CCR Question 3

 How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

Throughout this project, my production skills improved in many areas due to the process of just getting such an experience. I improved in areas like planning, filming techniques, and editing. At the beginning of the project, I didn't have much experience with things like filming or structuring a narrative like this. However, throughout the research and planning stages, I learned how to use different filmmaking techniques in order to better communicate the story.

I also learned that my expectations were set too high for this piece. When planning this piece, I expected to have about 20 seconds of the suspense scene. However, throughout the planning and research, I learned that for my piece to be good and impactful, I need to keep my suspense scenes long and fluid. Rapid cuts shouldn't be present, and therefore the idea of bounding the suspense scene by 20 seconds was just too unrealistic for a decent piece. 

One way my production skills developed was through my understanding of camera composition and shot selection. Early in the process, I focused mostly on basic shots, but as I continued filming, I became more intentional with how each shot contributed to the story. I understood while filming that having the same types of shots repeat would be boring, and started recording the same scenes many different times from different angles. At one point, the number of cuts became almost annoying for the actors (in a funny way) because they would always be mid-conversation when I called out "cut".

An example of this is when I used wider establishing shots of the home to communicate Victor’s success as a result of his job and the dedication he provides to his job. I showcased the size of the property in order to show Victor's richness.

Another area where my skills improved was visual storytelling through mise-en-scene, especially through costumes and props. Victor’s black-and-white corporate outfit reflects his structured, work-focused life, while Joey’s bright yellow beachwear shows his relaxed personality.