Natalya's Documentation Blog

All Men Are At Home- Natalya Charlemagne + Chynna Dorado

 

Concept & Story

G.K. Chesterton’s “The House of Christmas” delves into the themes of homesickness and a sense of displacement within one’s own home. The poet suggests that individuals can feel lost, even when physically present in their familiar surroundings. Chynna and I were motivated to undertake this project because, as international students, we both shared similar feelings of homesickness and displacement. Our aim was to articulate these emotions through the visual metaphor that reflected our personal experiences and convey them effectively in our project.

The incorporation of eggs may initially be confusing to those unfamiliar with the symbolism. Initially, I found it puzzling as well, but Chynna clarified that eggs symbolize unity and new beginnings. In our project, the actor holds eggs, and when she attempts to start a new beginning, the eggs break, symbolizing her failure to initiate this fresh start. Within her home, feelings of displacement and loneliness are depicted, where the eggs disappear and reappear, portraying a sense of dysfunction and confusion within the actor’s thoughts.

Creation Process & Execution

The storyboard proved essential as it provided Chynna and me with a clear plan for our filming, avoiding the challenge of coming up with scenes spontaneously. Our chosen settings included 7-eleven, a subway station, IKEA, and NYU Shanghai’s Digital Studio Room. To enhance our production, we borrowed lighting tools, a Canon 6D camera, a camera stabilizer, and a tripod from the IMA studio.

While filming in IKEA on a busy Saturday presented challenges due to constant customer traffic, we addressed this by exercising patience and employing strategic editing. Waiting for opportune moments or cropping out disturbances allowed us to capture the desired home setting ambiance.

In addition to learning basic elements in Adobe Premiere, I acquired skills in creating rolling credits and effectively using the stabilizer tool. This knowledge came in handy not only for this project but also for my final oral presentation in Chinese, class underscoring the practical benefits of Communications Lab.

 

Time Lapse at Digital Studio:

Time Lapse at Ikea:

 

Collaboration

Chynna and I divided the tasks evenly for this project. She excelled at filming, while I took on a significant role in editing and managing audio. This division of responsibilities allowed us to leverage our individual strengths effectively. To maintain balance, Chynna introduced a practical solution—a USB drive that enabled seamless switching between editing tasks. This approach ensured that neither of us felt overwhelmed with all the editing work, and it allowed us to monitor each other’s progress, ensuring mutual satisfaction. Additionally, Chynna shared valuable insights on setting up tools like the stabilizer and tripod, enhancing our overall workflow and contributing to my learning experience.

Aesthetics & Results

The video’s mood and tempo are deliberately slow, a choice emphasized by the music selection, “everything i wanted” by Billie Eilish (instrumental). Our incorporation of various medium and establishing shots captures the actor’s reality, while in the parallel universe representing their inner thoughts, we opted for numerous close-ups and extreme close-ups. These cinematic choices aimed to evoke feelings of sadness, loneliness, and displacement.

For the voice narration, we enlisted our classmate Joy, whose voice we found fitting for the project. Chynna and I are genuinely pleased with the final result, which not only met our expectations but also enhanced our teamwork, problem-solving, and overall project efficiency.

Project Title: All Men Are At Home　　

Partner: Chynna

Poem- “The House of Christmas” by G.K. Chesterton

For men are homesick in their homes,

And strangers under the sun,

And they lay on their heads in a foreign land Whenever the day is done.

Here we have battle and blazing eyes,

And chance and honour and high surprise,

But our homes are under miraculous skies

Where the yule tale was begun.

Meaning, Focus, Aesthetics

The House of Christmas by G.K. Chesterton explores into the theme of homesickness and the feeling of displacement within one’s own home. The poet contends that individuals may experience a sense of being lost, even when physically present in their homes. Chynna and I will focus would be on capturing the profound emotional struggle expressed by the narrator in the poem, contrasting the feeling homesick within the familiar environment of one’s home. The overall aesthetic will balance the comforts of home with the complexities of navigating foreign landscapes, capturing the emotional depth and duality of the poem’s themes. 

Equipment:

DSLR camera
Stabilizer
Tripod
Light system

Location/Time:

The locations for the shoot are planned to take place at Ikea. The timing of the shoot is unknown as of now. The choice of Ikea is justified by the desire to depict “home-like settings” that align with the theme of the poem, emphasizing the concept of feeling lost even within one’s own home.

Possible Conflicts/ Solutions:

• Time Conflicts
  • Implement a shared calendar for effective coordination based on each collaborator’s schedule.
• Finding an Actor
  • Initiate the casting process early to ensure the selected actor aligns with the project’s visual metaphors and emotions
• Technical Issues
  • Conduct pre-filming equipment checks to mitigate potential technical challenges
  • Have backup resources on hand to address unforeseen equipment malfunctions.
• Creative Differences
  • Foster a collaborative and open-minded atmosphere.
  • Schedule brainstorming sessions to align on the project’s vision.
  • Maintain constant communication to uphold a common creative direction.

Collaborative Work

Natalya will take charge of scriptwriting and directing, while Chynna will be responsible for cinematography and editing. To ensure the smooth progress of our visual metaphor, we will implement timelines and schedule regular check-ins to review and refine our work.

Storyboard

Love Drought-Beyonce

Reverse Storyboard

 

 

The music video for Beyoncé’s “Love Drought” emerges as a poignant and visually captivating piece of artistry, notably for its compelling incorporation of historical context and cultural representation. The video masterfully weaves together elements of the Igbo landing of 1803, showcasing Beyoncé’s ability to transcend mere performance and delve into storytelling.

One of the standout features of the video lies in its attention to camera angles and movement, which serve as essential components in conveying emotions and sentiments. Throughout the narrative, the camera captures various facets of the artist’s portrayal, offering the audience a nuanced glimpse into the emotional spectrum that defines the storyline.

The focus of the line such as “you are the love of my life”(1:08)  against visuals of the artist abandoned within the confines of a building designed for fostering companionship creates a striking visual division. The vulnerability exhibited as Beyoncé assumes a fetal position underscores the profound loneliness embedded within the narrative, evoking a sense of isolation.

Moreover, the intentional choice to revisit historical events, particularly the Igbo landing, adds layers of depth and meaning to the music video. Beyoncé’s portrayal of an Igbo tribal woman at the video’s culmination serves as a powerful testament to the importance of cultural representation, elevating the visual narrative beyond mere entertainment to a realm of cultural homage and acknowledgment.

The video’s success in conveying emotion is intricately linked to the thoughtful deployment of camera angles and movement. Each shot is a deliberate exploration of the emotional landscape, capturing the artist’s vulnerability, strength, and historical homage with precision. The result is a visual masterpiece that not only complements the musical narrative but also elevates the storytelling to a level of artistic brilliance.

Memory Soundscape Project

Dark Knightmares by Natalya Charlemagne

Concept– This memory soundscape conveys a recurring nightmare I had as a child. I was haunted by the Joker, portrayed by Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight.” In my dream, this character relentlessly tried to find me in my house while I was hiding in my bedroom closet. In the end, he finds me and the nightmare ends. The concept of my soundscape was fear, dream, and suspense.

Process– For the creation of my memory soundscape, I composed a diverse range of self-recorded sounds to immerse the listener in the haunting narrative. These included the creaking and opening of an emergency exit door, then the doorbell. The eerie hum of an electric toothbrush introduced an unsettling sense of suspense, complemented by the spine-tingling ambiance of footsteps creeping through the soundscape In contrast, the background sounds of a vending machine and air conditioner created a continuous backdrop of unnerving, almost musical, ambiance, accentuating the dream’s sense of dread..Then the use of the Joker laugh served to intensify the dream’s suspense and fear-inducing atmosphere. and hands mimicking a heartbeat further heightened the dramatic tension, while the punctuating sound of an alarm clock hinted that this was all in my imagination.The integration of these elements allowed for a multi-dimensional and truly immersive memory soundscape.

Challenges– The first challenge I encountered while doing this project was selecting the most suitable noises to effectively convey the essence of my nightmare presented a daunting task to capture the haunting atmosphere. Crafting a truly scary and suspenseful ambiance also posed a challenge, as it needed a balance between intensity and subtlety to evoke a genuine emotional response. Additionally, ensuring sound balance throughout the composition was difficult, as it required careful attention to detail to maintain coherence and prevent any elements from overpowering the overall auditory experience. Overcoming these challenges was instrumental in achieving a compelling memory soundscape that effectively summarizes the feeling of the nightmare.

Conclusion– To improve the memory soundscape, I need several key areas of improvement. Firstly, refining the transitions between different elements of the composition will contribute to a more seamless and immersive experience, allowing for a smoother narrative flow. Second, delving into more intricate sound layering and depth will add complexity to the soundscape, improving the overall auditory experience and ensuring that the suspense aspect is further heightened. By addressing these areas of development, I aim to craft a memory soundscape that is not only captivating but also resonates more profoundly with its audience.

Image of Audition

In the documentary, ‘The Five Obstructions,’ directed by Jørgen Leth and Lars von Trier, Leth is tasked with recreating his short film ‘The Perfect Human’ made in 1967 five times, each version has its own set of rules. In the first obstruction, he must recreate the film in Cuba with extremely brief shot durations and a dingy soundtrack. The second obstruction requires him to make it a crime story with a high-end restaurant scene and restricts him from shooting abroad. The third challenge can only use animation, restricting human and animal characters. The fourth obstruction follows extreme close-ups of the main character’s face in a postcard-style story, including a scene of face washing. In the fifth obstruction, Leth must shoot within a 12-meter radius of the original location, without sets, and including the original film’s commentary to convey the filmmaking process.

In the movie “The Five Obstructions,” Jørgen Leth copes with the five obstructions by initially expressing reluctance but accepting the challenges with determination. His reactions vary, including frustration and skepticism when faced with unfamiliar withholds, such as the location choice, or the use of animation. However, Leth gradually becomes more engaged in his tasks.

The Five Obstructions has a big effect on the movies Jørgen Leth creates, resulting in a transformative journey that underscores the adaptability of film under constraints, fuels his creativity, and leads to the reimagining of his original work. Through each obstruction, the films manifest distinct styles and interpretations, showcasing Leth’s artistic growth, his exploration of the interplay between art and rules, and the documentary’s role in documenting the creative process. These effects collectively emphasize the dynamic nature of artistic expression when confronted with limitations, enriching the viewer’s understanding of the creative process and the malleability of cinematic storytelling.

I enjoyed “The Five Obstructions” because it conveys an inspiring process of creativity and artistic resilience. The film’s ability to showcase how Jørgen Leth embraces every challenge thrown at him, reimagining his own work, is really inspiring. 

Hito Steyerl argues the shifting nature of documentary images in the age of digital reproduction and their role in shaping our perceptions and emotions. When Steyerl mentions the “unbroken belief” of the documentary form is challenged, she means that modern audiences do not accept documentary images as correct representations of reality. In this text, Steyerl argues that the power of documentary images does not rely on reality but on their ability to portray emotions, such as panic or excitement.

The relationship between truth and fiction in movies and films based on true stories is complex. Truth portrays fiction in these works by giving a platform for their narrative. Real events, people, and experiences are often used as a source to build a story that connects with audiences. Filmmakers may use fiction to inform the truth by molding our perception of historical or real-life events, they often use creative freedom in their storytelling, which can dictate how we understand these events, potentially shifting the true narrative.

The authenticity and representation of truth in the media consumed daily play a significant role in understanding the world. In today’s information age, where various forms of social media consume the majority of people with content, the authenticity of the information presented is contradicting. Authenticity in media is crucial for maintaining trust and credibility. However, misinformation has the power to influence political decisions, public perceptions, and personal beliefs.

Live broadcasts allow real-time access to events and offer immediacy which other forms of media cannot fully replicate. However, live broadcasts also present some challenges, as they can be categorized as bias, errors, or manipulation. Live broadcasts may spread unfiltered information quickly, making them a dominant way to inform the public. Media consumers must evaluate the authenticity of their source of media, as their impact on public opinion or decision-making.