top of page
Artwork
To make the slow repetitive shots interesting we decided to add artwork to the background. I took screenshots of the footage we filmed. I printed out the screenshot. I traced the screenshot onto a plain piece of paper in fine pencil. I then started to draw over the pencil with thick black pen in stages. Every little bit I drew I took a picture. Then I edited the pictures in a 'stop-motion' technique. I made the artwork 50% opaque so you can see the background footage and also the artword at the same time. Below are some photographs of the stages.
We chose this image to draw over. We aimed all of the artwork to conform to the theme of nature. Also this shot was very slow and to maintain the viewers focus we decided we needed to add more so the viewer doesn't get bored. Drawing the trees emphasises the girl being lost and panicked as she is running and is only seen right at the end of the shot. Also the artwork makes it seem as if the trees are chasing the girl - the trees represent the girls situation and how there is no escape.
During the performance aspect we decided to include some artwork. Because the focus is completely on Tommy we thought it may become boring. Again the tree roots support the theme of nature and the overwhelming feelings of being trapped by her situation.
For the first shot of Tommy we knew that the next shot would be Honey with a water background. To make the transition smooth and continuous I drew calm waves which would be seen too in the next shot of Honey. The water also supports the theme of nature and represents the 'calm before the storm'.
After the shot of Honey and the still water in the background we see large rough waves that show how much looking back at the past situation upsets and effects Tommy still. Thinking about the position she was in when she was younger stirs up all her emotions and although she does not show this via facial expressions we see it via the background - the feelings are sub conscious but still very powerful.
Because the time lapse had moving objects (birds) I couldn't use the same method as the other artwork techniques. Instead I had to cut out paper in the shape a bird. I would place the bird in one place, then take a picture. Then to recreate the motion of flying I would move the body position and the position of the wings to seem as if it was flying. Then I would take another picture.
When editing the artwork the shots needed to be very short in order for the whole image to be seen by the end of the footage below. So, the whole length of the shot Tommy is lip syncing should see the artwork start and finish until the shot changes.
bottom of page