These are the major elements in my film:
Anna, the protagonist
The Doll
The Mother
And
THE MUSIC BOX!
Those of you who have been following my progress during these last few months may be wondering why I haven’t model it yet. I mean for goodness sake, I’ve modeled the mother twice and she’s in less than half of the shots the music box is in.
The reason is the music box has caused some concern
It’s not reading properly.
During in-class critiques and test screenings several people have interpreted the music box as the reason why Anna turns into a doll.
This is not what I wanted.
I want Anna’s oppressive environment to cause her transformation.
And I wanted the audience to get that!
Bah! Telling a story to an audience using a visual language is very difficult! To reference an old cliché, pictures do say a thousand words. As a story teller in time base media, it is essential to make sure those words are the right ones.
So far I’ve been picking the wrong words…
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| wrong words. The ballerina comes across as a symbol of discipline and restraint |
Sigh
So,
If the music box is not an evil magic child murderer, then what is it?
Well, I wanted the music box to symbolize what Anna is missing in her life, what she needs to escape her tragic end.
So what is it?
And this is where it gets muddy.
My first answer to this question was in response to the case study that inspired this film
HUMAN AFFECTION
Ok! Now represent it in a way that works as a visual symbol
Ummmmmmmmmmmmm, maybe instead of a ballerina, it could be a dancing couple, looking very much in love. The dancing couple’s affection will contrast the oppressive actions of the mother
YEAH!
Yeah…
I rolled with this idea for quite some time. I even had some help for the very talented Stephen Arriola, who designed the pose for the couple and started modeling it for me.
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| Sketches by Stephen |
But something kept nagging at me
I was becoming increasingly doubtful that the audience would read the dancing couple in the way I wanted.
The affection between couples is a very different type of affection between a mother and daughter. Changing the ballerina to dancing lovers would probably just end up being more confusing.
I’m stuck.
To be honest I just started pushing this conundrum to the back of my brain. Too many other things to worry about.
One day I found this:
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| I think these are the coolest things since sliced bread |
And something started working in my brain.
What about a flying bird?
Forget everything about what went into the concept of this idea, what is my film saying that reads to an audience?
“CONDITIONING”
“CLASTERPHOBIC”
“OPPRESSION”
“TRAPPED”
These have all been brought up during screenings.
Back to the problematic question: What does Anna need?
Based on the audience’s responses: FREEDOM
And what is a symbol for freedom?
A FLYING BIRD!
I had already been using caged birds images for the walls of Anna’s room and in the embroidery of her dress. Why not push the symbol further?
Without further ado, my work in progress for music box!
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| Front View |
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| Top of the box |
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| The bird, I went with a robin to have somewhat of a cameo |
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| Obviously a work in progress as a wing is missing |
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| Reference Image |
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| Reference Image |
Will a flying bird read the way I want it to?
Honestly I don’t know.
I’ll have to wait and see, and let the audience decide on that one.
