Steadying Footage

So after I'd taken my test/environment footage, I realised it was incredibly shaky. Whilst useable in some instances, it's not an effect that's very fitting to the overall 'fairytale' tone I would like to set. By putting it into Adobe Premiere and Warp stabilising I found it created a pleasing effect with the footage I'd gathered. Below is a quick vid of just tests that I have:

Woods - Stabilisation Test from Lija J on Vimeo.

-However, these initial tests are shot quite slowly and relatively still so steady quite easily. In ones involving a person, following their movement etc. it can create a weird sea-sickness type effect, so in some cases I may not use it/edit accordingly.

I borrowed the Steadicam Merlin 2 (pictured below) in order to steady as I filmed, therefore not having to wait until post to see whether footage I shot was useable, and began practicing with it. However once it came to the actual shoot I decided against using it, due to time-constraints, my lack of skill in using it and general space issues. However it is something I'd like to try out again, and hopefully get better at.

Concept and Collecting Footage

In the practical element for this module I want to illustrate the change of tone colour creates in film. To do this, and since I'm focusing on the idea of 'fantasy', fairytale and childhood, I'm intending to create a short narrative of someone walking through a forest, initially starting off fully 'fantasy' and slowly becoming colder (possibly darker), less magical and more 'muddy'. The rough colour plan for this is Red's/gold colours for fantasy, Green's and possibly gold for the midway stage, and bluer/blacker colder tones for the muddy 'real' world.

Earlier in the month I went out with a Lumix Gx1 to gather some reference/ stock footage, before all the leaves died. I did this over two days, the second lot of footage benefiting largely from the sun that day. Below are a handful of example stills:

The latter has more contrast and is a lot brighter, in general having 'warmer' feel. The footage shot on cloudier days is a littler flatter and colder, and will probably be used for the greener and bluer parts of the video.

Since I can't control the weather and it's getting darker and colder I wasn't expecting to get the same lighting when filming the 'character' shots, and I didn't. Instead the day was overcast, not really giving as strong colours as I'd hoped. However, since I'd been to the location the week before, I knew which areas were best for each 'colour' scene I wanted. For example, areas with yellowing/orange trees were best for the red/golden 'fantasy world'. Ultimately I plan to colour grade/edit the footage together so the shots fit together, and transition from red to green to blue. 

Synthesis Crit

With such a drastic change in idea (I had originally been looking into the 'flawed character), this crit was my first proper presentation to a large group. Compiling some of the key research I had done to get the interest of my project across, I was able to see the journey it was beginning to take and the relationship between my practical element and research.

I have been researching the genre of fantasy and fairytale, and with it gathering a further idea as to what inspires it. This is of interest to the use of colour in films of this genre, as the context of the films (usually) dictate it's aesthetic. By looking at various films within this genre, that link to a portal story in order to show contrast between fantasy and reality, I can see trends in colour and story. The interest at the moment lies in colour's link with childhood and imagination, however when receiving feedback for this crit it was suggested to look at other 'portal stories' if I was more concerned with stories involving a change.

The practical element of my research will involve creating a 'short film' that uses colour in ways similar to that of the films I analyse. By mainly focusing on the use of colour (avoiding obvious plot/speech), it's narrative potential can hopefully be tested as well as it's ability to depict fantasy. This will in turn help further understand the colour choices used in my case studies and therefore serve to enhance the points I will be making in my essay. The theory I gather in my essay, such as on the genre of fairytale fantasy, will further inspire the use of colour's and possibly the visuals, of my piece.