Media Reflection #2

Through the Camera Lens: Reflections on My Development as a Movie Maker


        To a great extent, my previous knowledge or skill level as a video editor was based on intuition and inferred knowledge. For example, I had used a camera in the past, mostly in an informal, intuitive capacity, like filming a quick video on my phone or learning basic functions on a DSLR in a trial-and-error kind of way, not really knowing what any button actually did in technical terms. Compositionally, everything was drawn from what basically “looked” right at the time, without necessarily making aesthetic decisions about placement or using said placement in a meaningful, strategic, or deliberate visual narrative.

        Establishing the setting before the lesson was also relatively brief. I didn’t focus much on lighting, staging, or the actors’ position in the environment. If the location was accessible, then I simply worked with the setting. Using props could often be an afterthought. This often led to the setting being flat, even if the concept was good. Now, I see that I was not capitalizing on the setting as effectively.

        However, the one thing that I was least confident in before this class was editing. While I grasped the basic cut-moving the clips around and placing them in sequence-but didn't really consider pace, rhythm, or continuity. Edits were functional, not expressive. Transition and sound were particularly weak points, and time and time again, I underrated how much editing shapes the final meaning of a scene.

        Being in this course has significantly changed how I approach all three of these skills. Now, I think of the camera as a storytelling device rather than a recording tool. Choices like shot size, camera movement, and angle feel purposeful. When setting up a scene, I am much more aware of lighting, composition, and how actors are positioned within the frame. I have learned that even small adjustments dramatically change how a scene feels. Editing has, therefore, become even more of a thoughtful process. I pay closer attention to the pacing and how cuts are affecting tension and clarity. Sound and visual continuity are no longer afterthoughts; each is an essential component of the story.

        Now, looking forward to the Film Opening Sequence project in the next semester, I recognize that there is always room for growth. What I would like to work on in the next semester is my comfort level with lighting design, more complex camera motion, and quick and precise editing techniques. However, this class has definitely put me on solid ground in understanding what I must work on in order to complete that project successfully.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction Blog Post

 Opening Sequencing - Fade in to a girl deep cleaning her room, moving her furniture, and taking everything out of her closet. Going through her clothes and throwing a bunch into a trash bag for donation. She finds a box of things at the top of her closet, (close up to the box and the label), written on it is her mother's handwriting with the words Dakota's Moments. She pulls the box down, (dolly out, just enough to get her on the floor unpacking the box), and she starts to open and unpack the box. She finds the stuffed animals she had as a child, picture frames, and photo albums of people she loves. Finally, at the bottom of the box, the booklets of poetry she wrote as a child.  She opens the photo albums and sees her with her Mema, and she sheds a tear (close up on the tear as it hits the pictures in the book). Then she puts the album down and picks up the Poetry Book and starts going down memory lane. (Zoom into the pages to Fade out so you are now "IN THE BOOK" ...
Read more

Preproduction Plan

Image
We will record our movie using an iPhone. This is advantageous because we will probably use the same device to record all our scenes. This way, we do not have to worry about the video changing if we decide to share our files. Our movie will need various props and costumes. Since our movie is a drama based on real-life incidents, it is easy for us to acquire the majority of the props. The movie will commence with a montage showing the progression of our love story. It will include scenes like walking in school corridors while wearing normal clothing. There are only three costumes that we will need in our movie. They include a wedding dress, a graduation gown, and formal clothing. While planning our movie, we made sure that we used costumes that were not only realistic but also easy to acquire. For instance, instead of using an expensive formal ball gown, we will use an easy courthouse wedding dress. Our group is lucky because we already have two graduation gowns from our family members ...
Read more

Media Reflection #4

Image
 Representation and Responsibility: Reflecting on My Role as a Filmmaker          As a filmmaker , I have a certain responsibility regarding the portrayal of people and communities on film. Cinema is not only a source of enjoyment for the masses. Cinema is a form of storytelling that can craft the perceptions and identities of the audiences that watch the films. This ability to craft certain perceptions has made me realize the responsibility that comes with the production of this form of media.           What I do believe is that there is a certain responsibility that filmmakers have to accurately and respectfully represent groups of people. Of course, a film can't represent a group of people, but it is a choice that filmmakers make on what kind of stories are told and from what point of view. Inaccurate and stereotypical representation of groups of people tends to give people ideas, while accurate and respectful representation...
Read more