We are slowly approaching the middle of the semester, and we should be finalising on ideas or concepts that we would like to research and explore for our final assessment.

So far, I have decided to focus on achieving the cinematic look with the use of colour grading and applying different aspect ratios. Next week will be quite a big week as we will be pitching our ideas to a panel (and Paul), and see what feedback, comments, criticism, advice we can get from the guest lecturers. Personally, I’m pretty nervous, as there are so many aspects and factors to making an image cinematic. There is lighting, composition, DOF, production design, make up, costume, the whole list goes on. I guess, I would mainly focus my research and experiments with the use of colours and also applying different aspect ratio to see how it will affect the image as a whole.

Currently, after going through several weeks of practices with the camera, sound recording equipment, and just having a feel of shooting on set, I have confidence in taking on the next step which is to come up with a simple narrative or plot for my experiment to take place. This would definitely comprise of brainstorming ideas for location, cast, crew and so on. I may even collaborate with a fellow studio mate, someone who is exploring a different field, however, using the same medium or reference to exhibit his/her findings/experiments. This could be achieving the cinematic look, but exploring lighting, sound, or cinematograhy, or even something more refined such as, writing, genre, or visual effects.

The road is long, and the light at the end of the tunnel, is not even peering through yet, but I believe that with time, and certain amount of experiments, I would be able to uncover what I have set out to explore, or even pick up a few things along the way. At this point, like Paul has mentioned many times before, the main goal is not to shoot a short film or anything of that sort, but a series of shots to represent what we are exploring. With that, I hope to establish a folio of shots, where I can look back upon and reflect easily, like how I would do so looking back at an old drawing or painting I did during kindergarten.