Narrative: The narrative is the opening scene of my short film ‘The Return’.
Film synopsis: In the gripping drama ‘The Return‘, Lao Shen reaches a crucial turning point in his life. Tormented by his son’s suffering at school due to their broken family, he realizes he can no longer drown his sorrows in alcohol. Determined to change, Lao Shen resolves to confront his past mistakes.
Commercial: A Instagram/TikTok promotional video for the western filed coffee.
Documentary: A short documentary about what made my friend Jack like his pet Luna so much.
Upon entering the studio, my primary objective was to refine and enhance my existing editing knowledge by delving into various editing genres and styles’ historical backgrounds, concepts, and techniques. Additionally, I aimed to bolster my overall portfolio quality for applying to film school by acquiring new editing techniques during my studio experience. Interestingly, after one semester of study, I feel that my progress in the desired editing techniques has been limited. Initially, I had high expectations for the studio to focus on advanced and innovative editing techniques. Consequently, I experienced some frustration when these techniques were not extensively covered in class. However, I have realized that these superficial editing skills do not constitute the true essence of editing. Instead, I have developed a logical framework and editing model within the studio to greatly assist me in future film and video productions. This logical approach has exceeded my initial expectations and has been nurtured through exploring emotion, facilitated by studio and case studies. Now, when working as an editor on narrative, documentary, or commercial projects, I recognize that the fundamental step in the creative editing process involves effective communication with the filmmaker and a careful analysis of the intended emotional impact of the work. This goes beyond mere technical manipulations. Subsequently, the work’s overall editing style and sound production are tailored to effectively convey the desired emotions. Moreover, this newfound understanding has allowed me to explore an editing style that aligns with my creative sensibilities, characterized by restraint, enabling the story to unfold with tremendous power. I extensively discussed this style in my second assignment, reflecting on its influence on my studio studies, portfolio shorts, and the direction of my future filmmaking style. Furthermore, I have greatly benefited from the “a story in a minute” exercise conducted in the studio this semester, despite deviating from its intended purpose by using pre-existing footage. However, this mistake proved valuable as it prompted detailed feedback from Sebastian, highlighting the importance of considering the context of shooting a film with the intention of editing always at the forefront of my mind. Such a mode of thinking holds immense value for a student at my stage of studies, as it compels me to meticulously contemplate the editing style and approach during the pre-production phase. This, in turn, facilitates the development of a sophisticated storyboard and a profound consideration of the rhythm and mood of the film. Consequently, this approach enhances the quality of the films produced within the limited opportunities available, increases the likelihood of winning awards at festivals, and opens doors to a broader audience. These realities carry significant weight for micro-budget student filmmakers like myself, who are in the nascent stages of their careers.