One Moment - ID# 470

Batavia
Dramatic Narrative
Entry Description

A boy discovers how all of our moments are interconnected; the good ones and the bad ones. Produced by Leo Beck

Copyright Info

Recent Teacher Comments

  • 4/21 7:29 pm - A tragically universal story very well executed in a dramatic, yet respectful fashion. This was made all the more powerful through strong and believable performances. The sound was well thought out and crisp. The integration of music and sound effects was especially well polished. Overall, the camerawork was cinematic and included smooth movement and excellent shot selection – however, be sure to watch out for focus and contrast. Some key shots were out of focus and sometimes the contrast was a bit too harsh with both white/black blown out. The lighting/color matched the tone of the film well – some extra attention could have been given to white balance on set. The editing was superb – a true partner to the story. It elevated everything else. Outstanding work.
  • 3/5 10:56 am - This was a very impactful and powerful story! Well done showing the transitions between the present and possible future. This was a nice touch in your editing to showcase what may happen if he doesn’t become friends with him. Your editing was great and you pieced this story together nicely with your shots, audio, and lighting.
  • 2/20 2:12 pm - Your dialogue is very well recorded. Sound design helps get deeper into the story and follow the character's trauma. Very carefully thought out and I appreciate how it creates so much more than mood. Your composition and camera work are very effective - particularly all the moving shots (tracking). I like how carefully you composed the three-shot against the wall and the three guys are sitting on the floor.
Judge 1

Positives: The dual-realities in the principals office were really really effective, and I loved the CU of the leads eyes with the door handle. The fear was visceral, and the film felt really strong in bringing the leads worst fear to life. Additionally the cinematography and framing was also strong - showing a great eye for symmetry and composition.

Improvements: This is incredibly difficult subject matter, and while I agree small moments like making space for new students are important - I think the narrative oversimplified the story, implying that it was the lead character's fault for not being the new students friend. The best note I can give is to paraphrase a quote: "The larger the atrocity, the more important the details. You don't talk about a war - you show a child's burnt sock in the middle of a street."

Judge 2

Positives: I think the framing in some of the shots was really well done and thought out. The editing with the quick close-up shots also looked really good.

Improvements: Some of the shots had different lighting than others, just make sure all the continuity matches up. The story itself was very all over the place and could have been thought out better.

Judge 3

Positives: The non-linear narrative storytelling here is brilliant. It can be tricky with this format to really hit the message home with the viewer, because they can easily get lost in the variable timelines, but I think the way the team handled that here is strong! Especially the pacing. The tense moments are slow and dreadful. The happy moments are quick and feel bouncy. Overall, it’s giving Donnie Darko x Christopher Nolan. The cinematography is another thing of note here. The camera movement in particular is masterful at times, with these slow dolly-ins that really scream CINEMA. The vfx and sound design is great. Really great cinematography too. With this film, when it locks in, it really locks in. There are some really amazing shots. The scene of the doorknob turn and the transition into it from the practical lighting effects is really strong and engaged me into the emotions of the character. The costume continuity is a really great touch and also the character continuity of the other characters, how much they change and the protagonist doesn’t.

Improvements: The short film would sometimes go from the most stunning shot ever to a shot next to it that was out of focus or dark or shaky, and it was only glaring because the contrast between the continuity of shots was so vast. The really great shots were so great that they unfortunately made the less great shots really stand out.

Judge 4

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Judge 5

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