Character Design Journal
Editing Journal
Effect Concept
Characters
Action Scene
For this action sequence, I modified an existing scene that before, had no emotional trigger for the character’s PTSD other than visual. Now, instead of simply seeing the homeless man laying on the ground, the homeless man interacts with the main character which triggers flashbacks and reactive violence.
The first version I visualized was a closeup. Where alike other scenes, the antagonist’s face displays strong emotions that trigger the main character into flashbacks of war violence. This through-the-window, close up style, is seen in many robbery movies where robbers are putting on their masks. This is also displayed in war scenes, where main characters are inflicting fear or dominance to their enemy and their facial features are emphasized. This version implies that the viewer is up close and in the present scene with the characters, rather than watching from afar.
The second version I visualized was a far shot. Where the viewer experiences the physical violence of two characters from a distance. This can be seen in many war movies that present the displays of violence across a battlefield. This detaches emotion from the character and has the opportunity to blend him into a larger scale background scene. This version implies that there is an audience watching from afar, rather than experiencing something up close.
Thesis questions to answer:
1) Is a person that sees or experiences violent content, more prone to be violent?
2) Is a person who has formed reactions based on violent content or experiences more adapt to war?
3) If a person experiences violent behavior on a repetitive basis, are they more likely to react violently to non-violent triggers?
4) Where does conscious reasoning lose its depth in a person with PTSD?
How humans react to the world around them is deeply engrained through patterns of mirror neurons. Whether an action is presented physically or through television has an everlasting effect on the way we react to experiences. Humans have the choice to react in violence based on what is taught, what is seen or what is experienced. Taking a deeper look into the type of behavioral content that has been broadcasted since the dawn of television can be a strong indicator of the behavioral patterns we see in modern society.
Scholarly Articles for Thesis Reference
II.5THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF MIRROR NEURONS IN THE CONTAGION OF VIOLENCE
Marco Iacoboni, M.D., Ph.D.
David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207238/
Media Violence Induces Imitative Violence:
The Problem With Super Mirrors
Neuroscientist; Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA; Author, Mirroring People
https://www.edge.org/response-detail/11789
Cells That Read Minds - The New York Times
Jan. 10, 2006
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/science/cells-that-read-minds.html
animatic & live action reference
Storyboard Versions 1 & 2
Film References