Reel // Artist Statement
I made a bold decision second semester of my sophomore year to change my major to film, but I can gladly say I know I made the right move. And while I still believe I'm more geared toward the editing side of filmmaking, I learned a lot about cinematography this semester and want to continue enhancing my skills with a camera.
I found over the course of the semester that I really enjoy working on projects that aren't exactly cut and dried. Taking a camera out and just appreciating a place or event has been among my favorite things lately. And as we see in my selection of scene assignment -- a montage with voice over and dramatic music -- I believe I do best with filming pieces that aren't strictly scripted. My style of art has become taking ordinary life events and places and shaping them into art that can be appreciated by everyone else.
Life is measured in moments and thoughts, and filmmaking allows us to capture our own moments and thoughts to share visually with everyone else. We're inspired by places, events, and things around us and it's important to be able to share what we see with everyone else -- that's art. So what if you can't draw or sing; if you know a few basic camera skills you can be filmmaker and thus an artist.
The great thing about filmmaking is no two artists work the same way, which yields infinite unique works of art. It's so inspiring to know there's no right or wrong way to make a film and that people will never tire of watching films because they are always changing and different. However, despite films constantly changing, we can still learn from fellow filmmakers' techniques and abilities and take those on to create our own masterpieces.
As my filmmaking career takes off over this next year, I hope to continue working behind a camera and capturing those moments I think are meaningful and worth sharing with the rest of the world. I hope to inspire someone with what I share and impact their life somehow. While I'm just getting started here in the film world, this is a journey I'd like explore from various angles -- from behind the camera as well as the computer.
I really enjoyed reading your artist statement. Your perspective on capturing places and leaning away from scripted moments is powerful. I loved the first shot: that rack focus is incredibly effective and cool. I also love all the shots you got from Mona's project. So warm, but everything has this great edge-light glow to it. So surreal and awesome. I also like how the shots from Disney line up with your filming philosophy. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteyour reel has a lot of really nice examples of shallow focus with a perfect centering as well as great examples of "exposing to the right" where you push your exposure to the upper end of being correct so it has a warm glow to it (it's a nice look, very hard to do without overexposing. good job)
ReplyDeleteI really like your live production shots. Theatrical lighting is always so beautiful. Good Work!!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff Becca! I want to go to Disney now. Your work on Mona's film was so captivating in a very gentle and beautiful way, and then we see a gorgeous explosive shot of fireworks and big dancing. Really dynamic. Good work!
ReplyDeleteBecca, love all the movement you did with these shots. The opening shot and lighting is sickkkkk, and captain jack sparrow looks like he approves! Good job!
ReplyDeletethe carousel at the beginning was wicked and the close up of the Charlie Chaplin character was radical I loved the music choice as well. I wouuld have hired you were I an industry professional.
ReplyDeleteYour reel and statement really compliment each other. You did such an amazing job with my project, it came out better than I could have hoped! You really know how to capture a moment!
ReplyDeleteI like the choice of the music, it makes the reel feel so up beat.
ReplyDeleteShot at :09 - KILLED IT. You had other shots in this very reel that were better, but I remember that one shot from the projects early and I was thinking "this girl can shoot". I like how you're saying you'd rather go in to a place without a set plan, I'm definitely the opposite now (although I remain flexible) but I think this sort of spontaneity will really let you foster your creativity.
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