Author: Joel

For my final project, I plan on creating a job profile for my friend who does structural welding on tug boats. The job itself is very interesting and is something not a lot of people see or know about. To complete my rough cut by the last class, I plan on recording my B roll footage as soon as possible, so I have time to compile it into a cohesive sequence of visual evidence. I should be able to film everything in one night, but I need to get permission to film, as the job is not in the most safe environment a lot of the time. I plan on getting permission by Thanksgiving break.

My group’s story will be an action comedy revolving around a heist that seems serious but ends up being mediocre and not on a heist-worthy establishment at all. To film our short effectively, we will need a room, preferably a basement with dim lighting, and a table suitable for four people, one on each side. We will also need a car suitable as a getaway vehicle and a location to “rob.” Our props and wardrobe needed will be minimal and simple to acquire, mostly black clothing and masks. As for permissions, all of our filming will be done privately or in public, not inside any establishment, so no permits are required.

Shooting my job profile has been fun but challenging. I chose to film my dad, as he has the only career in the family I can do a profile on.  Another challenge that arose was collecting visually appealing footage that works for the profile, as my dad is retired, and I cannot get footage of him actively working. To combat this issue, I was able to film old memorabilia that he still has, such as his old CHP motorcycle helmet from the 70s, and even an episode of an old “cops” style TV show featuring my dad. While it would have been better to film him actively working, I feel that the visual evidence I gathered still effectively shows what his job was all about.

effects used, Time warp, Lens Flare, Color Correction

Devil’s Playground explores a key issue: will young Amish people stick with their community or join the “English” world? Many parts of the movie show this dilemma. We watch Amish teens partying, drinking, and driving cars. These images clash with what we think of as the Amish way of life. They give us a strong picture of the inner conflict these young people face, whether to stay Amish or become part of the wider world. The images we see here work well to show these young people struggling with personal issues, torn between their religious rules and what modern life offers. The filmmakers capture this clash by moving from peaceful Amish farms to wild parties giving us a clear picture of the tension. Some bits of these scenes might seem set up because the filmmakers get so close to these private moments, but it’s tough to say for sure. The way things play out looks real, but people might be acting up a bit for the camera to make things more exciting.

The video “POSTHUMAN CINEMA” uses surreal imagery, black and white colors, and dramatic music/dialogue to create an intense dream-like feeling in the viewer. The opening scene shows a woman in the desert floating softly toward the ground in a flowing dress, which sets the tone for the video in a very surreal manner. The video focuses on the people in each shot, all having dramatic poses, expressions, or movements. Each shot has a dark background, with a very cinematic and almost spotlight effect on the subject. Throughout the video, the subjects morph from one pose to the next,  as if they are shapeshifting. By using these sorts of techniques, we are unable to predict what might happen next. In traditional films, the audience is normally able to follow along with the plot/scene and have guesses and predictions as to what the possibilities are for the following shot. With AI imagery, there is a constant morphing of the subject that allows the viewer to maintain a constant curiosity about what is to come next which I think is an interesting aspect to AI videos as a whole.