Intro
In the first project of the year, we focused on expressing ourselves in forms of art uncommon in the mainstream (poetry, experimental film, etc). It was an experience that emphasized risk-taking and creating your own, personal aesthetic. From a technical standpoint, we also familiarized ourselves with the programs we would be using in our various class throughout the year, such as Adobe Premiere and Photoshop, Pro Tools, and WordPress (this program!).
I enjoyed this project because it was an excellent example of why I wanted to join Freestyle in the first place: unconventional and unique teaching methods through media that inspired and challenged me as a creator. I especially had fun conceptualizing and executing my experimental film. While I do definitely acknowledge that the aforementioned film is very, very far from perfect, it was an excellent way for me to dip my toe into the world of filmmaking and experimental media. I also used the skills I learned in Digital Media to create a short video for my friends.
Poetry Unit (English + Digital Media)
Our first major project of the year was to write three styles of poems and present them in various forms of media (primarily a spoken word recording and image).
Creating this poem in its various forms allowed me to explore the versatility of media and how I could express myself in other ways than just words on a page. Poetry as a visual medium was a new and exciting concept, and it helped me to develop an aesthetic in my writing and media style. I enjoyed working with Premiere and Pro Tools, and this project provided an excellent primer to both programs.
Haiku Photo and Video (English + Digital Media)
As mentioned above, we were tasked with writing three styles of poetry in the Conceptual unit. The first of these poems was the haiku, inspired by phrases that we drew out of a hat. We then took photos based on our haikus and worked with Premiere Pro to create a short video of us reading out the poem while the photo visually conveyed the message of our haiku.
Experimental Film (Film + English)
For our first major project in film class, we were assigned to create an experimental film based on the phrases drawn for our haikus. We worked together in a mock “writer’s room” to come up with ideas for our films, learned about the boundaries and history of film itself, and watched a variety of example films in class.
I tried to shoot most of my scenes at 60 frames per second, or fps. When sped up, the shots at 60 fps seemed chaotic and otherworldly, creating a feeling of paranoia and uncertainty that I wanted to be the focal point of my film. I also tried to implement this technique by placing the apple, my main character, over a shifting collage of colors. My music, inspired by the classic black and white cartoons of the 20s and 30s, further heightens the feeling of confusion and unpredictability prevalent across the course of the piece.