Final Film

Garage Band Song

Sound Film

Sound Activator

What can you do to fix audio?
You move the dB dials up or down depending on how much you want to make your audio louder or quieter. If you want to audio to be louder, you would move the dials up, but if you want it to be quieter then you turn the dials down.

What cannot be fixed?
You cannot change the quality of the audio.

What is the optimal level for sound recording?
The optimum level for sound recordings is between -12dB and -6dB.

Critque reflection

Overall, the comments my group received on our film was very positive. People liked the use of colors in our film, and the consistency. I agree with what people said, because I think everyone in my group did a good job with incorporating interesting editing in our films, and Monish's acting and costume stayed consistent throughout the film. Monish did a really great job portraying the emotion my group was trying to convey with our film, which was frustration and loneliness. People also really liked some of our shots. Personally, my favorite shot was towards the end of the film when we used two flashlights behind Monish and blurred them along with Monish. Personally, I was proud of how I edited that shot because I think it looked really good.

I think my editing was my strength because I don't find myself to be much of a director. I liked how I edited my film, but there was definitely more I could have done to improve my film. I also liked my group dynamic during the course of this film because I think a lot of people assumed certain roles, sort of like how a movie set would be. I think my group along with my fellow classmates could work on exploring more of the editing techniques and use them wisely to advance their film. To a certain extent, I think people could improve the clarity of their films because I was a little confused by some of them. People said my group did a good job telling the story we created and effectively showed it. However, people also agreed that using a tripod more would increase the quality of our film, although sometimes it was purposefully not used.

All in all, I believe my group worked well together to create a pretty decent film. We all worked together to brainstorm how we could make our film better and all gave our opinions on certain shots. I think we could work on staying on task more because some days it was harder to focus than others. For my next project, I really want to explore how I can more effectively edit my film. Even though Monish had really good consistency in my film, I think I struggle with that more because it's hard for me to take the time and remember to bring in a sweatshirt everyday, or to remember to wear my hair up, although it's probably harder for girls. I can make my strengths of editing better by exploring new techniques and styles.

Rear Window: Film Analysis

In the beginning of the film, Hitchcock uses one long panning shot to introduce the audience to not only the setting of the movie, but many of the characters as well. The setting, taking place in L.B. Jefferies apartment and in the commons of multiple apartment complexes, is used to see into the lives of a variety of people and give a unique perspective on their actions. The panning shot is also used to establish some of the storylines of the characters. For example, we are introduced to the "popular dancer" who is referenced a number of times in the movie for the amount of people seen in her apartment. We are also introduced to the couple and their dog, who, when lowered down by a basket, is later killed by Mr. Thornwald when it is seen digging up where he buried his wife.  
This video goes into more detail about the feeling the music and visuals give the reader. I like how she said that the opening sequence was misleading to the viewer because it gives them the feeling that it could be a "romantic comedy rather than a psychological thriller."

Overall, I liked this movie a lot. I think that the angles and shot types used really gave the viewer the feeling they were witnessing something they weren't supposed to see. For the film being over 50 years old, the camera work and sound design are rather impressive. I liked the placement of windows so you could see most things, but you weren't exposed to all of the characters actions. I also liked it because many of the characters actions were meant to be interpreted by the viewer. However, I am a little confused by why Hitchcock chose to expose the viewer to other, smaller storylines, like the woman who was going to kill herself because she was lonely.

Sound effects in clip: alarm, train, birds, cars, kids, trucks, background music

The film industry changed radically after World War II, and this change altered the style and content of the films made in Hollywood. After experiencing boom years from 1939 to 1946, the film industry began a long period of decline. Within just seven years, attendance and box receipts fell to half their 1946 levels. Part of the reason was external to the industry. Many veterans returning from World War II got married, started families, attended college on the GI Bill, and bought homes in the suburbs. Then, too, especially after 1950, television challenged and surpassed the movies as America's most popular entertainment form. Hollywood also suffered from Congressional probes of communist influence in the film industry. In the late 1930s, the House of Representatives established the Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to combat subversive right-wing and left-wing movements. During the late 1940s and early 1950s HUAC picked up the tempo of its investigation, which it conducted in well-publicized sessions. Twice during this period HUAC traveled to Hollywood to investigate Communist infiltration in the film industry. While the movie industry suffered, many western films, biblical film, musicals, thrillers and more were popular. Many films were meant to act as a distraction from the harsh consequences of war, or were meant to connect with people on a more personal level. 

Sources: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/topic_display.cfm?tcid=127