24-25 Rodrigo Sanchez Film Reel - ID# 99
Highland Park
Cinematography
Entry Description
A compilation of Rodrigo Sanchez's work from 2024-2025.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/17 4:12 pm - Good diversity of shots in this reel. You use a stabilized very well and showcase lots of different filming situations. However your use of robust color grading in a way masks your original choices as the viewer focuses more on post-production rather than the filming- and thus your very strong color correction distracts from assessing the cinematography itself. As a rule of thumb it's best not to include highly treated material when assessing certain crafts like cinematography. Good work filming overall
- 4/15 9:24 am - PROS - Creative Visual Choices & Strong Style Identity – (0:10, 0:48, 1:13) From the first few seconds, the reel shows a bold approach to framing and concept. 0:10 and 0:48 are particularly imaginative, using off-kilter compositions and layered imagery that push boundaries, even if they don’t always land. Willingness to Experiment not afraid to try things — whether it’s underexposing a scene to let silhouettes dominate, or shooting through textured objects for distortion. That kind of creative courage is rare and worth encouraging. IMPROVEMENTS - Lighting Control & Consistency – (0:30, 1:00) A few shots appear to rely on ambient light without sufficient shaping, which leads to muddy contrast or blown highlights. 0:30 in particular could’ve benefitted from bounce/fill to lift shadows while maintaining mood. Some Visual Risks Don’t Land Cleanly – While the experimental approach is a strength, a few shots feel over-stylized or distracting due to focus inconsistency or odd angles. A little restraint in post-processing and tighter previsualization would make the creative flourishes hit harder. OVERALL - this reel is exciting because it’s brave, bold, and personal. It leans into artistic risk-taking, which is what often separates good cinematography from great. With a bit more technical refinement in lighting and exposure, this could easily be a professional work sample that would land you paid work.
- 4/9 8:14 am - Great diversity of shots from a lot of different projects that showcases your extensive experience. Some of the city shots need to be stabilized so they don't stick out in comparison to the smoother motion you have in the reel. Nice use of color correction to accentuate the mood and lighting you found and supplemented your shots with.
Judge 1
Positives: Demonstrated an ability to see and capture the world in a unique and creative way. Innovative utilizing attention to color and shadowing. Lighting sharp editing with music sync as an extra, as well as that awesome mirror scene.
Improvements: Build on that solid foundation and experiment with some live audio mixed in.
Judge 2
Positives: Great job using tripod whenever possible. Young videographers are straying away from that. Tripod use will separate you. Good choice of music for a compilatio piece.
Improvements: Could use some nat sound on several shots, such as the train shot and video game controller, a few others. Remember the law of thirds. The sports shots (xc, wrestling) were off a bit.
Judge 3
Positives: Loved the bold use of color and the creative experimentation with grading. The choices really added to the mood and made each shot stand out. It’s clear a lot of thought went into how color shapes the feel of the reel, and it paid off beautifully!
Improvements: The reel could benefit from more intentional lighting to shape the scenes and add depth. Experimenting with three-point lighting, even in a DIY way, could really help define subjects and create more dimension. There are plenty of creative, budget-friendly tricks—like using practical lights or reflectors—that can make a big difference!
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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