Blog 3

I've started using DivX DVD ripper Platinum trial version to start compiling my found footage directly into MOV format. This program allows me to rip a greater range of DVD's in high quality but only 5 minutes at a time. Fortunately that's all I require in this case.

I've yet to find a suitable solution to my problem of choosing a structure for my piece. For future reference I'll call them Idea A and Idea B. To recap.

A explores the potential rabbit-hole nature of screen media, following the gaze of TV characters and exploring their own media. The aim is to create a chain of people watching people watching people, structured as a scientific experiment (two attempts and one successful loop back on onto the experimenter themselves who is videoing their attempt). I like the structure of using the initial subject as someone attempting to explore this environment, the main issue is attempting to expand this into something that will engage the audience. I've thought about using a voice over diary, maybe the subject takes a pill and this triggers the experiences, and we use the gps between trips into the screen to explore his thoughts on the idea. A pill is useful, the reason the science is neglected in a film like Inception is that whilst it needs to be acknowledged all the audience really needs is an excuse to buy to concept. That's what I'm after. The main test of this idea at the moment is testing footage to see if it will coherently edit together. This is what I'm attempting to do in the next couple of days.

B examines interaction through screen media and shared cultural uses. So using shared films to link people in different locations but then following other links like facebook on smartphones, online use of games, twitter, TV shows etc to create a loop back to the originator. This project could contrast relationships with the same media between different users. This would use much less found footage and could cinematically be quite interesting creating contrasting environments but making them look like a part of the same film. The mechanic of zooming in on each screen and then zooming out to reveal the new location could be very interesting as well, but requires some tests. Of course some distortion of the screen as it's zoomed in on could be useful, illustrating difference from person to person even in the nature of the screen itself. Again, I need to find some narrative through-line that engages the actual audience.

My research so far has been focused on Norman K Denzin's The Cinematic Society. The principle's I'm hoping to explore are the types of gaze screen media creates and the nature of the audiences gaze. Firstly, the three gazes- The audience at the screen, the camera at the subjects and the characters at each other. I'm unsure about the gaze between characters, but linking and differentiating the gaze of the audience and camera is inherent to both my prospective ideas. The other aspect Denzin highlights is the nature of the gaze, violent, political, sexual and personal. The complexity of these ideas may be an aspect I can link in since I'm essentially watching people watching.