THE METAMORPHOSIS
BRIEF
explore experimental processes as a means to produce a title sequence that resonates with the mood and content of a selected text.
CREDITS
SOFTWARE
Adobe After Effects
Live Video Footage
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SELECTED TEXT
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
SUMMARY
The Metamorphosis is the story of Gregor Samsa, a young man who wakes up one morning to find he’s been transformed into a giant insect (relatable, am I right?). In his new form, Gregor becomes more and more alienated from his family who are disgusted by his bug form. In the end, his transformation leads to his physical and emotional decline.
THE CONCEPT
It’s never explicitly stated that Gregor is a cockroach, even though many people assume so. His “vermin” form is a projection of how his family makes him feel: like a worthless insect. Thus, recorded footage of projections became visual representation of Gregor’s mental projections: projecting crawly creatures onto human body parts.
STYLEFRAMES
MOTION TEST
process
THE STEPS:
1. ANIMATE BUGS 2. PROJECT IT 3. DISTORT IT 4. EXTRA TOUCHES
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1. ANIMATE BUGS
The contrast of the original image is cranked up and to create a grungy bug worthy of a nightmarish Kafka novella.
The trick was finding something that read as a bug even when distorted later on. Finding a balance between simple and complex was key.
Other Animation Explorations:
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2. PROJECT IT
....on everything. Hands, faces, ears, shirts.
The best footage was taken in total darkness so that the projected animations were able to be at their brightest and create the highest contrast.
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3. DISTORT IT
After layers of contrast, difference blending modes, offsetting, and mirroring the footage is much more kafkaesque.
Then type was layered on top, with extra details like paper cut outs and blurs.
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4. EXTRA TOUCHES
Sometimes when constrast wasn’t enough, t-shirts had to be taped to walls as backdrops.
Thank you, t-shirt, for this excellent rim light.
Phyisically ripping up pieces of paper made a more authentic look than digitally creating boxes.