Arachnid
Jun 6, 2016
Undergraduate / Identity - rock climbing + what it brought to myself - how it affected me [14]
Thanks for the help! Here's what I got so far [I need to cut 400 words though]
My entire body trembles as I cling desperately to the wall for support. I dangle precariously at the edge of an overhang, my body swinging like a pendulum, my entire weight dependent on the grip of my right hand.
I defy gravity.
Suddenly I freeze.
"Crap!" there's a shotgun boom mic within the shot of me climbing. I crop the scene and slow the footage for dramatic effect. I watch frame by frame as the narrative continues.
I defy time.
The millionth climb, always managing to make it harder. The 27th take that I took that day alone and I was exhausted on the 5th.
Anything for the perfect take and climb.
Sweat escapes from the pores from my hands, cut and bleeding, loosening my grip. Muscles fatigued, energy and strength drained from intense movement. Sweat seeps down my brow, an ever growing river flows, heat of the computer and displays pulsing to my body. I release my grip on the mouse and keyboard. Muscles cramped, restless and strained from the lack of movement.
Against the bleeding and overflowing river of sweat that continuously sweeps away the little energy I have, my perseverance a towering colossus stands its ground.
Both the last climb and last piece of footage, both the best.
I need to make them count.
In the shot I'm in a precarious position, underneath an overhang with all my weight on my right arm. Dangerously close to giving up and falling. Except, climbing is a puzzle, a set of steps to get from point A to point B. A ladder that was disassembled and assembled into a piece of art, a path which you invent as you climb. Like all puzzles, this one has a solution. Brute strength is not the answer; all I have is technique and experience. Sitting in my room staring at my display I'm in an awkward position, it's been an hour and I have yet to make progress. Dangerously close to giving up and switching off. Except, editing a film, like a puzzle is a work of art. Piecing together footage into one coherent narrative. A moment in a person's life that was recorded in random order and has yet to be organized. Like all puzzles, this one has a solution. Having to rely on sparks of inspiration is not the answer; all I have is creativity and experience.
I reposition myself to balance my weight onto the reserved strength of my legs, altering my posture. I strain my eyes to notice every detail of the scene, from screen and wall, collecting ideas.
Watching the screen, noting every detail, reflecting on what climbing and editing has done for me.
Climbing led to multitudes of opportunities, giving me motivation to provide assistance for young climbers, creating and leading the first climbing club for my high school. New goals appeared in fitness and health, with more discipline and responsibilities, increasing and strengthening my potential. It gave me a way to reflect on life, to relieve stress and pain. Likewise, editing led to new branches, to stronger roots, and higher sights. It gave me the motivation to write my films, to direct, film and edit, to create my own stories. To make new life out of the life that I already own. It led me to join the broadcasting team in my high school which streamed online, editing live, and working a camera on the field where retakes are impossible. It increased my standards as it forced me to perceive media with a more critique eye. It led me to start a review page with hundreds of followers who read and react to my reviews. Additionally it motivated me to create a YouTube channel full of my diverse films, enabling myself to communicate ideas, memories, and messages to a larger audience. Due to these activities and attributes I gained, I was motivated to continue my pursuit in editing and climbing. Aiming to prolong the growth that they have both started.
As I place the cuts in order, transitioning seamlessly with the footage and the audio, I render the work area and reflect. Reflecting on how climbing and editing counters the inability of life.
In life we have no control over a lot; often they're out of our power and depth. This does not apply to climbing or editing, both cases I am in control. I control the amount of times I climb, the height I go, the path I take. I control my strength, persistence, and creativity. When a situation doesn't go my way, for instance this climb, a new approach is needed. By retracing my steps, giving myself a different perspective, I have opened myself to new possibilities. Just like the challenge of this climb required an open mind, climbing has opened my mind in other areas of my life. It drove me to workout daily, to reflect and be creative in film and writing, giving me humility to know my limits and how to improve and learn. As for editing it has given me the ability to control every aspect of film, determining the final outcome. Editing allows me full reign in the film industry. Where I am able to create works of wonder with footage that was mediocre, while maintaining the humility to realize how far editing can take a film, from completely altering the emotions portrayed, to the complexity of changing the story.
Blinking away the sweat that has rolled onto my eyes, I use the last of my strength to pull myself up. My feet land onto solid ground, my legs quiver, my forearms are stiff, and I can't feel the tips of my fingers. As I strain my mind to think of a creative way to edit this piece, I use the deep rooted emotions that the footage portrays and place them in an order that expresses the correct message. I fix the flaws in footage, correct the color, and manipulate what I can control to complete the film to the best of my ability. I save, render, and export. My eyes are sore, my fingers twitching, and I can't seem to get the visuals out of my head.
Beijing Film Academy. It's program contains the basic and advanced needs and skills for film. It targets my interests as much as it targets my requirements. They provide the entertainment and intellectual information I need to fulfill my desire to learn and develop. Consisting of courses and programs that benefit my career choices in film with an environment that will vastly improve my character for the real world and for self improvement. Having a progressive program that is committed to excellence in filmmaking is perfect for me. Having the want to create a stimulating environment where I can realize my potential is a great way to transition smoothly into a working professional. The school has a safe learning environment with top of the line facilities and equipment. They believe in treating all students with fairness no matter your country of origin, religion, age or sex. Also promoting the acceptance of ideas from all cultures and don't believe in only having one way of thinking. This is welcoming for myself as I am an international student of a diverse background.
I flex my fingers, crack my knuckles; I look at the climb, the edit, that I just completed. I place my hands and feet back on the wall, on the keyboard and mouse. Hell, I finished this climb, this edit, might as well start another.
My motivation to join their program is grand.
My motivation is my fundamental needs to climb and edit.
My motivation to edit is the same as my motivation to climb. It defies everything we are capable of. In climbing we defy gravity, we determine how we climb, how high up we go, our perspective alters our view above what gravity tells us is possible. In editing we defy time, we determine the speed of our life, the order of events, our perspective alters our view that is nonexistent in our linear narrative.
Time is altered by gravity.
Gravity is shown through spacetime.
Personally; climbing and editing has altered the other, both one side of the same coin.
Picture a film strip laid out flat, held together from one end to the other. Time is continuous throughout, a constant measurement within the film. Placing a large rock onto the film creates a dent. This dent alters the structure of the film.
No longer continuous.
No longer constant.
The film is now perceived as slower where it is dented and faster where it is not.
The film is time and the rock is gravity.
Editing and climbing are one and the same.
Thanks for the help! Here's what I got so far [I need to cut 400 words though]
My entire body trembles as I cling desperately to the wall for support. I dangle precariously at the edge of an overhang, my body swinging like a pendulum, my entire weight dependent on the grip of my right hand.
I defy gravity.
Suddenly I freeze.
"Crap!" there's a shotgun boom mic within the shot of me climbing. I crop the scene and slow the footage for dramatic effect. I watch frame by frame as the narrative continues.
I defy time.
The millionth climb, always managing to make it harder. The 27th take that I took that day alone and I was exhausted on the 5th.
Anything for the perfect take and climb.
Sweat escapes from the pores from my hands, cut and bleeding, loosening my grip. Muscles fatigued, energy and strength drained from intense movement. Sweat seeps down my brow, an ever growing river flows, heat of the computer and displays pulsing to my body. I release my grip on the mouse and keyboard. Muscles cramped, restless and strained from the lack of movement.
Against the bleeding and overflowing river of sweat that continuously sweeps away the little energy I have, my perseverance a towering colossus stands its ground.
Both the last climb and last piece of footage, both the best.
I need to make them count.
In the shot I'm in a precarious position, underneath an overhang with all my weight on my right arm. Dangerously close to giving up and falling. Except, climbing is a puzzle, a set of steps to get from point A to point B. A ladder that was disassembled and assembled into a piece of art, a path which you invent as you climb. Like all puzzles, this one has a solution. Brute strength is not the answer; all I have is technique and experience. Sitting in my room staring at my display I'm in an awkward position, it's been an hour and I have yet to make progress. Dangerously close to giving up and switching off. Except, editing a film, like a puzzle is a work of art. Piecing together footage into one coherent narrative. A moment in a person's life that was recorded in random order and has yet to be organized. Like all puzzles, this one has a solution. Having to rely on sparks of inspiration is not the answer; all I have is creativity and experience.
I reposition myself to balance my weight onto the reserved strength of my legs, altering my posture. I strain my eyes to notice every detail of the scene, from screen and wall, collecting ideas.
Watching the screen, noting every detail, reflecting on what climbing and editing has done for me.
Climbing led to multitudes of opportunities, giving me motivation to provide assistance for young climbers, creating and leading the first climbing club for my high school. New goals appeared in fitness and health, with more discipline and responsibilities, increasing and strengthening my potential. It gave me a way to reflect on life, to relieve stress and pain. Likewise, editing led to new branches, to stronger roots, and higher sights. It gave me the motivation to write my films, to direct, film and edit, to create my own stories. To make new life out of the life that I already own. It led me to join the broadcasting team in my high school which streamed online, editing live, and working a camera on the field where retakes are impossible. It increased my standards as it forced me to perceive media with a more critique eye. It led me to start a review page with hundreds of followers who read and react to my reviews. Additionally it motivated me to create a YouTube channel full of my diverse films, enabling myself to communicate ideas, memories, and messages to a larger audience. Due to these activities and attributes I gained, I was motivated to continue my pursuit in editing and climbing. Aiming to prolong the growth that they have both started.
As I place the cuts in order, transitioning seamlessly with the footage and the audio, I render the work area and reflect. Reflecting on how climbing and editing counters the inability of life.
In life we have no control over a lot; often they're out of our power and depth. This does not apply to climbing or editing, both cases I am in control. I control the amount of times I climb, the height I go, the path I take. I control my strength, persistence, and creativity. When a situation doesn't go my way, for instance this climb, a new approach is needed. By retracing my steps, giving myself a different perspective, I have opened myself to new possibilities. Just like the challenge of this climb required an open mind, climbing has opened my mind in other areas of my life. It drove me to workout daily, to reflect and be creative in film and writing, giving me humility to know my limits and how to improve and learn. As for editing it has given me the ability to control every aspect of film, determining the final outcome. Editing allows me full reign in the film industry. Where I am able to create works of wonder with footage that was mediocre, while maintaining the humility to realize how far editing can take a film, from completely altering the emotions portrayed, to the complexity of changing the story.
Blinking away the sweat that has rolled onto my eyes, I use the last of my strength to pull myself up. My feet land onto solid ground, my legs quiver, my forearms are stiff, and I can't feel the tips of my fingers. As I strain my mind to think of a creative way to edit this piece, I use the deep rooted emotions that the footage portrays and place them in an order that expresses the correct message. I fix the flaws in footage, correct the color, and manipulate what I can control to complete the film to the best of my ability. I save, render, and export. My eyes are sore, my fingers twitching, and I can't seem to get the visuals out of my head.
Beijing Film Academy. It's program contains the basic and advanced needs and skills for film. It targets my interests as much as it targets my requirements. They provide the entertainment and intellectual information I need to fulfill my desire to learn and develop. Consisting of courses and programs that benefit my career choices in film with an environment that will vastly improve my character for the real world and for self improvement. Having a progressive program that is committed to excellence in filmmaking is perfect for me. Having the want to create a stimulating environment where I can realize my potential is a great way to transition smoothly into a working professional. The school has a safe learning environment with top of the line facilities and equipment. They believe in treating all students with fairness no matter your country of origin, religion, age or sex. Also promoting the acceptance of ideas from all cultures and don't believe in only having one way of thinking. This is welcoming for myself as I am an international student of a diverse background.
I flex my fingers, crack my knuckles; I look at the climb, the edit, that I just completed. I place my hands and feet back on the wall, on the keyboard and mouse. Hell, I finished this climb, this edit, might as well start another.
My motivation to join their program is grand.
My motivation is my fundamental needs to climb and edit.
My motivation to edit is the same as my motivation to climb. It defies everything we are capable of. In climbing we defy gravity, we determine how we climb, how high up we go, our perspective alters our view above what gravity tells us is possible. In editing we defy time, we determine the speed of our life, the order of events, our perspective alters our view that is nonexistent in our linear narrative.
Time is altered by gravity.
Gravity is shown through spacetime.
Personally; climbing and editing has altered the other, both one side of the same coin.
Picture a film strip laid out flat, held together from one end to the other. Time is continuous throughout, a constant measurement within the film. Placing a large rock onto the film creates a dent. This dent alters the structure of the film.
No longer continuous.
No longer constant.
The film is now perceived as slower where it is dented and faster where it is not.
The film is time and the rock is gravity.
Editing and climbing are one and the same.
