Media Reflection #2

 Prior to this course, I had brief experience with camera and filmmaking skills. In my younger years, I had gotten into making short YouTube videos with my older brother. I would typically enjoy filming slime related videos, and he would enjoy making video game related ones. We utilized our mom’s old iPad and set up books on a table to sit the camera on top of. Once we were done filming and cutting all of the clips, we would transport the footage into the iMovie app, to add captions, audios, transitions, and much more enhancements. Overall, we didn’t have much of a plan, but we had concepts of a plan. Many important film aspects such as lighting, costume, and makeup were not on our radar at this stage of our filmmaking journey. 

Having been in this course, I feel that my knowledge and skills as a filmmaker have greatly increased. I have learned about many key components of what it takes to make a film, and I now have a greater understanding of how it all comes together to create a successful film. For example, components such as mise en scene are very important in the feel and look of a film. It can make the viewer feel more connected to the film and have a better understanding of what meaning the production designer is trying to convey. If I had the filmmaking knowledge I had now back in my slime making days, I definitely feel as if my videos would have accumulated more attention and views. 

Regarding my Film Opening Sequence, I feel as if I would be pretty successful in completing it with my knowledge thus far. I know the basic components of a film, how to convey and point out the different types of movies, how to use components of mise en scene to create meaning, and even the importance of cinematography. Although I know we still have a couple more months of material to learn, I feel that my skills in filmmaking could help me succeed to a necessary extent. However, it would still definitely be beneficial to me to further develop my skills in filmmaking before completing this project.