Time - ID# 322
Wheeling High School
Cinematography
Entry Description
A raw interpretation of the power and control of doom scrolling. It is meant to be uncomfortable, awkward, cold and hypnotic. Hope you enjoy!
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/29 1:44 pm - Because this reel is conceptual and feels quite a bit like an art film, it's hard to really analyze the quality of the shots in and of themselves which is the purpose of the reel. There are a number of really strong shots, but it's distracting to see the editing serving story rather than showcasing the shots overall.
- 4/28 3:16 pm - The editing in this piece was very well-paced and showed a good sense of flow, but because it felt a bit like a PSA, the cinematography itself took a backseat. To score in the excellent range for this specific category, the visuals need to be the primary way you communicate the story. The rubric focuses heavily on how lighting and composition convey mood and add emphasis to a character. For your next entry, try to tell a story without using any text or voiceover at all. Relying solely on your lens to make the viewer feel an emotion is the quickest way to prove you have mastered the art of directing the viewer’s perspective.
- 4/7 10:20 am - PROS This reel demonstrates a solid understanding of basic close-up photography, particularly in the shots of the vending machine and the coin insertion, which are clear and well-framed. The pacing of the edit is consistent, and the use of onscreen text is timed effectively to match the rhythm of the visual actions. The handheld movement in the following shots shows an attempt at dynamic storytelling, keeping the camera close to the subject to create a sense of intimacy. IMPROVEMENTS The most immediate area for improvement is lighting and color; the footage currently has the flat, clinical look of standard overhead fluorescent school lighting, which lacks cinematic depth. The student should experiment with negative fill (using black boards to create shadows) to add dimension to the subject's face. Camera stability is also an issue; many of the tracking shots suffer from unintentional jitter that distracts from the narrative of the shot. The composition of the wide hallway shots is somewhat plain; utilizing leading lines or a more interesting vanishing point would make the environment feel more intentional and less like a casual recording. OVERALL This reel’s functional start shows a capability of following a basic narrative thread through editing. However, it currently feels more like a video project than a cinematography reel. To elevate this work, focus on "painting with light" rather than just capturing what is already there. Move away from flat lighting and toward more deliberate, stabilized camera work in order to transition from documenting an event to creating a cinematic experience.
Judge 1
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Judge 2
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Judge 3
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Judge 4
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Judge 5
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