During the 21st Century there exists a (dis)ease that is multiplying in Epic proportions. Anxiety/Stress is the silent plague affecting every mortal on this planet Earth. The age of technology and electronic gadgets has erased the ability to focus and affected our ability to see clearly. We exist in a haze. Multi-tasking has morphed us humans into frenetic, flitty cyborg folk that drive in one gear and one gear only: Autopilot.
Do not fear, Bhumi is here. She is Mother Earth incarnate. Always giving of her resources, a bountiful fountain whose waters never deplete. She offers of herself unconditionally in service to all. She can jump high but she cannot fly. What more can she give you ask. Her dance transports her to the land of mortals where she uses the power of her gaze to transmit instantaneous piece of mind to those in distress. Bhumi is saving the human race by Awakening a consciousness that has been lost.
Part 1: Face awakening: Looking into and beyond the mirror...who can it be now?
Password: Alter
Part 2: Bhumi signature movement/dance that transports her
To be posted Sunday
Feedback questions and Notes:
Note: I am really interested in seeing what can happen between some live action and animation in the medium of video and want to discuss possibilities with Doug
1) What/ how do you view the mirror framing this piece? Is it adding to the intrigue of the internal dialogue happening with the face or taking away from it? Suggestions for other framing options
2) What do you think of seeing the entire face versus doing a similar study with only focus on the eyes since I"m so interested in her gaze being Bhumi's superpower
3) Is the Bhumi dance physicality interesting as a movement signature to establish her character or do you have other suggestions for how she moves from mortal to immortal worlds?
Do not fear, Bhumi is here. She is Mother Earth incarnate. Always giving of her resources, a bountiful fountain whose waters never deplete. She offers of herself unconditionally in service to all. She can jump high but she cannot fly. What more can she give you ask. Her dance transports her to the land of mortals where she uses the power of her gaze to transmit instantaneous piece of mind to those in distress. Bhumi is saving the human race by Awakening a consciousness that has been lost.
Part 1: Face awakening: Looking into and beyond the mirror...who can it be now?
Password: Alter
Part 2: Bhumi signature movement/dance that transports her
To be posted Sunday
Feedback questions and Notes:
Note: I am really interested in seeing what can happen between some live action and animation in the medium of video and want to discuss possibilities with Doug
1) What/ how do you view the mirror framing this piece? Is it adding to the intrigue of the internal dialogue happening with the face or taking away from it? Suggestions for other framing options
2) What do you think of seeing the entire face versus doing a similar study with only focus on the eyes since I"m so interested in her gaze being Bhumi's superpower
3) Is the Bhumi dance physicality interesting as a movement signature to establish her character or do you have other suggestions for how she moves from mortal to immortal worlds?
I think it would be really interesting to integrate animation, particularly because the element of drawing and illustration is so important in comic books.
ReplyDelete1. I find the framing of the camera with the mirror, as well as the colors and textures of the piece quite visually satisfying: the green of the mirror frame, the off-center framing of your face in the mirror's bottom half, the warm yellow and texture of the wall, contrasting with the navy blue and sharp white lines of your shirt. Aside from the formal visual interest, the mirror suggests a self-gaze or reflection.
2. I would have to see another version with only the eyes to know which I prefer. Right now, the study has a clear movement focus on eye articulations and hands moving across the face in a tactile manner. I find the beginning part of the piece where the movements are confined to the eyes the most powerful/engaging. I especially like the parts where you close your eyes as if relaxing/centering, then look straight forward in an intense/focused manner. Once the hands are involved, the gaze becomes less central, and I'm less clear on why she's framed in the mirror. The character also seems less self-assured and more frazzled...so I start wondering whether I'm seeing Bhumi herself or an ordinary woman who is overcome by stress.
3. Is it correct that Bhumi's movement signature would be in Part 2, which you haven't posted? I'm not exactly sure how Bhumi moves between the two worlds. Is it by gazing in the mirror? Or does a particular physical movement spark the shift?
4. I'm curious about the text that you posted. Is it just background information for us, or are you imagining it would be integrated into the performance somehow?
Animation could be really cool! THe look you created--the mirror and the colors really set that tone!
ReplyDelete1)
I do like the mirror a lot, and it added to the layering of the study. However, I sometimes wished to see your eyes more closely! Other options I could see might be
double mirror
seeing you in front of and in the mirror at the same time
2)
Ah, that was my suggestion in question 1)-- I would like-- at least in part to see the eyes only.
Equally I would be inetrested in a closer look at the hands.
I feel the potential in the eye movements- one because there is more intensity in then , and also, I think because they are familiar to me. I have clear associations. The hand movements seem less focused. But maybe with close up, partial view of the hands and face underneath?
3)
Is this part 2?
I really like the idea of the dance - or the performance of the dance- having super powers. I also like the mirror idea as well (something that echoes Babli's use of the mirror with the eye hole in the middle as well). I do think that we would need think through how to make the trasformation of the dance (and the replenishment) clearer - i.e. what if the mirror and filmed image actually diverged at some point?
ReplyDelete1. I think the mirror is fascinating - It makes me feel the answer to this woman’s chaotic-ness is within herself. If this were the human, going back and forth into being Bhumi or feeling Bhumi’s calm presence in her, then it can make sense to look into the mirror to see the divine within herself, or contrastingly the turmoil. She relaxes and finds an inner focus, but then is carried away back into mental chatter and self doubt. Looking into the mirror, she is one, but she is also doubled, so Sangita’s suggestion of having the mirror image diverge from what the “real” image is doing is an exciting idea. And the many expressions also read to me like more than one person, so I feel the mirror creates a multiplicity out of one…or it has the potential to do that - one can also play in editing with creating a more of you like a fly’s eye perspective.
Delete2.
There are times when I would have liked the camera to zoom in…like during the hand frenzy – so I forget the mirror for a little while, and then perhaps it can pan out suddenly at the end, so we are reminded of it again.
You could explore with similar reflective frames such as a pool of water, or a window that you can partially see the world through and partially see the self reflected in…
Whatever it is, watching you have a moments of recognition or peace in the mirror looking at yourself is beautiful in contrast to the more harried and varied emotions that you show.
And as others have mentioned, the colors and textures of the frame and the wall are really satisfying.
3. I tried watching it while framing it with my hands so I would only see the eyes. I personally think that the expressions read better being able to see the whole face. Now you could zoom in keeping the camera close around the face, and occasionally just on the eyes, just on the mouth, or just on the hands, but I would just do parts of it that way, not the whole dance. .
4. I think the Bhumi dance signature is still coming? The couple of points where you close your eyes for a minute more peacefully and then look into the mirror directly could be read as Bhumi’s signature. It’s the place I really feel her presence. It’s a striking contrast to the emotions and frenzied hands.
As Cynthia pointed out, there is some similarity between our characters…perhaps we are an earth/water team at some point (we can hurl mud balls as our joint super power, or sculpt things out of clay that then come to life or something!)
ps. I like the intro writing and think it can be incorporated into live performance somehow.
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