FABYAN MEDIA STUDIES A LEVELS
2022/2023
CREATIVE CRITICAL REFLECTION
In this page, I will be reflecting on my experience making this film opening by answering a few questions.
how does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
For the film, I didn't go out of my way to search for conventions and challenge them as I want all the ideas to come purely from my head. My influences are that of expressionist paintings and abstract photography.
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I could say my product probably challenges the convention by telling a story more focused on atmosphere rather than narrative. The characters have no detail, no name and no background to them. It is almost like observing how insects behave. The story is simple and it is just delivered with no extra lore. It is also accompanied by heavy abstract editing to further the hazy and dreamy atmosphere of the film. I used colour in that way as well.
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As for representing social groups or issues, I think it represents most people, most specifically, people who just chase for purpose. People of religion, artists, addicts, lucid dreamers and such. Chasing is the theme of the film. The bottled flower is a manifestation of want and can be substituted for what you desire to make it relatable to audiences. I desire a Lego Batman set so I work hard by earning money. This film is relatable, you just have to understand.
how does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
I think that by making the plot very vague makes the audience want to figure the story out for themselves but only if they are that kind of people. This film is not really for entertainment but instead just a film that is to be experienced. People who are normally into say action movies for example would probably fall asleep which I am completely fine with as this kind of films are more of an acquired taste.
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I would actually try and contact people in the art industry in Brunei such as KepalaSeni or The Collective to try and promote the film locally and get the film screened in theatres as I know some people there already. It would also be promoted through social media, posters and trailers.
how did your production skills develop throughout this project?
I would say that my organization and day planning greatly improved during filming as it was kind of my first time managing everyone's actions whilst working on a timer before my parents have to pick me up from filming. I am actually more daring now in terms of getting the right shot and I learnt how to ignore the presence of other people when in public especially when filming in the beach people were looking at us weird which is understandable (Hadi is walking around with a noose tied around his neck and Haris is lying down in the sand). I have also grown more comfortable in ordering people around which I hate doing. Above all, my technical skills have improved a lot because of using editing softwares and adjusting camera settings.
how did you integrate technologies - software, hardware and online - in this project?
In terms of software, I used Photoshop for making the poster and used Premiere Pro for making the film itself. I used Youtube to help me learn how to use those programmes prior to making the film. For researching on films, I also used Youtube to help me refresh myself on the plot of the film I chose as I didn't have the motivation to actually rewatch the whole thing again. I typed out my thoughts and ideas in Word so can keep track of them and not forget and also typed it out on the notes app in my phone when a random idea occurs when I'm out and about.
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In terms of hardware, I used my laptop and phone in order for me to do software and online stuff. I used my Dad's Canon EOS and my Sony Vx1000 to record. Since the Sony camera runs on mini dv tape, I got help from my friend Wan to digitize the tapes and put it in a pendrive as his dad still has old video equipment from back then. I repaid my debts by becoming an actor in his film. To create the video feedback loop effect, I used a projector which I borrowed from the school pointed on a wall above the subject connected to the Sony camcorder pointed at the subject.
in conclusion...
Overall, I still had my difficulties with time and transportation mostly with filming which is both out of my control. I try to cover my mistakes with editing. My least favourite part of the film opening was the beginning because of my sloppy camera work. It was either I choose footage with good camera work with bad acting or the other way around. I decided to go with the latter. I didn't want to go through the hassle of re-shooting because Haris is also working on his own film and other school matters and Hadi is also working and starting school so I don't want to bother both of them anymore. However, I am fine with how the film turned out. It just only has minor mistakes.