For this module I was required to create six influence boards that provide meaning to me. It was designed to be an effective approach to start my PDP/Creative Futures work for semester 2. I needed to research areas of interest that I admired and evaluate why I selected them. Below are the results of this research:
One of my very first influences was the cinema. My earliest memory was queuing outside the Gaumont cinema in Birmingham City Centre for the film Star Wars. I can’t remember how long we queued for but I do recall there being a long queue of parents and excited children wrapped around the building waiting to see this new film. Star Wars introduced me to the ‘Magic of Cinema’, the massive screen (The Gaumont had the largest screen in Europe) and fantastic sound were unforgettable and a big influence.
Films
Books
Sport
I find Sport influential. For example sportsmen like Lance Armstrong who won the Tour De France 7 times after surviving testicular cancer. Darren Clarke who won the open last year at the age of 42 year, particularly poignant having gone through the tragedy of losing his wife to cancer. Muhammed Ali for self belief and confidence in his own ability. Their never say die attitude is inspiring. Oscar Pistorius a Greek disabled athlete that runs against able bodied athletes. Nigel Benn’s courage in the ring. Jonny Wilkinson’s dedication to ‘practice makes perfect’, Rafael Nadal for never giving up.
Camerawork
Visual Effects
I also gain inspiration and influence from companies such as Red Giant Software and Video Co-Pilot. I enjoy post-production techniques and I'm considering this as a future career. The websites provide a number of examples of what is achievable using software such as After Effects with plugins like Trapcode Form and Particular. They also have tutorials and blogs containing information on how to create special effects and I am learning how to apply these techniques to my own work. Vimeo.com is also an important source of inspiration for me as it's a site used by creatives to showcase their work. It helps me generate ideas and also shows me the standard I need to be aiming for with my work.
Directors
Not surprisingly some of my favourite films have been directed and/or produced by these men. Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill etc), George Lucas (Star Wars), Oliver Stone (Platoon, JFK, Wall Street), James Cameron (Aliens, Avatar, Terminator 2), Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Good Fellas, Casino, The Departed), Steven Spielberg (Close Encounters, E.T, Jurassic Park), Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings Trilogy).
- Quentin Tarantino's films are often violent but stylishly shot to enhance the story and bring life to characters
- Martin Scorsese's films are often based on the Mafia and give a violent and disturbing insight into this world (see below for further information)
- I admire Peter Jackson for the immense challenge of bringing the Lord of the Rings Trilogy to life in the films
- Steven Spielberg has made a number of ground breaking films, many of his films contain fantastic special effects and he has often been a pioneer in this area.
I particularly admire the camera work in Martin Scorseee films. For example in the film GoodFellas there’s a tracking shot that lasts nearly 2 and a half minutes. The shot is used to demonstrate how the characters world is shaped by influence and money. It has also been used in films such as Kill Bill and Taxi Driver.
I enjoyed creating the influences boards as they really made me think about my values and beliefs and the way they influence my creativity and work decisions. As a Photographer and Filmmaker I now have a good insight into what motivates me and how I can use these influences to enhance my personal development.