Coffee Man, tells the story of a professional barista. Alex is a middle-aged male barista, different from other peers, family, economy and age do not limit his character and life. Free and happy to engage in the career he loves is something he insists on for a long time. From the perspective of an outsider, I briefly showed this charming barista by recording Alex’s day.
Process
Coffee Man is a movie with a relaxed mood. During the production process, I kept the shooting and editing as simple and rigorous as possible. I hope to tell the character and life of an ordinary but unique barista through such a movie.
Learning Reflection and Summary: The Art of Micro-budget Movies
In this semester’s Low-Budget Film Art course, as a communication media student, I learned more about the production and art of low-budget films. I’ve learned and been inspired by exploring some classic films, writing my own scripts, and making low-budget films myself.
First, by studying classic low-budget films, I realized that it is possible to make memorable films with limited resources. Rather than relying on high production costs, these films emphasize the importance of plot, character development, and creativity. In the history of the development of film art, many films have achieved success by virtue of original plots and strict shooting arrangements. I deeply understand that the key to the success of small-budget movies is story and originality, not expensive special effects or extravagant directors.
Next, I experienced the hardships and joys of the creative process by writing the script myself. Its importance is self-evident in a low-budget movie, because the script is the basis of the entire production. I learned to use my limited time and resources to structure the story, develop the characters, and build a detailed plot that communicated the heart of the story. This process made me understand the difficulty of creation, and improved my creativity and problem-solving skills.
Most importantly, working on a smaller budget gave me a better understanding of all aspects of filmmaking. I personally experienced the whole process from budget, shooting planning, shooting, editing to post-production. In filmmaking, I realize that expensive equipment, huge crews, and great special effects are never the only ingredients to make a great movie.
Through this course, I not only learned the techniques of low-budget filmmaking, but also developed my creativity, problem-solving skills and teamwork. These skills and experiences will play an important role in my future career development in the communication media industry.
Overall, learning the art of cinema on a low budget was a valuable experience. I’ve learned a lot about the art and challenges of low-budget films by researching classic films, writing scripts, and making low-budget films. This course not only strengthened my professional knowledge, but also developed my creativity, problem-solving skills and teamwork spirit. I look forward to applying these learned skills to future communication media projects and continuing to take filmmaking to new heights.