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.
Monday, September 22, 2008
More Than A Feeling
The "Pass The Camera" project featuring The Armstrong Funky Bunch Redux on Rock Band performing Boston's "More Than A Feeling."
First: the scenario is a good one. The living room amateur rock band is a great setup for a spoof music video or any number of ridiculous other ideas. And the performance... well let's just say it was compelling.
Now: the actual outcome here could have been much better. There were 3 people shooting, which was apparent by the cuts, and because we know that was the assignment, but wouldn’t know otherwise. What was added to this (funny!) video by having more than one camera person? What kind of instruction did you give them?
Shot 2 was helpful in illuminating the situation better. Shot 1 and Shot 3 are very similar, although Shot 3 has the close-ups I was waiting for all along. It would have been great to see this scene from more angles, or with greater purpose in general (what are we going for here, other than documentation?).
1/ Opening shot of three students playing video game. Cut after approx. 1.5 minutes to shot of television screen of the game. Moving shot of three students, with occasional zoom. Final shot of television screen with score.
Lighting was subdued, shot of the screen was rotated. Shot starting around 2.5 min. appears to be handheld.
The shots zooming in on particular students seemed to correlate with increased action, or some special role in the game.
The shots of the screen added context to the opening shots, and the final shot also added continuity. Not sure if the handheld shots were used as a device, to suggest something.
I don't think I've EVER watch anyone played video game/Rock Band for the full duration in my life. So you did that. I watched the film intensely trying to figure out how did "pass the camera" was incorporated and the goal of the film.
I am guessing that Schuyler asked three people to do the shooting and they did differentiate by the first people focusing on the whole band, second person shooting the screen and the third person making more close-ups. AT the same time, I don't understand how the three different cameramen add to the film besides shooting different- which is, in this case, something that one camera man could have gone. I'd love to know what were your directions for your participants!
A few shots that I really enjoyed were close up of Schuyler singing a long note at the end of the song. The diagonal cut of the face was excellent.
Strangely enough, this is very representative of Armstrong 2 life. I would be frightened to actually record what percentage of the time someone in our entry is playing Rock Band.
The different perspectives are interesting. While each section is a little long, you could also take that to be an interpretation of the extreme concentration one must exhibit while playing the game? Maybe? I don't know!
There could have been more angles, which might have been preferable even if it was impossible to completely line up the sound.
The video centers around three individuals - one who plays the drums, another who plays the guitar, and another who sings (beautifully I might add). The individuals are playing the song More Than a Feeling (love it!) on the video game Rock Band.
I was a little bit confused about how this project conformed to the nature of the assignment at times. I think it would have been fantastically interesting and cool if there had been a shot of this scene from the perspective of the individuals playing the instruments. Maybe they would not have to hold the camera, but you could get various people to stand over their shoulders.
However, I think the video is neat and demonstrates, not only the superior musical talents of the actors involved, but also a dynamic breadth in the variety of shots taken.
All three figures in the scene looked very concentrated and detached from the world outside the immediate situation at hand. Was this part of the intentions behind the work? I have to agree with others that the different people shooting were mysterious in their intentions. Were they meant to be or is there another aspect of the work the viewer must identify without previous knowledge of what to expect?
The shots are clear and concise, but I agree that more variety of shots are needed to create that "music video" feel. We should feel the excitement that you feel singing and I think that can be done with "MTV" style shots (high, low, upclose, shaky, out of focus to focus, even jumpy). Anything to spice it up this fun idea!
8 comments:
First: the scenario is a good one. The living room amateur rock band is a great setup for a spoof music video or any number of ridiculous other ideas. And the performance... well let's just say it was compelling.
Now: the actual outcome here could have been much better. There were 3 people shooting, which was apparent by the cuts, and because we know that was the assignment, but wouldn’t know otherwise. What was added to this (funny!) video by having more than one camera person? What kind of instruction did you give them?
Shot 2 was helpful in illuminating the situation better. Shot 1 and Shot 3 are very similar, although Shot 3 has the close-ups I was waiting for all along. It would have been great to see this scene from more angles, or with greater purpose in general (what are we going for here, other than documentation?).
1/ Opening shot of three students playing video game. Cut after approx. 1.5 minutes to shot of television screen of the game. Moving shot of three students, with occasional zoom. Final shot of television screen with score.
Lighting was subdued, shot of the screen was rotated. Shot starting around 2.5 min. appears to be handheld.
The shots zooming in on particular students seemed to correlate with increased action, or some special role in the game.
The shots of the screen added context to the opening shots, and the final shot also added continuity. Not sure if the handheld shots were used as a device, to suggest something.
I don't think I've EVER watch anyone played video game/Rock Band for the full duration in my life. So you did that. I watched the film intensely trying to figure out how did "pass the camera" was incorporated and the goal of the film.
I am guessing that Schuyler asked three people to do the shooting and they did differentiate by the first people focusing on the whole band, second person shooting the screen and the third person making more close-ups. AT the same time, I don't understand how the three different cameramen add to the film besides shooting different- which is, in this case, something that one camera man could have gone. I'd love to know what were your directions for your participants!
A few shots that I really enjoyed were close up of Schuyler singing a long note at the end of the song. The diagonal cut of the face was excellent.
Strangely enough, this is very representative of Armstrong 2 life. I would be frightened to actually record what percentage of the time someone in our entry is playing Rock Band.
The different perspectives are interesting. While each section is a little long, you could also take that to be an interpretation of the extreme concentration one must exhibit while playing the game? Maybe? I don't know!
There could have been more angles, which might have been preferable even if it was impossible to completely line up the sound.
I found the differentiating of perspectives interesting. The camera zooms felt unnatural and I think took away from the experience.
More variety in your angels would have helped as well, since it was one continuous shot, the length of individual shots got tiresome after a while.
The video centers around three individuals - one who plays the drums, another who plays the guitar, and another who sings (beautifully I might add). The individuals are playing the song More Than a Feeling (love it!) on the video game Rock Band.
I was a little bit confused about how this project conformed to the nature of the assignment at times. I think it would have been fantastically interesting and cool if there had been a shot of this scene from the perspective of the individuals playing the instruments. Maybe they would not have to hold the camera, but you could get various people to stand over their shoulders.
However, I think the video is neat and demonstrates, not only the superior musical talents of the actors involved, but also a dynamic breadth in the variety of shots taken.
All three figures in the scene looked very concentrated and detached from the world outside the immediate situation at hand. Was this part of the intentions behind the work? I have to agree with others that the different people shooting were mysterious in their intentions. Were they meant to be or is there another aspect of the work the viewer must identify without previous knowledge of what to expect?
The shots are clear and concise, but I agree that more variety of shots are needed to create that "music video" feel. We should feel the excitement that you feel singing and I think that can be done with "MTV" style shots (high, low, upclose, shaky, out of focus to focus, even jumpy). Anything to spice it up this fun idea!
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