Author: KOKO NSOUGAN

https://knsougan2001.wixsite.com/kokoshoots

Final video:

 

Pitch: Art is a creative form of expressing ideas our words can’t form. Art is unique, and it is what drives people to go further, some more than others. Most people are really passionate about art and it leads them to create such beautiful visual pieces for people to look at. When we hear the word art, one image or several images appear in our minds because art is such a powerful tool that helps us heal or remind us of certain moments. We see art when we open our eyes and look around. Whether it’s on the train, in our humble abodes, or even on our cellular devices, art is inevitable. The rise of modern art started during the time of the industrial revolution and has since risen. Many different forms of art have also become known and popularized. 

With art, we only see the final work. Never the entire process. We miss the moments when the artist smiles at his or her own work or when the artist is upset that his or her vision is not what’s reflected in the art.

This short documentary will capture the moments when the artist is engrossed in his or her art.  I plan to first open up with an establishing shot, to show the building that the artist works in, then I want to capture some of the other pieces the artist has worked on as a way to introduce the art, then the artist. As the documentary picks up, I plan to capture the process and shoot from various angles when I’m with the artist. I also plan to ask questions such as why they got into art or how. Also, what is it about this particular art that keeps them so focused. Then I want to show the final piece of the art and close it off with some more B-rolls and fade to black.

Location:

Manhattan, NY

Start Date: April 15 or earlier 🙂

 

 

 

 

I’m still undecided about what I want to do for the short documentary because I haven’t had enough time to ponder it. One idea I have is to focus the short documentary on my mother. She’s been home for about 1-2 years due to a workplace injury, and she really wants to expand her apparel business. I believe that story will be difficult to convey, so I may refrain from telling it.

Another idea is to focus on a construction worker or a mechanic and show the process of having something built and worked on. My goal is to have the short doc be fast-paced.

Pitch: Food is defined as any nutrient-dense item consumed or absorbed by humans, animals, or plants in order to sustain life and growth. It’s what makes us strong and keeps us healthy. When many Americans are hungry and want a healthy dinner as opposed to fast-food, they resort to Asian cuisine, specifically Chinese food. According to Oxforde, food from China began to draw a rapidly rising non-Chinese clientele of varied ethnic backgrounds in key cities across the country around the end of the nineteenth century, and by 1980, Chinese food had become the most popular ethnic cuisine in the United States. Chinese food is what most Americans look for when it comes to authentic and delectable, home-like meals. For this reason, there are various  Chinese buffets located across key neighborhoods in New York City. The China Buffet King, located in Valley Stream, is a cornerstone in the Valley Stream community and has been recognized for its outstanding Chinese cuisine, excellent service, and friendly staff. Like most other Chinese buffets, China Buffet King is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on solely using high-quality fresh ingredients. 

This visual poem will capture different types of Chinese food served at the China King Buffet. The hue of the food is something I want to pay more attention to. I also want to display food that many people are familiar with as well as food that no one has ever had before. The Valley Stream neighborhood will be introduced first in the visual poem. I’ll film several signs and/or streets that point to Valley Stream as the location. Then I’ll go to the buffet and film the front of the establishment, as well as the parking lot and the name of the Chinese buffet. After I’ve entered, the other images will show the restaurant’s booths and employees.  If possible, I want to show some people consuming the food served. I also want to film customers entering since they are drawn to Chinese cuisine. Then the visual poem will shift and capture the cultural artifacts and signs that have been put in place to highlight the Chinese culture. To conclude, I want to either end the same way I started or I want to end with the door closing. This will be symbolic, in a way, since it serves the highlight the ending of a home-like meal/ buffet.

Location: Valley Stream, NY

 

When Lambs Become Lions is an engrossing documentary that adheres to Don Harmon’s storytelling framework. The circumstances depicted in the documentary, in my opinion, fully parallel the second framework as opposed to the first. The primary protagonist, ‘X,’ is initially introduced. X is a poacher who is used to getting his hands dirty in order to achieve his task. X is used to how he gets around and has no problem with it. This fits the you component in Harmon’s storytelling framework because X is in the zone of comfort. The documentary enters the need phase when X’s boss orders him, along with Lukas and others to poach. X  needs to get the job done in order to get paid to support his family. The poachers enter an unfamiliar situation when some Kenyan citizens stage a protest against poaching. X and Lukas adapt to the strike by laying low for a while, resisting the urge to poach. The hunters get what they want when they aim an arrow laced with poison at an elephant. However, the Kenyan government is onto the poaching activity since the elephant fell in the lake. When the Kenyan government burns over a dozen ivories on live television, the poachers pay a price. X, Lukas, and the other poachers return to their familiar lifestyles, looking for new ways to make a living. Finally, The change occurs at the end when X becomes a certified wildlife ranger. 

 

I’m not really sure what to film for the visual poem assignment, but I have a few ideas. Today, I saw the mailman in my neighborhood and thought maybe I should follow and film him while he travels my neighborhood and delivers mail. My other idea is to film different parts of new york, specifically queens, to show what it’s like there. I had another idea in mind but I don’t think it would work well.