Evaluation

In my production I completed a live action encapsulation of a horror/thriller movie, which is based on an enigmatic entity stalking the central character. I filmed much of my film from a point of view shaky camera angle in order to create an intriguing mystique for the production and add an extra element of trepidation to the atmosphere of the film, as the audience is left constantly guessing unto the nature of this creature.

The shaky documentary style of filming also adds to the realism of the film, and I was inspired to pursue this style by the success of films such as the “Blare Witch Project” and ‘Paranormal Activity” which employed these styles with a great impact on the audience.

I chose to use this perhaps “Clichéd” storyline as I felt that whilst it conformed to many traditional conventions of cinema it allowed me to more intricately examine the actual filming techniques and to develop a more wholesome production without being caught up in the elaborate structure of the film.

The production satisfied all the key aims outlined in my statement of intentions and I felt it more or less tackled the required goal of the film, which was to create a tense and volatile atmosphere. This atmosphere was constructed upon the variety of camera angles, which insinuated fear and tension into the structure of the film making a horrifying impression on the audience.

I think that the factor contributing most significantly to the success of the film was its varying use of camera angles, which emphasised a “big brother” type atmosphere and aided to the dynamism of my production, which would have been otherwise lacking due to the absence of dialogue.

During the production I managed to more accurately master the functions of final cut pro, and in my production I employed the use of overlays, “speed up” and sound manipulation to sensationalise my production and emphasise its emotional impact upon the audience.

For me the most striking aspect of my film was the introduction to the night scene, which used rapid cuts between a first person perspective rapidly closing in on my front door and the protagonist typing on the computer, with a camera shot from behind him to emphasise his vulnerability and close ups on his hands to create a more dynamic scene.

There were numerous impediments to the success of my production and one of my major shortcomings was my lack of organisation and I found I difficult to schedule filming for myself and so fell behind on my filming. However, I managed to overcome this issue by filming extensively on weekends and participating in after school hours to catch up with my work. Another problem I faced with my production was my inadequate experience with final cut and I initially found it problematic to master the intricacies of final cut pro. However, with some advise I managed to properly apply final cut pro to fulfil its potential.

During the course of the production I acquired many new skills such as a profound mastery of final cut pro and a further in depth understanding on the impact of filming techniques upon the audience. The project also significantly improved my organisational skills and I feel better equipped with the skills to manage the production of a film.