Rough Cut Reflection

I decided to reflect upon my rough cut and get one of my peers to reflect on it too. This way I can get a better impression of what I need to fix. The criteria I used is:

• How much continuity does the video have? Are there any places where the continuity can be improved? How?
• To what extent is the video readable as a film opening? Can you understand that it’s an opening? Why or why not? What can you do to make it more readable?
• To what extent is the video readable within your chosen genre? Can you tell it’s a horror/thriller/comedy/coming-of-age etc.? How can this area be improved?
• Partner with someone who doesn’t know anything about your video. Record their answers to the following questions:What is setting (time and place)?
  • Who are the characters?
  • What is the movie going to be about?
  • To what extent is it readable as a film opening?
  • To what extent is it readable as a [insert genre] film?
  • Overall, how might the clarity of meaning in the video be improved?

Continuity

In my opinion, the video has decent continuity. It is easy for me to see that it is following a girl who is going from her house to school. I’ve mentioned this before, but there is a shot that I had planned to use in my title sequence that I later decided to cut. However, after watching my rough cut, I want to include this shot for continuity. My peer said she could follow my storyline. She told me she understood that my character was late for school and was rushing to get ready. Once I told her about the shot I wanted to add, she said it would help continuity but that it wasn’t necessary. She also said that the part where my character get out of her car isn’t as bad as I think it is. I hated it because I didn’t do it in one long take so it looks jumpy. By my peer said it wasn’t awful.

Understanding of Film Opening

I think this is readable as a film opening. It is ambiguous enough to not give anything away, but some main ideas are revealed. My peer also thinks it is readable as a film opening and not a trailer.

Understanding of Genre

I feel like the coming-of-age genre is very apparent, but the comedy aspect may be lacking. However, my peer noticed the comedy right away when my character fell out of bed. When I asked her for my genre she said coming-of-age first, and then comedy. This slightly concerns me because I pitched my film as a comedy, but I feel like comedy elements will really come in during post production.