33 seconds; final music visualization

Man. That was… a lot of hours spent learning After Effects. I played a lot with the opacity and scale keyframes, and worked really hard getting the visuals to mesh and blend seamlessly with the music. I really wish the quality wasn’t so poor, but I honestly couldn’t get it to export any better.

*ta da arms*

 

22 seconds, so far

 

5 panels; music visualization

Song: River Flows In You by Yiruma

 

prelim. classical sketches

 

modern classical; research

for this project, i really want to explore colour and shape; my challenge will be to see how i can express the essence of classical music, in particular of the song i choose, through moving colours and shapes.

inspiration: Yann Tiersen, l’Absente

a version of the song can be found here. piano is his primary instrument. Yann Tiersen kind of flips what you would normally expect of “classical” music… his songs have a beautiful quality and sound, almost achingly so, but he mixes this with often fast paced and powerful sections that really emphasize the music. He also incorporates a lot of accordion into his music, which I think is an interesting and not widely used instrument. **definitely not being bound by this song, it’s just what was on my ipod at the moment**

history of classical music (modern classical)
- classical music is such a broad and extensive musical category; it’s been around for centuries and has evolved and changed during this time frame. i really want to focus on modern classical music which is markedly different than that of, say, the baroque, classical and romantic genres, but still really captures the spirit and essence of classical music itself.

modern (20th century) classical
- (I’m being horrid and quoting from Wikipedia, sorryyyy): “However, a salient feature during this classical music time period was the increased use of dissonance. Because of this, the 20th century is sometimes called the “Dissonant Period” of classical music, because much of its music was a reaction to or against the common practice period, which emphasized consonance (Schwartz and Godfrey 1993, 9–43).”

I just thought that was an interesting fact – there is definitely separation from the classical music we’re used to. Classical music isn’t so classic?

- if focusing on a piano song, i visualize a lot of lines (linear, yet curved?), fluctuating, ebbing and flowing, fading in and out with the beats + pressure of the music + the hold of the pedals. NOTE TO SELF, REFERENCE MOVIE: GO WATCH FANTASIA!!

colour swatches
- something muted and soft, classic, with the occasional powerful punches of colour

further research: synesthesia
- “Synesthesia is a love story between the senses” —Dr. Hugo Heyrman, here.

Synaesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which a person has amazing links between the senses; some synesthetes “taste colours” and others “see music” and even others “taste sounds.” It’s an incredible condition and mixing of the senses that really gives another dimension to how one would perceive the world around them. Just something interesting to think about while working this project, I guess. How would someone with Synaesthesia listen to classical music? Think about: Synaesthesia in ART, audiovisual art, visual music.

 

final extension panels

These are definitely not finished to the extent that I’d like them to be, but I wanted to get them up:

OpArt

Expressive Colour

Art Nouveau

Expressionism

Cubism

 

finally, some progress

Here is the storyline that I am finally decided on:

Words: Barbaric vs. civilized

‘Simple action. Two balloons float along, strings twined around each other. They are like lovers. Slow movements through the air. A group of raucous kids spot the balloons and rush around them, tearing at them, fighting over them, pulling them apart and away. The kids shout and scream and jump and stomp, until suddenly there is a pop; one of the balloons has popped (died). The other is left alone to be fought over.’

and some corresponding storyboards:

I am incredibly apologetic for the delay in getting these up. The finals will be posted tomorrow.

 

Storyline: how do I keep the integrity of the story I had before, and keep the focus on the balloons. They should not be secondary characters.

=/

 

storyboards and storyline

WORDS: BARBARIC + CIVILIZED

Panel 1: Art Nouveau In the style of an art nouveau poster, basically the establishing shot; sums up the next four panels including the subject matter of the girl and the balloon(s).

Panel 2: Black and White The girl receives a balloon.

Panel 3: Synthetic Cubism Cubist view of the balloons that have been left behind and the balloon that has left the safety of the group. Emphasis on separation.

Panel 4: Pop Art Silhouette of a man confronting girl and balloon, holding gun at the two. Done in very bold lines, flat graphic colour. Comic book.

Panel 5: Expressionism The bullet is fired.

 

further research and development

panels

POP ART
- bold lines, flat graphic colour, repetition

SYNTHETIC CUBISM
- scrambled, collage like, puzzle pieces

ART NOUVEAU
- european, bold lines, flowing, beautiful, pleasing to the eye, vintage, detail

EXPRESSIONISM
- raw, frightening, emotional, impasto

BLACK AND WHITE

Project plan (still TBD): img 1, img 2, img 3, img 4, img 5

See below for storyline brainstorm/stream of conscience.