Budgerigar:

The screening began on a high. This film was my favourite of the night in terms of technical choices. The lighting, colors and mood of the whole piece were really beautiful, particularly the dark, blue scene with the two Michaels. The ending was great; the fact that they are not just disturbingly similar to each other, but he may be in love with his doppelganger. I thought that was really funny and original.

Milk:

Second film of the night and again, setting the bar high. My favourite film in terms of story. It was simple, but so effective. The humor in it was golden, and I particularly liked the use of music. The music is what made the film. It wasn’t just a story about a guy running late to the store, it was a play on an action type film, and the situation felt so much more dramatic and desperate. Overall, it was just so much fun to watch.

Pranking Frank:

It came a long way from the rough screening. When I first saw it I actually couldn’t follow it, but it turned out great. The timing was really well done and the scenes flowed after another easily, even though initially the two characters are seemingly unrelated. My favourite part was cut out though, when Charlie makes a prank call to his boss and then his boss comes in and leaves, and just before the scene ends it becomes a wide shot and you see there is another person sitting there like “…what?” I understand why it was cut, as it isn’t really necessary, but in the test screening I could not stop laughing. It was the funniest thing I’d seen in any of these films. Regardless, the final film was really good.

Strange Noises:

One of the funniest of the night, just a really fun concept. Like Milk, the fact that the story was simple worked in its favour. Exploring what a mother thinks her teenage son does when shes not around was hilarious, she seemed like a real mother prancing around just being worried. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Question 2

I have found that through this course, I have more of a sense of what makes a good film. I can better identify problem areas, and although my groups film, ‘A Love Lost,’ is finished, published, and looks great, I can still find aspects about it I would change to make it even better. In this way, I found my analytic skills improved naturally and unexpectedly. Through the process of making my own film, I not only gained more technical skills and confidence, but I am more aware of lighting, camerawork, composition, acting, directing, casting, etc. Overall this subject has been my favourite of the semester. Usually group projects are not all that enjoyable, but I was lucky enough to have a really great group, and we were making a piece of work I was excited about. I found myself really wanting to do extra work and put in extra time for the sake of the project and the group. The experience has been invaluable.