challenges | parallel narrative short

The Introduction to Video & Film Production course provides an overview of production workflow and basics principles applied to essential concepts. The final project consists of two characters or groups united by a theme, a goal, or an event. The characters’ depiction occurs individually until they finally meet. The viewer will sense that their meeting is inevitable, based on how the Director/s, weave their stories together; however, the Characters themselves may or may not perceive the same.

As an alternative, I, the Director may also foil the viewer with a trick ending in which the characters, though expected to meet, do not. As a best practice, the conclusion is planned first. The Parallel Narratives short I produced, “Challenges,” is in the “Tandem” structure—the same theme with different adventures. The piece consists of found footage, designed extreme-sports-themed graphic elements, and dynamic motion graphics segments used as visual transitional categorization vehicles.

The story features a fusion of extreme sports undertakings from parkour, skateboarding, and BMX worldwide. Karim Sahraoui’s “Before the 2nd Coming” synchs perfectly to move through each scene of the short’s suspense-filled experiences. The piece depicts how extreme sports challenges perpetuate the ongoing question in the athlete’s mind: “What’s next?”