Siboney

Camera: Canon 7D

Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro

The mise en scene of this short film is inspired by Hong Kong Film Noir, especially Wong Kar Wai: “In the Mood for Love” and “2046”. Wong’s extensive use of colour red, framing, and sensible music are components that resemble well with my project. The main song “Siboney” is also used as a soundtrack for “2046” as a theme song for one of the female characters.

The theme of this short film/music video is “Ideal Self”. It encourages viewers to work towards self-improvement. The grand narrative of today’s society is that imperfection is perfection. Many believe in the statement “I, as the true self, is already perfect. I am enough.” Valuing our existence by finding self-identity is important. In fact, it is absolutely true that we are enough. But the danger lies in halting introspection at accepting the true imperfect selves believing it’s perfect. Humans are imperfect. Our true selves are imperfect and have various weaknesses. But there is no growth if we settle for present flawed selves and stop seeking self-improvement. Human must refine and mature their Id to improve Ego and become more of Superego. The film tells the audience to “Express yourself fully, accept your weaknesses, and allow you to be ideal selves.”

Another theme is “Woman’s makeup is a fulfilment of oneself, not an endeavour to impress.” As widely discussed through feminism, it is true that woman’s femininity and sexuality is not something to be consumed, praised or destroyed by a ‘superior’. Instead, a woman’s femininity and sexuality are one of the methods to express their identity. Woman’s makeup, for instance, is an expression of confidence and beauty. Them taking time to ready themselves in the morning is not just a routine, but self-actualization and satisfaction.

The main symbolism of this film is a mirror. The main character project different identities on the mirror and improves herself. In the end, she brings herself out of the mirror and walks out into the reality in confidence. Her looking directly into the camera gives the effect of inviting the audience to her journey.

Student School Project

Urban Pioneer

Camera: Canon 7D

Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro

This silent film is inspired by the very first cinema, black and white city symphony films. Especially a German city symphony directed by an avant-garde filmmaker Walter Ruttmann—Berlin: symphony of a great city (1927). The director is known for his extent experimentation with abstraction in cinematography. Following Ruttmann’s approach, juxtaposition of scenes and camera shots is carefully executed to bring sense of innovative progressiveness and aloof anonymity of urban life.

The overall sequence of the film consists of various cuts and juxtaposition of train movement, rails, and surroundings. Train, in city symphony films, represents the fast-developing modernity and its mobility to find or follow. The rail connects the city and the train transports people through it. Through fast-moving trains, people carry culture, ideology, and community and initiate changes in the city. The train in the film ‘Pioneer’ also serves the same purpose as a metaphor.

The film emphasizes artistic and architectural elements of the Toronto subway. Abstraction and minimalistic approach to design resembles a lot of avant-garde film technique. It focuses on symbolistic representation and careful observation of a subject, which distinguish the context of the film from people to the urban-ness and its essence. Thus, makes the subject matter, the train, bring modernity and anonymity to the film.

Student School Project 

GOLDEN

Camera: IPhone 6

Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro

Fun individual project during quarantine.

To watch 5:5 ratio version, please visit: @misension

Animating Vox’s

[ The World is Poorly Designed. But Copying Nature Helps ]

Editing: Adobe After Effects

Animation inspired from the Vox youtube video, [The World is Poorly Designed. But Copying Nature Helps] (3:55-5:00)

Original Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMtXqTmfta0&t=50s

Student School Project