Loneliness PSA - ID# 383
Homewood-Flossmoor
Public Service Announcement
Entry Description
Loneliness Is Real. Help Is Too.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/30 2:25 pm - This piece is really well put together, with strong visuals, solid sound design, and a clear message that comes through. The shot choices are great, and the way the scene is blurred before revealing the subject alone works really well. It is a bit hard to hear what he says when he is turned away around 0:36 to 0:38, so just double check the audio levels there. Overall, really nice work!
- 4/28 1:05 pm - This was really well executed, from the shots to the sound design to the message, your storytelling worked really well in a small space. I particularly liked how you demonstrated that loneliness can happen when when you are with people that are your friends, that it’s not obvious. Your audio work was particularly strong, from the buildup of white noise to the break to the really delicate snowfall sound at the end, the audiobed did as much to tell the story as your visuals. Speaking of, really nice visual choices, from POV to close-up’s and from using light and darks to show space and time, really well done. Your choices demonstrate a knowledge and creativity level that is very high. Great work and keep at it!
Judge 1
Positives: Strong use of light and shadows. Audio use helped give the viewer a sense of what the main character is experiencing and supported the narrative. Call to action was clear.
Improvements: Some of the shots were too dark and could have benefitted from lighting elements. Move movement and a variety of camera shots and compositions could have helped support the story.
Judge 2
Positives: This PSA does a really nice job of showing how loneliness is something that can be invisible to everyone around a person feeling alone. I like the interaction at the end “Hey, are you OK” as this helps model how people can try to be observant of people feeling alone and how simple it can be to make that person feel seen. The PSA does a really nice job of visually having the world disappear and have the main character seemingly start to wonder if they exist. Loneliness is a very abstract concept, so good job in thinking of a way to visually show something that can’ explicitly be seen.
Improvements: Make sure to listen to the audio with headphones or a good set of stereo speakers. Currently some of the audio is on the left channel, other audio is on the right channel, but it does not sound intentional. A fix for this is to change your audio in your video clips, so that you video editor is seeing the audio as two mono tracks as opposed to a stereo mix. I think the script could use a little work. The first actor to talk is talking about how they feel connected to the group. I was confused at what the group is. Is it a support group for people who feel lonely? Just a group of friends, but then why are they talking about feeling alone? Finding a way establish who the group is, could be helpful. Or to have different dialogue that isn’t focused on loneliness.
Judge 3
Positives: Exceptionally strong visual storytelling: the framing of the subject between the shadowed figures, the focus pull introducing the subject, the soundscape...All this really strengthens the story, but what really cements it all is the acting. You can tell the subject is lost and confused and the girl who reaches out does so with a real sincerity. It's solid performances all around.
Improvements: I'm having a hard time finding room for improvement. This is a solid video.
Judge 4
Positives:
Improvements:
Judge 5
Positives:
Improvements: