EH Cinematography Reel - ID# 180
Wheaton-Warrenville South High School
Cinematography
Entry Description
Ellie Hay Cinematography Reel 2026: Showcasing work from various projects
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/29 12:47 pm - This reel showcases a lot of genres and a lot of different kinds of scenes from fiction to nonfiction. However, it doesn't showcase the skills required to exceed in this category including focal length shallow depth of field lighting composition use of close-ups and so on. There are lots of good things happening here, but it needs further development.
- 4/28 3:00 pm - You are doing a great job with the foundations of cinematography. Using a tripod and leaning into symmetry shows a level of discipline and patience in your composition that is really valuable. However, to compete with the top entries, the rubric specifically looks for a 'diverse range of camera shots and movements.' To really hit those high marks, you'll need to step away from the tripod occasionally. I’d love to see you experiment with motivated pans, tilts, or even some controlled handheld work. Mastery is about showing that you can maintain that same precision and 'camera fluency' even when the scene gets dynamic and the camera is in motion. For your next festival entry, try to include shots that show you can follow action or create a sense of energy through movement, rather than just capturing a beautiful still frame.
- 4/6 2:15 pm - PROS The reel demonstrates a high level of technical cleanliness, with no glaring mistakes or technical errors. There is a strong fluency of camera use regarding focus control. Specifically, the sequences from 0:16–0:21 and 0:22–0:28 show a successful use of shallow depth of field to isolate subjects (the laptop and the person at the desk), which effectively directs the viewer's perspective. The opening shot of the alarm clock (0:02) is a well-composed close-up that immediately establishes a narrative theme of time and routine, showing an ability to enhance the story through simple visual choices. IMPROVEMENTS While the reel is technically sound, it faces challenges in the Lighting & Exposure categories. The exterior shots of the lake and sailboats (0:07–0:15) appear somewhat overexposed, with "washed-out" highlights that suggest a lack of "mastery of lighting techniques" in bright, uncontrolled environments. These shots need more mood or emphasis, perhaps through the use of filters or by shooting during golden hour to add more dynamic range. The reel is largely composed of static shots. To better demonstrate a diverse range, the filmmaker should include motivated pans, tilts, or tracking shots to prove they can maintain technical quality while the camera is in motion. OVERALL This is a very safe and professional reel that succeeds by avoiding common student errors like shaky footage or poor framing. To continue advancing, take more creative risks with intentional lighting and dynamic camera movement. Currently, the reel shows a filmmaker who is very comfortable with the camera, but who hasn't yet fully demonstrated the creative innovation of a top-tier reel.
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