I was able to experiment with a variety of materials and medias. I was able to experiment with new techniques such as using algenate to create a face mould. I also looked into different ways to make a mask to surprisingly find papermache was the most effective outcome to use for my film. During this process I was able to learn so much from extremely knowledgeable people who helped me look in more detail at each technique i was interested in. I do feel that due to the large amount of experimenting I found a technique that represents my concept well. Although I do feel that it compromised some of the time i had when creating the film which means it isn't as detailed as i would have liked.

Problem solving

I had many challenging barriers during this project which I had to face head on to get the project done. Such as struggling to make an alginate mould to make a cast from. I overcame this by meeting a professional special effect man called Jim who supported me to make the cast, which was a massive help. I also struggled finding a way to make the audio of the film fit with the timing of the sub-titles but I found that I ran out of time. I found that this is a very slow process and i didn't know how to do it effectively. However, having then watched many music videos I felt that I could make it into more of a short film that would give the audience a taste of the how men may feel in a male tribe so i made the background music throughout where the audience can read the subtitles. Overall I felt I handled these struggles well and made the problem into a solution.

Evaluation

Throughout my project i was able keep a weekly reflection booklet and update entries recorded on my blog to keep myself on task so I could see where I could improve the following week. I was able to keep up to date with them which meant i was able to reflect and improve on each experiment and piece of research I did. I was able to be honest about my failures and therefore not repeat the same mistake. I also evaluated every step taken to get to my final outcome to make my journey easier to follow and therefore the outcome was clearer.

During this project I have been very independent and self motivated. I feel that by being more independent during this project I have gained the skills needed for a job. I have also been able to improve my digital skills when using Photoshop, Illustrator and Premier Pro to complete my FMP. Meaning that through this development I will also be able to improve my website I have made to hopefully get a graphic design job. By making a conscious effort to grow in my work and personality over the last few months I have been able to mature and move forward in my journey as I know have the confidence to leave college and look for a job.

[mly-e-dalton]

FMP Project Proposal

Craig

Blog: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/mly-e-dalton

Review

Experiencing this last college year and being exposed to different forms of art whilst being taught the basics of the necessary software needed for film. I have learnt how to edit effectively and use illustrator and Photoshop. This has allowed me to develop (remove’ in’)  my digital work as I have been able to be much more independent during my recent projects using film in comparison to last year’s FMP where I needed a lot of guidance to be able to create a digital outcome. This has helped me to choose installation as my specialism as I believe it allows me to use my 3D work and new skills in digital art to combine them in my own style,  to create an environment for my audience that make them feel transported to a clinical scientific feeling environment. I will look at using 3D masks in a documentary style film and as part of a minimal instillation. A turning point in the year for me was during my performance art project where I filmed my own performance art and edited it myself to then create a final piece which was then chosen to be part of the Fashion and Freedom exhibit at Manchester Art Gallery. This proved to me that I can be successful using film and I was able to use this confidence to grow in this form of art. This meant I pushed this forward into my recent projects up to now where I used film as my final outcomes. I will therefore be using film in my FMP this year. I have decided I will use instillation to create an environment which questions if the past of male tribes reflects into male tribes now and whether this will ever change as there continues to be ongoing similarities that reoccur throughout history in male tribes.

Project Concept

I have specifically looked at male tribes as it interests me to see if the ‘gladiator’ mind set for some men will ever be diminished. I’ve been particularly intrigued with male tribes such as Skinheads and football hooligans in view of their violent reputations. I’d like to question why they behave in this way and whether it is the effect of their upbringing or if they are just conforming to being part of a group. I hope to achieve a film installation that makes people question whether males act differently in a tribe due to them lacking the ability to express any kind of emotion or whether reoccurring events for male tribes are caused by pure instinct. I want to create a film documentary which makes people look deeper into male violence in groups rather than the skin of what the media portrays. I will look into the psychology and sociology behind the behaviors of men in packs and whether pack mentality is created so men feel a sense of belonging. In my film installation I would like to create a sense of realisation so people can get past the mask that men create within a tribe to protect themselves. I will create a character called Craig with his own tribe as I feel this is a masculine character that will symbolise male tribes, the feelings of entrapment within a tribe, along with the feeling of being bound to the group they once belonged to in the future.

Methods

For my digital aspect of the installation I will look at how to use more complex filming including a VHS camera. I would like to see how to create a documentary style video as this will become part of the scientific looking space.  I have followed and studied the tribe using the masks in the video to hide each person’s identity. I want to make the video appear  that the tribe has filmed it themselves, similar to Jonas Mekas’ photography. I want it to be very natural but have a comical twist using very ordinary scenes that the gangs would be found in. I will also look at using different types of cameras to see which creates the right effect for my film, as VHS may not be appropriate. I will also need to look at how this would be displayed in the most clinical way possible so that my overall presentation creates a very uncomfortable atmosphere. I will therefore need to look at a range of materials I could use for the mask to create Craig, his tribe and the facial features I will use to represent the feeling males have being in a tribe. The actors I would use therefore need to have certain body types and attitudes in the film to represent each character’s feelings that  I want to portray.

This must link to how I present my installation and how many masks I use, as incorporating 3D work is crucial to create a minimal style in the environment as the 3D work and film will need to complement each other. It will be crucial to link them as it does need to look aesthetically effective together. I will look at creating either a room or a space that encapsulates the audience to feel they are transferred from a class room to a clinical experiment. This will take experimenting with a large range of fabric and materials available such as silicone and paper mache to make the masks to see which is the most effective. I’d like to look into using different settings and styling of a room, specifically minimalistic to speak to the audience about the modern man as I am looking at how they are reincarnations of past male tribes.

Evaluation

Throughout the project I plan to keep a daily update of my reflections on my progress that day and an action plan for the following day. I will record this using a small booklet, together with my blog. I will make the booklet out of paper and use writing along with illustrations to record my action plans and reflections to follow my journey more clearly, whilst making it more of an enjoyable task for me to do every day so that I will keep motivated to complete. I will evaluate my work at the end of each week to gather together my ideas to see what I have had problems with during that week and identifying what I can improve on. This should mean I can progress quicker and keep on track throughout the project. I plan to assess the success of my project by the reaction it gets from my audience and whether it’s the reaction I am aiming for. Another strong feature in the success of my work the overall grade awarded to me after being viewed by teachers and examiners.

Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography

I plan to question a number of males and ask if I can interview and photograph anyone linked to my theme of male tribes.  I have also planned to interview a former football hooligan who was part of the ‘Governors’ group and who my mum has out me in contact with. I hope these interviews give me a close and personal insight into the lives of people living in a group of males who are constantly viewed badly, especially in the media. I’d like to find out if they believe their upbringing and media affects their behavior or if it’s a natural instinct to act the way they do or did when they were in a pack. I will look further into more specific groups by watching ‘This Is England’ film and Grayson Perry’s documentary that looks at the behaviour of males as they will both give me a closer look at understanding why men in groups such as the Skinheads behave the way they do. I will also read sociology books which link to subcultures, look at media articles and documentaries showing the negative side of these groups and how they are perceived by the public. I am planning to record all of my research in a Bibliography, in a Harvard Format, so I can easily refer back to each text, website, book or film I have been influenced by. I will also be able to use this to refer back to facts or work which I may need when looking at other facts.

[mly-e-dalton]

Bibliography for FMP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLL7BrxpVp8

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4djmj2

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4djmj2

http://www.nadialeecohen

Guvnors Book Author Michael Francis Peter Walsh

http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/wearing-cahun/home/

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/film/jonas-mekas-diaries-notes-sketches-aka-walden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvrC0i4pXak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xmNXCRnLQo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmhgLSVslVo

http://basquiat.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Ant

https://www.victoria-miro.com/artists/12-grayson-perry/

[mly-e-dalton]

Weekly action plans and reflections

Due to the booklet that I chose to record my weekly action plans and reflections in getting to full to add to I have had to make rewrite some and add them each week in a document I kept adding to through the weeks. Weekly action plan 11th June 2017 Do final editing Add in subtitles and audio to edited film Upload Harvard referencing to blog Finish evaluation Check through: Sketchbook Blog Reflections Storyboard 4th June 2017 Continue filming based off the story board I have made Start editing the timings of the scenes by Thursday Do any final filming if needed Catch up on reflections on blog Update bibliography 28th May 2017 Do a planned and organised storyboard of where, what and how I will film the scenes so they are more composed Make character boards for each mask Film experimental scenes Look at composition and lighting on blog Finish of painting the masks 21st May 2017 Start painting the masks Take photos of people with them on Experiment with different materials to make the masks Make five masks over the weekend using the material most effective 14th May 2017 Look at interviewing people Finish off reading the Guvnors book Reflect on the book Watch documentaries of different types Look at what they include Create characters I can use in the documentary 7th May 2017 Research Gillian Wearings new exhibition Research artists that look at identity Visit Manchester Art Gallery Visit La Movida exhibition 12th June 2017 This week I have been able to complete all the tasks I gave myself to pass all the sections in the unit at a high level. Including editing effectively to complete my documentary. I was able to use premier to edit the film and add subtitles with help from a teacher who has experience in editing to show me the effects I could use to make the documentary more professional. I was able to work with Russel to improve my documentary to run smoother so that it was easier to follow. I feel like this week I've been overwhelmed with the amount of work I gave myself but I was able to complete it all in time for the deadline. I will now do the evaluation to look at the project to look at the things I could of done differently and what was successful. 4th June 2017 I have had to look at solving many problems this week as filming with a cast is challenging. Although I feel that due to my organisation on this project I have been able to keep on time throughout this week this has meant I have been able to take my time with the people I was working with as I had planned each scene to not waste any of the time. I also filmed during a birthday party which meant everyone was there I needed to film. I was then able to catch up on filming and stay on time to finish the tasks I gave my self for this week. Next week I will edit the filming I have done this week to create the documentary and finish of the final piece within the deadline. 28th May 2017 During this week I have been planning each characters persona for filming next week. I made a character board for each mask that I can then show to my friends who I am filming. This means they can create a character in the film that represented the people that I would like to be included in the filming. I feel like this will make the directing of the film a lot easier as they will understand the person their playing with a better understanding. Although I did finish the things I needed to this week I feel that I could of pushed myself more to get more work done through the week by staying behind more after colleges normal hours. Next week I will need to stay behind after class and push myself more to be able keep up with the tight deadline given for the project. 21st May 2017 I began the week by painting the masks which meant I was able to take photos of people wearing the masks to see if they look effective on photos. They were successful as on photos they looked detailed as the paper Mashe made the people look aged. Although I did try out using metal wire to mould into a mask and paint but it wasn't as effective as the paper Mashe masks because they didn't have as much texture Which the other masks had. This is the effect I wanted as the characters needed to have aged faces as though the masks were the characters future selves doing the stories I have been told they did when they were younger in a male tribe. Next week I will use the masks to film with and make character boards based on the masks so I can create roles that each masked character plays. 14th May 2017 This week I was able to interview three males of different ages to see their opinions on what a man should be like. I found that the older the person the more traditional they thought the role of the man should be. The interviews taught me what men feel and think about male tribes which means I have a greater understanding of a group of people that I am not a part of. This will help during my film as I can make it more relatable and closer to reality as I have a real opinion on the way that you would feel being part of a male tribe. I will now use this to create masks that represent the stories and feelings I have been told about in the interviews to be in the film. 7th May 2017 This week I visited the La Movida exhibition on its opening day which was really good to look at display methods and how they had composed the photos in the exhibition as I can take inspiration of this composition to use in my film to make it aesthetically pleasing to watch. The exhibition also gave me a closer insight on the way people look at gender as this is close to my topic of male tribes and masculinity. I will now look at experimenting with different compilations of scenes to see which are effective for a film.

[mly-e-dalton]

Experimenting at Night I feel that by using a spot light when filming at night is very effective as it makes the interview seem more secretive. It also creates an eary atmosphere which is something that will be useful when filming my tribe documentary. I will defiantly use this technique in my final piece.

[mly-e-dalton]

Experimenting with the VHS

I found that working with VHS was effective as it makes the film seem historical and secretive. The saturated colours look good when filming the masks as it shows all the detail in them. I also felt that due to me already using it in past projects I knew how to work it quickly which was helpful when trying to direct and film at the same time. I will continue to use this camera as I have easy access to it at all times which means I can film more often outside of college.

[mly-e-dalton]

Composition

Photo 1: On the top photo there isn’t much composition its very unfocused with no thought into the composition of the piece. 

Photo 2: The bottom photo has a lot more though into the composition as I have used the rule of three to make the character in the centre while the gaps at the side being in proportion.

Lighting 

Photo 1: the lighting is dim but although dim can be effective it would of worked better with a spot light and a more contrasting background to make the character stand out more.

Photo 2: where as the lighting in the second photo makes the mask more defined and clear so that you can see its detail. You can also see the characters posture and personality by having a clear image. p>

Lines

Photo 1: Photo one doesn't follow a line as its very of balance and uneven when you look at it. This therefore won't make the film as interesting to watch and more difficult to read what the character is doing or feeling. 

Photo 2: The central character in the photo draws you in and makes you feel as though he is an important character unlike photo one where you would think the character wasn't as important or crucial in the film.

[mly-e-dalton]

Interviewing Males I know

4 Questions about Male tribes

Age?

Source 1: 20 years old

Source 2: 74 years old 

Source 3: 50 years old

What makes you a man?

Source 1: I think what makes you a man is if you decide to be one and if you feel like you are then you are.

Source 2: I feel like if your a man you have a dick and you are just not feminine your like going out with your mates. It think science sort of decides for you but each to their own.

Source 3: Urm its like when you enjoy being round other lads you feel like you belong and I feel like that proved to me that Im comfortable about who I am so I must be a man.

Do you act different in a group of males?

Source 1: yeah like you don't realise it till you think do I act the same around my mum as my mates an I don't. I think you do play up to being more masculine you don't wanna seem weak in front of your mates.

Source 2: No I am the way I am all the time I don't try to be someone different I just be myself. At my age you get past caring but I guess when you are younger you do wanna look cool infront of your mates so you do whatever they dare you to do.

Source 3: Yeah like my wife said I was a different person when I came back from working away with my mates so I must do. I think you naturally become competative.

What does your Dad think a man should be like?

Source 1: He is pretty typical builder sort of man he would want you to cry and he would find it weird if I like hung around a bunch of girls.

Source 2: He was the definition of a proper man he was the breadwinner and my mum would look after. us he had no understanding towards crying or emotion.

Source 3: I guess he Is pretty straight forward when it comes to how a man should be like when we was younger me and my brother if we argued would be thrown outside and fight till one of us wins thats the way men should be to my dad.

What I have learnt from this interview?

I have been able to see the difference in opinions in through the generations of men and how the younger the person is the less they believe in the old traditional roles of the man. The answers also proved to me that although some things changed through generations the belief that you act different around a group of males is an instinctive competitiveness.

[mly-e-dalton]

Planning of Installation

I plan to use the top design as it looks the most clinical and clean cut with the matching platforms with one with a dome and the other with the old TV. But I have designed a back up plan which will also be effective incase I am unable to find an old TV for my project. This means I must try and ask around if anyone has an old TV that I could borrow for my project as this will mean I am able to do my preferred design. If I do find an old TV I will also have to put the video onto a video tape or CD depending on which is apropriate for the TV I find.

[mly-e-dalton]

Glass domes

I will use domes similar to these which I have bought to display the Craig mask as this is the leader of the gang. I want to put the dome on a platform to make the head look special and historical to go along with the VHS film. This will also be minimal to make the installation seem more clinical almost like a science experiment. It will also make the face seem as though its suffocated inside the dome as if it is trapped for people to glance at and take judgement off. Just like the way male tribe feel when they are judged from a far without them knowing them personally.

[mly-e-dalton]

Old TVs 

I like that old TVs create a sense of history and simplicity as they lack lots of wires along with a simple TV face. I like the use of platforms with the TVs as it makes them seem like an important piece of history. I would like to use this display method for my own installation as it will keep the presentation very minimal and clinical looking while still looking like a historical film. I want the video to seem as though its taken from a 2017 archive and it is in a museum in the future looking back at the male tribes in 2017. I will therefore make the surrounds very minimal with no colour.

[mly-e-dalton]

Who's Craig

Craig is the title of my project and he symbolises the most masculine men I know who have influenced me. Through out my life I have been brought up around old traditions on the role that men play. I was taught men are men, they are the breadwinners and show no emotion. But through research on characters that still follow these aging beliefs I found that this is a mask for protecting their true feelings. Men seem to act even more macho when in a tribe as though they are competing against each other to win the trophy of the most macho man. But alone this behavior changes and Craig symbolises the men that I have met during this project to mask their emotions in a male tribe to hide their true self with a mask of a tribe reputation.

[mly-e-dalton]

story board

[mly-e-dalton]

Why use masks in the documentary?

The concept behind me using masks in my documentary is to hide their identity with a mask of their aged selves which have scares, tattoos and wrinkles due to the experiences told in the film. The stories I am telling in the short documentary is taken from interviews from an ex-football holligan and my Dad so I have recreated these characters in mask form to represent themselves after aging from these experiences told. I have taken descriptions given to me in the interviews to create these characters. I wanted to show the audience a young male tribe but a look into the future and question whether the same traditions, meaning and lack emotion shown by males will be passed on to the next generation of male tribes?

[mly-e-dalton]

Subtitles and Voice Distortion

I have decided to use subtitles for the documentary. I am doing this to make it more clear what the person is saying as I do want their voice to be distorted. I will do this by lower the audios pitch.  The subtitles should make the story more easy to understand and clearer while still keeping within the concept of making their identities a secret. The purpose of me wanting to do this is because although it does relate directly to really life gang documentary it also makes it more relatable to any gang of boys and makes the audience see it from their own perspective.  They may see a connection to their younger selves or another group of boys they know personally which will make them connect more to the film. 

Action Plan - 

By Thursday have a separate voice recording and to of done the subtitles in the video to allow me to make the final edit by Friday. This will then allow me to right my evaluation over the weekend.

[mly-e-dalton]

Voice over plan for documentary

INTRO - a gang that drug deal use violence and are in a gang war but what is their true identity behind the mask.

First section when they are in Heartshed Pike - talking about beating up someone for money making them dig their own grave, strip and leaving them with no cloths on top of hill

2. Second story when they are in the car - talking about their rival gangs and how they use fighting to prove to each other who runs which area

3. Third story when they are in the pub - talking about the first crime the gang committed was in Spain where they stole expensive branded cloths and sold them when they got home

4. Fourth story while sat in the garden - talking about the hierarchy of the gang and how there are the young gang and older ones how ranks are chosen?

5. Fifth sorry while at the party - talking about illegal raves and how this lead to a lot of addiction but this may of all began as the gang all struggled in school and found that this life style was the easiest to survive.

ENDING - conclude what message i want the audience to have: without looking further then skin deep and what people see these gangs as they are all human and they all have emotion problems and that males today in Britain men still aren't open about there feelings and this continues to be passed down through new generations to the males born today it must be faced, that men need to face their emotions rather then hiding in a gang that allows you to become a strong non emotional person.

All these stories were told to me by the football hooligan who I interviewed and this shows real life information that lead to an drug addiction due to being so heavily involved in the gang these stories in my documentary will be described in more depth and will give a real source of stories that actually happened in Britain to a group of boys that I have recreated in my documentary in my own interoperation of his description.

[mly-e-dalton]

you always feel that you are the mask

Gillian wearing