The Camera is an experimental short in which the main character finds a magical Polaroid camera. The camera allows her to see a male character she seems to have some attachment to, and which the audience is enticed by the perfect amount of ambiguity of their relation. The entire film is shot using natural lighting of a sunset and a DSLR camera; which shows that despite budget restrictions, an aesthetically pleasing film is possible to make. Considering there is no use of CGI, the impossibility of taking a picture of someone who is not actually there is achieved entirely through clever camera angles. Simple ingenuity like this seems to be long forgotten in modern Hollywood films with seemingly infinite budgets, but the brilliance shown here reminds viewers that less is more when it comes to effects in relation to realism. --Xander Pippin
Katherine Read: The Camera is a short film that tells quite an interesting story through simplicity. The ambiguity of the relationship between the girl and the boy adds mystery and intrigue. The original score is beautifully done and fits the mood of the short very well. This could have very easily become a horror movie based on the surprise of finding a person in a picture you took of an empty room. However, the score kept it eerily creepy and viewers on their feet, and curious about what would happen, and then the reaction of the girl helps the music become light again and slightly magical. It is a low budget film but with the classicness of the Polaroid and the simplicity of how it was carried out, it is put together as well as big budget productions. The variety of different angles used added more depth to the story and gave viewers a more realistic feel. In addition to that, when the girl gets to the top of the sand dune before the house is seen, the shot gets wider and wider to establish location, which is usually seen in reverse. Overall, I thought that The Camera was a beautifully done short film that tells its story masterfully.
Stephanie Perdomo. I'm not going to lie I got a little bit scared,after I saw the boy appear in the photo.I had to look through the whole movie to realize that it's not a scary movie, then I replayed it. This short feel was so well done. It created an emotional feeling for me, that led me to think of my own personal experience with missing a deceased loved one. The various angles coincided with the tone of the shot. For instance, the medium long shot of the girl's backside, while she's opening the chest/trunk gets the audience anxious to know what's in the box. The music also goes very well with the short film. Just like Katherine said the music is " light and magical" which helped me realize that this is not a horror short film, even though I still got frightened. Although, every angle, song selection, and editing is perfect (in my eyes) the emotional part of the story is what intrigued me the most.
Jacob Peterson The thing that pulled me in was the music. Paired along with the girl in the film the music along with the camera angles drew me in as if I was chasing after a friend/family member who passed away. These film was very emotional in terms of overall feel and it felt like anyone who watched it could relate to the film and the journey that the girl was taking us on.
Albert Godlesky “The Camera” is an excellent short film because it uses a combination of elements which come from outside the box yet are exceedingly simple to bring an intriguing vision to fruition. The first of these elements which struck me, but which I didn’t fully perceive until I read Xander’s comments, was the lighting. The differing levels of natural light used in the various shots gave the piece a feeling of naturalism which seems to lacking in most other films and shows, a feeling opposite of that which large studio lights create. Something else that the filmmaker does which I personally appreciate is his limited use of wide and long shots. I believe that the use of close and medium shots to follow the main character, other than a few establishing shots, gives the film a sense of intimacy, almost as if the audience is right there with her instead of viewing her from outside the frame. From a narrative standpoint, I believe that it really helped that Lewis did create a sense of realism and naturalism using technical methods, so as to not have to crowd the actual story with detail to make it seem real. It is because of this that the story can be purposefully open and vague, to the point of almost feeling ethereal. It allows that feeling, and others, to be the true substance of the story. For me I was left feeling satisfied despite the lack of a cohesive narrative, and that is where I think “The Camera” is most successful.
Peter Lewis maintains an idea of simplicity throughout "The Camera" even though the narrative itself is very outside the realm of simple. Lewis appears to use mostly natural light, especially in the dark wooden house. The use of the Polaroid as a form of "special effects" is inventive and innovative in a short film of only 7 minutes. There seems to be several close-ups of the girl's feet while she's walking or running, probably alluding to her journey/adventure to follow the boy. Face closeups are also prevalent; mostly because there is no dialogue or narrative sound, so facial expressions are vital for the viewer's understanding of her motives and reactions. In addition, the use of the Polaroid draws attention to the girl's face because of the nature of a camera. Without dialogue to drive the narrative, Lewis composed the score himself, allowing the music to be built into narrative rather than around it. Although "The Camera" ends rather abruptly, the end continues with the idea of simplicity by being short and is fitting for the odd narrative.
In "The Camera," Peter Lewis crafts an elegant tale wrapped in delightful simplicity. He presents an intriguing narrative situation with little explanation. As the credits rolled, I found myself speculating about who the boy was and how the two were related. I found myself crafting a tale around his narrative. Was the boy dead and was the camera the only way he could communicate? Was the girl capturing snapshots from the past? Was the boy from an alternate reality, a reality where the girl herself went to? This intrigue, set in a fantastical setting (the beach), was elevated by the exploratory music that changed tempo and tone as the girl discovered the rules of this strange world. I loved how the music and editing pace amped up as she rushed outside to confront the strange boy, and then calmed as she realized what she had to do. Having studied the shot types and film "rules" in our TCF class, I enjoyed seeing how Lewis constructed his scene and what types of motion he showed us and what movement he implied outside the cut. Lewis' "The Camera" was a masterpiece of intrigue, a film that will buzz around my mind for days to come.
Josh Cohen: In the film "The Camera" by Peter Lewis, Lewis uses camera angles that would seem unusual to use in a film but yet with the structure of his story it made since in the way that the film was put together. One of Lewis' first shots in his film was an Extreme Wide Shot from the angle of the camera sitting in the sand and the girl walking through the sand and she disappears behind the plants. This camera angle is not used a lot, but I really liked it because the camera angle captivated me and made me want to know where the girl was going and what was going on. Also, the other type of camera shots that Lewis used were Medium shots, and close-ups mainly. These camera angles were used when the girl was taking pictures of items in the house and the boy would appear in the pictures. The combination of the different types of camera angles and the different close-ups on the girl's face really allowed me to see what the girl was feeling and what the mood in the film was. I extremely loved the lighting in this film. Everything was very crisp and the lighting was very relaxed (cool) at the beginning. Everything had a little bit of a glow to it and a gold tint to the clips. This allowed me to relax and then as the girl went into the house and was looking around and taking pictures the color shifted to a darker lighting set and this made me feel suspense and wonder what is going to happen. The lighting mood set along with the camera angles made me want to know what is going to happen with the girl and the boy. I love how Lewis used some camera shots from the girl's perspective because it allowed me to see what she was wanting to see and how she was feeling. Lewis did a great job telling a story without any audio by changing up the shots constantly and adjusting the lighting.
Sam Ritenour: In the film "The Camera" by Peter Lewis, Peter Lewis tells an intricate story without the use of any words. The main character seems to be reconnected with a male character whom appears to be significant to her life. Through the use of detailed shots, natural light, and unique camera angles, the audience is able to feel the emotions of the story. At first I was confused when the male appeared in the main character's first picture, but then soon caught on to what was going on. The power of this camera seems to bring an immense amount of joy to the main character which ultimately builds up to the final scene. The close up shots really showed the emotions which were being portrayed. Lewis did a great job of being able to tell a story without words. It all made perfect sense.
Will Baggett: I think The Camera is unique in the way it captures a smart idea in a simple way, so that the audience understands the substance of what is happening without having to be confused. There are some facts up in the air about where the boy in the photographs is exactly, and how the girl vanishes at the end, but ultimately, the main goal comes across well. Another thing I noticed is that the rapid movement of the shots when they girl notices the boy is no longer in photos portrays the worry and the anxiety she feels in her mind. Plus, the full shots of the empty rooms leave the audience confused about the missing boy as well. The story of this short film is put together with distinct medium and close-up shots, and that makes the absence of dialogue necessary. With dialogue, the shots may not be noticed as well, and the emotion behind the plot of the film would be lost. The audience is left wondering about why the boy was in these pictures, and where the girl went to, but in the end, it understands the basic idea of searching for answers. The girl stumbles upon the house and the camera itself, and then is exposed to this mysterious boy, only to be enticed into finding a reason for it all. Although this may have been coincidental, I enjoyed that most of the girl were shot without a tripod, so they were a tiny bit shaky. Some audience members might think this could be improved, but I really enjoyed how intimate it seemed. It seemed as though we were viewing the girl from an introspective view, as she is trying to unfold the mystery of the boy in the photograph. Ultimately, I believe that Peter Lewis created a fantastic short film using the basic ideas of shot grammar, backed up by a unique idea.
Kuroky Pei. It is seems like a great short movie and used in a special way of story telling. The camera follows the girls perspectives and showed the way of find a camera. We can feel the emotions of the girl from some close shots. Sometimes the camera tracks the girl from back which express her emotions. When the girl find there is a mysterious bot in the house, she seems happy and shows interesting. The music in this video has also created an mystical environment. There is a video called "Leave me " which has many similarities with this one. In the end part of this video, the girl has realized that the mysterious boy is behind her. She took selfie with him and both of them were showed on picture. Although there is no dialogue in this video, but we can feel what the feel and see what her see. It makes us feel like we are in the video because the camera. Overview, it is a great video.
Kuroky Pei. It is seems like a great short movie and used in a special way of story telling. The camera follows the girls perspectives and showed the way of find a camera. We can feel the emotions of the girl from some close shots. Sometimes the camera tracks the girl from back which express her emotions. When the girl find there is a mysterious bot in the house, she seems happy and shows interesting. The music in this video has also created an mystical environment. There is a video called "Leave me " which has many similarities with this one. In the end part of this video, the girl has realized that the mysterious boy is behind her. She took selfie with him and both of them were showed on picture. Although there is no dialogue in this video, but we can feel what the feel and see what her see. It makes us feel like we are in the video because the camera. Overview, it is a great video.
Jeb Brackner: The Camera chronicles the tale of a girl who finds a camera and it brings her joy. I enjoyed this short because of its unorthodox camera angles and good storytelling strategy. The unspoken connection between the protagonist and the male character keeps audience interest and makes it a compelling story.
The Camera is an experimental short in which the main character finds a magical Polaroid camera. The camera allows her to see a male character she seems to have some attachment to, and which the audience is enticed by the perfect amount of ambiguity of their relation. The entire film is shot using natural lighting of a sunset and a DSLR camera; which shows that despite budget restrictions, an aesthetically pleasing film is possible to make. Considering there is no use of CGI, the impossibility of taking a picture of someone who is not actually there is achieved entirely through clever camera angles. Simple ingenuity like this seems to be long forgotten in modern Hollywood films with seemingly infinite budgets, but the brilliance shown here reminds viewers that less is more when it comes to effects in relation to realism.
ReplyDelete--Xander Pippin
Katherine Read: The Camera is a short film that tells quite an interesting story through simplicity. The ambiguity of the relationship between the girl and the boy adds mystery and intrigue. The original score is beautifully done and fits the mood of the short very well. This could have very easily become a horror movie based on the surprise of finding a person in a picture you took of an empty room. However, the score kept it eerily creepy and viewers on their feet, and curious about what would happen, and then the reaction of the girl helps the music become light again and slightly magical. It is a low budget film but with the classicness of the Polaroid and the simplicity of how it was carried out, it is put together as well as big budget productions. The variety of different angles used added more depth to the story and gave viewers a more realistic feel. In addition to that, when the girl gets to the top of the sand dune before the house is seen, the shot gets wider and wider to establish location, which is usually seen in reverse. Overall, I thought that The Camera was a beautifully done short film that tells its story masterfully.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Perdomo. I'm not going to lie I got a little bit scared,after I saw the boy appear in the photo.I had to look through the whole movie to realize that it's not a scary movie, then I replayed it.
ReplyDeleteThis short feel was so well done. It created an emotional feeling for me, that led me to think of my own personal experience with missing a deceased loved one. The various angles coincided with the tone of the shot. For instance, the medium long shot of the girl's backside, while she's opening the chest/trunk gets the audience anxious to know what's in the box. The music also goes very well with the short film. Just like Katherine said the music is " light and magical" which helped me realize that this is not a horror short film, even though I still got frightened. Although, every angle, song selection, and editing is perfect (in my eyes) the emotional part of the story is what intrigued me the most.
Jacob Peterson
ReplyDeleteThe thing that pulled me in was the music. Paired along with the girl in the film the music along with the camera angles drew me in as if I was chasing after a friend/family member who passed away. These film was very emotional in terms of overall feel and it felt like anyone who watched it could relate to the film and the journey that the girl was taking us on.
Albert Godlesky
ReplyDelete“The Camera” is an excellent short film because it uses a combination of elements which come from outside the box yet are exceedingly simple to bring an intriguing vision to fruition. The first of these elements which struck me, but which I didn’t fully perceive until I read Xander’s comments, was the lighting. The differing levels of natural light used in the various shots gave the piece a feeling of naturalism which seems to lacking in most other films and shows, a feeling opposite of that which large studio lights create. Something else that the filmmaker does which I personally appreciate is his limited use of wide and long shots. I believe that the use of close and medium shots to follow the main character, other than a few establishing shots, gives the film a sense of intimacy, almost as if the audience is right there with her instead of viewing her from outside the frame.
From a narrative standpoint, I believe that it really helped that Lewis did create a sense of realism and naturalism using technical methods, so as to not have to crowd the actual story with detail to make it seem real. It is because of this that the story can be purposefully open and vague, to the point of almost feeling ethereal. It allows that feeling, and others, to be the true substance of the story. For me I was left feeling satisfied despite the lack of a cohesive narrative, and that is where I think “The Camera” is most successful.
Peter Lewis maintains an idea of simplicity throughout "The Camera" even though the narrative itself is very outside the realm of simple. Lewis appears to use mostly natural light, especially in the dark wooden house. The use of the Polaroid as a form of "special effects" is inventive and innovative in a short film of only 7 minutes.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be several close-ups of the girl's feet while she's walking or running, probably alluding to her journey/adventure to follow the boy. Face closeups are also prevalent; mostly because there is no dialogue or narrative sound, so facial expressions are vital for the viewer's understanding of her motives and reactions. In addition, the use of the Polaroid draws attention to the girl's face because of the nature of a camera.
Without dialogue to drive the narrative, Lewis composed the score himself, allowing the music to be built into narrative rather than around it.
Although "The Camera" ends rather abruptly, the end continues with the idea of simplicity by being short and is fitting for the odd narrative.
- Shelby Morgan
In "The Camera," Peter Lewis crafts an elegant tale wrapped in delightful simplicity. He presents an intriguing narrative situation with little explanation. As the credits rolled, I found myself speculating about who the boy was and how the two were related. I found myself crafting a tale around his narrative. Was the boy dead and was the camera the only way he could communicate? Was the girl capturing snapshots from the past? Was the boy from an alternate reality, a reality where the girl herself went to? This intrigue, set in a fantastical setting (the beach), was elevated by the exploratory music that changed tempo and tone as the girl discovered the rules of this strange world. I loved how the music and editing pace amped up as she rushed outside to confront the strange boy, and then calmed as she realized what she had to do. Having studied the shot types and film "rules" in our TCF class, I enjoyed seeing how Lewis constructed his scene and what types of motion he showed us and what movement he implied outside the cut. Lewis' "The Camera" was a masterpiece of intrigue, a film that will buzz around my mind for days to come.
ReplyDeleteJosh Cohen: In the film "The Camera" by Peter Lewis, Lewis uses camera angles that would seem unusual to use in a film but yet with the structure of his story it made since in the way that the film was put together. One of Lewis' first shots in his film was an Extreme Wide Shot from the angle of the camera sitting in the sand and the girl walking through the sand and she disappears behind the plants. This camera angle is not used a lot, but I really liked it because the camera angle captivated me and made me want to know where the girl was going and what was going on. Also, the other type of camera shots that Lewis used were Medium shots, and close-ups mainly. These camera angles were used when the girl was taking pictures of items in the house and the boy would appear in the pictures. The combination of the different types of camera angles and the different close-ups on the girl's face really allowed me to see what the girl was feeling and what the mood in the film was. I extremely loved the lighting in this film. Everything was very crisp and the lighting was very relaxed (cool) at the beginning. Everything had a little bit of a glow to it and a gold tint to the clips. This allowed me to relax and then as the girl went into the house and was looking around and taking pictures the color shifted to a darker lighting set and this made me feel suspense and wonder what is going to happen. The lighting mood set along with the camera angles made me want to know what is going to happen with the girl and the boy. I love how Lewis used some camera shots from the girl's perspective because it allowed me to see what she was wanting to see and how she was feeling. Lewis did a great job telling a story without any audio by changing up the shots constantly and adjusting the lighting.
ReplyDeleteSam Ritenour: In the film "The Camera" by Peter Lewis, Peter Lewis tells an intricate story without the use of any words. The main character seems to be reconnected with a male character whom appears to be significant to her life. Through the use of detailed shots, natural light, and unique camera angles, the audience is able to feel the emotions of the story. At first I was confused when the male appeared in the main character's first picture, but then soon caught on to what was going on. The power of this camera seems to bring an immense amount of joy to the main character which ultimately builds up to the final scene. The close up shots really showed the emotions which were being portrayed. Lewis did a great job of being able to tell a story without words. It all made perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteWill Baggett: I think The Camera is unique in the way it captures a smart idea in a simple way, so that the audience understands the substance of what is happening without having to be confused. There are some facts up in the air about where the boy in the photographs is exactly, and how the girl vanishes at the end, but ultimately, the main goal comes across well. Another thing I noticed is that the rapid movement of the shots when they girl notices the boy is no longer in photos portrays the worry and the anxiety she feels in her mind. Plus, the full shots of the empty rooms leave the audience confused about the missing boy as well. The story of this short film is put together with distinct medium and close-up shots, and that makes the absence of dialogue necessary. With dialogue, the shots may not be noticed as well, and the emotion behind the plot of the film would be lost. The audience is left wondering about why the boy was in these pictures, and where the girl went to, but in the end, it understands the basic idea of searching for answers. The girl stumbles upon the house and the camera itself, and then is exposed to this mysterious boy, only to be enticed into finding a reason for it all. Although this may have been coincidental, I enjoyed that most of the girl were shot without a tripod, so they were a tiny bit shaky. Some audience members might think this could be improved, but I really enjoyed how intimate it seemed. It seemed as though we were viewing the girl from an introspective view, as she is trying to unfold the mystery of the boy in the photograph. Ultimately, I believe that Peter Lewis created a fantastic short film using the basic ideas of shot grammar, backed up by a unique idea.
ReplyDeleteKuroky Pei. It is seems like a great short movie and used in a special way of story telling. The camera follows the girls perspectives and showed the way of find a camera. We can feel the emotions of the girl from some close shots. Sometimes the camera tracks the girl from back which express her emotions. When the girl find there is a mysterious bot in the house, she seems happy and shows interesting. The music in this video has also created an mystical environment. There is a video called "Leave me " which has many similarities with this one. In the end part of this video, the girl has realized that the mysterious boy is behind her. She took selfie with him and both of them were showed on picture. Although there is no dialogue in this video, but we can feel what the feel and see what her see. It makes us feel like we are in the video because the camera. Overview, it is a great video.
ReplyDeleteKuroky Pei. It is seems like a great short movie and used in a special way of story telling. The camera follows the girls perspectives and showed the way of find a camera. We can feel the emotions of the girl from some close shots. Sometimes the camera tracks the girl from back which express her emotions. When the girl find there is a mysterious bot in the house, she seems happy and shows interesting. The music in this video has also created an mystical environment. There is a video called "Leave me " which has many similarities with this one. In the end part of this video, the girl has realized that the mysterious boy is behind her. She took selfie with him and both of them were showed on picture. Although there is no dialogue in this video, but we can feel what the feel and see what her see. It makes us feel like we are in the video because the camera. Overview, it is a great video.
ReplyDeleteJeb Brackner: The Camera chronicles the tale of a girl who finds a camera and it brings her joy. I enjoyed this short because of its unorthodox camera angles and good storytelling strategy. The unspoken connection between the protagonist and the male character keeps audience interest and makes it a compelling story.
ReplyDelete