Media Reflection #2: Camera and Filmmaking Skills

You will reflect on your skills as a filmmaker (using a camera, setting up a scene, and editing). Please discuss your experience you have had with these skills prior to this course. Then explain how this has potentially changed having been in this course. Finally, discuss whether or not you need to develop your skills further to be able to complete your Film Opening Sequence that you will create next semester.

My skills as a filmmaker (at this time) could be said as virtually next to nonexistent, as I have little to no knowledge or skills on considering the different elements of filmmaking (such as lighting, blocking, mise-en-scene, etc.) as deeply as the course required compared to just filming a video just for the sake of filming a video. I do not have experience using an actual camera (with a lenses, buttons, that type of camera) to take photos, as the only experience I have had are using a mobile phone and simply clicking the shutter button on the screen to take a photo (which in itself can be fun but this course could help add knowledge with techniques and composition). The rule of thirds was something I have started to pick up upon recently for photos/videos, using it for taking photos with the grid lines enabled (even if I had next to no idea how to interpret it or how to use it until recently where a subject/focus should not always be in the dead centre of the thirds). I virtually have no editing experience such as putting different cuts/videos together (which is something I assume individuals could have some knowledge of with making and posting social media shorts, and I do not use social media nor have much interest), other than slightly cropping the duration of a video but that is arguably just a general skill everyone probably knows. 

I think the course will help attain knowledge on filming using methods such as rule of thirds, lighting, the composition of a scene, mise en scene, etc. to create the Film Opening Sequence in the next semester. Learning about planning out shots, scenes, etc. has also been useful to understand how much preparation goes into filming a shot to create a desired effect in the final video. This skill to understand mise-en-scene can be improved upon to create a realistic environment that pertains to the setting/idea of the film. The unit on mise-en-scene that involved taking a photo that was planned out and using the background, props and the scene to an advantage was interesting to see how cinematography could have similar planning, except the aspect of being a video means more factors such as moving frames, changing compositions/focuses, etc. will be in play. In order to be successful for the Portfolio that will be submitted to Cambridge to pass the course, I am optimistic and keen on learning video editing to enhance my knowledge and skills that could serve use in future ventures such as political advertising and effects. Effectively, I am more or less learning the skills needed to complete the Film Opening Sequence in this course in one go with little to no prior knowledge, which is also a testament to the course design arming individuals with knowledge in a niche subject to enjoy.

As this course continues, I am hopeful to learn more skills and attain more knowledge that could help me take better photos in life (such as photos that are candid and capture things as they are in action, as shown in this photo of an Airbus A330 taking off from San Francisco International Airport with a mobile phone camera), on vacations/trips, as a hobby and as something I enjoy (plus, I might be able to use such skills as a hobby if I go to races such as the 12 Hours of Sebring to watch races in person and get good photos). 



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