What Would You Give the World?

[pasithea]

This post might get sorta long, but it's a question I've been mulling over for the past several days. On Monday I go to the Digital Video Production class and see if I can get in. The class was full so I'm on the wait list. I really want to take this class this semester so that I can move on to 16mm film next semester, so I've been thinking about what I could do to up my odds of being squeezed in and I hatched an idea to make a short video to discuss with the professor before class 'n' get input on. Sort of a cheap in, but on the other hand, there's two other sessions of the class during the daytime that I can't take because I work. Also, since I'm a transfer student, they wouldn't let me register for the classes early so all the highschool kids got to fill up the schedule first. *sigh*

Anyhow, I developed a really major block about what to make. I've never had this happen to me before. I can almost always visualize a project and get started creating something really fast. It's not always a great idea, but it's usually enough to get started. This time I'm really drawing a blank. I think the issue is that I feel like I'm in part making a sales tape about myself. It's a funny thing to think about, but what do I want to say about myself and more importantly, what do I want to say?

So.. There's the question. What do I want to give the world? What can I create that will make the world a better, happier, or more interesting place? Also, what hasn't been done already? I meet so many people who are aspiring to be writers, poets, artists, animators, film makers, and photographers. How can I stand out? I wonder if that last part is important or just narcisistic though? I'm not making art to make money. I do stuff because it's what I love doing.

I've been thinking about it a lot and for this project, I think I want to create something that inspires people to create and make. One of my all-time favourite movies is 'The Wizard of Speed and Time'. I think maybe I'll watch it later and see if it gives me any ideas. In the meantime if anyone else wants to offer ideas, I'd really appreciate it.

Comments

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I thought of something that could be elaborate or simple, real or staged, serious (and evoking sadness or anger) or funny, and could be long or short.

I was thinking you could videotape reactions. How people treat each other. You need a subject (or more than one), and people to react to the subject (either staged people, or real actual people and their real reactions).

Then you need the setup. Your subject has to be something people may have a strange/bad/weird/funny reaction to. Their act would be something simple. Asking for directions, change for a bus/phone, dropping a package. You can do something topical, like find someone who is Muslim and looks it (dresses traditionally). Or maybe someone very overweight. Or someone in extreme clothing (Goth, punk, very gangsterish). Something racial, a person in the 'wrong' neighborhood. A guy wearing eyeliner. A woman wearing inappropriate clothing (as in too tight, sleazy). Someone wearing an offensive tshirt (sexually, politically, racially offensive). Or we can start aiming for funny. Someone with cat ears or a tail. Someone with a flower painted on their face. Someone wearing pajamas. Someone carrying a surfboard or something silly like that.

I figured this could be flexible, and could also be good on showing both distance shots (the person approaching the other person) and closeups, if you are positioned right (facial expressions when the man in the bunny ears asks for directions to Starbucks).

Of course stuff like this has been done before (hasn't everything?), but you could put your own spin on it based on the message you want to give (a comic one or a social one).

And if you want to be an artist (really anything in this world) how you stand out IS important. Not just career wise (as an artist/filmmaker/painter you are going to have to constantly sell youself and your work), but voice-wise. If you feel your message, your artistic voice is worth hearing, then you are going to have to take steps to make sure it is heard.

Like coming up with a great idea and selling it to a professor so you can learn the skills you need to make yourself better 'understood' on video.