Experimental film

Experimental film, also known as Avant Garde, is whenever a film or music video takes a step away from the mainstream. The normal, typical, and frankly sometimes boring conventions of film making take a bow, and make room for new, fresh, and maybe even crazy ideas. Considering this genre is experimental at the very core, nothing really defines how long, or how "entertaining" they have to be. Films can range from 15 seconds to multiple hours, and dialog/visuals are an optional. I believe that because of this genres raw attitude towards rules, it's easier to express human emotions, but also pressing topics. Experimental film has been looked down on by a lot of people because of the sheer uniqueness, but has also been criticised based on the artist behind the film. It's quite common that because of the immense emotion it takes to make an experimental film, the artist often appears in the film themselves. By some this could be perceived as narcissistic. 

Now it's important to remember that every aspect of the film can be experimental, even the screening. Many artists wants their film to be screened in unusual ways, like on a passing tube, or on the ceiling of a warehouse. (Those ideas were just me thinking haha). If you for an example screened it on the ceiling of a warehouse your film might be about consumerism, or maybe how we always have our nose stuck to a smartphone, and would never look up to actually see the film. Experimental film is more common today I think, as more people have access to art. That might sound like a silly thing, but it's a fact that we live in a world today were its not completely fatal to take chances - thus more people being able to pursue their art. 

Now, for starters I decided to take a look at Derek Jarman. And what an astounding artist he was! The film that first caught my eyes was his film from 1993, "Blue". The film is filmed exclusively on a blue background with a narrator talking about Jarman's fearless confrontation with his loss of sight, and his imminent mortality. Jarman's loss of sight was due to the AIDS virus, and he uses the film to list symptoms, his endless visits to the hospital, and serves as a general look back on his life. It's an immersive experience where you too can close your eyes and just listen - without being afraid of missing any visuals. Simon Fisher Turner provides a lovely soundtrack that also adds greatly to the experience. I found this film really compelling because as a person who is really interested in film, I'm always looking for the best visual I can get, but this completely removes that aspect without taking anything away from the experience. I find that truly amazing! 

"Blue" (1993) by Derek Jarman - please take the time to listen to the 10 first minutes

Jarman would in interviews say that he was not "living with AIDS", but rather "dying with it". This is not necessarily a negative output on the situation, but maybe just the realistic one that he needed. In Blue, we hear that the whole experience is dreading, but there is a nostalgic side to it as well. Cinematographer Christopher Doyle said in an interview that Blue was one of the most intimate films he'd ever seen, and I can completely understand why. Derek Jarman invites you for a screening of his entire life, and you sit next to him as he quietly fades away. 

He sadly died only four months after the films release at the age of 52. 

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Sources: 

Davidson, Alex. "Derek Jarman: five essential films." 

BFI.com. 30th Januar 2015. 

(http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/lists/derek-jarman-five-essential-films) [9th January 2016]

Garfield, Simon. "Derek Jarman: into the blue: He is not living with Aids, he says, but dying with it. But he works on. His new film and his very presence are reminders of how, in him, radical challenge and disarming delight go hand in hand. Simon Garfield reports." 

independent.co.uk. 13th August 1993.

(http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/derek-jarman-into-the-blue-he-is-not-living-with-aids-he-says-but-dying-with-it-but-he-works-on-his-1461014.html) [9th January 2016]

Johnston, Sheila. "Film-makers on film: Christopher Doyle"

telegraph.co.uk. 19th April 2005

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmmakersonfilm/3640666/Film-makers-on-film-Christopher-Doyle.html [10th January 2016]

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Tadaaaa

-TJ

so what do you do when you've got a whole bunch of dance rushes on your hands, and you have to edit them somehow

It's not that I've never edited before, it's just that I've never used anything fancier or flashier than iMovie, and if there is one thing Adobe can brag about when it comes to Premiere Pro, then it's that "Premiere Pro definitely is fancier and flashier than iMovie." 

So now that I've wasted a good five minutes making that, let's look for some inspiration ! 

Looking through the rushes I'm noticing a lot of sharp and martial arts-esque movements, not only is this very cool, but it also reminds me of one of my favourite animated series; Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

Have a look-around at these fresh as basil gifs: 

 Ooo, colours

 Ooo, animated elemental bending

Ooo, so fresh

Dya see what I mean? If I didn't know better (and my sense of childish imagination hadn't diminished in the last 10 years) I would've thought they were masters of the elements. 

I reckon it'd look pretty cool if I could use some of these rad moves in the edit, make it look like a powerful elemental dance. 

What music makes my brain go "Oo that's a good idea!" then.. I guess if I'm doing rapid movements I should get something with a relatively fast beat, maybe even.. dubstep? No, that's crazy talk! But what if it isn't? .. 

So now that I've slept on it (Oh, I went to bed at some point, soo, yes.), I think dubstep is a brilliant idea.

BUT 

I want it to have an extra kick, you know? So I went looking for dubstep with classical music. A remix with a bit of both worlds, like Hannah Montana :) 

This playlist answered my atheistic prayers - http://8tracks.com/docellis/classical-dubstep

I chose the Fur Elise remix, because Beethoven is my main homie, and I don't wanna let him down. 

But here's the thing right, I want even more. Like JFK I believe human kind is meant to go further, and that is what intend to do. What more can I add though? The answer came to me in the form Norwegian rap. 

                                       

At the end of this song by Lars Vaular, a musican and poet called Bjørn Eidsvåg spits some spoken poetry, and I be damned if that isn't some good shit. That is what I need.

So that means I'm pretty set for this editing - I just need the parts and my own patience. 

-TJ 

in my opinion how the picture is mounted should add to the picture, which is why the chaos is about to unfold. have fun!

First of, we need the picture the middle, because after all, it's supposed to be the main focus, let's be real. Now, the whole idea behind my image is that I feel like my identity is being pulled back and forth between wanting to be quiet, organised and well mannered, and wanting to do exciting things, be active, break the rules F*** DA POLICE. 

Calm down there teej. 

So, I want the sides to represent those feelings. 

Here we go, one fine piece of mounting, ready to be decorated.

So this is the first side almost done. I've chosen to go with one colour, and a standard pencil handwriting for the left side, as I do appreciate stability and order. The right side is coming along with some random items and notes.

And here we go, the piece in all its glory. Messy and organised hand in hand. I really like all the colours on the right side. They're a good kind of random. This was fun making as well. I got to explore two sides of me that usually have to bow out to each other. Also, I like post its a lot, they make for great messengers. They are truly the Hermes of the modern era. Up up and away!

Pfft. What do you mean "Why is the picture quality so bad?" It's not like a took them with my phone or anything. This is a professional art blog, behave please. 

PRESENTATION TOMORROW SO PREPARED

-TJ

as a kid (and teenager) I could never decided if I wanted the superpower of flight or perfect recollection

My final shoot is over and done with, and I'm now left with what I think is a fine idea, and a fine set go pictures to complete that idea - fingers crossed that I'm not the only person who thinks so. As I discussed in my inspiration post, I want to make a mix of my two previous ideas, and portray what it feels like to be both an extrovert and an introvert. 

Here are some of the pictures: 

Now to the photoshop machine to cut these babies together!

I've put the two images together, by selecting an area on the jumping picture and copy pasting it into the left picture. I'm going over it in a zoomed in state to blur over some of the edges between the pictures.

In it's simplest structure the image is now complete, alas there is a lot yet to be done.

I want to do some simple editing to make it look slightly better, but how I want to present the picture is just as important. Oh, I'm also tilting the image slightly to better the illusion of suspension.

I just had a bright idea, let's use LightRoom.

I wanted to give it a slightly comic book-esque feel, and to do that I wanted to create quite a gritty environment, with a lot of the colour focus on the subjects and the main background. Here's what I settled on:

And these are the settings I ended up using:

-TJ

come for the inspiration, stay for the Japanese fathers further down

The thing with my two previous ideas is that they highlight two different aspects of my personality that both define me, but not exclusively. Because, yes, sometimes I feel like I wanna be all over the place, and never stop to breathe, while other times I just wanna sit back and observe.

As seen in my mind map I had a third idea about doing a left side, right side of the brain thing, and I think that might be exactly what I need. Each side representing something else. The left side is simple enough, I just have to sit still, but I want to do something fun and active for the right side.

This is where Sam Taylor Johnson comes in. Ever since I was introduced to here work in suspension I've wanted to use it. (Also, it really fits in with my superhero fascination.) I had a looksie on her page and I really like a lot of her stuff.

Buuut, she used professional bondage artists to tie her up and professional photoshop skills to remove the ropes from the final image. Considering I have none of these things I need to do something simpler.
And to be honest, I found something completely amazing right away. I was looking into the trend where people used to jump in pictures to make it look like they were taking off, and I found this article about Japanese fathers jumping next to their daughters.

All I could say was yes. Yes yes yes. This is perfect.

I definitely know what I want to do with the right side now. Too good to be true.

-TJ

I’m not even gonna pretend like this is the one I’m going with. 

But, considering that my last one was a bust, I want to try a small project just to make my creativity blossom for an idea I’m also working on, so stay tuned ;) 

----------  Enjoy this interlude of a blog filler. ----------

Jumping off the my previous idea, I wanted to do something to do with psychological issues that so many people have to live with every day. I have had similar problems in the past, but due to personal change and puberty finally sort of ending (yess score), I have managed to work through it.  

The feeling I’m talking about is that heavy feeling in your chest when everything seems slightly less okay, and you can't muster the motivation to do anything. Your favourite song is too long for you to bother, and the food in the kitchen is too far away for you to be hungry. That feeling when all you can whisper "not today"

I didn’t do any research on this one, because I knew exactly how I wanted to portray it. 

Just black and white, because editing seems like a battle. No fancy lighting, because on days like that even the light switch is too far away. 

It’s just what it is.

-TJ