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The final cut of our film delves into the profound exploration of coping with trauma and navigating the various stages of grief across multiple dimensions. At its core, the narrative revolves around the protagonist, who grapples with the fracturing of identity and the emergence of anxiety and depression stemming from traumatic experiences. Serving as both the protagonist and antagonist, the man confronts his own mental instability, presenting a abstract portrayal of the inner struggles associated with trauma. The audience is prompted to interpret whether the events unfold as projections of the protagonist's mind into the world, a form of escapism through 'universe hopping,' or manifestations of fears through imagination. Ultimately, the film poses a poignant question of whether the man can overcome his inner turmoil and liberate himself from the role of a victim.
Inspiration
Inspired by the Korean drama "A Daily Dose Of Sunshine," the film encapsulates its theme with the resonant phrase, "We are all on the borderline between sanity and insanity." In the context of today's fast-paced society, the narrative seeks to destigmatize mental health by portraying intense emotions, aiming not to instill fear but to resonate with audiences. It underscores the power of creative outlets in normalizing societal taboos surrounding mental health, urging an abstract reflection on the neglected thoughts and feelings that can simmer until they demand acknowledgment.
Meet the Team
Feedback Responses
Our iterations from the initial screening of the film
01
Visual Distinctiveness
Responding to feedback about the lack of distinctiveness among universes, we revamped the visuals by incorporating additional effects, color grading, and 2D animation. This comprehensive approach provided each dimension with a unique identity, enhancing visual appeal and emphasizing individuality.
03
Immersive sound design
Recognizing positive remarks on sound design, we refined it further by creating distinct auditory cues for each universe. These cues not only reinforced the abstract quality of the film but also supported the idea of seamless transitions between dimensions, contributing to a more immersive audio experience.
02
Enhanced Movement Exploration
To address concerns about limited movement exploration, we introduced lively sequences, varied camera movements, and stylistic choices inspired by "A Daily Dose Of Sunshine." This dynamic and abstract approach enriched the film's cinematography, creating a more visually appealing and emotionally resonant experience.
04
Narrative and conceptual Shift
We shifted the film's conceptual focus to abstract explorations of coping with trauma and stages of grief, aligning with family-friendly content guidelines. This change, coupled with a nuanced editing approach and expanded visual effects, resulted in a narrative that resonates with a delicate balance between sanity and insanity in today's fast-paced society.
My Work
Sound Mixing
In the filmmaking process, I strategically utilized sound design to amplify the narrative and emotional dimensions of our project. Distinct auditory cues were meticulously crafted for each universe, enriching the film's abstract quality and heightening the overall audio experience. These auditory elements were seamlessly integrated with additional visual effects, establishing a harmonious relationship between sound and imagery while reinforcing the thematic concept of shifting between universes. The transitions were marked by a radio-frequency-like sound, creating a smooth and immersive bridge between realities.
Furthermore, the 'fear/sadness' universe was accentuated by a drowning-like sound, effectively conveying the main character's anxiety. For the 'happy/innocent' universe, a unique and unconventional sound, deliberately unassociated with butterflies, was introduced. This distinctive sound, repeated throughout the film, aimed to establish a memorable auditory motif that the audience could readily associate with the positive emotions within that particular universe. Through these carefully chosen sound design elements, we sought to enhance abstract & narrative cohesion, emotional impact, and audience engagement, creating a nuanced audio-visual experience that complements the film's thematic complexities.
Process
To capture the immersive soundscape essential for our film, I undertook the meticulous process of recording most of the various audio elements myself. The crunching of footsteps on different surfaces, the rhythmic pulse of running, the deliberate cadence of heavy breathing, all were meticulously captured to authentically convey the visceral experiences of the characters. To evoke a sense of reality within the film's abstract framework, I recorded ambient sounds, such as the low hum of a television set, adding layers of authenticity to the auditory atmosphere. These recorded sounds were thoughtfully integrated into the film, aligning with the visual effects to enhance the overall narrative.
This hands-on approach not only ensured a unique and tailored auditory experience but also allowed for a seamless fusion of sound and visuals, contributing to the film's immersive storytelling and emotional resonance. The audios that I retrieved from the internet were three of the glitch sounds, and the soundtrack during the climax as well. The rest of the sounds used in this film were originally recorded, and mixed by me.
Challenges Faced
Addition of sounds during film
The tedious process of sound editing turned into an essential task to guarantee a well-balanced combination of audio and visual components. It was a difficult but necessary challenge to precisely time the synchronization of over 60 different sounds in a fast-paced editing technique that captured an immense number of occurrences. A keen eye for detail was required due to the film's complexity and the scenes' quick edit. To enhance the immersive experience, every stride, breath, and background sound had to be precisely timed to correspond with the events that were taking place on screen.
An extra level of intricacy was created by balancing the complicated choreography of these sounds while staying in time with the dynamic visual effects. The process, though tedious, was very crucial to the success of the film, allowing for a seamless integration of sound that enhanced the film's intensity, emotional impact, and narrative cohesion, while also maintaining.
Overcoming the Challenge
It took a combination of strategic planning and inventive problem-solving to overcome the difficulties presented by the complex sound editing process. Understanding the nuances of the film's fastpaced editing approach, I created a detailed timeline that acted as a visual reference for timing sounds to particular visual signals. Using a layered approach, I broke down the scenes into discrete sound elements and progressively built up the aural landscape to manage the intricacy of simultaneous happenings. I first started with the background sounds, things such as ambience, wind-blowing, and soundtrack. Then, I slowly filled the rest in, and finally ending on character voices and abstract sounds.
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Due to the extensive usage of more than 60 sounds, a methodical organization plan was necessary, and each sound's contribution to strengthening the story was carefully considered. Grouping each sound into its different layers and uses helped me efficiently access the sounds I required for the right parts in the film. This systematic approach, coupled with creative adaptability, ultimately allowed for the successful navigation of the challenges, resulting in a finely tuned auditory experience that enriched the overall impact of the film.
Sound Organization
Sound Grouping and Editing
Learnings
This project's sound design process brought to light the critical importance that unique audio cues play in enhancing the overall viewer experience and reiterating the abstract character of the film. We discovered that well selected sounds were essential for both illustrating the protagonist's emotional journey and facilitating smooth transitions between universes. The importance of an integrated audio-visual approach was emphasized through collaborative integration with graphic elements such as 2D animation and color grading. Creating distinctive sound signatures, like the sound connected to butterflies in the "happy/innocent" universe, has shown to be useful in helping audiences associate particular feelings.
Throughout the iterative process, adaptability to feedback emerged as a key lesson, allowing for the refinement of sound elements to create a memorable and immersive auditory landscape that complemented the film's thematic complexities.