This is the final test shoot that I will do for this semester. I am still calling it a test shoot because I would like to further develop it and create more layers of visual meaning in the future. If I let this scene ‘incubate’ and then I come back to it at a later time I feel as though I will be able to further shape and develop it into what will one day (potentially) be a finalised scene.

Reflecting on the scene: 

The camera-I have used an Ex3 camera for this shoot. I wanted to see if using this camera would have an impact on the visuals and the story they tell. Ultimately, the quality of the shots are a lot nicer however using the Ex3 didn’t help to tell my story through visuals. I almost feel as though it restricted me from doing shots that I envisioned as the location was too small for the camera. I had more freedom to move about with the DSLR and also more freedom to be able to quickly experiment with shots.

The lighting- I have used a dedo light and available lighting to help establish the mood and tone of my scene. The lighting is mainly dark. I have tried to light the offside of the character’s face in the living room shots.

The bedroom shots-These shots were not part of the script however this didn’t matter to me because I wanted to film my subject moving around. I felt that this added to the visual narrative and the dynamics of my shot coverage.

Visual literacy-

Reoccurring symbols-

• the clock in both rooms (represents time passing, the character’s life slowly ticking away or the loss of his father)
• the photos (form of identity, family and the past, emotionally connects you to the character)
• the clutter and mess (reflective of the character’s emotions)
• the mirrors (his conflict, identity, confusion)
• the white light in the bedroom and the living room (symbolic of the light to heaven, death)

Colour palette-(reflect the character’s emotions and tone of unhappiness)

• Very natural, earthy tones, soft colours
• green, beige, cream, red, orange, brown, white, grey

Framing and composition-(leads the audience’s eyes to what I want them to see)

The framing of the character’s feet at the start of the scene creates a sense of distance between the audience and the character- they don’t know much about him at all. As we get further into the scene the framing becomes more personal and up close. The audience get to see the emotion of the character in close ups and low angle shots and they start to see details that reflect the aspects of the character’s disordered personality such as the rips in his t-shirt.

• Medium shot (audience feel at a distance from the character)
• Extreme close up (engages audience, intrigues them, sense of something being personal)
• Close up (close to the character’s emotion, see facial expressions clearly, see details)
• Low angle close up
• Over the shoulder (character’s perspective)

Sound-

• Diagetic- no sound has been added because it is about the visuals!

What I love most about this scene is that it can be interpreted in different ways. There is no dialogue that directs the audience to think a particular way. The audience can interpret the imagery of the photos and the blank photograph however they like. To me, I interpret the photos as a representation of death or loss of the man’s father. I also see the photograph as a visual representation of the man’s loss of identity.