Well, it seems that my two-year long journey in AICE Media Studies has come to an end. Thank you for taking the time to accompany me through this amazing experience, to see me grow, improve, and find my way through the world of filmmaking. None of this would have been possible without the help and support of my fellow teammates and family members who have provided me with advice and encouragement every step of the way. A special thanks goes out to my father who is the first person I field all of my ideas to, he keeps me grounded in practicality and reason, helping me flesh out concepts to bring my directorial vision to life, and being patient all the while. A thank you for my mother is also due because she has done nothing but offer her unrelenting reassurance to me whenever I felt in doubt, motivating me to consistently do my best and try my hardest. Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't express my gratitude for my cooperative teammates. Despite all of our busy schedules they still managed to make time to meet and make significant contributions for the betterment of our project. The plurality that being in a team offers is unmatched; the life skills that I have acquired in terms of compromise and understanding are invaluable and I will carry them with me as I progress into the future. I have no doubt that as I grow older, I will continue to look back to this enriching experience and be filled with a deep sense of gratitude for having been able to expose myself to such an enlightening opportunity at such a young age, learning my strengths, weaknesses, and passions. Without further ado, I give you my critical reflection.
This short film was created to shed light on a prominent issue in contemporary society, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, particularly the alcohol-induced variation. Dramatization was required for the sake of entertainment, leading to the portrayal of some inaccuracies. Nevertheless, raising awareness of the consequences of alcohol abuse is important. The reason why the film, despite following one subject in particular, allowed for some focus on their partner, was to illustrate the extent to which one’s actions affect others.
Although not built upon (in lieu of the time constraint and
the avoidance of an overcomplicated storyline) the audience may have deduced
the subject’s alcoholism to have stemmed from her struggle dealing with a lack of
acceptance of her sexuality. The film did retain some elements my team and I
initially discussed- the subject’s involvement in a homosexual relationship and
her familial estrangement. Her alienation from society was mirrored by her
parents and she resorted to what she felt was the only means of coping,
alcohol. The next step from highlighting this in my short film was to reach my audience
through social media posts, linking helpful resources which were then cross-posted onto my team’s website.
In terms of the short film’s branding, my package’s
components work cohesively together, with a consistent tone being conveyed
across social networks, despite them working to different ends. On TikTok,
there is a greater catering towards behind-the-scenes content, whereas
Instagram is the primary promotional front, and Twitter acts to engage older
audience members through reposts.
The postcard also reflected the film’s message, acting as a
physical medium containing the central elements of the featurette- the clock,
sticky notes, and alcohol, the latter of which is an essential plot device.
Looking now to the postcard’s font, one will find it to be reminiscent of a
digital clock. This matched the titles incorporated within the film and the
website, underscoring the ephemerality of life. To quantify one’s life is to
deconstruct it into the fundamentals that comprise a quotidian experience, hence
why the short follows the subject through her daily routine. By reinforcing
how quickly time passes through action-match-cuts, I hope to inspire the
audience to engage in introspection, finding self-contentment within their own
lives as they come to appreciate the little moments in a world without pause.
Another component of the postcard was its tagline- short
and simple, yet memorable and effective. Nearing the end of the featurette, the
subject makes the decision to forget her partner. It was a significant choice since
her partner had seemingly been her sole source of happiness. The subject could
not spend the night thinking her decision over; her time and memory were
fleeting and it’d be mere hours before she’d forgotten it all again. This was re-emphasized
by the inclusion of a calendar on the postcard, marking the film’s release
date. As for the sticky notes, which also appeared on the website, they were a
callback to a memory device used by the subject to remind her of daily tasks.
As for my branding as an amateur cinematographer and
director, I’d state that whilst I have yet to develop a recognizable trademark,
I’ve discovered the elements of film I most identify with and the specific
conventions that allow me to convey meaning. I have grown fond of sound bridges
and action-match cuts because I feel they highlight a sense of interconnectedness,
the same reason I’m partial to the thriller genre in all its elaborate glory. In
a similar fashion, I employ versatility and unpredictability to be responsive
to society. As for the topics of my works, there is an underlying trend of
serving as a social critique and scrutinization of a specific niche to which some
members of my audience can relate, being fueled by my innate desire to
impart knowledge and emanate empathy for the betterment of others.
In a thriller-like fashion, I laid hints in plain sight, so
a rewatch is warranted for those who missed a few details, and satisfaction is
granted for individuals who analyzed the featurette the first time around. Foreshadowing
could be found in the book titles under the subject’s clock, which reflect the
conclusion of the subject’s relationship with their partner and life as they
once knew it following their implied arrest. Likewise, a paper filled with
personal information, which the audience was intentionally given enough time to
read, provided them with proper insight into the subject’s life. Incorporating
the film’s title into the physical realm of the subject envelops the viewers
into the story and references my doing so in earlier projects.
The rest of my short film package, namely the social media
platforms, allowed for the production team to network with viewers, musicians,
and other filmmakers. Throughout the post-production process, I discovered audience
interaction was the highest on Instagram due to engaging posts about our crew,
characters, and release. This was bolstered by the creation of the official
website, which houses all the package components in a centralized, accessible
location.
Our film was modeled after the thriller genre, so I did my best to incorporate associated conventions. Tracking and eye-level shots were immersive, a tense piano buildup that was relieved with the jarring ringing of a phone perturbed the audience from early on, and effectively saved the payoff for the end made for a great thriller. I did, however, deviate from genre standards. A guitar riff was included during the opening score, creating a feeling of dissociation, allowing the audience to connect to the subject, who is disconnected from the present moment, battling frustrations of being unable to recall past events and being forced to rely on the veracity of her own word. Furthermore, I excluded disorienting shots, like high or low angles and Dutch tilts, so the reality and familiarity of the situation were not overlooked. I also found that staging and shooting the film primarily in the daytime captured the pervasiveness of fear; the short brought forth the horrors of reality to the forefront of the viewers’ minds and imaginations.
