Group Members:
Arielle Baker: Creative Development, Writer
Janelle Ligrani: Creative Development, Writer, Actor
Kat Williams: Creative Development, Camera Woman, Editor
Ryan Petrucceli: Creative Development, Actor
Ziona Wright: Creative Development, Writer, Editor
Janelle Ligrani: Creative Development, Writer, Actor
Kat Williams: Creative Development, Camera Woman, Editor
Ryan Petrucceli: Creative Development, Actor
Ziona Wright: Creative Development, Writer, Editor
Synopsis:
We created a short film about a couple whose favorite location is a quiet spot by the river, where the go everyday to watch the trains. The couple has recently been arguing and it has become too much pressure on the male actor portraying the boyfriend. He attempts to commit suicide, in their favorite spot, by walking the tracks while the train is coming head on. He then has vision of his girlfriend walking the tracks instead of himself and time rewinds to when all things were quiet and suicide was not a thought.
Process:
The process of putting this piece together took more time
than one would think. Since our creative strengths all go in different
directions, it was difficult to reach one theme, one idea or one message. We
spent multiple class periods weighing the options and the possibilities. Once
we agreed on this theme of life and death and dealing with suicide everything
really fell into place. The song Summertime Sadness played a huge role in the
inspiration of our piece. We then created similar piece, but adding own
elements making this project our own.
than one would think. Since our creative strengths all go in different
directions, it was difficult to reach one theme, one idea or one message. We
spent multiple class periods weighing the options and the possibilities. Once
we agreed on this theme of life and death and dealing with suicide everything
really fell into place. The song Summertime Sadness played a huge role in the
inspiration of our piece. We then created similar piece, but adding own
elements making this project our own.
Point of View/Perspective - The perspective of this piece is
incredibly important. By seeing and hearing the world in the eyes of the main
character, you immediately get a snippet of the difficulty and the struggles
that he feels. You also have a sense as to why he doesn’t end his life
directly. The thought of his girlfriend is something that only he would see and
understand and thus reveals why he chooses not to end his life.
incredibly important. By seeing and hearing the world in the eyes of the main
character, you immediately get a snippet of the difficulty and the struggles
that he feels. You also have a sense as to why he doesn’t end his life
directly. The thought of his girlfriend is something that only he would see and
understand and thus reveals why he chooses not to end his life.
Metaphor- The eyes in
our video stand as a metaphor on their own. They are meant to teach our
audience to open your eyes to the beauty around you. Life is too short and too
beautiful to shut out all of the wonders of the world. Keeping your eyes open
is the only way you can see the reason to live.
our video stand as a metaphor on their own. They are meant to teach our
audience to open your eyes to the beauty around you. Life is too short and too
beautiful to shut out all of the wonders of the world. Keeping your eyes open
is the only way you can see the reason to live.
Multi- Frames -Our project consists of multiple frames that
move the story forward. The sequence of each frame completes the story. The
evolution of this piece lies within the thought process of the main character.
Originally his plan is to commit suicide on the train tracks, but as he
continues to move forward, and opens his eyes he sees the beauty of his
girlfriend, his dream girl moving with the same intent. His thoughts and the
train then reverse ultimately concluding that he still has something to live
for.
move the story forward. The sequence of each frame completes the story. The
evolution of this piece lies within the thought process of the main character.
Originally his plan is to commit suicide on the train tracks, but as he
continues to move forward, and opens his eyes he sees the beauty of his
girlfriend, his dream girl moving with the same intent. His thoughts and the
train then reverse ultimately concluding that he still has something to live
for.
Framing of the Image - The way each shot is framed is very
important. The eyes for example are purposely cropped to instill emotion in the
audience. While sadness could also be signified with a sad face, sadness is
truly seen within the eyes. This close up intensifies the emotions of the main
character and the audience.
important. The eyes for example are purposely cropped to instill emotion in the
audience. While sadness could also be signified with a sad face, sadness is
truly seen within the eyes. This close up intensifies the emotions of the main
character and the audience.
Life and Death
- The theme of life and death is strong and unsubtle in this piece. It is implied
that both the girl and the guy are going to commit suicide on the train tracks
due to constant fighting. While he is about to meet the train he sees her on
the tracks instead of himself and then everything backs up. A close encounter
with death causes the man to rethink is actions on the track and rewinds his
decisions.
- The theme of life and death is strong and unsubtle in this piece. It is implied
that both the girl and the guy are going to commit suicide on the train tracks
due to constant fighting. While he is about to meet the train he sees her on
the tracks instead of himself and then everything backs up. A close encounter
with death causes the man to rethink is actions on the track and rewinds his
decisions.
The Art of
Seeing - There are many lines within this composition that direct your eye from
one place to the next. From the beginning there are many lines leading your eye
from the right of the composition to the left, where the train is heading along
the train tracks, as well as many lines doing up and down around the other
parts of the bridge, to the skyscrapers in the background. Many harsh lines and
squares create more of a sense of distress as opposed to having many curved and
organic lines throughout. Not much nature is seen in the composition, instead
due to being filmed in an urban setting the bridge, its graffiti and the loud
noises can often make one more stressed out than if the setting was in quiet
rural country. A lot of the movement in the composition is from left to right,
except when we see the girl, the moment of epiphany. There are no especially
bringing colors used, except for the girl walking away from us as well. When
the girl walks away everything seems to be de-saturated, as if a dream. We use
empty space in a lot of the composition to draw focus towards what’s going on.
If we had things going on in the empty space such as the sky, the water or
areas of the bridge where there’s only graffiti, then it would take the
viewers’ attention away from what we are trying to show here. All these
elements work together in a way that they don’t make you too comfortable. Our
goal was for the viewer to feel the sense of distress and anguish that the
characters feel and it was executed well within the elements used.
Seeing - There are many lines within this composition that direct your eye from
one place to the next. From the beginning there are many lines leading your eye
from the right of the composition to the left, where the train is heading along
the train tracks, as well as many lines doing up and down around the other
parts of the bridge, to the skyscrapers in the background. Many harsh lines and
squares create more of a sense of distress as opposed to having many curved and
organic lines throughout. Not much nature is seen in the composition, instead
due to being filmed in an urban setting the bridge, its graffiti and the loud
noises can often make one more stressed out than if the setting was in quiet
rural country. A lot of the movement in the composition is from left to right,
except when we see the girl, the moment of epiphany. There are no especially
bringing colors used, except for the girl walking away from us as well. When
the girl walks away everything seems to be de-saturated, as if a dream. We use
empty space in a lot of the composition to draw focus towards what’s going on.
If we had things going on in the empty space such as the sky, the water or
areas of the bridge where there’s only graffiti, then it would take the
viewers’ attention away from what we are trying to show here. All these
elements work together in a way that they don’t make you too comfortable. Our
goal was for the viewer to feel the sense of distress and anguish that the
characters feel and it was executed well within the elements used.
Sound - From
the beginning we only hear the sounds of the train coming from the other side
of the bridge. When we focus on the guys eyes for the first time we hear fighting
in the background, as if he can hear the echoes of his memories haunting him.
The scene changes and we see the boy walking along the tracks. Suspenseful
music plays and we see him approaching the train. White noise creates a sense
of discomfort and distress for the viewer. The white noise sound is played when
we see the girl on the tracks and everything rewinds, once again playing the
suspenseful music. The soundtrack of this piece was made to provide more
insecurity for the viewer as he or she watches a distressful time between two
lovers.
the beginning we only hear the sounds of the train coming from the other side
of the bridge. When we focus on the guys eyes for the first time we hear fighting
in the background, as if he can hear the echoes of his memories haunting him.
The scene changes and we see the boy walking along the tracks. Suspenseful
music plays and we see him approaching the train. White noise creates a sense
of discomfort and distress for the viewer. The white noise sound is played when
we see the girl on the tracks and everything rewinds, once again playing the
suspenseful music. The soundtrack of this piece was made to provide more
insecurity for the viewer as he or she watches a distressful time between two
lovers.
Reduction Form/Symbols
- Birds fly away from the tracks at opening as if to disperse at a moment of
distress at the train approaching. There is no danger yet but they offer a clue
as to how this story will go. The time this was filmed, sunset, offers a sense
of ending and conclusion to the characters story. The end of the day can
symbolize and reflect the ending of a relationship; this time of day also
offered many shadows and harder lines that helped with the final product. The
train being yellow offers a color of warning and distress, much like our main
character feels as he approaches the train. As he dreams about the girl her
purple hair seems to add to the idea that she is a dream, as well as the
application of de-saturated colors. The urban setting provides a place of
constant movement and stress on not only the characters but on the viewers as
well.
Peer Evaluations:
Overall, I had a pretty good experience working with everyone. We all proved to be very creative and were able to work together and make this piece and synopsis a great one. At first is was difficult because we all had different ideas for this projects. We found difficulty in making them come together to be one cohesive piece. The most important part is that we all were able to figure where our strengths lie and really put that to use. It probably sounds ridiculous to give everyone in the group an A, but the way the work was divided and completed, everyone deserves one. We all worked incredibly well once we got on the right path.
Ziona Wright: A
She did an awesome job putting this video together.
Kat Williams: A
She also did an awesome job and was very helpful in the editing process.
Janelle Ligrani: A
She helped do some writing for the synopsis and explain what each portion of the theme meant.
Ryan Petrucceli: A
He proved to be very cooperative and helpful throughout the whole process.
Team work really does make the dream work!
distress at the train approaching. There is no danger yet but they offer a clue
as to how this story will go. The time this was filmed, sunset, offers a sense
of ending and conclusion to the characters story. The end of the day can
symbolize and reflect the ending of a relationship; this time of day also
offered many shadows and harder lines that helped with the final product. The
train being yellow offers a color of warning and distress, much like our main
character feels as he approaches the train. As he dreams about the girl her
purple hair seems to add to the idea that she is a dream, as well as the
application of de-saturated colors. The urban setting provides a place of
constant movement and stress on not only the characters but on the viewers as
well.
Peer Evaluations:
Overall, I had a pretty good experience working with everyone. We all proved to be very creative and were able to work together and make this piece and synopsis a great one. At first is was difficult because we all had different ideas for this projects. We found difficulty in making them come together to be one cohesive piece. The most important part is that we all were able to figure where our strengths lie and really put that to use. It probably sounds ridiculous to give everyone in the group an A, but the way the work was divided and completed, everyone deserves one. We all worked incredibly well once we got on the right path.
Ziona Wright: A
She did an awesome job putting this video together.
Kat Williams: A
She also did an awesome job and was very helpful in the editing process.
Janelle Ligrani: A
She helped do some writing for the synopsis and explain what each portion of the theme meant.
Ryan Petrucceli: A
He proved to be very cooperative and helpful throughout the whole process.
Team work really does make the dream work!
