Process Diary: The 12th Woman

WEEK 9 OF GOA FILMMAKING:

This week we resumed our skill tree assignments. Despite considering starting another skill tree in past posts, I completed the fourth assignment of the camera skill tree. I decided that since I've built myself up this far, why not complete the skill tree? This week's prompt was to focus on colour, so I based my film around the colours of the American football team I support: the Seattle Seahawks. Here's the original version of my film:

Here's the edited version (spot the differences 😊):

From this project, I learned that it is very difficult to do a whip pan on yourself. I'm used to filming myself--I just reverse the camera so that I can see myself and position it where I want it. However, trying to turn a camera while having it facing away from you and trying to make sure that my arms can't be seen is a struggle. The effect with the jersey sort of came out the way I wanted to but not exactly.

In addition, I didn't know this until someone pointed it out in a critique, but my thumb in the shot of the nail polish is out of focus. This really bothers me now, but, unfortunately, I can't fix it because my nails are painted black for She Kills Monsters. I was also told there needed to be some sort of climax to the film, like the music fading out early and a commentator yelling, "touchdown" (I've added that to the second version of my film).

On a more positive note: this was not intentional, but someone pointed out to me in a critique that I had both a reveal and movement in my shots, which were two of the past skill trees that I've done in this course. I'm building myself up the camera skill tree!

I got to go watch the game! Go Hawks!

-Emma