Project description

Who Are You Wearing? Is an experimental animation invading the construction and performance of the self. It is a personal exploration of the pressure to assimilate and perform cultural identity. The film stems from a personal reflection over lockdown of how I have found myself performing identity and wearing a mask to transform into a more acceptable version of myself and the isolation that follows this.

​Through visual and audible collage an overwhelming party atmosphere is created as the protagonist changes their mask, they fail to fit into the party and their reality fragments throughout the night. The film engages with the chaos and textural aspects of a party. While the loud colours and collage play into the fragmentation of the protagonist. This is then contrasted by the slower live action scenes where the audience is faced with a person in crocheted masks examining their costume and facing the anxiety to return to the party.

Masks

The masks feature as the construction of the self as the protagonist tries and fails to fit in at the party. The alien like tentacles move independently as the mask has a mind of its own and the person becomes trapped within this. The use of crochet has a prominent effect under the camera, the fibres and movement of the wool feel out of place layered over the flat paper exaggerating the protagonists isolation as they move through the collaged party. 

collage/live action still
Still from (WHO ARE YOU WEARING?)
greenscreen still
Development scene
greenscreen still
Development scene
greenscreen still
Development scene
TRAILER

As an experimental film many compositions and costume designs were explored, it took a lot of trial and error until what I was trying to capture was reached. I wanted the film to exaggerate the overwhelming atmosphere of a party and allow the viewer to feel they are present. Through layers of sound I aimed to achieve a sense of overstimulation, to juxtapose and deepen the protagonists moments of self-construction. I played with textures, using pixilation to portray real things within the collaged party, the tactility of the visuals brings a visceral reaction to the party and places the viewer there. I also used after-effects to add layers and depth to the collage placing the 3-dimensional in the 2-dimensional.