I have a student film project called the "Russian Film Exercise". I don't know why its called that. I have to make an otherwise immobile object appear to move by using the camera. The Instructor showed us two examples (and strangely, both were examples of projects he "let slide" because they were done so well, not actual fulfillments of the project). The first was a guy chucking a baseball at another guy's head. They screwed a baseball onto a broom handle and held it in front of a camera. One person spun the broom and baseball to make it look like it was spinning, while the other guy working the camera ran forward. Both objects moving together made it look like the camera was attached to a spinning baseball flying through the air. The second project shown was very similar.
I've been wracking my brain for weeks and I still haven't thought of anything to do. The Instructor said not to sweat it. He said to tell the story we want to tell, then work in the camera movement. But the project is only 1 minute in length with no dialogue, I can't really think of a story to tell in that short of a time. I don't know.
I have trouble coming up with stories that are short. Five minutes is almost impossible for me, this is excrutiating.
I suspect it's called the "Russian Film Exercise" because of the Kuleshov Effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuleshov_Effect
Basically the bulk of your film should be made of reactions to the moving object to sell the idea that it is indeed moving.
So in other words if you show a catcher flashing a sign, a pitcher nodding and then winding up ready to throw a ball. The batter check swings confidentely. The pitcher throws (don't see the ball). A still shot of a baseball hanging from a string. The batter swinging. Catcher catching the ball. Batter falling to his knees.
Most audience members will see the ball as moving even if it's hanging there becuase you've sold the whole idea that you've got a baseball pitch going on.
RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA
RJSchwarz
He taught us about the Kuleshov effect. He should have just told us to do that, specifically. Since he didn't, I'm thinking it could be more, but maybe not.
Anyway, anyone have any ideas what I could do?
