by Lenny Martinez

For a 360 video, I’m pitching a family dinner that is full of unexpected finds. I think the power of 360 video lies in exploration of the “frame” and I want to create a story that can be followed on multiple threads and where not everything is as it appears at first glance.

The Scene

A dinner table for 4. It’s important to have a clear but limited view of the kitchen as well as the entire dining table. Three actors: mom, dad, child sibling. Up close to the camera there’s the table, with plates and somewhat worn cutlery.  On the right of the viewer sits the sibling and the parents are acting out an argument in the kitchen. Potentially, only their gesticulating arms are visible for the majority of the time, and then they poke their head in and out frame as they shout at each other. The sibling is eating their food with a dejected look on their face. Camera is at eye level when sitting.

Lighting

Lighting will have to be artificial since it’s a dinner table. Will likely need some light panels to keep things evenly lit depending on the space used.

Audio

All audio will be recorded with different mics. Big categories of what will be needed will be dialogue of fighting parents, child’s sighing and breathing, clinking of cutlery on plates and other ambient sounds. But they sound has to be intentional and directional.

Experience

I want the viewer to experience both sadness and confusion. Because the viewer chooses to view this scene as opposed to being forced to live it, it can be a helpful way to self understanding. Put another way, it helps build empathy with those who have had to live such an experience. I’d strongly suggest against doing this experience if growing up at home was a horrible experience.

Story Discovery

The viewer walks into a peaceful moment of dinner until one small question or comment sets off the parents who start arguing. One of the two parents would then go to the kitchen to throw a plate or something and this brings the viewer to explore more of the room and as things unfold, they can follow the argument and get one experience, but audio cues from the argument could prompt them to explore the rest of the dining room. A desire to avoid conflict will also dictate how the viewer can go and come back to the kitchen argument.

Where is my head?

Your head will be the fourth family member. It could be interpreted as a visiting relative, a cousin, an aunt or uncle or an older sibling to the younger child. I think having a nuclear family member is big to conveying sadness, but a more removed relative will lead to more awkwardness (up until a certain point).

Safety

Shouldn’t be any big dangers, except maybe injuries associated with being in a kitchen or at home. We can use the child to start the recordings. Since everything will be controlled in an internal space, this should be pretty safe.