Image - Dirty Dancing

I couldn't obtain a high quality image of the dirty dancing lift....so decided to attempt it myself, with a bit of help! Ok, so I couldn't find someone strong enough to do it on there own, but three people later we got it. I intend of using my silhouette to draw and create a crafted piece.

Image - Posters as a series

The final printed image resolution

Image - Thriller final images

Image - Photographing the Grande Theatre

I decided on the direction of my images, considering the range of media within my chosen 

The chosen dances within the media I chose to craft all differentiate in where they are seen, for instance 'Thriller' was in a music video, 'Flashdance' within film. I decided a brilliant direction for my images, considering the style of them, would to use them for cinema. I intend on mocking up the Grande Theatre front to hold the range of posters i'm designing.

Image - Crafting Thriller sequence

I began looking into the images from my context blog, trying to find the easiest images to draw, which were also the most iconic from the Thriller dance. I decided on the two below, I began my crafting templates, as I wanted a four move sequence of repeated moves, in different directions. It was easiest to create templates to draw around, reverse, and draw again.

The below image is the finished crafted piece.

How I intend the structure to stand, to then be photographed.

Image - Flashdance

The video in which the famous Bucket drop scene comes from. 

My idea was to recreate the famous bucket drop scene, using tissue paper to re-create raindrop (representing the water poured) and a silhouette of the main character draped on a chair. The rain drops have been dotted along a string of thread, in which the character has been placed at the bottom. The image is flat, other than the raised drops, and was simply stuck on a wall to be photographed.

Final Image

Final edited image

I didn't think the initial photograph has enough drama and impact, the scene in which this is shot, is a very dark, flashy nightclub. This needed to be evoked through the image, so I made a few brightness and contrast adjustments to give it this 'tone'.

Image - Black swan - Photographs 2

Using a Digital SLR I managed to achieve better quality images, I had more of an idea of what I wanted to do and avoid, considering how my images looked after the first photoshoot.


I decided against having an subject matter, as it complicated the simplicity and focus of the mask. Instead I have photographed the mask against a plain white back drop, feeling it has more of an impact.

Image - Black swan mask - Initial photographs

Some initial images with my awful digital camera. I initially wanted a subject matter, to be able to represent the actor who becomes the black swan, mimicking her makeup and use of red contacts within the film, which echo's the madness which ensues her. The image below is ok, but not brilliant. I will possibly try again, but feel will end up simply photographing the mask against a plain background, as shown in the bottom photograph, I feel it has more of an impact.

Image - Action Plan

1. Sketchbook - Ideas, how the paper media will be presented and photographed
2. Scan in images - Produce Mock ups
3. Buy - All materials which will be needed
4. Context - Find examples of what I want to do
5. Construct
6. Photograph
7. Blog
8. Create portfolio case
9. Print

Image - Chosen dance's to paper craft

From the research conducted I have came to the conclusion to use dances which were most mentioned and easiest for me to pape rcraft in one form or another.

Michael Jackson - Thriller

Dirty dancing - lift

Flash Dance - Bucket of water drop

Save the last dance - Ballerina

Black Swan

Some images to illustrate the chosen dances:

Image - Dance within Film and Video

Taking screenshots of famous and iconic 'moves' within film and video. 


Michael Jackson - Thriller

Bill Elliot 

Image - Re-creating film / stage sets

http://zapfino.deviantart.com/art/KILLER-JOE-stage-model-115642324

I could possibly recreate a stage set, although a Billy Elliot scene, to photograph his iconic moves or leap in the street (seen on DVD covers)

Image - Dances in relation to the media (i can think of)

Flashdance
Grease
Step up
Maccarina
DJ Caspa - Cha Cha
Dirty Dancing
Moonwalk
Solja Boy - Superman
Thriller
Singing in the rain
Billy Elliot
Single Ladies
Spice girls - Stop right now
Step - Tragedy 
Fat Boy Slim - Weapon Of Choice
Cheryl Cole - Fight for this love
LMFAO - Shuffling
Flo - Rida - Low
Agodoo
Hokey Cokey
Pulp Fiction
Wixard of Oz - Yellow brick road 
Saturday Night fever - Stayin Alive
Full Monty
Time Warp
Inbetweeners

Image - Self initiated brief - Questionnaire

To get an idea about what dances, and dances within film are most well known and popular, I felt a questionnaire was most appropriate. As there are a good amount of dance films out there, I can't physically create imagery for each in the given time, so by finding the most well known, I can engage with a larger audience, by providing imagery for the most popular.


The survey created:


- Can you name any dance films? Please list...


- What routines / moves can you think of which are associated or have come from films?


- Can you recreate any moves / routines within dance films? If so, which?


- Which dance film do you feel is the most iconic, and why?


Survey here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2XJKSL8




Results:

Can you name any dance films? Please list...

1. Saturday Night Fever Pulp Fiction Bande à part
2. Honey save the last dance 
3. step up, billy elliot, centre stage
4. yes i used to be in oliver twist when, i was about 3 months old, sorry i meant years. then when i lost my voice i had to move away and start making much more nicer films, like all dogs go to heaven where all the dogs die and go to heaven. it is really sad and i cried loads, lol. then they said i was too old to be an actor and i had to start doing adverts, you know the pg tips one, that was me in that.
5. Dances with Wolves. Great film and they best bit is when the wolf dances when ripping into that mans face actually im thinking of the film "The Grey" the wolves don't dance in that im pretty sure they kill about 6 people. 
6. Step Up Dirty Dancing Flash Dance
7. grease, dirty dancing, step up.

What routines / moves can you think of which are associated or have come from films?

1. Lots of street dance move
2. The Watusi The Twist El Dorado The Batusi The Swim The Plunge Patented John Travolta Hip Thrust and Pointing Upwards 
3. can't think of any
4. The robot
5. the inbetweeners dance.
6. Time Warp (RHPS) The Dirty Dancing lift!

Can you recreate any moves / routines within dance films? If so, which?

1. nope

2. nope

3. The Twist The Batusi The Swim The Plunge Patented John Travolta Hip Thrust and Pointing Upwards (TM)
4. Time Warp (particularly well when drunk)
5. Inbetweeners

Which dance film do you feel is the most iconic, and why?

1. Can't think of any
2. Don't know
3. As a film about dancing in itself, Saturday Night Fever is hugely iconic and a great piece of work, unlike it's commercialised imitators that cut out any of the darkness from 'Fever'. It goes at great length to show how ugly and horrible the world Tony lives in, the violence and the destructive behaviour of himself within it and essentially that's why he dances, to escape it.
4. the dirty dancing one where he lifts her up in the air, people have done this dance move at their wedding etc and people always remember the film for it
5. For me time warp- it's completely original, unique and zany- plus, probably the easiest to do- it tells you exactly how to do, so no excuses

Image - The written brief - Self initiated brief

The brief:


To create a craft and photography directed book relating to the topic of dance within the media - providing the nets for readers to construct the hand crafted elements. Possibly aimed to sell at the book fair.


Considerations:


How am I going to communicate this?
What methods of research will I undertake?
Look at nets - How are you going to make these removable?


Practical Considerations:


What stock / media am I going to use?
Whats the best, most precise and most practical approach to paper craft? Laser Cutting?
What size will I work to?


Background:


Dance within films
Which are the most popular and well known?
Dance moves which are best known and 'do-able'?
Which book binding would be most appropriate?


Mandatory Requirements:


Sketchbook
Context Blog
Mock Ups
Photographs


Deliverables:


A photographic, informative, dance directed book.

Image - Self initiated Brief

BRIEF (What is the problem you intend to solve?)

To create an informative picture book showing a range of 2d, to 3d, to 2d images relating to the topic of dance within films. It will provide cut out nets for reader to be able to produce the same resolutions.


WHO NEEDS TO KNOW? (Who is your audience? BE CONCISE)

My printed media will be aimed at a young audience, who are either dancers  love to dance, or want to know know more about it - Possibly those between the ages of 16 - 25.


WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW? (BE CLEAR & SPECIFIC)

Visual information and imagery will provide an insight into the world of dance

WHY DO THEY NEED TO KNOW?

To be informed and made interested by dance and its culture.


WHAT WILL THEY RESPOND TO?

I will show 2d, to 3d, to 2d crafted work, photography and nets which can be cut out to re-mark the images presented, themselves.


WHAT RESEARCH IS REQUIRED?


Research Crafting
Dance - The technicals and the styles
Films - The most popular and famous films which contain dance
Famous Dances, the moves, and routines
Research type and layout
Collect stills of films - the dances within
The history of dance within film