Project 3: Money On My Mind

       

     Our location is at the theatre and the basement of Hunter College. In our video, the actor can be seen fervently chasing after a one hundred dollar bill. Inside the theatre, the bill takes on mischievous character traits and it can be seen hiding where the actor cannot see it. When the actor finally finds the $100, he realizes to his dismay that it is actually a $1 bill. The video concludes with a sad and dejected actor.

            I came up with the idea for a comical money chase scene. We shot the footage on two separate days; we were not aware that our footage during the first day was not adequate to maintain continuity. We experienced many difficulties during the shooting phase because of issues with time, space and lighting; inside the theatre we had to use ISO 3200 but we still had insufficient lighting. We came and met together to edit our videos numerous times whilst enduring many hours of frustration. In the production phase of our video, we encountered numerous obstacles. We were riddled with encoding issues, USB size issues, horrible rendering problems, different versions of final cut pro, non-existent internet connection, and limited hours of the media lab. In the midst of this agonizing situation, we are thankful for Flonia’s assistance and helpful pointers in regards to our video. We hope that you appreciate the time and energy we have inserted into this video and enjoy its contents.

Blog 4

00:40-3:05 (Click here to see scene)

I’m analyzing the beginning scene of the film “The Maze Runner”. The overall feeling conveyed is a sense of disorientation and fear. This is established through the way the scenes are shot and the sound that is used to match these scenes. The first scene is very dark and it is hard to see the images. When Thomas appears on screen he is shown vomiting. The buzz from the fluorescent lights and rustic screeching of the elevator projects an eerie feeling. The use of red and green lights also supports this eeriness. When the elevator finally stops, the absence of light emphasizes the heavy breathing of Thomas. The audience is left wondering: what will happen next? The darkness in this shot contrasts with a blinding light in the next shot. This works well because Thomas feels disoriented and scared.

The editing matches what is seen on the screen. The elevator is travels up and when Thomas first sees the other characters they are looking down on him. This scene further reinforces the fear in Thomas because we don’t know whether these characters are friend or foe. Gally jumps down into the elevator and the sudden close up of his face as he hovers over Thomas makes it seem as if he would harm Thomas. In the next scene, Thomas is thrown on the ground. The camera which shows his p.o.v, pans quickly across the people above him. This works well because they are laughing at him and it reinforces the confusion that Thomas feels.

The disorientation Thomas feels escalates and it prompts him to run away from these people. This is shot very well because the camera also moves very fast to follow the fast speed at which Thomas is running. The close up of his face is followed by the blur of his legs as he runs. In addition, Thomas occupies the left of the screen and the concept of lead room is illustrated here. Lead room is properly used because no one chases after Thomas as he runs away. When Thomas falls, the sound changes from heavy breathing to a quieter sound. The camera shows Thomas’ continued reaction of fear—he realizes that he is enclosed by looming walls. The camera does a 360 to show Thomas’ reaction as he absorbs this knowledge and also to show the audience the image of these walls. The sound of drums can be heard during this scene to provide a climatic effect. Overall, the editing of the scenes and the use of sound worked well together.