Sigarett u Bukkett Fjuri

S I G A R E T T

U

B U K K E T T S O U N D

F J U R I D E S I G N

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P R O D U C T I O N M O D U L E 8

I N T R O D U C T I O N A N A L Y S I N G A U D I O - V I S U A L P R O J E C T S I N V E S T I G A T I N G R E C O R D I N G T E C H N I Q U E S & E Q U I P M E N T S T O R Y B O A R D I N G R E C O R D I N G & P R O D U C T I O N P O S T P R O D U C T I O N

T H I S

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S K I L L S

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L O C A T I O N S O U N D

S E L E C T I O N

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R E C O R D

R E Q U I R E D

R E C O R D I S T / P R O D U C E R .

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THIS ABSTRACT EDITORIAL PIECE PRESENTS OUR PRODUCTION JOURNAL FOR OUR AUDIO-VISUAL PROJECT

R E S E A R C H

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P R E S E N T A T I O N

E X P L A I N I N G M A I N E L E M E N T S D E S C R I B I N G P E R S O N A L A T T I T U D E S C O M P A R I N G D I F F E R E N T A R T S O F C O M P O S I T I O N

R E S E A R C H

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P R E S E N T A T I O N

R E S O N A N C E A M E R I C A N H O R R O R S A F E

S T O R Y

For this task we were required to research various audio-visual projects and analyse their audio. After exploring various works we decided to focus on three distinctive projects, Resonance, the opening sequence of American Horror Story 2 and the trailer of the movie Safe. Resonance is a project that explores the relationship between geometry and audio in unique ways. The perfect combination of abstract 3D visuals and audio were very inspiring for our project. The opening sequence of American Horror Story 2 made use of many short diverse sounds which were fully synchronised with the visuals in quite a unique way. Its contrasting audio gives the feeling of a sound through a silent visual.

The experimental footage and its quick transitions give the sound designer the opportunity to combine many different sounds with individual shots. In the trailer of the movie Safe the mood changes quite frequently hence keeping the viewer interested in every scene. The sound is used in an effective way both to build up suspense and during calmer shots.

Contrary to the other works, this trailer contains various melodic pieces throughout.

With the help of these three audio-visual projects we managed to combine elements from all of them and produce our own unique piece of work.

1

R E V E R B & L O W F R E Q U E N C I E S

I M P A C T T R E A T E D W I T H A F R E Q U E N C Y

P E R C U S S I V E B A S S S O U N D M E T A L L I C E F F E C T

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R E S O N A N C E

L O W F R E Q U E N C Y W I T H R E V E R B

E L E C T R O N I C B A S S L O W A M P L I T U D E

H I G H A M P L I T U D E

M E L O D Y R E P E T I T I O N D I F F E R E N T F R E Q U E N C Y

P A N N I N G

C H A N G E I N P I T C H

M E T A L L I C S O U N D

A M E R I C A N

H O R R O R

S T O R Y

L O W P I T C H P E R C U S S I V E S O U N D highly treated with reverb

C H A O T I C A M B I E N C E S O U N D S

R Y T H M I C E L E M E N T S T O B U I L D U P S U S P E N C E

E X A G G E R A T E D S O U N D W I T H E C H O

D I S T O R T E D G U I T A R

S A F E

O U R

This unit was very challenging for me since I never had the opportunity to produce a complete audio-visual project of this sort.

Throughout this unit I learnt how such project are created and how sound can be edited in order to produce synchronised audio and visuals. We all worked very well as I group and I feel that we have come a long way in this unit since none of us knew how to edit sound and how to sync it with the footage we had.

Although everyone had a different role we all worked together as a group. We filmed the shots and the recorded the sound together and everyone pitched in the ideas both during the creation of the storyboard and even while we were on location. I feel that this project was a successful collaborative project and we are very satisfied with the final outcome.

P E R S O N A L

P O I N T

O F

V I E W

O N

S O U N D

Starting this module I had literally no idea how sound design works.

I was always affectionate at so many diverse projects I’ve looked at over the internet that consisted of abstract visuals with perfectly synced audio. Never really had the chance to try and create something of my own, not to mention that I had no knowledge whatsoever to what digital audio workstation to use.

Through this module I’ve learned how sound effects can be manipulated in so many creative ways so as to produce beautifully audio design which can than be easily combined with different visuals.

In the beginning it was quite difficult to adapt to this module as none of us had no idea from were to start, however as we got used to it we straight away started working on our project, were each and everyone of us had an very vital part to the group.

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D E S I G N

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P R O D U C T I O N

The Sound Design & Production module was quite fun and challenging. It was completely different from the other modules we’ve learnt so far. Before this module was ready, I had no idea how sound design and production could be carried out, nor had any knowledge about digital audio workstations. By means of using Avid Protools, through several experiments on recorded sounds, raw sounds where given a new form and use, which then could be added to the final experimental audiovisual. Together with my other team mates, we planned a step by step structure, where work was divided amongst us four. Planning consisted of the selection of loctions of filming, props, cast and most important the sounds that needed to be recorded.

We all did our best and since we all had the same style of audio-visuals in mind, we all worked well together towards one aim and all the team is fulfilled with ‘Sigarett u Bukket Fjuri’

During our HND course last year, I got very excited when we were told that we will be having a Sound Design and Production unit in the Degree course. Anything related to videography is what I like doing most, and in any type of video, sound is as important as the visuals.

During this unit I have become more familiar with the different sound elements, effects and equipment and now I find myself going deeper into the music/sounds that I listen to and analyse their build up, and I believe that this has helped me a real lot for the sound development of our project.

I feel that us as a group, all of us being very green in the sound department, have managed to develop our idea for the audio-visual project into a good one. I enjoyed working on this project with the team and hopefully together we will work on something similar in the near future.

P R O J E C T

R E C O R D I N G

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P R O D U C T I O N

R E C O R D I N G & M A N I P U L A T I N G S O U N D S C O M B I N G I N G S O U N D S T O G E T H E R T O S T A R T A N A U D I O - V I S U A L P R O D U C T I O N

G E N E R A T I N G

T H E

I D E A

We started off by exploring different techniques that could have been helpful for both the visuals and sound recording. Being an audiovisual project we kept in mind that the combination of the audio had to be perfectly synced and versatile to be easily mastered. We all agreed on an experimental style of visuals and quick transitions, therefore we needed a large amount of different shots to work with. The early idea was to create visuals using liquids however this was further developed into sequential shots of various elements in different environments. The storyboard was drawn to incorporate the different objects that were going to be used.

Locations were chosen to blend with the atmosphere we wanted to create with the audio used.

S T O R Y B O A R D I N G

The first location chosen for filming was St.Paul’s Bay’s playground.

Before the actual filming and sound recording took place, we visited the location to make sure that the area was appropriate for what we had in mind. Then we restructured the storyboard and added some more shots which were applicable.

We also listed some more sound effects which could be created in the playground environment. The next day we went for the actual filming, taking all the equipment needed.

We first took the shots and then continued by recording the different sound effects according to the footage taken. A particular sound which had to be very prominent in our video, that of the swing, could not be recorded through the swing itself

due to a huge amount of background noise and also because the sound produced by the swing was of a low amplitude. Hence the sound effect recorded was that of a squeaking gate. Other sound effects were recorded using combination of things for example knocking on a wooden door and hitting a metal board.

O F

I D E N T I F Y I N G A R A N G E R E C O R D I N G T E C H N I Q U E S A N D P R A C T I C E S

A

C O L L A B O R A T I V E

P R O J E C T

During the making of, of this project, we all took different roles, Rachel and Rowena were filming, since they had the appropriate cameras to do so while Graziella and Noeleen where taking care of the props and setting the scene accordingly. It was a collaborative task to record the sound needed, with one or two of us helping in the making of it, and the

others taking care of the recording itself. Sometimes this had to be repeated since in some recordings the background noise was very prominent and it was interfering too much with the main sound.

The second part of the footage were taken in an old townhouse.

The first filming was done in the kitchen; the whistling kettle and the frying egg shots. the shot of the kettle was a little bit challenging since we had to position ourselves correctly in order to avoid reflections. The audio had to be taken at a different time for the same reason.

T H E T H E W H

O L D T O W N H O U S E I S T L I N G K E T T L E A N D T H E F R Y I N G E G G

I D - D A R T A N - N A N N A F I L - K Ċ I N A

We then moved on to film the telephone shots. We managed to take a lot of different shots that where linearly combined. These shots were later combined with the abstract footage to acquire a contrasting mood. The dailing sound was recorded on location while the whispering melodic sound that will be heard from the phone, was recorded later. To extend the same gloomy ambience we also decided to include a part of the horror film Nosferatu. From this film we decided to use a shot of Nosferatu’s shadow and a shot of creepy spiders. Then we reconstructed our version of both shots with the same basic elements.

C R E A T I V E L Y M A N I P U L A T I N G S O U N D S I N O R I G I N A L W A Y S

To break off the sequence of moving image we introduced a short stop motion of a shoe doing up its shoelaces until both ends get tied together. The sound used was edited to be a quick repetitive effect which had a pitch increase for better effectiveness. In the last seconds we adopted a calmer enviroment to move away from the chaotic sounds and visuals so to help in diminishing all the effects till the ending.

The first idea was to never show any visuals which will lead to the title of the project, but after some discussion we chose to film a cigarette and a bouquet of flowers in the very last part of the project which will help the viewer to visualise the title in the end.

N O S F E R A T U A S Y M P H O N Y

O F

H O R R O R

P R O

A

T O O L S D I G I T A L

A U D I O

W O R K S T A T I O N

sound effects manipulations

N O E L E E N A B E L A R O W E N A C A R U A N A G R A Z I E L L A D E L C E P P O R A C H E L F E N E C H

T H E E N D O F O U R P R O D U C T I O N J O U R N E Y

H O N S )

G R A P H I C

D E S I G N

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I N T E R A C T I V E

M E D I A