Hilton Hotel Viral Video Idea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsOaTEouwpA&feature=related
(pennies)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njHlopUprKw&feature=channel
(socks)

combining these two ideas into one could be interesting
The idea of scattered things like the pennies with personalized colorful options like the socks all coming together in the end would show community and choices
Community: when all of the things meet up in the end they would be just like the table from the "Oasis" that brings people together to eat
Choices: each thing would have it's own pattern and color and size and shape, making it apparent that there is a large web of options and personalization like so many things inside the room and the "Oasis"

"A place to collect yourself"
The characters would be a collection of clothes belonging to a woman and man that materialize into actual people once the items all meet up

---
Places that the objects would move through:
Bed - tank shirts
Tv - mans shirt
Cooking area - guys jacket
Couch - mans pants
Shower - dress
Ironing board - woman's jacket
Closet - shoes

All the items meet at the door and the two leave looking happy and refreshed
"A place to collect yourself" comes on the screen as the door closes

Artist Lecture: Ben Fink

Ben Fink: Photographer

Food + Wine Magazine, Bon Appetit, Saveur, New York Magazine, etc
Moved from Maryland to Memphis (work and school)
Went to MCA for painting and graphic design
Went to UofM for graphic design (because he wanted jobs)
left school to assist a photographer
planned to go back, but that didn't happen
- shot at ad agencies
- shot for designers
- shot for FedEx
- shot for Memphis Magazine
- writer and photographer team up after a while

From the team-up with a writer came a magazine job that took them everywhere
Some titles:
"The Belly of Soul" Gus's Fried Chicken
"Mama Lou's Thanksgiving"
"Tet is Everybody's Birthday" in Vietnam
"Soul of the Low Lands"
"Sweet Memory" in Genova, Italy
Savannah story where he met the characters from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
"The Glory of Red Cooking" with Grace Young
"Shanghai Surprise"
"Paradise Revisited"
After a while the writer/photographer duo created their own stories

Books:
apparently uses only natural lighting for his commercial work
"Intercourses"
sex and food: aphrodisiac cookbook
sold over 3,000 copies
Some funny quotes from him about the photographs and the models:
"This woman...she is naked. And that was hard, to...hide it."
"She was popular, we called her the strawberry and pine-nut girl. Our art director liked her so much he married her."
(later about the same woman): "Those are real...the art director said so."
"The Modern Cafe"
"Sur La Table"
"Sfoglia"
"Bobby Flay"
"Deen Brothers"
funny quote: "They know nothing about food. Don't tell anybody. I mean, PB+J...fried chicken?"
"Rose Levy Bennebaum"
funny sum-up of her personality: cakes, fucking, sucking, and the Rolling Stones
"Gale Gand"
"Lee Brothers"
quote: "I actually worked in my pajamas for this job"
"P.Allen Smith"
"Steven Raichlen BBQ"
"Teresa Giudance" of the Real Housewives of New Jersey

Personal Work:
(the reason these are so choppy is because they are my notes on the photos themselves as I view them throughout the presentation, short descriptions or opinions in a word or phrase)
-uses symbols within his personal work to represent other things
"Landscapes"
dreamed created landscapes
conflict within them
absence of people
death/decay/loneliness
manipulated light (ten shots for one piece)
childhood but with a dangerous element to it
dormant trees
heaviness to them, darkness
metaphorical meanings
Hudson River paintings are influencial
broken/abandoned/cold
"Holga Images"
cinematic
film noir
drawings and dreams
-Paris Opera House / ghostly
"Belarus"
relationship with people
childhood
symbolic
little boy and virgin mary
surgery
cut open chest with scissors holding the flesh in place
silence throughout the entire auditorium
stillness
completely exposed for all to see
danger
sickly colors
silence
passed away as an ends / church / house / family
"Peru"
facing death
spaces between
the spaces and people left behind
blood flowing through tubes crisscrossing like wires
"Sudan"
the negative space prevails
tells more than what is busy
white hooded woman photograph is stunning
"A call to prayer" is the song that he wanted to have playing throughout the presentation

---

My overall impression of Ben Fink's work

As a photographer he is a very influential person that I would love to follow into the commercial world. The fact that he came from such humble beginnings and made his way all the up to some of the most prominent publications doing something that he loves is very inspiring. He was funny and charismatic and his photographs were gorgeous. Shallow depth of field and perfect attention to atmosphere and color and personality. Everything was so much what I want to do with my own work, only by way of portraits. I am inspired by his lecture that not only can I make it to where I would like to be, but that I need to broaden my own perspective and shoot whatever I can. His portrait work was very characteristic of the attention that he gives to food. His food photography gives the dish a personality all it's own - which would be easily adaptable to my own work if I just gave my own style the attention and technique that it warranted.
His personal work was such a contrast from his commercial work, and I enjoyed the polar opposite that the two worlds have. One is light and bright and fun, and the other explores the darker aspects of the un-fabricated world of documentary or the completely fictional world of nightmares. Knowing that someone successful in the commercial world of photography can also be allowed the leeway to do as much personal exploration in their personal work is a sigh of relief. If I do end up photographing smiling models all day long there is nothing that says I can't come back to my studio, break something, and then let out all of my frustrations through my camera if I want to.
One of the best lectures I have been to from MCA if not my all time favorite simply because of the subject matter and complete relevance to my own life. Me gusta mucho.

Review

Superstar:

The movie was long but the length helped as a viewer, allowing time for me to be sucked into the world that I was being pulled into. The shots were so dynamic and cinematic because they were so well lit and the compositions were so well controlled.
Some of the shots seemed to stick out to me and it pulled me out of the experience of the film.
One of the main shots would be the closeups of the woman's mouth and the different body parts at various times.
Another would be the Ex-Lax when it is first presented to the audience, the shot just seems to go on for a little too long.
But for the most part the mixing of the shots didn't bother me and they all seemed to flow well together - so much so that I wasn't even paying attention to the shots after a while because the story got me so sucked in. The subtle movements of the dolls that more implied movement than actually showed was a smart move, and allowed for the audience to not pay so much attention to "how did they do that?" which can take away from a viewing experience.
I wish that the text was more legible, perhaps just a different color instead of black since so much of the background on the shots is dark and therefore only some things can be read.

The ending with all of the mashed up shots seemed very successful.
The voice overs, the tipping back of the camera as she drank the bottles, and the dark dark lighting that only gave you clues - they all were edited very well so that the viewer becomes completely immersed waiting and anticipating what is going to happen (since it is already set up in the beginning of the story all the viewer has to wonder is "when?" and "how?")

Pitch Time: Shadow Film "Allegory of the Cave"

Means:
-Screen in foreground
-Puppets behind the screen
-Light source behind the puppets

Story:
Plato's Allegory of the Cave
http://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/cave.htm
[[The above link explains everything in the most basic way that I could find - check wiki for a tad more complicated run down of the allegory]]

Synopsis:
By taking a story based on shadows and their symbolic meanings within a philosophical theory, the movie will create it's own illusion to the audience. Within the allegory the characters are watching shadows, and within the context of the assignment the audience is watching shadows. During the whole movie the same kind of animation is going to be presented so that the viewer is convinced of the animation and into the world themselves. At the end, once the character changes mentally within the story, the animation will be taken away and live action filming will instead take over. This parallel between the character being pulled from one state to the other, and the viewer being pulled from one illusion to the other is the main focus and reasoning of the film.

Dialogue:
There may or may not be dialogue based on feedback within the class, either way there will be no talking of the direct characters and only narration over the top of the story if any dialogue is within the piece.

--

Inspiration links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPRjIIQsSAk
[The above link shows a tutorial on how to create a puppet - the puppets made in our film will be a combination of the two shown in the tutorial; made from cardboard and using string for moving arms, with rods to guide from behind]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhHgUlyzBc
[The puppets in the above video demonstrate the way that the puppets within our piece will move their limbs and the flipping from one side to the other will be taken care of in the edit to be seamless]
[[3:30 to around 6:00 are the best sections within the video as examples of movement]]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2afuTvUzBQ
[[Above is a video showing the general setup of the cave that will be in our piece, our video will end at the part where the person is brought into the sunlight]]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yefR6UaRv-s
[[The above video shows another very different take on the Allegory of the Cave, but the idea of not having any dialogue is a definite option within our piece]]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4XXItJYFKA
[[Above is just a really wonderful stop-motion of the Allegory of the Cave]]

Lighting Maps: The Proposition

BEDROOM: Sax's house (above)

LIVING ROOM: Sax's house (above)

HOSPITAL: Sax's room (above)
HOSPITAL: Sax's room (above)
DR.BLOOM'S OFFICE: Sax's appointment (above)

---
These are the proposed lighting set-ups for each main shot within the story, outside lighting and front door lighting of the characters house will be natural light, so the only tool used (depending on time of day when shot) will be a bounce card or a reflector to fill in the talents features.

Additional lighting tools will be:
- extension cords for farther away outlets
- a snoot for concentrated light
- bounce card / reflector
- foam-core to create a sliver of light - OR - barnyard doors and black tinfoil for spill

Conditional to shot:
Because of the requirement for fill light, the lighting schemes above have the proposed spot to place a fill (a weak setting to keep features visible) however, the scene's dramatic features may change the need for any kind of fill light - and that piece of the lighting map is subject to revision.

PreProduction Work: The Proposition

Reference Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDK9MDklzFo

Prop List:

- Saxophone

-Doctor's kit (stethoscope, folder, white coat)

-gun

Costume List:

-Sax

casual suit

black clothes (to kill victim)

very casual (when home)

-Pseudo Devil

suit

hat

-Doctor

scrubs

lab coat

-Victim

pjs

Sypnosis:

After discovering that he has been diagnosed with an incurable disease, one young musical prodigy finds himself on the verge of death. That is until fate comes knocking at his door. An enygmatic gentleman claims that he has the cure to the ill fated disease. And he is willing to give it to the young musician if he does one thing, kill.

Script:

The Proposition

Written by Joseph Coleman

Fade in:

Int. Dark Void - Young, well dressed man [Sax] playing the saxophone with great energy.

Cut To:

Int. Hospital Room - (door slams shut)

Extreme Close Up - Sax opens eyes in shock

Doctor

How are you today?

Sax

Could have been better if I had my used my inhaler, but I was so into my performance that I just....forgot.

Doctor

(laughs sullenly)

You’re still getting lost in the moment, I see.

Close Up - Doctors expression slips and Sax sees this

Sax

Is there something wrong, doc?

Doctor

Your recent test results came back...

Sax

And?

Doctor

We have discovered that you have a very rare lung disease called LAM.

Sax

Wha...no, you all told me I had asthma. For six years, you all have misdiagnosing me?!

Doctor

The symptoms of the disease mimics that of asthma, making it that much more difficult to catch at an early stage. Statistically, you shouldn’t even have it. This disease affects woman almost exclusively. The times that men have been diagnosed, they were unharmed due to hormones that men have to suppress it. But it seems to have mutated, and now we are at a loss.

Sax

So what, now? There’s nothing you can do?

Doctor

I’m sorry.

Sax leaves the room, struggling to stand from the shock of the news he just heard.

Cut To:

Int. Medical Hallway

Sax continues to walk away.

Cut To:

Int. Hospital Room

An unseen figure enters the room.

Doctor

(voice cracking)

He’s yours.

Act II

Ext. Alley Way - Daytime

Sax walks through alley on his way home.

Int. House

Sax sits on bed, and eyes saxophone. He then takes hold of it in a vain attempt to play it. All pent up anger is release through violent thrashing.

(doorbell rings)

Sax answers door, and is met by a bearded gentleman.

Gentleman

Hello, sir. My name is Dr. Bloom. I am a former colleague of Dr. Stacy. She informed me that she just recently diagnosed one of her patients with the LAM disease and I--

Sax

Who the hell are you?

Gentleman

Why, I am Dr. Bl--

Sax

No, who are you, really? Let me guess, you hang out at the clinic pretending to be a doctor just to find your next sucker, huh? Get off my porch!

Sax slams door on Dr. Bloom.

Sax begins to walk away, but turns around in contemplation. He runs to reopen his door.

Sax

Excuse me, sir. Come on in.

Gentleman

Splendid!

Cut To:

Int. Kitchen - Night

Sax

I apologize, sir. It has just been a rough day today.

Gentleman

Oh, I understand completely. You actually handled the news better than I years ago.

Sax

What? You have the same disease?

Gentleman

No, but my daughter did.

Sax

Really, how did she fare?

Gentleman

Well, she died five years after she was diagnosed. She had just graduated college, and was ready to see the world until she fell ill. Let me tell you, not from the pits of hell is there a more painful punishment than watching your child wither away before your eyes.

Sax

I’m sorry. I know when I lost both my parents that it was the lowest point in my life. The only thing that kept me going was my desire to experience the way that they wished. That, and my love for music. And now both have been stripped away from me by a disease that I’m not supposed to have, statistically.

Gentleman

And this brings us back to the nature of my visit. Doctor’s worldwide, and myself, have devoted our lives to researches this disease. And just recently, we have made tremendous breakthroughs. By fortune, I ran into Patricia today and she told me of you. So here I am.

Sax

Wait, so are you saying that you can actually cure me?

Gentleman

(laughs slightly)

Well, it is in the realm of possibilities.

Sax

But why me. Why not experiment on monkies or something and spare yourself a potential lawsuit for a possible cure.

Gentleman

There is only so much animal testing can do. We have to attack the source, not tip toe around it for sake of comfort. Now, I’ll be honest with you. This disease is still hiding in the dark. Your diagnoses more than speaks for that. So, I present to you a proposition.

You take part in my research, and I can cure you.

Sax

I don’t kn--

Gentleman

You don’t have to decide now. If you so choose to fight this, then here is the address to my office.

Dr. Bloom hands Sax a business card, and precedes to leave the kitchen.

Cut To:

Ext. Outside of Sax’s doorstep

Dr. Bloom steps pass the doorstep.

The Gentleman

It was nice talking to you, young man. Have a lovely night.

Fades to black

Act III

Fades In

Ext. Outside Dr. Bloom’s Facility

Sax stands before the entrance as he makes sure that this is what he wants.

Cuts To:

Int. Dr. Bloom’s office

Dr. Bloom

Hey! You came! Have a seat.

Sax

So, when can we get started.

Dr. Bloom

Whenever you are ready.

Sax

I don’t want this. Shoot me up.

Dr. Bloom

(scoffs)

Ok, ok. But first things first. I have a contract here that you must sign. You know, as a precaution.

Sax looks at the Doctor uncomfortably

Dr. Bloom

Oh, there is no need to worry. This is just the business part of things. You need a contract for everything nowadays, in my time it was a man’s word that was bond.

Sax reads the contract, and something catches his eye.

Sax

Hey, you say that upon agreeing to these terms that I am obligated to fulfill my duties.

Dr. Bloom

Yes.

Sax

And what are these duties?

Dr. Bloom

Quite a simple one, really. You must sacrifice someone.

Sax

(scoffs)

What the fuck’s this shit? I knew not to trust you. I was actually buying into this scam.

Dr. Bloom

This is not a scam, my friend. This is just a transaction between to gentlemen, you supply me one death and I give you the treatment.

Sax begins to make his exit.

Sax

Look, I don’t know who you are but you stay the fuck away from me. Come near my home again and I’ll kill you. Understand?!

Sax begins to walk away until he collapses on the floor in pain.

Dr. Bloom

You see that? The pain you are feeling is the sign of weakness. Don’t worry, it is not your fault. You have been conditioned to accept such a pitiful existence. All of man has. Before you, is the cure but you won’t take it because of some false sense of morality. Nothing in this world is moral, except for chance. I can sense the strength you have to break free of this prison your body has become, but you must realize it for yourself. Only then will you gain a second chance. Do this one thing and I will set you free. No more pain, no more weakness, you will be cured.

Sax keeps his hand steady enough to sign the contract.

Dr. Bloom

Fades to

Ext. Suburban Neighborhood - Night

Sax stands before a quiet house.

Dr. Bloom

(voiceover)

This is your chance.

Cut To

Int. Dark Bedroom

Sax walks quietly towards the bed of his sleeping victim. Sax takes one more step as he aims his gun towards his victim.

(floor creak)

Dr. Stacy

(turning around in bed)

Wha? Oh my God! James! What are you doing?!

Sax

Dr. Stacy? Dr. Sta--

Dr. Stacy

He sent you didn’t he? Listen, you don’t want to do this. Don’t ruin your life like this.

Sax

What life? I have no life, not unless I do this.

Dr. Stacy

No! NO!

Sax

Im sorry.

(gunshot)

Cut To:

Ext. Suburban Neighborhood

Sax runs away from the scene as he gags at what he has just done.

Fades to

Ext. Park - Night

Sax

I did it. Dr. Stacy is dead now.

Dr. Bloom

Wonderful. I knew you would not disappoint, that is a ver--

Sax

Cut the bullshit. I did what you asked. I want that cure.

Dr. Bloom

And here it is, my friend.

Sax

You’re not my friend.

Sax grabs the syringe that Dr. Bloom hands him. He then proceeds to take the medicine.

Close Up

Needle drops to the ground.

Sax

(breathing heavily)

Why can’t I breathe?

Dr. Bloom

Because you are dying my good man.

Sax

I this was the cure. You told me I was going to live.

Dr. Bloom

I said nothing of the sort. As we agreed, I gave you the key to your release. You’re free now. This is my gift to you.

Dr. Blooms leaves Sax to his fate.

Sax

(faintly)

But I wanted to live. I wanted to live.

Fades to black