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I've always been fascinated by sound, and its subtle intricacies woven into cinema. I'm curious as to how I can utilize this in creating emotion in a scene, I believe its one of the strongest tools in a filmmakers kit.

For my own better understanding, I thought it best to start my research with a viewing of Sound of Metal which was nominated for Best Sound at the Academy Awards.

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R+D first session - Post Graduate students discussion.

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R+D first session - Post Graduate students discussion.

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My first session was hosted by a group of Post Graduate students, they each shared their own independent research studies and where their research has taken them. For instance, what one student started as a study of uniforms became a research question of pre determined roles in society. This led to her conducting an experiment where she wrote pages and pages of writing with her left hand, to try and challenge the social idea that you are meant to be categorized.

The other student - Frankie, shared his website where I found out more about his journey into graphic design and how his passions led him to create his projects. He discussed how research was influential in his war stories project, where he interviewed people who witnessed modern conflicts from different perspectives.

After listening to the pair of students, I asked them if there was a right way of conducting research. This was their response. "There is no wrong way of researching, we have a very surface level understanding of the term research, we can define it in how it best serves us, whether that's interviews, visiting sites and locations or reading up on history."

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Reflecting on the students methods of research, experimenting and interviewing, I realized I needed to get more involved with my passion and how I can utilize the tools of sound and performance to tell meaningful stories.

For instance I can experiment with sound recording and mixing. Taking a variety of everyday sounds and seeing how I can twist them into something new, furthermore I can test these sounds to gage what feeling each sound has.

Another way I can conduct research is using my own sound equipment to pursue a documentary style film. Here I could use real stories to empower a stronger overall message.

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R+D session 2 "Don't start a studio, start a _____"

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R+D session 2 "Don't start a studio, start a _____"

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For this session, we had 3 graphic designers discuss their paths and how they got to where they are. The similarity between the 3 of them was that they all started by not knowing how they would use their skills. But after considering their own personal beliefs and what they were passionate about, they were able to shape their connections and skills into a working practice.

So if not a studio, start what? Start a NETWORK.

Once you have a network of people you can rely on, you will then be able to make things happen. For instance, Sarah felt passionate about volunteering and performance, she used her network to produce a series of performances in derelict areas of London to highlight the issues of abandoned structures and homelessness.

One lecturer spoke to us about different modern business structures, which included the limited company - which was illustrated with a triangle to represent the deliberately unequal model. I was familiar with this hierarchy, and I believed the only other way I could work was as a solo practitioner.

But, as they explained I discovered there were other ways - such as the co-op model. A team of around 4-8 freelancers working in tandem. In this model, every one is treated equally. The roles are shared around and so are the rewards.

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With this business model, there is more democratic control with everyone under voluntary and open membership. There is equality in the workplace and together we can challenge the dominant narratives in todays culture.

I believe that a co-op business model benefits the kind of films I want to make, I can team up with other creatives in a similar field and work collectively in challenging the way stories are told. A way I could do this is by potentially forming a studio.

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In this film, the protagonist "goes through a health crisis that forces him to grow in unexpected ways". The director recognizes the significance of sound in this story, so it goes to show how even the slightest vibrations can be used to emotionally enhance a scene, a sonic device that communicates to the audience that he is deaf.

One scene that stuck out to me was when Ruben went to check on one of the deaf school children who was sulking on a metal slide. Ruben tries to cheer him up by showing him his drumming skills, he does this by feeling the vibrations through the slide. The audience can hear the muffled taps and metallic hums, but this is supported with the imagery of two deaf individuals at different points in their life, a helping hand reaching out to a weary child.

I was emotionally invested in the film, it made me understand that sound can be used as a storytelling device - in more ways than just silence. I want to find a way to create a sonic journey, to compliment a compelling story.

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From start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing experience of Seaspiracy. Not only was it riveting, but it unveiled such issues as the inhumane slaughter of animals, the exploitation of workers, the deforestation of the ocean floor and the lack of government oversight and regulations.

I now feel like I want to make a documentary on the significance of sound and vibration in deaf or hearing deficient people. That way I can explore something that can potentially be healing and helpful for people, but also I can explore the sonic world and learn more on my journey through sound.

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This session was a zoom call, where the speaker discussed how our creative voices were significant.

"Creativity can be political!"

This made me feel like I could take a different approach to film making, in that I could research real world issues with voices that need to be heard.

During the lecture, we were recommended to watch such documentaries as Cowspiracy, Kiss the Ground and Seaspiracy.

I decided to watch Seaspiracy to see how influential documentary storytelling can be.