Artefact 04

My fourth Artefact is an improvement on the third artefact. Having added more of the secondary action animation principle at the start to the larger character at the start, and added cinematography to direct the audience to the specific action and reactions i want the audience to see. The feedback was generally that it worked very well, with some adjustment needed on the smoothness of the head turns, although it is a subtle change that is needed. I've struggled in the past when it comes to cinematography, where to cut and change shots etc. However, by understanding of the staging, the acting and performance first i found it to be successful in aiding the direction. The discovery and learning through doing suggests that the action research cycle i chose and mentioned in my written document has proved a successful choice.

It has been nice to lead from the performance, itself driven from the scientific findings by Paul Ekman, and has ultimately directed the cinematography. There is however, on element that has played a huge influence in determining the pacing and how the scene and characters interacted. For this reason, my next artefact will be a silent piece - again within the context of a lie.

It will be interesting to see how the pacing works as a result, because of the sound it has been easier to cue in certain points of the narrative (and therefore action). It is also important to mention that Artefact 4 was longer than Artefact 3 because of the cinematography (having to cue in the close ups between the action and the reaction was the reason).

I'm going to look at some silent films, most likely comedy, Norman Wisdom or Chaplin perhaps as a base for reference to write my own scenario, using what i have learned from the past four artefacts.

1 Second Everyday

1 Second Everyday - Age 30 from Cesar Kuriyama on Vimeo.

This video is by Cesar Kuriyama and if you had guessed he's made this footage by filming a single second everyday for a year. He plans to film one second everyday for the rest of his life, which for me would be amazing to look back on. Reading the comments below the post on Vimeo there are some mixed views. The first being that about the choice of narratives present. The only time I feel that there was a narrative aim would be through the portrayal of the illness of his sister in law. There are other times, most 'setting' shots tend be over the course of three days - understandable if visiting a new places (Plausible as he took a year out). Also the discussion about sound leaves one questioning how much does it annoy Vimeo users? In this case they were glad that it had been left natural, re-inforcing the narrative - that this is real life.

It has inspired me to do the same thing. So from now on i will be filming a second everyday for the rest of my life. I have, however, made a few rules:

1) Filming must be on what ever phone i have at the time. This way, the authenticity of the footage will be consistent. It will also aid the narrative, as the quality changes over time, the more the footage i will feel of the time (The Arctic Monkey's video, I bet you look good on the dance floor was filmed with cameras from the 70's which gave it an authenticity that no computer could). I feel its important that the technologies narrative through time is as important as mine. But nothing is conclusive, only after two decades will its' success be noticeable.

2) As it is an ongoing projects, narratives may be added, of any kind of any length. If i suddenly get an idea at 42 i want to film ducks for 2 months i think that should be pushed; within the overall context, it will be interesting to see how new ideas shape it.

3) Filming of my birthdays must be in a mirror, holding a sign with my age on (Will surely help if i ever get dementia?). This is one consistent narrative theme, which will be able to allow me to create another project of me aging also.

And thats it for now. I've also got ideas of how to incorporate this into a college project in which students will have 28 days to films something at the same 1 second a day rate. However, there will be a bigger role for narrative which will be more than simply passing life. More of that when its' in action. Enjoy!