The world through our eyes! THEME Can the author create a fashion film, which enables the audience to empathize truly with the different emotions expressed in a film using new, original and innovative techniques? The main idea is to create a fashion film with the intention of expressing different emotions an individual may experience in an abstract, creative and original way. RATIONALE The rationale behind the desire to create a fashion film based upon this concept stems from the personal experiences of the author and the aspiration to create a deeper and innovative understanding of emotional representations. Focusing on the effect a more visual, but abstract depiction can influence the human psyche; aided by colors, clothing, sounds and temperatures. Will the audience be able to emphasize with the expressed emotions without using their more typical and obvious representations? Having experience in working with software such as; Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, InDesign and Final Cut Pro; this project will aid the author in enhancing these skills as well advancing the knowledge in this area and creating a range of works using various medias (photography, film) that demonstrates the effect of these tools on fashion design. Research material covered to support the theme of this project will be based around the psychology of emotions and colors, the unconscious mind, repressed feelings and the false outer image of an individual. Using theorists Jacques Lacan, Sigmund Freud and Angela Wright as the main theorists to provide evidence and research material to support and justify the arguments. Sigmund Freud, spoke of the unconscious mind and how thoughts, feelings and emotions can be repressed from the conscious mind. He also believed that poets and thinkers had long known of the existence of the unconscious and thought for the recognition of this in the field of psychology. Freud’s theory was one of the main inspirations for the fashion film. The idea of the unconscious mind expressing itself through abnormal means, regardless of how it is being repressed depicts the main idea presented in the fashion film. “You’re not as glamorous and powerful as you think. You’re just a flesh-covered skeleton that can break at any time. Your image of yourself is all a lie.” Jacques Lacan
Lacan (2001) argued that the outside representation is not a true reflection of one’s inner state. This theory has been applied with the idea that every individual is delicate and hides one’s most inner emotions. This project intends to turn this idea inside out and give the audience the opportunity to see the true colours that hide within every individual. This fashion film intends to use colors as a main feature in representing the different mindsets. Angela Wright (2004) argued that colours have a different effect on the decisions and emotions of an individual. “Brought up in a hotel, the Wright noticed from an early age that guests’ behaviour was clearly influenced by the colour schemes. For example, with two bedrooms identical in every detail but the colour schemes, regular guests all wanted this one and none of them wanted to occupy that one. When questioned about it, they said that, whilst the ‘other one’ was very nice, they just felt more comfortable in ‘this one’.” Angela Wright (2004) The fashion film will also add to the author’s portfolio demonstrating a variety of different abilities including film direction, make-up and putting the set together. Being an original idea with innovative techniques the resulting film should provide inspiration to other fashion academics and enthusiasts. The main idea is to challenge oneself and enhance the existing skillset and capabilities. Working previously as an art director, makeup artist and a stylist gives a better understanding and awareness in creation of a fashion piece, whether it is fashion film or a photo shoot. Strong network of connections within the commercial industry including, models, cinematographers, photographers etc. enables the author to have a better understanding of the production life cycle. The overall challenge is portray the emotions sadness or depression through a different technique or way, for example a broken bulb dying out, the use of different angles, lighting staging scene to represent an emotion rather then having a straightforward and basic fashion shoot having the models expressing the feelings through their own mimics and body movements. Adding to this, it will also provide the author with the opportunity to research, create work that enhances their experience and ability to create fashion videos/shoots and other related products with a far more in depth and well rounded understanding of the effects they are trying to achieve or the emotions
they want to portray including how this will make the audience feel. AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1) Aim: To create an abstract fashion film portraying the inner state of ones different emotions feelings and state of mind, through different. Objective: An abstract fashion film, using creativity, ideas and knowledge of emotional representations that the audience will be able to relate with. 2) Aim: To get a clear and concise understanding of the different perceptions of human psychology and how this may influence the perspective of the audience. Objective: To conduct thorough research, using surveys, working groups and literature. Which will provide an in-depth understanding of the different aspects of emotional states, the colors, and sounds, temperatures that relate to them. This will provide a far more psychological understanding of what is required to create a desired effect.. Enhancing the awareness when looking for inspiration and creative perspectives during preparation, filming, editing and direction. 3) Aim: To collate research, previous learning, skills and experience to ensure this lovely, beautiful, creative and amazing author is equipped with everything required to achieve the main project aim to its fullest potential with the maximum effect Objective: To use books, Internet, articles, magazine, previous work and experience as well as other resources available to gather all the necessary information required. 4) Aim: To conduct a review of the project outcomes ensuring there is measurable evidence to ensure project aims and objectives have been achieved Objective: Conduct a survey, which will ensure that the original desired outcome was actually achieved by this project/ fashion film. Another key point will be collating interviews of people who work in the industry and people outside of the industry, and how their opinion changes after they get more exposure to the world of design. CONCEPT The concept of the fashion film will be based upon 5 different emotional sets, Happiness & Arousal, Sadness & Confusion, Depression and Loneliness, Love and Friendship and Hatred and Betrayal. The emotions shall be articulated through the variations in the interior design, technology, colours, clothing and sound for each room. The intention is to create a fashion film that is as symbolic, creative and abstract as possible. The main aim of the concept of having different rooms, symbolizes the inner state of enter-
ing an individual’s mind and the diversity between each. The world through our eyes! This is the representation of different emotions using a diverse range of media. With the overall aim to portray the emotions or feelings, that would usually be expressed through words. Sandy Smith and Ryan Mcginley’s photography and the usage of light and spacing to make the models seem as though they part of the furniture. Adding to this the manner in which all elements are bespoke for this shoot in particular provided inspiration for the happiness and arousal section of the fashion film. Marilyn Minter’s video “Green Pink Caviar” is a great example of the objective behind the happiness and arousal room; very simplistic, yet captures the desired passionate effect using basic materials and the mouth of a model. Kishin Shinoyama, Cathy Daley and Andrea Galvani’s work, captured the abstract way in which confusion and sadness can be illustrated. The minimalistic however rich way in which these artists expressed their idea with repetitive aspects is the key inspiration. Camilla Akrans’ blurred and smoky image effects distorting the visibility of the model is a good representation of loneliness, depression and loneliness was also inspired by Andre Kertesz and Marilyn Minter that use sexually in a disturbing manner and bright elements within a dull and plain setting. Lucy and Bart and Christelle Bonnet display as great usage of colors in characterizing the certain emotions and moods, specifically hatred and betrayal for this fashion film; the usage of foreign materials to signify abnormality. Some of the ideas that have provided inspiration for things that will be included in the fashion film are artistic roller-skating, music, lighting, costumes and 3D paintings. These ideas will be incorporated to try and enable the audience to empathize with the different emotions expressed in a more original and innovative manner using fashion elements. Adding to this, different locations and settings for each room will be used to further emphasize these mindsets. Whether they are actual locations, editing effects or 3D paintings. For instance, fire, forests, derelict areas or a glass box. A variety of unique effects will be incorporated to enhance these emotions further. For instance, a model is painted with 3D artwork to represent another space behind her or another model. The main challenges of the fashion film will be ensuring that the audience will interpret the representa-
tion of the main concept of expressing the different emotions and feelings accurately. METHODOLGOY Initially the first step in the production of this fashion film will be to conduct research. A literature review of books, Internet and articles will be conducted to develop a better understanding of the subject and context of the project. The most significant parts of the information will be recorded within a sketchbook. Following this, the results from the initial literature review will be used to generate surveys and a focus group that will further verify the accuracy of the initial understanding and ideas from the audience’s perspective. Ensuring they are both representative and unbiased. The results from both the literature review and overall research will then initiate the development stage whereby all the ideas and opinions gathered previously will be taken into account to produce finalized ideas for the film. This will be achieved through brainstorming sessions. Once the ideas for the film have been collated, a treatment for the film will be written up, followed by the storyboard in order to identify the technical and visual effect that will be required to make the film work. This session will also help establish many of the technical and ethical challenges that must be overcome through the film’s production. A budget for the film will then be decided, based on the props, costumes and materials required. Locations and overall scenery resources will also be selected during this stage of the project production. Based upon any restrictions or challenges found in previous development stages a final storyboard and script will be produced. After this stage, all the resources, costumes make-up and other required resources are then sourced and purchased. Simultaneously with this stage the casting for the different roles including models, cinematographers and artists will be casted for the different roles. This will be achieved using industry contacts and agencies. Briefing sessions will then be conducted with the entire crew prior to the commencement of the filming. Providing there are no unavoidable delays, such as illness or absence, each scene will then be filmed until it is perfect and then progress on to the next one. Following the storyboard and the treatment. These steps will be repeated for each of the 5 rooms individually and then final editing will take place for the entire fashion film. Content
By constructing 5 spaces to create an illusion of being within one’s mind that will enable the audience to experience and emphasize with the different emotions represented by each room. The emotions shall be articulated through the variations in the interior design, technology, colours, clothing and sound for each room. The intention is to create a fashion film that is as symbolic, creative and abstract. The main aim of the concept of having different rooms, symbolizes the inner state of entering an individual’s mind and the diversity between each. Happiness & Arousal will include an underwater setting with a model letting out bubbles, sinking or presenting flowing movements to show a struggle within oneself. With furnishings and props to depict a togetherness between the room, model and its surroundings. The room representing Sadness & Confusion will have an artistic roller skater spinning inside a spinning glass box that will signify the sadness and confusion with the individual from the room itself and the world outside it. With repetitive elements such as props to represent the continuity of the emotion. Depression and Loneliness will be portrayed within a very dull setting furnished with bright colorful elements unnatural to its surroundings. A lot of empty space within the room will emphasize the deepness of the emotion aided by the colors in the form of lighting and objects used. Love and Friendship involves 3D artwork or body paintings where a model will be represented as a part of an object or the room itself. Using a lit painted canvas to add to the mood of the room and create an abstract representation of love, possibly including the playing cards inspiration spelling out ‘love’. Hatred and Betrayal room will be presented in the creation of some form of cage, cell or a room, where the lighting is used to the emotional representation. The usage of foreign materials on models will signify and define abnormality, for Instance, the betrayal of one’s own body. Other locations to be used in various sections of the fashion film will include the derelict places, forests and swimming pools/water tanks. The fashion film will be targeted at the audience of people aged 16-60. Where they would be expected to interpret and relate to the film at different depths of understanding. The fashion film will be presented at the authors’ personal gallery, as it’s initial site, in front of an expected audience of 50-100 people.
QUESTION
Can the author create a fashion film, which enables the audience to empathize truly with the different emotions expressed in a film using new, original and innovative techniques?
RATIONALE - WHY I WISH TO DO THIS PROJECT? •
Personal experiences
•
Aspiration to create a deeper and innovative understanding of emotional representations
•
How visual representation can influence the human mind using colours, clothing, sounds and temperatures
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES •
To create an abstract fashion film portraying the inner state of ones different emotions feelings and state of mind, through different techniques and ways
•
To get a clear and concise understanding of the different perceptions of human psychology
•
To collate research, previous learning, and experience to ensure the author is equipped with everything required to achieve the main project aim to its fullest
•
To conduct a review of the project outcomes ensuring there is measurable evidence to ensure project aims and objectives have been achieved
PROJECT CONCEPT: 5 ROOMS •
Happiness & Arousal
•
Sadness & Confusion
•
Depression and Loneliness
•
Love and Friendship
•
Hatred and Betrayal
INSPIRATIONS A Wright theory of Colour Psychology and Colour Harmony • How does colour influence mood and behaviour? • Why do individuals have different aesthetics responses to the same colour?
SIGMUND FREUD
•
Sigmund Freud, spoke of the unconscious mind and how thoughts, feelings and emotions can be repressed from the conscious mind. He also believed that poets and thinkers had long known of the existence of the unconscious and thought for the recognition of this in the field of psychology.
JACQUES LACAN
•
“You’re not as glamorous and powerful as you think. You’re just a flesh-covered skeleton that can break at any time. Your image of yourself is all a lie.”
HATRED AND BETRAYAL LUCY AND BART
CHRISTELLE BONNET
SADNESS & CONFUSION
CATHY DALEY
DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS
HAPPINESS & AROUSAL SANDY SMITH
LILA JANG
RYAN MCGINLEY
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
Angela Wright Colour meanings and its Symbolism
HAPPINESS & AROUSAL Film 1 HAPPINESS&AROUSAL Fully inspired by the following video. This will give clear understanding on what needs to be achieved: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz1Bh1_28As Concept is to portray/express sexuality, seduction, yet giving a little bit of an uncomfortable feeling for the viewer.. slightly in an abstract way. The film overall is based on close ups and details. The other main idea is to use different colour and texture as the main structure in order to project a feeling or an emotion of an individual. Beginning of the film: Filming close up of an eye, (fading in fading out effect during filming) of it opening and closing, then rolling. Next shot of the lips, and the model wetting them, whilst turning and moving around her head. Have lips painted white with sugar on top (sugarcoat) as shown below, dip them into some colourful liquid and film how the drops are dripping from the bottom lip whilst she tilts her head from left to right (so the drops would go around the bottom lip and then drop.
Next stage filming the model’s mouth, parts of a face (like in the video above ) through the glass, however, instead she would be playing around with eco soil spheres. Want to get an effect of her getting lost in those eco soil balls, and then she reappears.. (It’s like when we try to cover our feet with sand and then we trying to get out..), as well as have the models head moving around the glass filled with eco soil to create some sort of movemments… Ideally most of the film I’d like to have in slow motion.
The ideal effect throughout the short film would be portrayed as the one on photo booth “glow effect”. Picture provided below shows the colours, tonality and mood for the film. Everything is sort of black and shadowed and somewhere over exposed, however we have the outlines, or silhouettes of dark browns/red colours. And the purple on white lips represents sort of seduction, yet in a calm and sophisticated way. The imagery does not have to be clear all the way. Use the effect of the colour changing on eco soil just like in the video, (from 0:36sec - 0:38): SHOWstudio: Dynamic Blooms by Nick Knight and Tell No One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuxwG19P5ec
Also as separate shot: I’d like to create something like that, the link below, and if we could shoot it in close up to see the clolours merge and change and move.. and then interpret and link it with the video with eco soil : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Wl-V5zOGs&feature=related
Marylin Minter This is the representation of different emotions using a diverse range of media. With the overall aim to portray the emotions or feelings, that would usually be expressed through words. Sandy Smith and Ryan Mcginley’s photography and the usage of light and spacing to make the models seem as though they part of the furniture
Screenshots of Happiness & Arousal..
SADNESS & CONFUSION Film 2 SADNESS&CONFUSION Surrealism/ Abstract film Cameraman is located on the 2nd floor filming the stairs, looking down. Then it captures someone walking up (the only thing that the viewer will be able to see is the hand of the model holding on to the handles and we notice it’s getting closer and closer). Once she reaches the same level where cameraman is, we start seeing her full silhouette, where the model’s head covered with balloons (black). Sort of giving and unexpected shock.. maybe we can even create as they show in scary movies… the slight shake. Next shot: filming her at different angles in different corners (fade in fade out effect including close ups on parts of the body); filming the stairs going upside down to create an illusion.. , also partially filming some of the writings/affirmations that are on the mount board, which is going to be our background.
The whole scenery pref. be dark or make half side of the set desaturated and the other slightly colourful or original.. (maybe in after effects) Next step illooms(balloons that are led) come in place. Im thinking it be best to film the model moving, dancing, or rotating with them in dark place, so we can get an effect of painting with light.. where the colours would just lit and create lines and all because of the movement… All this is shot in close ups of parts of the body.. but since its going to be dark, we will just capture the effects of the lit balloons… The model’s job is portray the pain within, unstable/uncomfortable feeling in anything that she does or they way she moves. Also after she feels something is happening with her and it seems that she wants to vomit… as she opens her mouth holding her throat with both hands her teeth are falling down instead (would that be possible to do in after effects as it is obviously not possible in real life..?) (One theory is that dreams about your teeth reflect your anxieties about your appearance and how others perceive you. Your teeth help to convey an image of attractiveness and play an important role in the game of flirtation, whether it is flashing those pearly white, kissing or necking. Thus, such dreams may stem from a fear of rejection)
Kishin Shinoyama
Biggest Inspiration
Alexandru Darida Arist/Painter - Alexandru Darida was born in 1955 in Transylvania. Darida’s ability to stay in touch with his childhood allows him to translate his vision into chromatics of rich glowing colours with an inner luminosity reminiscent of another world. His imagws emerge from his passion for musoc and philosophy. The use of such beautiful combination and mixture of colours is truly inspirational and very dynamic. Therefore, such stong image and style has influenced and inspired the film “Sadness & Confusion”, with the usage of LED balloons and creating glowing effect..
Screenshots of the film inspired by the works and style of Alexandru Darida
Cathy Daley
Inspired by the dark silhouettes, the shapes of a female body and the bluriness portrayed in the film
Andrea Galvani
Inspired by the repetitions, and minimalism
HATRED & BETRAYAL Film 3 HATRED&BETRAYAL Abstract film Location: In the studio, black background Beginning of the film: a smoke coming out of nowhere (pitch black), lid with colour lenses as blue or purple, as shown below:  
Then we see the wedding dress reappearing through the smoke (The wedding dress is hanging (standing on its own), the camera is shooting in detail from bottom to the top , we can see that no one is wearing it, and then suddenly we see a figure/silhouette behind the dress, and then it disappears and reappears in another place getting closer to the dress until we see her right inside the dress (in black morphsuit) and “it” is touching the dress, in torn movements, like robot like; alien like, as if “it” has never seen such before. Then suddenly with hatred “it” grabs the dress (detail on the hand..fiest) and takes it off and throws away (the dress changes colour to grey to black.. and disappears in smoke..) Then Model is on the floor on its back and finds the metal glasses with spikes and a collar. wears it and the camera gets close ups on the details of props from different angles. Use the special effect as shown in the following video: Dark Daze - a Fashion Film by Oggy Yordanov for Portable.tv (FROM 0:21/0:25) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4aoyHsLsiU
Then with after effects (FForward effect) the camera spins around the morph at 360 C increasing the speed and then the morph as if from spinning head falls down (sitting twon) on on a stool that appeared out of nowhere (picture of stool shown below). The model is in agony and pain, sitting on the stool it plays the instrument (that is carved in the design of the stool) with strong expressions through the body and emotions as if it hears the melody and the tunes coming from that chair.. (wearing the red ballet shoes on heels) Then she suddenly gets up, grabs the chair with 2 hands, and tries to smash/break it of the ground/floor. In after effects the chair must explode and crush into pieces in slow motion..very slow‌
Screenshots of my film.. Music composed by Jeffrey van Rossum
Depression and Loneliness
Film 4 Depression and Loneliness Abstract film The final film depicts the emotions of depression and loneliness. The concept of the film aims to express the solitude and emptiness of an individual and mainly, the unawareness of self-destruction. The film is based underwater. Inspiration originated from the film Amphitrite - The underwater Goddess (see Figure 10), directed by Damien Krisl – the impression of isolation, infinity and struggle, but yet presented in tranquil, weightlessness and mysterious temper. In the “Depression & Loneliness” film, the character gets strangled by the hands of the unknown persona (see Figure 11), and in the result of suffocating, the model awakens under the water in deep shock. The model’s behaviour changes with anxiety, and it is represented with restricted movement underwater with floating, long silk fabric. The movement of the model and the fabric embodies the struggle and a sense of giving up as it wraps around the model, covering and uncovering parts of body. Without any comprehension of the fact the model is being unconscious, she is trying to reach the top and save herself, however, the water and clothes is dragging her into the deep hole underneath. Whilst the model moving underwater, such items as, broken frames and pictures start dropping into the water from above, where the character notices one picture frame with red hand print. She is trying to reach the frame but it drops and disappears in deep darkness underneath. Suddenly, the model starts moving around in confusion and puzzlement, as the water underneath spreads forming black hole. Filled with fear, the model swims towards the camera and slams her hands onto the glass, leaving red handprint as she lets go of it – the red handprint symbolizes a sign of SOS. As the character lets her arm go off the glass, she starts drowning into the black hole, and the audience is left with focusing at the red painted handprint dissolving in water.
Depression and Loneliness Final Decision
Film 4 Depression and Loneliness Abstract film Location: my house, outside balcony view Train is passing by, camera films as its passing through and zooms in into the windows to see the emptiness, empty seats inside the train Location 2: Kings Cross, huge bird cage with a swing
Film the full size of the cage and then zoom in more inside, we see swing swinging on its own, no presence of a person. The suddenly male appears on the swing looking down, gets up and starts dancing on roller-skates, dynamic movements Zoom in onto parts of body Usage of sand, in our case baking flour, to throw on model and the model itself to use it whilst moving to create an effect as below: http://www.imaginefashion.com/fresh-intelligence/to-ashes
Create such distortion whilst the male model is in movement : inspired by: http://www.imaginefashion.com/fresh-intelligence/aker
Dance as one would more commonly think is expressive movement - and it is interesting to observe the similarity of the words motion and emotion - or one could say; Motion = emotion! Perhaps this is why dance is creative in nature and can have such a powerful impact on how one feels and expresses themselves. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1343942
florida=DEATH - depression http://vimeo.com/28768426
Screen Shots
WEBSITE PRODUCTION: creation, choices on the inside of rooms
Developmrnt of the room within the site Each box is animated and represents a room where the films are held Once the door opens, we see the inside of the rooom and enter, where it is slightly furnished leaving space as main mood, and then, the film is coming out out picture frames, paintings, etc... View sample for Depression and Loneliness
Happiness and Arousal Sample.pre look o the room within the box
Website look
Happinrss and Arousal sample of walls for the rooom
EVP: EMOTIONAL VISUALIZATION PALLETTE RESEARCH DOSSIER JANNA REAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR MAFMP