Duality

Duality

An instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something; a dualism “his photographs capitalise on the dualities of light and dark, stillness and movement

In the video's below Kobe Bryant speaks about the different energy used to push and motivate yourself when trying to dominate the game of basketball. It is a verb short break down of being ultimately positive and negative also being able to study and evolve your game to the next level, by reading reacting and dictating the pace of the game by forcing the defence to react to what you do. Then directing your team mates to success also the aim of basketball is to want to become better and the goal is to win you can only do so much without knowledge practise and understanding yourself in every moment of the day.

 

This particular athlete I resonated with because of all that he went through in his career. He is one of the most hated and successful basketball players in the last 2 decades. To hear him speak about what it took for him to stay motivated and overcome everything he did is inspiring and is also why u chose to do a duality film about myself.

Not completely going through everything he did but the way he was able to channle his anger and he love for the game to help push him and in the 20 year he played you are able to see the change in him from his game to the split personality he speaks about             

kobe also talks about the duality within the concept of this piece he created and how his children influenced and encouraged him with it.

as a young black man with a basketball dream its been hard from the very beginning the culture in London is so different we all live like crabs waiting for the chance to pull another person down to get higher in life growing up watching a different sport than most of my class mates and friends left me alienated and isolated I didn’t watch regular cartoons I watched a lot of American shows and ended up speaking talk and walking like I was from there as I grew up people felt the need to tell me my dreams of becoming professional is pointless and those doubts began to set in for quite some time a lot of my friends recently had flown over to American and are on different programs and scholarships that may push them into the life I have always dreamt about so as I practise and continue to improve myself I want to show the duality in the effort I put into playing the game of basketball and developing a script that shows the back and forth I have with myself I was also reading a book called the inner game of tennis that also references this as self 1 and self 2 and interesting back and forth between myself is what I want to show and how I also have overcome such obstacles basketball is not popular in this country neither is the aspiration to want to be professional so already it was an uphill climb ironically as i began to make progress in my later college years i became plagued with injuries i would later learn that's all part of the struggle to overcome your own body and mind and is also where i see the duality in that and also within good and evil 

yin and yang 

in Chinese philosophy yin yang describes how seemingly opposite forces may actually be complementary or interconnected in life and in nature the both give rise to each other because they are linked together there are many examples of this like light and dark, water and fire night and day sadness and happiness  they are all seen as manifestations of duality as seen in the above symbol of yin and yang that has been recreated in the form of night and day and sun and moon itself more over upon analysing this interpretation of the symbol you can also see the sun and a clear sky and the moon and space filled with the stars one common aspect of both sides of the symbol is that they are both symbols of light whether that be in the day or in the night they stand to both give us a way to see above all else  

The Inner Game Of Tennis : 

This is a book one of good friends Emanuel recommended me to read ages ago. Due to my own own ignorance I only recently started to read. Upon reading and studying i found out a lot about the mental side of sports. Moreover what it takes to perform at the highest level and also staying there. The book described the act of talking to yourself when trying to master your craft or learning a new skill. He describes the notion of this in the form of self 1 and self 2. Self 1 is first half of yourself that often chooses to criticise everything done while doing it and is known as your conscious. Self 2 is yourself that acts out what is being learnt and is known the unconsciousness 

The book highlights the moments in sport where every you do is seemingly going right. A point in competition where your mind is quiet and you aren't judging yourself. In my case it would be when every shot i take is going in regardless of who is trying to stop me. The book describes these moments as "Peak Performance" some commentators like use the term "in the zone" or "unconscious" "on fire" "in the groove" and one of favourites "effortless". 

I chose to make a short film about the mental struggles i have experienced while training and practising the game of basketball. Overcoming most obstacles and being able to perform at a high level and the amount of practise it takes along with reading and learning about the game in order reach beyond my own expectations. This short film while feature the concept of proactive and the things you go through mentality and physically in order to become great.


The title of my film will be called The Duel Against Myself  :

I am going to show the struggle i have with myself when it comes to this game i love so much. The next step will be developing a script booking halls and getting permission to film and then capturing all that comes with this when you are battling against yourself. Nobody has a bigger criticism of myself than i do and i believe i can show this visually and also believe it can translate well on screen. I am still very passionate about the sport i believe it will be a great task for me something that i believe in and in the process can bring more attention to duality and the game of basketball.

upon more research and developing my idea on my final film i decided to take inspiration from this advert and re-create my initial idea still implementing the idea of good and bad yin and yang i will be creating a film embracing the negative stereo-types of black men and using them as an spring board myself into the best possible version of myself i can be so featured in the film will be my highlights my low points and self commentary of this path i take it will be produced directed and played by me i will be taking my alter-ego along with me and allowing myself to use the sport as a way to turn all the things said by other people of other ethic backgrounds and cultures and lifestyle and giving the audience a chance to be a fly on the wall allowing them into my personal space and to see the effort it takes to play at the level of competition I'm aiming for talking to the camera talking to my opponent motivating my team and myself showing both sides of myself and i realise as a Gemini it is the right thing to do


i will be creating my own music which is another part of myself that i haven't embraced yet poetry will be feature editing and every other part of myself in terms of skill desire and control that i have will all be featured because its about taking all my experiences and putting that together to create something i am proud of so i will be researching more along the producers like Timbaland  and Dr.Dre who i believe came from similar circumstances and grew into living legends in their own rights in terms of music

another musical genius and a legend is Dr Dre and his music ear has been the cause and reason for so many memories ill be studying his creative process what he listens to and what he listens for in music and so on i will not be imitating them but they inspire heavily and i believe in that i aim to do the same way they do

lastly in my creative writing process when it comes to expressing myself and putting words together and channelling himself into what he does from his process to his execution and delivery wretch 32 is a UK artist and to me a poet who can do it all and for me the way this documentary/listening party was done was amazing touching on the experience of recording with wretch is amazing i will also be taking that in also so in summery so far i have been practising working tirelessly on my game a physical fitness i have been studying my muse and people i look to for inspiration my aim with this film/doc is to inspire but also expose how hard it is in London when it comes to playing basketball but also trying to make it a profession studying film for so long i believe in the truth and capturing moments as they happen i will put myself to the test i wanted to take some test shot and some pictures but the camera was down my next aim is film the studio parts of my film as i will be using that in my piece also i want to use this style of film and the combination of still imagery and moving image along with voice overs and so on black and white will be used in this film

loul deng went from britain to america and before that went from sudan to egypt and learnt how to play from 7 years old had a similar upbringing to me and i look at what he did and i aim for that

Lorna Simpson 

This artist is very well known for her skills in photography from the title to the image itself even the name of the still image all ties into making you think and is someone who i looked into at the suggestion of Kathleen to find out that she stands as a strong figure in her work and chooses to use her art to provoke though by carefully selecting images of different issues and circumstances and uses them to push your thought process as a up and coming black man who sees himself as a creative but also someone who feels very strongly about being put in a box a stereotyped and has been through certain levels of racism i connected with her art her stance and will continue study her work and use her work and message as a measure for my own   

Glenn Ligon     

I took special interest in this portrait because of who is feature and how he manipulated the image glenn made his name by manipulating text images and many other things hes style forces you to notice the difference in his work and grips you're attention literally  eye catching and also is someone recommended that i shall dig deeper on and study more of while in my process of working editing and constructing my work both of the above artist where born in new york this place has so much history so much to give because of black people and how they made their stamp its almost a given these two are who they are 

Michael B Jordan 

  

this man right here and this short film is almost a refection of everything i have ever spoken about all the things i love and also an almost reverse of what i want to do but i relate because he has the same beginnings and talks about almost not being aware of how bad things are and what it took him to do to become who he now and i admire his success but also his humidity in attitude how he carries himself and funny enough still visits his old neighborhood the same way i do to remind himself of where he was and who he is that is also the main reason why i choose to do this project 

Black and white media : Black images in Popular Film and Television 

currently borrowing this book I've realized and learned so much about the actual term of black and what it was used for the book states that "black was created as a political category in a certain historical moment. it was created as a consequence of certain symbolic and ideological struggles in that very struggle is a change of consciousness, a self-recognition, a new process of identification"

that is the most important part of this whole project stepping into who i am even if i was categorized for political reason i am learning to love and live with myself for myself through myself that is why my last project and this one is about reflecting and expression that is why i am doing this that is also why i am sticking to my goal to be more that's why i took this whole project on and asked who i asked to be a part of it it literally is a duel against myself   

i put together a little 2 minute piece from my best plays from last year and added a voice over i did recently to get the feel of my film/sport advert i chose black and white colour grading to add a certain gritty look to capture me and point out what am wearing also it adds to the element of yin and yang that i have spoken about this isn't my final nor is it the full style i want my piece to look like but the emotion and what i am sayings very import as i express how much the game means to me and how much effort is required while playing and also to Taylor you life around the sport the type of job you work the hours you put inECT. the running time should be 5-7 minutes as its a short and ill be turning this into a series once i am done with university the challenge is capturing this on a DSLR of GH4 because of the pace of practice and how close you get  

poem : Keep it Simple 

Yes or no
Swish or bank - miss

Passenger or pilot

Fly or walk - drive

Speed or slow mo wooe woe

Colour or black and white- my picture

Bright or dim- my mood my eyes

Simple men are simple simply simple

Behind the scenes or front and centre owning it either way

Keep it simple as my good friend once said maintain


I must believe in the god that lives within myself effort and faith are linked together do not believe without doing do not do without believing

Keep it simple remind yourself of your calm steady nature  not everyone understands you more than you do you know how things will play out in the situations you are in if you stay true to u and trust that god will take you through faith without works is dead remember that

Keep it simple

Practice till the muscles store the memory

those that say they are rich are broke and that claim broke are actually rich!

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NLT
http://bible.com/116/col.3.15.NLT
Keep it simple

Poem : The Game 

Rubber rushing against the floor shoes squeaking against the hardwood plastic around cotten nothing but net next is the grind effort egos and energy anger anticipation adaptation all are elements of the game you job is to excel in that black man your only good for reach so reach beyond speech leave them all speechless with your breathtaking play

Why do i play because you build your own character you are in as much control as you allow yourself to be in what do you want to be fast? Then do sprints and you'll love beating your man over and over again you want to silence someone then fix your mechanics and you're ready to take over nothing beats you seeing the ball going in because you worked when nobody was willing to embrace working

Urghh work no no not on the hardwood but in you're restaurant delivering food for those that work overtime over time you may lose the game and your touch for it by the very hand you use to work for money your worth more than the game is free as long as you dedicate your time to it only thing that cost is the space no money for that then theres always the great outdoors the street where you started basketball is about rhythm and timing its about mastering your mind so your body will follow the way your wrist flicks the balance the way the win rushes through your body and most of all making your opponent eat his own words you must have a flow to your game play with haste don't rush your the game will come pouring out you become poetry smoothness clean and calm

Like the Grate Grandmaster Bruce lee once said : Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.

That is why i love basketball because it gives you so much health happiness friends encouragement love and a space to either be alone or with people depending on what you do to me its the best sport on the planet the game is feeling once you step in between those lines its all about the game nothing else matters

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these are the two poems that will be featured in my film i was told to embrace my love for the game express it through poetry then use the imagery filmed to reflect that i with the ambient sounds of the game and give people an intermit close feel for the game all while also featuring the mental part of the game which is also spoken about within the poetry referencing bruce lee because he lived what he spoke on and mastered his craft mastered his mind ad your mind is very important in basketball it determines if u play well or not  thats it when am stressed when i'm angry when am sad or any other negative emotion grips me and i get to a level of rage that makes me uncomfortable with either myself or the situation i hoop either i do it alone or with a group thats a beauty in itself the option to choose how and what it is you want to do with the game   

Since the recent poem I have also decided to go out and connect with a few of my friends that either coached me or played with me of both and wanted to have a interview player to play style interview and allow them to talk about their experiences coming up as a professional and the difficulties that come with all of that especially in England where a lot of players from from college programs out their of even on the professional level end up coming down to London and start playing and starting every game without earning it along with the imbalance of ethnic players in Britain all this along with having to play over seas just to get recognised nationally in Britain the lack of acknowledgment that came with team GB in 2012 and so much more I believe allowing the ex pros and current pros who are either pros in Britain or British born that have left to play elsewhere is very important and adds to my grad film when highlighting and representing the struggles and trails of a professional athlete 

aside from the angles I wanted to incorporate this formate of allowing the players to speak on things they went through and mix that in with a montage of them either dribbling and or posing with the ball as their answers are the most important thing in the interview I want to shoot mid level from the waist up and have them sitting in a low lighted moody background with 3 key lights using the studio in uni is a plus because all the tools are accessible the down side to all of this has been trying to get the  interviewees down to Farnham to shoot a failed attempt at actually conducting an interview came at a bad time and I believe now having more time and a break in easter has allowed me to recharge and sit and think about the idea moving forward I hope to make more progress on the shoot days and hopefully me and the team consisting of dan Logan and  Natalie will be able to work together to shot and communicate more as the producer and director I have to do a better job in talking with the team and other who are trying to help moving on I will be recording folly for the basketball shot that I have recorded and still need to go and get more so editing will be the last thing as I close in on finishing my grad film 

ive also referenced bruce lee who has always been a big influence on me and other professionals when it comes to sports a lot of people see the finished project and don't know the mental stability you must have in order to perform and master your art I see basketball as an art so I referenced  Annie Liebovitiz and her Pinterest really motivates me in terms of the stylistic approach she has on shooting these basketball players for example Dwayne wade 

she captured him in a very graceful motion I want to add this into my work and final film when showing off the art of basketball mixing in grace and grit with showing the constant drills and reps and hard work just to get to a decent level and my journey to become like the people I've interviewed and turn my passion into a Job 

Devin williams 

devin and I share the sane similarities when it comes to basketball the dedication the love and the obsessive nature of perfecting his mechanics and trying to be the best player he could be as he finishing up he's playing he to when to an arts academy in San Antonio and had to submit a day in the life project that features him and he's various different forms a practice and he uploaded it to youtube it ended up becoming a viral video and he had continued to build he's brand till today he is a renowned trainer and has interacted with a lot of devision 1 athletes and has even held camps in china  and has taken he's training camps from national to international and works had to help rising stars reach their goals of Turing into professionals or obtaining scholarships from the top colleges in the country he's story inspires me a lot and is similar to what I wanna do once I finish uni below is an example of his latest instalment in he's series 

  

Two against Themselves

So to start off our project we wanted to focus on Liam. He is this narrative and the story so we decided to document his name his age when he started dancing. Also how he expresses himself through dancing and if he can actually do things like express himself. We needed to know what he thought about dancing in general who inspired him and what he thought about the idea of splitting dance up, having him dance in two styles too add to his skill and utilise it. The goal was to make him seem like two people using the different styles to split and in the end we ended up having a dance battle with Liam against himself moving and vibrating and body popping to the music being played. This whole sequence of events entering the mind of liam showing the difference in style but similarity in the emotion of expression and the different pace of rythem is how we came up with the synopsis.

SYNOPSIS

Entering the mind of a dancer and documenting and showing the battle a dancer has with himself. A literal battle against himself is what us as a film crew will be filming and showing. We get to this point documenting our dancer and leading the audience through the thoughts and processes of the battle. Literally taking the art form of dance and using the different genres to split our dancer show versatility. Also ultimately show that though learning is hard working through mistakes and allowing one’s self to express himself is greater and more rewarding than giving up or stopping because that in itself is easy.  

when directing the vision i had for this whole sequence of events had to be sorted out by getting Liams perspective on my musical choice first, also if he felt comfortable moving in and around the space while the music played. To settle him in i spoke to him and gave him a series of scenes for him to picture in his head that matched the theme of the song and this made it easier for him to dance.

Our camera team did a great job of finding the right angles to capture the movement and poses of both styles. Very well this made the editing easier and the transitions smoother as well as keeping the distance between the camera and dancer reasonable enough for the cuts to look great.

Our goal in post production was to fill in the gaps left by each cut when moving from style to style and taking the best moves performed and adding them together. We added a white frame to create a flash effect for some the transitions in-between songs and we also added a DJ Scratch. This is featured in dance battles and is part of the hip-hop culture it adds to the sequences and doesn't leave the audience to confused when transitioning to the next genre of music being performed. The different transitions in the sequence add to the theme of music and allow the audience to take in the battle sequences more.

We added a certain amount of color grading to manipulate the look of certain scenes and colors in the scene. We also realized that the moves Liam used matched each song very well, the masked used for each genre allowed the expression to be felt while he was dancing. His hand movements and head movements where all highlighted and stood out more, due to how much the masks related to his mood while dancing. The dark colors where for hip-hop which set the moods of aggression and bravado. While white and grey masks along with the extra cloth added to the free flo sleek mood presented by contemporary dance.

Our goal was reached, liam did what he didn't think he could do he stepped out of his shell.

Our limits as creatives was pushed and we was able to create something special. Me being passionately invested in dance all the way back to our first dance project, being allowed to direct my visio was a joy. Everyone involved with the project added to that being on the same page and being committed to the task. The only down side to everything would be having to travel from london everytime and not being able to have enough time on the over all process of creating this project. Like coming in for tutorials and spending more time in person with my team, they have done such a great job of trusting me to deliver. Our sound quallity could have been a bit better and planning on locking down locations early was also a bit of a problem. All in all special thanks to Daniel, Liam, Umor, Ethan and Kat for allowing me to direct and helping this dance project become a reality 'Two Against Themselves' has been created and my dance project was created.  

sound research

for my research ill be looking at influences and people who i look up too for ideas and also people who still make me fall in love with producing and creating sound


Han zimmer is a big influence on my preferences and choices


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDVtMYqUAyw



an example that i love because of how it was made the sounds and instruments also the timing of when what sound is used where i want to learn how to do this and hopefully became someone great also


this is part of my experiments

my goal producing my sound was inspired by the first task we was told to make the most of what we was given with someone speaking some poetry and we had so many sounds and effects to play with and it forced me to use my imagination to create something and i like the sound of reverb so i used it and a raining effect to change the entire mood of the listener 

so as time progressed I decided to tap into my art for me which is poetry but I was very skeptical because I felt like I relied on it too much and I didn't want to become predictable in what I do when challenged to work and create in the end I decided to be a bit more confident in knowing that I should learn to boost my confidence up and have faith in what I know instead of running away from my art