For my photography class, we were assigned to make a work of art about photography. My professor Rachel DeJoode really wanted me to make a video involving interaction with a Bowen’s light. This is a strobe light we have been using all semester.
Since I have never used Bowens before this semester, I thought it would be fun to make a short film about getting to know “Bowens”. So, a blind date seemed like the best way to convey this idea. I wanted to short film to be fun rather than be taken too seriously. I hoped to get a flirtatious vibe from my acting, and wanted a variety of perspectives, including the Bowens to be present. I wanted there to be more “dialogue” from the light and did not want the film to exceed 3 minutes, for I felt that would be unnecessary and boring. I felt the video got the point across without being superfluous in “conversation”.
I’m so excited that I have actually made a decent short film. For school projects in the past, I have filmed videos for projects using a point and shoot digital camera, and mediocre editing. I have been wanting to make a film for some time now, but have been nervous to shoot on my Nikon and edit footage. I’m glad this project taught me to film and edit, so now I feel comfortable to start making more shorts.
This is my first time shooting a film with my Nikon DSLR, and first time editing a video with iMovie. At first, it was difficult to figure out what everything was, but after a while, it all became pretty simple.
I originally had 40 minutes of film, which took several hours to set up and film alone (I wasn’t able to get an assistant on my filming date) and took 2-3 hours to edit. Sorting through the footage to see what was usable and sequencing it to make sense was the most challenging part.
I’m pretty pleased with the outcome! There are some parts that could be a little cleaner, and I am disappointed that some of the footage was a little out of focus, but for my first time acting, directing, and editing a short film all alone, I think it turned out well! The song used in the film is one of my favorite songs, and I think it really brought everything together nicely.
I was a little embarrassed and nervous to make this project, but after getting positive feedback in my critique, I feel much more proud and happy with the outcome.
Here is the link to watch the short on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLVh7qZDIKY
This is going to be the start of many short films to come, which is a medium I have wanted to do for a long time.
Bailey Dowlin Art 