- What were you trying to achieve in terms of critically communicating about synthetic media and explain the method in which the editing process was used to attempt this?
In the era of synthetic media, we find ourselves amidst a sea of overflowing information, whether originating from social media, news websites, or other digital channels, all converging like surging waves. As Jon M. Garon (2023) points out, the development of synthetic media has transcended the creation of static images, even encompassing the realm of generating video clips from textual prompts. In this complex environment, nurturing critical thinking and information discernment skills in people becomes paramount. The goal of digital literacy education is to empower individuals with the ability to assess the sources, reliability, and potential danger of information, and to stay vigilant amidst the deluge of information. The opening of my film this time aims to prompt the audience to deeply contemplate this issue.
The opening depicts the life of a person living alone, who, after work, effortlessly orders any food they desire using a food delivery app. This illustrates the convenience of information retrieval in the age of synthetic media, while simultaneously exposing the issue of varying information quality. Information overload blurs the lines between truth and falsehood, objective and subjective. Bonfanti (2020) mentions, “Deepfake technology represents a sophisticated and more complex tool to influence decision-making processes and the perception of community members through deception.” This viewpoint highlights how false information might impact people’s decisions and perspectives. Thus, in the age of information, cultivating critical thinking becomes a crucial skill to navigate complex information landscapes. Critical thinking involves thoughtful consideration, multi-angle analysis, and rational judgment. It entails more than just accepting or rejecting a viewpoint. With critical thinking, we can better understand the logic behind information, preventing us from falling into the trap of misleading or false information.
Furthermore, information manipulation is another alarming issue. In the world of synthetic media, anyone can publish information, some of which might be meticulously designed and presented by malicious individuals to influence emotions and concepts. “Due to the increasing democratization of content creation tools, anyone has the opportunity to become a creator and distribute their content to a wide audience.” (PAI 2023). Hence, we must raise our awareness of information manipulation. By mastering common techniques of information manipulation, we can better identify and resist potential deception and manipulation within information. The sudden appearance of the mysterious person’s hand in the video becomes a warning for every viewer. Warning people to remain vigilant at all times, avoiding falling into the traps of misleading information. Only through cultivating critical thinking can we maintain mental clarity amidst this surging ocean of information, make informed judgments, and not be swayed by falsehoods and misleading information.
- How did your preproduction/production/post-production process go and what would you do differently/improve next time?
Before conceptualizing the script, I strongly felt my enthusiasm for the suspense genre continuing. While crafting the storyline, I invested a lot of thought into it. Especially after studying the three-act narrative structure in the past two weeks, I realized that an engaging plot not only requires an intriguing storyline but also adheres to this narrative structure to ensure compactness and tension in the story. The inspiration for the script stemmed from a horror story a friend shared with me a year ago, and its plot remained vivid in my mind. Thus, I took this story as the core of the plot’s development and then adapted and expanded upon it to better suit cinematic storytelling.
In the pre-production phase, I dedicated ample time to researching and conceptualizing the plot, which laid a strong foundation for the entire production. However, reflecting on this stage, I realize I should have possibly started brainstorming more broadly right from the beginning, not limiting myself to just the horror story my friend shared. Next time, I will initiate brainstorming earlier, encompassing a wider range of suspenseful elements to have more choices while constructing the storyline.
The production phase is the pivotal step in turning creativity into reality. I made efforts to find suitable actors and cinematographers, ensuring resonance and collaboration. As I played the main character, I even self-taught acting skills online. Despite facing some time constraints, I managed to maintain the shooting quality of key scenes. However, this experience also taught me that initiating communication with the team earlier, sharing my vision, and listening to their feedback can significantly enhance the collaborative atmosphere and improve the quality of the final work.
In the post-production phase, due to shooting many shots, I spent lots of time editing, adding background music, and adjusting special sound effects. I utilized various plugins to modify the original raw audio, enhancing it with a sense of suspense and intrigue. The challenge during this stage was maintaining plot coherence while enhancing audio-visual effects. Yet, finding the desired sound effects for some scenes proved difficult. I believe that next time I can start looking for sound effects and background audio during the preparation phase to better integrate the film’s emotions and atmosphere with audio-visual elements.
- What you thought the most and least successful parts of your Film Opening Scene were, and why so?
I believe the most successful aspect of my project is my shot angles and composition. I captured numerous angles of shots to enhance storytelling and immerse the audience more deeply in my film. Filmmaking relies heavily on different shot angles to express not just the tale but also emotions and direct viewer attention in addition to presenting the story. To draw attention to important elements, such as the main character’s horrified expression and the enigmatic hand extending from behind the curtain, I used close-up footage. These shots allowed the audience to better understand the plot context and the character‘s emotions. I believe these choices and applications of shot composition successfully created the emotional atmosphere I desired, and when I showed the rough cut to Cat, I effectively captured her attention. Additionally, this diversified shot composition and angles injected vitality into the opening of the film, sparking curiosity among viewers to continue exploring the subsequent content.
In my view, the least successful aspect lies in the editing and transitions. Despite capturing engaging shots during filming, I found that in post-production, some transitions were not as smooth as I would have liked. This could lead to jarring and unnatural moments for the audience while watching. Particularly, in certain scene transitions, I might not have fully considered the coherence and transition methods between different shots, causing viewers to potentially feel disoriented during these switches. This may impact the overall viewing experience, potentially diverting the audience’s attention and affecting the conveyance of the plot and emotions. To address these issues, I believe I should pay more attention to editing and transitions in future projects, ensuring coherence between different shots while enhancing emotional conveyance through editing at critical plot twists. Ensure that future works excel in both narrative storytelling and visual experience.
Reference list：
Matteo E. Bonfanti, 2020. The Weaponisation of Synthetic Media: What Threat Does this Pose to National Security? TEPSA: Trans European Policy Studies Association, Royal Instituto Elcano.
PAI.2023. Partnership on AI: Responsible Practices for Synthetic Media A Framework for Collective Action.
Garon, Jon M. 2023. A Practical Introduction to Generative AI, Synthetic Media, and the Messages Found in the Latest Medium. NSU: Shepard Broad College of Law.
Story Board Material
Script
Screen Shot Of Production
W4-W6 Reflection