The Presentation

17th/January/ 2013

Today we did our presentations for our final year project. Some of the presentations were really good and I could see that a lot of work was put into them.

Last night I made some cartoon posters, and strung together the two informal interviews. I found that overall they gave a good taste of what was to come. Although the footage was very blurry, I was very happy with the way the interviews went. I feel that I achieved the very informal light-hearted type of interview I wanted. I know that these are not masterpieces, but the video part of the footage will not be used. I intend to use the sound as the foundation to the video footage I will use, whether it be animation, or the scenes acted out and portrayed in sepia type/old film footage.

FYP Presentation1 from martyroony

scene from the presentation video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Uc3vIQaNk&feature=youtu.be

The feedback I got from my presentation was fairly mixed. They all seem to enjoy my videos  but commented that none of this footage can be used. However, I did get some very positive comments on the way that the interviews were conducted. Daniel asked me whether I would be more comfortable doing animation or video. I told him that I would probably prefer  to do acted out videos in the style of old film/sepia. Ian suggested that a format similar to "Give Up Your Auld Sins" would be nice. One of my colleagues Stephen suggested the series "Creature Comforts". These type of animations go really nicely with this type of an informal talk. Daniel also suggested that I stick to only three really good videos rather than a lot of mediocre ones.

 Overall I'm very pleased with the reactions to my video.

Interview 2

My interview was conducted with my neighbour. She lives in a house which backs on to a graveyard. The houses are about seventy years old, and the window on the landing overlooks this 18th century graveyard. Her two nieces stayed in the house while on holiday from England. They didn't want to go to the toilet alone as to do this they had to pass this window. She tells of what the girls maintain they saw when they both got up to go to the toilet.

Sheila describing the hoop earrings

I myself have lived in one of these houses since I was about ten years old, and I understand the worry of passing the landing window at night. Although my house doesn't directly overlook the graveyard, I could still see it. There have been a few strange events told about these houses as they were most likely built on the site of an even earlier graveyard. When one of the neighbours was knocking down his shed to extend his house, he uncovered a skeleton under the foundations.

Interview 1

I arranged to conduct my first interview with the couple who had the strange experience with the piano.

I decided that my interview technique should be very informal, and although I already feel they were telling me the truth about what happened to them (the first time I heard it), I would play devil's advocate. In other words, I would try to put forward some other scenarios to test their evidence. If the story isn't really believable, I don't think it will be good enough to be used in my project.

The main thing that I'm worried about in conducting these interviews, is that, if the video doesn't come out right, it will be difficult to re-interview these people, and have them talk to me with the same conviction. I will bring along a seperate voice recorder to boost the sound. I may not use all the video footage as I am thinking that these stories may be either animated or acted out, but I would like to keep the original footage, if only for authenticity, and as a keepsake for the clients.

My last statement led me to thinking about a local man who put together a CD with recordings of some of the local characters telling funny stories. This was very successful in our neighborhood, and in led to him writing a book on the locality. I realize that that wouldn't necessarily be what I want to do, but the video recordings could be in some way kept for posterity.

Exploring my options

I have been racking my brain trying to think what my options would be to portray my subject through digital media. I have been looking at various books, videos, interactive apps and films with a view to make my final decision. All of these options have their own value. A simple book would be a great asset, however, it would not show my digital media abilities. I am leaning towards doing short video recordings and having the content transcribed onto an e-magazine. If I do this, I feel that I will be utilizing some of my digital media know-how.

I have been in touch with some of my friends who have had strange experiences, and they all seem to agree to tell their stories while being recorded.

My first interviewees are a married couple who had a strange experience when they acquired a piano from a famous hotel in Howth, County Dublin. I have a definite date for that interview.

The second interview is with one of my neighbours. She is in her early seventies, and her interview is about some strange sightings out of her landing window, into the overlooked graveyard.

I have also spoken to a lady in the neighbourhood, who tells of her experience of an imminent death in her family, and hearing the banshee crying.

There are many more people who have shared their strange experiences with me, but I'm not sure that I will be able to fit them all in for this project.

My Final Year Project

I have many interests which attracted me to Digital Media. I was very interested in photography, and in the early 90s, I had a darkroom in my house where I developed and manipulated black and white photographs. I have always been interested in music, and I really enjoy recording. A also enjoy video camera work, so much so that at the many weddings, Christenings, and other social events, there isn't any footage of me, because I was behind the camera.
When I was very young, I was very religious. I was taught through the old Catholic Catechism about heaven and hell, and all things visible and invisible. As I grew up I decided that I didn't believe in a lot of the teachings of my faith, and I was strangely shocked to find that neither did many of the priests.
While I was living in London, strange things began to happen in the house I was living in. This sent me running for a priest.
What I want to do for my Final Year Project stems from my deep interest in who we are, and where we go when we throw off our mortal coil. I've been told by many people both young and old, about strange things that have happened to them. While I was on my Summer break, it occurred to me that I could write a book about it.
I have many strange, yet supposedly true stories of strange happenings which I could use, but I would rather let the people tell their own stories, either on camera or even just voice-recorded. There are many ways that they could be presented, Audio book, e-book, a video with some nice graphics etc.
I hope you like my idea for the project. I have spoken to some of the people, and they are willing to tell their stories over a cup of tea in their kitchens. I hope I don't get too many NIGHTMARES.