Reflection by Kelly Elizabeth Lukman (S4102033)
Studio: Contemporary Documentary
The first work I watched was Chinese Hip in Melbourne by Tony, Helen, Ivonna, and Lan. One of the things that caught my attention the most is how well the audio design was conducted, the music they used, and the timing of fade in and fade out complemented their visual shots so much, including the B-Rolls. In the beginning, there were also some interviews in pop vox style, which is very fun and gets the audience’s attention. The story that they chose to tell is also very interesting, a lot of people must be interested in this story, especially the ones in Melbourne because they did a lot of busking on the streets of Melbourne. It’s something people often overlook, so through this documentary, more audience and people who love music can learn more about cultural things too.
The second work I watched is Shutters Closed by Jonty Yeo, Tristan Buesst, Clare Walker, and Isabella Cook. The first thing I can say is how well the shots are taken; the cinematography was so well conducted. The B-rolls they took added nice textures and poetic sense, and the still shots where a lot of people and cars were passing by conveyed the message of “how, in a fast-developing city, it is truly special to find spaces where the past is preserved without interference” really well. The interview shots were also great; it was on a great angle and aesthetic, the interview made this film more intimate and alive as they have a lot of stories of the past and from what they remembered personally.
Studio: Golden Age
The first work I watched was Heather by Abby Denman, Amelia Christie, Mir Israni, and Aurell Sabina. This film was about a grieving woman struggling to cope with a profound loss. I noticed the color grading helps in understanding the whole vibe of this film, as said before, it is about a woman grieving, and the coloring sends out that eerie, mysterious, and dark, just like someone who is lost in their head. It highlighted how important color grading is in making a piece that follows the storyline that was intended. Not only that but their camera work and the shots they took with a specific skill helped in delivering the message. For example, when the woman was running after entering a door, they didn’t use a still shot, but instead, the camera was moving and shaking too, therefore conveying the emotions. The last thing I noticed was that there were some repeated scenes before the woman entered a new door. The scene was similar to when she entered the first door, and I think that created a feeling of anxiety, fear, and adrenaline as if she was in her own head trying to find a way out from door to door, just like a person who is grieving and in their own internal world.
The second work I watched was Inprint by Xi Wang, Abby Zeng, and Wenyu CAI. Similar to Heather, the color grading helps in telling the story. They went back and forth from black and white to color, which helped the audience while watching to understand which was the flashback and which was the present one. The coloring also made it feel cold and intense, which is perfect as they were in an investigation room and a murder had occurred. Another great shot that was a great build-up for the plot was when they showed that the woman was using the same lipstick that was used by the murderer.
In conclusion, from my perspective and understanding of what the studio is, color grading is an important aspect of cinema because color grading not only makes the film aesthetically like how it is intended to be but also helps in conveying the emotions and story. All the elements, such as sound design, cinematography, and color grading, are connected to each other and are equally important as they complement each other.
