One Word Film

 One Word Film: "Rude"

For this project, we were tasked with creating a short film that visually represents a single word. Our word was "rude,"and we aimed to capture this through a brief interaction between two classmates in a hallway and classroom setting. The challenge was to convey the feeling of rudeness without any dialogue, relying solely on camera shots, angles, and editing.

Brainstorming

During brainstorming, we developed a scenario where two students have an awkward encounter, and one acts rudely toward the other. We focused on creating clear actions that felt relatable and believable within a short time frame. This brainstorming session helped us identify key moments that would convey the word "rude" without needing any dialogue. Below is an image of our brainstorming sheet:

Storyboarding

Our storyboard was crucial in pre-visualizing the project. We planned each shot, from the initial long shot of walking in the hall to close-up shots that captured the emotions on each character's face. For example, we used a point-of-view (POV) shot to make the audience feel like they are in the scene, emphasizing the rudeness of the moment. The storyboard helped us sequence the shots logically and ensured we captured the key moments we wanted.

Editing Resources

We used iMovie to edit the footage. To emphasize the tension, we utilized fast cuts during moments of conflict, such as the shove and the door slam. We attempted a focus pull and I think we did a good job at it.

What Went Well and What Could Be Improved

What went well: We successfully used a variety of camera angles to convey the story, like the POV shots that placed the viewer in the middle of the action. Our final product captured the essence of "rude" through subtle, everyday interactions.

What we could improve: Next time, I would focus more on refining the pacing. Some transitions between shots felt a bit rushed, and I’d like to smooth them out for better flow. Additionally, I’d experiment more with lighting to better highlight the emotions on the characters' faces.

Link to Our Project

Check out our final project here:
OWF_Baluk

Camera Shots Quiz. The Forgotten Scent

September 3, 2024

Camera Shots Quiz

For this project, the objective was to create a visual story using 15 specific camera shots and angles. The challenge was to develop a narrative purely through these visuals without relying on text or dialogue. 

When creating "The Forgotten Scent," my goal was to tell a story entirely through visuals, focusing on a perfume bottle as the main character. I started by brainstorming how a simple object like a perfume bottle could represent feelings of being forgotten and overlooked. I mapped out each shot with a clear purpose. The establishing shot sets the scene in an empty classroom, immediately giving a sense of isolation. I then planned the sequence to show the bottle’s slow decline, using medium shots to introduce the other objects around it, emphasizing how it’s being ignored. The close-ups were crucial for showing the bottle's wear and the small details, like the faded label and the leaking perfume, which added layers of emotion to the story. The high and low-angle shots were chosen to manipulate the viewer’s perception of the bottle, making it seem either vulnerable or diminished depending on the angle. The extreme close-up shots were used to create tension, focusing on tiny details that signaled the bottle’s final moments before it tips over. Throughout the process, I focused on how each shot could contribute to the overall story, ensuring that the progression from one shot to the next felt natural and meaningful. The result aimed to convey the bottle's journey from being a cherished object to something entirely forgotten, all through the lens of the camera. 

I'm happy with how "The Forgotten Scent" turned out, especially in how the shots tell the story of the perfume bottle's gradual disappearance. The low-angle and high-angle shots effectively made the bottle seem both important and vulnerable at different points. The extreme close-ups added tension, highlighting the bottle's final moments before it falls. If I could change anything, I’d play around with the lighting to create a stronger mood, like using shadows to show the bottle’s fading presence. I’d also pay more attention to the background, making sure everything in the frame adds to the story, maybe by adding little hints about the bottle's past. This project really taught me how much you can say with just visuals. 

Camera Shots Quiz.pptx