Digital Portfolio

Digital Portfolio

Short Film - Possessionem (Latin for Possession)

URL to the film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=479oFJbIeKc&feature=emb_logo

For this project I made a short horror film which combined special and visual effects. In pre-production I created a storyboard, shot list and location recce. I also created a special effect of a demonic claw by making a mould of my own hand out of silicone and painted it using acrylic paint/PVA glue. To make the black water effect I purchased a bath bomb and had it melt into frame. In production, I was the cinematographer and director, my sister was the actor and my friend was the prop assistant. I shot the film using a DSLR camera. In post-production I edited the visual effects of my protagonist with fire eyes and a painting that scales into motion, all using the program After Effects. I edited the voiceover, sound effects and added a black and white colour grade in post-production.

To conclude, I hoped this film would communicate to my audience the feeling of anxiety and that they see how it creeps up on people uncontrollably, almost possessing them, hence the title of the film. If I were to change anything about the film I would lengthen the last shot to hold the fear in the character’s eyes. 

Pre-production: storyboard and script for the film:

The creative process of making this short film relied heavily on the storyboard as it was focused on visuals more than sound. In the storyboard I made sure to detail the visual effects and movement of the shots using arrows. During pre-production I chose to write the script after making the storyboard as the visual images came to me first. 

Animated Short Film - Myself and I

URL to the film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5jMMbm3RNc

For this project I independently created a 2D animation that focused on the theme of self-reflection. In pre-production I chose to use an interlude from the song ‘The Pure and The Damned’ by Oneohtrix Point Never ft Iggy Pop as the audio for my film. I decided on this piece of music because I related to the lyrics and it allowed me to visualise initial concepts and my storyboard. After creating a storyboard and time schedule, I began production. I animated the film for the first time using a program known as Adobe Animate. I then moved onto post-production where I added the music, a glow effect, a turbulent effect and text. 

To conclude, I hoped this animated short film would communicate to my audience a reflection of how I view myself. Hopefully they can also see a piece of themselves in the film too as I purposely chose to make the film in an abstract style to allow for more universal relatability between my audience. The only part of the animation I would change would be the animated scribbles across the screen, I felt this looked choppy and would redo this sequence to make it smoother. 

Pre-production: storyboard images:

The pre-production process of making this animated short film relied on visual concepts as I had to evolve my initial ideas until I was satisfied with their outcome. I also had to storyboard and make notes on how I wanted the animation to move. All of these elements helped me have a better outcome of my animation as development and planning was key. 

Documentary Animated Short Film - Ancient Egypt’s Justice System

URL to the film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIwR3Ax4cCE

DURATION OF THE FILM: 19 minutes and 35 seconds (over 3-5 minute limit)

For this project I collaborated with an egyptologist from Cambridge University for Cambridge Creative Encounters in lockdown. In pre-production my researcher and I wrote the screenplay together using his research. The film’s subject matter covered the five main historical periods of Ancient Egypt and how the Justice system evolved throughout those times. Once it came to production/post I narrated, animated and edited this film using the program After Effects. I made the visuals a mixture of typography, images and animation. I also consistently shared my drafts with my researcher to gain his approval and add any feedback until we were both satisfied with the outcome and hit the deadline. 

To conclude, I wanted this film to educate people on Ancient Egypt’s Justice System and hopefully make the subject more attractive by telling it through a visual narrative that is accessible to younger audience members. If I were to change anything about this project, I would improve upon my animation and redo certain scenes as I have vastly developed my animation skills since.

Pre-production: First page of the script

The pre-production process of this was very collaborative and consisted of me dissecting a large amount of in-depth research. The script was incredibly important to get right because it acted as a foundation for me to work from while I was animating and following when I was  narrating. The image below shows the first page of the screenplay to give you an idea of how I laid it out. The full script is 9 pages long.

Script ‘Requiem’ - BFI Film Academy

I wrote this two page script for my project on the BFI Film Academy 2021. I am still currently in pre-production, however this script presents the initial experimental narrative I have in mind. My overall idea is to create a fictional short film that follows the story of a young woman writing a letter to her deceased mother in order to gain closure. Creating this script has allowed me to develop my writing skills as I focused heavily on my use of vocabulary and writing techniques within the voiceover and action. I intend to develop this script into a short film for my virtual class at the Film Academy.

Black and White Photography - ‘Loneliness’

My intentions for creating this collection of photographs was to try and emulate the feeling of isolation and loneliness. I captured these images on my iPhone and edited the black and white filter in the settings. The process of framing the shots, adjusting the exposure, enhancing the vignette and adding the filter allowed me to develop my photography skills as I was able to understand how to adjust and edit various light sources (natural and artificial) and subjects by experimenting with the settings accessible to me on my phone.

Title Sequence - 'Corpus'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym79BEDJUzo&feature=emb_logo

For this project I created a title sequence for a conceptual historical drama series titled Corpus. To begin this project I made visual designs on photoshop and then created a shot list. Once I made my shot list I formed a schedule and scouted different exterior locations to film around Cambridge (which was the setting of the series). I also tested out different fonts and practised visual effects by watched tutorials on how to create the following: overlay of rainfall, walk by transition, ink splattering overlay and how to animate a painting, all using the program After Effects. In the production process I shot my scenes and chose the music/audio for my title sequence. In post-production I edited my footage, added a black and white colour grade, edited my visual effect and added text.

To conclude, I hoped this project would convey to my audience the key themes of the series, which are death, secrecy and duality. If I were to re create this project I would change the exposure of some shots as they look too dark and I would edit smoother transitions between the shots. 

Pre-production process: schedule, mood-board and shot list

For the pre-production process of this title sequence I had to ensure I was organised in creating a schedule as this project was for college and I had a deadline to meet. I also needed to show my creative development by showcasing my initial ideas through visual designs and forming a shot list was vital as I had to dissect the framing, movement and lighting I wanted in my scenes.