I started writing down a concept idea and feeding off the objective to explore.

I wrote down different themes,scenarios, emotions that relate towards my dance journey.

The main concept is my journey of finding my inner confidence through dance. With this, I established a title name ‘the blossom effect’ - the ability to grow within and shine outside, despite the setbacks and challenges.

• A tripod for angles and capturing footage.

• Flash drive for all content to help with storage.

• A wired microphone, for natural sound effects.

• (From home) Fish eye lens for creating material, captures the essence for the time period with social media trends etc.

I listened to the set audio cut and had to separate different movement/acting with timestamps in sections. This is to make sure I can change and implement scenes in different sections whilst editing and connect my concept towards the music. Allowing me to have an overview of the overall idea analysis and vision on paper.

• I used 0:35-1:06 scene plan for imagery play. Different objects/items I owned. Improv moments to showcase “in my own world” outlet to release frustration.

• FISH EYE LENS - was a trend around the time period. Elevates the realistic effect of playing my younger self.

I wanted to make a more realistic impact including the atmosphere I was surrounded by at the time.

Mainly outside to use in my film and edit for outside scenes.

DIY sound effects

In this scene. I express the use of imagery to enter back into a daydream filled with negative thoughts.

The choreography represents getting in touch with dance (safe outlet) to express fighting for myself and saying no to self doubt.

The use of repetition in my rehearsals helped me identify what movement worked best with the music. Picking out different moments of feeling or syncopation/beats contrasting throughout.

I started to play around and pick different material I liked incorporating into two sections of my routine.

In this scene, a dream occurs of self doubt and negative words/experiences.

A nightmare perspective

Brainstorming the use of levels, dynamics and playing with props.

Dreamscape part 1

I enter a nightmare perspective in my dream, based off experiences as my younger self.

With life struggles and lack of self confidence, negative thoughts cloud my head and turn into reality in my dream. Trying to battle through but not strong enough I wake up…

• use of levels and dynamics with props to enhance emotion of struggle.

• Po stick note represent negative words/thoughts.

- equipment: tripod and ring light

I used editing effects such as blur to create the fog effect. Trying to figure out fake or reality in a dream state.

Flashing jumpcut effects for atmosphere trying to break free from nightmare.

Zoom in effect for intro, entering dream narrative.

A transition from my bedroom door into the studio.

Entering a daydream back into the negative headspace.

My thoughts are chasing me and represent the struggle of not being able to escape.

I’m reminded by past experiences, negative words through po stick notes on the floor.

Throughout the scene, I find the courage to fight back through dance (safe outlet) to escape.

A contrast of past and future self ( a stronger version of myself) jump cut through towards the end and I see another note.

I’m left with question of the blossom effect?

A foreshadow moment on what’s next to come…

• Use of tripod, ring light, po stick notes

Filming with another person for different angles.

The use of change of directions and levels showcase the emotion throughout.

Researching Martha Graham helped my understand the use of core strength and focus on this for control and balance. As I'm balancing an injury in my creative process, my technique is hindered but relaying back to how control is implemented through dance is beneficial.

Representing struggle but the courage comes within fighting for “my blood”.

Camera editing effects for dramatic moment, indulging in negative environment taking over.

Flashing, blur effect, reverse effects, high saturation glitch effects.

High view shot

We had an evening sharing our film process so far as a collective.

This was to gain feedback from peers to help add or change our ideas and enhance our projects.

I found this night beneficial as my main objective for my film was for it to make sense. Each storyline/scene blending into one, with the use of a continuous prop being the key element stringing each scene together. Having this feedback early on in my project is very helpful to achieve this goal.

“Very detailed well done”

“Obsessed with the fish eye lens”

The main feedback was that there was a lot of detail incorporated into my storyline. This makes me feel like i’m in a good place with my creative process. However there was an idea that I shouldn’t use the po stick notes, but I had to keep this idea for narrative purposes in order for the storyline to make sense.

Scene shot in media city/lake area

• focusing on high views/sunny pathways etc.

  Last shot:

• Flower garden

  Receiving the blossom effect note.

• Entering a new era of blossoming in my highest version of myself.

In doing so, breaking this down in timestamps benefited the creative process of developing camera shots/transitions and intention.

The opening of this scene inspired the intention I wanted to explore in my opening scene. Representing fear and self doubt in a bad dream, the constant worry and thoughts of not being good enough. The short film explores the anxiety of acceptance, hiding from reality and closing into self doubt.

Choice of music:

The use of spoken speech and background song blending together. Reflected well onto how the feeling of pain and sadness feeds through the scene. I wanted to recreate my own version of this to implement into dreamscape.

I resonated with this song as I wanted an aura that took me back in time. A younger era of playful elements but with authenticity feeling. That's what I feel this song represents in my scene, dancing for an escape against reality (negative thoughts) but the chase continues...

I stumbled across a German dancer and choreographer called Pina Bausch, who’s work caught my eye instantly. Her work flows through her theatre company “Tanztheater” as she incorporates a mixture of ballet, contemporary and folk.

“Bausch’s work is characterised by its powerful emotional impact and raw authenticity, fearless experimentation” (Blume, 2023).

Her intention is a key element I want to implement to my choreography and creating process. As the feeling matters most for the story line to keep blending and making sense.

As for her movement, her use of techniques come to play as improvisation is vital to her process.

This is an element I implemented into my creating choreography process. Playing around with the music and feeding onto unique qualities towards the scene. The importance of experimenting new ways of forming natural emotion into spoken modern dance.

Her use of space and environment is key as she creates a picture with the use of levels and connection. The imagery flows through which is another element that is beneficial for my film project.

Making the audience feel the authenticity and emotion of the journey in my film.

The graham technique: is the use of contraction and release within movement as well as involving floor work. It focuses on breath control and movement.

How can I expand my control and balance, whilst executing aesthetically pleasing movement for film.

Doing some research on her work, the use of breath to enhance control stands out the most.

It makes a movement have the resistance and control needed for an aesthetic effect. I felt the control of engaging the core should be used in my choreography.

With my current injury, my execution has been limited. Workshopping different movement, but implementing intention towards the technique, would help with overcoming the challenge of the “perfect” execution. As the upper body being involved more can highlight other movement elements that stand out.

A transition to my older self.

The blossom effect journey of reaching elements of my highest self. Ready to claim my inner confidence and stirring away from doubt.

The start of the scene starts with taking a walk/normal day. I’m listening to music as my older self getting engaged with the lyrics. It reminds me of self doubt and I take a stand with dance.

The choice of environment elevates the essence of confidence as I lose myself in open spaces. Whereas my younger self stayed content inside with the negativity.

The use of sunlight camera shots shows the contrast between negativity (darker environment) glow of my highest self coming through and wanting to claim that confidence.

Towards the end of a series improv is showing through as a collection of scenes. This is a moment exploring my higher self, lost in the movement and embracing dance outside my comfort zone.

The end scene: the last camera shot conveys the meaning of the blossom effect.

Growth in my dance journey.

Finding my inner confidence.

In that moment, I find the note and suddenly realise the true meaning and what’s next to come…

The use of visualisation in descriptive planning and images helped with the authenticity. Using Pina Bausch approach, I explored the feeling of content and control in my improv. Having a one intent with my movement, exploring and feeling confident. Including a mixture of contrast(slow/fast), motif and augmentation to my choreography.

Props:

Po stick notes

Equipment used:

Tripod

Filming process:

Filming this scene, we adventured around media city. Finding different landscapes/views to showcase the purity of letting go of fear and having confidence to dance outside.

Filming with a friend for angles, we figured transitions would come together whilst playing with the choreography in the space.

YELLOW - Brainstorming

GREEN - Creative brief/additional sharing's

RED- Scene recaps/filming

BLUE - creative process/film planning

PURPLE - Pioneers/inspiration