Week 10

Saturday, 5.25.2019

Journal Entry

Last week of classes! I am 95% done with Chapter 1 and 90% done with Chapter 2. All I have left, basically, is to decide whether or not I need music and if so, what music. I'm definitely using 21:9, it looks great. I might touch up the color grading and make it a little more refined with keyframes but honestly, if I don't have time (why is the 7th period final the VERY FIRST ONE?), I'll probably just leave it how it is--it's fine. I should have let

Sunday, 5.26.2019

Final Reflection

1. How do you feel about your final video(s)? How does the final product differ from your initial vision? What is working well? What could be improved?

1. I feel pretty good about my two final videos! They came out almost exactly like what I imagined. The only thing they lack is a larger variety in shots, like the b-roll I wanted to, but didn't have time to, get. I almost like them better without it, though! I think my decision to switch from 16:9 to 21:9 worked really well in emphasizing what my characters say rather than all of the extra action happening around them. I think if I had more time, I would have done more takes while filming to make sure the focus was alright correct and the lighting was better. In Chapter 1, halfway through, the focus on Derrick gets off and I didn't realize while filming. In Chapter 2, the lights eventually died, so the lighting in the wide shot isn't as nice as it could've been. However, I'm satisfied with what I had and have.

2. What were some of the challenges in your process? What were some of revelations?

2. The biggest challenge/restraint I faced was TIME, or the lack thereof! I always wish I had more time to film and make everything a little more perfect. My two films really made me think resourcefully in certain areas to compensate for some shortcomings in both quality and quantity. Creativity and adaptability are key, I have discovered!

3. What were some of the influences on this project? (Other films, videos, texts, or artworks?)

3. I had so many influences. Films I watched were Coffee and Cigarettes (2003), My Dinner with Andre (1981), and The Social Network (2010). Books I had already read before this class that inspired a lot of my writing were The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan and Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr. Aesthetically, I tried to make my films look like and feel like Edward Hopper paintings. I was also inspired by Mackie Mallison's 2019 Scholastic Art Senior Portfolio.

4. What is next? That is to say: will this video have another life, another audience? (submit to student film festivals? screen for friends and family?) And from your vantage point now, do you have other ideas for projects in film and video emerging?

4. I plan on making the next six parts of my Senior Portfolio in the coming year (very excited!!) to go along with these two. When I'm done, I'll be submitting the eight-part portfolio to the 2020 Scholastic Art Awards and select films from within the portfolio to high school film festivals or competitions within film festivals for students. These might include the All-American High School Film Festival, Oklahoma City University High School Film Festival, National Film Festival for Talented Youth, Heartland Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, and Austin Film Festival. And I will be sure to screen it for friends and family!