POV 2nd Shoot (possible final footage)

After getting feedback from Rosie, we felt it was right to go out and shoot again for our final project. Our first POV footage was too 'student like', as we set it in a student house. We needed a scenario that was even more simple, and that could reach out to a wider audience, and not just students at university. We did not need a complex narrative, as we want to focus more on the visual and educational side of our projects, so we decided to record a simple dog walk. This allowed us to keep the narrative simple, however there were still sounds and interesting objects/textures we could focus on in the park/street setting. 

I helped come out with a route we could take as well as recording the sound. (I also provided our main actor, Walter the Dog). I used a small portable roland like microphone and recorded footsteps, the environment, pebble sounds and more. I recorded them separately rather than with the footage on a DSLR so we could separate and distort the sounds more easily. 

Really enjoyed this shoot, as compared to the studio shoot it was more relaxed and we could experiment more with the POV shots and photography. Although it was slightly difficult to film some of the time as animals can be very unpredictable, the photography and footage came out very well, and I can not wait to see it manipulated and put into the interactivity programme.

Day 2 of Shooting (With actor)

Day two of the shoot was a really great experience in learning how to work professionally on set, and with an actor that has been hired outside of university.  

I think the day went really well, we planned the day in a very structured way, so it meant we got all of our shots. Because we had prepared the day before, we were able to start earlier than we had planned in the schedule meaning we were ahead of schedule for the rest of the day. The actor was a joy to work with, he was very cooperative, and suggested ideas throughout the day. As a producer I made sure the day was going smoothly, making sure the actor was ok and planning lunch and breaks.

It was an great experience, as we got to work with an actual paid actor and not just class mates. 

After all of our hard work and days setting up the studio shoot, we sadly had to take it down which only took about 5 minutes!

Day 1 of shooting (without actor )

Although the first day we worked without the actor this was a very important day. We had to make sure the lighting was just right, and that everyone was aware and comfortable with their set roles.

We made sure all of the set was well lit, but using a number of ceiling spot lights as well as red heads. We used the main spotlight lighting, on each of the pictures to make the set appear gallery like. A blue LED light panel was placed to the left behind the TV to make it appear like it is on. Harry used a sheet to wave in front of it to make the TV look like it was flickering. We made sure all the lightening was perfect the first day, so we could spend the whole day with the actor and get the most out of him being there.

Attempt 1 of making the model brain

Having the aid of an online tutorial I thought I could construct this model brain fairly easy. However when It came to actually making it my GCSE Art skills were not on my side, and I found it more difficult than I thought it would be. Luckily we have some contact which are more arty, so hopefully we can get someone else to help us!

Being Producer: Call Sheets

I had to make sure all the important was brought together in a call sheet, which could then be send to the actor and crew. It includes call and shoot times,a detailed schedule and actor & crew contact details. Also any notes can be added.

Set Build Finished!

We finally got the set done and are pretty pleased of how it has turned out. After Thomas also doing a rough try of the visual effects. Because the set is so simple, it looks really effective when made into an endless corridor. Lighting has been very important on our set, as it is a key part of making it look like a gallery.

19th & 20th November Set Building

In these past two days we have completed a number of things regarding the set build, as well as finding obstacles. We stripped and wallpapered the walls to make sure they were smooth, and then painted them white to give the large empty gallery space feel. We also temporarily put the wooden flooring down to see how it would look, however we found we did not have enough, and need to purchase more packs to cover the floor. We wanted to keep with this particular wooden flooring as it looks more realistic and professional.  We found we are slightly outside our budget, however as a group we decided we would all contribute to the expenses in order to get the set built on time, but also look effective.

Being Producer: My Role and Risk Assessments

As producer I have help organise parts of the production folder, as well as helping decide what actor we think is best for the shoot.

I created a shooting schedule with the AD, to make sure we utilise our day of filming with the actor effectively, making sure our shots are in a certain order so we do not have to change the set too much
I made sure all the shots with a standard lens are grouped together, then all those that need a different lens for the macro shots. I then put all the shots together than need to be taken once the set is moved around. Even though we are not shooting in chronological order to our narrative, doing it like this saves a lot of time and unneeded extra effort.

I also need to create a call sheet which I am in the process of doing once our actor has finalised that he can attend the shooting day. I will also help organise food and drink arrangements once the actor has given his dietary requirements.

Why my role is important for this shoot

Because we have a paid actor, and only a limited amount of time to shoot, it is really important there is a producer to organise dates, times and a strict schedule so we make the most of our time in the studio and with the actor. I know exactly the narrative and the nature of what we are filming (as I work closely with the director) , so it means I am able to assess any risk and form a risk assessment, which is extremely important when working professionally. 

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SET BUILD RISK ASSESSMENT

SHOOTING RISK ASSESSMENT

Julia Buntaine

Our work is mapping out the brain but touching it and images appearing on the screen. One inspiration was the brain sculptures  by the bio-artist Julia Buntaine. She maps out the brain by using different colours and subways maps showing the vast space within the mind.  I want our model brain to be see through, but with in you can see all the wires to show the network of neutrons in which the electrical signals carry out there journey, similar to the electrical current carried down electrical wires. The actual mapping aspect will be projected onto the screen. 

"Bio-artist Julia Buntaine’s work juxtaposes the familiar with the unfamiliar - playful colors, subway maps, model high-rises, and simple wooden blocks. But look again and you see a world designed around aspects of biology and neuroscience. For Buntaine, this began as a fascination with psychology and mental illness that was broadened by studying biology in college. Her work aims to draw in those interested in the aesthetics of colors, maps, and shapes, but leave them with the same colorful and bright interest in neuroscience that Buntaine, herself, began with.

Her works have been inspired by fMRI images, circuit diagrams, and anatomical structures. One particular inspiration is the Brodmann map – a way of mapping the sections of the brain using color and numbers, making the brain look like a topographical surface that could potentially translate into a large space of land. Buntaine’s work brings this potential to life in her brain-city sculptures. Her pieces, such as those shown here, often use a biological shape made from diagrams depicting cities, thus symbolizing vast space inside the body and mind, and human-made achievements."

Possible Model Brain Inspiration

We want our brain to be quite sleek looking. We have looked into buying model brains, but we feel that the best and cheapest way would be to create a vacuum formed brain. This was inspired by a someone who created a brain model with lights in. This is done by making 2 halves of the brain with clay and vacuum forming each one. Then wire or lights can be places inside and stuck together. This would be ideal for when we put the nodes inside the brain.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Brain-an-external-hard-drive-and-light-sculptu/

Maps and Journeys 2nd tutorial with Rosie

We ran our idea with Rosie and we now have a strong base to build off of. We are going to create the brain which you can touch different parts and it will show images on the screen. Each part of the brain on its own will appear quite abstract and not make sense however when all areas are pressed at the same time, they will all come together and a bigger image will be created.

Now we just individually need to collect images, film and sounds that we can use to represent each part of the brain.

Now that we know exactly what we are doing I've decided to put together a list of how much materials would cost now, so if it's too expensive, we can make adjustments soon.

List of materials we will need:
-Vacuum forming plastic
-Clay
-Nodes (makeymakey)
-Wood (for wooden pillar)
-Small pot of white paint

What we will need to book out:
-Projector or large tv screen
-Speakers
-Laptop

We will also need to think about the space we could put this in. Ideally we want a white gallery space, as our installation will be quite sleek looking.

Things I need to do:

-Collect images, video and sounds
-Email Jim to ask if vacuum forming is possible
-Create a price list
-Create basic schedule

Build workshop - Putting the set together

We put together the boards to create a set to our desired shape. We made sure the back was open for the green screen.

We are going to need or think about how we do the floor. We also need to think about how we paint the walls. Because they have a lot of gaps/ridges Chris suggested we wallpaper it and then paint over of we have to, to hide the gaps. This will cost more money but will make the set look better in the end result.

The slightly slanted wall on the left works really well for what we are trying to achieve. It makes the set appear longer and bigger, which will help create this endless gallery space.

We need to make sure the set is constructed and held up safely and securely. Extra supports and stage weights have been used to support the structures. 

The lights gave been placed so the area is well lit. We also used spotlights to give it more of a gallery feel.

Possible Model Outcomes

I researched into the best materials we could possible use for our installation, without it being too expensive or hard to make considering the time scale we have.

Vacuum Forming-
Cost no more than £10 for the plastic we need, can be formed at university. Also can be any colour including translucent plastic.

We considered using foam however this could give the model and cheap feel and getting large quantities of this can be expensive. If we can not get the plastic forming to work, we can use clay to build the sculpture or look at a way to create the brain digitally.

Either using microphones or Makeymakey deveice as sensors



Digital Device

Brain Research

Unfortunately the brain is a lot more complex than the diagram above. I made a summery of the main parts of the brain regarding movement, sound, visual and thought (mainly the lobes). Some how will have to visually represent these on screen.

Frontal lobes - planning and thinking. Monitoring higher order thinking, directing problem solving and regulating the excesses of the emotional system. Self will area, personality. Most of our memory.

Temporal lobes - above the ears. Deals with sound, music, face and object recognition and some parts of long term memory. Also house the speech centres although this is usually on the left side only.

Occipital lobes - exclusively for visual processing.

Parietal lobes - spatial orientation , calculation and certain types of recognition.

Cortex - controls body movement, works with cerebellum