Contentment

Contentment from Shayna Shelton on Vimeo.

Contentment

I really struggled with this assignment in a few different areas. First, I had trouble choosing an emotion. I was really excited to make an interesting piece and portray an unusual emotion for a truly inspired piece, but then I ran into the question of where exactly we draw the line between emotions, feelings, and moods. I looked up a few dictionary and psychological definitions and was finally certain that contentment did indeed count. My second problem, was I had trouble getting ahold of a decent camera. It seems the ladies at the library are either unaware of the camera you have for this class or it was checked out quite frequently this week. After several visits to the library, I had to resort to using my old point and shoot camera. I chose to portray contentment through a first person perspective, because I believe it to be a very subjective, personal emotion. Not only this, but I wanted the viewer of these photos to FEEL the emotion, rather than see it on someone's face. It is my hope that, through this series of images the viewer is taken to the limbo between happiness and idle thought that is contentment.

Music Video Analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3dezFzsNss

The music video I chose to analyze was "Growl" by Exo. I chose this video, because while the video isn't my absolute favorite (I do like it though), what makes it great is the camera work. This video makes excellent use of zoom, dolly, pan, and tilt.

The video is shot in a low key, cool tone setting, and what appears to be one continuous shot. The use of canted shots adds more excitement, emphasizing the group's dance moves, while the general camera movement follows the dancers and their progression through the set. There's also a good variety in the depth of the shots taken, which keeps the video interesting. I don't believe there's ever a point in the video where the camera is still.

The video starts off with a close up of the dancer's hat, and dolly's out to reveal the whole group. while simultaneously straightening out the canted angle. The camera is most shot at eye level. The camera also makes strategic use of movement during point of change or particular intensity in the song. More than once a dancer comes forward and acts as a physical barrier through a close up shot to seperate the previous group from the next group, all the while the camera follows his movement. The repetition of 360 camera rotation makes the whole video cohesive. I especially love the lines created by hand motions and gestures that lead the camera in it's motion when it rotates to focus on a new dancing group.

Narrative Project Concept

Title: Problem

'Hold my heart, not my hand.'


   This narrative works through a young girl's struggle to come to terms with her disposition in terms of how it fits into relationships. The story starts with shots of the subject interacting with her boyfriend. Close up shots of his 'kind' gestures and her reactions emphasize them. Turmoil builds in the second scene of the video as the couple argues futilely as neither understands what is wrong. Finally the girl realizes that by being so concerned with doing things for her, her boyfriend is smothering her. She explains it to him as 'I need you to hold my heart, not my hand.' The video concludes with the girl happy as she is no longer treated like a child or extremely fragile object, but a person.

Documentary Concept

Title: 'Get your DRAG on!'

Life is ALWAYS better in the fab lane.

   This documentary is going to follow the daily lives and happenings of Muncie local drag queens such as Tequila Mockingbird. We will examine their world view through interviews and footage of how they interact with and are received by the general public, as well as the campus of Ball State University. We will reveal the identity transformation that comes with developing their alter egos through hair, makeup, and costuming. The drag queens of Muncie have always been a lively bunch, but before they developed their grand self-confidence and sense of self, who were they, and how did they discover drag? How were they inspired?

Music Video Assignment concept

Title: What's Your Name?

'Oh the people you'll meet...'

       The concept of this music video is that a subject is traveling, and as they're traveling on a public mode of transportation they meet someone or a group of people and their connection is recorded through video, but at moments in the music when the rhythm, volume, or feel of the song changes, the individuals part; leaving for their original destinations and obligations. The camera then follows the party we had just been introduced to while traveling as they, in turn, take a different form of transportation and are inspired by the first subject's friendliness to talk with another traveler, There will be several of these situations, following a similar pattern. The music video will end highlighting the connections these individuals made through their chance encounters through social media, texts, events, relationships, and so forth. I would like the video itself to have the feel of a continuous shot as we simply follow each subject. The feel of the video will change as the time of day will fade, starting with a morning commute and ending with the last subway home. 

Introduction 
Favorite Movies:
I tend to prefer horror films, though as of late the genre has been dying.

The Proposal, Snowpiercer, 3 iron, Oldboy, Keith, Frozen (Not the Disney movie), Rise of the Guardians, and 21 Jump Street.

Favorite TV Shows:
I admit I don't watch much TV these days so these may be dated but they're still good! 

Danny Phantom, Recess, Bones, Supernatural, Arrow, Full Metal Alchemist, Face Off, Food Network Challenge, Big, My Love From the Stars

Favorite Director :

I don't follow directors too closely but I am a huge fan of Extreme Cinema, and so director Kim King Dok stands out for me.

Favorite Music:
I am a music fan. Period.

Story of the Year, G-Dragon, Sleeping With Sirens, Sum41, ISeeStars, BTS, Jay Park, C-Clown, Block B, The Maine, One Ok Rock, Breathe Carolina, Boyce Avenue, Soup or Villian, and Framing Hanely

FavoriteYoutubers:
Because I felt it's a big part of how I interact with video media.

NigaHiga, Buzz Feed, Ish-List, and Community Channel.
If I could make any media without restrictions I would make music videos. I have a habit of visualizing music and I'd love to actually create and share it.

When I graduate I want to work making poster and album art for a record label. In a dream world I'd work for epitaph record or CJ entertainment.