Prop Psychology

     Today in class I researched the affects objects and color have on mood.

Object Research:

Objects have a strong impact on mood. Ingrid Fetell, an author, told SheKnows "But my research shows that the objects in our surroundings can have a surprisingly powerful influence on our emotional well-being."

Items That Create Positive Emotions:

    Round and Symmetrical Shapes 

    Object Attached To A Positive Moment 

Items That Create Negative Emotions:

    Sharp, Angular, and Asymmetrical Shapes

        Object Attached To A Negative Moment 

    Items can hold an emotional attachment to people. An example of this in our film opener is the necklace that used to be Meredith's and is now in the imagined room around Patti's neck. Items such as this, are associated with memory especially if they engage the senses, smell, touch, taste, etc.  These memory-based items can bring up pleasant thoughts, unpleasant thoughts, or both. In the case of the film, unpleasant thoughts, of failure as a mother, are brought up by the necklace. 

    Objects stick around, a person is likely to keep something that has a strong memory hold to it. Such as their first bought item of jewelry evoking positive thoughts and the desire to keep or even a jacket they were given to by an ex evoking negative thoughts but the desire to not let go of that part of life. According to Dunn and her colleague, "They [objects] might not be as intense as experiences, but they do make us feel good," (well or bad). 

    Objects make people feel good if their mind gives the object power. For example, a child's stuffed animal protects them from the monsters under the bed. This feeling of a powerful object can make someone feel safe and secure even if the object is not really powerful. 

    Finding joy in your surroundings can entirely change your everyday mood. This is why the "real" psychology office will follow the rules of items that create positive emotions, and the "imagined" will do the opposite creating negative emotions. 

Color In Film Research:

According to Digital Synopsis " In filmmaking, color is used to set the tone of a scene before any of the actors have even uttered a word." Color pallets set the mood of the film, especially in the opening of a film this is important as it sets it for the entire film!! Our opener will have two distinct color pallets, the "real" room, and the "imagined" room. 

Color Breakdown:

Red- Power, Anger, Passion, Danger, Love, Violence, etc. 

Pink- Beauty, Sweetness, Playful, Empathy, Innocence, etc.

Orange- Exotic, Youth, Warmth, Sociability, Friendly, etc.

Yellow- Naive, Obsessive, Madness, Sickness, Insecurity, etc.

Green- Nature, Danger, Immaturity, Darkness, Ominous, etc.

Blue- Cold, Calm, Melancholy, Passivity, Isolation, etc.

Purple- Ominous, Etheral, Fantasy, Mystical, Illusory, etc. 

Photo From Digital Synopsis 

Research Impact:

    This research had led me to know that props and set design will play a crucial role in my film opener. With my knowledge of how colors make people feel and knowledge of how items make people feel, I know how to make sure the props and set pieces I choose fit the tone of each section of the opener. 

Sources:

https://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1142070/why-objects-make-us-happy/

https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/film-movies-color-psychology/#:~:text=In%20filmmaking%2C%20color%20is%20used,with%20joy%2C%20naivety%20and%20insanity. 

APA Citations:

Hogan, B. (2020, August 23). Why certain objects make us happy. SheKnows. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1142070/why-objects-make-us-happy/

How filmmakers use colors to set the mood of a film. Digital Synopsis. (2021, January 7). Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/film-movies-color-psychology/#:~:text=In%20filmmaking%2C%20color%20is%20used,with%20joy%2C%20naivety%20and%20insanity. 

Prop List Ideas:

Flowers

Positive Quote Poster

Self Help Books

Plants

Fidgets

Side table

Pens, Pencils, Notebooks,

Jacket

Candle

Moving Foward:

I will be discussing the set location with my partner Julie tomorrow. If the set I have planned in my mind gets approved I will share that here along with a collage of the props Julie and I already own!! Along with finalized filming location, I will post the storyboard.

Sad news... Asthmatic Kitty Records asked for a minimum of five hundred dollars to use the Sufjan Stevens song and well... I do not have five hundred dollars but will dream about it. I am really upset, but will find another song to use. If I am unable to I am lucky since my brother Tyler,  an ex-band kid, now a college mathematician enjoys composing music so he said he would be able to help me create something post-filming!!

Not sure which blog will come first so stay tuned...