YOUTUBE: IDEA 1
Youtube has become the #1 website in the world to upload and share video.
I heard through the grapevine one day that you could make money from your
youtube videos, a lot of money, well only if your video got a lot of views
of course! So, I did some research.
Before the launch of YouTube in 2005,
there were few simple methods available for ordinary computer
users who wanted to post videos online.
With its easy to use interface,
YouTube made it possible for anyone with an Internet connection
to post a video that millions of people could watch within a few minutes.
The wide range of topics covered by YouTube has turned video sharing into
one of the most important parts of Internet culture.
As digital media majors, we should find a way to penetrate the youtube playground.
As a member of the Youtube partners program, they typically pay 1/3 cents to 1 cent
per view. As you get more consistant viewers, they pay a higher percentage.
Some of these posters can make a very significant income off their videos.
For example, a video with 1,000,000 views x .0033 = $3300. This is the minimum you
will make if you're a yourtube parter.
As digital media majors, we should find a way to penetrate the youtube playground.
So what makes a youtube video succesful?
Talent?
Humor?
Truth?
Instructional?
Bold?
Sexy?
What made, "Chocolate Rain" so succesful that it has generated 41,019,303 views to date?
"It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time," with 1,554,951 views.
"Keeping your refrigerator stocked will get you many women," with 2,689,224 views.
"Evolution of Dance," with 125,201,330 views.
"Charlie bit my finger - again," with 117,925,826 views.
"Crazy Baby Movies," with 3,169,420 views.
I shall devise a plan:
How many separate films will it take to achieve this so called, "YouTube success!"
What content will the world enjoy, how many babys must I find, let the journey begin!
Terra Firma: Idea 2
I created a short film a couple of semesters ago, that to me was more
narratively compelling than visually. The short told a story of man
who is tired of, " the concrete jungle," he is surrounded in.He decides to
leave everyone he knew behind to live as a free man in the forest.
I want to further expand the original narration into a more detailed story
of why he made such a decision. Why he would leave his family, his job,
everone he knew to live alone in the forest? What drives someone to no
longer possess a need for material items, or city life? I feel that the viewer
needs this information, and could lead to a much stronger piece, as well as
more visual representation of the new world he encounters. A year ago, I built
a shelter in the middle of the Smokey Mountains. I will return to use the
shelter as the setting for the character's (Me) new found world, while of course
filming his city life in Memphis.
Original Narration:
It is all over now.
I have left this world.
There is no returning this time.
My family, friends, technology: all forgotten.
I am returning to the jungle.
As the Lysergic acid diethylamide enters my system,
I am touched by the hands of my ancestors and reminded
that we humans were put here for a much greater purpose
than destroying the earth and savaging the land.
All I need are my hands and feet, no concrete street.
A home of sticks and stones, and most of all peace.
A place to breath,
a place to eat
and a world where I’m actually free.
I am returning to an earth that believes.
I have found my place of rest,
A breath beneath my chest,
salvation at it’s best.
I have conquered death a million times from stress.
I scream at the God’s: leave me blessed.
To the people I love, I’ll be ok.
Alone on this mountaintop, there’s no pain to decay.
I’ve started my new life; actually it’s just begun.
Never again the feeling of wanting to run.
Believe in me and believe in this earth,
for I have reconnected with a most perfect worth.
Maybe a day will come filled with recognition of what wrong we’ve done.
Until this day I will remain in the valley of one.
Idea 3:
Last semester my final photography project was based on a
narrative I wrote for a film, that I never ended up making!
My idea is to tighten up the narrative and work on the
visual representation of the peice through video.
The photos taken were so strong that it further inspired me
to shoot the film!
This will in some respect be technically challenging for me
if I want to film in the dark, out in the middle of nowhere.
Script:
Scene 1: /The bottom of a swamp in Pickwick Tennessee/
Clay (kneeling) down to wash his hands in the water/
Clay (kneeling) starts tearing pieces of his skin off his arms and face.
(Latex make up and paint for fake skin)
Camera circles around Clay (standing) to get a
complete view of the swamp surroundings/
Scene 2: /Cemetery in the middle of the woods/
/Camera view rises out of a grave,
passes two other tombstones through the woods
and heads straight for Clay,
camera runs straight into him.
He sticks his chest out,
as if he was overpowered by some unknown force,
picks up a shovel that’s stuck in the mud next to him
and heads down a path for the woods/
Camera angle shows the side of his face (covered in blood)/
Scene 3: /Clay disappears into the woods.
He comes to an opening and looks towards the graveyard,
then walks towards a tombstone/
Scene 4: /He starts digging up the grave
Scene 5: /He sticks his arm in the dirt and starts
pulling bones out/ stuffing them into his bag one by one.
Scene 6: /He throws the brown bag over his shoulder
and starts walking towards the opposite end of the woods.
Scene 7: /Marion is laying on a concrete slab (Dead)
wearing a white dress, with her arms spread out.
(Camera rises up from Marion’s view to Clay standing
next to her with the bag of bones.)
Clay starts laying the bones on top of and all around her.
/Clay picks up the cup of blood that’s sitting
next to her and pours it on her forehead
Scene 8: /Clay walks back towards the woods and
continues to dig up the next grave.
He repeats the bone bagging and walks back towards Marion.
After he digs the last grave, he lays the last skull next
to Marion. She awakes from the dead and her and Clay walk
off into the woods together.
Opeth-Closure
Heal myself - a feather on my heart
Look inside - there never was a start
Peel myself - dispose of severed skin
All subsides - around me and within
There's nothing painful in this
There's no upheaval
Redemption for my pathos
All sins undone
Awaiting word on what's to come
In helpless prayers a hope lives on
'Cause I've come clean, I've forgotten what I promised
In the rays of the sun, I am longing for the darkness
Scene 1: /The bottom of a swamp in Pickwick Tennessee/
Lyrics
/Video/
Heal myself - a feather on my heart: /Clay (kneeling) washing his hands in the water/
Look inside - there never was a start: /Daytime reflection of his face in the swamp/
Peel myself - dispose of severed skin: /Clay (kneeling) starts tearing pieces of his skin off his arms and face. (Latex make up effects for fake skin)/
All subsides - around me and within:
/Camera circles around Clay (standing) to get a
complete view of the swamp surroundings/
Scene 2: /Cemetery in the middle of the woods/
There's nothing painful in this
There's no upheaval:
Redemption for my pathos
All sins undone:
/Camera view rises out of a grave, passes two other tombstones through the woods and heads straight for Clay/ @ 1minute, 7seconds into the song camera runs straight into Clay. Clay sticks his chest out as if he was overpowered by some unknown force, picks up a shovel that’s stuck in the mud next to him and heads down a path for the woods/ Camera angle shows the side of his face (covered in blood)/
1:31 Scene 3: /Clay disappears into the woods. He comes to an opening and looks towards the graveyard, then walks towards a tombstone/
1:55 Scene 4: /Clay starts digging up the grave
2:19 Scene 5: /Clay sticks his arm in the grave and starts pulling bones out/ walking towards the opposite end of the woods.
2:31 Scene 6: /Clay throws a brown bag over his shoulder and starts walking towards the opposite end of the woods.
2:44 Scene 7: /Marion is laying on a concrete slab (Dead) wearing a white dress, with her arms spread out. (Camera rises up from Marion’s view to Clay standing next to her with the bag of bones. Clay starts laying the bones on top of her and around her.
Awaiting word on what's to come
In helpless prayers a hope lives on
'Cause I've come clean, I've forgotten
what I promised
In the rays of the sun, I am longing for
The darkness:
/Clay picks up a cup of blood that’s sitting
next to her and pours it on her forehead
3:28 Scene 8: /Clay walks back towards the woods and continues to dig up the next grave. He repeats the bone bagging and walks back towards Marion. After he digs the last grave, he lays the last skull next to Marion, then lights a pentagram (made out of straw and gasoline). Marion awakes from the dead and her and Clay walk off into the woods together.
Look inside - there never was a start
Peel myself - dispose of severed skin
All subsides - around me and within
There's nothing painful in this
There's no upheaval
Redemption for my pathos
All sins undone
Awaiting word on what's to come
In helpless prayers a hope lives on
'Cause I've come clean, I've forgotten what I promised
In the rays of the sun, I am longing for the darkness
Scene 1: /The bottom of a swamp in Pickwick Tennessee/
Lyrics
/Video/
Heal myself - a feather on my heart: /Clay (kneeling) washing his hands in the water/
Look inside - there never was a start: /Daytime reflection of his face in the swamp/
Peel myself - dispose of severed skin: /Clay (kneeling) starts tearing pieces of his skin off his arms and face. (Latex make up effects for fake skin)/
All subsides - around me and within:
/Camera circles around Clay (standing) to get a
complete view of the swamp surroundings/
Scene 2: /Cemetery in the middle of the woods/
There's nothing painful in this
There's no upheaval:
Redemption for my pathos
All sins undone:
/Camera view rises out of a grave, passes two other tombstones through the woods and heads straight for Clay/ @ 1minute, 7seconds into the song camera runs straight into Clay. Clay sticks his chest out as if he was overpowered by some unknown force, picks up a shovel that’s stuck in the mud next to him and heads down a path for the woods/ Camera angle shows the side of his face (covered in blood)/
1:31 Scene 3: /Clay disappears into the woods. He comes to an opening and looks towards the graveyard, then walks towards a tombstone/
1:55 Scene 4: /Clay starts digging up the grave
2:19 Scene 5: /Clay sticks his arm in the grave and starts pulling bones out/ walking towards the opposite end of the woods.
2:31 Scene 6: /Clay throws a brown bag over his shoulder and starts walking towards the opposite end of the woods.
2:44 Scene 7: /Marion is laying on a concrete slab (Dead) wearing a white dress, with her arms spread out. (Camera rises up from Marion’s view to Clay standing next to her with the bag of bones. Clay starts laying the bones on top of her and around her.
Awaiting word on what's to come
In helpless prayers a hope lives on
'Cause I've come clean, I've forgotten
what I promised
In the rays of the sun, I am longing for
The darkness:
/Clay picks up a cup of blood that’s sitting
next to her and pours it on her forehead
3:28 Scene 8: /Clay walks back towards the woods and continues to dig up the next grave. He repeats the bone bagging and walks back towards Marion. After he digs the last grave, he lays the last skull next to Marion, then lights a pentagram (made out of straw and gasoline). Marion awakes from the dead and her and Clay walk off into the woods together.
I constructed a three and a half minute long song using a Roland x8 Phantom and a Mac. The measures below are time codes that are structured for the narration of this film. There are four beats per measure, so that should help give an idea of how long each scene will be. This movie will be filmed in Greers Ferry, Arkansas. I am most likely going to play the character in the film and have a friend or the tripod help film. Arkansas will definitely provide all of the natural shots I need. I estimate three days to shoot.
Terra Firma
Measure 1-16
(Man sitting under a tree in the middle of a park, wearing a rain coat and an oversized rain hat. He has a camping bag filled with clothes and he is staring at the ground.)
Measure 17-32
(Man is walking off down a dark road in Arkansas. Trees are completely surrounding the area, which allows him to finally feels isolated from the world. –Maybe rain?)
Narration: It’s all over now. I have left this world. There is no returning this time. My family, friends, technology: all forgotten. I am returning to the jungle. As the Lysergic acid diethylamide enters my system, I am touched by the hands of my ancestors and reminded that we humans were put here for a much greater purpose than destroying the earth and savaging the land. All I need are my hands and feet, no concrete street. A home of sticks and stones, and most of all peace. A place to breath, a place to eat and a world where I’m actually free. I’m returning to an earth that believes.
Measure 33-40
(Man cutting down a tree to construct a small sheltered area to sleep in, hunting for food with a spear and building a fire pit to cook on in a highly wooded area.)
Measure 41-60
(Man standing on the edge of a cliff, yelling at the gods.)
Narration: I have found my place of rest, A breath beneath my chest, salvation at it’s best. I have conquered death a million times from stress. I scream at the God’s: leave me blessed.
Measure 61-90
(Man sitting next to a lake writing a letter)
Narration: To the people I love, I’ll be ok. Alone on this mountaintop, there’s no pain to decay. I’ve started my new life; actually it’s just begun. Never again the feeling of wanting to run. Believe in me and believe in this earth, for I have reconnected with a most perfect worth. Maybe a day will come filled with recognition of what wrong we’ve done. Until this day I will remain in the valley of one. (Walks off into the wooded area, and briefly looks back.
(Man sitting under a tree in the middle of a park, wearing a rain coat and an oversized rain hat. He has a camping bag filled with clothes and he is staring at the ground.)
Measure 17-32
(Man is walking off down a dark road in Arkansas. Trees are completely surrounding the area, which allows him to finally feels isolated from the world. –Maybe rain?)
Narration: It’s all over now. I have left this world. There is no returning this time. My family, friends, technology: all forgotten. I am returning to the jungle. As the Lysergic acid diethylamide enters my system, I am touched by the hands of my ancestors and reminded that we humans were put here for a much greater purpose than destroying the earth and savaging the land. All I need are my hands and feet, no concrete street. A home of sticks and stones, and most of all peace. A place to breath, a place to eat and a world where I’m actually free. I’m returning to an earth that believes.
Measure 33-40
(Man cutting down a tree to construct a small sheltered area to sleep in, hunting for food with a spear and building a fire pit to cook on in a highly wooded area.)
Measure 41-60
(Man standing on the edge of a cliff, yelling at the gods.)
Narration: I have found my place of rest, A breath beneath my chest, salvation at it’s best. I have conquered death a million times from stress. I scream at the God’s: leave me blessed.
Measure 61-90
(Man sitting next to a lake writing a letter)
Narration: To the people I love, I’ll be ok. Alone on this mountaintop, there’s no pain to decay. I’ve started my new life; actually it’s just begun. Never again the feeling of wanting to run. Believe in me and believe in this earth, for I have reconnected with a most perfect worth. Maybe a day will come filled with recognition of what wrong we’ve done. Until this day I will remain in the valley of one. (Walks off into the wooded area, and briefly looks back.
write up
I wish I had more time to shoot this movie. The outcome is decent, but could of been a lot better. I had very little camera help while shooting, so most scenes were a little difficult to shoot exactly how I wanted it. There are problems with the sound that at this point would have to be completely redone. This will probably become a project that I work on again in the near future.
Schedule
Monday, Feb. 11: Scenes 1-4 @ 2:00pm (My house and Lenny's) Me and my camera help
Tuesday, Feb. 12: Scenes 5-9 @ 2:00pm (Nonconnah Blvd., Circle K, Riverdale) Me, cop and my camera help
Wednesday, Feb. 13: Scene 10 @ 2:00pm (Office room) me, cop and my camera help
Tuesday, Feb. 12: Scenes 5-9 @ 2:00pm (Nonconnah Blvd., Circle K, Riverdale) Me, cop and my camera help
Wednesday, Feb. 13: Scene 10 @ 2:00pm (Office room) me, cop and my camera help
Write Up:
My first approach to the script was me walking down a dark, Mid-town street, with narration behind it and maybe flashbacks of the actual events taking place. I then decided to give references for the events instead. The viewers can now make out in their head what they imagine the characters and scenes look like. Basically, how you would visualize things when you read a book. The last scene will only show the cops mouth yelling at me, while the remainder of the scene is me alone in this room, handcuffed to a chair, reacting to the narration, as if the character was really right there in front of me. I think this approach will resolve a nice ending.
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