Today we had our second official meeting with Lenroy "Bassie" Guiste. We met at the Alley Cafe again and spent roughly an hour going over more dates and details:
The first order of business was discussing the durations. Although, I feel as though he might have preferred a longer version for the documentary, he was understanding with the reasons for the change.
Next, we decided that the first interview we are going to have to gather bio information on Lenny will take place on December 8th at his house. This initial interview will not be filmed since it is solely to find out more personal information in order to provide a better basis for designing the documentary and music video.
Finally, we spoke about some marketing ideas such as hosting a launch party at Broadway Cinema in Nottingham and also using the live performance recording as a fundraiser for our final year exhibition held in June of next year. The launch party would take place sometime around March - April and the live performance is planned on being held in January.
Monday, 30 November 2009
Friday, 27 November 2009
"Bassie" - Feedback and Changes
After receiving some feedback from our tutor for the "Bassie" project, we have made some changes to the plan. The feedback that we received was that the lengths we proposed are too long for the amount of time we have to complete the project and that for the package's purpose, it is not necessary to make that long. Here are the new durations:
Documentary = 10 mins
Music Video = As long as the song
Extras Section = 15 mins
These new durations are reasonable because we will be able to fit all of the necessary information and will also be able to make it better quality by only having to focus on a smaller portion of work.
Another change that we have made concerns the schedule. We are no longer starting the actual filming process straight away, but instead are going to wait until we have more biographical information about Lenny and the Natural Ites. This is due to some more feedback from our tutor, who pointed out that we do not want to film the interview until we know more about the background of the subject. In doing this research, better questions can be asked and irrelevant/redundant questions can be avoided.
Documentary = 10 mins
Music Video = As long as the song
Extras Section = 15 mins
These new durations are reasonable because we will be able to fit all of the necessary information and will also be able to make it better quality by only having to focus on a smaller portion of work.
Another change that we have made concerns the schedule. We are no longer starting the actual filming process straight away, but instead are going to wait until we have more biographical information about Lenny and the Natural Ites. This is due to some more feedback from our tutor, who pointed out that we do not want to film the interview until we know more about the background of the subject. In doing this research, better questions can be asked and irrelevant/redundant questions can be avoided.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Proposed Practice
The general idea for this study is to create 6 short pieces between one and five minutes that will be followed up by a questionnaire so as to measure the therapeutic value of each one. The pieces will be shot using a Sony-Z1 HDV camcorder and edited on non-linear software. All of the standard techniques of filmmaking will be used.
The artefacts that will be created as part of this study will encompass the therapeutic aspects of sound and music, visual imagery, color, and narrative. Some will be focused on one aspect more than the others, seeing as using all of them in one piece might distract the viewer and reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. For instance, one artefact might depict a character that is anxious struggling to perform a task. For this artefact the emphasis would be on the narrative and getting the viewer to relate to the character's experience, thus allowing them to see their anxiety from another perspective.
Another piece might test the effects of using a certain frequency of sound. Through the process of octave shifting, it may be possible to produce the frequency of an enzyme that will reduce anxiety.
By testing the specific effects in this way, it will make it easier to test the individual techniques, as opposed to the general effect of all the factors combined.
The artefacts that will be created as part of this study will encompass the therapeutic aspects of sound and music, visual imagery, color, and narrative. Some will be focused on one aspect more than the others, seeing as using all of them in one piece might distract the viewer and reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. For instance, one artefact might depict a character that is anxious struggling to perform a task. For this artefact the emphasis would be on the narrative and getting the viewer to relate to the character's experience, thus allowing them to see their anxiety from another perspective.
Another piece might test the effects of using a certain frequency of sound. Through the process of octave shifting, it may be possible to produce the frequency of an enzyme that will reduce anxiety.
By testing the specific effects in this way, it will make it easier to test the individual techniques, as opposed to the general effect of all the factors combined.
Final Edit
This is the final version of the advert. Overall, the project was a success. However, the main aspect that I would change is the echo in the sound.
It was shot in the Nottingham Trent University TV Studio which is a small space with hard walls, which caused the actors’ voices to echo. I tried to fix it by using a low-pass filter since the echo of a sound is usually lower pitched than the actual sound. This helped slightly but not enough. I found out after the fact that this could have been prevented by padding the walls.
The soundtrack in the ad was produced by myself. The intent was to have some lighthearted music in the background that would go with the subject of technology. It was produced using the Korg-DS10 Synthesizer for Nintendo’s DSi.
"Pirate vs Pirate"
It was shot in the Nottingham Trent University TV Studio which is a small space with hard walls, which caused the actors’ voices to echo. I tried to fix it by using a low-pass filter since the echo of a sound is usually lower pitched than the actual sound. This helped slightly but not enough. I found out after the fact that this could have been prevented by padding the walls.
The soundtrack in the ad was produced by myself. The intent was to have some lighthearted music in the background that would go with the subject of technology. It was produced using the Korg-DS10 Synthesizer for Nintendo’s DSi.
"Pirate vs Pirate"
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Approach for Selecting Data
For this study, the participants will watch an Audiovisual Therapy piece, then complete a questionnaire.
Method
The research methods that will be used in my Personal Research Project, Audiovisual Therapy, will be primarily qualitative for the following reasons:
Target Audience
The target audience that will be addressed is students aged seventeen to twenty-five, due to this being the most convenient audience to study. Also, studying individuals who actually suffer from anxiety would not be possible due to legal reasons such as the Data Protection Act. Although the validity of the study is negatively affected by this, if the viewers are induced into a more relaxed state, then its implications should hold true for people who are diagnosed with anxiety.
Method
The research methods that will be used in my Personal Research Project, Audiovisual Therapy, will be primarily qualitative for the following reasons:
- Low amount of available participants
- Anxiety is a personal experience that cannot be quantified without overlooking several factors (other emotions, sensations, and thoughts)
- Will provide more information
- Less is revealed about the intent of the study = less participant bias
Target Audience
The target audience that will be addressed is students aged seventeen to twenty-five, due to this being the most convenient audience to study. Also, studying individuals who actually suffer from anxiety would not be possible due to legal reasons such as the Data Protection Act. Although the validity of the study is negatively affected by this, if the viewers are induced into a more relaxed state, then its implications should hold true for people who are diagnosed with anxiety.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
"Pirate vs Pirate" - Shoot Day 2
Today the shoot went extremely fast without problems.
After a few takes the actors recited their lines perfectly in 18 seconds. This leaves two seconds at the end for the message.
The only problem is the sound quality. Due to filming in a small space with hard walls, there is a fairly strong echo. This could have been prevented through placing padding on the walls or some other material that would absorb the sound vibrations. Considering the time constraints and cost of the costume rental, I will not be undertaking a re-shoot.
Here is the unedited take that will be used in the final version:
After a few takes the actors recited their lines perfectly in 18 seconds. This leaves two seconds at the end for the message.
The only problem is the sound quality. Due to filming in a small space with hard walls, there is a fairly strong echo. This could have been prevented through placing padding on the walls or some other material that would absorb the sound vibrations. Considering the time constraints and cost of the costume rental, I will not be undertaking a re-shoot.
Here is the unedited take that will be used in the final version:
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
"Pirate vs Pirate" - Shoot Day 1
Today was the first day of filming the ad. It was only meant to be a one day shoot, however due to technical difficulties (dirty tape slot) the camera would not work and the footage is now damaged.
The green screen was difficult to get right because it was a curtain, as opposed to a painted wall or board, and the creases and wrinkles in the fabric caused a distinct change in color where shadows were present. This was fixed after pulling the curtain as tight as possible and weighing it down with heavy objects.
Although, on the bright side, the takes became increasingly better and the script is now well-rehearsed. This is significant, seeing as the initial takes lasted up to 40 seconds. Now the time it takes for the actors to recite their lines is down to about 20 seconds. This needs to be a few seconds shorter in order to have enough time for the message at the end of the ad, but it is progress.
The green screen was difficult to get right because it was a curtain, as opposed to a painted wall or board, and the creases and wrinkles in the fabric caused a distinct change in color where shadows were present. This was fixed after pulling the curtain as tight as possible and weighing it down with heavy objects.
Although, on the bright side, the takes became increasingly better and the script is now well-rehearsed. This is significant, seeing as the initial takes lasted up to 40 seconds. Now the time it takes for the actors to recite their lines is down to about 20 seconds. This needs to be a few seconds shorter in order to have enough time for the message at the end of the ad, but it is progress.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Unconventional Therapies - The Effects of Music
There have been an incredible amount of studies conducted specifically on the beneficial effects of music:
A chapter in Perception and Organization: Art, Music, and Media by Alexander Styhre (2008), covers the debate between musicology and music theory. The debate stems from the question of whether music is meaningful or not. Laurence Kramer (1990) is a member of New Musicology and claims that there is "no fundamental difference between interpreting a text and a piece of music."
Similarly, O'Donnell (1999) states in his article, Music and the Mind, that music affects a listener's mood due to a physical response. For example, classical music, especially from the baroque period, has the effect of slowing the heart rate and blood pressure, producing a relaxed state. Music even has an effect on the amplitude and frequency of brain waves.
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Through these notions, it is plausible that music in a film or other form of audiovisual art can communicate a beneficial meaning and positively influence the physiology of an individual that suffers from anxiety.
A chapter in Perception and Organization: Art, Music, and Media by Alexander Styhre (2008), covers the debate between musicology and music theory. The debate stems from the question of whether music is meaningful or not. Laurence Kramer (1990) is a member of New Musicology and claims that there is "no fundamental difference between interpreting a text and a piece of music."
Similarly, O'Donnell (1999) states in his article, Music and the Mind, that music affects a listener's mood due to a physical response. For example, classical music, especially from the baroque period, has the effect of slowing the heart rate and blood pressure, producing a relaxed state. Music even has an effect on the amplitude and frequency of brain waves.
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Through these notions, it is plausible that music in a film or other form of audiovisual art can communicate a beneficial meaning and positively influence the physiology of an individual that suffers from anxiety.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Unconventional Therapies - Vibrational Healing
The next phase of developing my argument for the research document was to find other unconventional therapies that are used to treat mental illness. My assumption was that other forms of therapy would lend some knowledge and inspiration for my own project of developing an audiovisual treatment for anxiety. Here is one of the treatments I found:
Vibrational Healing
- reference: Meyer, et al., 2003
- Notable Practitioners: Hermann Helmholtz, John Keely, Royal Rife, Albert Abrams
- Based on a few solid principles including
- The Principle of Vibration (Keely’s Law) - everything is in constant motion
- Theory of Resonance - “every substance on earth and every bone, muscle, organ and microbe in the body has its own frequency”
- Sound Therapy - based on the knowledge that “when the body frequencies are in harmony, the body is healthy; when the body frequencies are out of harmony, dis-ease results”
- Frequencies in the body can be balanced through the vibrations formed by the voice, instruments, or electro-mechanical devices, which "re-establishes the rhythm or flow of the energy in the body so that its natural processes can heal the body."
The concept of sound and music therapies has achieved great results and is still being developed further today in programs at "centers of a healing revolution using sound" including clinics and universities.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Unconventional Therapies - The Effects of Color
"Variety of form and brilliancy of color in objects presented to patients are actual means of recovery. People say the effect is only on the mind. It is no such thing. The effect is on the body too" - Florence Nightingale (1859)
There are several publications, which share this viewpoint, that highlight profound implications for use in therapy and treatment of various ailments and conditions.
Seeing Red: Tweak Your Brain With Colors, by Brandon Keim, displays the results obtained by Juliet Zhu, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia. She states that, "Blue is the color of the sky, the ocean, safety. When their environment is safe, people are more explorative." She also points out that red has a strong effect on the mind of individuals by arousing "neurobiological awareness and vigilance."
An article by Science Daily, Effect of Colors: Blue Boosts Creativity, While Red Enhances Attention To Detail, provides similar results from a year-long study between 2007 and 2008. It was discovered that participants who used a blue-screened computer during tests had double the amount of creative outputs than the group who had been exposed to red screens.
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These findings suggest that color could provide a great contribution to the design of a therapeutic audiovisual piece.
There are several publications, which share this viewpoint, that highlight profound implications for use in therapy and treatment of various ailments and conditions.
Seeing Red: Tweak Your Brain With Colors, by Brandon Keim, displays the results obtained by Juliet Zhu, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia. She states that, "Blue is the color of the sky, the ocean, safety. When their environment is safe, people are more explorative." She also points out that red has a strong effect on the mind of individuals by arousing "neurobiological awareness and vigilance."
An article by Science Daily, Effect of Colors: Blue Boosts Creativity, While Red Enhances Attention To Detail, provides similar results from a year-long study between 2007 and 2008. It was discovered that participants who used a blue-screened computer during tests had double the amount of creative outputs than the group who had been exposed to red screens.
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These findings suggest that color could provide a great contribution to the design of a therapeutic audiovisual piece.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Unconventional Therapies - Film Therapy
An article entitled, Film Therapy, by Meg McConahey, covers this new form of therapy based around clients watching films. This method has become so popular that the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute issues a list of top-10 psychological films under the heading, "shrinkies"
She states that films help patients "reach insights into their own self-defeating behaviors and bad relationships." For instance, the founder of Film TX, Patti Nolan, recommended As Good as it Gets, a film in which Jack Nicholson portrays an unfriendly man who has OCD, to other suffers of OCD so that they might be able to withness the effect that their behavior could be having on other people in their lives.
According to therapists, individuals have difficulty recognizing their "demons" and might find them easier to see in a character from a film.
Also, marriage and family therapist, Nancy Feehan, states that emotional subjects can be addressed easier by referring to a movie character than by directly confronting the client.
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This subject is highly relevant to what I am trying to achieve with my personal research project, Audiovisual Therapy. It highlights the power of narrative and identifying with a character. The movies that have been used for this purpose however, were not created with this intention. Perhaps, in a piece specifically designed for certain mental illness and other disorders, watching a character's actions in scene that relates to the issue at hand could have an even greater therapeutic effect.
She states that films help patients "reach insights into their own self-defeating behaviors and bad relationships." For instance, the founder of Film TX, Patti Nolan, recommended As Good as it Gets, a film in which Jack Nicholson portrays an unfriendly man who has OCD, to other suffers of OCD so that they might be able to withness the effect that their behavior could be having on other people in their lives.
According to therapists, individuals have difficulty recognizing their "demons" and might find them easier to see in a character from a film.
Also, marriage and family therapist, Nancy Feehan, states that emotional subjects can be addressed easier by referring to a movie character than by directly confronting the client.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This subject is highly relevant to what I am trying to achieve with my personal research project, Audiovisual Therapy. It highlights the power of narrative and identifying with a character. The movies that have been used for this purpose however, were not created with this intention. Perhaps, in a piece specifically designed for certain mental illness and other disorders, watching a character's actions in scene that relates to the issue at hand could have an even greater therapeutic effect.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Unconventional Therapies - Visual Imagery (Waking Dream Therapy)
In Healing Visualizations: Creating Health Through Imagery, Geral Epstein explains the technique of visual imagery, also known as waking dream therapy. Below are some of the points that will contribute to my research document:
- Visual imagery is a mode of non-logical thinking that aims to make contact with the "inner subjective reality".
- Used for mental illness and other forms of ailments.
- Consists of an extensive range of exercises that involves the individual closing their eyes and imagining a scene or experience. This visualization experience aids in healing through the sensation felt by the body as a response.
- Based on the premise that humans are equally capable of working with visual language as they are with written language and the images that we perceive with our mind are so powerful that they cause physiological changes.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
"Bassie" Promotional DVD - Sections and Durations
Here are the durations that have been agreed upon with Lenny for the various sections of the DVD:
Finally, the 30mins for the extras sections is allocated to allow time for a deleted scenes section, outtakes, gallery, the making of, and possibly some other clips.
- Music Video = As long as the song (aprx. 3 mins)
- Documentary = 30mins - 1hr
- Live Performance = 1hr
- Extras = Aprx. 30 mins
- Lenny's background
- History of the Natural Ites
- Some of what was going on in the reggae industry in general
- Archive footage
- Lenny's current projects
- The intentions and focus of Leva Works
- How Lenny and the Natural Ites will be progressing in the future
Finally, the 30mins for the extras sections is allocated to allow time for a deleted scenes section, outtakes, gallery, the making of, and possibly some other clips.
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