Amanda Brief 2

With this series of exercise, we are to experiment with light and sound

I wanted to use my home and create a eerie feeling, since with last series, I concentrated on making home feel warm and embracing.

CX5 - Lighting (Imaginary Lighting)

With this exercise, I tried using the model to experiment lighting that will create the mood that I want. I placed a light underneath the bed to illuminate the model, I didn't want the model to be too well lit.


I tried using various of filter paper to create different mood, blue and red. I also discovered placing patterned paper to create shadow that are cast onto the model walls. Using reflective mirror like paper, I were able to create different set of shadow casting.


However, when I'm editing, I realised that my camera quality isn't good enough (pixelise) when the lighting is too dim.

CX6 - Sound

I used various of objects and combination to create the sound, I want the sound to be distinct and unique, so the audience are left to wonder what noises and sound they are hearing, adding the mysterious effect that I'm looking for.


I used two ruler scraping each other, scratching of the metal material with nails, scraping ruler onto the table, dragging my nails on the table, scraping the ruler on metal material. It was hard to record when I'm home because there are background noise of my family walking, talking...etc. I had to wait till everyone's asleep then to record, to achieve the best outcome.


I used a mircophone connecting to computer, using a sound program called Audacity. However the sound quality isn't good, background noise are too loud, even though I tried using Noise Removal to remedy the problem.

CX7 - Immersive Environment

In this exercise, I used my real home to recreate the effect that I achieve in my previous videos, I recorded new sound effect using a digital recorder.  I create a soundtrack with rhythm so it become immersive and inviting, almost like a song so even thought it is hard to make out what is in the video visually, audience are still interacting with the sound.

First I taped a blue filter in front of the light source that lits the room, then I used the patterned paper to cast shadow on my wall. Then I used a LED light rod and placed it under my pillow. I also used the wardrobe, I shone red light from inside the wardrobe to create the illusion that the light is moving by itself. 

I am quite happy with the outcome even though I couldn't improve the quality of the video, it is still a bit pixielised here and there. However the visual outcome were quite close to what I had in mind.

With this lighting and sound exercise, I were able to identify technical difficulties. I learned that while in my mind, the lighting and sound would be good, however using the technology at hand, I wasn't able to achieve the exact same outcome. We are often restricted by the technology at hand.