Fresh Start

Whilst looking back on my work I was still quite confused as to how I wanted to proceed with my concept. I took a look at my blog with one of my unit tutor's, Ms.Sharon Abela. She liked the idea however thought it might be a bit too cliche'.. a bit too mainstream. Looking at it over again, scrolling through my work I agreed. Even though it was a good idea, it wasn't anything new. the design and inspiration might have been original but the way I went around designing the shoe wasn't; So it was time to look back and reflect and see where I can improve my work. My initial idea for my concept design was to come up with an original sneaker which I would like myself. Thinking it over I thought it would be best to design a woman's shoe; a design which in my opinion will be able to open up more windows when it comes to the design. With a woman's shoe there is much more to portray and I think I can express my creativity better. Looking at my previous research, not only within this unit but also in that of my other tutor Ms.Vella, I took a great liking to the signature shoe of Christian Louboutin. A classy shoe, loved, wanted and appreciated by many fashionistas and fashion icons. They're simple, yet elegant and look better than many other rival designer shoes; matter of opinion of course. I initially got inspiration from the shoe on the poster of the film 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Simple, elegant, and it portrays the title in the shoe itself.

[Photo taken by Me]

IMDb, 1990-2012. The Devil Wears Prada. [online] Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458352/> [Accessed 16 December 2012]

Concept idea

For my concept design, I must admit I was quite lost on what to do. I had practically no Idea on what to go by. In my previous posts, nothing was particularly linked to eachother, they were pretty much completely different designs/models/artworks etc. However, analysing them all together, together with work showed to us by our tutors in class, I managed to put a few thoughts together. my concept idea is that of designing a shoe. I'm still uncertain whether I want it to be a poster, an actual shoe which I will transfer a design to or so on. It's still very much open to interpretation.

A poster which I found interesting is the DVD cover of a film which I just saw recently and a fellow classmate of mine mentioned when I was working on another assignment in class. ''The Devil Wears Prada'' was one of the films I'd always watch over again and actually not mind it, even though it's quite the chick flick and I'd rather sit down with a bag of popcorn and a good action film. The design of the shoe is so simple yet so effective. The whole title of the movie is perfectly depicted into the shoe shown. The shoe, which is Prada, and the Devils fork made into the heel of the shoe.

This shoe also came to mind after I had tried photo-manipulating a Christian Louboutin Shoe photo I took myself. I really like the shoe because of the way the poster is made. It is the biggest object in the poster and it's in red so it definitely is the first time one's eyes are drawn to. The background is white making the red shoe stick out even more. The writing is also much smaller in comparison to the shoe so it doesn't take of emphasis from it. I also like the fact that it is kept simple and there isn't too much going on. It is very much 'to the point'.

IMDb, 1990-2012. The Devil Wears Prada. [online] Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458352/> [Accessed 16 December 2012].

The Four Feathers

The film 'The Four Feathers', (Director Shekhar Kapur), released in 2002, is a film about a British soldier of a young age, Harry Faversham, played by Heath Ledger. The first version was released in 1915 as a black and white silent film. The story is set around the 1800's. The opening scene consists of the officers playing a game of rugby.The weather is rather dull and its raining. Harry is trying to impress a young lady which he fancies, Ethne, played by Kate Hudson. Being a coward, Harry resigns his post to go fight the enemy and brings shame on himself. He was lacking ambition. Due to his cowardliness his wife and friends give him 4 weathers, the symbol of cowardice, his betrayal. Harry changes his mind and goes undercover to help his friends out and win back their trust and his honour. The story flows through the different scenes showing transformation from one act to another. Principal photography started in Morocco, where one can see the jaw dropping views which provided great backdrop for the film. Many of the shots depict sea and sand dunes. Sand storms were a challenge, even the man-made ones, which were done using fans the size of aeroplane propellers. The Atmosphere of the desert was made thanks to the help of director of photography Robert Richardson.
 "My main technique for filming the desert scenes was to shoot into the sun," says Richardson. "By back-lighting the shot, I was able to produce a sharp contrast between the characters and the landscape." (Robert Richardson, 2002).
The techniques used by Richardson give that feeling of being on edge and total reality . He was well able to add in and put energy into his shots in the ways he functions his camera.  According to Henry Camilleri, Military co-ordinator, "The way that soldiers marched in Victorian days was totally different from today's style, The real soldiers had to unlearn everything they had previously learned in the military and learn the way things were done in the 1800s'' (Henry Camilleri, 2002)

Various elements of transoformation are seen when it comes to the character of Harry. There is change from the beginning of the film to the end. In the beginning scenes he is portrayed as a coward and then a hero. There is progress in his character where he becomes more mature and pulls himself together, not being a coward anymore and trying get himself back on track. As part of his undercover plan to go help out his friends he also disguises himself from a officer to an Arab .

When it came to soundtracks used you could tell how they were used to create and leave and effect on the scene and the viewer. The change of soundtracks changes between the scenes to create different moods relevant to what it happening in that scene. There is also transformation of clothing. It is clear that the producer took note and did his research when it came it to costumes. We notice the detail and the characteristics of the real clothes back in those days.  They are very authentic in look. We also see this in the ball gowns and clothes warn by the rebels. Through the costumes we were able to see mythical power of the story. There is also transformation in clothing when we see the  change from Harry being an officer to an Arab. There was also great use when it came to lighting and one could say that it definately helped with the way the producer wanted to portray the scene. Lighting and sound make a great difference when it comes to filming a scene as it sets the mood, the feelings that should be felt and helps create the atmosphere. Another similar example would be the Godfather. In the scenes which are held inside the house, they are dark depicting the shady and bad things that go on inside the building. Whereas, outside is light and everyone is cheerful oblivious of what is going on behind the walls of the house. There is a clear example of transformation and conflict.

Wikipedia, 2012, The Four Feathers (2002 Film). [online]Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Feathers_(2002_film)> [Accessed 15 December 2012]

Youtube, 2008, 26 December, The Four Feathers. [online] Available at:<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ_MrNPOzG4> [Acessed 15 December 2012]

IMDb,2002, The Four Feathers. [online] Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240510/> [Accessed 15 December 2012]

T R A N S F O R M A T I O N

to change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose

to change in condition, nature, or character; convert.

to change into another substance; transmute.

ART

FILM

DESIGN