The script we chose for this project was Addie's script called "Sixteen." The concept was just these girls play bloody mary. During pre-production, our director took over and did not really allow for any of the other members to do anything. She storyboarded, wrote the script, and concepted by herself despite us trying to help her. I was the UPM, so I organized all the actors and the set. We filmed in one long night then our director took over yet another role and edited the short film. My role was UPM and I also acted in it. Along the way I learned that some people have strengths and weaknesses and they are all different - therefore some people are better cut for some roles and others are cut for different roles. Technically, we didn't use anything super special besides the regular 80D and usual software. Personally, I used my technical skills of contacting actors and communicating to get them their scripts and to film. With leadership, I cleaned up after the mess of filming by apologizing and thanking all of our actors and fellow ecomm students who helped us during filming because our director didn't do so. With collaboration, I tried to ease tensions between the team. And with project management, I did everything I was supposed to do on time.
What I would do differently is I would choose a better script and also choose a different team. I think working with the right people really makes or breaks the film. What I would do the same is some of the cool shots and the adventure of different types of lighting. For experiences, I learned who I want to work with and who I don't. Overall, the film turned out alright and now I know what I can do better for next time.
Our song was Mansard Roof by Vampire Weekend. Our concept for this video was showing a group of friends as they experience a summer. We wanted it to subtly show a boy and girl within the friend group falling in love, then resulting in her moving away at the end. We wanted it to be a montage and to show summertime through the eyes of a teenager, while their was a story line going on.
In pre-production, concepting was hard because our director did not really have a vision for the film. Our director's only vision for the shots was "aesthetic" but no real direction or storyline. The DP and I really tried to save the concept for this video by adding a storyline. All of the pre-production work was really left up to the art director, DP, and editor to do because our director did not really know what they were doing.
Production was difficult. It is hard to create a video, especially one as daunting as this because of the montage, when our director has no vision. While filming, there was little to no communication from the director, whether that be helping with actors or framing a shot. The DP and I really did everything directing-wise ourself. I was the art director and I was working with the actors. The director had no leadership, vision, or advice other than just saying to "make it aesthetic."
Along the way I learned that the director really makes or breaks a project. A good director is supposed to lead and frame shots, talk to actors, and really have passion and a vision. Without a good director, the video will in the end have no meaning or passion.
With technical skills, I really got to work on working with a camera. I normally am not the camera person, but I got to help film a lot of this and it was really cool. I got to see what it's like behind the camera and how to frame a shot and make it interesting. Communication really lacked on this project, because our director did not know what they wanted, so the crew and cast had no clue what was happening most of the time. Collaboration was also lacking, because we felt like the director was forcing us to make this video and we got little to no leeway in trying to make something good. Leadership was lacking by the director, so the DP and I had to step up and take leadership. Project management was lacking as well. We were very underprepared to shoot, and that was because we had no vision or leadership.
I would do a lot of things differently. I would make the concept different. I would use better shots with zooms and more personality. I would have made the clothing a lot more aesthetic. I would have more shots for the montage. I would have a better storyline. We lacked on all these things and it really brought down the video. I would only use the same aesthetic and editing again. Everything else about the video I would change.
For my next project, I will emphasize leadership and communication and vision - because without those, a video will never be good.
Overall, it was not my worst work but it was for sure not my best work.
This music video does not really have a cohesive storyline. it really is just the band sailing on a boat and other b-roll of the same kind of ocean aesthetic. It shows them being friends and playing instruments, as well as pictures of them and shots of the water. It really fits the song and gives off an almost English/The Beatles vibe.
As far as direction goes, I really love the directing in this. Mostly the overall just happy friendship vibes of the video. It does not have a storyline, but it is easy to watch and follow and the watcher does not feel lost in the video.
There was no cohesive story in this music video - it is really just centered around the band being friends. There's no beginning, middle, or end concerning a story. I feel as though this video was more focused on creating an aesthetic rather than an actual story line. The aesthetic is told through zooms and the various objects shown like the photographs and instruments.
One element I would apply to my own would be the use of zooms and close ups. I feel like it really makes the video personal. It also keeps the viewer interested because they do not know what is going to happen next. The zooms are more interesting than just standard, flat shots.
One element I have already learned that I see in this video is the use of all types of shots. There is a variety of close ups as well as wide and extreme wide. This makes the video diverse and interesting to the watcher.
The creator did well with making the shots interesting and visually pleasing. The shots fit the vibe of the video and none of them seem out of place or awkward.
The creator could have worked on making a story out of the video. It would have been a lot more interesting and really added to the overall viewing experience.
Overall, I really liked the video. It is very different, even for the time it was created. It conveys the uniqueness of the band and their music. The music video is very memorable. I really enjoyed it and I would watch it again for future reference.
The product we chose for our video was the iced coffee from Pour. Our concept we brainstormed to promote this product was that a girl was on Tinder, and looking for the right man but she can't find him (she is swiping left). She then comes across Pour iced coffee and swipes right resulting in a "perfect match." They then meet up at Pour where she sees him and falls in love when she drinks him. And that was all of our concept.
Pre-Production:
We storyboarded, which gave us a good idea of the shots we wanted to get. Then when we wrote the script, we were able to map out their conversation in Tinder and write a bit of dialogue. I was the director, Evan was the art director, Mason was the cinematographer and Addie was the actress/editor. We researched some songs before filming which we ended up using - Careless Whisper. We also based our firework shot off of the shot from The Kissing Booth where the two main characters kissed for the first time.
Production:
We filmed two days, and it was easy scheduling because Pour was working with us and fortunately close. We also used Addie for our actress so that eliminated the actor hassle. Production went by pretty easy because we knew what we wanted, and we got a lot of extra footage which is much better than not having enough. Production flowed pretty well and we had a clear image of what we wanted.
Post-Production:
Editing was really a one man process and a bit difficult. My editor would not let me watch or really ask me any questions even though I was the director so that was kind of annoying. There was a couple shots we got that were a lot more cinematic that I wish we could have used but my editor did not and instead deleted them. But the final product was still good and still conveyed what we wanted.
My production role was director and I learned along the way how to work with people. I really tried to help my group and get them to participate in the process. I also really worked on making sure they were happy with the decisions and offered their own decisions. I think we used all of the skills along the way. We were able to advance our technical skills, we communicated during the process (except when editing so we could work on that), I let everyone take part in leading, we worked together, and we finished in time.
What I would do different is use the 50 mm lense because I feel like that would have really made it a lot more visually appealing. I would do everything else the same because I am pretty proud of it. I believe we successfully hit all the points of a good commercial. We also hit all the points of film making except cinematography which I wish our shots could have been prettier.
Overall, I am pretty proud of the project and I think it conveys our idea and a good start to the year.
I read an article about how to become a good assistant director. I read this article because being a good director is important, but being a good assistant is just as important. The three key points the author expresses is being open to change, being trustworthy and working to get the right shot.
The author emphasizes these points because it is the AD’s job to always be there when they need them to be. The first AD’s job most of the time is to run the set, because the director will be working with the actors. So they have to be good leaders and can communicate and set up shots properly. They also are responsible for the script and planning which shots are going to be shot when.
They have to be flexible because things do not always go as planned. They have to constantly be looking for new ways to shoot a shot. They have to be able to improvise and problem solve in order to adjust to the many changes that happen on set. They also are in charge of people’s safety on set.
The author has a lot of strengths with this article because they express a lot of different situations a first AD would be in and how to effectively handle those. The only weakness is that it almost seems hypothetical, so it would be nice to have some personal experiences in it in order to relate to the author.
The author concludes the article with the assurance that being an AD or even just working on a film is a stressful and long process - but it is rewarding. You make bonds with the people and create amazing projects. The author asserts that the hard work pays off with the end game and relationships made.
I think this article was really helpful and offered useful information. Yet, I feel like it could’ve been narrowed down to just a couple objectives. I think it also could’ve gone in depth to distinguish the difference between a first AD and a UPM. It is kinda one sided and could’ve really benefited from some first person, real life situations and how they were handled in order to gain perspective.
The authors information does support the main points they assert. The evidence could’ve been more specific and personal instead of hypothetical. I would use this information as a filmmaker because I am very interested in directing and learning how to be an assistant is just as important as being the director. There is nothing I don’t directly understand.
This was a good article and I benefited from being reminded all the duties of being as assistant because it doesn’t seem like it would be a big job but it is and really influenced the film process.
My production role in the feature film was second assistant director. Some of the challenges I faced were the power struggle between the directors. Some people did not want to step and and take charge while others took charge but not with good leadership and authority. I think it was just a learning curve for all of us to see what it means to be a leader. I learned that in order to get things done, most of the time you have to do it yourself because there are people who will not want to do there job. I also learned that it is important to be compassionate and help people with their work because that makes them stronger. I wasn't given really any feedback for myself, besides the couple times I said my opinion and they were actually good ideas. My overall opinion was that I could have done more. I wanted to do more, but I felt unappreciated by the other people of the team. My impact was that I was just there to do whatever people needed me to do, but I feel like the directorial roles could've been better situated.
Time in Class:
During class I helped discuss what we have done well and what we need to do better as well as helping the first AD with whatever she needed. There were times I would help the art director because she was very behind on her work. When we had free time, the directors tried to work ahead to even the next shoot days. I watched a lot of movies outside of class as well as watching director's commentary in order to enhance my skills as second AD.
Strengths:
My strengths are that I am very creative as well as imaginative. With a script, I can really make it unique and different (I was not given such room with this script) and make it a good script. I also like to think out side of the box and look for unique angles, editing, music and other aspects that would make the film entertaining and powerful. I am also a good leader and I know how to help people through the process of their work. It is something I have worked on and I can also work well and understand people and where they come from. Another skill of mine is that I know when to step back and let other people lead - as I did with this film. I knew that it was too late to try and make this film something it was not so I let others take the lead and I did what they wanted me to do which is just as important as being a good leader.
Improvement:
I need to improve on making sure everyone is included and valued. I need to work with everyones strengths as well as weaknesses. Because when everyone is included and working together, that is when the real magic of creating a project really flourishes.
Summary:
I really enjoyed the premiere. Even if the film wasn't the best it could be, being with friends and dressing up is always fun. I loved most about process was working with everyone and building relationships as well as learning. This was my first feature film and it is very different than a short film because of how many people there are. I would have been more vocal during the beginning of this process because I let people push me around and take credit for my work which I shouldn't have so from the beginning when we picked this script I should've pushed for a rewrite in the story. One take away I have is that team work makes it all happen. One goal I have is that I want to create something I am really, really proud of. Final thoughts are thank you for this learning process and we will be a lot better next year.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Introduction:
This first semester of entertainment video has been quite the journey. I have definitely learned a lot more about people than I have about making entertainment films, but that is still something I have grown in.
I am very knowledgible with how to use a DSLR, as well as all the other equipment needed to make a film. I learned the majority of what I needed to know back in freshman and sophomore year, so I was able to use that knowledge to create and produce films. I have become more famIlier with music programs though this year, like Logic X, which is awesome because that’s what I’m passionate about.
PSA:
For our first project, we had to make a public service announcement. We chose the topic of water, which a couple messages could be found within like water conservation or just the topic of people do not have clean water. This took about three weeks, from pre production to post. Our main challenge was that the topic of our film kept changing because we were not sure if our original idea was enough of "water conservation" as we first thought. I learned to really plan in pre production before you start to film because it will help with filming because you will know what you are doing. We were given the feedback to make sure the shots are in focus and to make sure the music fits. We tried to change some of the shots. I liked this project, I wish it would have turned out differently, but it was a nice experience.
Short Film:
Our next project was to make a short film. This took about 4-ish weeks. Some of the challenges happened in post production when our editor went against our wishes on almost everything and edited it very sloppily. I learned to be careful who you give editing to because that person can make or break the film. Some feedback was to not cut the scenes short and to be careful with audio. We tried to reedit it but it was too late by then. I love the concept and the majority of the shots in this, but the end product is hard to watch and I don't really like to think about it.
Feature Film:
This is an on going project - our feature film. We started it in November I believe and it will continue until April. Some of the challenges I have faced are that I have worked pretty hard on this feature film and its development and I feel pretty unappreciated for it. I have been meaning to talk to the teacher about it and I will. I was there since the beginning developing characters and story lines in order to make this film a compelling movie. I was in charge of writing the first act which I did and as proud of yet the original writer came in and deleted all of my work and wrote his own. Also, I feel pretty out of place as a second AD because I do not really see the point of a second AD on a smaller film like this. I do most of the busy work the first AD doesn't want to do and I don't really get any appreciation for it. I have learned to speak up for myself though, and I hope things will go better in the future.
Time in Class:
I think I have used my time in class pretty well. From the beginning of the feature film, I was the one up there at the board mapping out ideas. I have also been able to write a script in class and started a YouTube channel with Addie Zoll. I have also had the awesome opportunity to begin making music with Alex Manriquez! Making music is a passion of mine and it's awesome to work with someone as talented as him. I have a file of one of my demo songs if you want to check it out.
If my boss gave me 8 hours for a project that only takes 7 I would use the extra hour to gain feedback from my coworkers or peers. After that I would also research and look at other examples over the topic and see if I can make any improvements.
Outside of class I watch a lot of films. I try to watch a lot from different areas, so I can look at different techniques. Also, when I have time, I like to watch youtube videos about filmmaking, especially for beginners because I always learn something new.
Strengths:
A strength of mine is that I always have new ideas. I am constantly looking for something new to create and a new way of saying an old message. You can see that in my songs, I use old words and ideas but I make them personal. I have tons of ideas and I have the passion and drive to produce them. I also am a person who works very well with others and I know what I have to do in order to be successful.
Weaknesses:
I need to improve upon speaking up for myself. I have opinions and they should be heard. I also need to work on executing my work because there are a lot of ideas ai just abandoned because I didn't think they were good enough to be put out into the world.
Guest Speakers:
I learned a lot about film in the real world. I learned that you do not get a lot of time with projects. But I also learned that people love when people have style and something that makes their art their own. It was very encouraging to know that it is possible to make it in the film industry even when it doesn't look how you imagine it to look.
4XMD:
I learned from our field trip that there more ways to experience film and to push the limits. It was a cool experience and I love seeing people change the world's view of ordinary things, like how someone views a film. It inspired me a lot to be creative and rethink things and think about how can I make things new and exciting and get people out to the movie theaters.
Summary:
I loved developing the short film in the beginning as well as creating music. I just love writing and producing music, it is a childhood dream of home. I would probably have gone with different groups for the PSA and short film, I worked well with the majority, but they didn't come out as good as I hope they would have. My overall takeaway was just the idea to rethink old ideas and concepts, as well as pushing the limits to what we know now. I have learned its okay to think outside the box and really go all out in ideas. I want to make a short film I am proud of, that is my one goal for next year. my final thought is I have had a good run and grown a lot, and I am ready to make films and music I am proud of.
