Assignment: Visual Metaphor Documentation

 

1.   Concept & Story

Wai-mai driver at day, the protagonist is overwhelmed by existential grief and resorts to dangerous and self-destructive behaviors at night to try to feel something

2.  Creation Process & Execution

CJ and I rode around looking for the perfect shots for our film. We had a couple of frames in our head and a proper shot list to work with (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1z_GBzM_d4q7iC_eBGygyFvSm0VazID_vDwA1FBMUGh8/edit?usp=sharing) otherwise we dd not use a storyboard.

All of our lighting are natural except for a select few roof shots. For those we simply used a flashlight. Directing wise, CJ and I both took turns imagining the perfect shot for our film. He had more control over the aesthetics, while I focused on the story and the visual metaphor.

We lost all of our editing at one point before it was due. I whipped something up and submitted it.

The biggest piece of editing was timing scene cuts with music in order to establish “rythmn” and also the “leave color effect”

3. Collaboration

I wrote the story and focused on establishing leaves as the visual metaphor. I also found the settings for all of our shots (especially the roof). Editing-wise, I focused on the rhythm aspect of the film.

I owe CJ for the aesthetically pleasing aspects of the film. His camera work was unparalleled.

4. Aesthetics & Results

The aesthetics were inspired mainly by Schindler’s list and taxi drivers. As the film deals with the pressures of the Chinese working class, it was only reasonable to incorporate the existentialist aesthetic that Taxi Driver had, especially with the rhythm editing that made the Wai Mai driver’s task seem more repetitive. We used the leave color technique used in Schindler’s list to make the world appear even more depressing, as the only color the meituan driver knew in his life was the color of his work, as it defined all who he was.