Hey guys, welcome back to my blog channel!! Today, I'm going to review past AICE Media students' work and provide my feedback on it. I will mention each opener's strengths and weaknesses and what I would do to improve it!
___________________________________________________
Roll Call
The first video I will analyze is Roll Call, which shows four suspects being interrogated at a police station for a girl's murder. My favorite part about this project was FOR SUREEE the establishing shot, which set the scene by showing the audience where the interrogations were taking place. That shot looked very professional as if it was shot with a drone. I also really liked the acting and the music playing at the beginning, which made me get a sense of mystery and suspense!! However, I thought the editing could have been done better. For example, at 0:37, the transition from the establishing shot with the music to the subject's picture and voiceover felt abrupt and NOT seamless. Additionally, the slight camera movement during the interrogations felt out of place. A fixed position or a slow zoom-in would have enhanced the suspense much more than the handheld style, which gave it more of a documentary feel. If I were to change anything about this opener, I'd focus on fixing the editing to make it flow more smoothly, I'd switch up the camera movement style to fixed rather than handheld shots, and if I had the budget, I'd invest in a higher quality camera.
New Everything
The next video I will review is New Everything, which tells the story of a high school student who just moved to a new school. I really liked the concept and the use of visual storytelling they implemented. Some of the camera movements, like the trucking shots that followed the student around the school, stood out as great examples! They kept the focus on him while giving the audience a sense of his surroundings. However, the rest of this opener is really lacking. The editing, especially the sound effects and transitions, was not very good. It was clear that some of the Foley audio was added post-production, and the transitions felt awkward, more like something you'd see in a PowerPoint than a movie opener. It all just feels like little effort was put into it, almost as if it were thrown together in a single day. If I were to improve this project, I'd start by fixing the editing by using smoother transitions and more natural sound effects. I would also add some close-up shots to connect the audience with the character.
Dreamland
Next, I will review Dreamland, which seems to tell the story of a dream (I think...). I loveddd the dream-like aspects of this opener, especially the use of filters and lighting (they were very creative)! In the first half, the filter almost looked nostalgic like it was filmed with a vintage digital camera, while the second half used a saturated filter that gave it a totallyyy different vibe! I thought the opening of the video stood out with its beautiful scenery, shots, and smooth editing. One of my favorite parts was the reversed scenes of the flower falling. The second half also had its strengths, like the use of tracking shots and sound effects that fit perfectly. However, while both halves were good on their own, together they didn't make much sense. The transition between them felt disconnected, and I honestly could not figure out the plot. To improve this opener, I'd make the first and second half connect better to clarify the narrative. Balancing both filters and changing some transitions could help this feel more cohesive.
Dear Lover
Now I'll analyze Dear Lover, a forbidden love story between two girls. One of the strongest aspects of this opener is definitely the editing. The voice-over was excellent, with the future girl reflecting on her past, and the flashback scenes were very well done, especially with the white frame filter. The cuts kept the pace engaging, keeping the viewer entertained throughout the whole two minutes. The specific shots used in this opener were also chosen very wisely, like the close-ups and overhead shots, which added depth and emotion. Although these shots were great picks, some of the execution fell a little short. In certain clips, the camera was slightly shaky, where a fixed position would have worked better. To improve this, I would stabilize the shaky shots with a tripod to make the clips look cleaner.
Dare to Thrill
Finally, I'll review Dare to Thrill, a story about a group of teenagers playing a game that leads to a horrible discovery. I honestly LOVED this opener and am jealous that they already used this idea! The plot was very exciting and easy to understand, leaving me eager to see how the rest of the movie played out (the cliffhanger was soooo good). The camera work in this opener almost looked professional as it smoothly followed the characters both on the highway in the car and while they ran in the parking lot. The quick cut-offs between scenes added to the adrenaline vibe, making it feel even more intense and fun to watch! My favorite clip was the low-angle reaction shot at the end. The music also played a big role in creating the thrilling tone, enhancing the suspense and energy of the opener. However, sometimes it felt almost too loud, which could be a bit distracting. If I were to change ANYTHING about this, it would just be lowering the volume just a smidge to balance it out. Other than that, this opener is by far my favorite.
Comments
Post a Comment