A. What are ways I hope my final work engages with its audience and communicates a key concern of the studio? What would be the core things I want to improve and extend on in a piece of media and why?
Throughout the studio, I have learned the importance of ‘show, don’t tell’ when it comes to storytelling in media. Visualisations play crucial roles in creating engaging media. Our final project, Assignment 4, aimed to captivate audiences through intentional visual elements in our film. With my group, we brainstormed genres and combined blends of horror, thriller and comedy. We then identified themes of betrayal, social anxiety and classism which we explored in our production. The themes guide our screen play and storyboard scene by scene and are inspired from movies such as “Get Out” with the dinner table conflict and the intense arguments in “The Bear”.
Our group recognised the significance of costuming and props, which helped us find a location that effectively conveyed the theme of classism. For instance, we wanted the dining table to appear of ‘high class’ with bottles of wine with candles lit on top. Our friends place had a beautiful wallpaper of peacocks which was mentioned by the cast as they entered the room, signifying how important the small details are since they will be noticed and stand out. We focused on period antiques and reinforce classism between the dinner party guests, planner and the main character who is from a less affluent background. The approach helps us communicate themes of classism and social anxiety visually without relying heavily on dialogue.
Working on this group project was very rewarding and an incredible learning experience. With our limited budget and resources, we rely on single location to tell our 7-minute story. Ideally, we would have liked to have multiple locations as included in our montage sequence mentioned during the pre production stage of the guests preparing for the evening. However this was not feasible and the need to simplify the script and storyboard left us to do on-the-spot improvisation. Additionally, we needed to organise our shooting schedule more effectively as it would have been beneficial for us within the challenges posed by our location.
Another area for improvement was our equipment. We used a still tripod for filming, yet desired more dynamic camera movements, which became difficult within our resources. In the future, our aim would be to hire more equipment and extend our budget to achieve more visually exciting elements.
Despite our challenges, our group is very satisfied with the production as a learning experience and are still very proud of our work. It was a first for all team members working in a set-like environment. From the Visual Blueprint studio, I have learnt a lot about the ways that style can help visualise the narrative of a story. In my future works I want to heavily explore and develop on ways that I can communicate words into visual meaning.
Slide show of our research
Group 5 Alisha_Jen_Peter_Lucinda
B. Discuss work completed since Week 8 during, discussing collaboration this semester and working individually. The ups and downs and how this semester went for me
Links to work I completed for Assignment 4
My storyboards:
Act 1
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vW5Xf4_7U5UQwEPFM8bWvKocUJXVwPB2gqxlFLr1EeA/edit?usp=sharing
Act 2
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MBOK2pdaKslmfBMpf4mhgqdmIwLNQ6aDZJPZ1SuzQ1M/edit?usp=sharing
Act 3
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q6VmzDVHIBK0glTFXzrFqWSQEsPQdZWHDlU10sA-GTE/edit?usp=sharing
Link to sharepoint folder of work
During the pre-production stage of our assignment, each of us focused on our specific roles. We also provided feedback to one another to ensure everyone was on the same page. Lucy and Peter worked on the screenplay, Jen handled casting organising the run sheet and editing, and I focused on the storyboarding. Together, we decided on a thriller comedy centered plot around a dinner party. We drew inspiration from various sources to structure our story. For instance when collecting inspiration I thought of video game references that had strong narratives. Until Dawn (2016) came to mind with the beginning phone call overlaying the introduction into what the characters were walking themselves into. This idea was liked by the group and we expanded upon it. I also mentioned for Act 3 with the sacrifice of blood dripping down the table with reference of Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023). From my inspirations came my groups, we explored scenes from Killer Joe of the characters surrounding the table holding hands. Inspiration from music videos, ‘Nothing Matters – The Last Dinner Party’ (2024). Many films inspired us as well such as ‘The Bear’, ‘Get Out’ ‘Midsommar’ ‘Suspiria’ ect. From these visual inspirations, we developed a plot: a socially awkward guy attends a friends dinner party, uncomforted by guests who seem to look down on him. As the night progresses the guy feels more nerved and unsettled and events in the night reveal the real reason behind his invitation.
With the plot established, pre-production began in earnest. Peter and Lucy created short scripts and I storyboarded. Initially, my storyboards didn’t align perfectly with out filming plans, so I had to adapt to fit our goals. We followed a three-act-structure: Act 1 beginning with Dave waiting anxiously at a bus stop to arrive at the dinner party. However, due to weather and location restrictions, we had to scrap this idea. Instead, we started with Dave already arrived at the destination, with him walking up to the door and begins to meet the guests one by one. In Act 2, I visualised the main tableau where the guests eat dinner, with Hannah at the head presenting her speech. This was inspired by ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ and ‘Get Out’. Act 3 features Dave lying on the table before he is sacrificed. Including visually striking elements of blood dripping down the table and a knife against the red backlight, highlighting a sinister intention from the guests.
Links to scripts and final script
Collaboration and communication was the way that we found success. Our group was responsive and proactive in attending meetings and putting forth potential problems we would face or issues. For instance, when a member had a conflicting commitment, we ensured the we communicated and secured an extension so that the project was not rushed and that all members could attend and be a part of the production. We used Instagram and created a group chat, as well as making a server on Slack so that we could share documents and comment on each others work. Slack helped us organise meet- ups and ensured that we were all prepared before we began filming with our crew. This open communication made the assignment enjoyable and engaging. I have never worked with such dedicated people before, and this experience was full of inspiration for me.
Filming was challenging yet rewarding. We used a Sony FX3 and FX5, a boom mic for audio, and LED lights. Our shooting schedule was organised by the acts, filming Act 2 first, Act 2 second and finally Act 3. We faced multiple issues with the audio equipment and lighting. For instance, when loaning parts of the equipment werent handed to us and were missing which were required to complete recordings. Nonetheless, we navigated together and problem solved to learn and adapt. In the end we were successful in getting our equipment ready for our crew, and each day that we filmed we became more adjusted. Continuity in our film with the candles was another challenge, as the wax was melting and affected our lighting and required new wax to maintain consistency. We also had to adjust the story to reflect different times of the day within the film. This introduced the idea of title cards to get away with the poor lighting in some instances.
Editing was split between everyone, we all met in the editing suites, and spent all day working. The problems we faced were audio files not aligning to the video as we didnt have audio from the video recordings just the boom. We ended up fixing this problem through synching and by listing all the files before editing to make our process easier. I worked on Act 3 with Peter and collected sound effects, Jen worked on organising a whole sequence for us to follow, and Lucy edited Act 2 and worked on audio alignment for Act 1. We share and export our files and combine them together, and in the end I finished the edit by fixing audio issues, colour grading, and fitting the edit into a 7 minute finish. Altogether, we worked well as a team and we shared our ideas so that we could collaborate efficiently.
Despite these struggles, we effectively problem solved, which is crucial in filmmaking. Our group remained mindful and communicative no matter the stress that was happening. We ensured that addressing problems was a priority and if there ever was one that the issue would be solved and looked out for. This collaborative effort ensured that my group accurately translated our pre-production planning into the final film, overcoming obstacles along the journey.
C. Write a reflection on or respond to the content of the presentation in Week 9 by a student work other than my own
Reflecting on Izzy, Lucy, Vallerie, Jeremy and Yuyao’s presentation for “Shattered Truth”, I found connections of the concept and inspiration from ‘Blade Runner 2049’, within its futuristic dystopian setting to be highly intriguing. The interrogation scenes in “Shattered Truth” echo the daily questioning of ‘K’ appeared in “Blade Runner 2049” to ensure that he was not developing any human emotions. The plot for “Shattered Truth” centers around a woman who is reinterpreting events of an incident at a train station as she recollect them in an interrogation like environment. The use of a train to segue into an interrogation is a fascinating choice as it juxtaposes the futuristic nature of public transport with the mundane every day life. For example, speed trains in Japan are often labeled as ‘futuristic’ from a technological standpoint. However, in “Shattered Truth,” the train is depicted as rustic and from an older era, highlighting a stark contrast as it is recollected many years later.
The group’s inspiration for tableau is inspired from references dating to the 1920’s and 1940’s paintings, aiming for a focal point with blurred or surrounding objects intervening the scene. The approach to visual storytelling for this group is particularly effective in representing fragmented memories. The audience is able to interpret the protagonist’s mental state through these stylistic choices, contributing to the dystopian aura.
The protagonist in the film is drawn from Frida Kahlo, an artist who inspires many for channeling her pain into works of art, and maintaining a strong exterior in her character. The protagonist in “Shattered Truth” embodies a sense of confinement and the struggles to conform to societal expectations, adding depth to the narrative. The film’s dystopian setting shifts between the ‘Inner World’ and the ‘Physical Confinement,’ with the latter being the interview location. Evoking a sense of claustrophobia and pressure, the ‘Physical Confinement’ space is small and minimalistic, enhancing intensity of the interactions between the characters. This set up allows for every noise and word to feel magnified, creating tense and nerve-wracking atmospheres.
The ‘Inner World’, is portrayed as a public, suburban area filled with graffiti and trash, signifying life. This contrasts heavily from the interrogation room. The juxtaposition emphasizes the protagonist’s blurred and grainy memories of the past. The choice of locations is thoughtful and aligns with the visual storytelling, effectively conveying the time and place of the film as well of genre.
On a technical standpoint, the film employs a 1.33 aspect ratio, creating confined ,box-like frames that heighten tension between the characters This aspect ratio facilitates symmetry, which is essential for the visual style of the film. Lighting plays another crucial role in highlighting the important and vulnerable areas, drawing our eyes to specific details. Colour grading further enhances the mood of the film, reflecting tension and emphasizing the protagonist’s emotions in the dark room. Flashback scenes are rendered in a dreamlike quality, allowing viewers for a sense of reflection and nostalgia.
Ultimately, “Shattered Truth” is a meticulously crafted production that effectively communicates the genre and style to audiences. Through a combination of technical components, environmental features and visual storytelling, the film successfully portrays a dystopian atmosphere. The use of hues, camera techniques, and post production effects distinguish the past to the future, enriching the narrative. The groups thoughtful approach ensures audiences can easily grasp the dystopian theme and emotions of the film.
Link to slideshow of group work
Group 4 Izzy_Jeremy_lucy_Val_Yuyao
Links to the final Assignment 4 Group Video, Tableau. Google Drive and Vimeo
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bOcU4d_77q1npVz0ur9_gFZz37dO6gvY/view?usp=sharing
https://vimeo.com/954781763?share=copy