The Olle Ekberg Experience
This is my spectacle artefact, which came about from my previous research into Escapism and its relation to the theme of the spectacle.
As my previous spectacle artefact idea looked to be problematic to produce. Time and crew, were an issue. Also having to do these artefacts individually surely would not allow me to use a crew. I also did not have access to the equipment I wanted at the time, and I needed to find actors. My solution to this problem was to use technology I had available to me to create this artefact, and it would involve a video game.
Shaun White Snowboarding is a new video game. The sport of the game obviously seemed relevant, as the areas which I have looked into about escapism all evolved from my escapism with snowboarding and the sports spectacle.
So from there what I wanted to do is create my own snowboarding film, I have studied a few snowboard films and the way which I escape into them, they are designed to be a spectacle. I wanted to use the game to help me do this.
In Shaun White Snowboarding one of the main features of the game is the ability to take 30 second replays and edit them. Changing camera angles, and speeds allows you to create nice short scenes. This would be the starting block. I made multiple sequences which then through the game uploaded them onto the game’s personnel website. From here I then downloaded them from the website using screen recording software and imported the clips into adobe premier pro to edit it all together, with text sound and music, creating the final product.
It was an interesting process as I had never really used these technologies in this way. It was very difficult at time due to the nature of the on-line technology making the footage jerky at times. It did also put me into the mind of a snowboard film director. In terms of shots and ‘filming’ (replays), I needed to think about what tricks my rider would do, locations he would do those tricks in (these were obviously key to create the spectacle), what jumps to use, I also needed non-snowboarding elements to help break up the film and help create the spectacle.
In editing music for scenes it became clear to me how important this was in creating the right feel for its audience. The use of sound to signify certain sequences was key. This is something which I have read in interviews with snowboard film directors comment on.
Transitions with starting and ending the film were also critical and help set the mood of the film. I needed to make sure I did not simply go straight into snowboarding and then end on it as well.
There were many difficulties in using the footage from the game. Quality was reduced, and transferring the short clips from the game, to the internet, to the PC, to editing suite, were tricky at times. Overall I think it shows the possibilities of technology today. I’ve managed to make a snowboard film without going to a mountain, hiring a snowboard team, using a crew, or spending thousands of pounds. Not only does the film aim to show a spectacle, but the methods of creating it show a spectacle, where its audience is now part of it.
