Portrait thoughts

I think I learned a lot from the portrait assignment. Getting the chance to be both a director and a DP certainly made the learning process much more significant as well. One of the biggest things that stuck out to me from this was communication. I knew in theory that communication was key in the director/DP relationship but I never really knew how so until it was put to the test. I learned that the ideas inside my head about something have to come out and be communicated and make sense to my DP. On the other hand, in the DP position, I have to be ready and willing to capture whatever the director is envisioning.

More on the specific side of my portrait project, I found a lot of stuff that I could have done better on my part. I realized that I would like to explore other camera options, other framing and composition options, change up the depth of field more often, and really just add more variety to what I can do. I felt that my portrait told a small story so that was what I wanted, but the way the story was told could have been enhanced so much more with those changes. I also found that I really want to get a better feel for the camera and the features it offers because as DP I often felt like I didn't do the best job the camera could offer. I also realized from shooting this with the JVC that I don't really like that camera all that much. I prefer the Sony so much more based on my experience on this project.

I haven't had my project critiqued yet, but from what I've heard in class so far, I have learned a lot. I am just so much more aware of small mistakes that I never really paid attention to before. I have learned more in this class thus far than any of my other TCF classes.

Portrait of an Event

S'more Please? from Bethany Rogers on Vimeo.

A Tale of Two Cameras

When we worked with the JVC HD and Sony HDV in class over the past couple of weeks, it was really the first time I had spent time with them. I never used them in previous classes or projects, so it was all new territory to me. I have spent a little more time with the JVC at this point and would definitely like to spend more time working with the Sony. Still, through class exercises and projects, I found the two cameras to have some similarities and differences.

Of course, both cameras each have the basic functions and options available that are expected in a camera. Things like white balance, shutter speed,  aperture settings, gain, and other options are common to both cameras. The only difference is the actual execution of those controls and layout on the camera. I prefer using the Sony’s interface more than the JVC’s but despite that, they both are great cameras in this sense. 

While there are these similarities, the biggest difference in the two cameras is the fact that the Sony records to tape and the JVC records to flash media cards. I actually like both formats for different reasons, but I have to say that having the memory card is very convenient when transitioning to the post production stage. 

Overall, I prefer the Sony just because I feel more comfortable using it. I like the features it offers and the look it gives footage. I think that if the Sony had a memory card option, it would certainly be my first choice all the time.

"TCF...So what do you want to do with that?"

I have been asked many times before what I want to do with my major. Each time this happens, I have a similar answer: I’m not exactly sure. I don’t have anything specific in mind yet.

I sometimes feel like I’m behind the times when I say this because I know a lot of people around me who know exactly what they want to achieve in this field. They want to be certain things and have certain careers. Although what they want might be hard to obtain, they at least have specific goals in mind.

I, on the other hand, don’t know exactly what I want to do in terms of filmmaking right now. I’ve been sure that I love being a part of filmmaking and media production for awhile. Through different classes and projects over the past 2 years, I’ve found that I enjoy many different parts of the filmmaking process, from planning out things in pre-production to editing things together in post and all the videography in between. Even though I don’t know specifically what my goals are in terms of a career, I do know that whatever I do, I want to enjoy it and feel like by doing it, I am making a difference to those around me.

So, I think that a major part of what I want to learn in this class this semester is anything that will help me find my own personal style and my niche. I want to learn more about the production of filmmaking in order to focus in on what it is that I really want to do with this degree when I graduate.

My Visual Style

As of now, I don’t know exactly what my personal visual style is. I guess I’m still in the stages of figuring that out and forming my own style. I never really thought so specifically about the types of shots or colors or frames that are appealing to me before now, but there are definitely things that move me visually that I’d like to share.

One type of shot that I really enjoy is a racking focus shot in which the camera changes focus from a subject in the foreground to one in the background or vice versa. I really like this type of shot because it is very simple but it can change so much about the scene with that one tiny movement. The audience’s attention completely shifts to the new object of focus. If used well, this can be a powerful tool in telling stories.

The focus is all on the man reading the newspaper, but as the focus changes,

now the attention immediately shifts to the building in the background.

Another kind of shot that moves me visually is a long or extended take. While this doesn’t have so much to do with framing and the actual content of the shot, when the action of a scene is captured in a continuous long take without cutting, the complexity of the action is really expressive to me. I get a better feel of the world that is being created in the shots. This can be seen in this scene of Kill Bill Vol.1:

One particular camera angle that I like is when the camera looks as though it is placed on the ground as action takes place. In my opinion, it gives the audience the feel that they are not seen by the subject on screen. They are watching something from afar, not right in the talent's face. It just gives a different mood to the scene.

I would love to get a better feel for my own style as I learn more from this class!

Top 10 List

My life is filled with a lot of thing that I love. Here are ten of them:

1. Sour Patch Kids - I could eat these everyday of my life.


2. Mexican Food - Along with Sour Patch Kids, I could eat Mexican food everyday if I had to.


3. Photography and Videography - These two are my favorite hobbies that I would love to make my future.


4. Movies (of course!) - Some of my favorites include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Princess Diaries, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Mean Girls, The Dark Knight...


5. Film scores - Movies aren't anything without the music behind the action and that's why I love scores! I have many many favorites, including anything by Hans Zimmer.


6. Pixar - Since I'm on this movie subject, I'll take this time to say any and all Pixar films are absolutely wonderful.

7. My family and friends - They're awesome and I don't know what I'd do without them.

8. Relient K - All time favorite.

9. The University of Alabama - Roll tide!

10. My dogs - They're the best dogs in the whole world. I might be biased...