#((which in itself is very sweet; but even sweeter given their friendship on the set!))

[theheadlessgroom]

"Moving pictures..." Randall murmured in wonder, trying to picture what these "films" would be like-pictures strung together to create motion, with stories like those of plays...it sounded so fantastic that it couldn't possibly be real, and yet, he wanted it to be, and he wished he remembered at least these moments; sitting beside his bride in a dark room, hand in hand, watching their favorite stories play out on the silver screen.

How freeing it must've been in the future, to be able to be seen together, to love one another so openly, for all to see! These days, here in New Orleans, heads would turn if he and Emily were to be seen together; even if they played it off as merely platonic, perhaps even a burgeoning friendship, there would be much disapproval from all sides, but as ghosts? No one batted an eye! No one gave it a second thought! In death, matters such as race or social status, they just didn't matter anymore...

He could only hope it would be the same in life, as soon as they made it to California...

Kissing Emily's flaxen curls, he smiled softly, saying, "Well...I look forward to doing something similar when we're married-I hope that, as soon as we're settled in our new home, we can curl up in bed together and take turns reading scary stories to one another, or go on long walks through town on Sunday mornings, just as we did in the future..."

@beatingheart-bride

Randall's breath hitched at the touch of her Cupid's-bow lips against his bony hands, to say nothing of his heart fluttering at the notion that his presence made his bride's life, topsy-turvy though it was now, a little easier. It was all he could hope for; that after everything she'd been through (then and now), he could be a light for her, just as she'd been one for him.

Wanting to lighten the mood, to move away from this topic (even though she'd reassured him that she wasn't upset, he still didn't want to press it), he instead chose to ask her, "Tell me, darling, tell me about some of your happier memories from...the future. You've told me about all the parties Dorian threw, but what did we do together?"

Although the idea of living in an attic, the very place their lives came to an end, sounded a bit morbid to him (though, perhaps, ghosts had a different perspective on that sort of thing?), he loved what Emily had told him so far, how cozy they made their little home together, turning it from a mere storeroom to a place all their own, adding their own personal touches to it. It was an unusual place to call home, sure, but it was theirs, and all she'd told him about it, it sounded really quite lovely-it sounded like they made some wonderful memories there.

[tvobsessed96]

Top 10 TV Episodes of 2019

10. Marvel’s Runaways- Season 3, Episode 10- “Cheat the Gallows”

I’ll be the first to admit that Runaways is not a perfect show. I didn’t like season 1 all that much, mostly because Pride’s motivations and ultimate goals were too poorly defined for my tastes. I’m not expecting a big expositional villain monologue, but I at least need to understand what the villains are trying to accomplish and why. Otherwise, it’s hard to get emotionally invested. Having said that, season 2 was a marked improvement, and I wound up falling in love with this scrappy bunch of kids anyway. Which makes it all the more disappointing that the season that proved Runaways could be something great if it tried ended up being its last. I enjoyed season 3 a lot. The writing was better, the performances stepped up to match, and as annoyed as I am that the evil alien family trying to kill everyone plot was dropped unceremoniously without a satisfying explanation partway through the season, the battle with Morgan le Fey was filled with enough danger and tension to make up for it. But rather than choose that climactic battle as my entry for this list, I went with the messy, emotionally fraught aftermath. “Cheat the Gallows” could have been a simple, somewhat patriarchal story about a man going back in time to rescue the woman he loves, but it ended up being about a family clawing its way back together after wrestling with a shared trauma. Which, come to think of it, is pretty much exactly how the show started! Talk about coming full circle. The episode also ended up being a bit of a meditation on time itself, as the older versions of the Runaways contemplate the fact that Gert’s death led them down the paths that made them who they are. Once that’s erased, so are they. This realization gives the Runaways, mostly Nico, a chance to think about what they would have done differently, leading to a powerful scene in which Nico talks with her past self and pleads with her not to make the same mistakes she did. I bet we’ve all wished we could do that at one point or another. I also like that the episode ends with the sense that, with Gert saved, the Runaways might just be okay. Even if the note left for Alex by his murderous older self adds an ominous note to the whole thing.

9. So You Think You Can Dance- Season 16, Epsiode 15- “Live Finale Winner Announced”

So You Think You Can Dance continues to be the best reality competition show no one’s really talking about. Cat Deely has been robbed of her Emmy for best host too many times, but I digress. This show is always the highlight of my summer, and season 16 was no exception. Another season of amazing choreography, amazing performances, and a truly deserving winner that I can’t really be mad about, even if I was rooting for other dancers just as much. It was another really fun season, and I can’t wait for season 17! There’s a reason Fox keeps renewing this show despite the ratings, is all I’m saying.

8. Emergence- Season 1, Episode 9- “Where You Belong”

It’s true that the first half of Emergence’s freshman season was a bit uneven. The writing isn’t quite as compelling as it could be, and it does rely on some sci-fi cliches. But I’m a sucker for a good found family story, so I stuck it out. And I’m certainly glad I did, because the mid-season finale was pretty great! An excellent sense of stakes, and enough tension to keep you on the edge of your seat without skimping on the sweeter moments. It culminates in one of the most brilliant twists I’ve seen on TV since The Good Place! I’m curious to see what the rest of the season will bring.

7. Veronica Mars- Season 4, Episode 3- “Keep Calm and Party On”

I’m willing to bet that this will be the most controversial pick on the list, for several reasons. No, season 4 of Veronica Mars was not as good as its first, and I have problems with the way Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell handled the fan response to the ending. And that’s before we get to the episode itself. Many long-time fans of the series took serious issue with the extended party scene in this episode, given that Veronica was drugged and raped at a party in high school. There’s also her mother’s own history of alcoholism to consider. But while I absolutely sympathize with those concerns, Veronica’s decision to let loose and party still feels understandable to me. Given everything that’s been going on with the bombing case, she's searching for some kind of release. And if there was a year where the desire to just forget about the world for a while, past traumas be damned, felt all too real, it was 2019. And that’s why “Keep Calm and Party On” makes the list.

6. Single Parents- Season 1, Episode 23- “Ketchup”

Will and Angie are clearly the Jess and Nick of Single Parents, which is fine. But part of me is sort of hoping they don’t get together, because their friendship is pretty great. In this episode, Will takes Angie to a terrible fast food restaurant to confront Graham’s dad about abandoning her while she was pregnant. Will ends up using a bunch of food metaphors to explain to Derek what an amazing mother and person Angie is, and it’s fantastic! Add that to Douglas and Poppy realizing their feelings for each other, and you’ve got an episode that’s as completely hilarious as it is completely sweet. If you haven’t watched this show, check it out! It’s pretty delightful. 

5. Stumptown- Season 1, Episode 3- “Rip City Dicks”

Stumptown was the best new show this fall, hands down. The first half of its first season didn’t end quite as strongly as it started, but it gave us some fantastic episodes along the way. “Rip City Dicks” is one of them. Dex is hoping to apprentice under veteran PI Artie Banks in order to earn her license, but gets a cold, hard dose of reality when he sells out their client and her child to make a quick buck. Dex does learn a valuable lesson from it, though. Exactly what kind of private investigator she doesn’t want to be. The episode ends with an amazing, very feminist monologue from Dex promising Candace that she’ll get her kid back. It’s a fantastic performance from Cobie Smulders, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season! If you’re not watching Stumptown, you’re missing out.

4. This Is Us- Season 4, Episode 7- “The Dinner and the Date”

America’s favorite cry-worthy family drama gave us plenty of great episodes this year, including a much-anticipated origin story for Beth Pearson. Out of all the possible options, I ended up choosing “The Dinner and the Date” as my entry for this list. On one hand, you’ve got a sweet story of young love set against the backdrop of Philadelphia. On the other hand, you’ve got a young Black kid trying to form his own identity in a way his white adoptive parents just can’t understand, no matter how hard they may try. It’s a beautiful episode, and I look forward to seeing what 2020 brings for the Pearson family.

3. Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger- Season 2, Episode 10- “Level Up”

Honestly, I could have chosen any episode form Cloak & Dagger’s stellar second season for this list. There’s the near-perfect three episode run of “B-Sides,” “Vikingtown Sound,” and “Two Player.” There’s also the dark, thought-provoking Emma Lahana showcase that is “Shadow Selves.” But I ended up choosing the finale, because it felt like such a perfect culmination of everything the show had been doing up to that point. Tandy and Ty take on every obstacle Andre throws at them with an abundance of grace and an unshakable faith in each other. The choice to have them literally fight each other’s demons was inspired! But the most powerful moment comes when Tandy gets the chance to confront her late father after everything she’s learned about him since his death. She tells him in no uncertain terms that she, and only she, gets to decide how big a part of her he is. She says that the only thing she can do in the face of adversity is level up. If there’s a lesson to take into 2020, it’s this. If you think you aren’t strong enough to face what the world sends your way, level up. Turn your dagger of light into a sword of light. Stare oppression in the face and say, with your whole being, “Not today.” Disney and Marvel made a big mistake in cancelling Cloak & Dagger. Huge.

2. Good Trouble- Season 1, Episode 8- “Byte Club”

I hope anyone who thought Good Trouble wouldn’t be as powerful as The Fosters is really embarrassed after these first 20 episodes, and I mean that in the best possible way. Good Trouble is everything a great spin-off should be. It keeps the spirit, heart, and progressive mission of the original show, while also feeling like its own distinct entity. It introduces an amazing cast of new characters to love, without forgetting to check in on the old ones every once in a while. “Byte Club” has to be the best offering the show’s given us so far. Facing rampant gender and race discrimination at work, Mariana rallies the women of Speckulate to come up with a set of tips to help them assert themselves in the workplace. The advice they come up with is solid, and actually really useful in real life. But it’s made even more powerful when Mariana points out that women in professional spaces shouldn’t have to jump through all these ridiculous hoops just to get recognized for having an idea! And that’s not the only powerful feminist moment of the episode. Callie discovers that the reason Rebecca ended up as a clerk for Judge Wilson is because her previous judge sexually harassed her, and her powerful family refused to do anything about it other than get her out of there. I’ll admit that Callie had no right to insert herself into that situation and guilt Rebecca into coming forward in the following episode, but it’s still an amazing scene featuring excellent performances from Maia Mitchell and Molly McCook. I’m so excited for more Good Trouble in the new year!

1. The Good Place- Season 3, Episode 13- “Pandemonium”

The final season of The Good Place has been fantastic so far, and several of the most recent episodes almost made this list. But at the end of the day, “Pandemonium” is the kind of episode that makes me want to make television. To make something that will touch other people the way this episode touched me. I could go on and on about the beautiful love story between Eleanor and Chidi. But instead, I want to focus on the final scene, in which a distraught Eleanor calls Janet into her office and demands the answer to, well, everything. What does it all mean? Because if there’s no greater meaning, then the universe is just made of pain, and Eleanor can’t accept that. Janet’s response is what really makes the scene sing, so I’ll quote it here. “If there were an answer I could give you to how the universe works, it wouldn’t be special. It would just be machinery fulfilling its cosmic design. It would just be a big, dumb food processor. But since nothing seems to make sense, when you find something or someone that does, it’s euphoria.” To which Eleanor replies that all she can do is “embrace the pandemonium” and “find happiness in the unique insanity of being here, now.” And then she steels herself, opens the door, and welcomes her soulmate who has no idea who she is into the afterlife. This is the same philosophical bent that made me adore Angel so much, and it works just as well here. This episode aired all the way back in January, and these sentiments got me through awful headline after awful headline in 2019. Catch up on The Good Place if you haven’t already. It will be going off the air soon, and our lives will be all the worse for it.

[higuchimon]

[fanfic] Rebirth of Kaiser:  Chapter 6

Two sensations warred in Ryou’s mind starting from the moment he laid eyes on Fujiwara Yuusuke. The first and strongest was to get him somewhere alone and start to ask all the questions that boiled through his blood, because at that moment, he knew that Fujiwara could answer them all. Why he knew that he wasn’t certain, but the certainty that it could happen sang along in his blood.

The second was to ask a question still, but one just a touch different from the others. Not quite about his own past and about the mysteries that he had yet to uncover, but something about Fujiwara himself.

How do I know you? I do, I know that I do, but I don’t know how.

No one followed them as Ryou led Fujiwara Yuusuke away from the entrance to the village and started to show him around. There wasn’t that much that he needed to show; just the dining area and some of the slightly more important homes, useful to know in case of danger.

But with every passing moment, the questions buzzed through him, crawling closer and closer to his lips, demanding to be spoken, to be answered. Ryou held them back by sheer force of will. Out here, in the open, wasn’t either a good time or a good place.

Fujiwara paid attention to everything Ryou said, asking quiet questions of his own, never anything intrusive, always about the village itself.

At least until they came at last to Ryou’s own home, and Fujiwara turned those penetrating violet eyes of his onto Ryou.

“Do you like living here?”

Ryou tilted his head for a moment in thought. He lifted his shoulders, the faintest of shrugs. “I don’t dislike it.” He’d not considered the question much before. He’d spent the last five years building a life. There hadn’t been much time or effort given to if he liked it or not.

Fujiwara nodded before he glanced to Ryou’s small home. “So this is yours.”

“Yes. Yours is there.” He indicated the place across the muddy path, that might have been a road somewhere else. There wasn’t much to distinguish them from one another at the moment. Ryou’s place showed some small signs of having been lived in, while Fujiwara’s didn’t as of yet. Ryou couldn’t remember if anyone had ever lived there. They hadn’t in the last five years, anyway.

He pressed his lips together for a few moments. He wasn’t given to snap decisions, but he wanted to make certain he got the answers that he needed.

“Would you like to come in?” He gestured to his place and Fujiwara nodded without a shred of hesitation.

As they entered, something else occured to Ryou. “Your partner? I don’t see him.”

“Honest shows up when he chooses to,” Fujiwara replied easily. “He can be seen here more than back on Earth, but he still prefers to keep to himself.”

“Earth.” Ryou tasted the word. It tasted familiar and strange all at the same time, home and a place he’d never been before. “Where you come from?”

Was that a bit of hesitation before Fujiwara’s answer? If there was, it could have meant anything.

“Yes. it’s not a bad place, but I have things to do here. So I’ll be here a while.”

Ryou nodded. He showed Yuusuke his own home, small as it was. A single room with everything he needed: a place he could make his morning tea, a bed, a fireplace with two chairs before it, and a small selection of books over the fireplace.

“Where did you get these?” Fujiwara wondered, glancing at his collection.

“I bartered for most of them. Traveling trains come through every few months, and there are markets within a few days of here. So long as I can find something to trade, I can usually get one or two every few months.”

Ryou gave his books a quiet look of approval. They weren’t the cards that his hands burned for now and then, but they satisfied parts of him. A few tales of fancy, a few histories – nothing with information about Haou or the war to his growing dismay – and a few with information on plants and creatures one could use for survival in this world. There were other odds and ends of course – Ryou chose what he acquired by a mixture of what he wanted or needed and just thinking it looked interesting – but those were the bulk of them.

He turned back to what most would term a kitchen of some sort. “Would you like some tea?” The next words slid out of his mouth without a thought attached to them. “I don’t have any Shincha, though.”

The two of them didn’t precisely freeze, but Ryou looked back, questions written in every line of his body. He couldn’t remembering having said that before but he knew what it was: Fujiwara’s favorite tea.

Fujiwara’s eyes met his and their gaze held for a few seconds before the visitor spoke. “That’s quite all right. I wouldn’t expect it.”

Ryou pulled his eyes away and stepped back to the tiny kitchen nook. About all he made here was his tea anyway so all he had was a small place to heat water and storage for those few items he preferred to make for himself.

“I have to barter for this as well,” he said after a few silent moments. “It’s very much like Kukicha, but a touch sweeter.”

Another word he hadn’t said before, but he knew what he meant as soon as he said it: it was his own favorite, or had been once upon a time. He’d had to cut back on it for some reason that he wasn’t entirely sure of. A reason that didn’t apply anymore…

“I look forward to it,” Fujiwara said, a faint tightness in his voice. Ryou wanted to find out why.

He wanted to know so much and yet the words wouldn’t quite come. He pressed his lips together, determined that he would have at least some answers before the end of the day, and worked on making the tea.

“Would Honest care of some?” He thought to ask. There was enough for three, but he would have to go to the southern market to get more. Which meant he would need to get something to trade for it. That required effort; the teamakers didn’t always want the same things.

Perhaps he and Fujiwara could work out something together. If Fujiwara were going to stay here for a while, he’d need to learn how the bartering system worked.

“Yes, I would,” Honest said. Ryou glanced for a moment to see the angel now standing next to Fujiwara. He nodded before he worked on finishing off the three cups and brought theirs over first.

All enjoyed theirs in silence for perhaps half a cup before Ryou steadied himself and stared at Fujiwara. He could wait no longer.

“Juudai brought you here for a reason. I want to know what that reason is.”

Fujiwara sipped at his tea, but it was more of a pretext to have something to do right now. His words were quiet when he answered.

“Many reasons. I don’t quite fit on Earth. I never did, but I tried for a long time. I almost thought I’d done it. I even had a good job. You know what dueling is, of course?” Ryou nodded. “I worked for the man who brought it to Earth, offering new ideas for cards when I met spirits who didn’t have them and wanted them.”

Ryou’s fingers tightened on his cup. He said nothing else, though, as Fujiwara kept going.

“It still wasn’t right, though. I’ve never felt entirely right there. And… I’d lost someone close to me a few years ago. One of the few friends I ever had.” Fujiwara stared down into his teacup and Honest pressed a hand onto his shoulder. “There wasn’t much Earth had left to offer me then. I had a different friend; he tried very hard to help, but it wasn’t the same thing.”

Fujiwara turned the cup a little in his hands. “I talked to Juudai about it not that long ago. He thought coming here would be a fresh start for me.” A tiny smile flicked over his lips. “I’m on extended leave from my job, technically. I don’t have to do anything, but if I meet a spirit who doesn’t have a card and wants one...”

Ryou’s throat dried. He swallowed, took a gulp of his tea, and tried to speak. Amazingly he succeeded.

“I am a spirit. One that doesn’t have a card. That I know of.”

Fujiwara raised his eyes. “I know. Juudai told me that before I came here. He told me about you, in particular.”

“What did he say?” Could those answers really be that close?

Fujiwara didn’t answer at once and when he did, Ryou suspected that he chose his words with the greatest of care. “That you could use help to find out who you used to be and who you are now. That if I can be that help, I should at least try.”

Ryou set his cup down. He refused to break it. Bartering for new cups was even harder than bartering for fresh tea.

“I know you.” The words fell sharp and sliced between the two of them. “I don’t remember knowing you but I do. And I want to know why.”

“That’s not all you want to know, is it?” Honest asked. Ryou couldn’t decide if he looked right or ridiculous holding his teacup. He also wondered if he should introduce Honest and Shine Angel to one another.

“No, it isn’t.” Ryou breathed before he said the rest of it. “I want to know who I am, and who I was. Why Juudai chose here to bring me and everything about this war I heard of.” The war had been long ago, ten or twelve years, but since the first time he’d heard about it, Ryou knew it was important to him somehow. It would fill in one of those empty spaces in his mind. “I want to know everything that I don’t know now about myself and this world.”

Fujiwara offered a small smile, one faint but sweet all the same. “I can’t answer everything, because I don’t know everything. But I can tell you a few things. Juudai… he told me that the holes of your memory will have to fill themselves in naturally, but I know a little more about memories than he does.” Against he cast a glance at his cup, then to Honest, who nodded the briefest of nods. “One memory can lead to another, but there’s always a point to start with. Do you want to start now?”

Again two points conflicted in Ryou. Inner caution screamed that he didn’t know this person well enough. If he’d known him before – and Ryou suspected more with each breath that he did – he didn’t know. Could he trust half-thoughts from a part of him that only barely existed now?

His inner demand for answers was far simpler. He wanted to know. He wanted to know now and he wanted to know it all.

A third option occurred to him. He considered it before he turned his attention back to Fujiwara.

“I think I would like to wait a while. To learn what I can before you tell me what I can’t.”

If he’d known this person before, then he would get to know them again. Once they knew each other – again – well enough, then the other answers to come. As slow and frustrating as this was, Ryou refused to rush things. He wanted to be certain he made the right choice.

And he wanted to get to know Fujiwara Yuusuke and Honest, to understand what made them tick, to see if he could learn what he’d once known in a new and different way.

He picked up his tea and sipped again. He could feel vague memories pressing at the back of his mind, vague in detail but stronger in existence than they’d ever been. He paid only scant attention now. He looked at Honest.

“Do you know Shine Angel?”

To Be Continued

Notes: The two types of tea Ryou mentions are both Japanese teas, of course. Shincha comes from tea picked earliest in the season, and is thought to be sweeter than teas picked later. Kukicha is made from stems, stalks, and twigs and has a nutty flavor.

Terribly sorry I was late on posting this, but it took longer than I thought to get it written. Ryou was being stubborn. But I have over half the details worked out now so it might not happen again.

[hannahsommerbaphotog]

Self Evaluation

Name: Hannah Sommer

Electronic Journal link/password: http://hannahsommerbaphotog.tumblr.com/

Project Evaluation (approx. 1000 words)

Project Title

The video is titled Honey Instead of Wine. It’s original title was ‘Drinking Honey Instead of Wine’ which the singer and I felt to be too long and lacked flow. I did not create the title, as it is not my original piece of music, however, much of the decisions for the video were deprived and pertain to the title.

Subject

Reflect on the subject matter of your project.

The main subject is Sophie Steinchen, the musician and performer of the song. She is the main focus of the film as she centrally placed in the scenes as a powerful and benevolent figure surrounded by a group of friends. The supporting actors are used to create a sense of community in the setting. As we used Sophie’s close friends as actors, I think we achieved the intimacy and feel of tranquility and connectivity we had strived for.

Visual Research

My two main influences for this project were photographers/filmmakers Petra Collins and Carlotta Guerrero. Collins and Guerrero work often combines digital and analog mediums which inspired by decision to mix 16mm and digital footage. Their aesthetic styles are very curated and create dream like and delicate atmospheres while exhibiting empowerment and strength in their subjects. Collins style, like mine, is vert much influenced by vintage Hollywood cinema. By using an elaborate and decadent set, I tried to achieve a melancholic glamour in my video’s aesthetic that is reminiscent of vintage Hollywood films. For the set design, I took my inspiration from art directors like Grace Hartnett and the films of Wes Anderson. I wanted to achieve a uniform style with symmetrical visual themes and complimenting tones and textures.

Aims, Objectives, Concept

The lyrics of Honey Instead of wine are a melancholic ode to the sweetness of life. Where as wine is considered a delicacy with connotations of splendor and indulgence, honey presents itself as something even sweeter. I was originally inspired by the Biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine and saw the metaphor of turning wine into something sweeter. By creating a set of soft, bright colors and elaborate fruits and table settings, I tried to recreate a version of the Last Supper where everyone comes together to indulge themselves in intimacy and friendship.

Production

Since this was my first time working with set design and a large production, it was very important to be organized and detailed with my production requirements prior to the shoot. Because we built the entire set in an empty studio at Uni, it required a lot of planning and collecting of materials before the shoot. We wanted everything to be DIY so we made the costumes ourselves and acquired all the pieces from flea market and charity shops which we then customized. I had two camera assistants and one lighting assistant on set as I was directing so I gave everyone individual briefings on what I needed them to do prior to the shoot. While directing, I found it difficult to communicate some ideas and felt myself feeling overwhelmed by the short time frame we had to shoot. Looking back, I could have paced myself a little more and not have rushed myself during stressful moments. However, it was a good experience in learning how to direct others and get ideas across effectively and clearly. In terms of post production, I edited the film on Final Cut Pro. This caused some technical issues, as my computer wasn’t able to handle such large files. I learned more about file storage and space managing because of this. Editing was fairly simple, as all I had to do was build the narrative and cut to the flow of the song. Color grading was a challenge because of the mixed mediums. I didn’t want the digital to look too homogenized with the analog footage.

Presentation

This is a commercial music video which I believe is quite evident. It is presented as a short film with a title sequence and closing credits. It’s genre is clear and editing is complementary to music videos. I believe anyone will be able to understand the intent and targeted audience. This is most likely to be viewed on a music video platform such as Vimeo or YouTube.

Evaluation

This was the biggest production I have worked on so far. As I was in charge of directing, styling, set design, production, and editing, it was a very demanding and complicated production. I think I did well as far as the organizing went, as I gave myself ample time to prepare beforehand. On the actual shooting day, we were behind schedule but were able to get all the footage we needed. The atmosphere was great on set and I made sure every one was taken care of and knew what needed to be done. I am very satisfied with the team and cast I chose, for everyone worked very well together. My main regret is not filming every scene myself. I know this would have been impossible for me to operate both cameras, as I had so many other tasks, but as I am used to setting up shots myself, it was difficult having to convey that to someone else. As a result, the footage was not exactly how I had envisioned. We had some technical difficulties with the 16mm footage where the lens was not fully engaged causing and obnoxious black vignette on half of the frames. Fortunately, I was able to crop and re-scan at hi resolution so I didn’t have to compromise the quality too much. This was a great technical learning experience as I had never worked with 16mm film or major set design before. There are many small changes I wish I had made in terms of the set, but in terms of my budget and resources I wouldn’t have been able to achieved it. I think I did alright having acquired everything at a flea market. As I intend to transition more from still image to moving image, this was a great experience to learn new techniques in all aspects of production, directing, and editing. This project has given me a newfound inspiration for creating films for others. I think I found hidden strength in set design, for I have always drawn and created my own realities on page where set design gives me the ability to carry those fantasies into the physical world.

[hannahksommer]

Self Evaluation

Name: Hannah Sommer

Electronic Journal link/password: http://hannahsommerbaphotog.tumblr.com/

Project Evaluation (approx. 1000 words)

Project Title

The video is titled Honey Instead of Wine. It’s original title was ‘Drinking Honey Instead of Wine’ which the singer and I felt to be too long and lacked flow. I did not create the title, as it is not my original piece of music, however, much of the decisions for the video were deprived and pertain to the title.

Subject

Reflect on the subject matter of your project.

The main subject is Sophie Steinchen, the musician and performer of the song. She is the main focus of the film as she centrally placed in the scenes as a powerful and benevolent figure surrounded by a group of friends. The supporting actors are used to create a sense of community in the setting. As we used Sophie’s close friends as actors, I think we achieved the intimacy and feel of tranquility and connectivity we had strived for.

Visual Research

My two main influences for this project were photographers/filmmakers Petra Collins and Carlotta Guerrero. Collins and Guerrero work often combines digital and analog mediums which inspired by decision to mix 16mm and digital footage. Their aesthetic styles are very curated and create dream like and delicate atmospheres while exhibiting empowerment and strength in their subjects. Collins style, like mine, is vert much influenced by vintage Hollywood cinema. By using an elaborate and decadent set, I tried to achieve a melancholic glamour in my video’s aesthetic that is reminiscent of vintage Hollywood films. For the set design, I took my inspiration from art directors like Grace Hartnett and the films of Wes Anderson. I wanted to achieve a uniform style with symmetrical visual themes and complimenting tones and textures.

Aims, Objectives, Concept

The lyrics of Honey Instead of wine are a melancholic ode to the sweetness of life. Where as wine is considered a delicacy with connotations of splendor and indulgence, honey presents itself as something even sweeter. I was originally inspired by the Biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine and saw the metaphor of turning wine into something sweeter. By creating a set of soft, bright colors and elaborate fruits and table settings, I tried to recreate a version of the Last Supper where everyone comes together to indulge themselves in intimacy and friendship.

Production

Since this was my first time working with set design and a large production, it was very important to be organized and detailed with my production requirements prior to the shoot. Because we built the entire set in an empty studio at Uni, it required a lot of planning and collecting of materials before the shoot. We wanted everything to be DIY so we made the costumes ourselves and acquired all the pieces from flea market and charity shops which we then customized. I had two camera assistants and one lighting assistant on set as I was directing so I gave everyone individual briefings on what I needed them to do prior to the shoot. While directing, I found it difficult to communicate some ideas and felt myself feeling overwhelmed by the short time frame we had to shoot. Looking back, I could have paced myself a little more and not have rushed myself during stressful moments. However, it was a good experience in learning how to direct others and get ideas across effectively and clearly. In terms of post production, I edited the film on Final Cut Pro. This caused some technical issues, as my computer wasn’t able to handle such large files. I learned more about file storage and space managing because of this. Editing was fairly simple, as all I had to do was build the narrative and cut to the flow of the song. Color grading was a challenge because of the mixed mediums. I didn’t want the digital to look too homogenized with the analog footage.

Presentation

This is a commercial music video which I believe is quite evident. It is presented as a short film with a title sequence and closing credits. It’s genre is clear and editing is complementary to music videos. I believe anyone will be able to understand the intent and targeted audience. This is most likely to be viewed on a music video platform such as Vimeo or YouTube.

Evaluation

This was the biggest production I have worked on so far. As I was in charge of directing, styling, set design, production, and editing, it was a very demanding and complicated production. I think I did well as far as the organizing went, as I gave myself ample time to prepare beforehand. On the actual shooting day, we were behind schedule but were able to get all the footage we needed. The atmosphere was great on set and I made sure every one was taken care of and knew what needed to be done. I am very satisfied with the team and cast I chose, for everyone worked very well together. My main regret is not filming every scene myself. I know this would have been impossible for me to operate both cameras, as I had so many other tasks, but as I am used to setting up shots myself, it was difficult having to convey that to someone else. As a result, the footage was not exactly how I had envisioned. We had some technical difficulties with the 16mm footage where the lens was not fully engaged causing and obnoxious black vignette on half of the frames. Fortunately, I was able to crop and re-scan at hi resolution so I didn’t have to compromise the quality too much. This was a great technical learning experience as I had never worked with 16mm film or major set design before. There are many small changes I wish I had made in terms of the set, but in terms of my budget and resources I wouldn’t have been able to achieved it. I think I did alright having acquired everything at a flea market. As I intend to transition more from still image to moving image, this was a great experience to learn new techniques in all aspects of production, directing, and editing. This project has given me a newfound inspiration for creating films for others. I think I found hidden strength in set design, for I have always drawn and created my own realities on page where set design gives me the ability to carry those fantasies into the physical world.