For the cutting on action film, Leonie, Jonathan, Joshua, and I filmed Nick walking through the stairwell do and sitting down on the stairs. I was surprised to see how much it helped that Nick was a solid actor and did the same actions every time. Therefore, it was easy to switch from one shot to another and make it look normal. We each shot from a different angle. A couple of us stayed in the same spot and didn't move the camera. The other two followed Nick as he went through the door. I think this helped us make a more interesting film. 

Because I cut to a new angle on action, like Nick going through the door, sitting down, and dropping his head, the viewers can understand what is going on more easily and the film is better to watch. Also, I could choose the best part from each angle and have the most interesting shots.

 What did you do in class and outside of class time to help the ITVFest (be specific) Short answer

In class I helped at the itv fest main office. I helped pack the swag bags for guests. I helped deliver the töst bottles to the sponsor's shops. I also went with Nick and Ruiqi and John Sebastian to check on the location of some of the itv fest events.

Outside of class, I did one shift at Factory Point. I listened to a panel discussion with a couple of executives talking to show creators. The people with pilot shows and short film ideas showed their films to the executives and the rest of the group and got feedback from the executives. I just stood in the back and observed. After it was done, I guided everyone out and gave directions to the other locations.

What have you noticed about television, commercials or motion pictures since you started this class? (Paragraph)

I have gotten a much better understanding of how all the different parts of film production work together. During the panel discussion during the itv fest, I learned about how to promote and advertise a new show idea to production executives. I learned about how show ideas are turned into actual shows. 

I have realized how much thinking is done and how many thoughtful decisions are made during the making of good commercials. The Budweiser commercial was a good example of how complicated and purposeful commercials are. I have been noticing specific things that are done in commercials on tv that make them effective. 

I have begun to notice many small parts of movies that have a really big effect on the audience. Things like small objects, different shot angles, and sound effects impact how well the the movie gets it ideas across to the audience. 

While watching tv shows, I have noticed things the actors do to be funnier or more serious and be overall better actors. I have also noticed how pauses and certain angles and light make a show so much better.

Before you watch the film, imagine how you would approach this film using the dialog that is written above. What would your plot be?

Write down the answer to the question: How would you have approached the film?

Because there is so little dialogue, I would use music and broad landscape shots to give the setting and context of the film to the audience in the beginning. I would make the location of the film clear and then introduce the characters. I would have actors doing something that represents their character well. I would have a sudden, surprising action occur, so that the audience's attention would be suddenly focused, and they'd be ready for whatever happened next. Then the actors would say the lines, but with pauses and also action between each one. Then something very shocking would happen at the end of the film to give the audience something to remember.

For the dialogue here, I would choose an open field surrounded by woods and a river for the setting. I would show two kids running freely and playing tag or hide and seek in the woods. I would have quiet, smooth, happy music in the beginning. Then, to capture the audiences attention, one of the kids would trip and fall and the other would run up behind and be all excited. But the fallen kid would just be staring at something through the tree at the other edge of the field. She would get the boy to look up and the boy's expression would drastically change. The audience's attention would be fully captured and because of the suspense. I would use a very far shot, maybe with the kids in it. Then I would use a closer shot, but have it focusing on a butterfly, or something else moving like the tree. Then the shot would focus in on what the kids are watching, a unicorn eating the foliage peacefully. Then the boy would say, "What is that?" The girl - "It's a unicorn." And the boy is still shocked and says, "Never seen one up close before." They both wait for a second in silence. The boy says, "Beautiful," and then goes silent. Then the boy hops up and dart towards it. As he sprints through the field, the girl yells, "Get away. Get away." The unicorn flees into the woods past the other far side of the field. The boy runs after it with the girl behind him. The camera only shows them running. They run for about 20 seconds, closer to civilization. Then the girl catches up to the boy, who is stopped, looking down in horror at something. The girl gasps and begins to cry. The boy says softly, "I'm sorry." The shot goes to the unicorn, laying on the ground, dead. It has been shot (or fallen from a small cliff) because it was chased too far. 

Now watch the film.

Tell me about the style, lighting, sound, camera angles, acting and decisions that the filmmakers made.  Be explicit in your answers and relate it to things that you have learned in class this semester. Use Screen shots from the film to illustrate the scenes that you are writing about. Approx. 500 words.

I would not have expected some one to use this dialogue to make a film taking place in Germany during the Holocaust. The film opens by showing the old man carrying a box, and the man has a lot of anticipation, by looking at his face. It zooms in on the box, which makes the box seem very important. When the film shifts to the room in Germany in 1943, it seems like the boys are causing trouble because they are crawling in through a window and breaking glass. But as the film continues, they show that the boy is really thoughtful and considerate. The quick shots of the moldy bread and the broken things around the room help the audience understand that the people who own this building are suffering because of the Nazis. That helps the film lead very well into the boy meeting the girl who is Jewish. Without them saying anything, you can understand what the girl is going through and why she is scared. The lighting and color correction also make the mood the the setting very somber, which is what much of Germany was like then. The camera angle showing the girl first is far away, and gives the idea that she doesn't want the boy to come any closer and that she is scared. But then it shows her toys and then her face closer up. Right after wards, there is a close up shot of the girl as she hand the unicorn out to the boy. Both the closer shot and the girl giving her toy to the boy show that she begins to trust the boy and wants to share the unicorn with him. Also, the sudden music change as the boys takes the unicorn, gives a good, happier feeling. 

But right after that, the scene changes to a Nazi breaking into the room and the boy's lighter going out and the Nazis walking in breaking the glass. All three of those actions and the scarier music create a suspenseful feeling and give some fear of what will happen. It is weird, but even though there was no indication that the men would walk in, and it happened so suddenly, I feel like I expected the Nazis to walk in like they did. After the Nazi has broken the unicorn, the change between shots of the boy on the ground and the boy 50 or so years later helps the audience understand the feeling of sadness in the man as he remembers that story. Even thought the shot of the man was bright and kind of happy, you can still tell that he feels a little sad because of the flashback that reveals the context of what is happening. When the man turns away, I felt a little anxious because nothing would happen. So when the lady opened the door, I felt a little relief. I think the fact that there is no dialogue helps the effect of the end of the film because we already know what the lady and man are thinking because the flashback set it up so well. The change between the lighting of the two settings work very well together and helped me understand what was happening during both of them easily. 

Screen shots of my references to certain times in the film: