Thoughts on Narative-- an experimental viewing experience....

I was thinking about the storytelling process and the roll of the editor in a traditional linear single channel film or video. The editing leads the viewer through the story. The editor decides what the viewer will see. Consider a scene in which two characters are having a conversation: We could see person A, person B, or both in the same frame. The editor can emphasize elements of the conversation by focussing on one person or the other. Do we focus on the person who is speaking? Do we focus on the reactions of the person who is listening? When do we show the reaction? When do we show the speaker? When do we show both characters in the same frame? It depends on what the editor chooses to emphasize. A particular reaction to the speaker's words? A close up? Or a wide shot in which the viewer can see both?

I was thinking about the possibility of handing the editing roll to the viewer, involving the viewer in the experience in a more immersive way....

What if the viewers (audience) were in the middle, deciding for themselves who to watch? How would I give the editing process over to the viewers, allowing a participatory roll in the video experience, rather than a passive roll?....

A dual channel video production...  Two screens, on opposite walls, the viewers (audience) in the middle....

On each screen, the characters would have their conversation, uncut, displayed simultaneously. The viewers, positioned in between the two screens would then decide who they should look at. In this case, the viewer 'becomes' the 'editor'.

I would place the screens on opposite walls, with the audience in between. Sitting in between the two screens, the viewer would only be able to see one character at a time, but would have an active choice as to which character to look at.

In this way, the audience becomes part of the editing process. Each viewer would have to decide for themselves when to 'cut' (by turning to look at the opposite wall).

Project 1: Time (proposal)

Here's what I have so far for the 'time' project...

I'm working on some time lapse footage, shooting with my Canon Powershot SD750. The resolution is set at 640x480. Frame rates are either 1 frame every 1 second, or 1 frame every 2 seconds.

I will also use my Canon HV30 high definition camcorder for some shots. I'll set the camcorder to standard DV 640x480, 30 frames per second.

The footage will be combined in Final Cut Pro. Shots with a green screen background will be superimposed on various shots from the time lapse footage and the standard footage.

The sound will be voiceover (and music), and some sound effects recorded separately.

Titles on a black frame will separate each sequence.

“TIME”

Script:

-(voice over)- 

Time passes slowly.

As I wait.

I count the seconds.

Time to get going.

Time speeds by.

It’s moving so fast.

Trying to keep up.

Stuck. Move on.

Time just gets away.

The secret of youth.

Forgotten.

Time is illusion.

Shot List:

Title - “Waiting”

Me staring into space, waiting.

Close of my fingers, thumping...

Close up of clock, ticking. Tic, tic...

Me staring into space, waiting.

Title - “Morning”

Close up of alarm going off.

Close up of me waking up.

Close up of putting on a shoe.

Me looking up, look toward the clock.

-(time lapse)- Medium shot, the clock moving fast.

Close up of putting on the other shoe, starting to tie it.

-(green screen)- Wide shot of me leaning out of the bottom of the frame to tie my shoe. My face is in the bottom of frame as I tie my shoe. 

-(background shots)- The wall behind me. -(dissolve to)...

-(background shots)- (time lapse)- Close up the clock, moving fast.

Title - “Going”

-(time lapse)- Extreme close up of the hands of the clock moving fast.

-(green screen)- (HANDHELD SHOT.) Wide shot of me looking up, face still at the bottom of frame. As I look around, I seem bewildered by what is going on around me as time speeds by in the background.

-(background shots)- (time lapse)- The view behind me as I get up, move through the hall and out the  front door, to the car, getting in the car...

-(time lapse)- (POV SHOT)- Time speeds by as we drive away.

-(green screen)- (HANDHELD SHOT.) Wide shot of me looking forward, face still at the bottom of frame. As I look around, driving the car, I am intently focussed and scared as time speeds by in the background.

-(background shots)- (time lapse)- View looking out the back of the car as I drive down the road.

Title - “Secret”

-(time lapse)- (POV SHOT)- Time speeds by as people move around the scene.

-(green screen)- Close up of me as I sit, stunned and slow.

-(background shots)- (time lapse)- View from the other direction as people move around in the background.

-(time lapse)- (POV SHOT)- Time speeds by as people move around the scene.

-(green screen)- Close up of me as I sit, girl approaches from behind and whispers something in my ear.

-(background shots)- The background freezes.

-(green screen)- Girl smiles as I open my eyes, aware.