Blog Post #10 - Course Evaluation

      I have thoroughly enjoyed TCF 312 Advanced Videography with Dr. Raimist. I fought all summer to get this class on my schedule for the fall and I succeeded. I did not know what I was getting myself into, but I just knew I needed some of Dr. Raimist's teachings before I left the Capstone. I heard through other students how good of a teacher she was and I wanted to know for myself. I can now say that she is. She is very knowledgeable about the material and equipment because she has worked with it on numerous projects. I think teachers should have firsthand experience with the material they teach and Raimist has that. I appreciate firsthand knowledge.
      Although the course required a lot of time and energy, it was useful. I feel like I have a better understanding of the work that is required to make a film. I have a better understanding of all the positions and how things operate. I also learned exactly what it is that I want to do and what I don't want to do in the industry. 

     The class time was used wisely, although at times I felt it was too long, but it is necessary considering the amount of material that has to be covered and the fact that the class only met once a week. I think my favorite and most enjoyable parts of the class were the blog post, scene assignment, and portrait of the place. I think the blog post were helpful because they reiterated what we learned in class and helped us grasp the language of filmmaking. I also liked the projects we had to work with other people on like the scene assignment and portrait of the place. It allowed us to be creative and enhance our communication skills.

     I think the least enjoyable parts were the days of actual lecture. I love being hands on and lecture sort of took away that vibe. I have little interest in camera specs and lenses, but it was material that we needed to know for the final so I listened and grasp it anyway. I love the fact that Dr. Raimist allowed us to take our written exam home and use our readings and other material to fill it in.

     TCF 312 was a challenging course, but because I love film I enjoyed it and took a lot from it. I think Dr. Raimist is an awesome teacher filled with knowledge and I am appreciative that she shared it with me.   

Blog Post #9 - Reel and Artist Statement

Artist Statement

“When I embark on the journey to make a film, my goal is to visually bring alive an authentic story.” – Brittany E. Walton

            That statement is what I am in the pursuit of. I believe as a filmmaker it is my responsibility to bring words to life, furthering the vision of the script. Films should engulf the audience, grasping their attention from beginning to the end; giving the audience something to believe in.

            I love movies, well great movies at least, and for as long as I could remember I’ve been watching movies. I would find myself flipping through the television only stopping if something caught my eye. I would catch myself watching the films very closely from the beginning to the end and even reading the credits; I wanted to know who directed, produced, wrote and even starred in it. At a young age, I did not understand how my love for movies would play a role in my life. For a long time I wanted to become a sports analyst and eventually work for ESPN, but it wasn’t until my freshman year in college that I realized that’s not what I was called to do. After that epiphany, I changed my major and never looked back.

            I have a love for an array of movies from action films, love stories, urban films, history, sports movies, science fiction, and the list goes on. If it has great dialogue, relatable characters, jam packed action, delivers a message, or extravagant scenery it has my attention. I am not just a specific genre film watcher, so I most definitely am not a specific genre filmmaker. I believe people should not limit themselves in life and I carry that same belief over to filmmaking. Why limit myself to just making only one type of film when my imagination is not limited to one type of dream; stories can be told in a billion different ways. Spielberg did not limit himself; in fact he has produced and directed films in many genres: science fiction, action & adventure, war, history, animation. He inspires me.   

As an aspiring director and producer, I am setting out to deliver to my audience authentic visual stories that will make them laugh, cry, scared, anxious, and even stimulate and inform them. Making a film is a journey in itself and watching a film should be an adventure too.

Blog Post #7 - "Best" Camera

     I find it rather difficult to dictate any particular camera the "best" camera, because all cameras have different advantages and  strengths than others depending on what you are trying to capture. For example, the DSLRs are best for crushing the depth of field, getting extreme close up shots, and capturing slow motion because of the size of the camera, the camera settings, and the clarity of the lens. The Go Pro is best for capturing objects and characters underwater, while Sony EX3s and FS 100 are best for capturing normal scenes with objects and characters are in exchanging in dialogue and minimal action. I, for one, like to use the EX3s because they are less complicated, easy to manage and carry. I can either pop it on a tripod or hand-hold it, depending on the feel of the scene I want. They are not as heavy as other cameras, which makes hand-holding it not so difficult. Also, EX3s have an easy post work flow because it takes SD cards and I can add a boom microphone straight to the camera and it automatically syncs as it captures sound. I also like to use my DSLR from time to time just to get some really extreme close up shots with clarity. So to dictate the "best" camera would be almost impossible, I think it comes down to what you are trying to capture to pick the camera that is best for that situation. 

Blog Post #6 - Scene Assignment Material

 

Sharing some of my scene assignment material....here are pictures of my production bible. 

 

 

My script title sheet...

 

A preview of the script...

 

My marked script...

 

 

My shot list...

 

Just one of the many pages of my storyboard...(not the best sketch)

 

Another page from the story board...(I know what's in my head lol)

 

My floor plan...(stick people rule)

 

And lastly is a preview of my shooting schedule...(this is very important when you don't want to be doing this all night)

Blog Post #8 - Visual References

 

     These are the visual references for my scene assignment. My goal for my recreated scene is to be high light, high contrast. I want every character to be fully lit, so you will be able to see every important facial expression, body movement, and objects (in the foreground) frame. I want the background to sort of be blurred out with low light; I don't want the background to be fully seen. The 2 characters are the most important and the focus should be on them. So high light and high contrast will lead the audience's eyes to pay attention to them. Also my visual references show the aesthetic for my scene, I want it very modern looking with lots of colors.

 

 

Blog Post #5 - Inspiring Lighting Styles

Here are several different lighting styles from several different movies. A few of them are from black and white films, but you can still see the lighting inspirations very clearly and distinctive. There are soft light, hard light, over head spotlight, hard back light, fully lit, lines blocking light and light adding depth and contrast. 

Blog Post #4- DSLR Strengths and Weaknesses

DSLR cameras are great for many things and bad for other things. DSLR strengths are that one those cameras are smaller so it can fit in tight spaces, where EX3, JVC, and Sony's can't fit. Second, DSLRs have a variety of lenses that can be used; which can give a variety of wide and long shots. Different lenses that can be used are prime, Ziess, and zoom lenses. The lenses can be removed and changed easily and quickly. DSLR lenses are so great that the image of the object is so clear and precise. Thirdly, DSLR cameras are good at rack focusing easier and clearly; it can also do soft or hard focus. Lastly, DSLR cameras settings are easy and simple to change and set. The weaknesses of DSLR are not as many as the strengths. Weaknesses are the DSLR microphones are small; recording sound from far away would be a challenge. Some sort of external microphone or sound recorder would have to be used to capture sound far away from the camera. Which in turn will make the post work flow longer and challenging. Another weakness is that some DSLR cameras require CF cards, which are bigger and more expensive than SD card which most cameras use. 

Blog Post - MIDTERM

This is a scene from Boardwalk Empire Season 1, Episode 10. This show is based in the 1920s Prohibition Era. The visual aesthetic for this show is rather old fashion, low light-which makes colors pop more-, and has a mobster feel to it. Nucky Thompson is the Atlantic County treasurer and resides in Atlantic City, New Jersey; he lives a very lavish lifestyle for someone who is politician. He is now courting Margaret Schroeder, a widow with 2 children. In this scene, Nucky has persuaded Margaret to give a warm hearted, persuasive introduction to the crowd about Republican Bader. Margaret was uneasy about the task to begin with, because she feels like Bader isn’t a good choice for the new mayor position, but decided to do it anyway after Nucky sweet talked her into it. There are several images in this scene that plays a significant role in telling the story of Margaret and Nucky’s relationship, particularly the angel. This scene carries through from an establishing scene where the current mayor is at the podium to Margaret’s introduction of Bader to the beginning of Bader’s speech and closing with Margaret's face.

This first shot is the establishing shot. It is a high extreme wide shot of the crowd and Mayor Bachrach is at the podium. 

Here is more of an eye level, medium wide shot; the camera is panning to the right. 

Here is a different frame where the mayor is dead center of the frame; still medium wide.

Here the camera has panned all the way to its right, now Nucky and Margaret are in the frame. The mayor still seems to be center of the frame and the angel is hovering him. 

Medium close up of Nucky leaning into Margaret.

Here is an over the shoulder close up of Margaret. She looks nervous. 

Over the shoulder close up of Nucky talking to Margaret. 

Another over the shoulder close up Margaret, her eyes are now on the podium.

I screenshot this by accident, but I think it looks cool. It is a blended shot of Margaret and Nucky over the shoulder close ups. They are looking eye to eye.

Over the shoulder close up of Margaret again. 

Medium shot of the two.

Medium shot of the table where they are. Nucky is about to get up.

Medium shot of Margaret and Nucky standing. Margaret is about to make her way to the podium.

Medium shot of Margaret approaching the podium, the crowd is on looking and clapping.

Margaret is nearly half frame now. She is looking almost to the stage.

The camera is moving along with Margaret as she continues her way to the stage. She is sort of in the middle ground of the frame. The people at the table are used for blocking.

Here there are flowers to the left side of the frame, in the fore ground; the camera is continuing its journey following Margaret to the stage. Mayor Bachrach is attempting to help her up the stairs.

Medium shot of Margaret and Bachrach.

Medium close up of Margaret approaching podium.

A close up of the side of Margaret’s face as she’s at the podium. She is center of the frame.

Wide view of the crowd, with Margaret’s back to the camera. The camera has now completed a full continuous following of Margaret from the table to the podium, with no cuts. It was skillfully done and well crafted, using people, flowers, and other things in the room for blocking. It took time to get the camera, people, and movement just right to execute this continuous shot.  This is the ending frame.

Wide shot of Margaret at the podium address Bachrach.

Wide shot of Margaret at the podium.

Close up of Margaret addressing the crowd, she seems more confident now.

Medium wide shot of Nucky and others listening to her. The room is rather gray. I believe because of the mood Margaret is in; dark, cloudy judgement. She seems to be very cloudy about her decision to speak to the crowd about Bader.

Here is a low angle of Margaret and the angel hovering over her.

The camera seems to move a bit closer.

The angel is now more center of the frame than Margaret is. I believe the angel represents a guardian figure. In Nucky’s and Margaret’s relationship, Nucky is the one providing for her and her children and sort of guides her decisions on things. He is a hand that helps her move along, sort of what an angel can represent. Another possible representation is that, their relationship is also rather sinful. The angel could be looking down on her, but yet also protecting her. This shot is powerful because it could symbolize many different things or all at one time. 

This is a medium shot of Nucky and others applauding Margaret. This fellow leans in to tell Nucky she is doing a good job.

Medium shot of Margaret still talking to the crowd; now she seems more in center of frame.

Close up of Nucky standing applauding her. The grayness of the room also makes the colors pop more. 

Wide shot of room. Everyone is applauding. Bader is making his standing. The room seems to be brighter now, making it feel like it’s a happier space.

This is a extreme wide high angle shot of the crowd standing and applauding. Bader is dead center walking up the stairs.

Medium close up of Margaret shaking Bader’s hand. She is dead center of frame, smiling.

The camera cuts to Bader approaching podium.

Medium shot here. Can’t see it very well, but a fellow comes to join Nucky at the table.

Medium close up shot of Margaret sitting, looking out. The room is tan, lighter; she’s smiling feeling happier. The colors still pop out more with this lighting. 

Medium shot of the men sitting chattering; the room is back gray now.

The space around Margaret seems to be a bit darker and the look on her face is indicating why. She a feeling of uneasiness.

Close up of the two men laughing while Bader is giving his speech. 

Close up of Margaret; the area around her is darker. She has a look of uneasiness on her face as the events around her are continuing.

Close up of Margaret with her eyes close. She feels like “oh, what have I done?” This shot is well framed. She is dead center. The director wants the audience to feel what she’s feeling.