Final Film Reflection

NAME: Jase Van Meeteren

DATE: Dec 14 2018

FILM: Final Master Coverage A Beautiful Mind

DP: Taylor Davis

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? 

This was the hardest thing I ever directed. It was such an intense and difficult scene for everyone and I’m incredibly proud of the way the actors handled it. I thought both of their performances were so great and they both felt really great to me. I honestly feel like this one was successful if not just for me personally. I think it was one I wanted to make for a long time. It was a film that I really connected with and something I really needed to express.

I had a really long conversation to both of the actors and it got crazy personal. I didn’t expect to have the conversations we did but it turns out both the actors I picked were very very connected with the script. I knew at the beginning that both of them had some issues with mental illness but it went a lot deeper than I thought. I had the opportunity to pull them both aside and talk for a while about it. I think Kyler in general is just an open person so it was easier to get that performance. Sariah was harder but I still loved the way she handled the performance. It got a lot better once we had a conversation too.

I was really humbled to see how the actors were so open to me. We were able to communicate things openly and honestly the set felt so quiet and amazing. I’ve never felt a set so somber and I’m really grateful for that. I think this turned out great and I don’t really think that had anything to do with me. I had some great actors, a great script, and a great crew to make it happen. If I could remake it I would have done the push and pull out practically. It would have looked amazing if it wasn’t digital.

Briefly answer the following:

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

I was trying to express how I feel about my own mental illness. It is so hard to communicate with other people in a way that’s effective. I was trying to say that the only way to begin overcoming that difficulty is by being open about it. Allowing ourselves to be open and willing to talk about problems is a gateway to resolution. It’s important to allow others in. I think I was successful because that’s what the audience got out of it. I also think I was successful because it was therapeutic for me. It just felt so good.

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

I tried to show how Nash was boxed in and unwilling to accept the reality of what was happening by using the window he was stuck in. Towards the end, his wife invades the space and we don’t see the box anymore. This was all to show the release of Nash’s feelings and, as a result, his release from the box.

What did you learn about storytelling:

I think I learned how great location and production design can be when trying to show mental state. The window worked so perfect for that. Also the furniture made the lines and structure I wanted to show him in an even more boxed in way. It just worked out really well for the story.

Working with actors and getting performance:

This was so hard. I learned that it’s super hard being an actor. I took Sariah aside because both of us felt it just wasn’t feeling great. We had a really long conversation about how both of us felt about mental illness and our friends that go through it. She really opened up and I think it worked out really well. Then I was able to take Kyler aside and do the same thing. After that the set became even more somber, and the actors did an amazing job.

Blocking — camera and actors:

I think I learned how important it is to block according to the location, not according to how you necessarily want to block it. If you don’t block according to the location, things look clunky and strange, but when you use it right, the location works amazing.

Visuals — composition, framing, visual elements:

Visuals are a huge part of the story. The film would not have been the same if I didn’t use the window to box Kyler into the space.

Design & Art Direction:  

There were a few pieces of furniture that we moved in order to populate the frame and it looked much better because of it. The Design does a great job at boxing John in and making the film work. It also makes it a lot less boring.

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

Man, this crew was great. Everyone was very quiet and respectful. I loved the way everyone let the actors do what they had to do. It made directing way easier because I could focus on them. The only thing that was hard is my DP would sometimes forget to check the f stop and then we would have to go back and reshoot something to compensate.

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?  

This time it was nerve-racking because it was literally just how I felt about something. It was pure me and it was scary to show people that. I think they responded well though. They seemed to understand and I think a lot of that has to do with the script, but I also think the actors really sold it and this is probably my best editing job.

Other observations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZOI1XwPLQc