Thought Moments

Thought Moments (2004) is an anthropological short film in the style of cinéma vérité by Michael Simon Toon.[1] Toon, a former Buddhist monk,[2] titled Thought Moments after the Buddhist term for the mental states we experience when a physical or mental object enters the mind.[3] The film is used in the study of microexpressions, eye accessing cues, and the universality of facial expressions.[4]

Toon (off camera) interviews a diverse sample of individuals in public places across the United Kingdom asking a set of ten simple but emotionally evocative questions.[5][6] The film uses variable frame rates to highlight distinct emotions, as well as their sequence and timing, that each individual expresses within seconds or fractions of a second after being asked questions, such as "What do you love most?" "Are you happy or sad?" and "What are you afraid of?"[7]

Consistency of composition, lighting, and contrast facilitates the analysis of both the differences and similarities of the interviewees' facial expressions.[8][9] Toon also released a version of the film with superimposed theoretical eye accessing cue chart.[10] Both versions are studied and reproduced by students of psychology in several languages.[11][12][13]

Exhibitions

  • Film Directory of The British Council[14]
  • Thai Film Foundation 10th Annual Short Film and Video Festival[15]

References

  1. ^ "Thought Moments." Film information. Complete Index To World Film. (C) Alan Goble 2005-2013. http://www.citwf.com/film470058.htm
  2. ^ McGhie, Caroline. "The rise of Modernist, eco-friendly home." The Telegraph. Posted 10-26-2012. Accessed 8-8-13. [1]
  3. ^ "Thought Moments." British Films Directory. British Council. Updated 12-1-2009. http://film.britishcouncil.org/thought-moments
  4. ^ Prof. Ragodí. "Trabajo Psicología de 1er Trimestre." El Bigote de Bernays. Blogspot. Updated 11-19-2009. http://elbigotedebernays.blogspot.com/2009/11/trabajo-psicologia-1er-trimestre.html
  5. ^ Briggs, Barry. "Thought Moments." Ox-Herding. Blog. Posted 2-5-2010. (C)2008-2012 Barry Briggs. Accessed 8-5-13. http://www.oxherding.com/my_weblog/2010/02/thought-moments.html
  6. ^ Fisher, Adam. "questions that pin you to the wall." Genkaku-Again. Blog. Posted 11-2-2011. Accessed 8-5-13. http://genkaku-again.blogspot.com/2011/11/questions-that-pin-you-to-wall.html
  7. ^ Johan. "Thought Moments." Doe Es Effe Zen. Blog. Posted 2-5-2010. Accessed 8-5-13. http://zenuw.blogspot.com/2010/02/thought-moments.html
  8. ^ Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (2003). Unmasking the Face. Cambridge: Malor Books., p.1.
  9. ^ Alex. "'Thought Moments' by Michael Simon Toon." Healing Philosophy. Blog. Posted 12-7-2009. Accessed 8-5-13. http://www.healingphilosophy.com/2009/12/thought-moments-by-michael-simon-toon.html
  10. ^ Braun, Roman. "Eye Catcher." Trinergy-NLP-Blog. Posted 10-27-2009. Accessed 8-5-13. "TRINERGY-NLP-BLOG » Eye Catcher". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  11. ^ Prof. Ragodí. "Trabajo Psicología de 1er Trimestre." El Bigote de Bernays. Blogspot. Updated 11-19-2009. http://elbigotedebernays.blogspot.com/2009/11/trabajo-psicologia-1er-trimestre.html
  12. ^ mirac hakan. "Eye Accessing Cues." YouTube. Uploaded 3-18-2010, Istanbul, Turkey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVo6QyEaYk
  13. ^ supremearcher. "Thought Moments." YouTube. Uploaded 5-13-2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YEWK98aTog
  14. ^ "Thought Moments." British Films Directory. British Council. Updated 12-1-2009. http://film.britishcouncil.org/thought-moments
  15. ^ "10th Annual Short Film and Video Festival Program." 10th Annual Short Film and Video Festival August 17–27, 2006. Thai Film Foundation. Posted by SHORT 10 18/08/06.