Behind Closed Doors - ID# 360
Maine South
Dramatic Narrative
Entry Description
Everyone is fighting a battle you can't see. Some people just hide it better.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/21 10:03 am - Impressive and ambitious. Really appreciated the overall style that was led by the consistent moving closeups. The attention to detail and the effort in the funeral did not go unnoticed. The montage sequence in the end was very effective, and the ending of him repeating her opening lines was very strong. It is clear that a lot of effort was put into telling this serious story in a powerful and heartfelt way. Some ways to polish the production in future projects is to give more attention to keeping things in focus and obtaining clean audio with a combination of boom and lav mics. There were also some issues with exposure, but overall – there was a consistent visual tone and grade that made up for those issues and tied everything together. Two things that particularly stood out were the story and the acting. Extraordinarily professional and creative.
- 3/2 9:38 am - Story: This story was a very well thought out story. I saw character development and a clear message and meaning. Very emotional and drew me in right away. Sound: Sound in the opening clip is great! Just watch the “p’s” popping in the microphone. Great sound choice at 0:20 to have the music cut here as the frame cuts to black. Overall, you did a great job with the sound design. It’s very effective and fits the mood and tone of your film! Camera: Overall you demonstrate excellent skill with your camera. Your opening shot is fantastic! You use great camera movement at 1:01! When shooting outside, double check and make sure that your camera lens is clean. Something minor, at 1:32 there is a black spec on the screen (near the power lines), which is probably something stuck on the lens/camera sensor. Great camera shot at 1:42. Love this CU. We do stay on this shot for quite some time. I wish we saw the other character’s reaction during this part of the scene. Lighting: Great lighting overall, some of the shots outside at the cemetery were a bit overexposed (especially with the sky being white). For example, at 3:25 part of the father’s hair disappears and blends in with the sky. Editing: Great job with editing overall! I love how the title was put in on the opening shot! I also appreciate the set design in the opening shot. Great job including a photo of the characters on the nightstand. At 0:12 - 0:14 I’m not sure if you were using keyframes or warp stabilizer here. It seems to warp slightly when the camera pushes in on the character. Just something to watch out for! Great use of the cross dissolve effect here at 3:45. Really matches the overall mood/tone and shows how the character is affected over time by what happened.
- 2/23 11:59 am - Camera: the opening camera work was wonderful; clean shots and smooth camera movements, nice compositions. Then it seemed like you abruptly went to handheld to follow her as she left the house, but that handheld camera work was way too shaky. If you were trying to make it intentionally intense (perhaps to mirror her shaky psychological state?), then a series of fast cuts would have been more effective. Lighting: a little more lighting should have been used in the bedroom. This would have given your camera a bit more latitude and improved the image quality. Sound: the dialogue was mixed appropriately, as were the music beds. Good choice in music as well; very reflective of the moods of each of the scenes. Editing: the pace of your film fit the scenes, and most of the scenes flowed well. Story: the story was crystal clear, and as a director you should be proud. Getting the actors to deliver believable performances takes skill.
Judge 1
Positives: • The overall story arc is good- you packed a lot into 5 mins but it worked well b/c the story itself is largely centered around two people. The way it ends is both clever & poignant. Very thought-provoking. • Scene of the argument in the street was well performed- felt genuine and served as a good point of high-tension
Improvements: • Camera work is a bit too shaky- some stabilization in the edit may have helped • The music works but is a bit distracting- something more brooding with less vocals may have served the ending better.
Judge 2
Positives: The pacing and editing are well-balanced within the film as it is tightly edited and varied with techniques like L/J cuts. The loop within the storyline as the double narrative further emphasizes the point of view very well.
Improvements: The story is already effective, but other factors can emphasize this narratively. It is important to match the lighting/exposure as close as you can within continuous scenes for stronger continuity and coloring. Try to explore more creatively with the sound to empower the dynamics; moreover, be careful with music in soundtracks, which can feel like a music video versus a stronger narrative.
Judge 3
Positives: I thought that the opening and closing shots were a really unique movement and think they worked well as a parallel to each other. The movement throughout the shots was also done well as it made the story flow.
Improvements: I really did like the close up shots of the 2 characters fighting, but thought they were a bit shaky. I also think there is a lot of potential of the scene with the mom in the bedroom, but wish the shots were slowed down rather than sped up as it made it feel rushed. I would recommend not using upbeat songs with lyrics, but try to find a slower instrumental track that wouldn't be as distracting. I also really liked the shot of the bathroom door being slammed, and think it could have honestly just ended there.
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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