Rough Cut Feedback

We presented our rough cut video to our colleagues and were able to get some feedback which will take into consideration.

• “The video needs to be me ‘Reptileish’

We received positive feedback for the clean editing and special effects we used in the video however, the footage that we had wasn’t very symbolic of the film we were trying to replicate. It was suggested that we need to incorporate more reptile symbolism or somehow suggest (other than the use of the film title) that the film is about a reptile. A popular suggestion was to stylize the credits for example, we could give the credits a scaly green texture or have them animate to move like a snake across the screen. This is something we will explore more in-depth further down the production process.

• “How will the scenes be lit, what time of day will the film take place?”

Our test footage was done outside during the day and we plan to film the final piece during the day. This question was asked because in the original film the opening sequence was very dark and gloomy and ours seemed to be very bright. We plan for the second half of the sequence to be filmed in-doors and we plan to make that sequence darker and more eery in preparation for the reptile attack.

• “The attack scene should be very dramatic”

It was noted that our sequence implied that there would be a slow build up of tension - this is true. We were recommended by the teacher if a slow build up was what were aiming for then we would need to make the attack scene as dramatic as possible to justify for the build up.

• “How will you portray the point of view of the snake?”

In the second half of the opening sequence when the main character is looking around the house for his friend, we are going to have several low-angeled chanted shots looking up and watching him. This will obviously be the point of view of the snake. When it comes to the attack scene, we are going to have the camera on the floor looking around a corner up at the main character. We will move the camera to the character as if the snake is pouncing towards his neck.

• “You need to consider how you will be filming the phone in the sequence”

We showed a brief shot the character’s phone. We were planning that the character would receive a text from his friend telling to go to his house (we also planned that previous texts in the conversation would be credits for the film). However the text on the phone screen was quite difficult to read in the sunlight. It was suggested that we look for another phone to use that would be easier to read on camera. Another solution we could try is having the character walk into a darker area and placing the phone down on a surface to read it (as opposed to filming the phone in the character’s hand).