I’m very happy with not only the final result we came up with in Shrine but also with the overall experience of working on it. This was the first major project I’ve ever worked on and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the world of media making. That being said, I also learned a lot from this set that I will bring with me to all future productions.
One of the key concerns of the studio was to convey themes of post-horror, like including a deeper message and more complex themes in our film that traditional horror. In Shrine, we aimed to address themes of girlhood, intense female friendships and growing up. I believe we successfully conveyed these themes through the storyline, sound, and visual elements like cinematography and art direction.
For starters, I would put more emphasis on organization, particularly in the production management aspect of my role. I admit I got carried away with the art direction, often to the detriment of our shooting schedule. My meticulousness with set dressing and design details caused us to fall slightly behind schedule on several occasions. In the future, I would ensure a more balanced approach, allocating sufficient time for set dressing and enlisting additional help if necessary. Although our minor delays did not disrupt the production, I know that in future projects, this could cause more disruption.
The biggest challenge I had to overcome while doing this studio was learning to work in a colalborative setting. Before I did this studio, all the media work I had done had been on an individual basis. I had done group projects before but none as large scale as this one. I had a bit of trouble getting comfortable with the groups during the first group filming exericse we did to shoot the 2-3 page script we’d written. I felt the same apprehension when we formed our groups for Shrine. As we had more production meetings and casual discussions, I grew more comfortable and confident working in this setting. It required patience, effective communication, and a willingness to compromise and adapt to the diverse perspectives and ideas within the group. The experience taught me the value of teamwork and the importance of having a supportive and open environment where everyone’s voice can be heard.
I believe the biggest strength of the finished film is how all the visual elements blend together seamlessly. The set design, expert cinematography, and color schemes combine to create a visually captivating and thematic experience. The attention to detail in the set design adds depth and authenticity to the film’s world, while the cinematography elevates it by skillfully framing shots and enhancing the narrative.
The film’s weaknesses mostly revolve around production-related aspects, like minor scheduling disruptions and challenges we had during sound editing in post-production. While these issues have been part of the process, they are actively being addressed as our film production continues to progress.