This project, created for Moving Images IAT 344 at Simon Fraser University, involved producing an interpreted video poem based on Postcard Home from English Bay by Alex Leslie. The poem, part of the Vancouver Poet Laureate's Poetry Video Contest, explores the English Bay area of Vancouver with hyperbolic, drug-like imagery. We chose it for its rich, surreal visuals that we felt would translate well into film. Guided by Professor Kate Hennessy, Vancouver Poet Laureate Fiona Tinwei Lam, and poet Alex Leslie, our team created a short film that brought a unique artistic interpretation to the poem.
As the VFX artist and editor, I was responsible for creating animation sequences, applying visual effects to footage, and helping convey the desired mood. I also managed communication with the poet and ensured the team stayed on track with weekly deliverables.
Producer / VFX Artist / Editor
Zak Zastera: VFX Artist / Director
Alyssa Umbal: Artist / Cinematographer
Jonathan Newman: Sound Designer / Music
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Premiere Pro
Final Cut Pro
2 Months
During the initial stages, I contributed by creating presentation decks for tutorials, writing the logline and synopsis, and developing potential shots and visual boards. I drew inspiration from films, artwork, and tutorials to help convey the project's art direction.
With Adobe Photoshop, I drew images using a drawing tablet that I then combined in Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro (frame by frame animation) into a cohesive sequence that was added into the final cut.
Additional Screenshots:
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After filming shots of English Bay based on the storyboard, I edited the final video poem, focusing on pacing and visual impact. I used various cut techniques and compositional methods. To enhance the footage, I applied effects like old TV grain, posterized colours, black and white, and light particles, along with adjustments such as stabilization, cropping, and color enhancement. I also slowed down certain sections to improve pacing, responding to feedback that it was too fast.
Using Blender and Maya to create the scenes by integrating existing 3D models and animations onto the recorded footage.
I learned how to effectively communicate with the poet whose work our short film is based on. This process involved understanding their creative vision while also incorporating the vision of my team. It required a lot of revisions, back-and-forth communication, and collaboration to ensure we stayed aligned with the original tone of the poem while making it our own. One of the biggest challenges was meeting deadlines, as we had to revise our ideas multiple times while also creating complex VFX, which required a lot of time and effort. We maintained daily meetings to stay on track and ensure everything was completed on time
