5 favourite depicT! tasks.

5 Favorite Depict tasks

For our assignment we have to create a short film, in the style of a long running competition called DepicT!. So to begin with, we were to research the depict style, by watching several of the past entries. These five were my favorites, some of them being genuinely interesting and some giving me an idea of what I would like to create.

Depict Videos.

You died, https://www.depict.org/2019/you-died/?category_request=2019
TV movie https://www.depict.org/2009/a-tv-movie/?category_request=picks
Alices Adventures in wonderland https://www.depict.org/2009/alice%e2%80%99s-adventures-in-wonderland/?category_request=2009
Last Minute - https://www.depict.org/2009/last-minute/
Disillusionment of ten word fonts https://www.depict.org/2018/disillusionment-of-10-point-font/?category_request=2018

YOU DIED.

This video appealed to me through it's narrative story line, having both an interesting concept and made good use of a humorous cyclical structure, Exposition is unsubtle, but in this short film it appears to work, being a comedic element of the piece and a major theme. The animation, and distorted bodies of the people in the film is well flowing and seems to add more to the mocking serious nature of the film. The tone changes at the end of the film, adding a sort of horror element that would not be otherwise there. Unfortunately there is not much to be said about the lighting and the camera, as it was a animation, but the lack of color does add an element of surreality, further adding to the idea that the video shouldn't be taken literally. The editing flows nicely, not really having any major cuts or blackouts. I particularly enjoyed the ending backwards flow, it was clean and neatly done.

TV MOVIE

This video appealed to me due to it's creative idea and excellent execution. I'd never seen something that created both a moral, exposition and a ironic story line that much. It's animation is interesting, though once again it is difficult to pick up lighting and sound tips from the video. In fact, this was something I enjoyed watching rather than something that gave me any ideas about what type of movie to create. This was because I believe moral objectives are hard to create in 90 seconds and that anything of mine would pale in comparison to this. Saying this, I do like the sound of having an overall theme, rather than a moral and I believe this movie contributed to that.

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.

This video appealed to me because of it's concept. I thought it was a nice play on the words by the title based off Lewis Carrol, and off one of the theories that can be gleamed from his original works. Despite this, there is little plagiarism, which is inspiring to say the least. I however have no intention of doing something similar with another text, I feel my execution would be clumsy, perhaps an insult to the original text. I do enjoy looking at the themes within the piece, though they are perhaps controversial, I think they would be interesting to try and create a piece from. The use of the camera and editing is also worth noting, seeing as it makes such a large part of the film. The use of many shots helps to convey the crazy atmosphere but the varying lengths help add to the dreamlike atmosphere that both the plot and the camera create. I think that for my idea, I would like to do it on something with deep themes, and a lot of cuts, an editing and filming style similar to this one.

LAST MINUTE

This video appealed to me, because of it's direct contrast. The film depicts the breaking up of a marriage between two people and is done in an interesting way. The topic, or the concept is fairly basic; containing little creative influence. Except in the filming. Most of it is done in a straight on, medium close up shot, connoting no intimacy or distance. Just boredom and normality, as this is a natural occurrence, unlike many of the other previously described. I find the lighting changes based on the mood and that the music is continuous through most of it. I particularly enjoyed the use of the music, as it creates an almost happy upbeat feel which directly contrasted the themes of the piece. It also adds to the speed of each cut and the tense silence that both the audience and the characters feel when it stops.

DISILLUSIONMENT OF TEN WORD FONTS

This video appealed to me due to it's fun and wacky concept. I rather enjoyed the use of animation, though not much can be said about it's lighting and camera. The title is also interesting, since it both relates to the title and doesn't relate at the same time. I think that this was a wonderfully executed idea and it gave me the idea of basing my Depict off of a definition, since the video plays off of literal definitions of words. This video was probably my favorite out of all of the ones I have listed so far, seeing as it is such an interesting concept and gave me the idea for many of my own depicts.