Photo Movie

For this week, we tried to create a short movie using just black and white photographs. In order to create it perfectly, first, I and my groupmate start thinking the script. We decided on a script based on cheating. Then, we sketched on a piece of paper to visualize some of the scenes. I believe that in order to accomplish that kind of movie, visuals must be more dramatic than normal. There are some ways to make photographs more dramatic. The most important one is using the light properly. We tried to take photographs which emphasize the low key technique. Low key is basically referred to as a style of photography that utilizes predominantly dark tones to create a dramatic looking image. Where high key lighting seeks to over light the subject to the point of reduced contrast, low key lighting intensifies the contrast in an image through intensely reduced lighting. So, we tried to place the lights in order to create those kinds of effects. We also used over the shoulder shot to give a better visual to emphasize conversation between two people. Another thing that we pointed is using the negative spaces in the frames wisely and economically. We put two stories behind just a single photograph. For instance, while the man bringing the drinks, we placed the girl on the right side to give the feeling that she is waiting for him next to the table. The last thing we tried to accomplish is showing the details with close-ups to the audience for having a catchy feeling. We also used some symbolic scenes. One is changing the focus of the same photograph in the end with the ring.  Finally, we believe that with all of these, the movie gives its message to the audience clearly. Of course, it will have mistakes but, I think we applied what we learned into the movie.

French Movie

The movie we watched in the class, basically shows that how single shots can be use for telling stories. Every photo exist for a particular reason and this makes the movie more efficient. Shots are telling so much things and with this, audience has become directed by the photographs to understand the movie. It was an old movie and It was nice to see cinematography in movie before technological enhancements.

Fatboy Slim - Praise You Music Video, Directed by Spike Jones

To be honest, Fatboy Slim’s music video “Praise You” directed by Spike Jones was definitely overrated. For its era, it may seem as mocking to other music videos and its kind of a parody of general ideas of the music videos created in that era. When I dig down on the internet, I realized that “Praise You” had some awards at 1999’s MTV Video Music Awards such as Best Direction, Breakthrough, and Best Choreography. I believe that if a music video which is not choreographic, awarded for best choreography, it creates a sense of irony. I think the reason behind it might be the first example of the flash mob which is this music video. People did not see anything like this before so that, the interest and awards might come because of this. I am judging this video with the understanding of 2019. That is why it looks ridiculous for my point of view. It is like Jackson Pollock’s paintings for me. People call that art but I believe that It is just random colour splashes which are based on personal stories for explaining the understanding of the painting. Spike Jones might accomplish something new while creating this music video using the method of making fun of his era’s other works but still I think this is just a music video which contains random dancers leading by one man and some meaningless dance moves. If this was the point, I get it as an innovation for this era, otherwise, it has no point for me.

Volga Deniz Demirbağ