SPENCER R

8/28/2019

Hey, it's Spencer. I'm the most average guy you know. So average in fact that you may not even know me. I have some weird big goals, but all of them start with me graduating and having some money in my pocket. Everything else will either come naturally or not happen. I've become more interested in film recently, so this class will be a good time. Of course, it's not what I was expecting - I signed up for video editing, not movie shooting - but it shouldn't be a problem.

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Spencer Redmon

8/30/2019 09:09:21 am

How do film-makers develop and convey stories within the mise-en-scène?
1) Give a fact from early film-making that inspired our work these last few weeks.
2) Define and describe at least one concept regarding the Elements of Art that artists use while creating their films.
3) Also, consider the art works you filmed and edited; discuss your experience filming with a group and editing using new software.
4) How, if at all, has your point-of-view shifted in regard to the art of film-making?

1) Some of the earliest films- namely those by the Lumiere Brothers- were able to tell stories within one shot. We used a similar concept in our first film shoot, by telling a short and complete story without ever moving the camera.
2) Color is a very important element of art in film-making. Colors, especially those that contrast the surrounding environment, draw the viewer's eye. This can be used to draw their attention to an important detail in a scene, or to portray a certain emotion through use of similar colors.
3) Filming with a group was a good experience. Teamwork and cooperation is a good thing, and filming seems to bring this out, at least in my group. Editing with After Effects is exactly what I signed up for this class for. I've been wanting to edit videos for a while now and my lack of knowledge in After Effects was the only thing stopping me.
4) Looking back at the earliest films has given me a new perspective on what we have now. I find it amazing that the art and the technology has advanced so far in just over 100 years.

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9/13/2019 09:00:44 am

Why is cinema both the most realistic and also the most artificial of the arts?
1) Consider the shots and camera movements we've defined, shot, and edited. Which is your favorite from those you captured for your commercial and why?
2) Also, which is your least favorite shot/camera move and why?
3) What has learning about all these shots/moves taught you about cinematography?
4) How do you feel shot type and editing play into the "reality" of film?

1) One of my favorite shots, that we captured or otherwise, is the tracking shot. It's satisfying to move with the character or travel through a scene. It helps the film feel more alive.
2) The least favorite camera shot award easily goes to Dutch angles. When used well they can really enhance a scene, but they're almost never used well. All they do is give the viewer seasickness. One viewing of Thor will show you exactly what I mean.
3) Learning all of the different shot types and how to use them has helped me realize how much effort goes into cinematography. You can't just capture footage and edit it, you have to plan exactly what kind of shots and camera movements you want in order to convey a certain mood.
4) Shot type greatly helps the "realism" of a film. For example, a medium close up with a short depth of field helps make the viewer feel like they're up close with the actor. Editing also greatly helps. While watching a long and drawn out shot may be more realistic, it ends up hurting the realism and feel of the film unless it is cut down in editing.

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9/27/2019 08:52:41 am

How do filmmakers utilize the theory of montage as a part of cinematic language? And, how does this compare to continuity editing's voice in the cinematic language?
1) Describe montage in relation to how the shots are combined and compare/contrast that with continuity editing.
2) Use example sequences of montage and continuity editing from your "TV Show Pilot" to bring these two dialects of cinematic language to life.
3) How has your film-making, in regard to the process (writing/planning/filming/editing), grown since the beginning of the term?

1) Montage and continuity editing are similar in principle but different in execution. Both involve the cutting of shots together, but while continuity editing is meant to show a smooth flow of conversation or time, montage editing can take completely different concepts and cut them together to draw out a tone or meaning.
2) For montage in out "TV Show Pilot," I created a title sequence made up of different, but tonally similar shots. This solidifies the mood of the Pilot. Continuity editing is used throughout the dialogue in the Pilot, so that the viewer won't become confused.
3) My film-making skills and abilities have gone from non-existent to mediocre over the course of the term, which is a huge improvement. Prior to this class, I had only very loose experience with filming and editing, but now I would say I have the hang of it.

May Or May Not Be Spencer Redmon

10/10/2019 09:03:18 am

On your blog share the ups and downs of your film making so far and how you plan to continue to grow in the second half of the class.
1) Do this by writing about your (2) two biggest psychological barriers when it comes to making films, referencing ideas from the article "5 Psychological Mistakes that Beginning Filmmakers Make, & How to Avoid Them".
2) For each, provide an example of a barrier you encountered this term as well as a solution you plan to initiate in the second term to overcome this barrier.
3) Then, finish off the entry by recalling the biggest success or ah-ha moment you've had this term. Provide details about what made it a great moment for you and how you felt you grew from the experience.

1) I have struggled with the first item on the list in the article, as well as the fourth. These would be spending too much time typing and not enough time shooting or putting my ideas into the real world, and a fear of failure.
2) The first problem I faced is not easily fixed. For example, take my TV show pilot script. It has a pile of living moss that can speak, not really in the school's budget. Still, I could stand to actually shoot half the things I could come up with. The fear of failure is ironically more easily fixed. The solution really is just to be confident in my abilities and the abilities of my group.
3) I would say my biggest success this term was my edit for my commercial. That was probably the most creative I got with any of my edits, turning it from a pile of shots into an infomercial, complete with an information slide at the end. It actually kicked off the idea of the "ZKZM Corporation," an entity seen multiple times throughout my future projects.

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10/25/2019 08:52:00 am

Consider your likeness to Orson Welles as he broke the rules and invented new ones to rise to fame as one of the Golden Age of Hollywood's most impressive directors. 1) What's one of the things you've discovered over the course of making a number of short films that works well for you as you pre-produce, film, and edit? 2) What's something new you've gained from pre-production and filming this project that has helped you to expand your creativity in filmmaking? 3) To what extent has using the studio changed the way you think about your filmmaking?

1) One thing that I've found works well for me is actually incredibly simple. Having a script and knowing the chronological order of events for a film greatly helps when shooting and editing.
2) Something I gained from this project is an ability to work with whatever I have, even if it's hardly anything. The two most important members of my group were missing, so we had to make do with very little time and ideas.
3) Before the studio, films would look amateur at best. Now with the studio, they have the capability of looking much more professional, thanks to the backdrop and lighting.

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11/8/2019 08:52:39 am

What spurred the growth of various genres in mid-20th Century and how do they influence filmmakers today?
1) Describe why one of the classic genres we studies was created.
2) How do you see this classic genre influencing film/TV/media today?
3) What genres are you blending in your "Genre Crossover" project and how are you bringing specific elements of the genre to the screen in your short film"?

1) One genre we studied was Italian Neorealism. Neorealism came about in the years after World War 2, due to the hard times the country of Italy was facing. People were struggling and sad, and films of the time reflected that.
2) Neorealism can be seen today in some TV shows, showing the plight of the main characters and the struggle they have to go through.
3) My group and I are bending the genres of film noir, modern action, and romantic comedy in our "Genre Crossover" project. We are using the expressionist angles of the film noir genre, including low angles and oblique angles. We have a quick, action packed chase scene in our action shot, and we set up a breakfast date complete with a pun for our romantic comedy.

SPENCER R

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