This might sound to good to be true, and I agree that these superstitious things are hard to believe until we experience it ourselves. But things happen, whether you believe it or not.
This documentary is made not only to inform others that might not know about the Chinese Ghost Festival Tradition but at the same time, to remind myself and my group members that as the younger generation, we should not forget about our own traditions.
STRENGTHS
The documentary summarises the key and important things that are needed to know about Chinese Ghost Festival. For example, a little bit of what it is about, the time of the festival, and what are we supposed to do during the time. There are also still images that are in sync with the spoken narrative. A little bit of explanation is also shown on screen. The 'things you are not allowed to do' are also filmed in order for the audience to get a clearer understanding.
WEAKNESSES
Almost all of the things are pictures and no clip of the actual festival. It is because, the festival is not going to happen in another 3 months. Also, the 'things you are not allowed to do' is re-created, and it looked fake. In addition, the 're-telling' story part is a bit long, and it might get boring at some point.
Another point is that whether non-chinese audience will be able to get what we are trying to do. Since, it might be confusing and sound so unreal. We really tried to make it as simple as possible and highlighted the important point by putting text in the video.
INFLUENCES
For the whole documentary, there is no direct influences of any filmmakers, except the "re-telling the story" which I take the style from "In The Life on Another: Starring Allison Wood" documentary, especially the fading out everytime the topic idea is changed.
Aside from the documentary, I like directors who made films that could challenge the mind, while watching it. For example, Tim Burton, who always make his film as in his own fantasy world, dark, and intriguing. Also, Takashi Miike, who never made his films clear. So the audience will always have to guess. And so this time, I took the opportunity to take the essence of the two directors and trying my style of filming the "things you are not allowed to do" scenes.
For example: we did not include any ghost appearance in any of the scenes (except in scene 1 where the photograph is shown), but we inserted a music that make the scenes tensed, and a scream. That way, audience should be able to conclude that there is something.
CONCLUSION
Our documentary is far from perfect, as we are giving the audience a compressed version of a tradition that is being handed down for generations. But the aim is that for the audience to at least get the gist of it, whether they would believe it or not.
22 April 2009
Final Composition
The final film storyline:
It started with narratives and related pictures on the background. The the traditions that managed to be filmed are:
1. When you are out at night, make your friends called you with your nickname. In case the ghost remember your full name, since if they called it out and you answered them, the spirits will come and get you.
2. Do not take pictures at night for if you accidentally shoot a spirit/s in the photo, it would mean that you are taking the spirit home.
3. And do not sleep on a double bed size alone and on one side. Because in case you turn around, there might be somebody sleeping beside you.
And at the end of the film, there is a testimonial from the other group member, Peony. She is retelling the story of what happened to her a few years ago when her grandmother died. Apparently, according to the traditions she is supposed to burn a shoe for her grandmother. But, as the younger generation, she did not really care about this kind of beliefs and so she did it anyhow. Though, it is a wrong choice. She did burn the shoe, but in the wrong size and thus her grandmother started to appear in her dream. Peony's grandmother kept appearing in her dream until Peony told her mum about it. At the end, she burn the shoe again (right size), this time with her mother watched over her, making sure she did it all correctly. Afterwards, her grandmother never really appeared in her dreams anymore.
It started with narratives and related pictures on the background. The the traditions that managed to be filmed are:
1. When you are out at night, make your friends called you with your nickname. In case the ghost remember your full name, since if they called it out and you answered them, the spirits will come and get you.
2. Do not take pictures at night for if you accidentally shoot a spirit/s in the photo, it would mean that you are taking the spirit home.
3. And do not sleep on a double bed size alone and on one side. Because in case you turn around, there might be somebody sleeping beside you.
And at the end of the film, there is a testimonial from the other group member, Peony. She is retelling the story of what happened to her a few years ago when her grandmother died. Apparently, according to the traditions she is supposed to burn a shoe for her grandmother. But, as the younger generation, she did not really care about this kind of beliefs and so she did it anyhow. Though, it is a wrong choice. She did burn the shoe, but in the wrong size and thus her grandmother started to appear in her dream. Peony's grandmother kept appearing in her dream until Peony told her mum about it. At the end, she burn the shoe again (right size), this time with her mother watched over her, making sure she did it all correctly. Afterwards, her grandmother never really appeared in her dreams anymore.
9 March 2009
Digital Story Telling Project Part 2
Here are the list of the possibilites of traditions to be documented:
1. If you wanted to pee in the rural area, you have to say 'excuse me' before peeing. As if you are asking permission to the spirit that dwells in the area. And do not do it at night, in case you pee on them.
2. The food offerings for random spirits (not the one that is for your ancestors), you must not eat them. If you want to eat it, you have to ask permission. Because if not, the spirits will thinkthat you are snatching away their food.
3. When you are out at night, make your friends called you with your nickname. In case the ghost remember your full name, since if they called it out and you answered them, the spirits will come and get you.
4. Do not take pictures at night for if you accidentally shoot a spirit/s in the photo, it would mean that you are taking the spirit home.
5. And do not sleep on a double bed size alone and on one side. Because in case you turn around, there might be somebody sleeping beside you.
These 5 are the possibilities for an example of what you can do and what you cannot do in Chinese Traditions. As for the documentary itself, we might only choose 3 out of 5 depending on the time it took. Currently, the chosen ones are 1,2,and3 or 5.
1. If you wanted to pee in the rural area, you have to say 'excuse me' before peeing. As if you are asking permission to the spirit that dwells in the area. And do not do it at night, in case you pee on them.
2. The food offerings for random spirits (not the one that is for your ancestors), you must not eat them. If you want to eat it, you have to ask permission. Because if not, the spirits will thinkthat you are snatching away their food.
3. When you are out at night, make your friends called you with your nickname. In case the ghost remember your full name, since if they called it out and you answered them, the spirits will come and get you.
4. Do not take pictures at night for if you accidentally shoot a spirit/s in the photo, it would mean that you are taking the spirit home.
5. And do not sleep on a double bed size alone and on one side. Because in case you turn around, there might be somebody sleeping beside you.
These 5 are the possibilities for an example of what you can do and what you cannot do in Chinese Traditions. As for the documentary itself, we might only choose 3 out of 5 depending on the time it took. Currently, the chosen ones are 1,2,and3 or 5.
3 March 2009
Filming sequence plan
OPENING SEQUENCE
News report style. There will be 1 person pretending to be an anchore news, talking and explaining what is Chinese Ghost Festival.
2nd SEQUENCE
The anchor news will keep on talking the explanation about the superstitions and traditions while the video will show what is going to happen if you follow or do not follow the 'supposedly' superstitions. (Actions will be carried out in a comedic light hearted way). There will be subtitles as to what is going on.
3rd SEQUENCE
The interview with Buddhist priest (if the face is allowed to be shown).
4th SEQUENCE
Back to the anchor news screen randomly asking people whether they believe in ghost or not. After a few people, it will end by having her speaking the last few sentences. But then, there is a sound of her full name being called and she looked back halfway, then a cutscene. End
News report style. There will be 1 person pretending to be an anchore news, talking and explaining what is Chinese Ghost Festival.
2nd SEQUENCE
The anchor news will keep on talking the explanation about the superstitions and traditions while the video will show what is going to happen if you follow or do not follow the 'supposedly' superstitions. (Actions will be carried out in a comedic light hearted way). There will be subtitles as to what is going on.
3rd SEQUENCE
The interview with Buddhist priest (if the face is allowed to be shown).
4th SEQUENCE
Back to the anchor news screen randomly asking people whether they believe in ghost or not. After a few people, it will end by having her speaking the last few sentences. But then, there is a sound of her full name being called and she looked back halfway, then a cutscene. End
Project explanation
WHAT IT IS ABOUT?
Ghost festival is on the 15th of the 7th month according to Chinese (lunar) calender, but that whole 7th month is called the ghost month. It is when the Gate of Hell is opened and which the ghost and spirits, and also dead ancestors come out and find their living heir if they have not fulfilled their dead ancestors requests.
WHAT TO DO?
During that month, usually the living heir will burn incense and paper money, and also prepare food offerings such as oranges, rice, steamed pork or sometimes their ancestors favourite food. Although later on, their family will eat this. Sometimes, they will also burn miniatures like houses, cars, shoes, clothes, and so on that are made out of paper, because the Chinese believes when you die, you wear nothing and own nothing. So in order to give their deceased family members some comfort in the underworld, the living heir burn these stuffs to them. Some cases, if the stuffs are not burn, the deceased spirit could come back and haunt you.
SUPERSTITIONS/TRADITIONS
1.When somebody calls you in their full name, do not answer or look back, because then they will take you to the underworld.
2.Do not sleep in king bed size alone because something could be sleeping beside you.
3.Burning paper money so that they will have a currency to buy what they want in the underworld.
REASONS FOR DOING THIS PROJECTS
It is unique traditions to Chinese although some other Asian culture might have something similar. But the main reason is that, today, nobody believes in ghost and lean towards science. It is not just the matter of believe because this can also be called as cultural heritage, what the Chinese are made of; their identity. It might sounds ridiculous to outsiders that have never heard of it, but to the Chinese who had been doing it and been implanted these ideas since they were born, it is quite matter, since it is also linked with moral values like filial piety and respect towards the older generation.
Ghost festival is on the 15th of the 7th month according to Chinese (lunar) calender, but that whole 7th month is called the ghost month. It is when the Gate of Hell is opened and which the ghost and spirits, and also dead ancestors come out and find their living heir if they have not fulfilled their dead ancestors requests.
WHAT TO DO?
During that month, usually the living heir will burn incense and paper money, and also prepare food offerings such as oranges, rice, steamed pork or sometimes their ancestors favourite food. Although later on, their family will eat this. Sometimes, they will also burn miniatures like houses, cars, shoes, clothes, and so on that are made out of paper, because the Chinese believes when you die, you wear nothing and own nothing. So in order to give their deceased family members some comfort in the underworld, the living heir burn these stuffs to them. Some cases, if the stuffs are not burn, the deceased spirit could come back and haunt you.
SUPERSTITIONS/TRADITIONS
1.When somebody calls you in their full name, do not answer or look back, because then they will take you to the underworld.
2.Do not sleep in king bed size alone because something could be sleeping beside you.
3.Burning paper money so that they will have a currency to buy what they want in the underworld.
REASONS FOR DOING THIS PROJECTS
It is unique traditions to Chinese although some other Asian culture might have something similar. But the main reason is that, today, nobody believes in ghost and lean towards science. It is not just the matter of believe because this can also be called as cultural heritage, what the Chinese are made of; their identity. It might sounds ridiculous to outsiders that have never heard of it, but to the Chinese who had been doing it and been implanted these ideas since they were born, it is quite matter, since it is also linked with moral values like filial piety and respect towards the older generation.
18 February 2009
Digital Story Telling Project Part 1
My group project idea is to portray the superstitions and tradition to be done during the 7th month of the Chinese calendar system. To be exact, it is called the Ghost Festival and usually the strongest at 14th.
Usually, during that time, the current living family members have to pay respect to their ancestor by visiting their graves, cleaning the tombstones, give offerings (ex: fruits, their favourite foods, and sometimes chinese wine), also burning some incense and some paper money. This paper money is intended for them to use in their afterlife. Because what the Chinese believe of afterlife is hell, not heaven. And when you die, you did not have anything. So, this kind burning paper money tradition is necessary.
Why my group chose this topic as a project is that because it is quite interesting and we always thought doing these thing is normal. But to non-chinese, it is quite thing to grasp. Furthermore, to the British who do no believe in ghost and believe in science, this Ghost Festival could give them another insight of what is happening on other culture.
Usually, during that time, the current living family members have to pay respect to their ancestor by visiting their graves, cleaning the tombstones, give offerings (ex: fruits, their favourite foods, and sometimes chinese wine), also burning some incense and some paper money. This paper money is intended for them to use in their afterlife. Because what the Chinese believe of afterlife is hell, not heaven. And when you die, you did not have anything. So, this kind burning paper money tradition is necessary.
Why my group chose this topic as a project is that because it is quite interesting and we always thought doing these thing is normal. But to non-chinese, it is quite thing to grasp. Furthermore, to the British who do no believe in ghost and believe in science, this Ghost Festival could give them another insight of what is happening on other culture.
16 February 2009
'IN THE LIFE ON ANOTHER' STARRING ALLISON WOOD
In this documentary, it is mainly focused on her accounts of her past. The way it was started to shot, is that there is a little bit of sentence to ponder about at the beginning '...what might define a life fully lived?' Then in started off by her telling how she spend her childhood in bed with no education until she turns 15.
The style used is that the camera will fades off as she talks about different ideas. Just like a written story where there would be a new paragraph for a new idea. And when she was asked a different question, the screen fades and the question will appear on the screen and fades again and then there is Allison reciting her story. This is just like when you would have a subtopic in a story.
The way that the camera used closed up shot in order for having the audience to see her emotion so clearly on the screen, is perfect. It really is a good shot clip of showing an accounts of somebody that has been through a hard time and might inspire others.
The style used is that the camera will fades off as she talks about different ideas. Just like a written story where there would be a new paragraph for a new idea. And when she was asked a different question, the screen fades and the question will appear on the screen and fades again and then there is Allison reciting her story. This is just like when you would have a subtopic in a story.
The way that the camera used closed up shot in order for having the audience to see her emotion so clearly on the screen, is perfect. It really is a good shot clip of showing an accounts of somebody that has been through a hard time and might inspire others.
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