'Calling Forth' - Film Poem by Ellana Simpson https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem Concepts, planning and delivery of my film poem. en-us 2023-02-17 16:04:46 UTC 2023-05-08 09:55:13 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f54a.png Hope - Emily Elizabeth Dickinson up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487133203
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
]]> 2023-02-18 14:52:22 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487133203 Poem's Context up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487139923 To understand the themes and metaphors of Hope, I've read an analysis of the poem as well as some context about Dickinson herself.

Dickinson isolated herself in her family home, rarely venturing outside as she spent the majority of her time writing poetry. This poem shows how she thought hope was everywhere, especially in tough times. She loved birds so creating an extended metaphor between hope and birds was natural.

Source: https://owlcation.com/humanities/Analysis-of-Poem-Hope-Is-The-Thing-With-Feathers-by-Emily-Dickinson]]> 2023-02-18 15:06:59 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487139923 Initial Concept up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487159088 A woman, depicting Dickinson, is in her study during the early morning, the room only lit by a lamp on her desk where she sits, and the glimpse of sunlight through the window. She appears to have been writing poetry for a while, with crumpled paper all around her. Quill in hand, the woman is still writing, seemingly having a tough time coming up with anything.

The morning sun starts to hit her and her work, and birds begin chirping, causing her to look out the window. The birds flying by cast shadows on the study, and the woman is filled with inspiration and hope. She continues writing, and this time it's Hope, with a narration of the extract.
(Ending TBD)]]> 2023-02-18 15:56:03 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487159088 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168559 2023-02-18 16:20:22 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168559 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168613 2023-02-18 16:20:30 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168613 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168753 2023-02-18 16:20:53 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168753 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168814 2023-02-18 16:21:01 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168814 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168837 2023-02-18 16:21:06 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168837 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168913 2023-02-18 16:21:17 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168913 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168975 2023-02-18 16:21:26 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487168975 Title Ideas up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487172808 Calling Forth - To call something into action, like the outcome of feeling hopeful. Also referring to a bird 'call'.]]> 2023-02-18 16:31:59 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487172808 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487173335 2023-02-18 16:33:23 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2487173335 Emily E. Dickinson up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2539588549 Biblio - 'Emily Dickinson, a profile of the secret poet' (2011): https://www.biblio.com/blog/2011/03/author-profile-emily-dickinson/#

Plant Talk - 'Emily Dickinson’s White Dress' (2010): https://www.nybg.org/blogs/plant-talk/2010/06/exhibit-news/emily-dickinson%E2%80%99s-white-dress/]]> 2023-03-31 08:17:26 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2539588549 Film up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2539598771 Francis Vinu - 'Lockdown' (2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw-FcDdxSU8

Paul Wheeler - 'Digital Cinematography' (2001): https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/portsmouth-ebooks/reader.action?docID=296709&ppg=20]]> 2023-03-31 08:28:16 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2539598771 'Emily' up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542002123 The protagonist, and only character in 'Calling Forth' is Emily. She is a rendition of the source poem's writer, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson.]]> 2023-04-03 09:19:54 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542002123 Clothing Inspiration up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542007427 “A step like a pattering child’s in entry & in glided a little plain woman with two smooth bands of reddish hair . . . in a very plain & exquisitely white pique & a blue net worsted shawl.” (Higginson, 1870)

Although not much is known about Dickinson's clothing, Thomas Wentworth Higginson's description of a white housedress and a blue shawl is believed to be about her. This dress is the only surviving garment thought to be owned by Dickinson - rarely changing into a day dress or visiting clothes - it's like today's sweatpants and t-shirt.]]> 2023-04-03 09:26:58 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542007427 Costume Moodboard up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542030621 2023-04-03 09:59:04 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542030621 Synopsis up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542131279 Anything Emily writes feels incomplete and terrible. Isolated in her study, she finally gives up, but right as she does, the smallest of things show her that hope is always there.]]> 2023-04-03 12:10:23 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2542131279 Camera up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2554370764 Sony PXW-FS7 6 Lens Kit
Samyang 100mm f2.8 Macro Lens]]> 2023-04-14 09:53:20 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2554370764 Lighting up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2554370838 Kino Flo Freestyle
Basic Gel Kit]]> 2023-04-14 09:53:26 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2554370838 Accessories up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2554371580 Wally Dolly Complete Kit
ARRI Small 7kg Sandbag
C-Stand
Clapper Board
Haze Machine
Studio Flats
Bird Gobos]]> 2023-04-14 09:54:27 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2554371580 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581683436 I used this image as a reference to colour grade scene 1. The tone of blue in the image and the light source present a similar isolating feeling to what I intend with this part of my film.]]> 2023-05-08 07:39:24 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581683436 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581686532 https://youtu.be/id9y722hPWI]]> 2023-05-08 07:42:02 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581686532 Storyboard 1 (Scene 1) up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581704275 2023-05-08 07:58:02 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581704275 Storyboard 2 (Scene 2) up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581704788 2023-05-08 07:58:35 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581704788 Storyboard 3 (Scene 2) up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581704850 2023-05-08 07:58:40 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581704850 Music up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581724251 The following music was used for this project:
Music: Inspiring Noir Piano Waltz by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8785-inspiring-noir-piano-waltz
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

I wanted a chaotic yet fitting within the suggested time period (around the 1860s). Switching to only ambient sound in Scene 2 makes the viewer, and Emily, slow down and connect more to the surroundings. This creates more contrast with Scene 1, in which the music adds to the rapid pace. It makes you focus on the natural sounds, including the bird songs and flapping of wings that act as encouragement for the character.
]]> 2023-05-08 08:17:16 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581724251 Foley up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581726062 As there was no dialogue in the film, only a voice-over narration, I decided to record Foley instead of recording audio on set.

I made note of all the sounds in the film, and recorded the Foley while watching the action. This helped a huge amount when editing it in, as I didn't have to spend a lot of time adjusting the timings of what I had recorded. I used the same process to do the voice-over.

I decided to use pre-recorded audio I found online for the bird calls and wings, as I was unsuccessful at recording this audio so that it was clean and sounded natural.]]> 2023-05-08 08:19:03 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581726062 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581740568 2023-05-08 08:33:51 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581740568 Colour Grading up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581744245 I used DaVinci Resolve Studio to colour grade. This is because I am quite familiar with the interface and could work with the .MXF files I had.

Scene 1:
I wanted to present a night-time scene with lighting motivation from moonlight. Real moonlight is around the same colour temperature as sunlight, however, it's often shown as blue in American/British cinema (Wheeler, Paul. 2001). So, I decided to heighten the blue hues in the gain and gamma while keeping the warm rim light on Emily subtle but visible via the lift and red curves. I upped the contrast and lowered the gain significantly to make the lighting feel harsher. 

Scene 2:
Completely different from the previous scene, I wanted a softer, brighter, more cheerful atmosphere. To achieve this, I balanced the levels but brought up the gamma slightly to make the image brighter overall. I increased the yellow-orange hue in the lift and gamma in order to make the light appear more like morning sunlight, giving the scene a golden wash. 

Shadows cast by sunlight often appear slightly blue (Wheeler, Paul. 2001), so I increased the blue tones slightly in the gain and shadows to make it feel natural. This also helped to add a bit more contrast via colour.]]> 2023-05-08 08:37:30 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581744245 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581800160 2023-05-08 09:34:04 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581800160 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581800466 2023-05-08 09:34:20 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581800466 up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581800731 2023-05-08 09:34:35 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581800731 Bird Gobos up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581802944 These were attached to skewers and moved across the front of the key light to make it look as though birds were flying outside the window. ]]> 2023-05-08 09:37:04 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581802944 Set Dressing Props up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581805926 Old books from the library; and specifically printed book covers of books Emily Dickinson was known to read.
Shawl
Table
Chair
Tablecloth
Pieces of paper
Yarn-wrapped letters
Quill; pen
Pen/ink pot
Framed illustrated portrait]]> 2023-05-08 09:40:42 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581805926 Final Concept up2064435 https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581807715 A woman, depicting Dickinson, is in her study during the late evening, the room only lit by the moonlight through the window, and a dim light from inside the room. She appears to have been writing poetry for a while, with crumpled paper all around her. Pen in hand, the woman is still writing, seemingly having a tough time coming up with anything. She walks away from her work in frustration.

The morning sun starts to hit her as she lay on the floor, seemingly exhausted from the night before. She's awoken by the birds chirping outside. She decides to look out the window as the birds flying by cast shadows on her and the study, filling Emily with inspiration and hope. She picks up her quill and continues writing, and this time it's Hope, with a narration of the extract. 

Satisfied with her work, she exits the room with a letter and more birds fly past.]]> 2023-05-08 09:42:54 UTC https://padlet.com/up2064435/esimpsonfilmpoem/wish/2581807715