Transitions - ID# 53
Maine South
Documentary
Entry Description
The story of Sawyer Smith, a transgender actor living and working in Chicago. Chronicling her early struggles, self realization as a transgender person, and present day social climate, “Transitions” examines the role Sawyer wishes to see all people play in the theater of life.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/18 4:12 pm - KEEPERS: Great story. Humanizing marginalized people and groups has never been more important. Sawyer was a great interview and you produced them well. I loved the sort of magazine cut-out, scrapbook style you used in editing this all together. It was a unique style not often seen in documentaries and I like that a more youthful sensibility/style of editing was used to sort of freshen up the genre. IMPROVEMENTS: I have it on good authority that this is a shorter version of a longer documentary. It shows. Whether that is the case or not, the piece on the whole is too frenetic. It's just jammed packed with messaging and information that doesn't quite come through to viewers, because it doesn't have enough time to breathe and sink in. On the whole, the piece just needed to breathe more. The paper background textures and the text probably didn't need the wavy effect. Just that little change would help deepen the messaging. After a while it's so much hitting your eyes it's hard to focus on the original story structure (based on the book you mentioned at the top). Watch your audio mix a bit. My colleague has more direction and I think you can get away with pushing sound effect levels a bit in this particular editing style since you're sort of "jarring" the audience with your transitions but do so carefully so it doesn't overpower interview dialogue. Overall, this is an excellent story that has great impact and would have even more so if this was presented as a longer piece or as an excerpt to a longer piece. Great work.
- 2/25 1:33 pm - STORY: This is an interesting documentary about this specific person. Your choice to use “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” as a framework for this documentary was also an interesting choice. However, by using the “Rules” as major content elements, you created an odd pace for your video. For example, you don’t get to Rule #2 until 2:20, which is almost halfway through your video. So, in effect, the use of the rules structure then made the rest of your video feel rushed. I’m curious how this documentary would have turned out if you had 10 minutes as a maximum time length instead of 5 minutes. Do you think it would have been better if you had a little more time to tell Sawyer’s story? PRODUCTION: Camera work and b-roll were solid. Lighting was inconsistent; the interview lighting in the beginning seemed appropriate, and then at around 2:55 it was like you added a super hot key light and this created an unflattering shadow on your subject’s face as well as an obvious hard shadow on the wall behind your subject. Your audio levels were a bit inconsistent at times, with sound effects and music that were overpowering. You need to be careful of your audio mix. Allow me to explain: when you are mixing sound, you have 3 basic levels. You have your primary audio (voice overs, interviews, dialogue) which should be between -6 and -12 db on the VU meter. You have your secondary audio (natural sound, sound effects) which should be between -12 and -18 on the VU meter. Finally, you have your tertiary audio (music beds) which should be between -18 and -24 on the VU meter. If this is news to you, then you need to have a chat with your instructor and learn how to mix sound.
Judge 1
Positives: Editing style was quirky and unique, matched the energy of Sawyer. Great pacing. Clear conflict and how Sawyer addresses it.
Improvements: Text was a bit quick in the beginning. Jump cuts after the "rules" graphics were a bit abrupt and distracting.
Judge 2
Positives: Nice to change the shot on interviews! Wow, the images and the creative editing showing they younger! Wow on all the graphics!!!!! Wow on the creative editing, the sound the images! So effective in understanding and enjoying the story!
Improvements: Leave your lengthy written graphics up longer. I could not read them completely.
Judge 3
Positives: Amazing job editing! Super innovative ideas with how you laid in all the broll, text on screen, etc. You did a ton of work finding all the great photos and supportive broll. The way you created this film matches the energy of your subject and really gives agency to your subject. Your slightly experimental approach really works here. This film feels like it is who it is authentically, just like your subject. Well done.
Improvements: I think your ending was a bit too abrupt and I couldn't read the names who made this great film. Although I like your call to action at the end, I think the viewer could feel a bit abandoned at the end. While I loved the approach to the editing, it did feel like maybe too much was being packed in here. I would have liked to see this film expand by a few minutes. I liked the experimental approach but at times it may have been a bit too abrupt. I think using this same approach but including a few more moments to breathe would be good. I know there is a 5 minute limit so I think it's good you did what you did.
Judge 4
Positives:
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Judge 5
Positives:
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