Assignment #4_Part B1_Feedback on Rough Cut_Grace & Melody_s3574544 & s3672080

This post is the first 1/3 of Assignment #4 Part B. It is a self reflection of our current production development that also draws on feedback we have received from teachers and our Melbourne peers.

Scroll down to bottom for video of latest rough cut.
Click here for “Review of Girona Group 6’s Final Cut and Melbourne Group 6’s Rough Cut”.
Click here for “Individual Reflection”. (Stay tuned for upcoming post)

Our group’s goals:
- Explore how Girona and Melbourne are connected by combining footage of both cities;
- Create a visual relationship between both cities’ topographies
- Draw inspiration from “Observe” video; link address here: https://vimeo.com/359211573

Our motivation:
We like how the shots in “Observe” are still, creating a sense of curiosity for viewers. Themes of coldness and something mechanical or robotic can be derived from the colour palette, sound effects and the visual effects of a “looking eye”.

We’re interested in applying this “looking eye” in the way we go about observing the “conventions of a city”; to record both the familiar and the unnoticed parts of local activities, places and symbols. Then, to weave shots of both cities together in such a way that blurs the lines between Melbourne and Girona.

During our pitch, we explained how our video will be divided into segments. Each segment begins with a wide shot of Girona cut from the footage we have received from our overseas peers. Their shots will be followed by a graphic match of a similar location in Melbourne and other detailed footage of people, places and actions. This approach is mechanical and methodical; Hannah informed this skews towards formalist films which focuses on the technical elements and its effects.

Current Progress, Challenges and Making Changes:
It turns out, our latest cut is less segmented than we initially predicted. Rather than a focus on differences between both cities or their ‘disjuncture’ as Dan put it, there is a rather fluid continuity between our shots. Melody had been particular about the viewer’s gaze so they would not be too conscious of their eye movement between two shots. This continuity editing makes less jarring, the transitions from one city to another; it also directs a viewer who has never been to either cities, to assume all footage were recorded from the same place; in this way, we connect Melbourne and Girona by sequencing similar locations found in different cities.

On further inspection, there is a key to differentiating the source of our shots; Melbourne footage appear cooler while Girona footage appear warmer. We establish this difference through colour grading to comment: between two different cities that are located far from each other, there are similarities they share that we can draw relations with.

Alas, our current cut is less than 4 minutes. Hannah also commented that it is unclear what our video is trying to say. Thus far, our editing direction had been led by the visual, topographical relationship between Melbourne and Girona. It would be interesting to see how we could now allow sound effects to lead the editing. What do we want to communicate that is not within the frame? How would sound effects add to, or disrupt, the moving images? Is there something from the shot we want to highlight? What similar or different sounds do both cities have?

There is a fear that tinkering with sounds would unravel the coherence of our current cut and disturb the visual direction set by Melody thus far. During our pitch, in response to our initial fears of segmenting shots in a jarring way, Dan and Hannah suggested we use sounds to smooth over the cuts. Ironically, since we chose to consider visuals before sound during the initial stages of production, adding them now may be a hindrance or go against the illusion that our shots are of one city.

I am afraid of creating unrest. But hey, film-making is research and experimentation against time right! Into the deep we dive! Maybe it is time to take the baton with confidence and hone my ability to play and experiment and be assured that there is no good or bad, only thoughtful or thoughtless creations?