Group Meeting #2

Hey blog!

I just wrapped up my second group meeting, and let me tell you, it was incredibly productive. I got to talk with Sienna, Davis, and Santi about their projects, and hearing their ideas and challenges gave me so much perspective—not only about filmmaking but also about how everyone approaches their creative process differently.

Sienna’s Project: A Coming-of-Age 

Sienna’s project is a coming-of-age film about Piper, a high school graduate, walking into her own surprise graduation party while reminiscing about her high school memories. There’s this nostalgic scene where she sneaks out to a gas station with friends. 

We discussed some of the challenges she faced, like filming car scenes at night (lighting struggles are very real) and having the camera person film from outside the car for some shots. But her formal party outfits and the mise-en-scene of the surprise party sounds great. It’s so exciting to see how she’s balancing the heartfelt story with the aesthetic details.

Davis’s Project: A Dramatic Spin

Davis’s film takes a dramatic turn by using merch from a university to decorate the entire setting, which was such a unique idea. He even hired someone to film for him, which, honestly, I didn’t even know was an option! That little detail stuck with me because it reminded me of how many creative ways there are to get a project done. Seeing how personal and grounded his drama concept is made me think about how mise-en-scene can really influence the emotional connection in a film.

Santi’s Project: Technology Meets Drama

Santi’s group is working on a drama as well, and their project is almost done—just a few more scenes left to film. It was so interesting to hear about the challenges they faced, especially at dusk (why does lighting always betray us when we need it most?). Plus, they had an issue with a gas station manager, which caused even more delays. 

What really caught my attention was their use of CGI with After Effects and Blender. Santi explained how these tools are helping them create something visually striking, and it was fascinating to hear about the tech side of their process. I could tell he’s been diving deep into that side of filmmaking, which is super inspiring.

What I Took Away from the Meeting

One thing that stood out during this meeting was how everyone’s challenges—whether it’s lighting or creative decisions—reminded me that no production is ever smooth sailing. Hearing about Santi’s group and how they’re integrating CGI made me realize how many tools and techniques are out there that I haven’t even explored yet.

I also loved seeing Sienna’s film come to life—it’s so different from my rom-com project, but it still shares that emotional core. And revisiting Davis’s dramatic approach with such a specific focus (like university merch) made me think about how small details can carry so much meaning in a scene.

Interestingly, Santi is part of the same group as a girl I talked to during the first meeting, so seeing their project progress from another team member's perspective was super interesting. It really reminded me how collaborative this process is and how much we can learn from each other.

Feedback from My Partners

From the feedback I got about A New Beginning, one key takeaway was that the opening might feel a bit long and could benefit from tighter, more purposeful cuts. They suggested that reducing unnecessary footage would help maintain the slow, intentional pacing associated with the 70s aesthetic without losing the warm lighting and vintage filter vibes I’m going for. This was a great perspective, as it made me realize how much editing can refine the storytelling and set the perfect tone for the film.

Picture of my group in class during group meeting #2.