Opening Sequence Peer Review

Peers Video:

 https://youtu.be/4mkLQkueeK0

Our Video:

https://youtu.be/tw6-xoAf1IA

Feed back of Peers Video:

Within our Peers video they did many things well like the camera angles and movement, framing, as well as lighting. For instance with the camera movement and angles the beginning of the film shows the setting like the street and the house as well as the main character which is important for the foreshadowing that follows. Due to the fact the street and house are shown, when the killer is first revealed we have a good understanding that we are outside the same house shown in the beginning which doesn't keep us in the dark. Shortly after this we see the use of parallel editing to show the girl in the house who is unsuspecting and the killer who is making his way toward the entrance. This setup is done very well and pairs well with other aspects in the film. One of the other aspects being the lighting of inside the house but particularly at the climax. For example the low lighting of the space the girl is in and then the cut to the shadow of the killer behind the curtain allows and that combined with the close up of both characters makes the scene a classic action scene. To sum it up, the camera angles, movement and lighting all combined really well to make a smooth opening scene.

Despite having many great qualities the film had some things that they could have improved on like the framing and mise-en-scene. For example of poor framing, when the killer is waiting outside the house he is sort of out of focus and off to the side which makes him a little had to see. Another weakness was despite it being inferenced the killer walks toward entrance its a little confusing of how the killer actually gets into the house since it seems like she is near the main entrance where the killer was walking towards her position. The mise-en-scene could also be changed a little bit, the only real reason it could feel like a thriller is because of it being night. I understand its hard but the coloring could have been altered to fix the vibe a little. Overall the scene could use some work but was done really well. 

John Rodrigues feedback: 

The opening sequence has several strong elements. The dialogue between the two main characters stands out because it feels realistic and sounds like something teenagers would actually say. The sound effects are also effective, especially during the car scene and the moment of impact, because they help make those moments feel more real. Another aspect that works well is the voice over. Even though the speaker is not shown on screen, it is still clear who is talking, which allows the audience to understand the background information without everything needing to be shown visually. One of the most interesting choices is near the end, when two shots of Elijah are shown side by side, one including Sean and one without him. This allows the viewer to see the situation from both Elijah’s and Sean’s perspectives at the same time.

The clip has a lot of good but an equal amount of bad. For example, the setting is somewhat inconsistent, which makes it a little difficult to follow. The car appears to be in a desolate area, and then it suddenly cuts to exactly where they are, which creates a bit of confusion in the plot. This is not a major issue, but it does make the sequence feel slightly rushed. Some of the editing also feels a bit abrupt. For example, when Elijah and Sean begin walking away from the car, the cut to the next shot is somewhat sudden and does not flow as smoothly as the transition before it. In addition, the final lines delivered by Sean seem slightly rushed. Slowing down the delivery could help build more tension and make the ending feel more dramatic.

Olivia Frye Feedback: 

 There are a lot of positives in their opening Sequence. One thing I really like is when you are able to see two perspectives at the same time. Particularly at the end where we see two shots of Elijah, one with and one without Sean, right next two each other. This makes it so that the viewer can see both Sean and Elijah's point of view. Another strong point is the dialogue between the two main characters. It feels pretty natural and the language is accurate to what teenagers would say in that situation. The voice over is also really nice. We know exactly who is talking without seeing them. It is a nice way of giving information and background without showing it all. The added sound effects also add a nice touch. They make the car driving and the hit more dramatic. 

There is a lot of good in their opening, but some improvements could be made. One thing that I think could be done better is the audio. During the beginning dialogue there is a lot of wind that can be heard, which makes it a little difficult to hear exactly what was said. I know from experience how difficult it can be to film outside; there are just a lot of factors you can't control. Another thing that could be improved is that some of the cuts are a little jumpy. Again at the beginning, when Elijah and Sean start walking away from the car, there is a cut to a different shot that feels a little jarring. It just was not as seamless as the one prior. Lastly, at the end when Sean is talking, it feels a little rushed. If he talked a little slower during this part, it would add to the dramatics and make it feel like he is in less of a hurry.

Reflection: Now that I have proper feedback I know what needs to be improved like the quality of sound, cuts and setting. As an individual I could spend more time improving the quality of the edits inside I-movie and CapCut however it will be a little more difficult to keep the actors in the same position and keep the camera seamless but it is definitely achievable through attempts and practice. Somewhere that I feel will be more difficult will be controlling the sound quality and removing wind however we could try to plan a better day in the future to film any pieces of outside work. Lastly with the setting the issue was finding a safe space and roads to properly film on. The issue of the car not matching with the rest of the set could be easily solved on a future project with better planning however we would most likely require permission. Overall the feed back was extremely useful and will definitely help us in the future of filming.