Exegesis:

PhillipeAmaro
ForthisprojectItooktheroleofproducer(thoughIwasalsothescript
writer).Iwantedtoexplorethemorelogisticalsideoffilmproductionasitwasan
aspectoffilmmakingthatIwasnotparticularlywellversedin.Furthermore,I
wantedtoknowhowtherelationshipbetweenscriptwriteranddirectorfunctioned.
Theoriginalscriptwasaboutadetectivecouplewhogotoinvestigateahouse.
Onlytofindthemselvesseparatedfromeachother,andunabletoleave.Themain
narrativefollowsJaneasshetriestofindherhusbandandawayoutofthehouse.
Whilethishappensshebeginsexperiencingstrangeoccurrences,lightsflickering
soundswithnosourceetc.Atthebeggingofherexplorationalltheoccurrencesare
indirect,lightsandsoundsallhappenofcameraandshe(ortheaudience)neversee
whatcausedit.AsthestoryprogresseswebegintogetclearerideaofwhatI
occurring.WestarttoseeJohn,thoughneverdirectly,oftenappearinginthe
backgroundoronlyforabriefmoment.ThenasthingscontinueJaneandJohnget
trappedonoppositesidesofadoorandforthefirsttimeweseethetwofully
attemptingtocommunicate.Itishere,throughthequickswitchesbetweenperspective
thatJaneandJohnareseparatedbysomeetherealforce.Asthestorymovestoits
climaxJaneandJohnfinallycommunicatethroughwritingandthemysteryis
resolved;JaneandJohnaredead,andwiththisacceptancetheyareabletomoveon.

Thefilmmakescarefuluseofperspectivetobetterconveythenarrative.
SimilartofilmslikeFightClub,avarietyofcameraandeditingtechniqueswere
usedtohintatthetruenatureofevents,andthuscreatedramaticirony.Thoughthe
filmgenerallyfollowsJanesperspectiveweareshownbothwhatJaneseeswhile
alsohintingatwhatisactuallyhappening.Oneofthefirstandmostprominent
executionofthisisinthecolourgrading,afterJanehasbeenkilledthecoloursofthe
filmbecamemoremuted,andwithaslightgreenishtint.Thiselementsubtlyimplies
toviewersthatJanescircumstanceshavechanged.Furthermore,thedichotomy
betweenwhatJaneseesandwhattheaudienceseesisfurtheremphasizedthroughthe
cinematography.ShotsfromJanesperspectivearefilmedwiththemorepersonal
handheldshots,astheseshotsarebettersynchronisedwithJanespanickedemotional
state.Statictripodshotsontheotherhandrepresentanobjectiveview,andthus
presentstheaudiencewithwhatisactuallyhappening.Throughcolourgradingand
camerachoiceswecouldemphasizeJanesconfusionandmisconceptionofthe
circumstancesshewasintocreateastrongsenseofdramaticironythatispresent
throughouttheentirefilm.

Fromaproducersstandpoint,thisfilmrequiredcarefulconsiderationof
location.Thestoryreliesheavilyonitslocationtobepossibleandcannoteasilybere
writtenindifferentlocationswithoutlosingalargechunkthestory.Thechosen
locationwasquiteexcellentbecauseofitsexcellentnaturallighting,2storysetup
(withabasement),andalargefoyerthatthesecondfloorlooksonto(allowingfor
uniquecoverage).

Workingontheprojecttaughtmealotabouthowaproducersrolefunctions,
thelargenumberofthingstheyneedtoconsider,andhoweasilytheirworkcanbe
overlookedduetoitslogisticalnature.However,whatIdiscoveredisthatthechoices
oftheproducercanactuallyaffectwhatcreativedecisionscanbemade.Certainshots
maynotbepossiblewithouttherightsetorequipmentortheymaybemadebetterby
awellchosenlocation.RegardlessIhavealotmorerespectfortheroleofthe
producer.

Furthermore,thisprojecttaughtmealotaboutstorytellinginfilm.film
amountofnuanceandprecisionrequiredwhentellingastorywithamystery.If
youretooobviouspeoplefigureoutthemysterytosoon,toenigmaticandpeopleare
justleftconfused.WhileImnotsurewewereentirelysuccessfulandstrikingthe
rightbalance,Idefinitelylearntalotaboutthedifferenttypesoftechniquesthatcan
beusedtocommunicateinformationtoaviewer,beyondjustthenarrative.

ARTS3061FINALSHORTFILMPROJECT
SelfEvaluationForm
ThisformmustbesubmittedalongwiththePeerReview.Itwillhelpyou,andyour
tutortoreflectonyourcontributiontoyourGroupsprocessandproduct.
Pleasemakecomments(youmayusepointformifyouprefer)andprovideamarkout
of10foreachofthefollowingcontributionareas.
NAME:PhillipeAmaro
TowhatextentdidYOUcontributetothegroupsworkinthefollowingareas:
1. backgroundresearchandpreproduction:
Markoutof10:8
AsproducerIspentalotoftimescoutingoutmultiplehouses,gettingphotos,aswell
ascollectingtheprops,includingplatesandadoor(thoughthedoorwasnotusedon
thedayforreasonsstilluncleartome).Ialsotookcareofadditionalcrew,including
actorsandamakeupartist(thoughonthedayourdirectordecidedthatwewouldnt
haveanyspecialeffectsmakeupforreasonsuncleartome).
2. Abilitytoworkcollaborativelyasateamandtobringfreshideasandcontent
toproject:
Markoutof10:9
AsthescriptwriterandproducerIwasfrequentlycollaboratingwiththegroupto
solveproblemsthatwefaced,bothfromatechnicalsideandfromacreativeside.At
thebeginningoftheproductionIhelpedChelseamodifythescripttoherliking,not
onlydidItakeherrequeststochangingthescriptIalsoofferedalternativesthat
satisfiedherdesireswhilekeepingthescriptsmotivationsandthemesintact.During
filmingIprovidedsolutionstoproblemsthatoccurredduringtheday.Thisincluded
findingsolutionsthatoccurredduetounforeseendifferencesbetweenthehouse
layoutandthestoryboard.
ThemainissueIhadwasbeingignored,whileIoriginallythoughtthatthiswas
becausemyideaswerenotanygood,someofthesolutionsIprovidedthatwerenot
taken(suchaschangingthelightingforoneofthescenes)endedupbeingcriticized
onthedayofshowing(EndanotedthatthesamesceneIpointedoutonthedayhad
shotsthatwereblownout).PerhapsIwasnotconfidentenoughinmypoints,
regardlessthefactIwasnotabletobettercommunicatewiththegroupisstill
partiallymyfault.

3. Analysis&applicationoffilmgrammar,conceptualideasandcinematic
context:
Markoutof10:7
Scriptwritingandeditingmadeuseoftechniquesthatfurtheremphasizethenarrative
(thespecifictechniquesweredescribedintheexegesis).Considerationoflightingat
locationweremyduty,alongwithconsiderationstocinematographyandcolour
grading.
4. Technicalandpracticalskillsinexecutingthepreproductionplan
Markoutof10:10
Whilemyprimaryrolewasproducer,Iwasalsoresponsibleforthespecial
effectsdone.Whilemyroleofspecialeffectswassupposedtobeincrediblyminimal,
thelackofcoverageincertainscenes,andtheshotsneedingspecialeffectsnotbeing
filmedthewayIrequestedmeantthatalargersetoftechnicalskillswererequiredon
mypart.Firstly,thecorpsesceneneededJanetobeintheshottwice,whilethiswould
havebeenasinglemask,duetothescenebeingimproperlyshot,itinsteadrequired
thatamanuallymaskaroundJaneforeverysingleframeofthatshot.Furthermore,
theflourscene(thesceneinwhichJaneandJohncommunicatethroughwritingin
flour)wasgoingtobemostlyimpliedthroughreactionshotsbut,duetomissing
footagerequiredthatIspendlotsoftimemakingeverywrittenpartoftheflourscene
bevisible.
Finally,themostindicativemomentofmyskillinputtingtogetherthefinal
productwasinthecorridorscene.ThereisamomentwhereJaneandJohnwalk
througheachotherasoneexitstheroomandtheotherenters,originallythisscene
wasgoingtocutquicklybetweenthetwotoimplythis.Unfortunately,thisdidnot
workatall,so,inordertokeepthedirectorsintention,Ieditedtoseparateshotsa
(notsetupfortheseeffects)andmaskeditsoitlookedlikethetwocharacterwalked
througheachother.
5. Groupinteractionandproblemsolvinginordertoachieveoutcomes
Markoutof10:7
AsMentionedseveraltimesabove,problemsolvingwassomethingIdidquite
frequently,betweenpostproductionimpromptufixes,suggestionsduringpre
production,andonthefilmingdayfixesIcansaythatIdefinitelydidafairshareof
problemsolving.
Ionlyrankthissolowduetocommunicationissues.WhileImnotsureIwas
theissue(infactmostevidencesuggestsIamnotguiltyparty)Istillfeelthatitmust
havebeenpossibleformetobettercommunicatewithmygroup.

OTHERCOMMENTS
WhileImyselfworkedashardaspossibletoworkinacollaborativemannerI
wasfrequentlymistreatedbyaparticularmemberinmygroup.Thisoftenmade
collaborating,problemsolvingandparticipatingmuchharderthanitneededtome
sinceIneededtodealwithbeingignoredormistreated.

ARTS3061VIDEOPROJECT
FINALPROJECT
PeerReviewForm

ThisformmustbesubmittedalongwiththePeerReview.Itwillhelpyou,andyourtutorto
reflectonhowthemembersofyourgroupcontributedtotheprocessandproduct.Youmight
liketousehardcopiesoftheformtojotdownthoughtsabouttheworkofyourpeersonthe
FinalShortFilmProjectasyougoalongorcompletewhenyouhavefinishedtheproject.

YOURNAME:PhillipeAmaro
Pleasegiveamarkoutof10foreachgroupmemberscontributiontothefollowing:
Group
Members
Names
(Dont
include
yourself)

Lucy
Hiley

Yodan
Gurung

Chelsea
Nelson

Doing
relevant
research
and
contributin
gtothepre
production

Focused
and
ableto
organise
timeand
resource
s

Executio Creativ
noftheir e
crewrole

Present&
committe
d

Skilledat
teamwor
k

10

10

Pleaseprovidegeneralcommentsaboutwhateachmemberofyourgroupcontributed
totheFinalShortFilmProjectfeelfreetousethereversesideofthispage.
1. LucyHiley
LucywasourD.O.P.Whichmeantshedidnthaveaverystrongpresence
duringthepreproductionsideofthings.However,wheneverwedidneedher
assistancesheworkedquicklyandefficiently.

Whenitcametothedayoffilmingtherewereseveralissueswithbehaviour.
Whileforthemostpartshedidherjobwell,sherefusedtotakefeedbackorlisten
toanythingIhadtosay.Whileusuallyshewouldntneedtolistentotheproducer
todoherjob,thereweremanyshotsthatwerecriticizedbyEndawhichIpointed
outonthedayoffilming(andthuscouldhavebeenavoided).Furthermore,the
scenesthatIneededtodovisualeffectsinneededtobefilmedinaparticularway.
Despitegivingherclearinstructionsonhowtodoso(Iliteraryjustaskedherto
justfilmtwoshotswithoutstoppingthecamerabetweenthetwo)andbynot
listeningmademyjobsignificantlyharder.Whatwouldhavetakenher5minutes
todocostmeandentireday.
2. YodanGurung
OverallYodanwasprettygood.Hewasalwaysthere,willingtolistenand
improvehisownskills,andwasntafraidtoaskforhelpifhegotstuckon
something.Additionally,hisskillsinbothsoundandeditingwegood.Despitethe
vastamountofmissedorpoorlyshotfootage,Yodanwasstillabletoputtogether
anexcellentcut,workingaroundthemissingcontenttodeliverthebestpossible
outcome.OverallYodanwasanexcellentgroupmember.
3. ChelseaNelson
Chelseaisahardandenthusiasticworker.Unfortunately,thesetraitsaregreatly
overshadowedbyherbehaviour.ToputitbluntlyChelseawasegotistical,
stubborn,controllingandemotionallymanipulative,shealsohadahabitoftaking
controlawayfromothers,butthenblamingthemwhensomethingwentwrong.
Thismadeherimpossibletoworkwith,andoverallmadeheraseveredetriment
tothegroupaswhole.
Letsbeginwiththepositive:Chelseawasveryenthusiasticandquicktowriteup
hershotlist,aswellasdrawingupalovinglycraftedstoryboard.
Movingontothevariousissues:Attheircoremostoftheissuescomedownto
Chelseanotcommunicatingorrefusingtogethelpfromanyone.Beloware
examplesofthisbehaviourinaction(WhichIincludeonlytoensurethatmy
commentsarenotbaseless)

Changestoscript
o Chelseawantedtomakechangestothescriptthatbrokecontinuity.
(e.g.ShewantedtoshiftwhereJohndied).Thisresultedinmeneeding
torewritechunksofthescriptsothatcontinuitywasmaintained,even
thoughitresultedinaweakernarrative.
o ShealsobecameveryaggressiveifIsomuchasquestionedadecision
shemade.

Missingshots:
o DespitehavingashotlistChelseawouldjustdecidenottofilmthings
(Despitehaving14hoursinwhichtoshooteverything)
o Thekitchensceneusedtobetheclimax,butsincenoneofitwas
filmedthatrequiredheavyeditingandchangestothescriptsothatit
wouldmakesense
o Itshouldalsobenotedthatwefinishedearlyonbothdayswhich
meantwedefinitelyhadthetimetofilmthesemissingshots

Losingtrackofcontinuity(notfixingit):
o Onthedayoffilmingshewouldcutoutscenesordecidetofilma
scenedifferentlythensheplanneditinherstoryboard.Asaresult,
continuitywouldbreak.
o Whileitwashardformetokeeptrackofalltheimpromptuchanges
shewasmaking,anytimeInoticedandpointeditoutshewouldnt
changehershotssothattheymaintainedcontinuity.(e.g.theopening
shotwhenJaneandJohnenterthehousewasnotsupposedtohavethe
doorclosebehindthem,evenwhenIpointedthisoutshedecidednot
tochangetheshotresultinginpostproductioneditingchangeshadto
occurtofixit)

JanesDeath:
o OriginallyJaneiscrushedbyafallingcupboard.OnthedayChelsea
madealastminutechangethatmadeitsoshetripsonsomescrewsand
dies.Chelseagavenoexplanationtothischange.
o ThiswasquitedisrespectfulbecauseIspentquitealotofeffortfinding
thenecessaryproptodothis.

Notusingtheclapperboard:
o Despitehavingaclapperboard,themomentIleftthesettocollect
additionalprops,Ifoundshehadjuststoppedusingit.Iessentiallyhad
toforcehertousetheclapperboard,asshewouldjustnotuseit
withoutmysupervision.

Ignoringonthedayofshoot:
o ThroughoutthedaysoffilmingIwouldbeactivelyignoredbyher.
WhenIdiscoveredanewchangetothescriptthatIhadnotpreviously
seenandaskedheraboutitherreplywouldbeNo,Ichangedit.
o Thisoccurredwelloveradozentimesoneachdayoffilming.
o Additionally,whenshefoundoutherscriptdidntworkbecauseofthe
houseslayoutIwouldofferasolution.Oftenshewouldeitherlookat
me,thenjustturnaroundandoutrightpretendshedidnthearme,or
shewouldsimplysayNo,welljustfixitinpostorwelljustfake

it.Veryoftenthismadetheshotsunusable,disjointed,orrequiring
heavypostproductionfixes.

Removingmakeupartist:
o IgotamakeupartisttodoupJanescorpsetomakeitmorebloodied
andcorpselike.Forreasonsstillnotcleartome,Chelseatoldmeto
cancelonher,andthusJanesdeadbodylooknodifferentfromher
aliveorghostbody
o Furthermore,whenwedidfilmthisscene,shedecidedthatweshould
justputsomefakebloodonJanesheadratherthanhavesomeone
proficientinspecialeffectsmakeupdoarealisticwound.
o TothisdayIstilldonothaveanexplanationforthisbehaviour.The
onlythingconsistentisthatsheveryfrequentlywouldchangescenes
soastoremoveanytracesofmyinput.

ANottellingmewhenshegotthewrongfile(physicallyimpossible)
o DuringtheeditChelseatoldmetosendsomefootageovertoher.
WhichIdid,andsheconfirmedthatshegotthem.
o WhenIsawtheeditthenextdaywithoutthenewfootageandasked
heraboutitsheclaimedthatIsenthertheoldversion.
o WhileIinitiallythoughtitwasmyfaultIcheckedmycomputerand
sawthatIonlyhadthenewfiles,andnotthefilessheclaimedIsent.
o Furthermore,ifshedidgetthewrongfiles,itsverypeculiarthatshe
didnttellmebeforesubmittingthefinalproduct.

Notcommunicatingwhenshewasworkingonit
o OnmultipleoccasionsChelseawouldgooffonherownandworkon
theproject.Thereisnothinginherentlywrongaboutthis.However,she
doesnttellanyoneshesputtingtogetherthefinalcut,shejustdoesit.
o Furthermore,whenthingsdontgoperfectlysheattemptstovictimize
herself,claimingshewasleftalonetodoitbeherself,wheninreality
shewouldworkonitwithoutinformingothersoraskingforany
assistance.
Thisisfurtheredbythefactthatsheimpliesthingsaregoing
finewhenyouaskher.

ThemainreasonIwentintosuchdetailregardingherbehaviourisbecauseofher
tendencytoblameothersforherownmistakes.Idonotwishtohavemymark
reducedduetoherlyingtocoverupherownmistakes.

ItshouldalsobenotedthatherfamilyissueWhichshedescribedasmakingit
harderforhertofunctionoptimallydidntoccurtillthelastdayoffilming,andthere
waslittlenotedchangeinherbehaviourbeforeandaftertheissueoccurred.