Production Project – Session 2

Keyboard in action

SUMMARY

Role: Cinematographer

Intention (SMART Goal)

My intention (SMART Goal) was to have intentional lighting and intentional focus

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Primary source: Scott Pilgrim VS. The World

  • Cinematographer: Bill Pope
  • Dynamic camera movements
  • Creates tension
  • Lighting perfectly frames the silhouette of the two characters fighting
  • Very interesting and dynamic lighting that captures the viewers attention
  • Camera follows and moves with the movement of the characters during the fight scene.
  • Fast paced
  • Holds the viewers attention with plenty of movement

Training Source(s)

  • 1:22 – Can amplify the cruelty of scene with it’s static and cold stillness.
  • 3:14 – Camera pans can be used to reveal information and builds anticipation
  • 4:05 – Whip pans are used to heighten the energy of the shot
  • 5:14 – Camera tilts can be used to the dominance or the vulnerability of a person
  • 17:45 – Tracking shots are different from push ins and push outs, because they move with the subject and instead of just moving out or toward the subject.

Project Timeline

  1. Start Pre-production
  2. Make Storyboard
  3. Add tasks to Trello
  4. Assign Fibonacci numbers
  5. write screenplay
  6. gather props
  7. decide on location
  8. set-up shots
  9. film scenes
  10. record audio for scenes
  11. decide on scenes to keep/get rid of/reshoot
  12. label clips
  13. transfer audio and clips to Wevideo
  14. put clips in order
  15. trim clips
  16. put audio in
  17. make finishing touches
  18. export video
  19. put link in tracking sheet
  20. create slideshow for project
  21. add evidence to slideshow
  22. present film + slideshow

Proposed Budget

PRODUCTION – ACTION

The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EQKHPjcbwHXny5t64-hh5seG6WD0IWCG/view?usp=sharing

Skills Commentary

https://tinyurl.com/6n8afy9v

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

Ways of Thinking: To get an idea of how the film would play out. I created a storyboard with the assistants of my team to create a plan that was interesting and creative. A part of that process was a plan for a cliché training montage; to break the mold and subvert expectations we decided to create a twist at the end where the protagonist over trains and comedically hurt the antagonist at the end.

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

Ways of Working: Throughout the project, me and my team had to communicate on what days to film and our time restraints. One of the hurdles we had to jump was the fact that if we filmed on different days, our actors wouldn’t be wearing the same clothes. This would effect the continuity of the film, so we decided to split the film into 3; the first encounter, the training montage, and the final showdown. All these scenes were filmed on different days, one scene per day, to show the progression and clear separation of shots while still keeping continuity.

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

Tools for Working: For this film, I used a single video about all the different shots and what they did to a film, as well as getting inspiration from the short videos on TikTok and Youtube. During pre-production I researched Bill pope, a cinematographer who worked in the industry. For filming, I used our directors phone to record to save and create more time for the rest of the team.

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

Ways of Living in the World: During session 2, other than working on the project, I had buttloads of homework (thanks pre-calculus). I spent a lot of my time working on personal art projects and rewatching some of my favorite animated shows, and thinking about volleyball.

Reactions to the Final Version

After finishing up the film, we had to present it to the class. Mr. Leduc commentated on “how the bright red and green lights on the actors faces, against the dark background draws the attention of the viewer to what’s happening” This feedback helped me learn what I did well, what I wished I heard more of was on what I didn’t do well, sadly that was out of my control.

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

The final version of the film had a simple premise, which was a typing race; a unexpected twist at the end which made the cliche training montage work; we created an emotional connection to the protagonist with the unexpected but endearing acting from Windsor; and finally created a sense of story from the structure of the 3 parts and the multiple stimulations that drove the story such as the music during the training montage.

What I Learned and Problems I Solved

What I learned during the process of this film was that I wasn’t going to be able to do everything I wanna do as a cinematographer and that my job isn’t to execute my vision, but to execute the directors vision of the film. I also learned a very important lesson in the limitation of time; this was learnt when I was unable to save the footage we had just recorded to the computer due to the class ending, I solved this by switching to phone for the film.

Grammar and Spelling

Grammarly

Editor

Sabina