I like it! It makes me sleepy but not in a bad way. Not from boredom, just relaxation. I think it is vergingly cheesy but it still keeps my eye and would honestly be great for yoga. (The transition at around 2:15 was a little bit more abrupt than the others and it was a little distracting but all the other shots flow together really well and it helps the soothing mindset.)
I really like the idea of exploring the mysterious aspects of water, but honestly speaking, I'm confused by this project. I'm not really sure how this relates to identity (the identity of water... but what about it?) and I don't really understand the narrative. More often then not when I'm watching this, I feel like I'm seeing a screensaver slideshow with a white noise machine playing in the background. I don't think that's what you're going for.
I have this problem where I always want to understand the intent of a piece, and I know that sometimes that's impossible... but I think this project does need more clarity. What are you trying to say or explore about water? Alternatively, if you are looking to be cheeky, it could be great to work like Rachel and do something mocking those silly ambient noise machines and those cliche pictures of waterfalls... but you would really need to amp up what is cliche and still relate this to identity.
In terms of what you've done so far, I'm having the most trouble with the stock footage of the eagle flying through mountains around 1:26. I don't see any water here, and I find the aerial POV shot distracting. Most of the stock footage you're using involves straightforward medium shots of waterfalls (you do have another POV shot around 0:40, this seems less out of place because there is water). This is the film major in me being picky, but do consider the affects of the POV changes, because they are definitely noticeable and can add or distract from your piece.
The portion from this piece that I like the most is 2:38-2:50ish. I love the shakiness of the handheld camera, it is not so tranquil, but uneasy, which I think adds some emotional depth. I also think the sound works really well here and is actually a little creepy. Then it pans to the larger waterfalls showing a more tranquil side of water. This portion of your piece does a fantastic job of exploring the multiple characteristics of water.
I agree with Adelia that the video of the eagle is really distracting for me. It takes away from all the focus on the water. I think that the idea is really soothing and I like what you're trying to do with it, but I feel like it doesn't really flow. I mean it's about water and so i think it would be really fitting for it to flow smoothly like water, but it feels a little choppy for that. Maybe that's what you'e going for- the stark differences- but I think it would be more visually appealing if you smoothed it out.
Ok. 1) Identity? I know water is super important to you-- there's something here that connects to you, but I have no idea what it is. Where are you in this? 2) You took other peoples footage, did no altering of it, and put it back to back. So basically you haven't made anything yet. If this was your footage then I'd say you'd be off to a good start. Since it's not yours you will have to make some major changes to it to make it yours. That means splicing it together in new ways. More than one video clip should be playing at the same time. That doesn't mean hard-cut edges, or opacity changes-- it means using masks, painting on alpha channels, or rotoscoping to collage parts of the video together. 3) Please try to make something original, that is YOURS and relates to identity in some more obvious way. I will check back on Sunday evening to see if you've come up with something that I can give you feedback on.
I like it! It makes me sleepy but not in a bad way. Not from boredom, just relaxation. I think it is vergingly cheesy but it still keeps my eye and would honestly be great for yoga.
ReplyDelete(The transition at around 2:15 was a little bit more abrupt than the others and it was a little distracting but all the other shots flow together really well and it helps the soothing mindset.)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of exploring the mysterious aspects of water, but honestly speaking, I'm confused by this project. I'm not really sure how this relates to identity (the identity of water... but what about it?) and I don't really understand the narrative. More often then not when I'm watching this, I feel like I'm seeing a screensaver slideshow with a white noise machine playing in the background. I don't think that's what you're going for.
ReplyDeleteI have this problem where I always want to understand the intent of a piece, and I know that sometimes that's impossible... but I think this project does need more clarity. What are you trying to say or explore about water? Alternatively, if you are looking to be cheeky, it could be great to work like Rachel and do something mocking those silly ambient noise machines and those cliche pictures of waterfalls... but you would really need to amp up what is cliche and still relate this to identity.
In terms of what you've done so far, I'm having the most trouble with the stock footage of the eagle flying through mountains around 1:26. I don't see any water here, and I find the aerial POV shot distracting. Most of the stock footage you're using involves straightforward medium shots of waterfalls (you do have another POV shot around 0:40, this seems less out of place because there is water). This is the film major in me being picky, but do consider the affects of the POV changes, because they are definitely noticeable and can add or distract from your piece.
The portion from this piece that I like the most is 2:38-2:50ish. I love the shakiness of the handheld camera, it is not so tranquil, but uneasy, which I think adds some emotional depth. I also think the sound works really well here and is actually a little creepy. Then it pans to the larger waterfalls showing a more tranquil side of water. This portion of your piece does a fantastic job of exploring the multiple characteristics of water.
I agree with Adelia that the video of the eagle is really distracting for me. It takes away from all the focus on the water. I think that the idea is really soothing and I like what you're trying to do with it, but I feel like it doesn't really flow. I mean it's about water and so i think it would be really fitting for it to flow smoothly like water, but it feels a little choppy for that. Maybe that's what you'e going for- the stark differences- but I think it would be more visually appealing if you smoothed it out.
ReplyDeleteOk.
ReplyDelete1) Identity? I know water is super important to you-- there's something here that connects to you, but I have no idea what it is. Where are you in this?
2) You took other peoples footage, did no altering of it, and put it back to back. So basically you haven't made anything yet. If this was your footage then I'd say you'd be off to a good start. Since it's not yours you will have to make some major changes to it to make it yours. That means splicing it together in new ways. More than one video clip should be playing at the same time. That doesn't mean hard-cut edges, or opacity changes-- it means using masks, painting on alpha channels, or rotoscoping to collage parts of the video together.
3) Please try to make something original, that is YOURS and relates to identity in some more obvious way. I will check back on Sunday evening to see if you've come up with something that I can give you feedback on.