Rough Cut Reflection

Lucid Elucidations (2019) Rough Cut

• How much continuity does the video have? Are there any places where the continuity can be improved? How?

       - The video has good continuity throughout most of it, but some shots were not there and caused            problems with continuity. For example, when the protagonist went from the bed to the            

          bathroom, there was no bridge in between showing him walking to the bathroom, which could 

          disorient the viewer. There is also a scene where he starts untieing his robe, and when shown 

          from a different angle in the mirror, he is simply standing there. This is something we need to 

          keep more in mind when filming the actual title sequence.

• To what extent is the video readable as a film opening? Can you understand that it's an opening? Why or why not? What can you do to make it more readable?

       - It is fairly readable as an opening, as it doesn't reveal much of anything about the actual story, 
         however it sets up the dynamic that strange happenings are occurring and the protagonist is 
         trapped in his mind. However, there may not be enough context given into what exactly is 
         going on, making it confusing if anything.

• To what extent is the video readable within your chosen genre? Can you tell it's a horror/thriller/comedy/coming-of-age etc.? How can this area be improved?

      - The video employs low key lighting, slow, suspenseful pacing and costuming to emphasize the 

        genre, which is a psychological thriller, to a certain extent. We intend on the film to be on the 

        creepier side but not fully blown horror, which is definitely achieved in the video. Once sound is 

        employed better, this tension that a thriller is supposed to build will be greatly improved. Also, 

        the angles so far don't entirely convey the psychological context, so it is important to address 

        that when filming the actual title sequence by adding in more confusing or ambiguous shots, etc.

• Partner with someone who doesn't know anything about your video. Record their answers to the following questions:
  • What is setting (time and place)? How can you tell? -  Run down hotel at night, looks modern time frame.
  • Who are the characters? How can you tell? - Ghost lady and the protagonist.
  • What is the movie going to be about? How can you tell? - He is being haunted by someone he knows based on the cinematography.
  • To what extent is it readable as a film opening? - It looks like the exposition/context and introducing the issue.
  • To what extent is it readable as a [insert genre] film? - It had horror conventions, dark, suspenseful.
  • Overall, how might the clarity of meaning in the video be improved? - Audio, more editing continuity.

• Overall, what are your ideas for how the above aspects of the video can be improved? Reshooting? Better editing? Sound? Rewriting parts of the script? What are your next concrete steps?

      - We plan on reshooting this almost entirely due to the fact that the location we decided wasn't entirely what we envisioned when writing the script and imagining the film. There were many issues such as the lack of a decent bathroom (the one at the hotel was severely run down) and other issues alike that were not considered before filming. We plan on reshooting, this time in a house so it is roomier, we can figure out exactly what we are dealing with and overall it would probably make more sense to the film, as the reason the protagonist is in a hotel isn't really clear. Also, as far as editing goes, I plan on timing the match on action shots better and fixing a specific scene that was misplaced, which was the one where he is standing over the bed examining the cloth. I was not aware that this shot was intended to be removed. I also would like to adjust the audio levels on the final cut, as I feel that certain sounds were more overpowering than others. Also I feel that the color correction at the  beginning, which made it blueish, which is what I was going for as it not only contributed to the feel of the film, and also looks like more realistic TV light, was too dark at certain points. Also we need to address the issue of quality, as the iPhone shots have to be sent to me through texts, then I have to download them, email to myself, download on my computer, and then convert them into an mp4 file since MOV Files (iPhone video files) are not compatible with my editing software, Sony Vegas Pro 13. Because of this the quality obviously is severely decreased, so we need to find a more efficient way to get the clips to my computer without putting it through a thousand processes.