SUMMARY
Role
I am the director for team one
Intention (SMART Goal)
By January 13th, as director, I will have evidence of applying myself to the production, managing the crew more efficiently, and improving my skills in directing by following “How to Shoot Effective Scene Coverage” for session three.
PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY
Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)
Steven Spielberg
Notes: Number 1 is story, and choosing specific themes. Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances are difficult to pull off, but wonderful when done correctly. 2, production design focuses on putting characters in extraordinary circumstances which are larger than themselves. To grasp the understanding of the audience, scale can be used to help them understand the situation. Crowds can create more intense panic, and threats should be depicted as massive, bigger than anything around it. Sets will be massive to show how much bigger the situation is than the character. 3, color can establish tone, transport the viewer to a fantastic new world, or to attract attention. Color can help the viewer feel what the characters are feeling if used correctly. Color can also be used to attract attention on something or someone specifically. Brightness can heighten the extraordinary nature of something in a scene like magic or a spaceship. Tone can be defined through saturation and dim vs bright. Color can attract the audiences attention. 4, cinematography can be used with variety. Smooth vs gritty should depict different settings and tension levels. Silhouettes, reflections, and shadows are special cinematography choices. The moving camera should be one of the most dominant techniques, which is used in order to keep the audience focused on the extraordinary journey. The camera should be an active participant and make the viewer feel present in the scene. Moving camera can create layered blocking along with multiple shown areas in a single shot. Framing in long takes should always be changing, and this can be used to shift the attention of the audience in between different things. Long takes can be used to sustain momentum in action scenes. 5, editing should be designed to go unnoticed to keep the audience immersed, and focus on emotions can create tension in the audience. Editing can keep the viewer connected to the emotion and plot. Geography is highly important in order to keep the audience out of chaos. Suspense can be created when the audience knows where the threat is. Cuts should shift in size consistently. 6, sound can be great for telling an additional story, and can serve many functions. Sounds of clocks can add stress and remind the audience of the lack of time. Dynamic sound should have big and small sounds mixed together to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Sound can guide the storytelling, and sounds above soundtrack in suspenseful scenes can create a bigger feeling of suspense and for contrast. Quiet can be used to establish a presence using obvious quiet sounds and character silence. And abrupt interruption of silence makes a threat just that much larger. Unique sounds can also go a long way, can can even be used to establish a presence of power and authority. Sound should contrast between quiet and loud, and can be used to create emphasis onto what matters in a scene. And 7, music
Training Source(s)
How to Shoot Effective Scene Coverage
Notes: Takes should be taken in their entirety from one angle to and then try to cover as much of it as possible from each camera angle. Allow actors time to rehearse and become comfortable in their role. Be prepared to make changes to the script. Master shot to close up can be very important. Master shot: Most important action in scene. Close ups: To see actors. Having a variety of shots allows the director to be able to make decisions in the editing bay rather than on set. Varying shot size can increase the amount of coverage. Tightening shots can be useful to increase coverage without moving the camera.
Project Timeline
None
Proposed Budget
None
PRODUCTION – ACTION
The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)
Skills Commentary
My job during production was management of the crew, set, actors, props, and the film itself. My responsibility is being present, both physically and mentally, at all times during production, and keeping safety as a number one priority. Whenever a change was made, I was required to approve it. My goals for this session were not only developing my skills at managing the film, but also at managing my time and using effective communication, which I feel I have improved upon. As Director, I have to locate and obtain usage permission of an area to use as a set, monitor the transportation of all equipment and crew members to the location, manage and advise upon different decisions and changes to the film, monitor the return of equipment and ensure the set is the way we found it, ensure the camera and audio files are properly accessible to the editor, and then ensure that all equipment returns to their respective storage areas.
POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION
21st Century Skills
Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)
I was more flexible and patient when solving a problem, and we were able to manage our time effectively and creatively. When considering suggested additions to content, I put thought into which decisions were brought into the film, and which ones didn’t fit or were not appropriate to the scene.
Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)
I communicated with my team to understand what they needed from me and to address what I needed from them. We were able to discuss what we were working on and what other team members could do to assist, and we were typically able to work on other things if we couldn’t help anyone else.
Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)
I was able to use my knowledge of acting, spacing, blocking, etc. to shape the film to appear more fluid and realistic.
Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)
I learned more about collaboration and the struggles of a director. I developed my skills in keeping people focused on the project. I utilized my time and I have improved my time management and organization.
Reactions to the Final Version
The beginning had a singular missing shot which included context to the situation, which caused general confusion. Cinematography was organized and efficient, and used techniques effectively, however, there could have been more creative expansion. Editing was fluid. No feedback for sound director or director. “I feel that the cinematography could have been expanded on more creatively.” -Advisor
“The lighting noticeably fluctuated from shot to shot.” -Peer
Self-Evaluation of Final Version
The film itself was very straightforward and clear about what the purpose was. The film was very confusing in the right aspects which was meant to catch the audience off guard and make them think. Sensory language was limited. No outside credibility. Frustration was expressed properly along with confusion, however, I feel emotion could have been improved upon. Stimuli and motive have been provided and built upon, however, they were both limited.
What I learned
The Directing of the film was highly dependent on communication rather than instruction. I was able to effectively communicate how I felt the time should be used, and also was able to ask what the other crew members needed. As for managing authority and focus, distraction was inevitable, and even though we lost focus from time to time, I feel I was effectively able to refocus the group back onto the film relatively quickly. The only area I feel I was lacking was my management of the editor. During the editing phase, there was very little I could do to assist or further instruct any of the crew, and due to the lack of time flexibility, my editor hardly had the time or focus to dedicate his time effectively to the film had I been consistently looming over his shoulder.
Grammar and Spelling
Grammarly and spell check
Editor
Samara N.