Films

Portrait of a Place
Final Short Film

Reel

Final Course Reflection

This course went by really fast. In only a couple weeks I was able to learn not only a lot about film and lighting, but also a lot about myself as a filmmaker. Going into this class, I knew the very basics of filmmaking, but I felt like I knew everything. This class was a great experience and opened my eyes to the realities of film. I learned valuable lessons about everything from time management to camera selection. I will never underestimate the importance of planning and preproduction again. That also applies to the amount of time filming. I now understand the importance of knowing how many camera and lighting setups there will be. I found that I need to first master time management and planning before I can begin to truly explore filmmaking and my own creative vision. I always have great ideas in my head and can put them on paper, but I have a difficult time orchestrating the logistics. I think I can say after taking this class I have figured out more things not to do than I have things to do. I really appreciate this class as well as any film teachers because now I understand how difficult it is to teach film. Filmmaking is an art that requires vision and creativity. A teacher can show you the technical aspects and provide a framework for students to build upon, but they cannot teach creativity and inspiration. Surprisingly, I found more inspiration in daily activities and life rather than in some once in a lifetime event. There is so much in this world that is just waiting to be captured and shown to the world. I used to fear that I would not be able to come up with anything original. Now I realize that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something completely different. For me that is what filmmaking is all about. I want to show other people the way I see the world. This class has opened the first door that will allow me to achieve that dream.

Reel and Artist Statement

 I'm one of those people who watches anything I can get my hands on. Before Netflix and online streaming I would spend hours at Blockbuster sifting through the endless number of films. When Blockbuster wasn't an option, I would watch anything on television at all hours of the day. I think that is when I really found my love for film and film making. Through the years I've watched other people's visions of different stories and it made me want to show the world my vision. I constantly think of how I would have filmed a scene or what I would have done differently. Now that I have taken a couple film classes, I have started to apply that same thought process to my experiences and daily life. I see things all around me and I start to wonder how could I show the world what it is I see.

Interestingly, I don't even know some of the people who have had the greatest artistic influence on me. Christopher Nolan and Guy Ritchie are two directors who I admire and have shaped how I approach film making. There unique styles stand out from all the other directors. I like how they are not afraid to pursue their creativity and that their visions are so unique.

It is my hope that I can show others how I see the world. I see things in such a different way that it is impossible to describe with words. That is the reason I love film because when I have nothing to say, I can say so much. I want to show others the beauty of the world in the places we least consider.

Visual References and Goals

I really want to make the audience feel confused and disoriented as if they are a part of the journey. I want to do a point of view dream sequence to engage the audience. At the same time, I want to use a wide angle lens and strange lighting colors to make the viewer feel uneasy. I want the opening and ending shots to feel warm and normal so that the dream sequence feels especially strange and foreign. I want to break some of the basic rules of film making in order to further disorient the audience.