Week 3 Assignment: Commentary On Classmates' Shots
This week we were tasked with assignment of watching the 12 shots that our classmates made and choosing at least two to comment on. Before commenting, I looked through almost all of my classmates' blogs and I really enjoyed the unique perspective that everyone brought into their shots. It was nice to see how different each shot could be even though we all had the same assignment and the same shots to choose from.
First, I commented on Maya's blog. While I really enjoyed all of her shots, I do have some favorites.
The first shot that I chose to comment on was Maya's close-up shot. In Maya's close-up shot, she chose to film her sister's mirror reflection from the side as she applied mascara. This was a very interesting way to incorporate a close-up shot and it made you feel like you were really there. The angle made the subject very clear and detailed and it was an interesting approach to a close-up shot.
Next, I chose to comment on Maya's extreme long shot. I think that this one was definitely one of my favorites. In the extreme long shot, Maya chose to film her sister running across a bridge as she stands on a different bridge farther away. In the shot, almost everything is still and a very peaceful feeling is evoked in the viewer. The only movement in the shot appears to be her sister, but due to the distance, the audience feels detached from her sister and just altogether calm.
I also commented on Maya's flash shot. In her flash shot, the video starts in complete darkness, which is then followed by a flash of bright light, which reveals that someone is sitting there, followed by immediate darkness. The speed of this shot is quite shocking to the viewer and really makes the audience wonder about what is to come next. It evokes a feeling of suspense, wonder, and confusion, all with the simple flash of a light. This was very effective.
Lastly, I commented on the Point-of-View shot. In a point-of-view shot, the viewer gains the perspective of the subject, which is a unique perspective for film. In this case, the subject was rocking on a hammock and sipping water, and due to the way that Maya took the shot, it was really easy to imagine yourself in the place of the subject, sipping water and rocking on a hammock. I loved how easily I could slip into the scene and, similar to the extreme long shot, I felt very relaxed and calm.
I also chose to comment on Scott's blog. Scott had a very interesting variety of shots, and, unlike most of the other blogs, he also chose to incorporate a plot line that was consistent throughout all the videos, which made watching his videos very entertaining and interesting.
The first of Scott's shots that I chose to comment on was the establishing shot. An establishing shot is supposed to help the viewer understand what is going on and the setting in which the story is taking place, and this is exactly what happened in Scott's shot. In Scott's establishing shot, he filmed a house across a street, which made the viewer wonder what the story behind the house was and why it was significant. In the narration, Scott makes it very clear as to what was going on, which was a nice touch to add that made the establishing shot even more effective.
I also chose to comment on Scott's pan shot. In the pan shot, Scott offers a turning view of the "studio." Similar to the establishing shot, the pan shot helped me understand the what was going on, so I felt knowledgable while watching this shot.
Next, I chose to comment on the extreme close-up. In the extreme close-up, Scott focused on the subject's eyes in extreme detail, and in the narration, Scott tells about the character who is in focus. The extreme close-up made me feel uncomfortable and tense, kind of like I was invading someone's personal space or eavesdropping on something I shouldn't hear. I think the extreme close-up was very effective in setting the tone for the scene.
Finally, I commented on Scott's low-angle shot, in which a ceiling fan is seen from below. While a seemingly simple shot, the unique perspective made me feel small and inferior while watching the video. The shot was very effective in making the ceiling fan and room feel much larger than they probably are.
Overall, I really enjoyed seeing how other people approached this assignment and it was interesting how so much more than just the story of a scene can change the tone of the shot. Each specific angle evokes different emotions in the viewer and it was nice to see how others had chosen to use these angles to their advantage.
First, I commented on Maya's blog. While I really enjoyed all of her shots, I do have some favorites.
The first shot that I chose to comment on was Maya's close-up shot. In Maya's close-up shot, she chose to film her sister's mirror reflection from the side as she applied mascara. This was a very interesting way to incorporate a close-up shot and it made you feel like you were really there. The angle made the subject very clear and detailed and it was an interesting approach to a close-up shot.
Next, I chose to comment on Maya's extreme long shot. I think that this one was definitely one of my favorites. In the extreme long shot, Maya chose to film her sister running across a bridge as she stands on a different bridge farther away. In the shot, almost everything is still and a very peaceful feeling is evoked in the viewer. The only movement in the shot appears to be her sister, but due to the distance, the audience feels detached from her sister and just altogether calm.
I also commented on Maya's flash shot. In her flash shot, the video starts in complete darkness, which is then followed by a flash of bright light, which reveals that someone is sitting there, followed by immediate darkness. The speed of this shot is quite shocking to the viewer and really makes the audience wonder about what is to come next. It evokes a feeling of suspense, wonder, and confusion, all with the simple flash of a light. This was very effective.
Lastly, I commented on the Point-of-View shot. In a point-of-view shot, the viewer gains the perspective of the subject, which is a unique perspective for film. In this case, the subject was rocking on a hammock and sipping water, and due to the way that Maya took the shot, it was really easy to imagine yourself in the place of the subject, sipping water and rocking on a hammock. I loved how easily I could slip into the scene and, similar to the extreme long shot, I felt very relaxed and calm.
I also chose to comment on Scott's blog. Scott had a very interesting variety of shots, and, unlike most of the other blogs, he also chose to incorporate a plot line that was consistent throughout all the videos, which made watching his videos very entertaining and interesting.
The first of Scott's shots that I chose to comment on was the establishing shot. An establishing shot is supposed to help the viewer understand what is going on and the setting in which the story is taking place, and this is exactly what happened in Scott's shot. In Scott's establishing shot, he filmed a house across a street, which made the viewer wonder what the story behind the house was and why it was significant. In the narration, Scott makes it very clear as to what was going on, which was a nice touch to add that made the establishing shot even more effective.
I also chose to comment on Scott's pan shot. In the pan shot, Scott offers a turning view of the "studio." Similar to the establishing shot, the pan shot helped me understand the what was going on, so I felt knowledgable while watching this shot.
Next, I chose to comment on the extreme close-up. In the extreme close-up, Scott focused on the subject's eyes in extreme detail, and in the narration, Scott tells about the character who is in focus. The extreme close-up made me feel uncomfortable and tense, kind of like I was invading someone's personal space or eavesdropping on something I shouldn't hear. I think the extreme close-up was very effective in setting the tone for the scene.
Finally, I commented on Scott's low-angle shot, in which a ceiling fan is seen from below. While a seemingly simple shot, the unique perspective made me feel small and inferior while watching the video. The shot was very effective in making the ceiling fan and room feel much larger than they probably are.
Overall, I really enjoyed seeing how other people approached this assignment and it was interesting how so much more than just the story of a scene can change the tone of the shot. Each specific angle evokes different emotions in the viewer and it was nice to see how others had chosen to use these angles to their advantage.
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