Dumdee0mel

First of all, I am giving myself a Pass for my overall contribution in this CMP project.

Why Pass?

As a content producer, I think I did not really do well. I am giving myself just a pass because I think I only did things that I am told to do, such as doing research. For our initial idea, our group (Maddie, Mel and Henrietta) were thinking about doing a few version of trailer that uses Australia politician. I then look at ABC’s website to try to search for suitable footage that can be used. During the progress of searching for video, I guess all of my group mates and I faced the same problem that is downloading the video to edit. I then look for a solution, which is looking for suitable file converter.  But before the first consultation with David, I was still not sure where I am, and what I should be doing. After the first consultation, my mind is even clearer; I knew what I need to do for my trailer that is setting “Asian’s style gangster” as my genre. After a bit of style research, I started to try to see what I can do in Final Cut.

Right before our first presentation, our group decided to change our initial idea, as we reckon it is not easy to get suitable footage to produce a trailer.  We then changed our topic into a totally different thing from our initial idea that is using tumblr to make a site for Frankston City Council, which is all about arts and culture. We have created a space for people to contribute, and also to know more about Frankston. As an International student, at first when Mel mention about Frankston, I did not know where is it, with a bit of research, I then learn a bit about Frankston. Henrietta and I went to Frankston to take some photos to contribute in our website we created for Frankston City Council.  

The change of the topic is actually a good idea, because Mel actually stayed in Frankston and she also knew people from the Frankston City Council, therefore we do not have to worry about issue of lack of information and also the copy right issue. As for me, after the changed of topic, I felt that I could not do much stuff, because it is too far to get to Frankston and it’s not convenient. Therefore the only thing that I did is contribute images, and also to represent our group and present during the final presentation in Fed Square.

Therefore to conclude, I think I only deserve a Pass.

For our research, we have changed our primary research question from “The rise of Asian Films in Western culture” into “the rise of popularity and exposure of Asian films in Australia”.

Exact role in the research group
As we made a little bit changes from our first topic, we our research design had changed too, there for our role in the research group had a little bit changes, and as for my part, there are also some changes, I was originally in charge of:
Explaining our research, which means I will have to answer the questions below:
1.    Why specifically do we choose to focus on China, Hong Kong and Taiwan films in Melbourne?
2.    How are SEA films making its mark in Melbourne?
3.    Why is there a growing trend of SEA films screened in Melbourne cinemas?
4.    What is it that Melbourne citizens like about SEA films?
But after a few of the consultation with Christina, we had almost changed our whole secondary research question, which means my role in the research group had changed. I’m now in charged in “the comparison of the demographics, statistics and significant changes of Asian Immigration population in Melbourne.”
Other than that, I did help on Calvin’s part, which is looking for relevant interviewee. I am able to get Billy Cheaung, from Dream Movie, who provides Asian films for Hyots to screen in the cinema. Other than Billy, I also found Joe, who is the store manager of Rong Bao Tang, one of the biggest Asian video and CD store in the CBD.
Besides that, I did all the work for getting the video done for our presentation. Including, shootings (of cause also with my group mates help) as a DOP and one of the interviewers, then the postproduction, that is editing and translating (Joe’s conversation), and also looking for relevant clips.

Progress
During the research project, I guess the hardest part for me is the process of getting the right information, because I am not good at doing research, and I do not really know where to start and what are the key words, but with the help of my group mates I manage to get things done. Other than that, my other weakness that I realized is that I do not actually know how to interview people well. I reckon I am lack of interview skills, because during the interview with Joe, I hardly able to get Joe talk, and get Joe answer things that we really need, and I am nervous while asking question. My interview skills is one of the thing I reckon I need to improve. As for my strength, I think I am actually good at making video clips, because I get to make the video more interesting that I thought I could. Some of my classmates even told us that they like our video, it able to entertain the audience and fill the audience up with information.
Besides, during the search of interviewee, I realized having connection with other people is quite important. Because for me, the contacts I got are all through connections, they are friend’s friends. I guess if without contacts, I will be spending my time waiting, and waiting for replies, and some will not be willing to meet up.

Strategies
As I did mention in my first individual report, my strategies that I have utilized in the research is to following the time line that are set. This strategy is very useful, because it will not bring trouble to other group members, as this is a group work, following the time line that we set in the collaboration report is rather important. It is also my guideline, so that I know when to do what and it is one of my motivation of getting my work done.
Other than that, I think bare in mind of what is our own task is very important too. If we overlap on other group mate’s task, it will be kind of a time wasting.

Problems
There are a few problems that I faced while doing this research project. My major problem at the earlier stage is to look for interviewers. As emails that are sent out often do not get any replies, the only thing that I could do is to wait. Sometimes the “waiting” really kind of slow down our progress.
The next problem would be doing research about our topic itself. As for me, I am not good at doing research, I often struggle to get the right information, especially demographics and graphs. It is not easy to get the latest information about Australia’s population.
Other than that, my minor problem is to collaborate with one of my group mate. To get one of my group mates to be responsible is a bit hard. The only solution is to be patient, this makes me learn how to be patient, and I realized I should rely on myself more than anyone else.

Connection and Intersections
During the progress of research, I get to understand more about the stands and roles of Asian films in Melbourne. I also realized that Asian films in Australia actually has the market, although it is still small now, but I believe it is actually growing, especially observing the box office of the recent Asian film (IP Man 2), although the audience are mostly Asians, but the population of Asians in Australia is numerous.
Other than that, I also get to understand how the film distributor makes a decision which film to bring in. At the same time, I learnt that martial art or action movies are indeed more attracted by the audience.
Besides, I learnt how to be even more patient, because at the beginning stage of the research (the process of looking for interviewers) we will often have to wait and wait and wait. Other than that, patients are also needed to collaborate well with our group mates, to prevent arguments.
As for future use, for me myself I would like to make Asian films, and I am very interested in Asian films, therefore understanding the western market would be good, so that I will know how and what to produce if I want to bring my film in to the western market.

Advanced Skills: Cinematography

As for my pp2 workshop, I’ve chosen the Cinematography’s workshop, because being a Director of Photography is part of what I hope to be in the future, therefore taking this workshop, I am hoping for skills of using the camera, techniques of using it, and also the right and new way of using it.

Previously I’ve took TV1 and TV2, which gave me basics skills of being a DOP, some of the skills we’ll have to work it out by ourselves, and in this course, I’ve learn some additional things like things about the lens, depth of field, focus length, etc.

During the class, looking at the video example of the shoots is quite useful for me. I reckon, it actually even better that we could look at the example, because we could learn from the example and we could even understand more. One of the examples that kept my interest was when Robert was explaining about how directors make use of the lens they have during the 80’s or 70’s. The needs of good lens or wide lens are not really necessary, because the movement of the camera could help a lot. I do not really remember the name of the video example, but it was about using a, I suppose 35mm lens, with the movement of the camera, we could get different and interactive shoots, all the shoots shot was hand held.

Another useful part of the workshop is when Robert explains the rules and ways of using depth of field. Playing with the depth of field could make the shots much more interesting. To prove this I’ve took an image, by playing with the depth of field, the image looks more interesting and probably more meaningful.

For my understanding of PROD studio, we are entitled to choose a poet from the Australian Poetry and translate the chosen poetry into an online content video. There are four major roles to make a video that is the director, director of photography, sound person and producer. Being a director of photography would be my first choice, because that’s the role that I would be able to perform and share the knowledge I have, but somehow I might not be able to take part in that role, therefore my second preference would be being the director. Both of these roles are somehow related to one and other, therefore this is also a chance for me to show and used what I’ve learnt from this workshop.

Overall I’ll give myself a Credit.

Quality of the writing and responses to the online video evaluation questions.

The video that I’ve got are mostly are video that using creativity to express some particular thing. I guess the quality of the video that I’ve got is good, but in terms on writing about them i didn’t really do well. Some of the video I could not get their very detailed backgrounds, I guess that is why they are online video.

Overall critique in relation to thinking about the notion of online video aesthetics.

After looking at the videos that I’ve got, I guess stop-motion is the main thing that attracted me, and also using arts/drawing to make a video. This makes me feel that the idea of combining the stop-motion and video footage to make a video is quite a good idea.

The quality of the writing and the evaluations made between the workshop and the studio.

I’ve try my best to explain what I’ve learn, and what I think about the studio and the workshop. Therefore this is what I think is good enough, that are able to explain everything I learn.

Participation in workshop critiques and discussions.

In terms of participation, I think I did a great job at it, because I attended all of the classes and also the workshop, which I think it’s good enough.

First of all…I would give myself a… credit for my overall contribution.

Why Credit?

For this semester, as a SMP, I (in a group with Henrietta, Angie, Lyvia, and Tiana) did 2 promotional material (which i mention what i want to do in my SMP plan) for My Tribe. To be more specific, in the group i did more on DOP and post production (editing). The editing part was fun, for the second video (which is a combination of photos) was abit tough, because some of the words on the white paper were too small and some were too bright, i’ll have to find a way to make the words more visible and at the same time not to affect the brightness and quality of the images. At the end, i successfully solve the problem out! : )

Through my blog there’s some updates about our group’s working progress and also my own working progress.

After completing the 2 videos, i posted the video in my Facebook, Youtube, and also the Pool. The thing that makes me feel more successful is when there’s “friends” in my Facebook asking me about “My tribe” there’s when i get to get people to contribute for me in the Pool. My “friends” in Facebook even share the video in their Facebook, therefore at that moment “My Tribe” is everywhere!! : )

Looking back to the SMP plan i wrote, i think the thing that i didn’t get to do is to contact the AFIS and Multicultural Hub, which i was supposed to refine my plan again. Other than that, my target audience still remain the same, that is International Student in Melbourne, they are also people who I’ll be approaching.

I think i did quite a good job by getting International student around me to contribute in the Pool. Although i did not get heaps of them but at least I’ve got 4 of them contribute in the Pool, and 3 of their work get to screen in the Fed Square screening, which is a good thing!! I felt happy for them, although they did not come to the screening. 2 of the work by my contribute got quite abit of comments, which means I’ve got the right person to share their work.

Lastly, i think i did well in… attending My Tribe’s screening !! which i think everyone should be attending. I felt happy seeing works that related to me up on the screen, and at the same time enjoy looking at other people’s work, they are awesome!!

This is the prove that I’m there!! : )

Went to Frankston during the weekend with Henrietta to get some images for our Frankson blog.. Apparently Frankston is really a nice place.. The beach, the sea there are really beautiful.. Shouldn’t go on Sunday, because the Art Gallery there close at Sunday. We went to a few places, McClellange sculpture gallery is the most beautiful place to go, they’ve got a nice cafe inside there too!
These are some photos i took with my Olympus EP-1

I’ve added more pictures in our Frankston blog

1. What is the context and background to the online video
content you have chosen?

This is another video that related to Olympus PEN. Song and lyrics by Johannes Stankowski, produced and arranged by Michael Kadelbach. The creator of the video were inspired by Mr Taijin Takeuchi, the creator of “A wolf love pork”.

Relevant Websites: http://www.olympus.eu/penstory/

2. What types of audiovisual channels make up the online video content you have chosen and how are they integrated?

This video is a video that describe “a journey through time” by using stop motion technique. The PEN story in stop motion is produce by 61800 pictures and developed 9600 prints. There’s no post production at all for this video.

3. What types of aesthetic criteria would you take from this online video content to inform the video works you propose to make?

This is another stop motion video that caught my eyes, the style for this video would be easier to apply on the video that will be done in the future. I think using develop pictures as part of the video is quite creative, and it would be interesting, perhaps not using that many pictures (because will cost a lot), probably just a few pictures for a few seconds will be good.

1. What is the context and background to the online video
content you have chosen?

This video is directed by Takeuchi Taijin, the creator of “A wolf loves pork”, a video that uses photographs to create stop motion video.

2. What types of audiovisual channels make up the online video content you have chosen and how are they integrated?

For this video i think it’s quite a big production and investment to create this video.This stop motion project uses 355 pictures, and printed in billboard size and then shot it again with the Olympus PEN itself. This video did not apply any tricks or computer animation at all.

3. What types of aesthetic criteria would you take from this online video content to inform the video works you propose to make?

For this video i think the way of making use of the environment around us is quite a great idea. May be not using billboard size pictures, probably we could use a smaller size pictures to make a combination video.