Semester 1 Reflection: AICE Media Studies AS

    Over the first Semester in this class, my relationship with media, outlooks and views on media, and what I look forward to in Semester 2 in this class has changed from my original expectations when I envisioned joining this class. Since late August 2025, I feel that I have been able to appreciate how films are made to a greater extent, and the course's units such as cinematography, editing, and mise-en-scene made me realise and understand how scenes are put together, how everything can be extremely deliberate to create the desired scene and action on screen, along with using this knowledge and thinking about it in the back of my head as I am watching clips from a film and being to analyse them in ways this course requires for exams and sometimes just for fun. With the knowledge taught in Semester 1, it will allow me to fully utilise the tools we have been taught for the Final Project video such as applying cinematography to film scenes. For me, this course has been enjoyable so far getting to appreciate films and TV shows and is unique in it's own right for teaching and enhancing the skills of students in practical applications like photography (which I have enjoyed and this class has helped me understand and enjoy it more) along with videography, a new interest of mine especially applying rule of thirds to keep subjects of interest on screen in these divisions for visual appeal. Videography is something I seek to improve upon in the second semester, such as filming while moving to ensure shots capturing a moving human, for example, stay consistent (if it is the intention) without awkwardly chopping off hair, heads, hands, feet, or other body parts as necessary. On top of all of this, it was also sometimes exciting and fun to watch clips from scenes I have viewed on my own time in the past from my interests, such as from films like Baby Driver or Apocalypse Now, and being able to analyse those for the purposes of this class. 

    So far, I feel I have done well enough on my write ups in class for analysing clips according to mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound, and editing. However, as the course seeks to blend these elements together to cover all of these elements in one fell swoop for the final paper exam, it is arguable structure could be improved on my side as I feel I am blending these elements together well, but sometimes I fear that something may not be covered as well enough, and potentially repeating myself later on as I keep writing to cover more elements and details I noticed while watching to clip for analysis. It also sometimes feel repetitive in the sense of writing how meaning is being created and how my use of syntax might contribute to this sense of personal repetitiveness, but I understand how essential this is required to prepare for the final paper exam from my interpretations to how we have been instructed to write an analysis.

    As a whole, I look forward to the second semester in this class as a way to enjoy my senior year while learning applicably useful skills like video editing, photography, and videography. I continue to look forward to being able to work collaboratively with my peers and enjoy life as it happens.