Final Project

Blog Post: Describe your final project idea. Which modules in this course will you explore (try for at least two): continuity, montage, looped video, composited video, AI cinema. networked video, HTML cinema or the video essay, etc.

For my final project I want to do a continuity montage video. For the video I want to depict a number of shots that are tied together by a single theme that paint a bigger picture. I want to use the tips and techniques I have learned while taking this course to help visualize my picture.

-Quincy

Video Essay

(I had to scrap the Cherry Blossoms at the Portland Waterfront Park idea. By the time I was able to get back down there for more footage the trees were bare pretty much and they weren’t looking as good as the first time I was down there. So, I refocused the video essay on the experience of the PlayStation Virtual Reality 2 headset.)

Week 10 Blog Post: Bandersnatch

Both the writing of Bill Viola and the Bandersnatch episode have similarities due to how there’s a connection between choice and outcomes. Both have references to memory and how memories can lead to making certain choices. After getting 4 of the 10 main endings, I was super entertained.

“It is of paramount importance now, as we watch the same education system that brought us through school (and the same communications system that gave us the wonderful world of commercial TV and AM radio) being mapped onto these new technologies, that we go back and take a deeper look at some of the older systems described in these pages. Artists not shackled to the fad and fashion treadmill of the art world, especially the art world of the past few years, will begin to see the new meaning that art history is taking on.” (Viola, Bill) I think this holds true to today and how things are evolving with ai technology.

I think this format is moving towards the video game industry. I think I see this playing out better for people who are sitting down to choose their own adventures and practice the multiple outcomes when they’re in a play a game kind of mood. Most people I know use movies to fall asleep to or watch for an escape.

-Quincy H

Ai Cinema Blog Post: (Week 7)

AI Movie Clip Prompt: “Harmony of Time”

The scene opens on a serene, otherworldly landscape under a twilight sky. The horizon is adorned with floating islands, each hosting its own unique ecosystem. A river, shimmering with hues of gold and azure, flows gently through the air, weaving between the islands without gravity’s constraint. The camera follows the river’s course, revealing clocks and hourglasses seamlessly integrated into the natural environment. Trees with leaves shaped like watch hands rustle in the wind, and flowers bloom in fast-forward, their petals opening and closing with the rhythm of seconds.

As we delve deeper into this dreamscape, the river leads us to a grand, crystalline clock standing majestically in the center of a floating meadow. The clock is unlike any other; its gears and hands flow like liquid, changing shape and form, symbolizing the fluidity of time in this realm. The meadow around the clock pulses with a soft, ethereal light, casting long, dancing shadows that play along the ground.

Suddenly, the clock begins to chime, its sound resonating through the landscape like a harmonious melody. With each chime, the scenery transforms: day turns to night, then back to day; seasons change within moments, showcasing the beauty of spring blossoms, the warmth of summer sun, the golden hues of autumn leaves, and the serene stillness of winter snow, all coexisting in a beautiful, ever-changing cycle.

The camera pans up to the sky, where constellations of stars move swiftly, tracing patterns of ancient timepieces across the cosmos. A shooting star crosses the sky, leaving a trail of sparkling light that forms the silhouette of an hourglass before fading away.

As the clip nears its end, the view zooms out, showing the Timekeeper standing atop the highest floating island, watching over the harmonious flow of time in this dreamlike realm. A sense of peace and understanding reflects in his eyes, as if he’s found the key to balancing time’s relentless march with the timeless beauty of the moment.

The scene fades to black, leaving viewers with a sense of wonder and a longing for a world where time flows in harmony with life itself.

Look or Style of Film:

  • Visual Style: The clip should be rendered in a surreal, vibrant style, emphasizing the fluidity and ethereal beauty of the dreamlike landscapes and time elements.
  • Animation: Focus on smooth transitions between scenes and the fluid movement of time-related elements to enhance the dreamy, surreal atmosphere.
  • Sound: Incorporate a soothing, mystical soundtrack that complements the visual transformations and the concept of time flowing in harmony.
  • Narrative: Although primarily visual, the clip should convey a sense of narrative progression, moving from the exploration of the landscapes to the revelation of the Timekeeper, symbolizing a journey towards understanding and harmony.

Visual Effects:

Visual Quality & Film Stock: The clip should be rendered to mimic the quality of high-resolution 70mm film stock, known for its rich detail, depth of color, and dynamic range. This choice will give the landscapes and time elements a tactile, immersive feel, with a fine grain texture that adds to the dreamlike atmosphere.

Cameras & Lenses: Utilize digital simulation of vintage anamorphic lenses to capture the wide, panoramic views of the floating islands and the dreamlike landscapes. These lenses will contribute to the surreal quality of the scenes by creating characteristic lens flares and a slightly distorted, yet beautiful wide field of view, emphasizing the vastness and the ethereal nature of the environments.

Lighting: Employ soft, naturalistic lighting with a golden hour glow for daytime scenes, enhancing the dreamlike quality with warm tones and soft shadows. For night scenes, use cooler, moonlit tones with strategic low-light conditions to highlight the mystical elements of the landscape, such as the shimmering river and the glowing crystalline clock. Lighting should be dynamic, subtly changing to reflect the passage of time and the transformations within the dream world.

Color Scheme: The clip should feature a vibrant, yet slightly desaturated color palette, emphasizing pastels and muted tones to create a sense of otherworldliness. This palette will make the transitions between seasons and times of day appear seamless and magical, while still providing a visually rich and engaging experience.

Production Design, Sets, & Costumes: The production design should be intricate and detailed, with each element of the dream world carefully crafted to reflect the theme of fluid time. Sets like the floating islands and the crystalline clock should combine organic and fantastical elements, using materials that appear both natural and ethereal. Costumes for the Timekeeper and any other characters should be timeless, blending elements from different eras and cultures in a way that transcends specific time periods. Fabrics should flow and change, reflecting the mutable nature of time, with subtle, intricate patterns that hint at the complexity of the timekeeper’s realm.

General Aesthetic: The overall aesthetic should draw inspiration from classic surrealist films and paintings, with a modern twist that incorporates advances in visual effects and animation. The goal is to create a visually stunning piece that feels both timeless and innovative, inviting the viewer into a world where time is not a constraint but a canvas for beauty and exploration.

This detailed approach aims to guide the AI in creating a short movie clip that not only tells a compelling story through its visuals but also achieves a specific, high-quality cinematic look and feel, making “Harmony of Time” a captivating and immersive experience.

-Quincy Harris

Week 5 Blog: Loop Videos Response Post

An example of a rhythmic loop. The sounds match the things in the video and starts over with the sound effect ramping up and pulling back. The editing of the video has the sound effect starting off at one pitch and ramping up. It then starts perfectly over and was a good use of the sound effect.

This is a gif loop video. This is a display of cyclic loop. The editing being so smooth in this instance makes the scene appear seamless. If this was played on repeat you can’t tell where it starts and stops.

This loop video I thought to be a ‘Timeless’ loop due to how it starts and stops. The editing effects make the door opening and closing into the person who opened it look really cool I thought.

-Quincy Harris