Original Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O554p-ovsI
Give your overall response (2-3 paragraphs):
Write about your overall response to your film in 2-3 paragraphs: Were you successful at achieving what you set out to do? What are you proud of? What did not work as you expected? Why? What did you learn?
Overall, I felt I was fairly successful in recreating this scene, especially given the circumstances. Thankfully, my audience knew that I was sick, but in the "real world", I wont be able to put a little disclaimer in front explaining all the problems that the production went through. Whats on the screen is what the audience is getting. I'm sad that the focal lengths didnt line up. I spent so long recreating the entire scene in 3D rendered space and placing virtual cameras and the whole nine yards...yet still I was unable to identify those tricky focal lengths.
Briefly discuss the following:
What, specifically, did you want to communicate? Were you successful? Why? Why not?
I wanted to communicate Baby's nervousness, Debra's emotional escape. Perhaps I was not successful. I was so fixated on nailing every shot that I failed to focus on that captured emotion. This inhibited my ability to give clear direction to my actors.
How, specifically, did you try to communicate this?
I tried to use the same cinematic techniques that Mr. Wright and his DP used to communicate it. They just did it way better...
What did you learn about storytelling:
In the end, the frame is capturing the actors emotion. That's what the audience connects with.
What did you learn about working with actors and getting performance:
I need to work with them to get performance :) Otherwise they don't know if what they are giving is consistent with the director's vision.
What did you learn about blocking the camera and actors?
You put the camera where it needs to go. Where the story calls for it to be. End of discussion. You figure out the logistical stuff afterwards.
What did you learn about visual elements such as lighting, composition, framing, etc.?
Lighting is a precise art. The sun being just slightly in a different place changed the whole feel of the piece.
What did you learn about design and art direction?
I should probably spend more time on that. Up to now it's been an afterthought. But it's so key. Maybe I just hire a production designer to do that thinking for me. Tha'ts a lot of thinking...
What did you learn about the Production Process such as pre-production, collaborating with crew, securing equipment, etc.?
Don't get sick during pre-production. Really screws with your already-procrastinate plans. Also, productions cost money...whether you have that money or not...
What was it like to watch your film with an audience? Did they understand it? Miss the point? Why did they respond the way they did?
I'm surprised, everyone was pretty positive. I think we all need to be harder on eachother. It wasn't that good.
If you could remake this piece knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
I would spend more time fighting for locations, I would rehearse with my actors beforehand. I would change my mentality about actors.
What camera and lenses did you use? Why? What did you learn?
I used the Sony AS7 with 35mm and 50mm anamorphic lenses because we wanted this scene to have a personal space effect that focuses just on the subject. I learned that anamorphic lenses are cool but very hard to pull focus on.
What lights did you use? Why? What did you learn?
I used the Arri light kit because we needed powerful lights that could create a soft look. I learned that these lights are harder to work with, and I learned that creating a soft look is very hard.
Did you communicate with the director about their conceptual approach? Why or why not?
I did because I…