Taxi Driver

a) I chose the five minute extract (6:50-12:10)when Travis Bickle is preparing for the presidential candidate, Palentine’s, assassination. I chose the five minutes section of the film because it showed Bickle’s breaking point; he cannot take living in a “filthy” New York City anymore, so he takes matters into his own hands. It also reflects some genre influences and explores Bickle’s character as an awkward, lonely, yet hysterical, violent, and obsessive man. He descends into madness after the rejection from Betsy. He loses all self-awareness and convinces himself that shooting a presidential candidate and then suicide is a heroic act.



b)The director, Martin Scorsese's body of work includes themes as Italian American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption, machismo, modern crime and violence”. Taxi Driver delves more deeply into modern crime and violence. The streets of New York are mean and tough while Bickle drives in his taxi at night, which is enhanced by the grittiness from the steam and sewers. His practice with the guns is unique, like most of Scorsese’s Film Noir films. The robbery and shooting in the store is also typical of Scorsese as well. He tends to have the same style: New York settings and loners struggling with inner turmoil.





c) The narrative is linear in the film. Before the extract, Bickle gradually loses his mind after losing Betsy. He feels more isolated and miserable in the city. He absentmindedly runs his cab into a young prostitute, the same one who jumped into his cab earlier in the film. After buying guns from a salesman, he begins training his body for what it seems like combat. His speech begins to become repetitive and disjointed and he even shoots a black robber in a convenience store. Bickle’s voice over (him explaining why he hates New York and his new mission in life) dominates the extract, and basically the entire film. This allows the audience to delve deeper into his mind.

d) The director attempts to explore the theme of lonliness in crowds or isolation. In the large population New York City, forming intimate relationships can be rare. With Bickle’s traumatized mind due to the Vietnam War and inability to fit in to society, he reflects the typical urban isolation. Travis resents that the people in his taxi who pretend he doesn't exist, and in a way, New York itself is an extension of the taxi. Bickle is shown as isolated from society or separated from reality when he is watching television alone. It seems as though the only exposure to culture is through television. Due to his failed relationship with Betsy and his strained relationship with his parents, Bickle chooses to isolate himself where he can reflect on life in his journal and mope.






e) Taxi Driver is a gritty, disturbing, nightmarish modern film classic, that explores alienation in urban society. Scorsese combines elements of Film Noir, the western, horror and urban melodrama film genres. The film appeared after the Vietnam War, and after President Nixon's resignation. Travis’ attempt to assassinate the presidential candidate, Palantine, was inspired by current events of that time period. In 1972, Arthur Bremer tried and failed to assassinate presidential candidate and Governor George C. Wallace. He was a young loner who lived in a rented room and stalked Wallace for weeks. His attempted assassination is almost identical to Travis Bickle’s attempt.

The Rise the American Anti-Hero

What historical factors influenced the rise of the American Anti-Hero in cinema and how does this hero contradict the Classic Hollywood Ideology.


Throughout film history, audiences have rooted for the protagonists who were the true “heroes” of the story. However, as the world faced challenges and innocence soon diminished, audiences yearned for characters who showed human weakness and venerability-- someone who was more human. This character rose in cinema and became known as the anti-hero. “What is it?”, you may ask. An anti-hero is "a protagonist of a drama or narrative who is notably lacking in heroic qualities" (1).

World War II played a major role in influencing the rise of the American anti-hero in cinema. The first reason was that America wanted new kinds of heroes because America was seriously traumatized after the war. The second reason was that citizens wanted the protagonists “to rebel against the status quo” (1). Thirdly, people wanted heroes with human qualities, “who were true representations of life, who were faulty and vulnerable” (1). Lastly, America wanted its heroes to reflect the true American spirit, no matter they were good , bad or ugly.



In the 1940s and 1950s, the anti-hero became popular due to the cynicism during and following World War II. People were relating to the anti-hero “who was not involved in world problems but devoting his time to overcoming hisown personal problems" (2). Duel in the Sun and The Best Years of Our Lives demonstrated that America after the war was not always a happy go lucky place, and happy endings were rare.

John Garfield could be argued as the creator of the anti-hero. His characters were more relatable to real life. "The anti-hero was daring the audience to relate to doing wrong or being wrong even for the wrong reasons" (2). Watching a character commit wrongdoings makes us reflect on our own failures to encourage us to do the “right thing”.



The Cold War created a sense of fear and hate in the people the 1950s. People were paranoid in this atmosphere of hostility with Russia. Filmmakers thus had characters “embrace the duality in the nature of man” (3). Character could then show good and bad characteristics. In the second half of the 20th Century, America was rebelling against Communism and aggressors in Vietnam and Korea, which influenced the anti-hero to be rebellious as well. “The rebel anti-hero was rebelling against the American standard, and America itself was born through rebellion and revolution” (4). Rebellion became a new standard in cinema.



The Anti-hero contradicts the Classic Hollywood Ideology because the anti-hero is more realistic and shows human flaws. The traditional hero is supposedly ‘perfect and good’. However, as America experienced WWII, the Cold War, and domestic revolutions, audiences wanted a type of hero that depicted their time period. They desired a character that made mistakes and reflected true human nature. People wanted to see the darker and cynical side of human nature after experiencing the horrors of war. An anti-hero creates a sense of realism through their character. Classic heroes intentional attempt to do good deeds whereas the anti-hero performs good deeds, but may do them in illegal/ immoral ways. “Anti-heroes became these altruistic characters that were supposed to be representations of real people...”(6). I personally prefer anti-heroes to classic heroes because they have more depth and are more compelling to watch on screen.

Article- Intensified Continuity

According to David Bordwell, explain how and why continuity has intensified in Hollywood cinema. Also consider whether anything has been lost with this change.
Please include a minimum of 3 quotes from the article in your response

According to David Bordell, the author of the article “Visual Style in Contemporary American Film”, Hollywood cinema continuity has intensified throughout the course of film history. The predominant stylistic tactics of intensified continuity includes: increased use of rapid editing, extremes of lens length, close framing during dialogue scenes, and a free-ranging camera.

Rapid editing is the first stylistic technique of intensified continuity. Between 1930 and 1960, the average shot length was between 300-700 shots. In the 1980s, the ASL was about 1500. Fast editing continued to grow in popularity throughout the ages. Bordwell states, "Today, most films are cut more rapidly than any other time in U.S. studio filmmaking.” (2). Bordwell explains that there are few films today that are “long action sequence[s]”. As time passed, artist strayed away from realism and eventually with quick cutting, a more “post classical” style was more predominant. Bordwell explains that “classical cutting contains built in redundancies: shot/reverse shots reiterate the information about character position given in the establishing shot”(2). He believed that Kuleshov and Pudovking agreed that many artists started to distance themselves from realism since the repetition of shots/ techniques began to bore audiences. Rapid editing has intensified in Hollywood because filmmakers wanted to try something that was never attempted before. They wanted to create new techniques/ concepts that they could call their own. Classicism became too unoriginal and to become authentic, filmmakers gradually developed this type of ramped up continuity. Also, to match the face paced life of Americans, quick cuts would force the audiences to pay close attention and make the film more dynamic.

Bipolar extremes of lens lengths was yet another stylistic choice. From 1910 to 1940, the average focal length for normal lens was about 50mm (or 2 inches). Longer lenses ranging from 100mm to 500mm were used mostly for soft-focus close ups and for “following swift action at a distance” (2). The shorter lenses (25-50mm) were used to create a good focus in several different planes or cramped settings in one shot. Bordwell states that “filmmakers used wide-angle lenses to provide expansive establishing shots, medium shots with strong foregrounds/background interplay, and grotesque close ups,"(2). Wide-angle lenses enabled filmmakers to get a variety of unique shots. Wide angles were able to skew images by creating bulging edges that exaggerated distances (foreground/ background interplay) in a frame. Long lens grew in popularity as well because of its advantages. Bordwell explains, “The long-focus lens became and has remained an all purpose tool, available to frame close-ups, medium close-ups, over the shoulder shots, and even establishing shots”. The longer lenses also allowed cameras to stay out of other cameras’ way during the shooting of an interior scene. The longer lenses was useful with rack-focusing and the "wipe-by" cut as well. I think the use of longer lenses became popular in film industries because as the technology became more advanced, the more inclined the filmmakers are to experiment with the interplays between the actors and their environment. The effects of long lenses can contributed to the film’s content (the characterization, plot) and is a way to show and not tell the story.

The third technique of intensified continuity is close framing in dialogue scenes. "Singles allowed the director to vary the scene's pace in editing and to pick the best bits of each actor's performance" (3). Medium shots and close ups were used to highlight the actors’ performances during important scenes critical to the film. A variety in shot scales was utilized to avoid reemphasizing lines or facial expressions in shots. This would decrease the boredom of the audience when watching the repeating switching two shot dialogue. This introduced the over-the-shoulder and medium shots for dialogue scenes. However, filmmakers had a narrower scale to work with in the process. When wide-screens were introduced into the film industry, “filmmakers felt obligated to use long-shots and medium shots” (4). Fortunately, Panavision's sharper, less distorting lenses allowed directors to film closer wide-screen framings. Filmmakers felt more inclined to use closer framing during dialogue scenes because it was important to observe the actors’ facial expressions. A tighter shot meant the audience would greatly connect or sympathize with the character(s) during that scene and throughout the film.

Last, but not least the fourth technique of intensified continuity is using a free-ranging camera. Bordwell comments, "Today's camera movements are ostentatious extensions of the camera mobility generalized during the 1930's" (4). The prolonged following shot, developed in the 1920, is when the camera tracks “a character moving along a lengthy path” (4). Improved technology (Steadicam) throughout film history was a benefit as well. In today's films, crane shots are “casual embellishments” and help "enliven montage sequences and expository moments"(4). They now are used during the exposition or montages. The technique of "push-ins" is used during a moment of realization for a character. The circling shot is a method of introducing all the present characters in a scene. The free-ranging camera was first used around the 1970's when it was popularized in horror films. It gave a “hovering, slightly shaky camera that represented the monster's point of view”. With the advancement of sound came the common use of camera movement, which shows the progression of film. To capture the audience’s attention and maintain their interest, camera movement would be crucial. It indicates the presence of the camera and adds production quality to the film as a whole.

Such stylistic changes occurred because of the changes in culture. With movies, video games, and television already having short ASLs and variations of shots, filmmakers had to match and even go above and beyond the typical media art form to really shine.

Advanced Editing Notes- Overview/Classical Paradigm

a. Compare the following two short films: the "Arrival of a Train" and "Damsel in Distress"- as they relate to Realism, Classicism and Formalism

1. How would describe the difference in camera work: composition, angle, movement
For the “Arrival of a Train” clip, the camera work was in my opinion very static and boring. This short film is relates to Realism the most. There was a long shot of the train arriving and people walking to the train to board. The take was extremely lengthy and their wasn’t any camera movements because it was just a recording of time.



“Damsel in Distress” is quite different from “Arrival of a Train” in that it is a Classical film. The cinematographer used a variety of different shots, such as LS, MS, ELS, etc). This makes the film seem more interesting compared to the other film. The camera followed the man while he rode this bicycle to the “damsel”, which incorporates some camera movement to the film.

2. How would describe the differences in the edit?
For the “Arrival of a Train” had no editing whatsoever, a goal realists attempt to strive for.
There were more cuts in the other film, which emphasizes speed as the man tries to save the woman on the railroad tracks before the train runs her over. I noticed that the edges of the film was softened and sometimes black encircled a character to create focus.
3. How would describe the characteristics of the story being told/narrative?
There isn’t a “story” being told in the train short film because the directors wanted an objective recording of what actually exists. It depicts the ordinary, everyday lives of people in their routines.
The storyline was a little cliche for my taste, but it was typical for the Classical style. The story for “Damsel in Distress” is basically about a villain chaining a woman to railroad tracks. She whistles for her dog who fetches a man to help the poor damsel in distress. Together they rescue the woman. In the end everyone is happy and the villain is arrested. Parallel action dominated the film. The woman is in desperate need of saving as the train was approaching in another shot. At the same time, the man and dog tries to beat the train. The three event happening simultaneously at different locations create suspense for the audience. Ultimately, these come together in a climax.

Advanced Editing Notes Questions: 3. Soviet Montage and 4. Realism

3. Soviet Montage and Formalism
a. What was Pudovkin's concept of constructive editing and how did it manifest itself on film?
Pudovkin created the concept of constructive editing in which he wanted each shot in film to make new meanings. For this type of editing, close ups are used to create a unified meaning. Constructive editing favored close ups, textures, symbols, and other selected details. These were montages that, in his opinion, was a great way to express life. Formalists believe that the art of film lies more in the way materials are taken apart and put back together.



b. What was the Kuleshov effect and give me an example of how is it used in today's film's?
The Kuleshov Effect is a type of film technique in which emotion isn’t created by the actors’ performances, but by the juxtapositions of shots. Filmmakers utilize this effect to bring out certain emotions from their audiences without much talent from the actors. This technique is used in today’s films still. For example, a shot of a man who smiles at a women and her child makes the audience believe that he is admiring their close relationship. A shot of the same man and then a shot of a girl in a bikini makes us believe that the guy is a pervert. It all depends on how the shots are put together.



c. What was Eisensteinian Montage and how does it work in the "Odessa Step" sequence?
It is the montage of sharply contrasting or conflicting images. In the “Odessa Step”, the images of a small boy being trampled on the stairs by people are contrasted with the image of the aristocratic women with the umbrella. These two images are highly differently, but it shows the differences in the human condition. It shows that the soldiers do not spare any expense when terrorizing the people.

4. Andre Bazin and Realism



a. What were Andre Bazin's frustrations with Classical and Formalistic film making?
Bazin believed there were distortions in using formalist techniques, especially thematic editing because it can violate the complexities of reality. Formalists were egocentric and manipulative, he believed. Bazin also thought montage imposes a simplistic ideology over the infinite variability of actual life. Classical Cutting was also seen as potentially corrupting because the technique encourages audiences to follow the shot sequence without our being conscious of its arbitrariness.

b. What do Realist filmmakers strive for in their work?
They strive for the recording of what actually exists. Realistic cinema must balance the artist vision with the objective nature of the medium. Directors should reveal the poetic implications of ordinary people, events, and places.

c. What techniques to realists use in their filmmaking?
Techniques include long shots, wide screen, lengthy takes, deep focus, panning, craning, tilting or tracking rather than cutting to individual shots. This leaves the audience the ability to “observe, choose, and form an opinion”. This also forces audiences to be more creative and less passive.

Traveling Art - Documentary PrePro

Purpose: To showcase the San Francisco Marsh Youth Theatre's Touring Teen Troupe, who is performing Truthtopia. I want to explore the Troupe members and producers' passion and inputs in the arts.

Contacts:
- Emily K. (MYT Program Director/ song writer for show)
- Cliff M. (director)
- Danielle F. (assistant director)
- Deanne P. (actress)
- Hailey S.(actress)
- George Coker (actor)

Interview Questions:
- Emily:
1) How and when did the Marsh Youth Theatre originate?
2) Why did you decide to form a Teen Troupe?
3) What makes this group unique among all others?
3) Who can be involved?
4) What is your role in this Troupe?
5) What is the preparation process for the show like?

- Cliff
1)What show is the Teen Troupe working on?
2)How is directing teenagers different than directing professional or adult actors?
3)What are you looking forward to with the Teen Troupe?
4)What is your role as director of this show?

- Danielle
1) What is your role as assistant director?
2) How did you become a part of this theater company?
3) What makes this Troupe unique compared to the casts of other theater companies?
4) Describe rehearsals and the preparation for the final show.

- Deanne P. (actress)
- Hailey S.(actress)
- George Coker (actor)
1)Why are you passionate theater?
2)How did you get involved with the Teen Troupe?
3)How much creative control do you have in the show?
4)How do you contribute to the show/ group?

Shot List-
- ELS of Marsh
- CU of theater banner
- LS of upper theater (empty)
- LS of yoga room
- LS of art room
- LS of stage
- CU/ side view of dancing mirror
- CUs of actors rehearsing
- CU of old posters advertising Teen Troupe meetings?
- Worm's Eye of Emily at her computer & CU of her fingers typing & OTS of computer screen
- CU of show programs
- LS of entire cast dancing/ singing
- LS of cast changing sets
- tilt/ MS of Truthtopia poster
- CU, MS, LS of set designers building backdrop
- CU, LS, MS, worm's eye of director instructing actors
- CU, profile, worm's eye, MS, etc of assistant director w/ script
- LS --> FS alternate view of inside circle of cast warming up/ breaking out
- CU, MS band playing instruments
- time lapse of cars on Valencia Street

General Flow:
The beginning will consist of various b-roll footage of the exterior & interior of the Marsh, more like location scouting. The middle will consist of the interview in the following order: actors, program director, director, assistant director, and actors once more. The actors will first talk about their passion for theater and why they joined the Troupe. Then the program director will talk about how she created the Marsh Theatre and the formation of the Teen Touring Troupe. All interviewees will also explain the uniqueness of a traveling theater troupe. After, the director will introduce the show they are working on and give us insight in to the role of a director. The assistant director will then talk about her role in the show and the preparation process. The actors will then discuss their involvements in the show. Lastly, all interviewees will discuss their future hopes/ expectations.

Wig'd Out Short Film - Rationale and Commentary

A. Rationale: ( A: 100 Word rational of the project)

My group and I produced a comedy about a guy who has a strange obsession with collecting hair. His target is an ordinary girl who goes to a cafe every morning. After she leaves her table, he scavenges the area for her strands of hair. When the girl confronts him for his strangeness, he presents her with a wig made out of her dead hairs, which cause her to run away in disgust. Soon after, a different girl with nice hair walks by, which continues his strange habit. Our working plan involved a different approach to comedy and this film followed the final script almost exactly. We were inspired by a youtube video that was set in one location. The short film had simple cinematography and was composed of dialogue instead of action. We wanted to experiment with Tom Tyker's use of CUs and manipulation of time. The target audience for this film is for the general public. A comedy brings joy to everyone, which was our goal.

B: Commentary: (1750HL)

My area of responsibility was primarily sound designer and editor (this role I shared with my group members). As sound designer I found sound effects and musical scores for our film. For our film, I realized that we needed some light-hearted music for the comedy aspect and some creepy/ intense music for the obsession shots with our male character. In class, I searched in GarageBand, Soundtrack Pro, and FindSounds.com to find sound effects and short scores. I also used Logic Pro for the first time. It is more advanced than other basic soundtrack programs because it has larger music library and has the capability to manipulate loops. Looking through the script, I searched for the moments or scenes where sound effects and music would enhance the quality of the film, such as adding the humor to the film. We were a little short on time with completing the film due to deadlines, so I teamed up with two other members (our cinematographer and director) to take on the responsibility of editing. We imported our raw footage, put scenes in order, and added video effects and transitions. The editing took about a week including adding the sound, which I was responsible for.

As sound designer I was expected to create "original music" for our short film, but lacking musical talent, I was stumped. I wanted to use a cover of a song or a instrumental song for the basis of our soundtrack; however, copyright laws prevented me from doing so. It was difficult to find the exact type of music that goes well with our film because I have never produced a comedy before and I did not understand what music genre would work with our story. As editor, I had the challenge of the footage being too dark and the audio levels being too low. These were the result of shooting near sunset and not recording the characters' dialogue with a close shot gun mic proximity.

Because it was difficult to not violate copyright laws,I got into the habit of overlapping sounds to create what you may say "original" music. To create the humor-like music, I found incredibly cheesy music such as French accordion music and dramatic orchestral score. As editor, my fellow editors and I color-corrected the footage that was too dark to pass for morning scenes by brightening the whites. This made the footage much brighter. We increased the volume levels of the dialogue scenes that we could faintly hear, but it was still statically. It was frustrating because for some dialogue a shot gun mic was not used and for the rest a mic was used. The difference in audio quality differed dramatically.

During pre-production, my group and I struggled to create a solid story concept. Our first treatment was shut down because of a lack of a three act structure. The treatment then was rewritten at least two more times. We were behind on our schedule because pre-production took longer than expected. Because students of the drama department was preparing or rehearsing for the school drama production, our actor choices were limited. We cast our good friend who takes drama class to be our protagonist. Unfortunately, due to her tight rehearsal schedule for the school musical and massive loads of homework, she was unavailable for the rest of the production time. Basically, all of our footage was useless and three days worth of filming was gone to waste. We were getting tired of our first original concept, or more like second, and wanted to write a completely different story in the little time we have (for some unknown reason). Our next rewrite script was, according to our teacher, a "bad teenage romance". We were devastated because not only did we have limited time to find actors and film, but also we had to go back to the drawing board. When we did rewrite the script; however, we had little time to create an adequate 2 column script, so the cinematographer scribbled shot descriptions on paper. Completely disorganized manner of production and I will most definitely avoid this catastrophe in the future. Finding last minute actors was a huge challenge because we needed friendly and committed people who were serious about the role. Also, working around the actors' and group members' schedules was a hassle. Lastly, there was a member of my group, who will remain unnamed, who did the least contribution to the film. She did not seem to fulfill her responsibilities and got side-tracked for the majority of the short film process. However, she did show up during filming days and contributed story concepts during the pre-production and performed minor tasks during post-production.

As a group, we addressed our problems in a professional manner. Our writing problems were solved by making the concept as simple as possible and adding characterization and details after. We first envisioned a strained relationship caused by a strange obsession with hair and the film went in that direction from there after multiple script/ treatment revisions. Despite of a lack of an organized 2 column script, the director and cinematographer knew the story well enough to shoot each scene. We were lucky to find a peer from IB Film class to be our main actress and also have her boyfriend be our other main protagonist. Because not everyone was as dedicated as I would have hoped, I took on the lagging roles that were left unfulfilled, as I have the tendency to tie loose ends. The pressure to meet deadlines motivated my group and I to rush through the last minute filming and editing.

1. Genre Connections/ Director Influences/ Influences and Narrative/Story
We were inspired by a Youtube video in which the storyline was extremely simple. There was one location, two protagonists, simple camera movements/ shots, and it was primarily composed of dialogue. The film has some humorous moment and awkward actors that make the film a comedy. Our director is usually humorous, so she was more inclined to write a funny story. The story is basically about a guy who has a strange obsession with hair. He 'stalks' this girl who goes to the same cafe everyday. When she leaves, he scopes around her table for strands of her hair. He collects these until he makes a wig out of her dead hairs. When the girl eventually confronts him about his problem, he presents her with the 'present'. She is repulsed and leaves immediately. Although the guy is alone, rejected, another girl with bouncy hair walks by and flips her hair. His obsession continues.

The story is presented in a linear fashion and has no narrative gaps; time is presented chronologically. However, there is a time lapse for the exposition. It is shown that the girl has a daily routine: going to the cafe. The story 'tells itself' because there is no narrator. It is up to the audience to interpret the story for themselves. The film shows that sometimes humans can be impulsive and do unpredictable things. I guess we were trying to experiment with a different concept that is out of the norm of story ideas.

2. Directing/Acting/Character
Amateurs actors are featured in this film. We hired our friends to be the actors. The director treated the actors as artistic collaborators because she allowed them to improvise the lines as much as they needed to make them feel comfortable. She valued their opinions and was open to many ideas. The actors aren't half bad for first time actors because they were able to recite their dialogue without a lot of cuts during editing. Because there are only two main actors, the film really highlights them with lots of close ups and funny situations. The guy, played by Matt, represents impulse and obsession due to his strange hobby. The girl, played by Jennifer, is very funny, but she can be serious when she is on camera. Jennifer's acting is realistic, but Matt's performance is considered stylized to some extent. People don't go to that much deal to collect hairs, but that was the point. To be honest, these actors were cast because the entire drama department was busy preparing/ performing a musical, so we had to cast people who were available.

3. Edit/FX, Techniques or Concepts
There isn't a lot of cutting throughout the film because the pace of the film was pretty slow. The most cuts (or transitions) is in the first scene where we were trying to establish that the girl goes to the cafe everyday. This is shown through the many outfits she wears (the different outfits alternate between each cut). Because of the slow pacing of the film, the shoots are relatively lengthy to focus on the actors' performance and certain important details. The images are presented in a manipulated way. When the girl leaves the cafe, the clip of her walking away and another of a close up on the guy's eyes following her is overlapped. This makes the audience to feel an awkwardness whenever the guy comes on screen. The presentation of shots are relatively objective and functional; they are presented to add characterization to the characters. Editing a major language system of the movie because the actors are amateurs and we didn't have time for reshoots. Continuity editing is represented in short film because the story is linear and events are presented in chronological order.

4. Sound FX/ Score
The first scene consists of French accordion music that transitions to a loop of a strumming guitar. In the second scene, the strumming guitar loop continues to play and then it transitions to an intense score of orchestral violins. The final scene has an upbeat rock guitar song that gives the audience anticipation. The score is mostly simplified to compliment the simple storyline. These scores are used only during action scenes because we didn't want the dialogue to be competing with it. The score is derived from outside sources mostly because the filmmakers do not have music experience. The dialogue is used sparingly (only the last scene) and is very literal (without much subtext). This made the lines seem scripted as of result, unfortunately. Because of microphone issues, some dialogue scenes have static sounds.

5. Cinematography
We used a lot of close ups and long shots. However, most of the shots were stationary, which made the scenes seem static. Also, there wasn't as much coverage as I would have liked. I don't necessarily like our establishing shot because we didn't have one of the cafe. The framing for the dialogue scene is different when comparing Matt's to that of Jen's.


6. Production Design/Mis En Scene
The lighting in the film was a difficult aspect to control. Because we filmed on many different days during different times of the day. As a result, some scenes are darker than the majority of the morning footage. I do like the fact that we filmed at a cafe outside. THe location was perfect because there were few intruders into our shots. Random objects and equipment was successfully avoided during the filming.

7. Your "objective" analysis of the film as a whole
Considering our time restraints, our film turned out not as bad as I expected. It is way to short to be a short film. We have some editing and audio issues that hindered our film from shining. The concept wasn't as compelling as it could have been; however, the actors pulled off their performances to push the film forward. Editing saved the film in many ways. Overall, I feel the film deserves a satisfactory mark.

Trailer Review - 50/50

1. Narrative
The film is based on a true story. This comedy drama is about a 27-year-old guy who learns he has cancer and has a 50/50 change of surviving. The story is told from the point of view of Adam Lerner as he struggles to beat the disease. He is the narrator because the audience can better connect with him during his heath depletion. Adam's best friend, Kyle, a spectator, adds humor to the story with his funny personality and ridiculous gimmicks. He sets a light-hearted tone for the movie and helps the protagonist realize that friendship and love is the ultimate healer. Time is presented chronologically-first with Adam learning from his doctor that he has a rare spinal cancer and the sequence of events of him coping with the news. This film is, without a doubt, a realist film because it shows a character's account of struggle against a disease. This is a modern film that reflects the spread of cancer diseases in the United States currently. Doctors across the country tell their patients that they have cancer everyday. It's interesting to watch a film that depicts someone's coping and healing mechanisms after being diagnosed. This film shows how we are in a time period where there is still hope for survival against cancer despite the odds.

2. Cinematography
The cinematographer uses a lot of CUs and long focal lengths to emphasize the inner turmoil the protagonist is enduring because of his cancer. Also, when the protagonist feels hopeless or alone, we always see him in a LS when the lens has a short focal length. When Adam is at the verge of a mental breakdown, the camera is unsteady and bounces to demonstrate the tension in the situation because believes he will not survive his cancer. I typically like the scene when Adam is jogging at the dock because the ocean and docked ships in the background and Adam in the midground create a beautiful depth of field. To me, this scene represented the long journey ahead of Adam in his recovery. His lateral motion also represents his determination to persevere through his disease. Throughout the trailer, the shots were stationary when there was some humor in the scenes, but as the realization of death closes in to Adam, there are more camera movements (dollying) and bouncy shots to show his anxiety.

3. Editing
There is a fair amount of cutting in the trailer and the shots are relatively lengthy. This is to give the film a more dynamic feel and give the actors time to express emotion in their lines. Thus, the audience can react properly to the scenes of the film. The cutting is manipulative in such a way that we feel sympathy for the main character, as the producers expect us to. The shots are straight forward because I could easily interpret the objects, characters, and situations. The rhythm is slow in the beginning of the trailer when the story is being established and the tension escalates, causing the rhythm to pick up. The shots are relatively objective and functional because they serve to emphasize the cancer's impact on many characters besides protagonist. The film artist minimizes cutting because their sole focus is on the emotional content, not the visuals.

4. Sound- Score and FX
The score was originally composed by Michael Giacchino. The music for the film is composed of percussion sounds, piano scores, and songs sung by groups of people. The music creates a melancholy, yet hopeful tone for the movie. There are no distorted sounds because the film is realistic. The drums beating in the background symbolize the devastating effect of discovering one's deadly fate. They accumulate to create a dramatic effect on the viewers as the protagonist faces shock, goes through denial, and then, finally, accepts his situation. There is some silence in the first half of the trailer to create tension and allow the audience to focus more on the facial expressions of the actor.

Run Lola Run Presentation Critique

I. Interpretation of the film as it related to your assigned section and use of film language.
My assigned section for Run Lola Run was the costume analysis. There aren't many film terms related to analyzing characters' costumes. I focused on the main three characters of the film. I was descriptive in what the character's unique costume style and how their clothing creates meaning through its depiction of characterization.

II. Strengths of your presentation
If I were to grade own oral presentation, I would give myself a 21. I believe I was detailed and insightful, to a certain extent, in my costume analysis. I explained incisively how meaning is created through the use of my descriptive film language. I also connected my examples to the film as a whole, applying my interpretations to the film's theme and motifs.

III. Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Based on the feedback from my classmates, I realize that I still need to work on my presentation skills. I need to speak louder and act confidently. I believe that I could have gone more in depth with the director's intent and how costumes are significant in a sociocultural context.

Delayed Love

A pair of children, one boy and one girl, runs intensely through a soccer field. Upbeat pop music plays in the background. The boy dribbles the ball with his feet and his face drips in sweat. His foot kicks the ball (with sound effect) to the girl and the ball flies through the air. She stops it with the side of her foot and proceeds to the soccer goal post. Without a moment's hesitation, she uses all her strength and scores. She yells in excitement and runs to the boy. They high five each other in celebration and drop to the ground in exhaustion. The girl turns her head and smiles at the boy, which in turn causes the boy to meet eye contact with her. The boy is drawn in by her beautiful eyes and a graphic match of her pupils transitions into a wristwatch.

The girl, now 16 years older, rushes out the door as she checks the time on her watch. She puts her suitcase inside her car and gets into the driver's seat. She looks back at her best friend's house, the boy now older. She sighs and grabs her cell phone. Her face shows her torment as she texts her best friend goodbye. Sorry, but this is such a big opportunity that I can't pass up. I hope you understand. Keep in touch, ok?

The boy reads the text and throws his phone on the floor in anger.

The girl turns over her car engine and drives away.

The boy looks at his calendar, which states, "April 19: Carly at airport 2pm". He walks back to his bed, but trips on a overused soccer ball. A flashback of the two of them playing soccer occurs. Snapping back to reality, he checks his alarm clock that indicates a half and hour til 2. He drops the ball and runs out his door, adrenaline pumping.

Sprinting down sidewalks, the sound of his heartbeat is prominent. He manages to get glimpses of the time on oversized clocks on buildings. Attempting to cross the street, he nearly escapes being hit by a speeding car. Returning to his constant running speed, the guy's face reveals his desire to reach the airport before 2pm.

The girl continues to drive on the freeway, approaching closer to the airport by the minute. Images of clocks are shown and the girl speeds up her driving while the guy sprints faster. 20 minutes to go.

Parallel action between the girl and the boy as they both try to reach their destination on time. The boy's face shows concern about being late and not being able to express his true feelings to Carly. He breathes heavily and turns a corner and arrives at the bus stop. He checks the time on his phone. 15 minutes left.

The bus arrives and he runs up the steps. Reaching into his pocket for 2 dollars, he realizes his pockets are empty. Looking at the bus driver in desperation, he gives a sorrowful look. The driver, sympathizes with him and allows him to ride the bus free. (another stroke of luck perhaps)

The girl pushes her car brakes and the tires come to a halt. The doors open quickly and her trunk clicks open immediately.

The bus tires come to a halt a moment later and the boy flies out the door. He turns his head this way and that in search of the girl. He spots her in the midst of the crowd, and calls out her name. She turns her head in slow motion and their eyes meet once again. Staring in deadlock, she is shocked, but smiles gratefully and adoringly.

"I literally ran all the way from home. Call me crazy, but I couldn't let you go without telling you how much I don't want you to leave... We've grown up together and it's going to be so different being apart... I love you, that's why I don't want to to go. But, it's also because of this reason that I want you to live your life beyond this place". - says the boy.

"Is that so? Well, this changes things now doesn't it?..." - says the girl.

New Bell Schedule- Broadcast Critque

Pre-production:


My partner and I came up with the idea by trying to explore a topic never discussed before. We realized that there was a new bell schedule this year and wanted to capture people's thoughts about it on camera. We first asked Mrs. Shanks for an interview because she is the head of the school and was involved in the change of the schedule. The rest of the students and the teacher we found to interview were available on the spot, so we did a quick interview. Our questions were direct, yet some of them were open ended questions in which they were asking for the interviewees' opinions.

Production Quality and Composition and Audio:


All interviews were given on campus. For the student interviews, we chose trees and the Mustang statue for the backgrounds. For the teacher interviews, we chose the teachers' offices/ classrooms. Our b-roll clips are of students in their classrooms working. We used pans, pov shots, wide angle shots, and worms eye view shots for the b-roll. One of the most creative shots is of Mrs. Gonzales, a history teacher, is teaching her class and the camera is in a low position. It is a pov shot (perspective of a student in his/her seat) and we see her in between the bodies of two students. The shot is well-balanced, with her students and desks in the foreground, Mrs. G. in the midground and the board and windows in the background. The teacher is on one of the intersections when following the rule of thirds. In her classroom, we filmed a wide shot of her class shouting in excitement, close-ups of students writing in planners, and waist shots of Mrs. G. teaching. Our camera moves were for the most part smooth when we panned across the video lab. The lighting for the student interviews outside was semi-low key because there was no sunlight to act as our natural light source. However, the teacher and principal interviews came out nice because the indoor lights created a high key lighting. Our focus was not blurry at all because we used manual focus on the camera. Our audio came out clear and without static in our voice-over and interviews.



Script:
Our VO began with an introduction to the new bell schedule. We grabbed the audience's attention by pointing out how the new bell schedule is something new at school and that it may be confusing for most people. After the opening VO, the interviewees describe their concerns and hopes about the new schedule. The closing VO is the most important because we show the audience the schedule in chart form and then list the periods dropped per day. We let the audience read the scrolling text for themselves instead of having a voice interfere. We wanted people to remember the schedule by heart at the end of the segment.

Editing:



It was difficult to really film the "schedule", so my partner and I filmed students working in their classrooms. We didn't use special transitions besides fade in and out audio and fade to black for the video. I created the titles in Livetype and either the title was in motion or the background was. We didn't add special effects or filters to our shots because we wanted to depict reality. There are no jumpcuts in our footage. Our interview and b-roll cuts smoothly.



Overall
What I like about our piece is that it is an original concept and we had a lot of interesting b-roll. I also like how it is direct and informative. If we had more time, I would have found a wider range of interviewees besides Seniors. Also, The most important lesson I can take after working on this segment is to take time on finding interviewees that can answer questions well and plan the type of b-roll desired more efficiently.
What do you like best about your piece? What would you add or do differently if you had more time? What would you say is the most important lesson you can take with you after working on this project?

Character in Time

A pen scribbles away furiously on a notebook. The teacher's voice is rambling in the background. The bell rings and right away students shout in excitement. The classroom clears and a young girl is left alone in her seat. She slowly packs up her stuff in her backpack and goes out into the hall way. The hallway is a blur as students quickly walk, run, and skip past her from left and right. She spots a large group of friends gossiping in the corner by the water fountain and she lets out a heavy sigh.

The girl makes her way back home on foot. As she passes by houses in the quiet suburb, she suddenly passes by a bush of red roses. She picks a single one off the bush by its stem. The thorns prick her fingers and she yells in pain. She stares at her punctured fingers and wonders what else could make her day worse: her lack of friends or her bleeding fingers. Quickly ignoring the pain, she holds the rose to her nose and smells the sweet fragrance. Then the realization hits her. She forms a subtle smile and her blue eyes grow brighter as she realizes how much the rose represents her. Time slowly stops as she goes into a daydream. Like the rose, she also has thorns and flaws that she isn't proud of (a flashback of her tormenting days in school) . Yet, in a way she has the opportunity to bloom into a beautiful flower in the future (flash forward of her working in her successful career) . She snaps back to reality and swiftly walks home with a blissful gleam in her eyes and her head held high.

Between You and Me - Short Film Camera Analysis

This short film, directed by Patryk Rebisz, is composed of entirely 2,000 still images. It entails the story of a young woman who takes pictures of every detail of her life. When an horrendous attack causes her to leave behind her beloved camera, a man must attempt to track down the mysterious woman with only the clues of the camera's pictures.

Analysis



Dominant: Our eyes in this picture is attracted to the only character in the shot. The woman positioned a little to the left of the mid-center. She is posing as she takes a picture of herself in her house as she starts her day.

Subsidiary contrasts: The main eye stops after taking in the dominant is the camera itself and the woman's hands. They both take up the remaining room of the image. We usually look for animated things, not stationary. It's interesting to see the woman through her camera screen because its a new perspective choice.

Angle: In the image above, the angle of this shot is neutral or eye level. We are looking at the protagonist directly at her as she is taking a picture of herself. Also, in the picture below is a high angle of the second protagonist, the man, who is trying to find the home of the woman to return her camera.



Lighting Key: The lighting has a high key. The rising sun is the source of the light and gives the shot a bright glow. There is a high contrast between the brightness of the sun and the dark figure of the woman. She is almost silhouetted out because of we cannot see the light on her directly.



Shot and Camera Proxemics: As we see the character's morning routines, there is a small camera proximity. The shot of the woman spreading peanut butter on toast is a close up. The proxemic is demonstrating the intimacy the audience is developing for the characters as they get to know their habits and personalities. In contrast, the camera has a large proximity during the assault scene with the young woman. Because of the lack of intimacy and violence, the director chooses to shoot the scene in a extreme long shot. This portrays the helplessness of the woman as the audience feels far away from the action.






Color values: What is the dominant color? Are there contrasting foils? Is there color symbolism? The dominant color of the picture above is mainly black and brown. These are gritty colors and symbolizes evil and corruptness. The assaulter has evil intentions of taking advantage of the helpless young woman.

Lens/ Filter/ Stock: A still image camera was used to create the short film. Although the film was jumpy, it was fluid enough to avoid being distracting. It added a uniqueness that complemented the storyline. A wide angle lens was used throughout.


Density: Throughout the film, there is moderate visual information packed into the image. Mostly, the visual information consists of the character(s) and/ or the background of the city/ what action they are doing. The texture is moderate in the film.

Composition: In the film, there are mostly horizontal lines as the characters look in certain directions. Characters are usually in the center or side of the shot in CUs.
Form: The form is open. The image suggest a window that arbirarily isolatees a fragment of the scene in the visual elements are carefully arranged and held in balance.
Framing: The framing in a way is restricting. Because of the use of still images, the characters have to be in all the shots, forming the framing to be tight The characters have room to move around as the camera moves with them and continues taking pictures of the actors.

Film Style

According to David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, there are four general steps when analyzing film style in a film or of a director.

1. The film has a basic three story act in the narrative and story is linear.

2. The director and cinematographer uses still images to portray the story. He used a total of about 2,000 still images. The cinematographer used a lot of CU shots, pans, high angle shots, and action shots (moving with the actor and actress).

3. The wide variety of shots exemplifies the distinctness of the city. The use of close ups help create a intimate relationship between audience and character. The "pans" and high angle shots help show the aesthetic beauty of the environment. The action shots help emphasize the quickness of the characters' lives.

4. The rapid use of still images to tell the story shows the fast-paced lives of the characters. Although in the city life doesn't slow down, the young woman takes the time to stop and take pictures of her surroundings. This appreciation of life is what makes capturing the moments on film unique.

"Discovered" - A Commentary

A. Rationale

The short film that my group and I created is called "Discovered". We wrote the treatment and script as a group, although Jenna, our editor, did take the lead on it. The plot is about a teenage girl who is emotionally abused by her step-mother and fantasizes about three different murder plans. The household chores that the step-mother forces the girl to do gives the girl malicious ideas about ways to carry out the murder. We wanted to create this film in order to emphasize the significance of sound in cinema. We experimented with the mystery/ suspense genre, lighting, close-ups, camera movement, and sound. The target audience for this film would definitely be mature teenagers or adults due to the graphic images and the mature content. I think this short film is a very good idea because it explores the idea of children attempting to gain the upper hand through corrupt ways, though the outcomes may not be in their favor.








B. Commentary

1. My area of responsibility was the director and set designer. As director, I had to make sure the actors were in costume and in character as we were shooting. I had command the actors to do certain actions for each scene and make sure the cinematographer was doing her job. I had to collaborate with all my group members and make sure we were on schedule with the deadline. As director, I also helped create and maintain our film's website (run by Google). I also did minor jobs, such as creating titles, helping to write the script, compiling music, etc. As set designer, I cleared away unwanted objects and people on set and placed props where they needed to be. I made sure each scene is set up the way it is envisioned in the script.

2. Problems that arose in my area was the challenge of keeping unwanted objects away from the shots, such as people, tripod, and other objects. Another challenge was working with amateur actors because they were not used to acting. Keeping the set exactly the same between takes was difficult because a family was living in the house we were shooting in, so it was hard to respect their space while doing our job.



3. To solve those problems, I had to physically remove the objects from the shots and tell people to move away from the camera. I had to walk through their scenes with them and improvise on the spot.

4. The biggest problem that arose during the film process was shooting the film with two group members. Also, casting the actors was difficult because we needed a very evil step-mother and young girl to make the film a success. We had a very hard time with audio while filming. It was the first time we used a shot-gun mike and because it was a directional mike, we had to directly point it at the actresses' mouths, which was a challenge. When we transferred the footage to a computer, the audio was lost or very low. For some shots, the audio was absence entirely or the shot was very shaky.



5. To solve these problems, I worked with my cinematographer the best I could to finish the 2-column script, film the movie, create the website, and complete other responsibilities. We cast the most available actresses for the role of the mom and the girl by association, which made the casting process much easier. To solve the audio problem, our editor raised the audio levels on Final Cut Pro, but it still had a lot of static. We re-filmed the shot that was shaky and the audio improved a lot, mostly because we didn't use a shot gun mic, but the mic on the camera.

Critical Evaluation of Finished Product
Script/Narrative/Story


a. The film develops a clear story around a character that moves through 3 dream sequences: murder by pills, murder by stabbing, and murder by suffocation. As the girl gathers her potential murder weapons, she is unaware that her step-mother was one step ahead of her the entire time. The protagonist (played by Marie S.)is a very timid and obedient daughter whose step-mother treats her horribly. Her hatred for the woman accumulates and finally one day when she is completing her chores, her evil side overpowers her innocent side. Unfortunately, as the corrupt plan develops, her naive character prevents her from succeeding.







b. The film explores the theme of the tensions between mother and daughter and how sometimes emotions cloud people's reasoning. This usually leads to detrimental results.

c. I do think that the actions and lines are "in character" and is appropriate to the motivation and personality of the protagonist because Marie plays a very deceptive character whose intentions are to eliminate the source of her sufferings. Her actions are sly and malicious and she possesses the characteristics of an emotional unstable person who is a danger to herself and society (though she can use some practice in body movements). Her quiet and timid "Yes, Mam" line makes the audience believe that she is innocent and harmless, little do they know that she possesses an evil layer underneath. Her character in the real world contrast her character in the dream sequences.









d. There is more action than dialogue in this film because showing is always better than saying it. The only dialogue is in the first scene and its purpose is to establish the relationship between characters. The mother is mean to her step daughter, and the father loves his daughter, but is controlled by his new wife in all aspects of his life. The remainder of the film consists of the girl completing her chores while daydreaming about murdering her stepmother in different ways.



e. The climax was placed very uniquely. The climax is when the girl finds her stepmom and a detective sitting at the dining room table, with the murder weapons on the table. This shows the girl's defeat and the stepmom's surprising victory. It is shocking to discover that the step mom knew about the girl's plans all along.



Acting/ Casting

a. All three actors are appropriate for the personalities and physical attributes of the characters they played. Marie is timid and quiet and effectively manipulates the audience into believing that she couldn't possibly be so diabolic, yet she can be. The woman playing the stepmother is classy and loud and therefore is perfect for her role. The man playing the father is nonchalant and dresses casually, being suitable for the pushover character that we needed.

b. The two actresses were actually able to be their characters and work professionally, but the others were unable to do so. The actresses had great facial expressions and eccentric body movements to express their personalities. The other actors did not have emotion and were average in their acting.





c. The talent gestures are meaningful and appropriate to the close up medium of television because the actresses and actor's performance were disciplined, creative, and stylized.

d.The dialogue was difficult to record due to mic problems and raising audio levels did not solve the problem completely. We couldn't dub the audio or re-shoot, so we just stuck with the static filled audio.

e. The talent pacing and energy level of the actors were maintained throughout the shooting by giving them time to get into character and practice quickly before each scene. They were completely professional and all the actors were reliable. They were nervous, yet excited about their first appearance in a short film. It was a new experience for all of them and it gave them an opportunity to be someone else for a change.

f. The costumes are appropriate for the time period and setting because the story is set at a suburban house in the present. The actors just had to dress like they normally do, but be a completely different person. Marie had to wear a t-shirt, jeans, sneakers. The stepmom wore a fancy blouse and jacket, black pants, and high heels. The father wore a polo shirt and jeans.



g. The wardrobe/costumes do provide adequate visual separation between scene elements and fall within limitations of the medium's brightness range. It stands out but are not too distracting from the action in each scene.

h. Make up was only used on the antagonist, the stepmom. It was crucial to establish that she was over-the-top to show her obsession with looks and thought highly of herself. This established her as the character that the audience is suppose to dislike. The girl doesn't have any make-up and her plainness shows her depression and blank life.



Edit/FX, Techniques or Concepts

a. The style of the title is appropriate for the nature of the production because the black glowing font depicts the evilness of the main character as she daydreams about murder. The smoky background shows the mystery of the film.



b.The title does give enough time for the audience to read it, but it could have remained on screen for a few seconds longer for the audience to fully react to the title.

c. All the cuts and transitions are motivated and in harmony with the pace and nature of the subject matter. A lot of long takes and fade in/ fade out transitions are used to heighten and prolong the tensions and add a sense of mystery to the film.

d. The visual perspective is maintained throughout and the camera remains on one side of the 180 degree line. The camera only switches angles and we try not to confuse the audience.

e. Fade in/ fade out transitions are used to transition from the real world to each dream sequence (3). The black and white saturation of the footage indicates that it is a dream sequence and color indicates that it is the real world.

f. The shot selection does follow what the audience expects, wants, or needs to see at each moment. For example, when the girl walks over to the fridge to see the list of chores she has to do, we as the audience expects her to follow what it says. Marie walks over to the sink in an attempt to wash the dishes, but suddenly her eye spots a knife. We would assume that she would pick it in the next shot and the following would be of her reaction to the object. These shot selection methods are repeated for each dream sequence.











g. Technical and general continuity jump cuts have not been avoided in the film. It is difficult to keep each scene exactly as it is after each shot. During the shooting process, actors and crew members made mistakes, which was hard to correct in the editing process. Certain objects were moved between takes and it was difficult to remember how each prop was placed and exactly where the actors were standing in each scene.


h. The editing very smooth, which makes the film dynamic and entertaining. I especially love the jump cuts and the match action cut during the choking scene because it really emphasized the intensity of the situation. The most difficult edit to do are the dream sequences because the editor had to maintain the suspense and intensity of the scenes. We had to avoid long takes and had to ensure that the scene's shots were not too shaky since in was all shot handheld.





i. Each scene is long enough for the audience to have sufficient amount of time to grasp the information. Each shot in the first dream sequence is the longest because a lot of information had to be communicate. Some lasts at minimum of a couple of seconds and it is held long enough for people to generate the right emotion.

Sound FX/ Score

a. The type of music chosen is appropriate for the production because it compliments the action that is happening in the scene. Unusual or semi-fast tempo music is used during suspenseful scenes. Slow-tempo piano music is used during depressing or lonely scenes involving the girl.

b. The music is always loud enough to hear the piano songs, but not loud enough for the dream sequences score. It does not draw attention to itself or interfere with the intelligibility of the dialogue, but compliments it instead.

c. The audio is very clear in the kitchen scene with the father, step mom, and the girl, except the kitchen scene where in editing the volume had to be raised.

Cinematography

a. A variety of camera operations were used throughout the shooting of the film. Especially common was panning, extreme close-ups, zooming, different camera angles, over-the-shoulder shots, different camera heights and movements and loose framing. The camera movements are semi-shaky that usually it does draw attention to itself, but it does match the feelings of the chaotic predicament. The cinematographer made sure to give the actors enough head room and space to move around.




Production Design/Mis En Scene

a. The set design is appropriate to the time period of the film because it is set in the present at a family's suburban home. A set was not created, the film was shot on location in San Bruno.



b. The location is usually bright enough for each shot (maybe too bright even for some shots) having access to natural light sources or florescent lights indoors. There is sufficient key, fill and back illumination in all performance areas to render needed visual separation, depth, and detail. The locations are occasionally too loud due to outside noises and the voices of the home's owners.

Overall, the film was a success to me. It may not be what my group and I envisioned from the beginning due to the absence of one of our group members during the filming proccess, but it still worked. I'm especially proud of the actors/actresses and the overall theme/ message. I hope our emphasize on sound really comes through in our final edit. Enjoy audience members.