11.) Former Student work Critique

Helloo!! Welcome back or welcome to my blog! In this post, I will be critiquing some former student final projects in terms of their pros and cons.

1. Roll call

The first video I watched was made by Jacob Pina, Kayla Jencic, Tyler Bedasse, and Aaliyah Alex, and it's called 'Roll Call.' They did a great job with props, adding small but important details to the classified folders for each character. These little touches really enhanced the story and showed their attention to detail. You can see the effort they put into making everything look as realistic as possible. The room setup, the handcuffs, and the mugshots all contributed to a believable scene.

However, I felt like a big part of the story was missing. It could have used more context to fully engage the audience and make the narrative clearer. To give it more of a Hollywood movie opener feel, they could have used different camera techniques. Instead of having someone hold the camera, placing it somewhere steady would have helped reduce the shakiness.

Overall, despite these points, their effort and creativity were evident and commendable. They put a lot of thought into the details, and it showed in the finished product. 

2. New Everything

 'New Everything,' was made by Joel Balbuena. I really liked the idea and concept behind it—it showed great potential. However, I felt like it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. The transitions and camera shots felt a bit random and choppy, which didn’t quite match the tone of the movie. Also, the sound effects were sometimes out of sync with what was happening on screen, making things look a bit off.

I think with better camera work, improved sound quality, and a more polished script, this video could have been even better. It’s clear that there was a clear vision with this film, and with a few adjustments, it could be really good. Smoother transitions and more thoughtfully planned camera angles would help set the right mood and message. And syncing the sound effects with the visuals would make the whole experience much more enjoyable. Despite these minor issues, the creativity and effort behind 'New Everything' are evident.

3. Dreamland

This movie opener, created by Nyla Julmisse and titled 'DREAMLAND,' was exceptionally well done in my opinion. I honestly have no criticisms. Given the limited resources and lack of expensive equipment or props, it turned out remarkably well. The camera angles and movements were impressive, as were the transitions and the overall message. Everything came together perfectly to set the specific mood of the movie.

4. Dear Lover

The next movie opener that I watched was called 'Dear Lover' by Ana Araiza. This was a great watch and the story was well told. The close-up shots allowed me to really see the sad expressions on the actor's faces. I loved the use of montages to imply that they were showing old memories/flashbacks. You could see the brighter contrast and happier clothing in the flashbacks in contrast to the present where we see the girl is sad. All the elements used in this video was great, the only thing I can say should be worked on was the camera movements. They looked choppy at times, but for the most part, everything else was well done.

                             5. Dare to Thrill

Lastly, I watched 'Dare to Thrill' by Daniel Garzon. This was such fun and interesting watch. It genuinely looks like a professional student made film. All the camera movements and angles were exceptionally well done. The editing and sounds were great quality. The story was interesting and unique, I've never seen anything like it. And the plot twist at the end was unexpected and left me wanting more. I don't have any criticism for this film. I truly liked it.