I learned that I think I might make a pretty good producer or director but an absolutely terrible sound person or editor. Honestly, I never really wanted to be an editor or have anything to do with sound but this just reaffirmed it for me. I also realized I knew more about film theories and film techniques than I thought I did, I was able to actually apply things I learned in a bunch of my classes. It was nice. I think I learned the most new information about editing since I knew the least about that coming in and now I can do some basics. Although, if I'm being honest, I really hope to never have to edit anything again, I'll probably have to but you know I can hope. I think in the future I'll just focus the producing or directing aspects of film.

Next Semester

                Next semester I’m enrolled to take Introduction to Screenwriting, which I’m a little excited to do. I’ve never really written a script before besides modifying Bran and Park, but even then that was just adding directions, not dialogue. I’ve always been a pretty creative writer, since that’s my minor, but I won’t lie, I’m a little worried that this course will be too rigorous. Ah well, only way to find out is to try.

                I’m also planning on taking Japanese cinema with Dr. Palmer next semester. I have him for FST-205 now, and I can see how excited he gets when he talks about Japanese cinema so I’m sure the class will be good. When someone’s passionate about what they’re teaching it really makes the class better. As long as he learns to slow down a little bit, whether with his speaking or how quickly he changes the slides.

I’m taking other classes as well but these two are the ones off the top of my head that I’m most excited about.    

Cucalorus

My Life as a Zucchini

                On Saturday November 11, 2017 I went and saw My Life as a Zucchini. The film was about young boy who, after is alcoholic mother dies, is sent to a children’s home where he learns about life, trust, and love. I really loved the style of animation, it was Claymation, wasn’t it? Anyway, I really liked the way you could see the fabric used on shirts or on beds. I think what really struck me and what stayed with me was the execution of the story. The entire plot could have been portrayed really badly, since it’s more of a dark concept but still aimed at kids. That being said, I'm really glad they did make it a little darker because it's real life and I think that kids actually do need to be exposed to it, at least this way they won't really realize it (just like we didn't realize how dark Disney movies were) until they're older. I have been recommending this film to everybody since I saw it Saturday.    

Tweenie Shorts: Youth 
               As I mentioned before, this is my first time at Cucalorus, and my first experience with Tweenie shorts. I didn't really know what to expect, I thought they would all be shorts made by the same company or group, or that all the shorts would have the same theme. I realized, very quickly of course, that that was not the case. I'll admit I was a little surprised by the Minecraft one but after that I just started accepting whatever happened. I was actually a little inspired by the children's shorts, if they can do it so can I type of thing. It also reminded e of where we all began, making pretty terrible narratives with our friends and our parents camera  (although I think these kinds may have used a phone but I didn't have that option as a child). I also really liked seeing some of the ideas both children and adults came up with, like the Little Giraffe. Honestly, the little Giraffe was my favorite, it was cute and well animated and had a good message. I'll probably go to Cucalorus next year.   
              

           I think the most helpful pre-visualization material was the shot-list and the storyboard. The shot-list made it easier for us to shoot the shots that were similar either in lighting, or framing. For example, if we had a close up of a character at the beginning and then another close up of the same character later in the scene, instead of shooting them at separate times and have to reset after each one, we just shoot them at the same time, it saves time. I also really liked the use of storyboard because then we could really see what our film was supposed to be about, and how it was supposed to look. It also helped us in editing because it showed us how the scene was supposed to be edited, where the cut away was supposed to be and what shots needed to be re-done. Also, it was easier for me to look at the storyboard vs. the lined-script.   

Master Shot Scene Role

            As the Director of Photography, I have the responsibility to make the cinematography check three boxes; functional, visually pleasing and unnoticeable (since this is a more narrative, classical Hollywood type short film). I also have the responsibility to edit the film and make the editing unnoticeable to the audience, that way the film flows more naturally (Continuity Editing). To help make the cinematography more functional, I want to set up one of the shots to capture both Park and Bran, as to establish both to one another and their (space wise) within the setting. I also plan on meeting the requirements laid out for us, in fact I already have an idea for the Point of View shot. In our scene I’m hoping to have Park’s point of view from behind a book, so the audience can view over the top of the book with Park, to be Park for a moment.     

     

I noticed that when shooting the Vox-pops, whatever questions we had prepared went out the window. We had them written down but when it came to asking someone, we suddenly couldn’t explain ourselves.  That is, if we even managed to get someone to talk to us. We basically camped outside the library and caught people as they walked by, we got a few lucky breaks with a few people we interviewed who had a direct connection to our topic. We also got lucky in regard to having a few people walk by who we knew personally.

                The b-roll wasn’t too difficult in regards to actually shooting it, what was difficult was finding b-roll that we thought fit our topic. Since our subject is a portrait documentary on an ex-military member and current member of the police force, it was difficult to find moments in and around campus that fit that aesthetic.

Expert Interview

                Since our topic focuses on student anxiety, my group had originally hoped to interview a counselor from the Depaolo Health Center but due to availability issues we had to get a little more creative with our choice of interviewee. We have reached out to a UNCW Psychology Professor to discuss the causes of anxiety, the signs of anxiety, and the effect prolonged anxiety could have on the body. We are currently hoping to interview in an office space or an unused classroom. I am fully aware that may not be possible so we might book a large study room in the library so we can still keep a professional atmosphere. I hope to keep the tone of the interview professional, so the audience will take our subject (both referring to the topic and the interviewee) seriously but comfortable enough so that the interviewee doesn’t feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable during the interview.

Questions (Order subject to change):  

1) How long have you been a psychologist?

2) What is your exact area of study in regards to Psychology?

3) What is your experience with anxiety?    

4) What are some of the main causes of anxiety specifically in regards to students?

5) What are some of the symptoms of anxiety?

6) What are the more immediate effects of anxiety?

7) What are some of the long-term effects of anxiety?

8) How does one recognize anxiety, either within themselves or others?

9) What are a few ways to deal with anxiety?

10) Is there any way to prevent anxiety?

            I hope to do most of the Vox Pops on campus, preferably someplace students frequently gather or just on Chancellor’s Walk. Since our topic specifically applies students is would be best to get the opinion of those who may have suffered from anxiety, either school related or otherwise. I also wouldn’t mind speaking with a few professors who may have witnessed the effects of anxiety on their students.

Questions:

1) Have you ever suffered from anxiety?

2) Were you able to pinpoint the cause of your anxiety? Was it school related?

3) What did you do to manage your anxiety?

                                                                                                                                                                                    Light Observation #1  
                      When inside a class room, the florescent lighting is not meant to flatter. For example, the lighting in my Evolution of Creative Writing Class is harsh. Since it comes from directly overheard it cast a slight bit of shadow down upon a face but since most class rooms have multiple lights hanging all over the ceiling, you don't notice the shadow too much.  You do notice however that the lights tend to make your skin look really washed out, and they really emphasizes those dark circles under your eyes, making that foundation you spent forty dollars on completely worthless.  

                Light Observation #2

                   Here in Wilmington, North Carolina we have pretty fickle weather, but when it's good, it's perfect. So, when the weather's nicer people tend to stay out longer and soak up the sun's rays, sometimes on the grass outside an certain student's apartment building. As the sun goes down, long shadows are casted onto the grown while painting people's skin in an orangey color. If a person stands with the sun to the side of them, the sun cast shadows from their nose onto half of their face while the other side remains lit. Personally, it's my favorite lighting because it makes my hair look really red when it's usually a brown color.                                                                                                        

Hello, my name is Tara O’Brien and I’m going to tell you about myself, which is both my favorite subject to discuss and my least, simultaneously.

            When it comes to the creation of a film, I have had very little experience. I took a creation of film class in my senior year of high school, the class mainly consisted of a brief history of cinema and the very basics of editing on the school’s only Mac desktop. I enjoyed myself but it has been a few years since that class and lately I have been reconsidering in which area I would like to focus my studies. I would be lying if I didn’t say that I am more than a little concerned about the technical side of filming, I generally tend to avoid editing due to my fear of pressing the wrong button and destroying all the work up achieved up until that point. The main learning objectives for this course actually steam from this fear, I figure if I can learn how to edit well in a classroom environment then I will be less afraid of video editing in the future. I also hope to learn more about subjects covered in Film 200, like how to best frame a scene or how to correctly execute a shot-reverse shot.

            In 10 years I hope to be working in a film related field, my dream job is actually to be a film critique but I’m realistic and will probably take what I can get. I understand that many people don’t end up working in the same field they majored in when they graduated so who knows? I don’t even know if this is the field I will want to have a career in when I’m 30. In 10 years I could be accepting a Golden Globe or focusing on the creating of my Presidential campaign since apparently anyone can run for that office. I mean, the possibilities are endless.

            A fact that about myself that is not film related is that I played tennis for 10 years, and was pretty good at it. Sadly, I haven’t played since freshmen year of college. I did attempt to play at the club level but some of the practices were during my class time and if I missed practice I couldn’t play in the tournament and if I couldn’t play in the tournament then I was paying $75 to just practice, it  just wasn't worth it. I never thought I would miss the sweat inducing passive aggressive sport but I do and I hope to get back into it someday.  

Well, this has been a brief overview of my film career, my film related hopes and dreams, and my past endeavors into the world of tennis. Thank you for your time.