This course is an introduction to the history and theory of participatory media production. Motivations toward greater participation in media arts have three core agendas: 1) empowerment of people traditionally seen more as "subjects" than active producers of culture; 2) challenging the idea of the artist as solitary genius working outside of society; and 3) the use of media art to build and sustain community.
The structural idea behind this video revealed itself in a very pleasing way and it became funnier and more enjoyable as I watched it. Y’all pulled this off with style. I’ll admit I was worried when you said “I don’t have any ideas for this video I have to make…” but was quickly relieved of my worry!!
It is possible that “the action” (such as it is) took a little too long in arriving. Shot 3 (first shot of Jared) goes on for longer than it needs to (almost a minute). As soon as Camera 3 enters, it picks up steam and really gets going.
Now, on the one hand: I wish you guys had invented a much more fascinating topic of conversation. On the other hand, the repetitive and mumbly nature of it made it much easier for you to time the various actions so they matched up (the phone call etc.). had the conversion been more intricate or had it “gone somewhere,” your structural trick would have been much harder… but the video would definitely have improved for the extra ambition. What kind of a conversation could have mirrored, complemented, contradicted, or illuminated the structural idea of one story told four ways?
Not that you weren’t ambitious. This was a difficult trick, and it worked well. Tell us how you did this.
(Incidentally, Ariel’s performance is very funny. The cereal box!!! Scissors!?!)
1/ Opening with two students meeting on a lawn. Shots alternating from each's point of view. They start conversation. A third student comes up, and finally a fourth student joins the conversation from nearby. All shots are POV from a given student.
The POV device was used quite explicitly, with attempts made to maintain continuity despite use of a single camera. Lines are often repeated and appear to be partially improvisational.
The meaning of the piece could point to individual perspective, some aspect authenticity in social interaction, or something else. The POV device seems to be key to understanding this.
The most likely 'thesis' of this video seems to be social disconnect, perhaps (and in contradiction of [3]) alluded to by the purposefully akward dialogue. The use of POV must factor into this thesis, as it is the only other salient technical or artistic aspect of the piece. Interested to hear more about this.
It is extremely interesting to watch from the different POVs. Besides seeing the event from different angles, the video demonstrates how people can hear a conversation so differently. At first I was frustrated that I couldn't hear people who are further away from the camera, but as the video goes on I gave in to my frustration and was actually intrigued by how different each actor can hear.
Regarding the topic of conversation, I wish that the topic was a bit more interesting and actually helps to distinguish the different POV, instead of a mundane topic and have the POV be the only subject in the film.
At the same time, the mundane conversation about work and previous night's party scene are such common topics on campus, that made it easy for viewers to relate.
Ariel was certainly a great addition to the film! And her lines are great.
This is a very interesting concept! Although moving slowly at times, it accomplishes its purpose of displaying the different perspectives of a conversation.
I agree with Ko in that many of the more raw aspects of the film - shaky camera, at times inaudible vocals, and ordinary topic of conversation - are also important in order to illustrate a regular campus conversation properly.
Haha, I guess I was involved in this project so I am biased in commenting, but here I go!
I think Jared wanted the content to be dull on purpose: show how little people actually say when they communicate. This theme might have been more successful and attainable to the audience if it had been exaggerated (maybe everyone could be repeating the same exact things for example).
As far as "Passing the Camera", Jared followed the rules to a T. Everyone was involved in the creative process during the filming and everyone got to choose what exactly they wanted to do. However, Jared still was "the boss", who oversaw how things were done.
My project was inspired my friend Carlos (who is featured in video) who has on numerous occasions has expressed to me how much he has noticed how little people actually say when they have conversations on campus.
Many of my shots are a little bit on the shaky side however I think this contributes to much of it's authentic feel.
I feel as though some of my shots could have been edited/planned a BIT better and some shots could have been shortened so as to not bore the audience. However I'm happy with the final project.
...Just to reiterate on what has been previously said, I felt the structure of the video was uncompromisingly true to the guidelines of the project, which is a credit to you. I understand the topic you were going for (i.e. the uselessness of so many conversations which take place on campus on a daily basis) but I feel as though the conversation could have accomplished both exemplifying that without losing the audience.
The video begins with someone, who I suppose is Jared, walking towards another individual. Then we move quickly to a changing in perspective as we see this scene develop from the point of view of each individual who enters the story. The tone each individual sets seems somewhat consistently mellow, that is until Ariel enters the scene and disrupts the calmness of the scene with a loud call for her scissors. The video ends with the individuals who have come to congregate in the lawn next to this dorm part ways.
The beginning of Jared's video immediately sets the tone as we see the same scene from different perspectives. I really like the approach Jared took here, especially the way in which the camera did not just move amongst the various actors, but he sort of rewound, re-shot, and redeveloped some of the scenes allowing us to look at the same scene from different points of view.
My only critique would have to concern the pace. I thought it was a bit slow and that the video could have been enriched or enhanced had things sped up a bit, but then again, increased speed could have changed the tone's mellow/calm dynamic, which may have been undesirable.
In short, I really liked this video and thought it was a great way to approach the project.
POV idea was interesting. The person coming down the stairs, though, almost seemed uninvited. He was walking stealthily down the stairs almost and the other person on the lawn seemed to take a quick evading glance at him. The lawn scene appeared a little unbalanced with the two male figures towering over the seated female figure. The cars passing by were a bit loud, but maybe this was part of the plan to distort understanding, which can go along with the POV theme.
I'm a huge fan of the "pass the camera" project feeling like a walk through all of the POVs. I would not have guessed (without knowing about the project already) that the assignment was all about getting as many people involved since it felt so much like a normal film. Also, excellent shots, with angles and depth greatly showcased.
10 comments:
Jared:
The structural idea behind this video revealed itself in a very pleasing way and it became funnier and more enjoyable as I watched it. Y’all pulled this off with style. I’ll admit I was worried when you said “I don’t have any ideas for this video I have to make…” but was quickly relieved of my worry!!
It is possible that “the action” (such as it is) took a little too long in arriving. Shot 3 (first shot of Jared) goes on for longer than it needs to (almost a minute). As soon as Camera 3 enters, it picks up steam and really gets going.
Now, on the one hand: I wish you guys had invented a much more fascinating topic of conversation. On the other hand, the repetitive and mumbly nature of it made it much easier for you to time the various actions so they matched up (the phone call etc.). had the conversion been more intricate or had it “gone somewhere,” your structural trick would have been much harder… but the video would definitely have improved for the extra ambition. What kind of a conversation could have mirrored, complemented, contradicted, or illuminated the structural idea of one story told four ways?
Not that you weren’t ambitious. This was a difficult trick, and it worked well. Tell us how you did this.
(Incidentally, Ariel’s performance is very funny. The cereal box!!! Scissors!?!)
1/ Opening with two students meeting on a lawn. Shots alternating from each's point of view. They start conversation. A third student comes up, and finally a fourth student joins the conversation from nearby. All shots are POV from a given student.
The POV device was used quite explicitly, with attempts made to maintain continuity despite use of a single camera. Lines are often repeated and appear to be partially improvisational.
The meaning of the piece could point to individual perspective, some aspect authenticity in social interaction, or something else. The POV device seems to be key to understanding this.
The most likely 'thesis' of this video seems to be social disconnect, perhaps (and in contradiction of [3]) alluded to by the purposefully akward dialogue. The use of POV must factor into this thesis, as it is the only other salient technical or artistic aspect of the piece. Interested to hear more about this.
It is extremely interesting to watch from the different POVs. Besides seeing the event from different angles, the video demonstrates how people can hear a conversation so differently. At first I was frustrated that I couldn't hear people who are further away from the camera, but as the video goes on I gave in to my frustration and was actually intrigued by how different each actor can hear.
Regarding the topic of conversation, I wish that the topic was a bit more interesting and actually helps to distinguish the different POV, instead of a mundane topic and have the POV be the only subject in the film.
At the same time, the mundane conversation about work and previous night's party scene are such common topics on campus, that made it easy for viewers to relate.
Ariel was certainly a great addition to the film! And her lines are great.
This is a very interesting concept! Although moving slowly at times, it accomplishes its purpose of displaying the different perspectives of a conversation.
I agree with Ko in that many of the more raw aspects of the film - shaky camera, at times inaudible vocals, and ordinary topic of conversation - are also important in order to illustrate a regular campus conversation properly.
Haha, I guess I was involved in this project so I am biased in commenting, but here I go!
I think Jared wanted the content to be dull on purpose: show how little people actually say when they communicate. This theme might have been more successful and attainable to the audience if it had been exaggerated (maybe everyone could be repeating the same exact things for example).
As far as "Passing the Camera", Jared followed the rules to a T. Everyone was involved in the creative process during the filming and everyone got to choose what exactly they wanted to do. However, Jared still was "the boss", who oversaw how things were done.
My project was inspired my friend Carlos (who is featured in video) who has on numerous occasions has expressed to me how much he has noticed how little people actually say when they have conversations on campus.
Many of my shots are a little bit on the shaky side however I think this contributes to much of it's authentic feel.
I feel as though some of my shots could have been edited/planned a BIT better and some shots could have been shortened so as to not bore the audience. However I'm happy with the final project.
...Just to reiterate on what has been previously said, I felt the structure of the video was uncompromisingly true to the guidelines of the project, which is a credit to you. I understand the topic you were going for (i.e. the uselessness of so many conversations which take place on campus on a daily basis) but I feel as though the conversation could have accomplished both exemplifying that without losing the audience.
The video begins with someone, who I suppose is Jared, walking towards another individual. Then we move quickly to a changing in perspective as we see this scene develop from the point of view of each individual who enters the story. The tone each individual sets seems somewhat consistently mellow, that is until Ariel enters the scene and disrupts the calmness of the scene with a loud call for her scissors. The video ends with the individuals who have come to congregate in the lawn next to this dorm part ways.
The beginning of Jared's video immediately sets the tone as we see the same scene from different perspectives. I really like the approach Jared took here, especially the way in which the camera did not just move amongst the various actors, but he sort of rewound, re-shot, and redeveloped some of the scenes allowing us to look at the same scene from different points of view.
My only critique would have to concern the pace. I thought it was a bit slow and that the video could have been enriched or enhanced had things sped up a bit, but then again, increased speed could have changed the tone's mellow/calm dynamic, which may have been undesirable.
In short, I really liked this video and thought it was a great way to approach the project.
*a side note: ariel = hilarious
POV idea was interesting. The person coming down the stairs, though, almost seemed uninvited. He was walking stealthily down the stairs almost and the other person on the lawn seemed to take a quick evading glance at him. The lawn scene appeared a little unbalanced with the two male figures towering over the seated female figure. The cars passing by were a bit loud, but maybe this was part of the plan to distort understanding, which can go along with the POV theme.
I'm a huge fan of the "pass the camera" project feeling like a walk through all of the POVs. I would not have guessed (without knowing about the project already) that the assignment was all about getting as many people involved since it felt so much like a normal film. Also, excellent shots, with angles and depth greatly showcased.
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