social_doc_FINAL

We presented Lucy's Sunday and the feedback was that our little story did not communicate the tragic nature of Lucy. Our group struggled with integrating video and photography, and the POV (point of view) narrative seemed to conflict with the nature and character of Lucy. The tone and style of the narrative did not communicate with the initial concept. Additionally, storyboards would've proven helpful throughout all phases because we got a little lost during production. Here is a link to our final video.

research_paper_Revised

Since I learned the clock was made by the Herman Miller Clock Co., (and photographed the actual childhood clock which resides in Oklahoma) I decided to do my research paper on this company. I'm interested in exploring the Herman Miller / Howard Miller design evolution and their connection to the furniture and iconic clock designs, popular today. I learned the childhood clock in the story pre-dates 1947, as its label clearly states it is a Herman Miller Clock Co, of Zeeland, MI. After 1947, Herman Miller's son, Howard C. Miller took it over and renamed it under his name. Several famous clocks came out of it - including several by George Nelson, the Design Director at the Herman Miller furniture company. Herman Miller / Hoard Miller designs we know and still love today.

PSA_example

Keep America Beautiful This Public Service Announcement is deeply embedded into my mind from my childhood. I doubt I've seen one as persuasive or poignant since. The message still holds up, maybe even more today.

reading_boswell

Sound In Cinema

I can recall many memorable scenes with distinctive soundtracks over the years. It seems fitting to mention the first synchronized sound film The Jazz Singer (1927) which featured several musical numbers by Al Jolsen. ONe of my favorite vignettes with sound is in Blue Velvet where Dean Stockwell syncs with Roy Orbison. Custom sound was created for punches in the fight scenes in The Raging Bull. Original sound was mixed with squashed tomatoes and melons - gunshots were used to mimic the pops of flashbulbs. Robert Altman developed a distinctive style of overlapping. In the film Nashville, we see a highway traffic jam where several people are outside their cars talking. He intends for us to hear multiple conversations simultaneously. The reading mentions Welles's Magnificient Amberson's - Sound helps emphasize the contrast between the horse drawn sled racing through the snow (beautiful music) and the hand- cranking and engine sputtering of the horseless carriage. In animation, Disney's Silly Symphony Skeleton Dance was the 2nd synchronized sound cartoon with an original score by Carl Stalling. 

documentary_prototype

Our social documentary began as a look into Dogs in American Urban Culture (NYC). But over the past couple days, it's evolved into one dog's day revealed through one dog's eyes. (Lucy) Her personality will drive the narrative. She is a slightly tragic dog (essentially abandoned by previous owner) who is more like a cat. We filmed her walking in her neighborhood and around her home (with owner) to illustrate her character. Here is a sample photo from our footage and an in-progress storyboard.

research_paper

My final project is a short film features a woman from Muskogee Oklahoma which is an outgrowth of an archival documentary idea. For my paper I'd like to write about this area during circa 30s and 40s - specifically researching outlaws and lawmen. This area was known for the dust bowl -- many notorious and talented people came from here. This area gets an occasional cameo in films, but overall there is little exposure and I'd like to research as story.

documentary_concept

A Dogumentary. Our group will take a look at the role dogs play in an urban environment, specifically New York City. Using traditional documentary styles - and the POV from a case study dog . We will explore its role as a social connector, status symbol, accessory and often baby substitute. WE will also research the cost having a dog in the city, the growing pet industry and some interviews with owners, vendors and vets.

mini_thesis_concept

The Clock (working title)

A short film about one women’s ten-year quest to find a clock similar to the one from her childhood. Using the storytelling genre, she takes us through events, repairs and "hard facts" which expose a poor childhood in Muskogee Oklahoma to her life & career in New York. Through the timepiece, her quirky sense of detail and unique delivery are revealed. It is a character study (single narrative) shot with HD Mini-DVD edited in Final Cut.

Influenced by The International Storytelling Festival (and Center) in East Tenn. which was founded in 1973. I've attended several, which take place the first weekend in October each year. Their web site says it best: "We have told stories since the beginning of time. They are narratives of life, spanning centuries and connecting generations...Storytelling encompasses virtually every facet of human endeavor...."

The piece will be interior shots (some close-ups) and possibly related footage cut in under the narrative - as/if needed. Depending on the length and interest of the story I may add audio - the ticking of the clock, and possibly an excerpt from a musical score i heard years ago featuring the bassoon - I think it was called L'Horloge de Flore, by Jean Francaix OR maybe Le Temps Horloge, an abstract colorful work by Dutilleux about the tragedies of World War II.

reading_chandler

Semiotics for Beginners by Daniel Chandler reminded me of my undergrad printmaking teacher's David Kahn's fine art pieces. He did a series of engravings based on hobo signs. Even though I grew up in the South it wasn't rural enough to see these firsthand. Hobos traveling around would mark fences with simplistic line drawings (The Signifier) as a way of passing along information (The Signified) to each other. These alerts (The Sign) communicated important items such as food/handouts, free medical attention or telephone, or warning against the presence of angry dogs or criminal activity. They resemble children's drawings, I suppose it would be considered outsider art.

reading_sontag

The excerpt from Regarding the Torture of Others reinforces my belief about the nature of volunteer armed services. Unlike the draft, which included men from all economic and social classes, it puts weapons in the hands of those with a street mentality. (With the exception of special forces, fighter pilots, etc.) Interestingly enough, several of the participants were women. It's unrealistic to presume enlisted men and women possess maturity, good judgement, or even mental stability.