Final Project

This is my final project with Kaitlin Silver. We chose Narrative Option A.

Extra Credit: DOC NYC Screening of "Going Clear"

I attended a screening of Alex Gibney's documentary, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief as part of DOC NYC on Thursday, November 19. The film is about the organization of the religion of Scientology and delves into its creation and recent scandals. It interviews experts on religion and history, as well as many former members of the church. It is narrated by Gibney and employs many standard documentary techniques. There are reenactments of events, as well as "talking head" interviews. A lot of archival footage from events, interviews, and news clips are used. For most of the film, the camera is steady and set up on a tripod. The movie uses extreme close-ups for emphasis and interviewees were shot from multiple angles at once. Subjects are under low-key lighting and half of their faces are often in shadow. The editing is very linear and most shots are connected by jump cuts, rather than using transition effects. There are several uses of a helicopter shot above one of the Scientology centers in Los Angeles. The film also has sections of B-roll footage while excerpts from an interview or narration are played over the images. The music that scores the film gives it an eerie feel and underscores emotional and important moments. One motif used throughout the movie to divide it into sections is a shot of key words being typed out by a typewriter onto paper, such as “Rehabilitation Project Force.” I thought the film was interesting and informative and got its point across effectively.

Blog #4: Museum of the Moving Image

One of the most interesting exhibits I experienced at the Museum of Moving Image was about sound effects in film. On a screen, our group was shown a clip from the film, The Simpsons Movie, with all of the correct sound used in the final cut. Then we chose different sound effects to replace in the cinematic version for things like a clock ticking or a pogo stick bouncing. I didn't realize how often sound designers use unrelated noises to stand in for something happening onscreen. For example, our group experimented with different sounds like sneaker noises for an eraser being dragged across paper, which still sounded like it fit. With the vast amount of sounds that can be collected and stored digitally with modern technology, it makes being a sound designer much easier. They are able to experiment with different options before presenting them to a director who chooses what will make the final film. This is especially useful for fantasy or science fiction narratives when a lot of the sounds that would be in the movie are made up to begin with, like imaginary creature noises or spaceship sounds. The skill involved is to convince the audience that even though what they are hearing might not be exactly what they think of when a certain action happens, it is believable enough to move the story forward and not distract viewers. Sound effects are a vital part of the filmmaking process and the exhibit at the museum illustrated that very clearly to everyone there.

Blog #3: Relationships Between Shots

A variety of shots are used in Casey Neistat's short film, "Make It Count." The movie depicts Neistat and his friend and fellow filmmaker Max Joseph using the money given to them by Nike to create an advertisement for the company to instead travel around the world as much as possible until the money runs out, which it does in ten days. The piece as a whole reflects the whirlwind nature of the trip and how exciting and meaningful it was for Neistat and Joseph. The main sound in the film is a song, as well as some voiceover by Neistat and diegetic conversation and background noise. There is one point in the film when the music is cut out, when Neistat jumps from a tall cliff. This section also shows him visiting a site where a cruise ship capsized, and the lack of music reinforces the poignance of the moment. Initially the shots are organized in chronological order, but soon there are composite shots of Neistat running with different backgrounds behind him. These are cut so the movement is consistent through each edit. Most of the shots are short, which represents how quickly Neistat and Joseph worked their way across the globe. The cuts made are obvious because they are often shifting from one locale or event to a totally separate one. This makes it easier for the viewer to understand where the two men are in their journey at any given point in the video. I think it is a very well-edited film that gets its point across successfully.


 

Project #2: Audio Portrait

Blog #2: Soundwalk

I walked around my neighborhood in East Harlem one afternoon for my "soundwalk." The main keynote sound was the traffic along Lexington Avenue. There were buses, cars, taxis, and bicycles all competing for road space. Another major sound in the background was the subway entering and leaving the station, which I could hear through the grates in the sidewalk. One of the largest sound signal was the construction that's being done on the subway station. There were lots of workers and power tools all making noise at once. Mixed in with those sounds were the conversations people were having with one another, children shouting and laughing, and ambulance sirens making their way toward Mount Sinai Hospital. Street vendors made their sales and people who hang around outside a local liquor store argued among themselves. Tenants shook their keys and opened their front doors while an ice cream truck made one of its last rounds of the season playing its tinny song.

One of the soundmarks unique to where I live is the music that is always playing. People blast it out of stereos and car radios, filling the street with salsa music, hip-hop, and sometimes classic rock. There is also someone who practices the bagpipes somewhere nearby, but I've never spotted them. That particular instrument is one I never expected to hear when I moved into my apartment, but it has blended into the soundtrack of my neighborhood. This mix of cultures in the form of music represents East Harlem and the diverse group of people who live there.

Artist Statement

I've always loved media, ever since I was a child. I gobbled up as many movies, TV shows, news programs, music, theater, magazines, and books as I could. Around the age of 12, I realized that my passion for media, but especially films, could be turned into a career. I dreamed of becoming a filmmaker and working on movies that would win awards and praise from critics. I took as many film classes as I could, learned about cameras, and how to work with Final Cut Pro. But after I started thinking about applying to college, this dream shifted as I realized that film was not my only passion anymore. As a dual citizen of two very different countries, I was fascinated by how world governments worked together. I discovered that if I combined my love of media and my interest in international politics, the resulting career path was journalism.

Since I've decided to study journalism, I've had a goal of working in broadcast news: in television or on the radio. I don't necessarily want to be in front of the camera either. Instead, I'd rather produce and focus on international issues. My dream is to be a foreign correspondent for a large news organization. I'm still passionate about film as well so I also want to try telling stories in that way through documentary. I don't know if all of this is possible.

I am inspired by many different media-makers. Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times columnist and author of Half the Sky, comes to mind in terms of what stories I want to tell. Ira Glass and Sarah Koenig at NPR have sparked my interest in working in radio. As far as documentaries go, I love the films of Errol Morris, Michael Moore, Werner Herzog, Alex Gibney, Kirby Dick, and Jennifer Sibel-Newsom. I'm obsessed with filmmakers on YouTube like Casey Neistat and how he finds a way to shape a new story every day. I'd love to work for an established organization like NBC, CBS, BBC, or even Vice.

I don't consider myself an "artist" right now, but maybe taking this class will help me develop that.