Draft Proposal

Working Title: Knowing not to Know

Project Description: I’m undertaking an animated film project based on narrative structures that are dealing with the theme ‘Knowing not to Know’.

The aim of this project is to challenge traditional boundaries in visual story telling. To tell part of something in order not to tell the rest of it.


Objectives:

1. Experiment with image-making and story telling in an interactive process
2. Explore new possibilities in building narratives based on film research and analysis
3. Enrich my graphic language & illustration vocabulary
4. Increase sophistication and sensibility in sound design

Rationale:

I was first fascinated by Andrei Tarkovsky’s films, full of poetic, nonlinear narratives. The beauty of the way ‘he speaks in order not to say anything about the essential thing that he must keep secret’ (Derrida, The Gift of Death, P59) makes us increasingly curious to the untold / unknown part of the story.

I have been researching David Lynch’s films such as Mulholland Drive and Lost High Way, deconstructing the narrative structures, looking for the devices that Lynch uses to dislocate and reconnect stream of consciousness, lead or mislead viewers’ logic thinking. I believe it is the curiosity to the unknown (not the absurdity) that holds our attention. The mixture of real and unreal and the swap of real and unreal play tricks on viewer’s mind (but not to confuse them!)

Therefore, I find constructing an innovative narrative structure is more challenging and interesting than producing a non-narrative based, abstract piece. Incorporate ‘knowing not to know ’ structure with appropriate imagery, hopefully I can push and challenge my filmmaking to a creative and exciting level.

Also, I have been looking at Tarot cards because they are associated with ‘knowing not to know’ as well. Tarot is an ancient Western occult psychological and philosophical system consisting 78 cards divided into the Major and Minor Arcana. (Mary K. Greer, Tarot for Your Self, P1) The 22 cards of the Major Arcana make up a Fool’s Journey. Each major arcana card stands for a stage on that journey - an experience that a person must incorporate to realize his wholeness. Tarot is a medium to communicate with people’s unconscious side of ego. When you pick several cards in order to solve a specific question in your mind, the cards you pick will immediately turn into a narrative comprises the past, the present, the future (even more aspects, depends on the number of cards you pick). Via a reading, cards can reveal your unconsciousness to your conscious mind. When you have selected several cards, facing down, you know that a story is there, physically, but totally unknown, and the moment you turn every card facing up, you can only see a rough picture of the story. After subjective analysing, your conscious mind become aware of information derived from the unconsciousness. Finally get a clearer picture of the whole narrative, which is generated by both the cards and the card reader. When you really engage yourself in constructing a narrative and you will be able to find the most reasonable explanation the cards define. And the same card layout reveals diverse information to different card readers.

A Tarot reading process is similar to the one generating a story from images, full of uncertainty and surprises. I would like to apply this system to my filmmaking process.

Relevance:

As an animator / filmmaker, I believe the narrative structure is more important than image making. Investigation in narrative structure will benefit my project from both theoretical and practical approach.

I’m keen on ‘gothic dark fairy-tale’, and interested in producing moody, playful, individual style imagery. ‘Knowing not to know’ is a theme that suits my style and interests, and allows enough freedom for me to explore.

I would like to work in animation / filmmaking industry. Therefore, I will need to build up a strong portfolio / showreel.

Methodologies:

Initial script Ideas
Experiment with visuals and sounds
Draft script / storyboard
Scene Design / Character Design
Animation / shooting footage
Sound Design
Finalise script
Editing
Re-shooting
Production

Feasibility: realistic and feasible

Timetable:

October ~ November: research and initial script / concept, experiment with images and sounds
December: continue research, but push further script structure and produce more relevant visuals
January: scene design, test shooting / animation
February: continue shooting / filmmaking
March: editing / mixing
April: revise
May: final production

poisoned

orange, orange, orange...

Who is it?

clueless...

What drops in the well?

Transfer to MA Illustration

Before starting MA Digital Arts course, I didn’t really know exactly what Digital Art means. After taking this course for three weeks, I have better understanding in Digital Arts definition. And I believe what I’m interested in and working on is more related to Illustration. My major interest is in film & animation, for film / animation festival context for example. However, Digital Arts is about undertaking an art investigation in digital way of thinking, for virtual reality context (for example). And most of my group students are involved in interactive projects. Although I can also do films in Digital Arts, it’s a different environment if what I want to achieve is in narrative & image-making sense. Therefore, I would like to transfer to Illustration, which is a more appropriate environment for my project development.

I feel so sorry to leave Andy Stiff, Maria, and all my classmates. Like you guys very very much! We will still see each other every Wednesday on PgPD. Please keep me in your email list, I still want to be in touch with all of you!

Nobuko Tsuchiya

Anthony Reynolds Gallery

Nobuko Tsuchiya’s work is poetic, communicates with viewers’ subconscious most time. I like the subtle colours and sensitive lines in her installation. Very interesting titles such as: This storm is what we call progress, 8 legged hypnotic witness.

Robert Polidori
http://www.flowerseast.com/Originals_Exhibitions.asp?Exhibition=05FCRP&OE=1

I went to see Robert Polidori’s photographs at Flowers Central. The abandoned nurseries and school remains look so sad and beautiful, remind me Andrei Tarkovsky’s films.

EMERGEANDSEE

This year’s student short films are quite shocking. My favourite film is The Circle. It’s talking about in a wired world, a group of wired people playing a game - passing around metal boxes. The movement is repetitive and simple. Camera moves with fluidity. The colour scheme is very simple, but beautifully designed and shot.

Occipital Follies is a shocking horror short piece with scream, blood and humour. It’s a story about an animated eye that does not want to die yet.

Everything Turns is very powerful and imaginative drawing animation about time and degeneration.

Rap Music is directed by a Camberwell student: Robert Liang. Very bizarre and sad story with great sense of humour.

Today I went to see Oliver Payne & Nick Relph’s video exhibition at Serpentine Gallery. Their works deal with urban context (historical and political), contemporary life, alternative street cultures. Their films are part documentary, part music video, part surveillance tape and part video diary. I like the passion, humour and roughness in their visual language. People in their videos are usually weird, vacant, expressionless and lost.

I'm looking at some fantasy stories for my narrative development. ‘The Hearing Trumpet’ and ‘The Magic Pudding’ are both crazy, funny and share similarities with ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

The Hearing Trumpet (Leonora Carrington)
The Hearing Trumpet is the story of 92-year-old Marian Leatherby, who is given the gift of a hearing trumpet only to discover that what her family is saying is that she is to be committed to an institution. But this is an institution where the buildings are shaped like birthday cakes and igloos, where the Winking Abbess and the Queen Bee reign, and where the gateway to the underworld is open. It is also the scene of a mysterious murder. Occult twin to Alice in Wonderland, The Hearing Trumpet is a classic of fantastic literature that has been translated and celebrated throughout the world.

The Magic Pudding (Norman Lindsay)
Bunyip Bluegum the Koala leaves home because he can't stand the sight of his uncle's whiskers in the soup any more. He meets Barnacle Bill the sailor and Sam Sawnoff the penguin, who own a remarkable pudding. Every time you cut a slice from the pudding, another one grows in its place, you can eat as much as you like, the pudding lasts forever. What's more, you can change the pudding to any kind you like, it can be steak and kidney or plum duff or jam roly poly. The pudding is apt to get discontented and starts complaining if it isn't eaten enough. Such a desirable pudding is naturally at constant risk from pudding thieves, and the three friends have their work cut out trying to outwit the sneaky Possum and Wombat who are always trying to steal it. This is a very funny story with lots of action and a great many fights, it should appeal to anyone who likes humorous fantasy.