Blog #3 Sound Design

In this blog I will be transcribing a scene from the matrix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-MygFp7dI0&feature=related

The scene in this movie uses a number of techniques to portray the intensity of the scene.  The timing of the music, to the thunder crackling in the background is important in making the most of these memorable lines in the film.  The loudness of the thunder can be heard throughout Morpheus’s speech giving that eerier effect on the entirety of the situation.  The subjective time is also used in between his speech, mostly at the end.  For example when neo takes the pill the thunder truly comes forth in the scene to add the effect on the journey Neo is about to embark on.  The listening modes also give way to Neo’s future.  To begin the music makes us a casual listener.  The crescendo tells us when something climatic is going to happen.  The softer side of the music builds and prepares the audience for this moment.  Also the referential listening in this scene brings about thoughts on the outside world.  The world that Neo hates so much and truly wants to leave is filled with thunder at this particular time.  The audience’s attention at times is drawn beyond the room and out into the city.  Where we picture this polluted city full of crime and hatred and perhaps that gives some persuasion to Neo to take the green pill.  

Blog# 2 Finding your Howl

In this blog entry I will be referring to Jonathan Flaum's Finding Your Howl (http://changethis.com/.)

 

In Flaum's story he depicts a group of rare red wolves being released back into society.  Although, being held in captivity for so long the rare red wolves lost their ability to howl.   The wolves became frighten of their new habitat and yearned for captivity again; except for one, Mumon.  Mumon did not like the idea of not being able to howl, and so he sets off into the forest to find it.  Flaum’s story suggests that in order to find ourselves, or to find our own calling, we must be willing to leave everything behind.   

 “Bound with all the weight of all the words he tried to say

Chained to all the places that he never wished to say

Bound with all the weight of all the words he tried to say

and as he faced the sun he cast no shadow”

The above excerpt is from an Oasis song off of their 1996 album, “What’s the Story Morning Glory.”  This particular song, “Cast No Shadow,” always brings forth feelings of my personal nature.  When I first heard this song, many thoughts flooded my mind.  It made me think of the direction I was headed in my own life, as well as where I was currently.  To me the lyrics are portraying to someone who is stuck inside a place he does not much care for anymore.  With all the responsibilities constantly controlling him he can never leave, thus never doing what he wants to.  So as he faces the sun his shadow, what I believe to be his true calling, does not show. 

               This may have only been a simple song at the time, but I reflected on it deeply to my own life.  I remember after first hearing this, asking myself “what I wanted out of life?”  Where did I see myself within the next five to ten years?”  At the time I was still in high school and just beginning to learn guitar along with the keyboard.  So from that point on I decided this was it; I wanted to pursue what I enjoy most, music.  It was a passion I had had in the meantime; because my main focus was engineering, a job that would hold somewhat of a steady future.  Which is what I did not want though, i did not want to be chained to a dead beat job and stick to music as a side hobby for the rest of my life.  I decided I needed to change if I was ever going to become this person I had depicted of myself in the future.

                   What caught my ear and changed me so quickly was the line “chained to all the places that I never wished to stay.”  I thought about how growing up affects our aspirations as infants, how most of us throw it away for that office job with that steady pay or because we decide to take the safe path in life.  I did not want to take that path, I wanted to venture out there and take in whatever the world had to offer.  I needed to find myself and if I had to leave my old self behind I was willing to do so. From that day on every time I struck a chord or mixed a beat I always carried the thought of being free to find my own calling and hone in on what I enjoy.

               “Cast No Shadow” is a simple chord progression with lyrics that could have been written stoned.  Somehow I found a meaning far greater than anything before.  It changed me, inspired something inside that gave the motivation and courage to venture into the unknown.  I have taken a leap of faith into this musical business world.  This path I have taken is my way in searching for my own “howl;” or in my case my own “shadow.”

Blog #1 Deconstructing Characters

Protagonist: Doc Fuzz

Photo Color:  The colors in this picture represent Doc Fuzz's dark past, mysterious personality, and his ability to stay hidden from society.  These darker colors, while still vibrant, shows a side of the character that is willing to fight fire with fire.  He has a respect for the natural world and is against large corporations and factories.  Beyond the dark colors, the bright orange and yellow represent his compassion and kindness to others as his weakness.  From time to time Doc Fuzz allows his emotions to get in the way and sometimes spoil his own plan against evil.

 Photo Light:  This lone beam of light represents Doc Fuzz and how he is perceived in the present world.  He feels he is surrounded by evil and darkness.  The one beam of light that shines down to vanquish all villains is himself.  The world is constantly taken over by darkness and those that are corrupt and just when the world loses hope Doc Fuzz prevails.  He is the light at the end of the tunnel for this present day world.       

Photo Shape:  The picture of this lighting represents Doc Fuzz's shape on various levels.  As a very quick creature he has acquired the shape of a somewhat zigzag feature.  The smaller branches of lighting are also a part of his physique.  As we know lighting is a plasma and not solid as is Doc Fuzz.  He tends be almost transparent in form and with his sleek shape is able to move with swift speed.

Antagonist:  Professor hydro

                                              

 

Photo Color:  The colors of Professor hydro represent his dark motives and his overall evil persona.  The dark blue water that sits so calmly mirrors his surface.  He appears at ease on a superficial level, but deep down inside there is much swirling about.  The lighter side of this picture portrays to the good that is still within him.  Although he always about stirring up mischief and mayhem, Doc Fuzz believes there is still a  kind hearted soul trapped and desperately trying to get out. 

Photo Light:  The scattered light in this picture portrays Professor hydro though his evil intentions and ability to affect a wide area.  He spreads quickly and is able to move with swift speed and lighting fast agility.  The dark shadows being broken by the light represent modern society being destroyed by Professor Hydro.  He ruins the good intentions of Doc Fuzz trying to corrupt the world and prevail as an evil emperor.

Photo Shape:  This photo represents Profesorr Hydro's shape.  The swift waves crashing against the rocks display the brute force of this character's shape and portay his rock like structure.  The jagged edges also represent his messy apearence and perhaps peers into his past alittle.  His disorganized appearence suggests some things that have went wrong in the past and possibly foretell of his unstable future.

       

John McClane

John McClane

He is such a badass cop.  Whether stumbling around drunk or fighting with marital problems, McClane will always prevail.