- Jarmusch, J. [no date]. Cited in: Art of the Title. 29 October 2010. Production Breakdown. [online]. Art of the Title. Available from: http://www.artofthetitle.com/2010/10/29/the-walking-dead/
[Accessed 24 November 2011]
Showing posts with label Concept Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Concept Development. Show all posts
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Jim Jarmusch - Nothing is original
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic."
Logo/Title Design
I am reading the logo design blog post by Jacob Cass on his website http://justcreativedesign.com that I mentioned in a previous post. As I am going to be designing a title, which is similar to a logo or typeface I think this article could be of great help if I look at it from a title sequence angle. What I am going to do for that is "translate" this article and filter out what would be appropriate to take-away for my title design. The questions are straight copy-pasted originals from the blog, the answers are title design variations of the original logo design orientated answers, partly copy-paste, partly re-written or paraphrased to suit my design questions.
“What are the key questions that you ask a client in order to determine the direction to go with their logo?”
What is the goal of the design, production or story you are designing for?
What is the design for? What should it say about the show, their target audience and "competitor"? Where will the title be used? Is it going to be a tagline or is there additional information? Get to know the show so you have a solid design brief to produce the right solution.
“How do you pitch a logo – do you choose 2-3, hoping the client will go for the one you think is the best? How do you persuade the client on the ‘right’ choice if they’ve picked, in your opinion, the ‘worst’ logo?”
The job of a designer isn’t to go “Here are ten designs, pick one”. If you limit the choices to what you think is best for their project, then there is less chance for them to choose the ‘worst’ design. Do your best to explain the reasoning behind your designs to prove that you have nailed the brief.
“When starting a logo design for a new client, what are the classic pitfalls, and how can you avoid them?”
Common mistake: not asking enough questions before the project begins, which includes research. Really get to know the project before you start development.
Another mistake is to copy other designers work. You can borrow, adapt other people's work but never copy.
“What would be your advice for user-testing your logo designs?”
Getting feedback is definitely a crucial part of the design process, though you must make sure you take note of where the feedback is coming from. Take note of how much they know about the story, the brief and product. You can't please everyone, though! Take it with a pinch of salt.
“How do you steer away from clichés to really nail form and meaning?”
Designs are getting so similar these days which makes it vital to put the extra effort in to come up with a strong, original concept. Stay up to date with what is happening in the branding, identity, advertising and design world so you have a solid foundation to build upon for your work.
A Title sequence doesn't have to be self explanatory, it doesn't have to tell the whole story, but it can give a hint to what it's all about.
“What are the key questions that you ask a client in order to determine the direction to go with their logo?”
What is the goal of the design, production or story you are designing for?
What is the design for? What should it say about the show, their target audience and "competitor"? Where will the title be used? Is it going to be a tagline or is there additional information? Get to know the show so you have a solid design brief to produce the right solution.
The job of a designer isn’t to go “Here are ten designs, pick one”. If you limit the choices to what you think is best for their project, then there is less chance for them to choose the ‘worst’ design. Do your best to explain the reasoning behind your designs to prove that you have nailed the brief.
“When starting a logo design for a new client, what are the classic pitfalls, and how can you avoid them?”
Common mistake: not asking enough questions before the project begins, which includes research. Really get to know the project before you start development.
Another mistake is to copy other designers work. You can borrow, adapt other people's work but never copy.
“What would be your advice for user-testing your logo designs?”
Getting feedback is definitely a crucial part of the design process, though you must make sure you take note of where the feedback is coming from. Take note of how much they know about the story, the brief and product. You can't please everyone, though! Take it with a pinch of salt.
“How do you steer away from clichés to really nail form and meaning?”
Designs are getting so similar these days which makes it vital to put the extra effort in to come up with a strong, original concept. Stay up to date with what is happening in the branding, identity, advertising and design world so you have a solid foundation to build upon for your work.
A Title sequence doesn't have to be self explanatory, it doesn't have to tell the whole story, but it can give a hint to what it's all about.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Creature with Sound - Media Test (2) and Analysis
With a little help from the brilliant Matt West my raw footage has now got some rough sound added to it. I am rather happy about that! It's not finished yet as it's not matched the way I want the final piece to look but here it is:
This media test is mainly exploring audio recording and implementation with live-action footage but also title design and creating a title/intro for a specific genre, a horror/thriller genre. At this point the sequence doesn't have a logo as I am still working on title design. I feel I don't have enough knowledge about title design for title sequences and for specific themes or genres and have to go back to my research and find out how a script or typeface can bring the context of a story into a title. The audio is still unfinished and has to be adapted but in the big picture, this is what I imagined this sequence to look like.
This media test is mainly exploring audio recording and implementation with live-action footage but also title design and creating a title/intro for a specific genre, a horror/thriller genre. At this point the sequence doesn't have a logo as I am still working on title design. I feel I don't have enough knowledge about title design for title sequences and for specific themes or genres and have to go back to my research and find out how a script or typeface can bring the context of a story into a title. The audio is still unfinished and has to be adapted but in the big picture, this is what I imagined this sequence to look like.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Media Test 2
I have come up with a second idea I will create as a media test. I'm not sure what to call it. It could be a trailer for a film, or an intro "Lost" style. Probably not a show title sequence as I don't think it would work as a continuous story. Below is the raw footage of the clip that I want to make. The idea is that a girl is running down the stairs in panic, thinking she's being followed, running down a dark staircase only lit by a flickering lamp and just before she reaches the next landing, where the light is much brighter it cuts to black and we hear her scream. That's when the title shows up on screen, as if scratched away by claws revealing the title "creature" beneath.
I am probably not going to use the original soundtrack but record footsteps, heavy breathing, the scream and a buzzing sound for the flickering light. I will have a look on various free audio websites to find animal growling sounds to add for "the creature" and create a logo/typeface for it as well. I might have to colour correct the footage also and maybe add a musical soundtrack but I'm going to see how it looks with the other edits first.
I am probably not going to use the original soundtrack but record footsteps, heavy breathing, the scream and a buzzing sound for the flickering light. I will have a look on various free audio websites to find animal growling sounds to add for "the creature" and create a logo/typeface for it as well. I might have to colour correct the footage also and maybe add a musical soundtrack but I'm going to see how it looks with the other edits first.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Making of Mad Men Title
I found a website that is dedicated to Title Sequences and is in their words a " leading web resource of film and television title design from around the world".
Art of the Title website Iain Albison Twitter
I found an interview about the making of the Mad Men title by Imaginary Forces on their website here.
Art of the Title website Iain Albison Twitter
I found an interview about the making of the Mad Men title by Imaginary Forces on their website here.
Kyle Cooper Quote
"How a title sequence articulates itself visually and aurally should be a consequence, dictated by the content."
~ Cooper, K. [no date]. Quoted by the author in: Braha, Y. and Byrne, B. 2010.
Creative Motion Graphic Titling for Film, Video, and the Web.
USA: Elsevier Science & Technology.
USA: Elsevier Science & Technology.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Indent Idea (Media Test 1)
I had an idea for a logo or indent for a pretend production studio by the name of Blue Angel Productions. It would have a mascot; a stylised, blue, vector angel that would fly into view, swish her wand and the letters "Blue Angel Productions" would appear on screen in glitter. This would require researching particle effects in After Effects and creating a simple animation for the fairy/angel flying. I would also have to develop a font or some sort of logo for the studio name. This would qualify as one of my early title sequence tests.
Here a first sketch:
Saturday, 15 October 2011
VFX websites and tutorials
I stumbled across some helpful websites, that could come in handy when I start playing around with After Effects for my project.
Creative Cow - A creative community with help forums, tutorials and more
Adobe Blogs - Getting started with After Effects (CS4, CS5, & CS5.5)
Adobe Help - After Effects community resources
Video Copilot - Blog and tutorials by Andrew Kramer
Creative Cow - A creative community with help forums, tutorials and more
Adobe Blogs - Getting started with After Effects (CS4, CS5, & CS5.5)
Adobe Help - After Effects community resources
Video Copilot - Blog and tutorials by Andrew Kramer
Thursday, 13 October 2011
A Selection of Intro Sequences
"Resurrecting an Art Form. TV got good again. Six Feet Under helped redefine what a TV show could be. We are proud to be a part of that ambition - to just make it better. The TV title sequence is a branding endeavor and a legitimate art form. It is the sole, consistent, and iconic moment that carries through a show’s lifespan and beyond. It’s what you remember most. DK is the most Emmy-nominated firm in the category. We seek assignments that tell a separate, parallel story. These are little art films really, that find their own voice, all while arming audiences with each show’s unique psychology and worldview."
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9.
10. 11. 12.
-Digital Kitchen [no date]. Vimeo. [online]. Available from: http://vimeo.com/5846864
[Accessed 24 November 2011].
[Accessed 24 November 2011].
1. 2. 3.
7. 8. 9.
10. 11. 12.
- Pretty Little Liars by Aloy Entertainment
- Breaking Bad by High Bridge Productions
- Ringer by CBS Television Studios, Warner Bros. Television, ABC Television Studios (in association with) Brillstein Entertainment Partners
- Big Bang Theory by The Picture Mill
- Dexter by Digital Kitchen
- Fresh Meat by MOMOCO Film Titles
- Supernatural (1-7) by Shooters Post and Transfer
- Veronica Mars by Prologue Films
- Misfits by MOMOCO Film Titles & Maguffin
- Equals Three (Youtube)
- The Phillip DeFranco Show (Youtube)
- Skins by BBC Studios and Post Production
Pitch Review
In review of my pitch presentation today I was told to simplify my subject area. Originally I wanted to look at media convergence, especially the merge of TV and online content and how audience attraction is achieved in both traditional and new areas, which methods have been taken over from the traditional TV model and which have developed specifically for web distribution. In the frame of this, I also wanted to look at branding of a show, especially through intro sequences using motion graphics and how that impacts on audience attraction and building of a community.
As I am most interested in Motion Graphics as a career, it was suggested to me to look at show branding through motion graphics and leave audience and community out of the equation. This sounds sensible to me, as the original idea might be too laborious to do by myself. I started thinking about what I could do with just motion graphics as a subject in the wider context of the branding of a tv show through an intro sequence. Most shows have an intro sequence, if it's a million dollar US production, a low budget UK production or a YouTube Channel/Web-Series. I could look at popular/successful/independant shows on TV and online and try and undertsand what intro sequences they have. Why are they made a certain way? What is the connection between the content and theme of the show and the intro? Compare and contrast live action/CG mixed intros and pure motion graphics intros. Why was motion grahpics used and not live-action and vice versa?
Some of the shows I'd like to look ar are US TV shows that have started airing their new seasons this autumn and their intro sequences. The ones that have been announced to air this year are the ones that have received the green light for production from the networks because of their popularity and success, whereas less successful shows from the previous year would have been dropped. I would also like to look at UK Channel 4/E4 and BBC productions as well as web-series' and YouTube Channels.
An idea that came to mind after the presentation was to create 3 intro sequences fitting each category listed above:
On a trip to visit some London Post-Production studios I went to recently we were told, that if we wanted to apply for a job or runner position at the company one of the things we could do is to look at the projects the company is involved in or something they have produced recently and try and recreate that, to show that you have the same level of skill as them.
As I am most interested in Motion Graphics as a career, it was suggested to me to look at show branding through motion graphics and leave audience and community out of the equation. This sounds sensible to me, as the original idea might be too laborious to do by myself. I started thinking about what I could do with just motion graphics as a subject in the wider context of the branding of a tv show through an intro sequence. Most shows have an intro sequence, if it's a million dollar US production, a low budget UK production or a YouTube Channel/Web-Series. I could look at popular/successful/independant shows on TV and online and try and undertsand what intro sequences they have. Why are they made a certain way? What is the connection between the content and theme of the show and the intro? Compare and contrast live action/CG mixed intros and pure motion graphics intros. Why was motion grahpics used and not live-action and vice versa?
Some of the shows I'd like to look ar are US TV shows that have started airing their new seasons this autumn and their intro sequences. The ones that have been announced to air this year are the ones that have received the green light for production from the networks because of their popularity and success, whereas less successful shows from the previous year would have been dropped. I would also like to look at UK Channel 4/E4 and BBC productions as well as web-series' and YouTube Channels.
An idea that came to mind after the presentation was to create 3 intro sequences fitting each category listed above:
- US TV
- UK TV
- Online
On a trip to visit some London Post-Production studios I went to recently we were told, that if we wanted to apply for a job or runner position at the company one of the things we could do is to look at the projects the company is involved in or something they have produced recently and try and recreate that, to show that you have the same level of skill as them.
- I could look at some US TV show intros and try and recreate their intro sequence to show my level of skill
- I could design a TV show in the style of a UK TV show and produce an intro sequence for this pretend show (that I will not be producing)
- I could contact an web-series producer or YouTuber to create an intro for their show
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Jacob Cass Blog
Ask The Experts: Logo Design FAQ, Q&A, Tips + More
I stumbled across this blog in Google images featuring a Q&A in the Computer Arts magazine of the guy who writes the blog. The issue (no.135) is about "Creating the perfect logo" which will probably come in at some point, if I want to create my own logo. Jacob Cass has posted the 11 questions Computer Arts have asked him about creating a logo and how he goes about doing that. Very interesting!
Also, I found a video tutorial website by D Bnonn Tennant on how to best generate customers with your website, avoiding obvious mistakes. I thought this would be quite handy as well sometime, when I'd might like to create my own portfolio website:
HOW TO TURN VISITORS INTO CUSTOMERS
Also, I found a video tutorial website by D Bnonn Tennant on how to best generate customers with your website, avoiding obvious mistakes. I thought this would be quite handy as well sometime, when I'd might like to create my own portfolio website:
HOW TO TURN VISITORS INTO CUSTOMERS
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
How do you research and explore ideas?
I look at videos/websites/youtube/vimeo/blogs of people that I have heard about, like Isa Alsup, either from classmates/friends like Iain or people I stumble upon, like artists and youtube channels I have listed in my previous post.
I also follow quite a few interesting artists on twitter like #Abduzeedo or companies like Moving Picture Company (MPC), Passion Pictures, Cinesite, Double Negative, The Mill, MK12 and Rushes and their Vimeo Profile MGFX Studio. These are only a few of the artists and companies I follow. There are some more listed in previous posts.
All highlighted names are linked to the appropriate websites.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
A Sense of Community
People want to be part of things. Most of the webseries, like Quarterlife, Control TV, Being Victor and popular Youtube channels like The Phillip DeFranco Show, =3 (Equals Three), Charlie is so cool like I have looked at build upon creating and maintaining a community that will participate in the show. It gives the viewer a sense of being part of that world or being part of a bigger thing.
Quarterlife is about a group of friends and acquaintances revolving around the main character Dylan who has created a social networking/blogging site on which she vlogs about her life. Throughout the season this site evolves into a widely used portal for people to talk about themselves and to other, much like Facebook, only mainly via video. At the time of "airing" this series used to have an actual Quarterlife social network site on which real people could interact, just like in the TV show, making them part of the show and the show seem like real life with real people.
Control TV is a kind of Big Brother/Reality TV type webseries set in a semi-unrestricted environment (meaning: the participant has access to the outside world) where the viewer influences what happens to the participant. What I have gathered from the recap episodes of this show is that the participant is a volunteer, selected for the show to live in a flat, being filmed 24/7. For every decision he has to make a poll is created on the website, live while the show is running (assumable via live-stream). According to the audiences poll results the participant has to do what the audience wants. On top of that, he also gets tasks set for him, he has to solve. This show was awarded "Best Web Show of 2010" by clicker.com. Conrol TV is also basing it's entire success on it's audience. There has to people watching it, for it to work and enough people taking part for it to move forward, which automatically creates a strong community.
Being Victor was a short series produced for MTV which is now available online. I don't think this show was produced solely for the web but has certainly had a web presence. The main character Vinnie, maintains a blog, calling himself Victor, talking about his life. This blog was a real blog and maintained by said character, simulating a real person blogging about, just about anything, making the audience feel like the character was a real life person. The audience could interact with the blog by commenting on his posts and therefore being part of the series' universe.
The Phillip DeFranco Show is a classic YouTube Presenter-Audience show. The Presenter, Phillip DeFranco talks "about some of the stuff that mattered in the news to" him. This includes a mix of but not limited to world affairs, politics and entertainment news. Some news pieces are sometimes suggestions by the audience. He relies heavily on a strong community, tying the audience in with give-aways, comment questions and addressing them as "The DeFranco Nation" appealing to the sense of community. People are invited to discuss the topics brought to the table and therefore made part of the show. This is increased with the recent addition of viewer introductions to the show, at the start of the show.
=3 is a YouTube video selection show in which the presenter, Ray William Johnson, presents a selection of entertaining, shocking or generally interesting videos from YouTube and other user generated content sites that are either suggested to him by the audience or selected by him/his team. The show evolves around the videos but also the presenters humorous delivery, much like a usual bloopers or caught on camera show would. The viewers are invited to leave comments on the comment question of the day and also suggest videos for review. The again establishes and maintains a community, which includes the viewers in the video and makes them part of one world. In the next video Ray describes perfectly what exactly the show is about. It is one of the older episodes and I think it's a classic.
Charlie is so cool like is from what I have gathered an entertaining informational/educational show. Sometimes it is less serious than others but the few episodes I have watched have been about some sort of delivery of information. He talks directly to the camera, as the other two YouTube shows I have mentioned, establishing a direct and almost personal connection to the viewer. Adding to this connection are the user comments and suggestions taken on board for following episodes.
Although YouTube is in general considered a community, with the vast amount of channels and videos out there followers are still likely to feel like one of many. Due to techniques like comment questions, give-aways and viewer suggestions - common, well-established broadcast TV techniques - the viewers are made to feel special and make a personal connection to the presenter and ultimately, the show, guaranteeing a continuous viewer base.
Quarterlife is about a group of friends and acquaintances revolving around the main character Dylan who has created a social networking/blogging site on which she vlogs about her life. Throughout the season this site evolves into a widely used portal for people to talk about themselves and to other, much like Facebook, only mainly via video. At the time of "airing" this series used to have an actual Quarterlife social network site on which real people could interact, just like in the TV show, making them part of the show and the show seem like real life with real people.
Control TV is a kind of Big Brother/Reality TV type webseries set in a semi-unrestricted environment (meaning: the participant has access to the outside world) where the viewer influences what happens to the participant. What I have gathered from the recap episodes of this show is that the participant is a volunteer, selected for the show to live in a flat, being filmed 24/7. For every decision he has to make a poll is created on the website, live while the show is running (assumable via live-stream). According to the audiences poll results the participant has to do what the audience wants. On top of that, he also gets tasks set for him, he has to solve. This show was awarded "Best Web Show of 2010" by clicker.com. Conrol TV is also basing it's entire success on it's audience. There has to people watching it, for it to work and enough people taking part for it to move forward, which automatically creates a strong community.
Being Victor was a short series produced for MTV which is now available online. I don't think this show was produced solely for the web but has certainly had a web presence. The main character Vinnie, maintains a blog, calling himself Victor, talking about his life. This blog was a real blog and maintained by said character, simulating a real person blogging about, just about anything, making the audience feel like the character was a real life person. The audience could interact with the blog by commenting on his posts and therefore being part of the series' universe.
The Phillip DeFranco Show is a classic YouTube Presenter-Audience show. The Presenter, Phillip DeFranco talks "about some of the stuff that mattered in the news to" him. This includes a mix of but not limited to world affairs, politics and entertainment news. Some news pieces are sometimes suggestions by the audience. He relies heavily on a strong community, tying the audience in with give-aways, comment questions and addressing them as "The DeFranco Nation" appealing to the sense of community. People are invited to discuss the topics brought to the table and therefore made part of the show. This is increased with the recent addition of viewer introductions to the show, at the start of the show.
=3 is a YouTube video selection show in which the presenter, Ray William Johnson, presents a selection of entertaining, shocking or generally interesting videos from YouTube and other user generated content sites that are either suggested to him by the audience or selected by him/his team. The show evolves around the videos but also the presenters humorous delivery, much like a usual bloopers or caught on camera show would. The viewers are invited to leave comments on the comment question of the day and also suggest videos for review. The again establishes and maintains a community, which includes the viewers in the video and makes them part of one world. In the next video Ray describes perfectly what exactly the show is about. It is one of the older episodes and I think it's a classic.
Charlie is so cool like is from what I have gathered an entertaining informational/educational show. Sometimes it is less serious than others but the few episodes I have watched have been about some sort of delivery of information. He talks directly to the camera, as the other two YouTube shows I have mentioned, establishing a direct and almost personal connection to the viewer. Adding to this connection are the user comments and suggestions taken on board for following episodes.
Although YouTube is in general considered a community, with the vast amount of channels and videos out there followers are still likely to feel like one of many. Due to techniques like comment questions, give-aways and viewer suggestions - common, well-established broadcast TV techniques - the viewers are made to feel special and make a personal connection to the presenter and ultimately, the show, guaranteeing a continuous viewer base.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
What inspires, motivates & intrigues you?
INSPIRES
Videos like this inspire me, by the message they send and by the artwork.
This video inspired me to make my own video out of my mind map. I haven't started making it yet but if time allows I definitely will.
MOTIVATES
Videos like this motivate me, because I want to be able to create something like that! I want to be able to express myself in the same way.
INTRIGUES
Videos like this intrigue me, because I want to know how it's made, what software was used and what the thought process behind it was.
Videos like this inspire me, by the message they send and by the artwork.
This video inspired me to make my own video out of my mind map. I haven't started making it yet but if time allows I definitely will.
MOTIVATES
Videos like this motivate me, because I want to be able to create something like that! I want to be able to express myself in the same way.
INTRIGUES
Videos like this intrigue me, because I want to know how it's made, what software was used and what the thought process behind it was.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Mind Map
This mind map incorporates all of the ideas I have for my honours project. It includes research subjects I would like to investigate for my dissertation like "Audience Attraction" and "Media convergence" but also the practical side of the Project, which is creating a webseries. This will either be a youtube channel style series or a story based series mainly distributed to a website (but most likely also youtube). I will want to focus on motion graphics for the practical side of the project, as that is my passion and I am aiming to work in the visual effects department of a post production company after graduation and would therefore like to produce a strong portfolio piece I could present future employers.
Click on the image to view it in higher quality
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
User Generated Editing
I don't know if there is such a thing as user generated editing or if there is another name for this kind of idea, but this is what I am going to call it for now. I am very interested in the process of editing and how scenes of a film or tv show can create a different mood, cut in a certain way than cut in another. My question is therefore "How does editing effect the transmission of a story to the audience".
My idea has evolved since the last time I wrote about it. I have done a lot of research into the development of the internet, companies during those times and the change of the tv and advertising industry. Ideas for my project have come and gone. I now have a very strong project idea that I will investigate over the next few weeks to find out if it's doable.
My main focus still lies in media-convergence and multi-platform distribution and how that will effect the TV industry in the future. With audiences consuming TV content outside the live broadcast concept it is inevitable for the TV industry to change and adapt. My idea is to create a web-series that concentrates on just that with an addition of "user generated editing".
What I mean by this is, the audience creates the edit by viewing scenes in any order desired, which creates a unique edit of the series. With audiences watching episodes of shows or web-series' on youtube, tablets or smartphones often on-the-go, short sequences are preferred. Which makes a web-series consisting of 1-2 min. scenes the perfect fit.
I want to create or have someone create a website that will host a series of videos. One or more videos will pose as the core of the story, with other sequences linked to it in a sort of mind map or tree or based on the idea of YouTube's "end of video suggestions". By viewing the main video(s) the audience will gain access to the "tree" of sequences and is given the freedom to watch the story in an arbitrary way.
This will require a carefully thought out story, that will make sense whichever sequence is watched first. I am planning to write the story, direct the production and edit the content. To help me with this project, I want to assemble a team of writers who will write the screen play to my story, a sound designer to compose the soundtrack, a web designer to create the website and professional or semi-professional actors. I am looking into funding, to be able to pay actors as that is my main concern. Bad acting leads to a bad production.
As for the story, I am still not sure but I have watched a short film adaptation by Dan Trachtenberg of the game Portal, which seemed like the kind of storyline that would fit a series where the audience only gets to see short scenes at a time in a random order until the whole story is revealed.
The idea is to create a kind of Pulp Fiction-esque, Quentin Tarantino style story.
My idea has evolved since the last time I wrote about it. I have done a lot of research into the development of the internet, companies during those times and the change of the tv and advertising industry. Ideas for my project have come and gone. I now have a very strong project idea that I will investigate over the next few weeks to find out if it's doable.
My main focus still lies in media-convergence and multi-platform distribution and how that will effect the TV industry in the future. With audiences consuming TV content outside the live broadcast concept it is inevitable for the TV industry to change and adapt. My idea is to create a web-series that concentrates on just that with an addition of "user generated editing".
What I mean by this is, the audience creates the edit by viewing scenes in any order desired, which creates a unique edit of the series. With audiences watching episodes of shows or web-series' on youtube, tablets or smartphones often on-the-go, short sequences are preferred. Which makes a web-series consisting of 1-2 min. scenes the perfect fit.
I want to create or have someone create a website that will host a series of videos. One or more videos will pose as the core of the story, with other sequences linked to it in a sort of mind map or tree or based on the idea of YouTube's "end of video suggestions". By viewing the main video(s) the audience will gain access to the "tree" of sequences and is given the freedom to watch the story in an arbitrary way.
This will require a carefully thought out story, that will make sense whichever sequence is watched first. I am planning to write the story, direct the production and edit the content. To help me with this project, I want to assemble a team of writers who will write the screen play to my story, a sound designer to compose the soundtrack, a web designer to create the website and professional or semi-professional actors. I am looking into funding, to be able to pay actors as that is my main concern. Bad acting leads to a bad production.
As for the story, I am still not sure but I have watched a short film adaptation by Dan Trachtenberg of the game Portal, which seemed like the kind of storyline that would fit a series where the audience only gets to see short scenes at a time in a random order until the whole story is revealed.
The idea is to create a kind of Pulp Fiction-esque, Quentin Tarantino style story.
Friday, 1 July 2011
Honours Project Idea
For my honours project I want to create a webseries along the lines of Being Victor, integrated in a dedicated website similar to Control TV. I have struggled to find the right genre and the decision is definitely not made yet but I would like to target a mid-20s age group in a comedy/drama setting. Something along the lines of Gilmore Girls or Greek.
The episodes will be of 8-10 minutes length and the series will comprise of 8(ish) episodes. There is room for change as I am not proposing the project until September.
I have yet to figure out the storyline and if I will have one hero/heroin or group of people. I want to try and find dedicated script writers to write the script, maybe Abertay students that would write my scripts as part of their third year module requirements, professional actors from either the Rep or other theatre groups in Dundee. I don't want this to be a uni project only, I want it to be a presentable piece. Which is why I want the acting to be spot on. I will have to find sound artists, most likely students, to provide the audio and hopefully I can recruit some indie bands to provide the music for the soundtrack.
Unless my academic supervisor disagrees I would take on the role of director and camera and also edit the piece. Which means I am leading the creative department, have over all creative reign and am putting the largest amount of work into the project to deem it my own.
With this project I am exploring the question I have posed as my dissertation question "How does the internet becoming such a vast medium for consumption of video content impact the TV production industry?", a question I have previously dipped into with my Digital Media Practice Essay.
The episodes will be of 8-10 minutes length and the series will comprise of 8(ish) episodes. There is room for change as I am not proposing the project until September.
I have yet to figure out the storyline and if I will have one hero/heroin or group of people. I want to try and find dedicated script writers to write the script, maybe Abertay students that would write my scripts as part of their third year module requirements, professional actors from either the Rep or other theatre groups in Dundee. I don't want this to be a uni project only, I want it to be a presentable piece. Which is why I want the acting to be spot on. I will have to find sound artists, most likely students, to provide the audio and hopefully I can recruit some indie bands to provide the music for the soundtrack.
Unless my academic supervisor disagrees I would take on the role of director and camera and also edit the piece. Which means I am leading the creative department, have over all creative reign and am putting the largest amount of work into the project to deem it my own.
With this project I am exploring the question I have posed as my dissertation question "How does the internet becoming such a vast medium for consumption of video content impact the TV production industry?", a question I have previously dipped into with my Digital Media Practice Essay.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Interactive Webisodes
I have mentioned this in my Digital Media Practice essay and I have come across a very good example of the development of Shows and Mini-series' developed solely for the internet user base. There are also little extras developed for the web or on social networking sites like Facebook that link to a TV series in a way like in Pretty Little Liars.
It helps to spread the word to anyone not familiar with the show, suck them in and for viewers already familiar with it, engage even more with the show. It breaks the fourth wall and invites to be part of the story instead of just a bystander. In the case of Pretty Little Liars, a show that is based on revealing secrets, it unravels clues that weren't given in the show. Not necessarily something a viewer that didn't take part would miss out on, but background information that feeds into the mystery of the show.
It's a very clever way of engaging and keeping things interesting, especially considering the target audience and the tendency towards internet based activity like streaming and social networking.
It helps to spread the word to anyone not familiar with the show, suck them in and for viewers already familiar with it, engage even more with the show. It breaks the fourth wall and invites to be part of the story instead of just a bystander. In the case of Pretty Little Liars, a show that is based on revealing secrets, it unravels clues that weren't given in the show. Not necessarily something a viewer that didn't take part would miss out on, but background information that feeds into the mystery of the show.
It's a very clever way of engaging and keeping things interesting, especially considering the target audience and the tendency towards internet based activity like streaming and social networking.
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