Stuttering . . .: September 2011

Monday, 26 September 2011

American Beauty

Thought it only fitting to address the constant association of my work to American Beauty. I found the script of the bit that shows the offending part-

RICKY

You want to see the most beautiful

thing I've ever filmed?

INT. FITTS HOUSE - RICKY'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

On VIDEO: We're in an empty parking lot on a cold, gray day.

Something is floating across from us... it's an empty,

wrinkled, white PLASTIC BAG. We follow it as the wind carries

it in a circle around us, sometimes whipping it about

violently, or, without warning, sending it soaring skyward,

then letting it float gracefully down to the ground...

Jane and Ricky sit on the bed, watching his WIDE-SCREEN TV.

RICKY

It was one of those days when it's a

minute away from snowing. And there's

this electricity in the air, you can

almost hear it, right? And this bag

was just... dancing with me. Like a

little kid begging me to play with

it. For fifteen minutes. That's the

day I realized that there was this

entire life behind things, and this

incredibly benevolent force that

wanted me to know there was no reason

to be afraid. Ever.

A beat.

RICKY

Video's a poor excuse, I know. But

it helps me remember... I need to

remember...

Now Jane is watching him.

RICKY

(distant)

Sometimes there's so much beauty in

the world I feel like I can't take

it... and my heart is going to cave

in.

After a moment, Jane takes his hand. Then she leans in and

kisses him softly on the lips. His eyes scan hers, curious

to see how she reacts to this...

JANE

(suddenly)

Oh my God. What time is it?

From-

http://www.gointothestory.com/2008/08/great-scene-american-beauty.html

I also really liked the parody that has come from them-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agORS-mmBK8&feature=related

Peter Griffin: (While videotaping a bag blowing a wind) Look! It's dancing with me! It's like there's this incredibly benevolent force that wants me to know there's no reason to be afraid. Sometimes, there's so much beauty in the world, it makes my heart burst.

God: (Angrily) It's just some trash blowing in the wind! Do you have any idea how complicated your circulatory system is?

(From family guy episode S3 ep8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcIhj7T6F0o&feature=related

Sunday, 25 September 2011

Murray Hewitt

http://citygallery.org.nz/murray-hewitt-stations/

Had an intensive hour of working on sound with Mike and he mentioned a couple of artists. The above is Murray Hewitt a Massey Graduate who did films of petrol stations at night and also during the day and placed pop music over top such 'Jessie's girl' and ACDC's 'Hells Bells.'

Really interested to have a look but havem't been able to find one online. But there is a lot of writing about his works.

http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/node/30428

'Weeping Waters'- I remember that I actually attending an artist talk from Murray Hewitt where he talked about this specific work. I had a feeling that he was familiar but couldn't place him.

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ot8GGnEunU0J:www.enjoy.org.nz/files/M_Hewit.pdf

http://enjoypublicartgallery.blogspot.com/2010/07/drowned-out-murray-hewitt.html

Really interesting looking at his performances and how he engages with site-specificity and also the politics from everyday situations and how it arises.

M

http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=jewTfVC7XD4&ob=av1e&feature=mv_sr

This is the movie 'M' and was recommended to me by a friend. It is rather long but the use of sound in it is really fascinating as it is made in 1931 and is around the when sound was being first introduced to and in comparing it to how we are so used to watching movies now and use to sound being such an integral part. Also you can tell quite easily when it is working and when it isn't.

Below is a link to a trailer for the film and you can quite clearly hear the difference.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4008117785/

Kill Bill 2

Was watching this segment and was amazed once actually listening of how there is no way that most of the sounds are real. Was really helpful to determine how exaggerating sounds can be really effective. I particularly like the sounds going on when she breaks off the tv aerial, that sound was really effective.

Light Bulb

Further inspiration

Light Bulb

I liked how cheeky this cap seemed as it sneaked closer and then rolled away. It took on it's own whole persona. This is what I was mostly wanting to work with in regards to the the wind and rubbish. It is kind of useful to look again at these videos because of my initial intentions.

Light Bulb

So these are the original videos that helped to spark my project and develop from the origami balls to working with the wind. I noticed this one from my window and how through the wind moving the sheet causing the shadow of the fence to look like it's rolling

Amelie

Saw the scene in this 23-30 seconds about 2 glasses dancing in the wind. The way that this movie looks at objects and introduces characters is really interesting. When I was initially looking at the rubbish in the wind I was reminded of this scene and the potential to look at objects differently by how they move. This is really just to show the scene, I couldn't find the same scene with english subtitles.