This was the first update that I had made for this short film this week! Since then, we had made so much progress!!! I’m so happy with the final outcome of this project.
Hello everyone, you are the first viewers of The Real Housewives of Cyber Manhattan! Here is our finished product below:
This was the only film I’ve ever created or been in that was this length. I have learned so many things while being a part of this. I can finally say that I have explored all over Mary Washington’s campus now! Me and the girls filmed this short film in various areas throughout the campus; Ball Hall, HCC green screen room, Ampitheater, and maybe a few other places. It’s really cool to see how all the different scenery and backgrounds/backdrops come together. Before we even started filming, we did a little research on how the Real Housewives look in their shows and on TV, what angles they film and during what times.
For the confessionals we saw that most of the producers/directors had the wives looking straight at the camera or the wives were filmed at an angle, as if they were talking in the other direction. I remember in the previous weeks we had lessons on the effects of angles, and I did a reflection on the Black Mirror episode. This angle really enhanced the personal experience on the screen. When you watch it back, when we are talking and looking directly at the camera, it feels like we are talking to you or to someone; But when you look at us from an angle, it just adds more emotion and personalness to the shot. Like you’re not really there with them and you’re viewing a more private conversation or something.
When we were filming the fight scene’s we tried to take turns filming each other, using the handheld camera from the HCC, instead of using the tripod because it looked more realistic. Especially the outside scene after the “fight” between Krissy and Veronica, and Veronica is saying “I’m done” and storms away! But as the camera lady for that scene I followed her up the stairs and got her reactions in real time, adding extra emotion and drama to the scene. Other cool angles we tried to implement were going back and forth between filming as a group and giving everyone some individual screen time. In our video you will notice the shift of the angles and horizontal/vertical views.
Other techniques that were used for added Technoir or cyber punk vibes were the language we used along with the backdrops. Instead of saying Starbucks we said Cyberbucks, and Byte Bags (Instead of Birkin), and of the like. We did our best to make this as real and as futuristic as possible. We even dressed in slacks, blazers, dresses, and nice shoes. Trying to dress the part as a married businesswoman or reality star housewife.
The backdrops of the fake AI futuristic homes for Sapphria Mae and Veronica’s house were also very cool add ins to the film. So not only can you see the conversation that will happen inside the house, but you also see the outside of the house, giving the viewer even more information than they were already wondering about. Overall, it just really builds a big picture for the viewer.
When my group and I did the radio show and when I had the opportunity to do the radio show listen experience assignment, I got a feel for what sounds add in different emotions. In this film, with the added drama from the angles, the sound effects that were used also added emphasis on important moments in the clip. For instance, when someone “spills the tea”, there may be a drum sound that will play in the background to emphasize that moment for the viewers.
Overall, I believe that we did our best to implement many of the techniques with audio, visuals, and images that we had learned in this course. Specifically, how each of these deals with emotions, feelings, atmosphere, and perception. Even though this short film was framed as a reality tv show bit, you can still feel the realness to it in the way that we all interact with each other.
In my opinion, this is the best thing that I’ve ever created for a group project haha! My senior cap stone..pshhh pleaseee, it doesn’t have anything on this short film LOL
And again, I want to publicly thank all of the wonderful ladies that I worked with. I learned so much from them and had the best time working with them. We have all added each other on social media so I am excited to see what each and every one of them does in the future. Very intelligent, creative, and beautiful human beings!!
Thank you DS106.. 4 LIFEE!
