Dakota Henry's Final Project Blog

 Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Semester Reflection on Media and Filmmaking           With the end of the current semester in sight, I find that I’m reflecting on the work I’ve done not only regarding the assignments that I’ve finished, but also on how my perspective has shifted regarding film. When I began the class, I was simply a film consumer. I may have liked a movie or TV show for one reason or another, but I had never stopped to reflect on how I was being told these stories or why certain artistic decisions had been made. This class has encouraged me to shift from simply being passive in my film experience to one that is thoughtful, analytical, and creative.           One of the largest developments for me has been my awareness of film language. Tools such as cinematography, mise-en-scène, sound, and editing were words that I knew, but until recently, I did not realize their full potential until I began practicing ...

 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...