Camera Work Reflection

 Camera Work Reflection: Putting Theory into Practice!

Hey everyone!
For my AICE Media Studies class, we just finished two big projects on camera movements, shots, and angles. It was a process of learning the terms to actually using them, and I want to share how we went through it.
First, our learning process was pretty easy; in class we'd take notes on the definitions of all these technical terms, like what a tilt is versus a pan. Then, we watched movie scenes and identified the shots and movements we spotted. These projects were out way to take what we learned and put it to the test. The transition of naming them to creating them ourselves gave me a better understanding of how to use them correctly and gave me a first-hand experience of their meanings. 

Here's a look at my final projects!


Camera Shots/Angles Project

Camera Movements Project: The Final Film Surprise:

This project was all about action. We were asked to include six different camera movements to tell a short story based on the prompt "surprise."

Challenges & Successes:

This project had its fair share of complications. Our biggest obstacles were our location being really noisy and not having the proper equipment. Our main prop for our idea was a big box, and we didn't even have one!We had to make do with a smaller box from our teacher, since it was the best we could do in the short time, and it lead to a more funnier ending scene. A major success was that we finished taking the shots pretty quickly and we both felt like we did the acting portion to our best abilities. 

The Experience :

 My partner and I contributed different things, which definitely made it more fun. They came up with the main idea, while I provided most materials and suggestions to how we could make it better. We also got to act as the characters, and that was fun since there was many funny bloopers we got while trying to shoot the video. 

What I learned:

I learned that the work after shooting, like the editing and putting everything together, takes a lot more time and focus than one would think. After the shooting, I thought my partner and I would easily be able to clip the scenes together quickly, but instead we had to cut each clip to the exact right moment and line up the movements so they flowed into another, along with deciding on the audio for the footsteps, on whether to make them ourselves or find one online. These small creative decisions, that require input from both people, took longer than the actual filming. In the end, they made the video all the much better, so it was definitely worth it. 

What I'd Do Differently:

I would definitely find a quieter location to film, somewhere with no other students. Because it was so loud, we couldn't make any original sound effects from the little clips, like dialogue. I think it could have made our movie funnier and more entertaining, especially since entertainment is a key factor for a project like this. But, I do really like how our video is with no dialogue, so honestly, no regrets. 

Camera Shots & Angles Project: A Water Bottle Love Story

For this project, we had to tell a complete story using a sequence of specific camera shots and angles, like closeups and high angles. Our story idea was a high school romance between two water bottles names Vann and Sunny. 

Challenges & Successes:

We faced some tough difficulties here. We had nowhere to travel to the locations we wanted, we didn't have the proper materials, and we struggled with time management and procrastination. My partner forgot to bring their water bottle one day because they had afterschool practice and was going to be using a much bigger water bottle, and didn't remember that we were going to be taking pictures for this class. That specific water bottle was crucial to the story since it was the love interest, Sunny! This issue caused us to finish the project late. Even though we had some stress, we also had our fair share of successes. We were resourceful as we asked others for their water bottles and they readily agreed. We also realized that majority of our classmates had water bottles from the popular brand "Owala" and we used this to our advantage to portray the trope of "she's not like other girls." We used a whiteboard to draw the settings we couldn't recreate, and we were overall successful in telling a story that people could understand just through the shots. 

The Experience :

Just like the first project, we contributed different factors. We both had basically the same idea and I took most of the pictures on my cell phone, while my partner drew out the storyboard. We both asked around for materials and contributed our own. I had a really nice time because I got to express my creativity by drawing out the settings, and creating mini sets for the water bottles to use. 

What I learned:

This project had different type of planning process. Surprisingly, taking pictures with purposeful angles and shots takes a lot longer that I could've imagined. Making the storyboard took a long time because we needed more scenes than. the first project, and we had to really analyze our idea on how to best explain the story through such shots and angles. When it was time to get the pictures, it took a while for the same scene because it was hard to get the emotion required for a love story from inanimate objects. 

What I'd Do Differently:

I would 100% plan our ideas and schedules better to fight time management issues and procrastination. If we had been more organized, our scenes could have been better, which would've let us submit on time, and given us stronger examples for future projects. 

Final Thoughts:

Overall, both projects were super important. They taught me that planning is key, but so is being flexible and resourceful when things don't go as planned. I'm really proud of what we created, and now I feel like I truly understand what we learned on camera work. I'm already noticing different movements and angles in my favorite TV shows and movies! 

Catch you next time!

-Zunairah