RESEARCH DESIGN

There is a long tradition among cinematic artists and theorists to apply the latest psychological, cultural, and social theories of human perception and understanding to cinematic theory and practice, from psychoanalytic to hermeneutics to Marxist and Feminist film theories and practices. There have also been certain individuals and groups throughout the history of the cinema who have been both cinematic artists and theorists, including Sergei Eisenstein and the Russian school; Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and the French New Wave; and Germaine Dulac and her “integral cinema” movement. These and other cinematic artists and collectives have used their cinematic works to explore and test the theories they were building. The Integral Cinema Project is designed to follow in the footsteps of these two historic traditions by applying Integral Theory, which is one of the latest and most highly respected theories of human perception and understanding, to all aspects of cinematic creation and reception, through a process of theory-building, creative experimentation, and scientific investigation.

PHASES OF INQUIRY

This combined theoretical and practical research and production process will proceed through seven (7) general phases of inquiry. These phases will evolve organically, in that the discoveries and developments of one phase will determine the specific content and approaches for the next phase.

Phase One: Preliminary Analysis (Current Phase)

This phase includes the historical and theoretical analysis of Germaine Dulac’s “integral cinema movement” and cinema-related aspects of Jean Gebser’s and Ken Wilber’s Integral Theories. Defining characteristics of what may constitute an Integral cinematic work are being mapped out and developed into of a set of evaluation criteria using the works of Dulac, Gebser, and Wilber. Various cinematic works are being analyzed and evaluated using these evaluation criteria. An integral analysis of the cinematic medium and the cinematic creation process is also being performed and developed into a preliminary typology of forms of Integral cinematic creation. In addition, an analysis of the potential benefits and challenges for the application of Integral Theory to cinematic theory and practice is currently being carried out.

Phase Two: Preliminary Theory-Building

Phase Two will consist of an extensive Integral analysis of all dimensions of the cinema and the development of a preliminary comprehensive Integral Cinematic Media Theory and Practice. Areas of analysis and application will include:

• Cinematic Media History, Theory, and Criticism: Various cinematic works, cinematic trends and movements, the cinematic medium itself, and a wide range of historical, theoretical, and critical approaches to the study of cinema will be analyzed and developed into an Integral approach to cinematic media theory.

• Cinematic Media Development: An Integral analysis of screenwriting, character development, narrative design, audiovisual design, production design, and project development theories and practices will be carried out and extrapolated into an Integral approach to cinematic media development. Research methodologies will include surveys and interviews with various professionals from all domains of development (Independent, Studio, Network, Gaming, Web, etc.).

• Cinematic Media Production: Integrally-Informed observations and analyses of cinematic creation processes, cultures, and work environments will be performed and developed into an Integral approach to cinematic media production. Research methodologies will include surveys, interviews, and direct observations of various pre-production, production, and post-production environments.

• Cinematic Media Distribution: Cinematic media marketing, distribution, and exhibition processes, cultures, trends, and environments will be analyzed and developed into an Integral approach to cinematic media distribution. Research methodologies will include surveys, interviews, and direct observations of various cinematic media festival, conference, and screening environments.

Phase Three: Preliminary Experimentation and Testing

In Phase Three, the theories developed in Phase One and Phase Two will be tested through the development, production, and test screening of several short cinematic experiments utilizing various mediums and platforms. Areas of application and testing will include:

• The testing of the potential effects of integrally-informed consciousness on the cinematic creation process, the cinematic work, and the cinematic viewing experience.

• The exploration of integrally-informed cinematic design and development theories and practices. Includes the investigation of the capacity of various cinematic design processes, content, forms, and structures to effect creator and viewer states and stages of consciousness; the examination of the use of integrally-designed cinematic elements to increase audience empathy and immersion levels; the study of the potential resonance between the values and worldviews of the cinematic work and those of the viewer; and the testing of various media platforms, environments, and trends, exploring and mapping their specific inherent qualities and effects on creator and viewer realities.

• The testing of various integrally-informed pre-production, production, and post-production techniques and practices. Includes the development, application, and testing of an Integral Communication Framework designed to establish a more creatively fulfilling, healthy, efficient, and cost-effective production workflow.

• The examination of the impact of various integrally-informed distribution, marketing, and exhibition processes, techniques, and practices.

• The study of the effects of combining all of the above Integrally-Informed  cinematic media theories and practices.

Phase Four: Primary Experiment – Development  

Phase Four will consist of the practical application and testing of all Integral cinematic design and development elements, processes, and techniques into a single cinematic transmedia endeavor (Theatrical Feature with TV, Web, Mobile, and Interactive Content). This phase will include integrally-informed story and character development; narrative, visual, and audio design; and transmedia storytelling design. The end product of this phase will include a story synopsis, treatment, and screenplay, preliminary storyboards, and a preliminary Integral Cinematic Design Template incorporating audio, visual, narrative, transmedia, and production design elements.

Phase Five: Primary Experiment – Production

In Phase Five, the integrally-designed transmedia project material from Phase Four will be extended into an integrally-informed production phase. The previously developed Integral cinematic pre-production, production, and post-production processes and practices will be implemented and tested through the creation of all the transmedia project content. These cinematic creation processes and practices will include Integral approaches to directing, acting, cinematography, sound, and editing; pre-visualization and production design; producing and production management (including financing, budgeting, scheduling, communication, team building, etc.); and business and legal processes (including representation, negotiations, contracts, etc.).

Phase Six: Primary Experiment – Distribution

In Phase Six, the integrally-designed and -created transmedia project content will be dispersed across multiple and convergent delivery platforms and environments using the integrally-informed approaches to cinematic marketing, distribution, and exhibition that were developed in previous phases. This phase will also include the disbursement of the short cinematic experiments from Phase Three, along with the digital video documentary chronicling the entire research project.

Phase Seven: Research Assessment and Presentation

Phase Seven will be a period of project evaluation and assessment. This phase will include the publication of the research findings in a series of articles and a book on Integral cinema theory and practice, along with the development and presentation of a series of educational workshops on Integral cinema theory and practice.