Video:
Reflection:
Perhaps the most successful parts of the video were the original shots that I took. I believe that I chose the best areas and angles for them, and although I didn’t use some of them in the final cut, I think the ones I did use helped the video a lot. I also believe I chose a person of great interest for this project. Sonika Lakhani is a 25-year-old international student from India studying laboratory medicine at RMIT while also volunteering at the RSPCA.
Unfortunately, the parts of the video that worked against me was the editing. I think it was fine, but perhaps the cuts I used could have been better placed, as sometimes the transition between shots became either repetitive or awkward (sometimes both). The ripple shot transitions may make it look as if we are diving into the subconscious of Sonika’s mid, but they still look rather silly.
I am also unsure of my choices in found footage. While the cartoon animals feel appropriate for when she talks about her work in the RSPCA, the old footage of a poison-education video to match Sonika’s studies in laboratory medicine seemed a bit insensitive. I also should have re-thought the old India documentary footage that matches her Indian origins.
When I used garage band to produce the voiceovers, I found that the natural echo that occurred gave the clip a grander feeling than if I just used the voiceover function. The echoes in the voice made the clip seem more contained within the segment and thus more of a presentation of Sonika’s identity (i.e. a portrait). This technique I hope to use in any future portraits.
One major thing I learnt when making this that will definitely be relevant in the future is the fact that my cast may not be free while I am free. Sonika was only free to film at certain times during the week (as was I), so we had very few points in time where our schedules matched. While I was able to get the film I needed, it was still an effort to actually get everything ready for filming.