Year 2 - Induction Project

Starting Second Year, I was very excited. We got to meet new people on our course, got to begin new projects and got to catch up with everyone from last year. Along with a new studio space, I was feeling excited, motivated and determined.

We began the year with the Induction Project. This year we had the task of picking an object an creating a film about it, then in the second week we collaborated with other people on the course over first, second and MFA students.

Induction Project Brief This is a two week project - an opportunity for you to put your toe in the water, to get to know the department a little, to get to know your peers, and to try and make a couple of short films using very basic materials and techniques. In the first week you'll work on your own. In the second week you'll team up with others.

WEEK ONE First of all we want you to select an object that means something to you. This object must be accessible - there's no point choosing a long lost or much loved item from your childhood. It has to be something you can lay your hands on. It can be something that plays a key part in your every day life; something that caught your fancy and which you've retained for no good reason, something you keep for sentimental reasons or as a practical necessity - its entirely up to you. In the first place we want you to record a few words (no more than thirty seconds to a minute's worth ) of your thoughts on this object..this can be scripted or spontaneous, serious or amusing, sensible or ridiculous, true or false. The recording will serve as the soundtrack to the film you're about to make. Mike Mullin will help you book recording equipment if it's needed, though the soundtrack need not be meticulously recorded..it could be done in situ, with ambient sounds and interruptions: it's your choice. Stage Two of Week One will involve you putting together the visuals to accompany this soundtrack. These needn't be animated images: they could be live action or stills, abstract or figurative, whatever you deem appropriate to both the object and your recording. The technique and the technology can - maybe even should - be rudimentary. Use your phone if there's nothing else available. We can otherwise help provide equipment.

Schedule for Week One

Tuesday 19 - 11.00. Meeting in Room I02 to launch project. Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent recording your thoughts on your object and gathering your visual material. We'll give you some practical advice as to how you might do this on your phones.

Thursday 21 - 9.30. Studio. You'll get the chance to start editing your sound and pictures using Premiere. We'll be available to advise with non-linear editing. A starting point may be the book, 'Classroom In A Book: Adobe Premiere' (should be available in the library) or Lynda.com. Mike will be around to help if you get stuck.

Friday 22 - 14.00. Meeting in Room I02 to walk along to West Court Theatre to look at your first week's finished films. At this point we'll put you into groups for the second week of the project - you'll want to get to know your team members and talk about how you'll then approach things, manage your time etc. You may want to storyboard things, however roughly, and to decide on a setting for the film you'll make. The groups for Week Two are as following:-

Group One: Ivanna (Yr 2), Douglas (Yr 2), Sam (Yr 1), Emily H (Yr 1), Alexsander (Yr 1), Jorge (MFA1)

Group Two: Erin (Yr 2), Emily (Yr 2), Alina (Yr 1), Faye (Yr 1), Catherine (Yr 1), Jennifer (MFA1)

Group Three: Lucia (Yr 2), Mark (Yr 2), James (Yr 1), Amy K (Yr 1), Mhari (Yr 1), Gavin (MFA1)

Group Four: Alice (Yr 2), Becca (Yr 2), Isobel (Yr 2), Eilidh (Yr 1), Bryce (Yr 1), Mariha (Yr 1), Lauren (MFA1)

Group Five: Amy (Yr 2), Veronica (Yr 2), Peter (Yr 2), Emma (Yr 2), Kacper (Yr 1), Yuhuan (Yr 1), Abi (MFA1) WEEK TWO In the second week you'll be put into groups, and at this stage you'll be asked to make a film using the animated technique known as pixilation. We'll show you examples of this but here's a quick description: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-pixilation-140460 As the basis of this film we want you to employ, not only yourselves as the 'actors' but the objects you selected in week one. Your respective objects all have to appear in the film - as have each of you in the group. You'll need to get together and work out a narrative that may (or may not) make sense. Again you can use your smartphones to shoot the film - try and keep things basic (time is against you) but be inventive..this is a creative challenge, no different from any other that we may set you. The film has to work 'as a film' but what does that mean? This is something you may want to discuss in your group before you start. You can either 'edit as you go', or we'll be able to give you access to an editing suite to cut together your raw material into an acceptable shape. The length of your film is up to you. Sound would be desirable but you may come up with a convincing argument as to why it's not required. We'd recommend that you 'shoot' using several phones, thereby giving you more material to work with when it comes to the editing stage. As a group you must try to work together and be respectful of others' opinions. In the early stages compromises will have to be made, but you shouldn't be afraid to engage in a robust discussion about the kind of film you want to make...though we insist it's a polite robust discussion. We'll look at both films at the end of week two (Friday 29th Sept, Room 07 - Hunter Lecture Theatre - 9.30-12-30), crit them (politely but robustly) and see if there are any conclusions to be drawn about films that are made on the run with whatever is to hand or at your disposal. Can anything good come of this? That's for you to decide..

I decided in week 1 to use cheese as my object. This came about after a discussion with my flatmate about what our favourite things were, and as I love cheese, it seemed the perfect choice.

I started with sketches of different cheeses and then recorded a soundtrack of different words describing it.

The second week we came together with our groups to create our films. My group decided on a film with the theme of a 'Survival Kit'. Our film was to be animated using pixelation, and as this was the first time animating for some of our group it was a relatively simple place to start. We had fun filming, and working in a group with new people presented its own challenges as well as giving rewarding experiences and creating new friendships.

Our final film is below.