The main goal of my creative endeavor is to elicit a multifaceted response from the audience that transcends mere observation. Through the seamless integration of audio and visual elements, I aspire to evoke a range of emotions, prompting viewers to delve into a reflective state. 

I seek to immerse the audience in a surreal and emotionally charged experience. The astronaut’s solitary journey across a giant chessboard, adorned with reflective gold and black tiles, is designed to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation. The interplay of the crystal sphere, pulsating in a waveform spectrum synchronized with the background music, further amplifies the emotional depth, creating a mesmerizing visual and auditory tapestry.

Beyond emotional resonance, the project encourages intellectual engagement by inviting viewers to decipher symbolic elements embedded in the narrative. The reflective chessboard and the crystal sphere symbolize life’s complexities, reflecting the multifaceted nature of individual experiences. The inclusion of lyrics, such as “that life is not what you wanted,” prompts contemplation on the existential themes explored within the work.

The thematic underpinnings extend to an exploration of life’s unpredictability and the profound realization that it may not align with one’s initial aspirations. The astronaut’s symbolic journey on the reflective chessboard becomes a metaphor for navigating the twists and turns of life. The intricate details, such as the giant blue and pink chess pieces, serve as visual metaphors, enriching the narrative with layers of meaning and inviting viewers to delve into the intricacies of the human experience.

Inspired by the immersive experience, I aim to prompt a call to action, encouraging the audience to introspect on their own life’s journey. The visual spectacle, coupled with the pulsating crystal sphere and poignant lyrics, serves as a catalyst for personal reflection. Whether it be a renewed commitment to personal growth or a heightened awareness of life’s uncertainties, the aspiration is to motivate viewers toward positive, introspective action.

In essence, my creative endeavor seeks to transcend the boundaries of traditional storytelling, offering the audience an emotionally resonant, intellectually stimulating, and visually captivating exploration of the human experience within the vast cosmic tapestry.

I wanted to do some worldbuilding around my silly Minecraft prison for this project, so I decided to do an instructional video on how to maintain it. I’ve done other projects related to it for other classes but I wanted to show off the gross fleshy areas at least once before the end of the term. The thought process behind the script for the video was I wanted it to be constantly hinting at the heart without outright saying it, and continuously imply that there is something sinister happening, only to later casually reveal it all the while the upbeat and chill music continues to play.

The two things I think I struggled the most with this project was keeping it under 3 minutes while also getting all the information across, and then also making the video seem crusty and old. But in the end I’m happy with how it turned out

Credits:

Voice over: Ben Bartlett (My brother)

Music: Hep Cats by Kevin MacLeod

By Duncan Gustina

by JD Rodejo

A drag video? From a drag queen? SHOCKING. I decided to stick to what I know. I had multiple ideas that didn’t go according to plan so I decided to go back to my passion which is performing. I was still able to incorporate my original ideas, drawing, a bit of stop animation/video and fashion.

I decided to showcase my creative process to one of my biggest looks for my drag. I made the back piece and headpiece from scratch using unconventional materials such as balloon sticks and cardboards. I performed this look to Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”. I have been enjoying videos with hard transitions so this was such a fun project. I used Adobe premier and Capcut to edit and put the videos together and applied a bit of editing or filter in Adobe Lightroom as I already have the presets saved.

For the reveal of the look, I had a video of my performance that I have added in to complete the project and for me to showcase everything in action. The video was taken at my own show that I produce and host. All videos of me drawing were taken by me and the video of my performance was taken by a friend who gave me the rights for the video.

AD: If you are free on December 8th at 7pm, head to Spectrum Queer Bar(150W Broadway) for Morena’s Hotpot! An all ages show and lipsync competition for new performers.

I needed to show myself I could do it.

When coming up for ideas on what to do for this project, I wrote off one that I deemed too complicated and excessive. Every other idea felt dull in comparison, and the whole thing started to leave me feeling defeated without even starting. 

I mentioned the project to a student that had previously taken the class, and they excitedly showed me what they had created. It was beautiful. I felt emotional, and that’s when I knew I had to push myself. The worst possible outcome wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, and this would be a great opportunity to see what I could pull off.

So, for the first time, I built a small set. I stuck to the plan that was created. And it worked out. I’m still surprised and residing in a fog of chaos and daze, but I’m writing that off as a mindset shared by speedrunning multiple projects.

There are definitely a few things that I would do differently, but overall, I’m happy with what I accomplished in such a short amount of time. And it gave me a great excuse to look into different effects and things of that nature in quite a few Adobe programs. 

by: Erin Schooley