Conceptual

Introduction

The conceptual unit teaches students how to communicate their opinions creatively through experimental film, music, writing, and web production. Students learned different photography techniques on a DSLR camera such as, using flash, capturing light trails, and adding more or less motion blur by changing the camera settings. We created parody songs using Adobe Audition, and Experimental music using ProTools, along with an original album cover using Adobe Photoshop. Students also developed new skills using technology such as WordPress, Tascam Audio Recorders, and Adobe Premiere Pro.

Reflection

My first quarter at Freestyle has a been an exciting start to a new adventure. I have explored abstract concepts and expression of ideas, learned how to use many digital applications and tools, and learned to write more concisely and precisely. I’ve enjoyed tackling new challenges that arise with each project, which always seem daunting at first, but I’m able to look back and feel proud of my work in the end. I feel that I have grown since the start of the school year, and have learned new ways to express myself creatively.

Art Reflection

I very much appreciated the experience of visiting SFMOMA, and experiencing the different types and mediums of art that were displayed there. The Art Reflection Project taught me to think deeply about Art. To go beyond the surface, the physical shape, into the meaning of the piece, and what the artist was trying to say. The piece I featured in the Art Reflection Video Project was the combined installation of “Truisms” and “Inflammatory Wall” by Jenny Holzer. I enjoyed diving into the message of the piece, and also learning how to use Adobe Premiere Pro in the process.

I grew a lot in the process of creating this Art Reflection Video. Because of the 60 word maximum for the writing, I was forced to learn to use words carefully, write economically, and chose the right words for each scentence. I put a lot of time and thought into revising my reflection writing, so that I can best express my impression of the Artwork, to the audience. The process of creating a video in Digital Media pushed me to figure out how to use Premiere Pro. Students learned how to keyframe text and images, how to record audio on the Tascam Audio Recorders, and how to put it all together to create a final product. Though many things about my reflection project could have been better knowing that I was still in the beginning stages of learning how to use Premiere and the other technology, I am proud of the outcome of my video.

Parody Introduction

My process in creating the Parody Song was full of challenges and moments of feeling lost. I first decided on the song I would make the parody of, and then wrote the lyrics. After this, I recorded my voice in the sound booths and put the pieces together with the instrumental track of the original song.

Artists Statement:

Song Title: Swimming Way too long

The song I chose for the Parody Project is “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. I wanted my project to be based on a song that had a mellow, calm, serene feel to it, and I liked that it had a clear, simple melody and chorus that I could put my own lyrics into. I grew a lot from this project. I don’t come from a musical background, and have never made music or listened to my own singing voice so much before. I now have knowledge of how to record your voice, add reverb, echo, and effects, change the volume of different tracks, and pan the sound so that it all goes to one ear and then the other. In the future, if I am ever in need of music, want to remix a song, or want to make my own music, I will be able to edit it myself in Adobe Audition.

This project forced me to come out of my shell and give my best shot at something new that I’ve never tried before. I had to overcome shyness and embarrassment about hearing myself sing and other people hearing me sing. Now, I feel comfortable knowing that most people don’t care if I am a terrible singer or not.

At first, I found it difficult to find the rhythm of the instrumental track. I couldn’t tell when the chorus began, when I should start singing, and when I should stop. I had to go back to the original song and see at what second the chorus starts, and count up the beats to that moment. While working on the project, I became very familiar with the instrumental track from hearing it so much and counting the beats, it became natural to know when each verse starts and ends. If I could change the parody song that I made, I would add more harmonies and background voices. I only had one singing track, and I think the song would benefit from more layers of sound to add to the effect. This project taught me that not all art has to be serious. I was hesitant to take the risk and make a song that was ridiculous and funny, but listening to my peers’ work made me realize that in some instances you have to take risks to make great work. You have to dive in instead of holding yourself back with worries about other people’s opinions.

Parody Lyrics

Wrinkled hands

Wrinkled face

I’ve been swimming

Way too long

Itchy skin

Tangled hair

Take me home

I’m so cold

Abandoned floaty

Chlorine water

Goggle marked eyes

Long as I remember

Film

The Conceptual assignments in Film Class were the Experimental Film, the Green Screen shots, and the Suspense and Chase scenes. I learned how to edit a green screen shot to have a different background, how to create suspense and slow down a dramatic moment in a scene, and how to film and edit an interesting chase scene. One of my favorite parts of Film Class this year has been the Experimental Film. I liked using the concept statement to create a feeling, thinking about what I want my film to say, and the impression I wanted to leave on the viewer.

Experimental Film

Concept Statement: I am exploring the feeling of desire by accepting myself.

Film Synopsis:

This film will focus on the cyclical nature of all things. The emotions in the beginning will include temptation, then shame and guilt. The film will transition into a feeling of peace at the end. It will start with feelings of compulsion, shown by setting fruit on fire. To show the need for fulfillment, and the desire to fill emptiness, there will be a jar that is filled with colorful syrup, which will later be dumped out. 

Then the film will transition to different cycles, and the syrup flowing out of the jar, leaving emptiness: you’re left no better off than when you started. 

This cycle of temptation, follow through, and regret, will repeat a few times with different examples, pouring syrup onto a dead fish, to show the desire. Then the cycle: an apple candle melting and unmelting. The film switches to feelings of peace, new beginnings. In the very end it will go back to the beginning, to show a full circle, but it will be with a more positive image instead. The desires are no longer all-consuming, They are more positive, and with happier outcomes.

This is what the Adobe Premiere Pro Interface looks like when I edited together this film. At the bottom right side of the screen is the timeline. This is where all the video clips go. You can cut them, add effects, crop them, and change the color using the tools in Premiere. The top of the screen is the program moniter where the video is displayed. In the top left corner is the effects section, where you can crop, keyframe, and change the opacity of a clip.

Film Exercises

The goal of the Scavenger Hunt exercise was to learn about the different types of shots, and how to use them. My group had a lot of fun running around the school to find everything on the Scavenger hunt list. We learned how to shoot medium shots, wide shots, close ups, extreme close ups, and many more different kinds of shots. In our projects after this, we could look back at the scavenger hunt list for shot ideas.

The purpose of the Green Screen Exercise was to teach students how to key out the Green screen and put a different background underneath it. For this exercise, I filmed a video of myself pretending to be thrown off balance, in front of the Green screen. Then I took another video of my hand shaking above a patch of grass. I then keyed out the green screen from the original video, and put the clip of me struggling to stay standing on top of the clip of my hand.

The goal of the DoubleMint Effect video was for students to learn how to crop using the pen tool in Premiere, and combine two videos seamlessly. I took the video of me in both outfits in one take, so as not to shift the camera, and then put them together in the timeline so that they look like they are happening at the same time. I cropped the videos in half right along the trunk of the tree, and blurred out the line so it is not visible.

Film Reflection

I believe that being a Film student will give me the skills to communicate stories and ideas through video. After my time at Freestyle ends, I plan on using the techniques I learned to continue making Films. I think that being able to tell stories through Film in a way that is clear and understandable, is a valuable skill that I will be able to use later in my life.