Written Proposal

Maral Minassian
Parsons - MFADT - Thesis
Instructors: Christopher Kirwan, Ethan Silverman
Written Proposal | 10.28.08


Date of Experiment: Thursday October 30, 2008
Location: 10th floor lab
Time: 8:00-9:00 pm
Partner: Edwardo


Attendees:
1. Name: Ted Byfield
Review of experiential prototype and provide feedback.

2. Name: Subalekha Udayashankar
Review of experiential prototype and provide feedback.

3. Name: Claudio Midolo
Review of experiential prototype and provide feedback.

Experiment:
My experiment will consist of the last 3 major prototypes I had prepared. I will show these in the classroom by projecting on the screen. I will show the films in order, starting with the very first experiment: the one in which Erbol is narrating, followed by Zarina’s testimonial and finally my own narration of the story.

Besides my 2 peers, I am going to ask Ted Byfield to be one of the participants. That will require me to do one of the tests at another time than the one assigned because Ted is only in the lab at limited hours. In this case, I will show the films on my own screen because I will not have a room and hence a screen available.

I will document my colleagues’ input and reactions and take notes. However in Ted’s case things are going to be different since he refuses to be on film. I will only have an audio recording of his feedback on my project.


Ted Byfield - Comments:
















* Precise and define the setting - the environment cannot just be 'anywhere' = it looks like the parsons hallway.
* Parsons hallway looks like insane asylum, but it is clear it is not a Kyrgyzstani asylum, it is too clean = important for audience to relate.
* If this were the house of a heroine trafficker, the faucet should be gold...
* Script is too literal, it should be subtle.
* Erbol should not reveal what he does: few words more action.
* Shouldn't be multiple frames.
* Don't show someone going mad, it is cliché and hard to succeed at.
* Have dramatizing artifacts like a family picture with a hole at Erbol's face = we never get to see him at all.
* Or a very bad picture of Erbol.
* Don't be straightforward. Imagine a scene. Maybe story told from ONE person who is really afraid of Erbol.


Claudio Midolo - Comments:




















* Very expressive and powerful (the images are more powerful than the words).
* The camera rotation is very strong = it shows the disequilibrium of an insane person.
* Great to have multiple frames in the screen layout because it implies the layering of several points of view...
* The frames also create a kind of hierarchy (the more important events in bigger frames for instance etc)
















* The frames also give the audience time to think of the elements.
* It is good that there are no transitions, it makes the whole thing stronger.
* The screams are very effective.
* The use of Bach's music shows a sort of combination between 'divine and death' fighting together.
















* The mixed text connects to the disequilibrium and insanity of the mother.
* However some of the text at the beginning should be a bit clearer for the audience to understand some of the facts.



Subalekha Udayashankar - Comments:
















* Would not know how the 3 points of view are working together and would not have guessed had you not explained to me - careful at that.
* So basically the 3 narrations are not linked and are not connected.
* Very emotional, feel very touched - very strong.
* It is different from traditional narratives.

















* Good use of audio and visual expressions to communicate feelings.
* Great to come back to NY in the 3d film - shows the reality of Maral's location.
* Refine the shots.