Final Video Project

“My Thoughts Exactly”

            End of the semester is here! Below you will see my video and let me warn you, I have put profanity, funny lines, and complete “raw” footage of actual thoughts that run through my mind everyday on the commutes to work in the morning and the commutes to my evening classes.

            These commutes, known as hour long drives between traffic, slow drivers and overall stupid people on the road, literally decide how my morning/evening will go. I typically spend anywhere from 1-1.5 hours each way- totaling almost 3 hours of driving a day (Monday-Friday).

In the mornings, they usually are peaceful since I am driving against the traffic coming into downtown Tampa, on my way to New Port Richey. I usually talk to myself in my head, run through my day in advance, prayers if I can remember and overall happy to have a job that pays the bills! In the evening, regardless of how good/bad my day went, the commute pisses me off. It’s like drivers pop out of no-where to ruin my life. Though I still drive against traffic, I run into traffic junctions and the occasional accidents I drive by that slows down traffic dramatically because everyone is so nosey to see what happened- on the other side of the ROAD. Makes no sense. I also scream at people in my head, often saying vulgar slurs and pretending I’m in “Grand Theft Auto” type video game simulations. Literally, I am bi-polar to the extent that my commutes in the morning are exactly the same time as the evening but my moods shift completely. It’s like I’m crazy almost.

            As you will notice, no words are in the video because these are thoughts in my head. Things I wouldn’t actually say aloud. Hence why I placed verbiage on the screen in lieu of audio. Thoughts are silent, as will the video be. The words on the screen take you through a typical day with me in the car. You won’t be able to tell n my face what I’m thinking, but rest assured, I am no driver to mess with! Enjoy the film, its way over 1 minute, but still enjoy it!

“Madama Butterfly”

            First, I just want to say I am a huge fan of Claymation. More in my childhood than adulthood. In fact, one of my favorite shows early on was Gumby, and one of my favorite movies was “James And the Giant Peach.” Both of these are Claymation. So Madama butterfly was more visually appealing than the music itself. I actually had to watch this twice to truly grasp the concept as it was a little confusing the first run. I also happen to have a deep passion for Asian/orient culture. Not because my ethnic background is Asian (Korean) but more so the way of life they endure. As said before in my first “about me” blog post, I studied abroad in Shanghai, China and traveled through 6 countries during my 8 –month span from China, Philippines, Japan, India, Singapore, and South Korea. In short, this movie hit the tail on the donkey!

            Diving right into the performance itself beyond my personal connection to Madama Butterfly, I do think the opera helped embrace the moments from an emotional standpoint. Dramatic ensembles heightened when crucial turning points took place. Like the sex scene, the birth, the return of sailor, and the tearing a part of her own body in lieu of her situation- losing her child. The opera also did a great job at toning down the instruments in between all the moments I mentioned earlier. These moments were just as crucial because it gave myself time to really soak in what was going on and more importantly, less distractions so I can focus on the story line more than the tunes.

            Overall, this short film was brilliantly pieced together and thoroughly enjoyed watching this- twice! And in theory, maybe even a third is down the line. This video has a personal connection to millions around the world serving government in militia at-home and over-seas.  

“Corks & Candy”

I did my grid project based on things I love the most- FOOD. From craft cocktails, to brunch, even the home-made items, are my best talents. My friends and family have always considered me a foodie at heart. For as long as I can remember, my favorite room in the house was never my bedroom or backyard, it was always the kitchen. Even growing up I would watch my mom make every meal no matter how long it took- from idea to delivery. My favorite shows were never cartoons, but rather the Food Network. And my passion was always sweets. Any kind of sweets from starbursts to fruits dipped in chocolates, I’ve always had a sweet tooth.

Up until the internet really took over and the expansion of YouTube almost 7-8 years ago, I’ve always watched the “how-to” videos on desserts- 24/7. Basically, all my free time was dedicated to YouTube because food in general is a peculiar science far beyond a nutrition label.  I would have to agree that making food is one of the few areas today where you can bridge the gap between creativity and reality- on your own. Making things come to life from simple inspirations like videos, complete control of how things are made, and being present for every step of the way, is almost impossible in any other industry.

Almost 4 years ago, I became obsessed with wines and champagne. Now I’m no expert in terms of labels but it is a go-to option for me in almost every social interaction. Vodka, whiskey, gin, etc. were never appealing to me for lack of taste and other post drunk behaviors. So, all this leads to why I chose sweets and champagne/wine inspirations for my grid project that I labeled “corks & candy.” 9 out of 10 times, people will either enjoy sweets, or champagne, or wine, and in often cases- all three options! So why not combine my hobbies of cooking (Food idea), craving for sweets (Kit-Kats & runts candy) and my knack for champagne (corks) and wine (the bottle) as my project core.

This project highlights not only what I enjoy in my spare time, or down time, but also highlights areas of my life I’ve cherished since early childhood up until now – adulthood. “Corks & Candy” would be the ultimate idea to create a brick and mortar location but that’s way out of my scope unless I find some VC’s! Until then, this idea will remain on the blog. I hope all you can see my inspiration tactics and enjoy this visual!