Ear-E Noises

POP! A fist from the lead actor accidentally connects with the jaw of an extra...cue- LAUGHTER.

cue-Confusion

My brain tries to grasp what I saw, following multiple roads to final conclusions, often illogical. Visually, a signal of violence, a man punching another, is sent to my brain. Previous to the punch, my eyes and ears were able to discern that this was Take 3 of a student film, thus the connection of flesh and knuckle, should not have occured and therefore is an accident. This moment is a surprise to the actors, the crew, the extra, but my question is, why the laughter, especially from the extra who received a blow. It looked worse than it was.

The reason is the sound. The sound is harsh, the mic peaks, the reaction is a cringe and I don't laugh. But the reason the sound is so loud is the boom mic. The location is directly above the extra who is punched and for me this amplifies what on set was nothing but a dull thud.

Sound sound sound, in my opinion it is the key to good films, especially student films. Student films biggest pratfalls is lack of attention to sound. It becomes an afterthought, on the set which complicates things in post.

I enjoyed this article. I will focus more on sound, both creatively-using sounds as symbols, or motifs, and pratically.

Response on Wells

Laying out styles of animation and the factions that define them. I was vaguely aware of these subgroups, as a result of exposure, but Wells clearly defined them, laying them out in black and white. I really enjoyed the paragraph, Dynamics of dialogue", where he defines Disney sound as symphonic and Warner Bros. as cacophonic. Leonard Maltin has a film, Songs of the Silly Symphonies, which are a collection of old lesser known Disney shorts. I enjoyed them when I watched them a few years back and it enlightened me to the distinct sound that accompanies Disney animation. In my view, for the majority of people, the cacophony that saturates Looney Toons, especially at a young age, is the most appealing. These noises and catch lines are the most easily duplicated for a person in the everyday scenario. Children find these impressions especially fun. I agree. I know "What's up Doc?" escaped my mouth more often than any Fantasia segment, and I watched the film every day after preschool. In general, I have no bias for either. They are equally pleasing to me. One must find good in everything.

As for abstract animation, I find that my exposure is far less. Besides Brakhage and Fantasia, I little of this style is known to me. It's limits and potential remain hidden. Personally, I enjoy the exploration of symbolism and the enjoyment of finding a firm backbone that will lie below the surface. But going further, I find, as of now, that story draws me more and though the incorporation of abstract form is not without possibility, I tend to find myself wary of it. I believe this stems from seeing abstract art without that meaning that resonates far below. I detest standing before my peers abstract art. For the most part I find myself unsatisfied with what I see, that the symbolic message is corny, cliched or poorly executed. For this reason I fear attempting it. I don't fear failure but think within life, if abstraction were strong within me that I would have known it already. I know this is not the case, for Picasso's divergence into cubism came well into his late 20's with Les Demoiselles D'Avignon. A painting that upended hundreds of years of western art philosophy. Turn of the century artists were on the look out for a style new and unseen. They believed the classical style could no longer express what they felt. Currently, I am content with what I have before me. My canvas is traditional and for now it pleases my eye.

Experiences Thus Far

So far I'm happy with 6X1. In the future, with each assignment, I want to avoid every first impulse, every easy outlet, and anything I deem unoriginal. I want to push my creativity to a new level. Looking at the syllabus today, I was excited about the future assignments and the possibilities I'll have to push myself. I want to be original but also have substance behind it. If it's original just for the sake of being original then I'll have failed. But I hope that won't be the case. I enjoy seeing other films in class, the more I see the more of an understanding I have of what has been done, and what possibilities there are. I know that documentary films, and experimental films are among the fewest films that I've viewed in my life and that poses a problem for me when attempting to be creative. I like working in class too. I enjoy the stress free environment, it allows for more creativity when I'm relaxed and enough time to think.

I've never worked with film before, and the other week when I heard the projector and saw my film projected on screen, seeds were planted within my head, and I'm seriously considering filming my 495 project on film. (If I have the budget) It is magical, something internally gratifying. I've yet to explain the emotions, but the generic, happy, will suffice for now.

I hope the happiness will continue.