Former Student Work

Hey everyone! Today, I'll review film openings made by past students and discuss what worked well and what could be improved.

Roll Call 

The first film I watched was Roll Call. Role Call had several strong points that made it feel like a solid film opening. The editing of the mugshots was clean and professional, with symmetrical framing that looked clean. The narrator’s fast-paced delivery also added excitement and suspense, keeping the audience interested. The lighting was another highlight, especially the darker tones used for the mugshots, which fit the story's mood. The use of an undercover cop car as a prop also made the setting feel more realistic. However, there were areas that could be improved. The camera work was shaky in many scenes, which felt distracting. Using a tripod or stabilizer could have made the shots smoother and more professional. The audio was another issue, some actors’ voices weren’t clear or emotional enough to feel believable. Better microphones, like a shotgun mic, and more passionate performances could fix this. Dubbing the audio properly would've made the film easier to understand. Lastly, adding a clearer connection to the murder case, like showing evidence or a crime scene, would make the story easier to follow. The core of a great story was there, they just needed to polish up the technical details to make it feel more like a professional movie opening

New Everything 

The second film I watched was New Everything. The film did a good job showing the protagonist’s reluctance about starting at a new school, and the scene where his music starts playing as he puts on his headphones was creative. It effectively showed him tuning out the world around him, which added some depth to his character. The depiction of his ordinary morning routine also felt relatable and realistic. However, the weaknesses stood out more. The camera quality was poor, which made the film look unpolished and could easily distract viewers from the story. Investing in a better-quality camera or even improving lighting could help make the visuals more appealing. The use of a circle wipe transition felt outdated and unprofessional; simpler cuts or fades would have worked better. The acting also needed improvement, as it wasn’t clear that the protagonist was feeling gloomy about going to a new school. The lack of dialogue, narration, or background music made the opening feel dull and disconnected. Lastly, the sound effects were unrealistic, particularly the footsteps. With these improvements, , the film could feel more engaging. 

Dreamland 

The third film I watched was Dreamland. Dreamland had a visually stunning opening that set it apart from the other films. The video quality was exceptional, and the use of color grading gave the scenes a magical and surreal vibe. The opening sequence, where flowers floated toward the protagonist, was beautifully crafted. The inclusion of both diegetic sound, like the Walgreens background music, and non-diegetic sound, such as the serene score in the flower scene, showed thoughtful sound design. However. there were a few weaknesses in this film. The transition from the dream-like flower scene to the reality of the Walgreens drug aisle felt abrupt and disconnected. Adding a voiceover to explain the protagonist’s thoughts or slowing down the transition could have made it easier to follow. The meaning of the flower scene was also unclear, leaving viewers unsure of its purpose.

Dear Lover 

The fourth film I watched was Dear Lover. This film had a heartfelt and engaging story about a young woman reflecting on a difficult time in her life. One of its strengths was the use of a calm natural setting, with scenes by the river and soothing instrumental music that conveyed the protagonist’s peace after a rough experience. The narration was another highlight, as it provided important background information about her struggles with her mother’s judgment and her relationship. This voiceover helped the audience understand her story and kept them interested to see what would happen next. The video and audio quality were also strong for most of the film. On the other hand, there was a scene where the audio was too quiet to hear when the two girls were talking, making the dialogue unclear. Ensuring consistent audio levels throughout the film could fix this problem.

Dare to Thrill 

The fifth and final film I watched was Dare to Thrill. Dare to Thrill was an exciting and fast-paced film that stood out for its energy and action. The story followed a group of friends driving recklessly in a Dodge Challenger, and the film captured the chaos well. The use of jump cuts, tire screeches, and close-up shots of the speedometer and car features captured the thrill of the scenes. The lighting and editing were well done. The steady camera work for the moving car shots was especially impressive and gave the film a professional feel. However, there were some areas that needed improvement. The audio was a key issue—it was hard to hear what the characters were saying during their conversations. Clearer sound mixing or recording would have fixed this. The music was too loud which cut out  important sounds like the engine roar and screeching tires. Lastly, the ending scene didn’t fully capture the shock and fear. They could have made the moment more intense and memorable.