Sunday, 18 September 2016

Blog 5: Project 1_Thoughts on 'Portrait of a Film'



Titles (possible):

·         Time and motion in nature/ Time and river flow

·         Time, motion and patterns of a river

·         Time and motion of a river

·         Time of a river

Outline concept:

·         The linking of ‘speeds/pace’ of the ‘flow ‘of ‘a river’ with ‘time passing’ quickly/more slowly.

·         Use of basic geographic knowledge of a river and how the phases of a river through its speeds/flow patterns/types of associated environments can be captured artistically and related to ‘clock time.’

·         There is the idea of ‘human time’ and ‘clock time.’ ‘Human time’ for the purposes of this film would be the regular time we are used to: years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds. This is regular, dependent, reliable and consistent. Nature’s time is more dependent on the physical and environmental elements and varies.

·         Part of the idea is to use the image of a clock that the viewer can associate with the later described factors. Then to use this image of a clock which our brain naturally associates with just one mode of operation in the film. Then, idea is that the pace at which the hands of the clock move around varies with the speeds of the water as it moves from the youthful stage through to its old age stage.

·         It portrays a feature of nature and a natural scene that is related to human time yet is an entity of its own: and has its own identity.

Objective:

·         The interrelatedness of the primary elements of this film which are ‘river flow and patterns’ with ‘time.’

Development of concept, from the three primary phases of a river:

·         Phase 1: Early phase of a river is visually steep in incline with high speed of water flow and lots of rocks present giving rise to swirling and splashing patterns of the water. This to be associated with the hands of a clock spinning around very quickly in nature’s time.

·         Through the progress of the river to Phase 2: incline is reducing, slower speed of water, less turbulence, combination of mud and rocks and water speeds moderate. Patterns water makes as it flows and interacts with its environment are entirely different to those of Phase 1. Speed of hands of clock slow down a bit.

·         Phase 3: Old Age Phase of the river, once again produces entirely different water patterns as the other two phases. Speed of hands of the clock slow down even more.

·         The spinning of the hands of the clock is not static i.e. not divided into three specific types of movement specifically related to each phase. There is an overall observable difference between the three stages which are the ‘constants’ in the film design. However, within these stages there are the ‘variables’.

·         The constants exist as the general overview of time and river flow that is clearly distinguishable between the three phases. The variables occur within these three phases e.g. within any phases of a river there is interaction with its environment such as hedge-grows/trees, bends on a river where mud deposition, all these can change the pace of a river. Also, the absence of the later can speed up the river.

For both these variables the patterns of the river will be different and so the corresponding speed/slowing of time.

·         There is also the idea here that ‘no man is an island’ phrase. Just like people have common definable characteristics (predictable river phases/constants), they are affected/shaped and moulded by variables in their environment (other features in the environment with which a river interacts.)

Storyboard ideas:

A clock in the shots and as the river progresses from fast to meandering and slow the ‘clock’ ‘fades out of the shot’.

·         Filming of various water patterns. Perhaps throw a stick into the river and see how it meanders and navigates its way along.

·         Wildlife may be present while filming which could add to the interest in the film.

·         The appearance of the river, its immediate surrounding environment, associated vegetation are entirely different between the early and late phases of a river as it progresses to the ocean. At the early stage it is steep, rocky, mountainous and then moves to rocks and mud, trees and brambles and finally in the final stage of the river it once again becomes barren but in a different way, with mud, curves, reeds and rushes.

·         The earlier stages are rapid in time, the water flow and time reflects this. Same as the moderate and later stage reflect a progression towards calm.

·         Clearly also this idea parallels that of the human passage through live from youth to old age.

·         Also, the types of human emotion have always through time been compared to the moods of a water. People are drawn to water.

·         Main focus are the various water patterns.

·         The film starts with long shots getting an overall picture of the rivers location and surrounding environment. Next to medium shots and the more closed shots where the river is narrow at the youthful stage of the river. This would capture the intensity and dynamic nature of the river at this stage for the viewer to experience.

These gradually open up as the river progresses, finally to very open views. Then, the broad expanse of the river and its surrounding restful environment is revealed through medium and then once again long shots.

There are medium and close up shots of the water patterns themselves.

Location:

·         Any river, perhaps the ‘Owenogarney River,’ that flows through Sixmilebridge and Bunratty in Co. Clare where at Bunratty it joins up with the Atlantic Ocean.

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