【merk|würdig】is the story about Dementia which engages the audience into the dilemma of trust and believe, by applying 3D technology to an ingeniously artistic use. That is, people wear red ‘3D glass‘ will see different version (X or Y) from people wear blue glass. And there is only one music should fit both versions.
• Music & Sound design : Miguel Kerstman, Manuel Brandtner, Richard Pleil, Ingo Budwig, Hua-Chun (Fion) Fan
• Director : Alexander Niederklapfer
• Director of photography : David Wurm
• Concept & Production : Krmpf Krmpf Studios
╡Postscript╞
Absolutely great experience to collaborate with these creatives—Alex, David, and my supportive colleagues!
We’re very lucky to participate in Alex & David’s project when we just learned the techniques of foley, field recording and sound design. The ‘illusion’ of Dementia patient’s world is merely another ‘reality’ that normal people can’t experience—that doesn’t mean those ‘realities’ don’t exist.
Alex & David cleverly apply the forefront ‘3D technology’ to evoke meaningful discussions of faith and empathy.
I’d like to quote Alex’s word to show how the art form firmly supports the art aim—which I highly appreciate 😊
“...you have to experience it collectively in order to then participate in a discussion with the other half of the audience
to find out about the parts of the narrative that one’s own group missed. And that can only happen in a cinema.
So 3-D technology that is often just an extra added visual attraction in many films nowadays is thus an essential component of this film’s concept.”—Ars Electronica, 2018
We all know “Seeing is believing” is not always true, but creating such cinema experience indeed gives a new twist to the ‘3D technology’ and the so-called ’sympathy’. Congratulations, Alex and David, your effort and success on ‘merk|würdig' is profound and remarkable.
Warm thanks to Krmpf Krmpf Studios for your generosity to provide the best clip here.
Also, kudos to our chief of the audio team, Manuel Brandtnerl, whose excellent music and managing skills make this project richer and successful :)
♞ Recommend reading : ‘merk|würdig: One Film, Two Perspectives’ (full interview) + Trailer
♘
首次參與配樂的獨立電影 ‘merk | würdig’ 是個非常有趣的藝術project—透過「3D眼鏡」的觀影體驗，巧妙翻轉已見與未見、幻想與現實「共存的界限」。故事大綱很簡單 : 一個兒子為了照顧患有失智症的母親Margerethe，僱了一名看護扮演她的孫女Diana。
由於失智症患者常游移在錯置的回憶中與現實世界裡，X與Y兩條敘事線便分別展現同一個故事下的不同發展。
觀眾在進場時可自由選擇要戴紅色或藍色的3D眼鏡觀賞，而戴上紅色眼鏡的人(X)會看到和戴上藍色眼鏡的人不同的畫面(Y)。
而對聲音團隊來說，最大的挑戰就是音樂與音效設計(包含室內外的擬音Foley) 必須同時符合X與Y畫面中的情緒與氛圍。
26分鐘的實驗短片，我們四個人都須負責數個場景的擬音Foley : 有時Ｘ是Margerethe站在回憶中的花園，
Y是Diana和Margerethe在房間內彈奏三角琴(Balalaika)的畫面，如何讓聲音具邏輯性、貼切地描摹兩個場景成了一大考驗。
再跟大家分享一個有意思的地方—將德文片名翻譯成英文的話，片名就變成 ’remember | worthy’ ; 若把中間的分隔線拿掉，
‘merkwürdig’在德文中就成了「不尋常(strange)」的意思。
的確，失智症患者的「幻想世界」與我們習以為常的「現實生活」究竟哪個才「不尋常」、哪個才值得被銘記在心呢？
這樣的雙關語是不是很聰明 :)
再者，有觀眾反映，所謂的「3D眼鏡」根本一點3D效果也沒有。沒錯，其實就只有普通的遮屏效果而已，
但這也是他們反轉「立體敘事」(stereo narrativity)定義的著力點 : 唯有激發紅色觀眾與藍色觀眾的討論，人們才會意識到原來自己看到的不過是事情的片段而已，進而一起尋找、拼湊真相—所以「一起觀影」的體驗是必要的、「一同參與」的過程才是讓敘事豐富健全的關鍵。
比起聲光效果虛擬出的立體感，這樣的「立體」對我來說，真實多了:)
這個片頭音樂是我去年因颱風滯留，在杜拜轉機時寫的，歡迎任何feedback與感想 🏜
對這部實驗短片有興趣的人，也推薦讀一讀導演們在年初首映時接受林茲電子藝術節的訪談，
裡頭的預告片音樂是我同學Manuel寫的，比起我的「不尋常」Manuel的鋼琴旋律動人多了(笑)，聽聽看吧！
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