CCR Question #3

 The third question in the Creative Critical Reflection is, "How did your production skills develop throughout this project?"

 How process evolved

I started out unsure of how I was actually going to complete this project and finish it on time. As I completed each phase of the planning aspect, I had to make several changes so I would be able to finish it. I had an original idea for the opening which was to have it take place across two different times, but I thought that it was going to be risky so I ended up changing it. 

Research and Planning

I did a lot of research on the conventions and target audience of the genre I chose.  I spend a while planning what I was actually going to include in my opening and how I was going to execute it. I created a schedule so I was able to stay on top of time and finish by March 25 which helped. Creating a storyboard and shot list was a huge help in allowing me to actually produce the film the way I had imagined it. 

Production and Adapting

 I decided I wanted my project to take place in the woods so I immediately ha a location in mind. I filmed it at a local park which has a woodsy area and a lake. I had two of my friends help me with this project, one acted as the protagonist and the other assisted me with the recording process. A challenge I did face in production was trying to not get other people in my shots as it was a Saturday and quite busy. The park also has a shooting range in proximity to the woods so you can hear gunshots in the background which was fitting, but also annoying since you could hear it in the clips. The filming process took about an hour and a half.

Reflection

At the beginning of this project, I was overwhelmed. It almost seemed like I wasn't going to be able to complete, especially alone. I learned how important the planning process is because my schedule, storyboards, and shot list helped me feel like I could actually execute it. I also learned a lot about the production process of films and how much work goes into it. Most importantly, I learned that I was more than capable of doing this project on my own, even though it may seem impossible.