Final Lookback...

Look back at your experience over the last two years here at Film/Video Production. Reflect on what you've learned, accomplished, the friends you've made and compose a letter to yourself on the first day of class in the beginning class. Imagine that this letter couple be delivered to yourself on that day and he/she could read it.

What advice would you give your past self?
Would you tell them they are going to have a great experience?
What would you warn them about?

Try to wright a thoughtful reflection to yourself on this last day of class.

Dear Megumi,

I won't give you advice or tell you what your experience is going to be like in your class at SVCTE. That's for you to discover. The experiences here were valuable because I didn't know what to expect.  The experiences here were valuable because of the mistakes you made and the lessons you learned from it. So that's why I won't warn you of anything. One thing I can tell you is that this class is a little more than you'd expect. Have fun! You'll be alright.

-Megumi

Least Valuable Unit

What is one unit this year that you felt was the least useful? Why? How could it be improved? If there was one unit in the entire year that I could strike from the schedule, which would you suggest? Why?

For me personally, the directing unit was least effective. I won't call it least useful because some of the blog questions genuinely opened my eyes to the role of a director. However, because I was not working on any projects specifically geared towards directing, I was not able to put that knowledge into use, and therefore it felt like an ineffective unit. Since there are always going to be few Advanced students and there are so many different aspects to filmmaking, it is important to allow more flexibility for the student. The first year was a time for the student to be exposed to all different aspects of filmmaking and so I see no harm in letting the advanced students be more specialized. For example, if the student is interested specifically in audio, the student can find an article or video talking about audio and write a summary paragraph about it for a blog. You can specify what kind of article they research by giving them a topic such as "audio levels" or "audio mixing."

3 Valuable Things

If you had to pick three things that you found the most valuable from this class experience, what would they be? What do you feel overall that this course has helped you prepare for?

The classmates I met, how I found what I specifically love about filmmaking, and the unique experience of having access to so many opportunities was the most valuable thing I gained from the class. The demographic back at my homeschool is significantly different from the class demographic at SVCTE. I was able to interact with people from so many different backgrounds and it opened my eyes to the world outside of my homeschool. I was also able to discover my love for post production. I love finding new techniques in After effects and editing just about anything. Hopefully, I would be able to find what exactly I love about post production in my college years so that I can specialize even further. The opportunity to speak in front of so many people, participate in Skills USA and CreaTV, volunteer at film festivals, they all became experiences that became an important part of SVCTE.

Revisiting Goals

Look back at your goals for the Fall and Spring Semester blog posts. Were you able to achieve your goals? Why or why not? What could you have done differently? Looking back at them, what could you have done to focus more on your goals in the course?

1. Have an Understanding of how Adobe After Effects works

I am happy to say that I have a relatively good understanding of how After FX works. Although there are still features that I have yet to figure out, I am able to work my way through the software without much confusion.

2. Understand  all of the color correction panel's functionalities.

I meant to understand more about the Premiere Pro color panel, but I ended up having a better understanding of Lightroom. I am hoping to learn more about Photoshop so that I can perform basic functions when needed.

3. Created Varied projects outside of class

I have been making cinemagraphs often outside of class mainly in order to improve my skills on After Effects. Working with still images allow me to focus on the effects without worrying about rendering issues. However, I also work with videos whenever I want to practice a certain skill.

Developing Strong Characters

What are three key pieces of advice from this article that you can implement in your directing going forward?

1. Include the actors in the filmmaking process

Allowing actors to collaborate in creating the story will allow them to have a in-depth understanding of the characters. They may also have the opportunity to skew a character in a way that is better fit for them as an actor.

2. Table read

While rehearsals can serve a part of the purpose of a table read, this process is vital in developing a character. This is especially effective because the actors are able to read the script without worries about blocking and they are also able to ask questions whenever they are confused.

3. Think about the character's overall picture

A character must be sculpted from the ground up. They are real people with reasonable motivations. Getting feedback for their acting is vital for the actor to understand the director's vision.

Blocking Actors P.3

What choices in the room com take changed the scene? What choices in the sitcom take changed the scene?

Although the room itself did not change, the actors moved around the room in a way that altered the setting so that the actors are confined into a setting that no one else can see. By creating a confined setting, the tension of the scene increases, thus creating an environment that forces the character to interact with one another. The characters in this scene must solve a problem, and the scene that locks them in without outside help reflects the situation they are currently. in.

Blocking a Scene P.2

How did camera movement change the scene? What was the difference between handheld and the steadicam? How were visual metaphors used?

Camera movement is able to assist the emotion of the scene. This scene, for example, was able to create tension within the scene by moving the camera along with the actors so that the idea that they are in a hurry in conveyed effectively. The handheld camera, on one hand, jerks the camera with the footsteps. As a result, films that are shot hand held can look more like a documentary or the Office. On the other hand, a steadicam would absorb all of the shocks coming from footsteps, creating a more cinematic look. Visual metaphors can be incorporated into the use of stabilizers by connecting their emotional stability with the stability of the camera.