Dawnian Productions

  What is it about Reflections, that slightly scare us? We look in the mirror. It shows us exactly as we are. No soft lighting, no post production editing, no special lenses or filters...just us! How do you feel when you look in the mirror? What do you see? Who do you see? Most of the bathrooms I've been in have lighting that could not be described as mood lighting! The lighting is usually harsh and that makes, what we see, even worse. I suspect most woman (and probably a lot of man) are very dissatisfied at what they see when they turn on the light and look at themselves in the mirror each morning. Is there anything we can do? Yes, there is. It's quite simple, really. Either get rid of all of the mirrors around you - or, just don't look! That sounds easy! However, there is something irresistible about a mirror. I'm sure most of us have seen (or done it ourselves) a person walking past a shop window, a shiny car or billboard, giving oneself a sideways glance at one'...

ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) is something I have been personally aware of for quite some time, but not in the way it is now labelled as ASMR. ASMR has been described by some as Musical Frisson (the sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill) - the chills you get while listening to music. It has become a phenomenon around the world, and is extremely popular, especially in the short version of YouTube videos (e.g., Tik Tok). ASMR was first coined by Jennifer Allen in a Facebook post in 2010, after participating in online health forums about this sensory experience. She created the term to describe the tingling, relaxing feeling experienced by some people (it is estimated somewhere between 10-20% of people experience ASMR) when they encounter certain triggers, such as crumpling paper, turning pages, rain, whispering, typing, tapping. Experts in ASMR suggest that there are 4 main triggers in ASMR - whispering, personal attention, crisp sounds and slow movement...

 I was reading recently about the Groningen (the 'g' is silent) Protocol. It was mentioned as part of the situation in the Netherlands regarding euthanasia. I wasn't shocked (and that shocked me!). It was written about in such a cavalier way and mentioned as just part of the normal legislative framework of ending human life, (not just any human life, but ending the life of a country's newest and most vulnerable citizens!). Even though I was shocked that I wasn't shocked, I sort of understood. It seems to me that the Protocol was put in place to protect doctors from being sued for, what might be perceived by some, as medical negligence. I understand that too. I understand also about new-borns with severe medical diagnosis. But there is a gaping hole in legislation such as this...and this is when I begin to weep. I weep for these precious babies that are seen as disposable. Where are the laws protecting the intentional taking of any human life? Where are those who are...

 How is your heart? No, I am not a doctor and I have very limited medical knowledge, but I know about the heart - mine in particularly! If you a Christian reading this, my guess is that your mind immediately goes to Jeremiah 17:9-19 (The heart is deceitful...and desperately sick. ESV). We all know that this is so true, but there is more to say about the heart. The heart is the seat of our emotions and desires. It is also a place where thoughts originate and decisions are made. It reflects a person's true character and intentions. And we know that God looks at the heart not just one's outward appearance! We are to guard our heart and protect our heart from evil (Proverbs 4:23). One's actions are a reflection of one's heart's condition. The heart is a place where love, compassion and empathy originate. We are to love God with all of our heart. It's a bit odd, isn't it! One's heart is 'desperately sick' and yet it is place from which one is to love ...

 Leaving...what a loaded word! One might be leaving home, leaving for work, leaving a perfectly good airplane to make a parachute jump, leaving prison, leaving court, leaving a marriage, leaving a home, leaving for war and leaving life! I was inspired to make this video (as many of my videos are) by a film I was watching, 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'. It is a fascinating film. I was particularly impacted by the moment when Harold Fry left the crowd of people walking with and supporting him, and decided to complete the 'journey' alone. The film left me with a question -  what does it take for someone to leave the 'crowd' and walk alone - what qualities within a person, enables them to do this? It begs the question - am I able to do this when needed? Am I strong enough? Do I have faith and convictions enough to do this? I don't know the answer to that question, but I know someone who has promised to sustain me when the going gets tough. He is my sou...

Well, there's the second one (my first fantasy video series ever attempted!) completed. I have so much to learn about what makes a good fantasy using Ai...but at least I've started!. I plan to do two more episodes to complete the series. The name of the next episode is, 'Glorious Awakening'. I'm looking forward to it, but not for a while. I normally don't watch too many fantasy-type films - I would prefer the gritty realistic movies, but in saying that, I do appreciate the sweeping, visual poetic beauty and imagery and the reflective pace of a Terrence Malick drama such as, 'A Hidden Life' (2019). I also enjoyed watching, 'The Thin Red Line' when it came out in 1998. I hope to develop a greater understanding how to use Ai in all forms of content creation. It is an incredible tool but at the lower end of the Ai spectrum (where I am), creating realistic human actions have still got a long way to go. I'm sure Hollywood uses the best Ai platforms...

  Eulogy...it is such an evocative word. It conjures up in most of us, people and places, funerals, family members and memories, failures and tributes. But a eulogy is so much more. It is a unique moment in time...where someone, usually closely connected to the deceased, sits down, using photos and a family's collective reflections, to create a narrative, a story that shows to others who the person was, their achievements, their quirky mannerisms, their wisdom and their impact on the lives of others. It is a time of truth but it is also a time of anguish, pain and pretence. It is a time when things are said that some of the people listening (or watching) know are not true. There is much reflection, some of which, might be described as anguished reflection, where tears are not enough and only 'distance' can assist in the healing. I've often wondered how eulogies of serial killers, might read. What could be said? What is left out? Are family expressions of love conveyed t...