GUIDING QUESTION

So the question lies…”Did I sucessfully set these pieces up to create a suffcient short film to stimulate an emotional reaction to viewers”

The answer I believe is a very complicated one and in short being “Yes”,but perhaps not in the way I had intended. Objectively speaking the film is obscure. The original vision was to create an animated short film composed of art pieces in my notebook with direct aim to sort of summarize an itermediate point in one lives, specifically toward those going off to college. Highlighting more so the feeling of disapointment, anxiety,emptiness, or struggle of that point in life. I did not want to make a nihlistic movie by any means but a movie based on emotions and concept. To compensate in the end there was no real coherent plot, and as the time kept crunching, and my own personal life got more hectic I realized very quickly that my original vision was not going to be able to make the cut. I had to improvise. That's what every great artist does.

With improvisation the project became more and more obscure. It turned into what was supposed to have a perfect blend between a linear plot structure and something more surrealistic such as the likes of movies such as "eraser head" ended up becoming more contradictory and confusing much like the very pieces themselves. Abstract, with various interpretations. I soon found the best way to complete this project as well as staying true to my guiding question was to put my trust in the process. All the models were made in photoshop with various brush packs. It took much time and became something I thought was going to be easy but im not the most experienced with digital painting so it became a process of redoing and redoing until i was satisfied. Once that was complete the project was transfered to after effects where i used the program duik to rig all the models Which is essentially like working with puppets with strings. After that was done effects were added. Whatever came out would speak for itself and hopefully even tell a story of the journey itself. Once the short was released I asked those wanting to leave feedback leave a response through an optional survey to measure responses and reactions with the overall consensus being uneasiness, and confusion.

Uneasiness not in a bad way describing it as an intriguing short with potential and a rich atmosphere. Other reactions were so positive I was listed as an influence on their own website with a special thanks! It was very exciting and motivating to see such responses whether it be 3 or 5 people as any resonance with my work is an accomplishment. And feel with this journey I have for the most part answered my guiding question. Not in the way it may have been intended to be to target a specific demographic but I was still able to stir some sort of response from viewers which was the origin of the goal.In short the film did stimulate an emotional reaction. So much so that someone has it on their own website.

Film is very much an art form and I believe the best way to execute art is through the penetration of the viewer's mind itself. Taking various forms. Short films are meant to execute ideas rather than the film itself. A "What if'' rather than a "What is". With my answer to my guiding question I feel left with more questions if anything wondering where I can take this concept and adapt more from my footage. And hopefully I can leave people with more questions as well.