"Apologies" - One Shot Film

This is the final cut of the one shot film we have produced for our second project as part of the narratives module.

During this part of the narratives module. We were assigned groupwork to shoot a one shot film, which cannot be cut or edited. This means that once you press record, you don't stop shooting until the scene is done. The other condition is that the camera can only move once. This greatly limits what you can do with a shot but more importantly is shows the importance of being precise with what is in the frame, where everything is positioned in the frame, and also what the frame does. This is something I had not quite realized before. I alsways knew there was a lot of thought which went into each scene, but it is incredible when you begin to notice that every minute detail has a deeper value of meaning.

The first and most important part of this project is the planning. Considering you only have the one chance to get everything right. It is essential to make everything count for the most. The location, script, music, and situation have to all be linked in so that they are playing different roles but giving the same narrative.

The location we chose is a monument by the Aburetum, a park which is right outside the center of the city. We chose this location for a few reasons. First of all, the monument on which the main character is waiting gives the feeling of importance. Both of the past and of the present. Also, it conveys that it is a meeting point. Most cities have landmarks such as this where people meet because of the convenience of location and also because of the way it is easy to spot and ask for directions to. Additionally, the monument is at the top of a hill. In the shot, the man who comes and meets the main character continues down the hill after giving her the note and flower, while she walks uphill after he walks away. This is meant to symbolize both a parting of ways and also represents the struggle for the girl. Walking uphill is much harder than walking downhill; this is why the man continues easily downhill, while she must struggle uphill. Finally, the monument serves as a physical barrier where it cuts the two in half and provides a visual separater of the two.

We decided to have no script and to leave it as more of an interpretive piece. There is the presence of dialogue as you see the man whisper to her. But the fact that you can't hear what is said leaves the audience wondering. In place of dialogue, we let the song tell the story. The song is called "Apologies" by Timbaland. It is obvious that the girl is disappointed and that the man is showing his apologies or respects to her. Who the apology is for, or what the respects are given for can be interpreted in many ways.

I am very pleased with how the shot turned out. Everything seemed to work as we had planned. I feel the strongest parts of the shot are the song and the location. However, there are still a few things I would have done differently. First of all and most importantly, we waited a little too long to shoot the shot. We were waiting for twilight to convey a kind of romantic, but uncertain feeling. Twilight seems to make it feel as though there is something in the air, or that there is something about to happen. Because we waited too long, the shot is much darker than we had intended. Also, I would have liked to create a more exciting scene with more movement. However, the main intention was to convey emotions, and I feel that was accomplished.