The Sound Observation: Part II

The experiment continues as leave the apartment to the outdoors of the university area.  I stood near the wildlife reserve to really capture the sound of the outdoors.  It truly delivered as I could the hear the wind gliding through the plant life, causing the leaves and branches to brush up against each other.  I also heard wildlife, mostly the cicadas surrounding the entire area with the chirping that seemed to last forever.  In the distance, I could also hear some inaudible dialog from fellow students as they walked back toward the apartment complex.  Being quiet and still also allowed me to hear the flight of insects twirling all around as well.  Lastly, I heard the rhythmic pattern of a longboard's wheels hitting the cracks of the pavement, as the loud yet low sound effects echoed in the distance.  As for the experiment, it was quite a success to really capture and understand the ambience to describe a certain area, whether it be enclosed or fully open.  It was a really relaxing one for sure.

The Sound Observation: Part I

This observation is more about capturing and describing the essence of sound in an area.  For this experiment, I sat completely still, closed my eyes, and attempted to “see” with only my ears for a few minutes.  The location I chose was my apartment living room.  Within the few minutes, I was able to concentrate fully on the acoustics of the room.  Where I sat, being on the far side of a fairly empty room, sound really struck me as there was refrain coming from certain sounds.  For example, the air conditioning unit turned on and filled the entire room with long waves of sound as the fans turned within the walls.  I could also here my roommate softly conversing with his girlfriend on the phone (not creepy at all) though it was extremely quiet.  Overall, the silence is what really interested me because you could barely hear the rain sprinkling outside the apartment, as well as other ambient noises that I will discuss on part II.

Sound: the Underdog in Film

Sound is not  only a very reliable tool to capture the emotion or setting of a scene in cinema, but the coherence with sound and the visual imagery on screen in film is an art form of its own.  Take Bela Belazs’s piece called Theory of the Film: Sound.  In this article, she goes in detail as how sound can give, as well as take away, from mediums of entertainment, making the production of sound as a standalone work of art rather than a tool, as I mentioned before.  Sound has not been always a part of cinema, but the inclusion of the vibrations allowed many creative doors to be opened.  Whether it is the slight whisper in the corner of the room, silence stricken down a narrow and dark hallway, or even a crowded building with people going in and out, sound is everywhere and, simply put, unavoidable.  As Belazs stated, sound can be used to augment visual cues on screen as part of a narrative or even to create an ambiance that was never done in the silent film era.  Though silent films did have some kind of background music incorporated in the presentation, the advances done with soundtracks and music now have evolved dramatically. Even when sound is absent, say in a tense scene of a horror film, the absence of sound adds dramatic effect.  Regardless of what film you are watching, silent or modern, sound is an essential part of what makes a film a piece of art that we see it as today.

What Really Makes an Experimental Film?

Fred Camper made a list of certain criteria that would define a film as 'experimental.' Many people who are asked seem to describe that experimental films are not your average films, as they do not necessarily carry a narrative throughout.  That is true, but there is a lot more to it.  These certain kinds of film tend to toy with the creative minds that produced, as they challenge themselves to introduce something that has not been done before.  Essentially, to experiment with what can be done in the film medium.  These film do not necessarily need to be cohesive, unless that is what the filmmaker is trying to do.  To define an experimental film can be and is difficult, as the term 'experimental' generally is broad in the film industry.  Whether it is low or high budget, scratched or meshed together, clear or obscured, the experimental genre is nothing less than the mainstream film, maybe even more difficult to master.

The Filmmaker Makes the Film, Not the Camera

One thing that has always captivated me of indie filmmaking is the amount of effort put into a project with supposed “limitations” in comparison to high budget films we see yearly on the theater.  Now, of course, top of the equipment is lovely to have, but what good is it if the person behind it does not have the artistic vision?  This is what Maya Deren was briefly discussing in her book Film Culture.  Physical and artistic freedom is something that many professionals envy in comparison to the amateur filmmaker, mostly because of the factors the professional filmmaker must face with, for example with a timeframe and immobile staff and equipment.  That being said, the art comes from the passion and effort from the creator and all those involved.  Nothing stands out more than passion in art pieces.

Tis but a Post

Who am I?

I am a filmmaker on a journey to share my ideas and creativity to audiences all around.  My specific passion would be in the post production portion of the process.  From editing scenes, to working with sound and color, that is where my real passion lies.  I also would like to go towards the more on the actual production phase with film as well, specifically in animation.  However, film isn't the only medium I work with.  As an artist, it is crucial to explore a variety of mediums as for each medium can tell same story but in multiple ways.  That is why I like to challenge myself and my thought process.  The only TRUE obstacle in your life is yourself, so why not challenge yourself to see where you can go?  Art is limitless in a sense, so why not see where the creative path takes you.  Welcome to my blog and I hope you join me on this journey to search for the true artist hidden inside.

- Christian