Reading Response #3 Scott MacDonald article

In Scott MacDonald’s article, he speaks about avant-garde films. He reflects on the lost of such a fine form of cinema and the creation of commercial film that has over shadowed one of the beginning forms of cinema. Most people don’t get to experience avant-garde films in there originality and don’t get to see this until their late teens or some may never experience it.

When I look at film I see more then just actors, direction, props and lighting. I’m looking at the art of the film. The way the film maker structured the film from their mind. How they see and view the world they live in. As a young film maker I see it fit to go back and look at those before you and learn from the ones that crafted the thing you love and hop to create of your own.

A group of filmmakers in the article questioned commercial cinemas failure to connect to people spiritually like music and maybe in a way a painting may do. I think that commercial film has the same effect of connecting to people the way any form of media art does. It’s depends on the individual that is taking in the art. I have watched commercial film and felt a connection with the film. Cinema has undoubtedly this day and age, became very formulaic and predictive. Maybe that is because in the 1920’s cinema was just really starting. Narratives and new ideas were developing. Now we fast forward a few years ahead and some film makers are recycling the same old stuff.

Since being in college I have learned to appreciate all forms of film, no matter what shape or form it is in. Avant-garde cinema will never diminish or fade away as long as there are people willing to pick it up and learn from it. I don’t believe any form of cinema is a failure because it eventually evolves into something more.

Video Hardware/ Software Response

1. How was your experience with the Olympus digital camera? How did it compare with other still or video cameras you have previously used? Were you able to successfully implement your Image Capturing Strategies using the features of this camera? In an ideal world, how would your still/video camera of choice function?

- My experience with the Olympus digital camera was ok. I think I had a faulty one, because it would kill the batteries fast and it was difficult to turn it on. All and all, the camera’s functions of taking still images and video worked well. The cameras photos I think was still a little bit higher resolution then I wanted, but I can manipulate that through editing. I didn’t want crisp pictures and video with my project. Compared to other cameras I have used I would rate this 6 out of 10. The lower the number, the more effort you have o put into making it a 10. That was the fun part of the project was making it what you want. I was able to capture my light strategy pretty well with this camera. In an ideal world I wouldn’t know what my camera would function be, because it would be an ideal world, I like this world now.

2. Discuss your choice of video-editing software and describe your history with this software. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?

- For the beginning of the drift 2 blog. I was using Avid as editing software on my windows vistas. I had difficulty with it last year when I first took the class, but I learned how to use it once I worked out the kinks in it. Then Avid started to go bad again and I have to use different editing software on a Mac. I chose Avid because it was already on my computer and I had worked wit it before, but I guess it was a bad choice. On the Mac I’m going to use Final Cut or Movie Maker to finish my final film. I know that those programs will help me get to my creative goals. I wont ever be using Avid again because of the difficulty of the software and its unreliable.

Reading Response #3 Hill article.

After reading, “Listening to myself listen” I rally felt the connection of what was being said by the author of the article. When we are on our drifts that is the main thing that we are doing is listening to ourselves listen. In the article, Hill talks about how we don’t control what we listen to. Our ear picks up all sounds from tools, machines, animals, people and just everything in the environment that you are in. The focus from actually figuring out what it is you should be listening to.

You try to point out or bring out that unique sound that stands out. The author called this the sonic environment where all these sounds coincide in. When I’m trying to focus on a direst sound that stands out to me, I usually sit back and try to relax. I try to hear the sound with in my brain and visualize the object or person making that noise. It’s pinpointing where your focus should be put in on the drift.

The article focus a lot on just making your listening experience much more appreciative. It is easy to just walk around and listen but to visualize the sound in your mind or just trying to break it down in a way that you could use it in your own way to manipulate the sound after recording. When doing this, I kind of feel blind, just closing my eyes just to heighten my sense of hearing and focusing. The article is really useful and relates to everyone.

10 Questions

1. Where are the best places to go to get the best cultural experience?

2. Can you achieve the same realistic affect of outside sound vs. indoor sound?

3. Does using different objects like, empty bottles make the sound much more interesting?

4. Are there any distinctive animals in the area to contribute to your drift?

5. Are there any heavy trafficked areas that can be used in your drift area?

6. Is there an area with heavy machinery that can be used?

7. Where is there an area with a lot of people but limited noise?

8. What are the best places with a lot of people and nature around?

9. How do you alter the sound of a drift to resemble music?

10. Where can I find an area with extreme loud sounds but subtle at the same time?

Drift Assessment

1. Describe two situations that aggravated, bothered, shocked or otherwise stressed you during drift1. (Please note that the situation CANNOT be technology-related.)

- The number 1 thing that bothered me on my drift 1 walk was dealing with nature. I could never get a good day without a lot of wind or rain to get my recordings. The number 2 thing that bothered me was people coming up asking me questions about what I was doing while I was getting good sounds.

2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.

- The first situation was when I was riding the bus and I was recording the sounds and I got lost in my thoughts and came up with new ideas for films. I was so at peace with myself that I didn’t even pay attention to what I was recording anymore. The second situation was when I got a great day at the park to record sounds and kids were with there parents and they allowed me to record without them being weird out by it.

3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)

- The first experience I realized was how extremely segregated Milwaukee is. It’s like walking into different color boundaries on my walk. I don’t like that feeling of lines keeping other cultures from mixing. The second was realizing that older citizens are the nicest people, while on my drift they talked to me about a lot of their own memories. The third thing that surprised me was hearing the different sounds in my surroundings. When I closed my eyes and just listened I got a more in depth view of my surroundings and I could see everything with my imagination.

4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.

- My favorite experience was sitting with a group of senior citizens and listening to their stories. One of them uses to be in film and television and was telling me about old shows he helped film. I would have never experienced that if I hadn’t gone on my drift that day. It made me appreciate film and art more when talking with the man.

Reading Responce #1

In Cross’s article, you come across this interesting concept of relationships to different places. The different types of relationships talked about are biographical, spiritual, ideological, narrative, commoditized, and dependent. I found this interesting because I can apply these to my own work while I do my drifts. These relationships are all based in areas, areas you are either born in; accustomed to, desire to be in or just around all the tie in that area. This really makes you think about what area you want to do your drift in to capture the sounds you need for your project.

You just don’t want to pick a random area and think that area will have good sounds. You really have to think what area will be best for you to get the sounds you need, a place that you feel you have a relationship with to be creative and not just letting the equipment do all the work. Create a sense of where you are and a method of capturing great sound like no other. That is what I got from reading this article. It’s not just about knowing where your at on your drift, it’s also about know where you can connect with that certain area you are in.

Cross also talks to different people with in the article talking about the different relationship concepts. Just reading what people thought of where they were. The terrain they were on and the family with them. It made me think more in depth about my own drift and what I should do to make it a good drift with amazing sounds.