In conclusion, my first short film project “Adolescence” was a valuable learning experience that allowed me to explore not only my creativity but also gaining practical knowledge about the various aspects of film making. Overall, I tried to focus on the genre of Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com). Understanding the popularity and types of people who would watch was a key part of engaging the audience.
Throughout the process of writing the script, I aimed to infuse comedic moments while maintaining a compelling plot. I found this to be incredibly important to both engaging the audience while making sure the humor doesn’t take the viewer away from the main story, which I learned from watching “Signs” by Patrick Hughes.
In terms of camera techniques, I learned a lot more about how there is a lot more to cinema than just pressing record and seeing what happens. After considering strengths and weaknesses between the different type of camera techniques, I opted for mainly using the reverse angle technique to add dynamism and enhance the interactions between the characters.
During the production phase, I encountered many challenges and had to adapt accordingly. Filming obstacles, such as the difficulty of controlling the screen during the computer scene, really slowed down production but was one of them things where you learn from your mistakes so I could fix it in future. I also learned the importance of being well-prepared, including having additional resources readily available, such as formatting SD cards, to prevent disruptions and data loss.
The editing process provided an opportunity for me to further develop my skills using Premiere Pro. Familiarizing myself with the software’s capabilities and exploring different techniques allowed me to learn new things like colour correcting scenes and adjusting audio. It was a significant milestone when all the essential scenes were edited and then added to the final project, allowing me to finally view the whole film and frankenstein all the clips I have edited together.
Reflecting on the project, I identified areas for improvement in future projects. Creating a focused and productive filming environment, prioritizing clear communication, script familiarity with the cast and further refining technical skills are crucial aspects I would like to address.
Of course in any work, creating a focused and productive environment is absolutely crucial. It involves setting the right atmosphere on set, ensuring that everyone involved is focused and committed to their roles and responsibilities. This is something we really struggled with and going forward fixing this I would make sure every is following clear guidelines and expectations of what needs to be done within the shoot. Also making sure that I organize schedules effectively and efficiently to achieve the most productivity we can get.
To prioritize clear communication and script familiarity with the cast is essential for achieving natural and authentic performances. Actors need a solid understanding of their characters, the story and the dialogue to deliver a convincing performance. As a filmmaker, it is crucial for me to provide clear direction, discuss character motivations and intentions and engage in open dialogue with the actors. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and even opens exploration of ideas and interpretations with others. To fix the issue we had with this, I would have regular rehearsals and script readings so I could give the actors a deeper understanding of the script and making sure we have that sense of collaboration and trust between director and the cast.
Further refining technical skills is an ongoing process that contributes to the overall quality of the film. As a filmmaker, I believe it is important to continuously improve and expand on my knowledge of camera techniques, editing software and other technical aspects of film-making. To fix my issues with these I would invest more time in learning and practicing these skills, so I can enhance the visual and auditory aspects of my films going forward.
By incorporating these lessons into future projects, I believe I will enhance my film-making abilities and deliver even better results in the future.
Overall, this project has provided me with valuable insights and hands-on experience in various parts of film-making. It allowed me to apply the knowledge I gained from research, adapt to challenges and grow as a director. I am excited to continue developing my skills and creating more compelling and enjoyable films in the future.
Peer Assement:
What was good about the film?
Kenzie: “loved the music and the actual story of the film, camera shots were good too”
Leon: “the shots and the quality of the film was good, amazing directing”
Amar: “The Music choice, the opening and editing”
What could have been improved?
Kenzie: “could have focused a bit more on rose”
Leon: “maybe more of a story line, maybe more of a story about rose”
Amar: “script could’ve been tighter, pacing issues discord part and the bench scene go on a bit long but bench scene makes sense”
How would you rate the quality?
Kenzie: “i’d rate it a 9/10, 9.5/10 actually”
Leon: “9/10 because overall the movie was good and well portrayed, could have been a better concept but the concept was brilliantly performed”
Amar: “7/10”
I feel like this feedback for the film highlights several positive aspects. Kenzie, Leon and Amar all praised the music, with Kenzie specifically mentioning the story as well. The camera shots and quality of the film were also appreciated by Kenzie and Leon, while Amar praised the music choice opening and ending.
When it comes to improvements, Kenzie suggested focusing more on the character of Rose. Leon also agreed with this, showing that he wished the film had a stronger storyline and more emphasis on Rose’s story. Amar pointed out that the script could have been “tighter” and there were pacing issues with the computer scene and the bench scene, although he said that the bench scene made sense in context to the film.
Overall, the feedback shows that the film had strong elements such as music, story, camera shots and directing. However, there were suggestions to improve character focus, storyline development, script tightness and pacing. The quality rating varied from 7/10 to 9/10.
I confirm that the attached assessment is all my own work and does not include any work completed by anyone other than myself and sources have been appropriately referenced.