Email: cheryllu66888@gmail.com
Instagram: @cherylluu0
Creating the Opening Sequence for Video
This week, I experimented with the opening sequence for our band video in After Effects. The focus was on creating dynamic visuals using our eyes as a central motif. I isolated each team member's eye and animated them to jump around the screen, adding a trail effect to simulate motion blur. To amplify the energy, I layered the visuals with screen overlays, making the composition more vibrant and fitting for the mood of our music.
Additionally, I explored a "flowing eye" concept by designing a film reel model where our eyes rolled across the screen, evoking a sense of rhythm and fluidity.After presenting this concept, our instructor provided feedback suggesting that the video style should align more closely with the weaving aesthetic of our poster. This inspired us to rethink the primary video structure.
Feedback and New Approach
Following feedback, we pivoted to incorporate weaving elements into the video to create a cohesive style with our poster design. For the main section, we shot a stop-motion sequence featuring strips of material that replicate the weaving poster design.
We fixed the camera in a high position and pulled strips of the woven design in time with the music. The effect created a mesmerizing sense of misalignment and rhythm, as the strips were removed one by one until the design disappeared entirely. This approach not only unified the video and poster but also visually represented the act of weaving and unraveling—a metaphor for our music and collaboration.
Final Music and Video Production
The finalized music track now includes a spoken-word segment inspired by the poem Women Weaving. Each of us recited a section of the poem in our native language, layering the voices over the instrumental track.
Here’s an excerpt from the poem:
In the company of these women,
I am humbled,
I am inspired,
I am healed…
The poetic verses reflect the themes of connection, strength, and vulnerability, which resonate with our band’s message.
For the video, I replaced the earlier opening sequence with static photographs of our weaving-inspired designs. These photos were animated to appear in rhythm with the music. The main body of the video features the stop-motion weaving sequence, interspersed with special effects like film reels, reverse playback, and synchronized visuals for impactful sounds. Red weaving elements were woven throughout the video, visually tying it to the poster.
Updating the Poster Design
I revised the poster to match the evolving aesthetic of our band. The updated design features black-and-white eye imagery on a dark background. The interwoven strips are now red and white, creating a striking contrast and echoing the themes of the Women Weaving poem, which I incorporated into the strips as text.
This new direction strengthens the connection between our poster, music, and video, creating a unified visual identity that reflects the interplay of individuality and collaboration within our group.
Designing Interactive Masks
To enhance audience interaction, I designed two styles of masks incorporating the weaving theme:
- Strip Mask
I printed our black-and-white group photo, cut it into strips, and interwove them with red strips of paper. These were left untrimmed, creating a natural, flowing effect that balanced chaos with order. - Grid Mask
This mask features a grid layout with black-and-white photo fragments pasted onto the squares. Red strips weave through the design as accents. To add depth, some grid sections are hollowed out or elevated with inserted elements, transforming the mask into a multidimensional piece.
These masks serve as interactive art pieces, inviting audiences to engage with our themes of weaving and interconnectedness while providing a tangible extension of our band’s visual narrative.