Preliminary Rough Cut: Our Thoughts/Comments

    After a relatively successful shoot, we put together our "preliminary rough cut" to see what we needed to be reworked/reshot or anything else of that nature. Following the creation of this preliminary rough cut, there was much to be desired with our film. Below is the preliminary rough cut and some of the things I - as well as the group - noticed when watching it.

Preliminary rough cut

Missing Scenes:

    All three of the scenes shown below are in immediate succession to each other. Though there's nothing wrong sequentially, the scenes feel disconnected. Going immediately from getting out of the car (1a), to walking inside (2a), to sitting on the couch (3a) doesn't make sense - there needs to be as to be a transition from one to the next. By putting transitional shots between these shots, it would feel less choppy and unnatural. Transitional shots are an often overlooked part of the filmmaking process, and unfortunately, they were overlooked in our film as well. However, transitional shots were done better in the second half of the opening (i.e. when Jorge is seen walking from the couch to the kitchen, etc.). 

1a

2a

3a

Reflection in Windows:

When shooting this over-the-shoulder shot of Jorge standing at the sink I can be seen holding the camera in the reflection of the window. This is even more noticeable since I'm the only thing moving in the shot, and the eye is naturally attracted to movement. 

When transitioning from shooting the over-the-shoulder shot on Jorge's right to shooting the over-the-shoulder shot on his left side I can again be seen reflected in the window. Though the color palette of La Llorona's depiction in our film would draw the viewer's eye, my close proximity to her, combined with my movement shifts the viewer's focus toward me.

    

    My reflection was not present or visible in the window when shooting from certain angles. However, I am unsure of how we'd create this same transitional effect while also not being able to see my/the camera's reflection in the window. This transition/shot will either have to be cut altogether, or it will have to be shot in a very different way - maybe a high-angle shot.