In the Flesh Shot for Shot

https://vimeo.com/186503328

NAME: Jase Van Meeteren

DATE: Oct 11, 2016

FILM: In the Flesh

DP: Brenna Empey

TMA 285 DIRECTOR’S REFLECTION

Reflect on how your film turned out. Have the courage to evaluate your work not only with a self-congratulatory eye, but also with a critical eye. Step back; pretend the film wasn't made by you. Be exacting. Be demanding. Don't let yourself off the hook. Be completely honest about your performance.

- Turn in a hard copy of this statement the next class session after your film screens

- Upload the statement to Learning Suite the day after your film screens

- Post this to your blog with your film the day after your film screens

Overall response (2-3 paragraphs):

In 2-3 paragraphs, write an overall response to your film: Were you successful at achieving what you set out to achieve? What are you proud of? What would you do differently if you could remake this piece? What did you learn? 

I think on a relative level the film was successful just given what we have but looking back at the original it doesn’t seem like I was successful at all. I think the lighting was close, just the exposure was a little off. The framings were close too, but the blocking was off on a few. I guess I’m saying that I think I did well at a few things, but there were other things that set it off. I’m pretty proud of the performances. They weren’t phenomenal, but I think the actors did pretty well for never having seen the movie before. I also like the location a lot. I didn’t get all the depth I wanted, but we got so close, and I think we did our best with what we had.

If I were to remake this, I would have really rethought my wardrobe here. After seeing the clip, I realized the wardrobe gives the entire scene a very different feel.

Briefly answer the following:

What, specifically, did you want to communicate? Were you successful? Why? Why not?

For me this was very much a story about a boy and his father working through to a better relationship. I think in that sense, there were things that were successful. I think that’s what people seemed to get as they talked about it after.

How, specifically, did you try to say this? What visual elements, techniques, etc. did you use?

I wish I would have put them on the same lines more but I didn’t I did, however try to create an affinity of tone and a feeling of vulnerability with the performances. I tried to keep everyone’s clothes on a good color pallet that would help to create this connection.

What did you learn about storytelling:

There are more things that I could ever think about that go into telling a good story about someone. Their wardrobe, stance, and relationship with other characters needs to be considered. I think it was really cool to take this assignment and really go through it to see what makes the character who they are in the original.

Working with actors and getting performance:

This was really fun actually. I loved the advice we got in class about just saying as much as you need to and then letting the actors go with it. It was also cool to see how they would take different things you say and interoperate them in different ways.

Blocking — camera and actors:

Blocking is so important. Where they are in the frame and especially in relation to one another gives them totally different dynamics. Like how in the original the father bridged the spatial separation to connect with his son, that was a really feelable moment. It didn’t work as well in mine because of the bridge didn’t happen all the way.

Visuals — composition, framing, visual elements:

The lines are so important in the original. The amount of horizontal lines was insane but it was hard for me to see them. Once I did, it really altered the feel of the scene and it was really cool to see that.

Design & Art Direction:  

Going along with lines. It was cool to see how in the original, production design was used so heavily to create those lines and structure in the original scene.

The Production Process — collaboration with crew, the logistics of making this piece:

Casting was kind of hard in this one because I needed an older person. It was cool to see how it came together though. Location was really hard to. Eventually I kind of had to settle for something other than what I wanted but I did the best I could.

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?  

Watching it with an audience, especially this one, was nerve racking. There were a lot of things, especially when it comes to camera placement and lens sizes that I noticed when we watched it together. I think most people got it though, so that’s good. I think the thing that gave them that was the performance though. I’m not sure if anything else really gave them the feelings they need.

Other observations: