Month: February 2019

For the visual poem I wanted to document the struggles of what it’s like relying on MTA on the weekends. I wanted to record my friend buying a metro card, swiping a metro card, going through the turnstiles, waiting for a train, getting on a train etc. I wanted to catch some background noise of the announcements of delays or schedule changes that play while you’re on the platform. Overall, I really want to capture how frustrating it can be taking the subway on the weekend. I’m not too sure about the music, but I wanted to find a dramatically slowed down version of “Empire State of Mind” or “New York, New York” to go along with the stress of taking the NYC subway.

I thought of doing the visual poem on a couple from new york city. I have a few ideas but I may just stick to this one for now for this project. If I am having trouble with it then I will do it on something else. My plan is to get some footage on a couple doing something like eating, talking, looking and dazing at one another. Many people in NYC are so busy with their lives we continuously hear the troubles that people go through. What about a simple NYC love story. In my opinion, I believe that would be a good thing especially for couple  and for the public. Something that is not about frustration of an overcrowded subway, or criminal acts. As New York City residents we want to hear about something good for once even if it is short and sweet. That is my idea for the visual poem.

For the visual poem I want to go through the struggles of going through the stages of preparing for a fight. I want to definitely show the physical aspects of the training as well as the emotional struggles. I asked my brother and a few of our fighters if I could record them during class, drill and free sparring. What I am trying to decide if I should show the actual fight or just build up to the fight without showing it. For music I am thinking of an inspiring eye of the tiger type theme, or the song Hallelujah.

For my Visual Poem, I want to record my friend, who writes his own poems. My plan is too record him in certain parts of the city or Brooklyn, at different times of the day to get a different feel.

For my visual poem I will be performing and shooting. The project will consist of following me around NYC, the subway, my dance studios, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Victoria and I will work together to highlight the passion and perseverance that dance requires. We will work together to capture visually intriguing  dance moves while maintaining a story. I will help set up the shots and locations then I will jump in frame and be the dancer/actress. I think this will challenge me to be a director, videographer,  and performer all at once.

I want my visual poem to be of painting. I love colors and different textures, and my friend is an artist, so I want to get shots of her painting, of the paints, of her face and the emotions she goes through when putting something together. I want to get her painting multiple things, maybe like a montage or a time-lapse of different paintings and showing the different days and outfits. She is also a singer and I want it to feel calm, so maybe having her just hum a tune over the visual poem would be serene.

The American Dream

For my visual poem I plan to explore the idea of the American Dream; what it used to mean to me and the way that I still see it today.

I plan on shooting in both New York and Los Angels. I want to focus on different aspects of the dream, from career to personal points of view. I will incorporate black and white aesthetic, as well as soft colors, airy visuals and blurred still images to fully capture the feeling of a dream.

I have few friends that are musicians and I received their permission to use their music for this project, in addition to everyday, natural sounds such as waves, trains, street sounds and more.

I would like to do something that is a bit of a love letter to winter in New York City. I would like to shoot in various locations/landmarks including The Met, The Chinese New Year festival this coming Sunday, ect. set to Miles Davis’ “So What” from the album “Kind of Blue”.

If I need something a bit more focused, some friends of mine are playing a show at Ottos Shrunken Head on the 23rd, I think it would be interesting to document it in chronological order, in black and white, set to a jazz or classical backdrop, since that is very far from the music they play.

I also want to document an evening at Bill’s Place, a legendary jazz speakeasy in Harlem, but I’m waiting on hearing back from them if it would even be o.k. to film.

For my visual poem, I want to capture the feeling of hope, hard work, and success by conveying my friend Ryan’s story. This year he has finally made the decision to go to culinary school to become a chef. So although he still has a long journey ahead to reach his goal, I want to film him cook something at his house to show the possible struggle and hope that comes with doing something you are passionate about. While filming I will be using the natural sound of the food cooking, maybe him chopping stuff up and mixing in some uplifting/classical music as well as maybe some soulful blues to show the pressure or doubt that may come when trying your best to succeed.